Vehicle door handle unit

Vehicle door handle unit includes: a handle shaft rotatably mounted on a vehicle door; a handle section pivotably mounted on the handle shaft; and a detection section for detecting locking/unlocking operation of the vehicle door or opening/closing-related operation including opening/closing operation of the vehicle door. The handle shaft includes first and second handle shaft members axially spaced apart from each other, and the detection section is provided between the first and second handle shaft members. Not only the vehicle door handle unit can be suitably applied to small vehicles etc. of which the vehicle door can only have a limited thickness, but also it can have a good usability.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates vehicle door handle units including a detection section for detecting locking/unlocking operation of a vehicle door or opening/closing-related operation including opening/closing operation of the vehicle door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle door handle units have been known which are equipped with a detection section including a sensor or switch for locking/unlocking operation of a vehicle door. Namely, these vehicle door handle units can automatically perform processing for locking/unlocking the vehicle door or opening/closing-related processing, including opening/closing of the vehicle door, in response to a vehicle driver or passenger, carrying an IC card or the like, touching the detection section. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-330752 (JP 2005-330752 A), for example, discloses such a vehicle door handle unit where a depressing portion of a push switch is exposed on the outer surface of a vehicle door handle section.

FIG. 7is a view explanatory of a fundamental construction of the vehicle door handle unit disclosed in JP 2005-330752 A, andFIG. 8is a sectional view taken along line8-8ofFIG. 7. The disclosed vehicle door handle unit200includes a door-side member (door-side concave section)202fixed to a vehicle door (not shown), a support section203provided on an upper reverse surface portion of the door-side member202, a handle section205pivotably attached to the support section203via a handle shaft204, torsion springs (biasing members)206wound on the support section203and resiliently acting between the support section203and the handle section205, and a push switch209supported by the door-side member202and having a depressing portion208exposed through an opening207of the handle section205. The opening207is located close to one end of the handle section205as viewed in an axial direction of the support section203. However, in the disclosed vehicle door handle unit, where the push switch (detection section)209is exposed on the outer surface of the handle section205, the support section203supporting the handle section205is provided on the inner side of the vehicle door (i.e., side facing the interior of the vehicle), the door handle unit200would require a great overall depth or thickness, and thus it is difficult to apply the vehicle door handle unit200to small-size vehicles etc, having a small layout space. Further, because the push switch209is located close to the one end of the handle section205as viewed in the axial direction of the support section203, the door handle unit200would have a poor usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing prior art problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vehicle door handle unit which can be suitably applied to small vehicles etc. of which the vehicle door can only have a limited thickness, and which has a good usability, i.e. is very easy to use.

In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an improved vehicle door handle unit, which comprises: a handle shaft rotatably mounted on a vehicle door; a handle section pivotably mounted on the handle shaft; and a detection section for detecting locking/unlocking operation of the vehicle door or opening/closing-related operation including opening/closing operation of the vehicle door. The handle shaft comprises first and second handle shaft members axially spaced apart from each other, and the detection section is provided between the first and second handle shaft members.

With the detection section, it is possible to detect locking/unlocking operation of the vehicle door or opening/closing-related operation including opening/closing operation of the vehicle door. In this way, the vehicle door can be automatically locked/unlocked, for example, by a vehicle driver or passenger with an IC card or the like touching the detection section, as a result of which it is possible to significantly enhance convenience of the vehicle driver or passenger.

Further, with the detection section provided between the first and second handle shaft members of the handle shaft, the vehicle door handle unit can be constructed in a compact size. Further, with the detection section provided between the spared-apart first and second handle shaft members, it is possible to avoid the handle shaft and detection section from interfering with each other in the outward-inward direction (i.e., width direction) of the vehicle, and thus, the vehicle door handle unit can be suitably applied to small-size vehicles of which the door can only have a limited thickness.

In an embodiment, the detection section is provided to be located in a recessed section formed in the outer peripheral edge of the handle section when the handle section is in its non-operating position. Thus, the detection section and handle section can present a sense of unity in appearance, so that the outer appearance of the vehicle door handle unit can be significantly enhanced

In an embodiment, the detection section is provided to project beyond an outer peripheral edge portion of the handle section adjacent to the handle shaft, and thus, it can be located as close to the handle shaft as possible. As a consequence, it is possible to secure a sufficiently great space for entry of a hand of the vehicle driver or passenger in operating the handle section.

In an embodiment, the detection section is provided to be located in an opening formed in the handle section when the handle section is in its non-operating position. Thus, the detection section and handle section can present an increased sense of unity in appearance, so that the outer appearance of the vehicle door handle unit can be even further enhanced.

In an embodiment, the detection section is provided in a middle region of the handle section as viewed in the axial direction of the handle shaft. Thus, the first and second handle shaft members can have substantially the same length, so that these two shaft members can be located symmetrically about the axial center of the handle section. As a consequence, not only the pivoting operation of the handle section can be performed stably, but also the vehicle door handle unit can have an increased usability, i.e. can be used with an increased ease.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a vehicle employing a vehicle door handle unit30according to a first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2is a perspective view of the vehicle door handle unit. The vehicle10includes a vehicle door21attached to a vehicle body11for opening and closing movement to allow a vehicle driver or passenger to get in and out of the vehicle.

The vehicle door21includes a door body22openably/closeably attached to the vehicle body11, a window frame23attached to an upper portion of the door body22, a window glass24vertically movably mounted in the door body22and window frame23, the vehicle door handle unit30pivotably attached to a door-side concave section of the door body22, and a door mirror27attached to the door body22.

The vehicle door handle unit30includes: a support section31formed in the door-side concave section25of the vehicle door21; a handle shaft32attached to the support section31; a handle section33pivotably mounted on the handle shaft32; a detection section34mounted in the door-side concave section25and exposed through a recessed portion62between the handle section33and the vehicle door21; and a biasing member35provided between the handle section33and the vehicle door21for normally urging the handle section33toward the vehicle door21. The detection section34projects outwardly from an upper outer peripheral edge33aof the handle section33adjacent to the handle shaft32.

FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle door handle unit shown inFIG. 2,FIG. 4is a sectional view taken along the4-4line ofFIG. 2, andFIG. 5is a sectional view taken along the5-5line ofFIG. 2.

The support section31includes first and second support sections38and39supporting first and second handle shaft members56and57of the handle shaft section32.

The first support section38includes inner and outer support portions41and42extending from the door-side section25of the vehicle door unit21, and a first opening43formed between the support portions41and42. The support portions41and42each have a hole44or45through which the first handle shaft member56extends.

Similarly, the second support section39includes inner and outer support portions51and52extending from the door-side section25of the vehicle door unit21, and a second opening53formed between the support portions51and52. The support portions51and52each have a hole54or55through which the second handle shaft member57extends.

The handle shaft32is of a two-divided structure comprising the first handle shaft member56that is mounted to the first support section38to pivotably support the handle section33and the second handle shaft member57that is mounted to the second support section39to pivotably support the handle section33. The first and second handle shaft members56and57are axially spaced apart from each other. The first and second handle shaft members56and57are fixed to the first and second support sections38and39by means of retaining rings58and59.

The handle section33includes: the recessed portion62formed in a middle region of the upper outer peripheral edge33a, adjacent to the handle shaft32, to allow the outer surface of the detection section34to be exposed; first and second fitting portions64and65provided to the left and right of the recessed portion62for fitting engagement with the first and second handle shaft members56and57; and a guard wall66(FIG. 4) provided beneath the first and second fitting portions64and65to prevent a human hand from undesirably reaching portions, other than the outer surface, the detection section34and first and second fitting portions64and65.

Namely, with the guard wall66formed on the handle section33, the vehicle driver or passenger can put its hand into the door handle unit with an increased ease.

The first fitting portion64has a first bearing portion68having a substantially circular sectional shape opening over a circumferential region thereof so that it can be attached onto and pivotably supported on the first handle shaft member56.

The second fitting portion65has a second bearing portion69having a substantially circular sectional shape opening over a circumferential region thereof so that it can be attached onto and pivotably supported on the second handle shaft member57, and a lever72engaging with a connection member71extending inward from one end of the second bearing portion69and connected with a biasing member35in the form of a coil spring and with a locking/unlocking mechanism (not shown) of the vehicle door21. The biasing member35normally urges the handle section33toward the vehicle door21. The lever72extends through the second opening53inwardly of the vehicle door21.

The detection section34includes a housing73, a sensor74provided on the housing73for detecting locking/unlocking operation of the vehicle door or opening/closing-related operation including opening/closing operation of the vehicle door, and a harness75extending from the sensor74.

As shown inFIG. 4, the detection section34further includes claws76formed on the housing73, and it is engageable at the claws76in a locking hole79formed in a switch mounting portion78.

Namely, in the vehicle door handle unit30, the handle shaft32is rotatably mounted on the vehicle door21, the handle section33is pivotably mounted on the handle shaft32, and the detection section34is provided for detecting locking/unlocking operation of the vehicle door21or opening/closing-related operation including opening/closing operation of the vehicle door21. Thus, with the detection section34, it is possible to detect locking/unlocking operation of the vehicle door21or opening/closing-related operation including opening/closing operation of the vehicle door21. In this way, the vehicle door21can be automatically locked/unlocked, for example, by the vehicle driver or passenger with an IC card or the like touching the detection section34, as a result of which it is possible to significantly enhance convenience of the vehicle driver or passenger.

Further, because the detection section34is provided between the first and second handle shaft members56and57of the handle shaft32, the vehicle door handle unit30having the detection section34can be constructed compactly. Further, with the detection section34provided between the spared-apart first and second handle shaft members, it is possible to avoid the handle shaft32and detection section34from interfering with each other in the outward-inward direction (i.e., width direction) of the vehicle, and thus, the vehicle door handle unit30can be suitably applied to small-size vehicles of which the door21can only have a limited thickness.

Further, because the detection section34is located in the upper recessed portion62formed in the upper outer peripheral edge of the handle section33while the handle section33is in its non-operating position, the detection section34and handle section33can present a sense of unity in appearance, so that the outer appearance of the vehicle door handle unit30can be significantly enhanced.

Furthermore, because the detection section34is provided so as to project beyond the upper outer peripheral edge33aof the handle section33adjacent to the handle shaft33, it can be located as close to the handle shaft32as possible. As a consequence, it is possible to secure a sufficiently great space for entry of a hand of the vehicle driver or passenger in operating the handle section33.

Furthermore, because the detection section34is provided in a middle region of the handle section33as viewed in the axial direction of the handle shaft32, the first and second handle shaft members56and57can have substantially the same length, so that these two shaft members56and57can be located symmetrically about the axial center of the handle section33. As a consequence, not only the pivoting operation of the handle section33can be performed stably, but also the vehicle door handle unit30can be used with an increased ease.

FIG. 6is a perspective view of a vehicle door handle unit90according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle door handle unit90includes: a support section91formed in the door-side concave section25of the vehicle door21; a handle shaft92attached to the support section91; a handle section93pivotably mounted on the handle shaft92; a detection section94mounted in the door-side concave section25and exposed through an opening102formed in the handle section93; and a biasing member95provided between the handle section93and the vehicle door21for normally urging the handle section93toward the vehicle door21.

The handle shaft92is of a two-divided structure comprising a first handle shaft member96and a second handle shaft member97axially spaced apart from each other. The support section91includes a first support portion98supporting the first handle shaft member96, and a second support portion99supporting the second handle shaft member97.

The support section91, handle shaft92, handle section93, detection section94, biasing member95in the second embodiment are of generally the same constructions as the support section31, handle shaft32, handle section33, detection section34and biasing member35, except that the handle section93has the opening102.

In the second embodiment, where the detection section94is located in the opening102formed in the handle section93when the handle section is not in its non-operating position, the detection section94and handle section93can present an increased sense of unity in appearance, so that the outer appearance of the vehicle door handle unit90can be even further enhanced.

The handle section33or93in each of the first and second embodiments30and90of the present invention has been described above as normally urged toward the door21by the biasing member35or95in the form of a coil spring (seeFIGS. 2 and 6). However, the present invention is not so limited, and a torsion spring may be provided around each of the first and second handle shaft members56and57, or96and97for normally urging the handle section33or93toward the door21.

Further, whereas each of the first and second embodiments30and90of the present invention has been described above as employing the sensor74in the detection section34or94(see, for example,FIG. 3), the sensor74may be replaced with a mechanical switch, such as a push switch.

The vehicle door handle unit of the present invention is suited particularly for use in small-size vehicles, such as sedans and wagons.