CABLE FOR VEHICLE DOOR

A cable for a vehicle door includes: a locking knob movable in a vertical direction between an unlocking position where the locking knob advances from an inside of the vehicle door to an inside of a vehicle interior and a locking position where the locking knob retreats from the inside of the vehicle interior to the inside of the vehicle door; a conduit having one end fixed to the vehicle door or a fixing member provided on the vehicle door, and the other end fixed to a door locking device capable of switching the vehicle door to the unlocked state or the locked state, and including an insertion hole formed to penetrate from the one end to the other end; and a core wire slidably inserted into the insertion hole and connect the locking knob and a locking/unlocking lever.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application 2017-195088, filed on Oct. 5, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a cable for a vehicle door.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

JP 2009-275371A (Reference 1) discloses a door for an automobile including a locking knob that performs an operation of locking/unlocking the door and protrudes from the inside of the door to a vehicle interior through a mounting hole provided in a door trim, a conduit that has one end fixed to a holding part provided on the door trim and the other end fixed to a door latch device for locking/unlocking the door, and an inner cable that is slidably inserted into the conduit and has one end connected to the locking knob and the other end connected to a locking/unlocking lever of the door latch device.

In the door for an automobile disclosed in Reference 1, the inner cable slides in the conduit in accordance with an operation of the locking knob and transmits the operating force to the locking/unlocking lever of the door latch device.

However, in the door for an automobile, there is a likelihood that foreign matters such as liquids or dust may intrude into the door from the vehicle interior through the mounting hole provided in the door trim. In this way, the sliding movement of the inner cable may be obstructed by the intrusion of the foreign matters into the conduit.

Thus, a need exists for a cable for a vehicle door which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

SUMMARY

A cable for a vehicle door according to an aspect of this disclosure includes: a locking knob configured to be movable in a vertical direction of a vehicle between an unlocking position at which the locking knob advances from an inside of the vehicle door to an inside of a vehicle interior through an opening provided at a portion of the vehicle door inside the vehicle interior and a locking position at which the locking knob retreats from the inside of the vehicle interior to the inside of the vehicle door with respect to the unlocking position, corresponding to an unlocked state and a locked state of the vehicle door; a conduit having one end fixed to the vehicle door or a fixing member provided on the vehicle door in the vicinity of the opening, and the other end fixed to a door locking device capable of switching the vehicle door to the unlocked state or the locked state, and including an insertion hole formed to penetrate from the one end to the other end; and a core wire configured to be slidably inserted into the insertion hole of the conduit and connect the locking knob and a locking/unlocking lever of the door locking device that moves to a predetermined position in accordance with the locked state and the unlocked state, in which the locking knob includes a cover unit configured to cover an end at the one end side of the insertion hole of the conduit in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the cover unit has a lower end in the vertical direction of the vehicle which is positioned below an upper end of the insertion hole at least when the locking knob is positioned at the locking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cable for a vehicle door disclosed here (hereinafter, simply referred to as a door cable) will be described.

In the following description, an upward and downward direction of a vehicle is defined as a vertical direction Z. In addition, an upward direction of the vertical direction Z of the vehicle is defined as an upward direction Z1, and a downward direction of the vehicle is defined as a downward direction Z2.

FIG. 1is a side view illustrating a vehicle door DR disposed at a right front side of the vehicle when viewed from the inside of a vehicle interior to the outside of the vehicle interior. As illustrated inFIG. 1, on the vehicle door DR, an inside handle IH is disposed to be exposed to the inside of the vehicle interior, and an outside handle OH is disposed to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle interior. Further, the vehicle door DR is configured such that an entrance (not illustrated) formed in a vehicle main body is openable/closable when the inside handle IH or the outside handle OH is operated by a user of the vehicle.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle door DR illustrated inFIG. 1taken along arrow line II-II. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the vehicle door DR has an outer panel4outside the vehicle interior and an inner panel5inside the vehicle interior each of which is fabricated by performing press-processing on a steel plate, a door trim6which is made of resin and mounted on the inner panel5from the inside of the vehicle, and a bezel7which is mounted on an upper surface of the door trim6and serves as a “fixing member.” In the present embodiment, an outer periphery of the vehicle door DR is defined by the outer panel4and the door trim6. That is, the inside of the outer periphery of the vehicle door DR, which is defined by the outer panel4and the door trim6, is the inside of the vehicle door DR.

The bezel7has an opening OP formed to penetrate therethrough in the vertical direction Z. Further, the inside of the vehicle door DR and the inside of the vehicle interior, which is defined by the outer periphery of the vehicle door DR, are in communication with each other through the opening OP.

FIG. 3is a partially enlarged view of the vehicle door DR illustrated inFIG. 1. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the vehicle door DR further has a door locking device8configured to maintain a closed state of the vehicle door DR, and a door cable100configured to transmit an operating force of the user to the door locking device8.

The door locking device8may switch between an unlocked state where the vehicle door DR may be opened by the operation of the inside handle IH or the outside handle OH and a locked state where the vehicle door DR cannot be opened. In detail, a locking/unlocking lever81of the door locking device8rotates (moves) about a rotating shaft81ato a predetermined position, so that the vehicle door DR switches to the unlocked state or the locked state.

The door cable100has a locking knob1which advances and retreats from the inside of the vehicle door DR into the vehicle interior through the opening OP of the bezel7, a conduit2made of resin, which has one end fixed to the bezel7and the other end fixed to the door locking device8, and a core wire3made of metal, which is inserted into the conduit2and connects the locking knob1and the locking/unlocking lever81of the door locking device8.

When the vehicle door DR is in the unlocked state, the locking knob1of the door cable100is positioned at the unlocking position (position illustrated inFIG. 3) at which the locking knob1advances from the inside of the vehicle door DR to the inside of the vehicle interior in the upward direction Z1. In this state, when the user of the vehicle pushes the locking knob1in the downward direction Z2, the locking knob1is moved to the locking position at which the locking knob1retreats from the inside of the vehicle interior to the inside of the vehicle door DR in the downward direction Z2with respect to the unlocking position. Then, the core wire3, which connects the locking knob1and the locking/unlocking lever81, slides inside the conduit2and transmits the operating force to the locking/unlocking lever81. In this way, as the locking/unlocking lever81rotates (moves), the vehicle door DR switches from the unlocked state to the locked state.

In the present embodiment, the locking knob1is set to be approximately flush with an upper surface of the bezel7at the locking position. The configuration is for preventing a third party from making the vehicle door DR in the unlocked state, for example, by breaking window glass and then operating the locking knob1from the outside of the vehicle interior after the user makes the vehicle door DR in the locked state and then leaves the vehicle. Therefore, an anti-theft property of the vehicle is improved. Meanwhile, in a normal mode, in a case where the user in the vehicle interior intends to switch from the locked state of the vehicle door DR to the unlocked state, the user may switch from the locked state of the vehicle door DR to the unlocked state by operating the inside handle IH once. Further, after the vehicle door DR is switched to the unlocked state, the user may open the vehicle door DR by operating the inside handle IH again.

Next, the configurations of the bezel7and the door cable100of the present embodiment will be further described in detail by noting one end side of the door cable100with reference to an exploded perspective view of the bezel7and the door cable100illustrated inFIG. 4and a cross-sectional view of the vehicle door DR taken along line II-II illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B. Further, inFIGS. 5A and 5B,FIG. 5Aillustrates the door cable100when the locking knob1is positioned at the unlocking position, andFIG. 5Billustrates the door cable100when the locking knob1is positioned at the locking position.

In the following description, a direction orthogonal to a direction that runs through a central axis of the locking knob1in the direction (vertical direction Z) in which the locking knob1advances and retreats is defined as a radial direction X. In addition, a direction in the radial direction X, which is directed toward the central axis of the locking knob1, is defined as a first direction X1, and a direction in the radial direction X, which is directed away from the central axis of the locking knob1, is defined as a second direction X2.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the bezel7has an approximately cylindrical shape such that the opening OP is formed at the center in the radial direction X of an approximately columnar shape to penetrate in the vertical direction Z. In addition, engaging holes7aare formed in the bezel7at the center in the vertical direction Z, and notches7bare formed at a lower end of the bezel7at both sides in the radial direction X.

As described above, the door cable100has the conduit2, the locking knob1, and the core wire3.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B, an insertion hole2a,into which the core wire3is inserted, penetrates through the conduit2. The insertion hole2ais formed from one end to the other end of the conduit2. In addition, the conduit2has a pair of engaging pawls23which is formed at one end of the conduit2to engage with the bezel7, a first cylindrical portion21which is a base end of the engaging pawl23and has a cylindrical shape, and a second cylindrical portion22which has a cylindrical shape and extends from the first cylindrical portion21to a tip at one end side.

Each of the pair of engaging pawls23has a support portion231which extends from the first cylindrical portion21in the second direction X2, a grip portion232which extends from the tip of the support portion231in the downward direction Z2, and an engaging portion233which extends from the tip of the support portion231in the upward direction Z1. In a case where an operator intends to fix one end of the conduit2with respect to the bezel7, the operator holds the grip portion232first, so that the engaging portion233is elastically deformed in the second direction X2based on the support portion231as a support point. Next, in a state where the elastic deformation of the engaging portion233is maintained, the door cable100(locking knob1) is inserted from the downward direction Z2to the upward direction Z1with respect to the bezel7at a position at which the support portion231and the notch7bof the bezel7correspond to each other. Further, when the elastic deformation of the engaging portion233is released at the position at which the engaging hole7aof the bezel7and the tip of the engaging portion233correspond to each other, the tip of the engaging portion233engages with the engaging hole7aof the bezel7. In this way, one end of the conduit2is fixed with reference to the bezel7.

An outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion22is set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion21. In addition, among the insertion holes2aformed in the conduit2, a diameter of the insertion hole2aformed in the second cylindrical portion22is set to be larger than a diameter of the insertion hole2aformed in a portion other than the second cylindrical portion22of the conduit2.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the locking knob1has a main body unit11which is fixed to one end of the core wire3, and a cover unit12and an operation unit13which are mounted on the main body unit11.

The main body unit11is fabricated by performing insert-molding on the core wire3, which is fabricated in advance, with a resin material. The main body unit11has a columnar portion111which extends in the vertical direction Z as an axis, two mounting portions112which are formed at the center in the vertical direction Z of the columnar portion111and protrude in the second direction X2at both sides in the radial direction X, and two concave portions113which are formed at portions above the mounting portions112in the upward direction Z1and recessed at both sides in the radial direction X in a direction in the first direction X1which intersects the direction in which the mounting portions112protrude. In addition, a restricting portion112a,which extends in a circumferential direction of the columnar portion111, is formed on one of the two mounting portions112.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B, an outer diameter of the columnar portion111is set to be slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion22of the conduit2. For this reason, when the locking knob1moves in the vertical direction Z, the columnar portion111slides along an inner surface of the second cylindrical portion22in a state where the columnar portion111is accommodated in the second cylindrical portion22.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the operation unit13has a cap shape as an approximately hemispherical shape is connected to an upper surface having an approximately cylindrical shape. Mounting holes13aare formed at a lower end of the operation unit13at both sides in the radial direction X. Further, the operation unit13is fabricated by performing plating processing on a surface of relatively hard resin such as polycarbonate resin. In addition, the operation unit13is a design member which is partially exposed to the inside of the vehicle interior from the opening OP at least in the unlocked state.

The cover unit12has a pair of engaging pieces121which extends in the vertical direction Z, and a cylindrical cover piece122which extends in the downward direction Z2from the lower end of the engaging piece121.

A convex portion121a,which extends in the first direction X1, is formed at an upper end of each of the engaging pieces121. In addition, a distance, which connects tips of the convex portions121a,is set to be shorter than a diameter of the columnar portion111of the main body unit11.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B, an inner diameter of the cover piece122is set to be larger than an outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion21. For this reason, the cover piece122(cover unit12) is configured to cover, from the second direction X2, an end at one end side of the insertion hole2aof the second cylindrical portion22(conduit2). In addition, a length of the cover piece122, which extends in the downward direction Z2, is set such that a lower end of the cover piece122is positioned below an upper end of the insertion hole2aformed in the second cylindrical portion22(conduit2) even in a case where the locking knob1illustrated inFIG. 5Ais positioned at the unlocking position shifted in the upward direction Z1with respect to the locking position as well as a case where the locking knob1illustrated inFIG. 5Bis positioned at the locking position.

The cover unit12is made of a resin material (polyvinylchloride resin, etc.) which is softer than a resin material that constitutes the operation unit13.

Here, a process of integrating the main body unit11, the cover unit12, and the operation unit13, which constitute the locking knob1, will be described with reference toFIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7.

As illustrated inFIG. 6A, the cover unit12is moved from the downward direction Z2to the upward direction Z1(indicated by the alternate long and two short dashes line) with respect to the main body unit11first in order to integrate the locking knob1. Then, the engaging pieces121of the cover unit12, which have the distance set to be shorter than the diameter of the columnar portion111of the main body unit11, are elastically deformed in the second direction X2. Further, when the cover unit12is further moved in the upward direction Z1, the convex portions121aof the engaging pieces121are fitted with the concave portions113of the main body unit11in the first direction X1at the portions where the convex portions121areach the concave portions113. In this way, the cover unit12and the main body unit11engage with each other.

After the cover unit12is attached to the main body unit11, the operation unit13covers the main body unit11from the upward direction Z1to the downward direction Z2, as illustrated inFIG. 6B. Then, the mounting portions112of the main body unit11are fitted with the mounting holes13aof the operation unit13. In this way, the operation unit13is mounted on the main body unit11.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, in the state where the operation unit13is mounted on the main body unit11, the operation unit13covers, from the second direction X2, the engaging pieces121of the cover unit12which engages with the main body unit11from the second direction X2. In addition, in the state where the main body unit11and the cover unit12engage with each other, the restricting portions112aformed on the mounting portions112of the main body unit11face the engaging pieces121of the cover unit12in the circumferential direction defined about the vertical direction Z.

Next, an operation of the door cable100of the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 2, 8A, and 8B.

As described above with reference toFIG. 2, the vehicle door DR has the opening OP that allows the inside of the vehicle interior and the inside of the vehicle door DR to be in communication with each other. For this reason, it is conceivable that foreign matters intrude into the vehicle door DR from the inside of the vehicle interior through the opening OP. As an example, there is concern that dust floating in the air may intrude into the vehicle door DR. In addition, there is also concern that a liquid may intrude into the vehicle door DR in a situation such as when a user may spill a drink or rain water may be driven into the vehicle interior in a state where the window glass is opened. According to the door cable100of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress foreign matters, which intrude into the vehicle door DR as described above, from intruding into the insertion hole2aof the conduit2. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to an example in which a liquid intrudes into the vehicle door DR through the opening OP and with reference toFIGS. 8A and 8Bin comparison with a comparative example.

First, a door cable200of the comparative example will be described with reference toFIG. 8A.FIG. 8Ais a view illustrating the door cable200of the comparative example when the locking knob9is positioned at the unlocking position. The door cable200of the comparative example differs from the door cable100of the present embodiment in that no cover unit12is provided on the locking knob9. Further, the same reference numerals denote the configurations of the door cable200of the comparative example which are identical to the configurations of the door cable100of the present embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 8A, it is assumed that a liquid L intrudes into the vehicle door DR through the opening OP provided in the bezel7. Then, a part of the liquid L intruding into the vehicle door DR flows in the downward direction Z2along the locking knob9by gravity (flow path f1). Further, the liquid L further intrudes into the insertion hole2aof the conduit2along the core wire3fixed to the locking knob9from the locking knob9(main body unit11).

Next, the door cable100of the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 8B.FIG. 8Bis a view illustrating the door cable100of the present embodiment when the locking knob1is positioned at the unlocking position.

As illustrated inFIG. 8B, it is assumed that the liquid L intrudes into the vehicle door DR through the opening OP provided in the bezel7. Then, similar to the comparative example, a part of the liquid L intruding into the vehicle door DR flows in the downward direction Z2along the locking knob1by gravity (flow path f2). Further, the liquid L flows along the flow path f2and reaches the cover unit12along the operation unit13. Here, the cover unit12covers, from the second direction X2, the end at one end side of the insertion hole2aof the conduit2(second cylindrical portion22). For this reason, the liquid L, which flows along the cover unit12, flows in the downward direction Z2at the outside (second direction X2side) of the end at the one end side of the insertion hole2a.Further, the liquid L further flows in the downward direction Z2, and the liquid L reaches the lower end of the cover unit12. Here, the lower end of the cover unit12is positioned below the upper end of the insertion hole2aof the conduit2(second cylindrical portion22) even in the case where the locking knob1is positioned at the unlocking position at which the locking knob1is positioned in the upward direction Z1with respect to the locking position. For this reason, the liquid L, which reaches the lower end of the cover unit12, further flows from the lower end of the cover unit12in the downward direction Z2without intruding into the insertion hole2awhile overcoming gravity.

In this way, in comparison with the door cable200of the comparative example, the door cable100of the present embodiment, which has the cover unit12, may suppress the liquid, which has intruded into the vehicle door DR, from intruding into the insertion hole2a.

The operation of the door cable100of the present embodiment has been described above with reference to the liquid, as an example, which intrudes into the vehicle door DR, but according to the cover unit12of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress even solid foreign matters such as dust from intruding into the insertion hole2a.

The operation of the door cable100of the present embodiment is of course effective even in a case where the locking knob1is positioned at the locking position shifted in the downward direction Z2with respect to the unlocking position.

As described above, the door cable100of the present embodiment may exhibit the following effects.

Since the cover unit12is provided on the locking knob1, foreign matters are suppressed from intruding into the insertion hole2aof the conduit2. Therefore, while the core wire3slides in the conduit2, obstruction hardly occurs on the core wire3, such as a situation in which solids such as dust intruding into the insertion hole2aare deposited in a gap between the insertion hole2aand the core wire3or a situation in which the liquid intruding into the insertion hole2ais frozen. As a result, it is possible to suppress impairment of operating characteristics when the user operates the locking knob1.

The length of the cover unit12, which extends in the downward direction Z2, is set such that the lower end of the cover unit12is positioned below the upper end of the insertion hole2aeven in the case where the locking knob1is positioned at the unlocking position shifted in the upward direction Z1from the locking position. Therefore, it is possible to suppress foreign matters from intruding into the insertion hole2aregardless of whether the locking knob1is positioned at the locking position or the unlocking position.

As a resin material that constitutes the cover unit12, a material, which is softer than the resin material that constitutes the operation unit13, is selected. Therefore, it is possible to improve formability of the cover unit12with respect to the operation unit13.

Since the cover unit12is manufactured as a body separate from the operation unit13which is a design member, it is not necessary to fabricate and manage the cover unit12as the design member. Therefore, it is possible to improve productivity of the cover unit12.

As described with reference toFIG. 7, the cover unit12engages with the main body unit11in the second direction X2, and then the operation unit13is mounted on the main body unit11so as to cover the cover unit12from the second direction X2. Therefore, it is possible to allow the main body unit11and the cover unit12to more rigidly engage with each other.

Similarly, as described with reference toFIG. 7, in the state where the cover unit12is mounted on the main body unit11, the restricting portion112a,which extends from the mounting portion112of the main body unit11in the circumferential direction of the columnar portion111, extends to face the cover unit12in the circumferential direction based on the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the rotation of the cover unit12in the circumferential direction based on the vertical direction Z is restricted. As a result, the cover unit12may more stably engage with the main body unit11.

The door cable100of the present embodiment may be changed as described below.

The length of the cover unit12, which extends in the downward direction Z2, may be set such that the lower end of the cover unit12is positioned below the upper end of the insertion hole2ain the case where the locking knob1is positioned at least at the locking position. That is, the lower end of the cover unit12may be positioned above the upper end of the insertion hole2ain the case where the locking knob1is positioned at the unlocking position. Even in this configuration, it is possible to suppress foreign matters, which have intruded into the vehicle door DR, from intruding into the insertion hole2ain the case where the locking knob1is positioned at the locking position.

A structure for integrating the cover unit12and the main body unit11and a structure for integrating the operation unit13and the main body unit11are not limited to the structure in the embodiment. That is, for example, the main body unit11and at least one of the cover unit12and the operation unit13may be fixed by an adhesive or fixed by a fastening member such as a bolt.

Any two or three of the main body unit11, the cover unit12, and the operation unit13may be integrally fabricated. Even in this case, since the cover unit12is provided on the locking knob1, it is possible to suppress foreign matters, which have intruded into the vehicle door DR, from intruding into the insertion hole2a.

The cover unit12and the operation unit13may be made of the same material. In addition, as a material that constitutes the cover unit12, a material, which is harder than a material that constitutes the operation unit13, may be selected.

The locking knob1may not be flush with the upper surface of the bezel7(vehicle door DR) in the locked state. That is, in the locked state, the locking knob1may advance from the upper surface of the bezel7to the inside of the vehicle interior or may retreat from the upper surface of the bezel7into the vehicle door DR.

The opening OP may be formed directly at the outer periphery of the vehicle door DR without providing the bezel7on the vehicle door DR.

A method of fixing one end of the conduit2to the vehicle door DR in the vicinity of the opening OP is not limited to the method in the embodiment. That is, for example, a fixing member for fixing one end of the conduit2to the door trim6or the inner panel5may protrude in the first direction X1.

A cable for a vehicle door according to an aspect of this disclosure includes: a locking knob configured to be movable in a vertical direction of a vehicle between an unlocking position at which the locking knob advances from an inside of the vehicle door to an inside of a vehicle interior through an opening provided at a portion of the vehicle door inside the vehicle interior and a locking position at which the locking knob retreats from the inside of the vehicle interior to the inside of the vehicle door with respect to the unlocking position, corresponding to an unlocked state and a locked state of the vehicle door; a conduit having one end fixed to the vehicle door or a fixing member provided on the vehicle door in the vicinity of the opening, and the other end fixed to a door locking device capable of switching the vehicle door to the unlocked state or the locked state, and including an insertion hole formed to penetrate from the one end to the other end; and a core wire configured to be slidably inserted into the insertion hole of the conduit and connect the locking knob and a locking/unlocking lever of the door locking device that moves to a predetermined position in accordance with the locked state and the unlocked state, in which the locking knob includes a cover unit configured to cover an end at the one end side of the insertion hole of the conduit in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the cover unit has a lower end in the vertical direction of the vehicle which is positioned below an upper end of the insertion hole at least when the locking knob is positioned at the locking position.

According to the configuration, when foreign matters intrude into the vehicle door from the inside of the vehicle interior through the opening provided in the vehicle door, the cover unit of the locking knob may suppress the foreign matters from intruding into the insertion hole of the conduit in the case where the locking knob is positioned at least at the locking position. That is, resistance of the cable for a vehicle door against the foreign matters intruding into the vehicle door is improved.

In the cable for a vehicle door, the lower end of the cover unit in the vertical direction of the vehicle may be positioned below the upper end of the insertion hole in the vertical direction of the vehicle when the locking knob is positioned at the locking position and the unlocking position.

According to the configuration, it is possible to suppress foreign matters from intruding into the insertion hole of the conduit regardless of whether the locking knob is positioned at the locking position or the unlocking position.

In the cable for a vehicle door, the locking knob may include an operation unit that is exposed to the inside of the vehicle interior at least at the unlocking position, the operation unit and the cover unit may be separate members, and the cover unit may be made of a material softer than a material of the operation unit.

According to the configuration, it is possible to improve formability of the cover unit with respect to the operation unit.

In the cable for a vehicle door, the locking knob may include a main body unit fixed to one end of the core wire and configured to engage with the cover unit and the operation unit, the cover unit may have an engaging piece configured to engage with the main body unit from a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the operation unit may be mounted on the main body unit to cover the engaging piece in the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the vehicle.

According to the configuration, it is difficult for the operation unit to disengage the engaging piece of the cover unit. That is, the main body unit and the cover unit may rigidly engage with each other.

In the cable for a vehicle door, the main body unit may have a columnar portion that extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle as an axis, and the columnar portion may have a restricting portion which extends in a circumferential direction of the columnar portion to face the engaging piece.

According to the configuration, the rotation of the engaging piece in the circumferential direction of the columnar portion is restricted by the restricting portion. As a result, the cover unit may more stably engage with the main body unit.