Patent Publication Number: US-8528949-B2

Title: Door handle stroke change structure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-251621, filed on Nov. 2, 2009, entitled “Door Handle Stroke Change Structure.” The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Present Invention 
     The present invention relates to a door handle stroke change structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the related art, a door which opens or closes a door opening of a vehicle has a latch mechanism which engages with a door lock striker to maintain a state where the door closes the door opening and which releases the engagement with the door lock striker (hereinafter, referred to as “open action”) by an open operation of a door handle (operation member). 
     Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-169903 discloses a door which has two latch drive mechanisms for normal time and emergency, respectively, each causing one latch mechanism to perform an open action, and which has two operation members which operate the two latch drive mechanisms, respectively. Specifically, the door of this publication has an electric latch drive mechanism which causes the latch mechanism to perform the open action by a power source such as a motor at normal time, and also has a switch which activates the electric latch drive mechanism. In addition, for emergency when the latch mechanism cannot be electrically activated since a wiring breaks or a battery runs out, the door of this publication has a mechanical latch drive mechanism which mechanically causes the latch mechanism to perform the open action, and also has an operation member which drives the mechanical latch drive mechanism. 
     However, according to the door disclosed in the above publication, the operating manner of the operation member which operates the electric latch drive mechanism for normal time is different from that of the operation member which operates the mechanical latch drive mechanism for emergency. Thus, a user needs to understand and memorize the different operating manners of the two operation members, and is forced to bear heavy burden. In particular, in a door open operation at emergency, since the operation member for emergency is not usually used, even if the user understands the operating manner once, there is the possibility that the user will forget the operating manner for emergency when using this operation member. Therefore, the electric latch drive mechanism for normal time does not operate in the state where the occupant is in the vehicle, and hence the occupant becomes panic, so that the occupant cannot perform the door open operation for emergency and is trapped in the vehicle compartment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a door handle stroke change structure includes a door, a latch mechanism, an electric latch drive mechanism, a mechanical latch drive mechanism, and an operation member. The door opens and closes a door opening of a vehicle. The latch mechanism causes the door to engage with the vehicle. The electric latch drive mechanism electrically causes the latch mechanism to perform an open action. The mechanical latch drive mechanism mechanically causes the latch mechanism to perform the open action. The operation member is provided in the door and operates the electric latch drive mechanism and the mechanical latch mechanism. The operation member is moveable among a closed position at which the latch mechanism is not caused to perform the open action, a first position at which the latch mechanism is caused to perform the open action by the electric latch drive mechanism, and a second position at which the latch mechanism is caused to perform the open action by the mechanical latch drive mechanism. A motion by a user to move the operation member from the closed position to the first position is a same motion as a motion by the user to move the operation member from the closed position to the second position are caused to be same. A movement amount of the motion by the user to move the operation member from the closed position to the first position is greater than a movement amount of the motion by the user to move the operation member from the closed position to the second position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a door according to an embodiment when viewed from an upper side in a vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an operation portion provided in the door according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the operation portion shown in  FIG. 2  when viewed from the upper side in the vehicle; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the operation portion shown in  FIG. 2  when viewed from a lower side of an outside surface of the vehicle; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the operation portion shown in  FIG. 2  when viewed from an upper side thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view showing a partial cross section of a latch drive mechanism and a latch mechanism accommodated in a door body; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are plan views for illustrating usage of the operation portion at normal time; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view for illustrating actions of the latch mechanism and the latch drive mechanism at normal time; 
         FIGS. 9A to 9C  are plan views for illustrating usage of the operation portion at emergency; and 
         FIG. 10  is a side view for illustrating actions of the latch mechanism and the latch drive mechanism at emergency. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     A handle stroke change structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same components are designated by the same reference numerals. A door  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is the left front door of a vehicle. The door  1  serves to open or close a door opening which is formed such that an occupant can get on or off the vehicle therethrough, and is mounted to a vehicle body so as to freely open or close the door opening. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the door  1  includes: a door body  3  formed into a shape which fits to the door opening; and a door lock device  10  accommodated in the door body  3 . In the present invention, the door body  3  is not particularly limited to any specific one, and thus the detail description thereof is omitted. The door body  3  has an accommodation space (not shown) for accommodating components of the door lock device  10  which will be described later. 
     (Door Lock Device  10 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the door lock device  10  is accommodated in the door body  3  and engages with or disengages from a door lock striker  2  which projects from an edge surface of the door opening and has a U shape in a plan view. The door lock device  10  includes an operation portion  20 , a latch mechanism  70 , and a latch drive mechanism  80  (see  FIG. 6 ). The following will describe in detail the operation portion  20 , the latch mechanism  70 , and the latch drive mechanism  80 , which constitute the door lock device  10 . Note that, in the embodiment, a description will be given such that, where the door  1 , which is the left front door in the state of closing the door opening of the vehicle, is used as a reference, the front of the vehicle is replaced by front; the rear of the vehicle is replaced by rear; the vehicle outside which is the side surface side of the vehicle is replaced by a left side; and the vehicle inside is replaced by a right side; the roof side of the vehicle is replaced by an upper side; and the bottom side of the vehicle is replaced by a lower side. 
     (Operation Portion  20 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the operation portion  20  is located so as to be exposed on the right side surface of the door body  3 , which is the vehicle compartment side, in a state of being accommodated in the door body  3 , and is provided so as to be able to be operated by the occupant in the vehicle compartment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the operation portion  20  includes a case  30 , a trigger button  40 , a handle  50 , and a spring  60 . 
     (Case  30 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the case  30  accommodates the trigger button  40 , the handle  50 , and the spring  60 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the case  30  is formed by combining: a case lower member  31 , which forms a bottom of the case  30 ; and a case upper member  32  in which an upper surface  33  having the same shape as the case lower member  31  and a side wall surface  34  are integrally formed with each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the case  30  is a plate-like member which is formed so as to fit to a space (not shown), for accommodating the operation portion  20 , which is formed in the door body  3 . The case lower member  31  has a recess  31   a  which, in a plan view, is substantially linear at the front portion of the left edge thereof and is recessed at the rear portion of the left edge thereof toward the right side. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the case lower member  31  has a hole  31   b  on the rear side and near the recess  31   a , into which hole  31   b  a later-described shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  can be fitted. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the case upper member  32  is formed by integrally forming: the upper surface  33  formed into the same shape as that of the case lower member  31 ; the side wall surface  34  extending downwardly from the edge of the upper surface  33 ; and the shaft  35  and a case projection  36  formed on the upper surface  33 . The upper surface  33  is a plate-like portion formed into the same shape as that of the case lower member  31 , and has a recess  33   a  which is substantially linear at the front portion of the left edge thereof and is recessed at the rear portion of the left edge thereof toward the right side. In addition, the side wall surface  34  is a portion which extends downwardly from the front edge, the front portion of the left edge, and the edge near the right rear corner between the right edge and the rear edge, of the upper surface  33 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the case lower member  31  is combined with the case upper member  32 , a space is defined, which can accommodate the trigger button  40 , the spring  60 , and the handle  50 . Further, the case  30  has a vehicle-compartment-side opening  30   a  in the right side surface thereof and a door-body-side opening  30   b  in the rear portion of the left side surface thereof near the rear side. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle  50  accommodated in the case  30  can be pulled from the vehicle compartment, and also can be connected to a cable K which is connected to the later-described latch drive mechanism  80 . 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  is a columnar body extending downwardly from the bottom surface side of the upper surface  33 . The shaft  35  is formed such that, when the case lower member  31  and the case upper member  32  are combined with each other, the shaft  35  is fitted into the hole  31   b  formed in the case lower member  31 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the case projection  36  projects downwardly from the bottom surface side of the upper surface  33 . In addition, the case projection  36  extends from around the shaft  35  toward the left edge. 
     (Trigger Button  40 ) 
     The trigger button  40  is a restriction member which restricts a rotation amount of the later-described handle  50 , and is provided on the upper side of a support portion  51  of the handle  50  as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the trigger button  40  includes: a pressed portion  41  pivotally supported by the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32 ; and a locking portion  42  projecting from the pressed portion  41 . 
     The pressed portion  41  is to be pressed by the occupant at emergency. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in order to be easily pressed by the occupant, the trigger button  40  is formed such that a right portion  41   a  thereof projects on the front side to cause an area pressed from the vehicle compartment side to be large. In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pressed portion  41  has: an elongated hole  44  extending through the upper surface and the bottom surface of the pressed portion  41 ; a groove  45  formed on the upper surface of the pressed portion  41 ; and an extension  46  extending from the left side surface of the pressed portion  41 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the elongated hole  44  is formed with such a size that the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  can extend therethrough, and is elongated in the lateral direction of the pressed portion  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the groove  45  is formed on the upper surface of the pressed portion  41  so as to extend in the lateral direction. In addition, the groove  45  is formed so as to fit to the case projection  36  formed near the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  when the pressed portion  41  is pivotally supported by the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  being inserted into the elongated hole  44  thereof. Moreover, the groove  45  is formed longer than the case projection  36  such that the trigger button  40  is moveable along the case projection  36  in the lateral direction. 
     The extension  46  extends from the left side surface of the pressed portion  41  and supports the later-described locking portion  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the locking portion  42  is a columnar portion extending downwardly from the bottom surface side of the extension  46 . In addition, the locking portion  42  extends downwardly to such an extent as to be able to be brought into contact with a trigger button locking portion  63  of the later-described spring  60  and a projection  53  of the handle  50 . 
     The trigger button  40  is supported by the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  being inserted into the elongated hole  44 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the case projection  36  of the case upper member  32  is inserted in the groove  45 , and the trigger button  40  is supported so as to be moveable along the case projection  36  in the lateral direction. 
     (Handle  50 ) 
     The handle  50  is an operation member for the occupant to operate the later-described latch drive mechanism  80 . In addition, the handle  50  is connected to the latch drive mechanism  80  via the cable K. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the handle  50  is formed by integrally forming: the support portion  51  which has a hole  54  and is pivotally supported by the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32 ; a grip  52  formed on the right side of the support portion  51 ; and the projection  53  formed on the left side of the support portion  51 . 
     The support portion  51  has: a left edge  51   a  which is formed into a semi-circular shape; the hole  54  in a center portion thereof; a spring accommodating portion  55  for accommodating a spring  60  therein; and a hooked portion  56  to which the cable K is hooked. The hole  54  is a hole in which the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  is inserted. In addition, the hole  54  is formed in the center portion of the support portion  51  and at a position that is the center of the semi-circle of the left edge  51 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the distance from the left edge  51   a  to the hole  54  is set such that the left edge  51   a  of the support portion  51  does not contact the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  when the trigger button  40  moveable in the lateral direction is located in the rightmost position. Thus, when the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  is inserted in the hole  54  of the support portion  51 , even if the handle  50  is rotated as shown in  FIG. 5 , the left edge  51   a  of the support portion  51  does not interfere with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40 . 
     The spring accommodating portion  55  is a space defined in the support portion  51 , and has such a size that the spring  60  can be accommodated therein. The hooked portion  56  is a hole formed on the rear portion of the support portion  51  near the door-body-side opening  30   b  of the case  30 , and the cable K connected to the later-described latch drive mechanism  80  is hooked thereto. 
     The grip  52  is a portion to be held by the occupant for releasing the door  1 , and extends frontward from the right side wall of the support portion  51  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the projection  53  projects leftward from the semi-circular left edge  51   a  of the support portion  51 . When the handle  50  is rotated about the shaft  35  from a closed position to a first position (see  FIG. 7B ), the projection  53  is formed at such a location as to be locked with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40 . Note that the closed position and the first position of the handle  50  will be described later. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in the projection  53 , one edge in the rotation direction of the handle  50  constitutes a locked portion  53   a , and the other edge constitutes a second locked portion  53   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle  50  is rotationally mounted to the case  30  by the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  being inserted into the hole  54  in the state where the spring  60  is accommodated in the spring accommodating portion  55 . Note that the position of the handle  50  shown in  FIG. 5  is referred to as the closed position, at which the handle  50  is not operated by the occupant, that is, at which the door  1  is locked by the door lock device  10 . Further, if the handle  50  supported by the case  30  is rotated when the trigger button  40  is located on the right side, the locked portion  53   a  of the projection  53  is brought into contact with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40 , thereby restricting the rotation of the handle  50 . Note that the position of the handle  50  when the locked portion  53   a  of the projection  53  is brought into contact with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  is the first position. Moreover, when the trigger button  40  is moved leftward (see  FIG. 9A ), the handle  50  can be rotated from the closed position past the first position without interference of the projection  53  of the handle  50  with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  (see  FIG. 9B ). The position of the handle  50  which has been rotated past the first position is a second position. 
     (Spring  60 ) 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the spring  60  is mounted to the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  and serves to urge the trigger button  40  and the handle  50  in a predetermined direction. The spring  60  includes: a coiled center portion  61 ; a handle locking portion  62  extending from one end of the coil; and a trigger button locking portion  63  extending from the other end of the coil. 
     The diameter of the coiled center portion  61  is set such that the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  can be inserted thereinto. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle locking portion  62  is locked with the support portion  51  of the handle  50  when the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  is inserted in the center portion  61  of the spring  60 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the trigger button locking portion  63  is locked with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  when the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  is inserted in the center portion  61  of the spring  60 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the spring  60  is mounted to the case  30  by the shaft  35  of the case upper member  32  being inserted into the hole  54  of the handle  50  in the sate where the spring  60  is accommodated in the spring accommodating portion  55  of the handle  50 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the spring  60  urges the trigger button  40  such that the trigger button locking portion  63  moves the trigger button  40  rightward, and also urges the handle  50  such that the handle locking portion  62  moves the handle  50  toward the closed position. 
     The components of the operation portion  20  have been described above. Note that, of the components of the operation portion  20 , the projection  53  provided in the rotated handle  50 , and the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  which is locked with the projection  53 , correspond to a “restriction mechanism” recited in the appended claims. Further, the elongated hole  44  of the trigger button  40  for moving the trigger button  40  leftward to release the locking of the projection  53  of the handle  50  with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40 , corresponds to a “release mechanism” recited in the appended claims. 
     (Latch Mechanism  70 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the latch mechanism  70  is located in the door body  3  and near a center pillar (not shown), and engages with or disengages from the door lock striker  2  provided in the center pillar. In addition, the latch mechanism  70  includes: an accommodating portion  71  for accommodating the door lock striker  2 ; an engagement portion  72  which is provided so as to be moveable in the vertical direction in the accommodating portion  71  and so as to be inclinable toward the lower surface side of the accommodating portion  71 ; and a latch body  74  which urges the engagement portion  72  such that the engagement portion  72  always engages with the door lock striker  2 . The latch body  74  has a switch portion  73  which, when pressed, lowers the engagement portion  72  to disengage from the door lock striker  2 . 
     (Latch Drive Mechanism  80 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the latch drive mechanism  80  is located in the door body  3  and near the latch mechanism  70 , and serves to press the switch portion  73  of the latch mechanism  70 . In addition, the latch drive mechanism  80  includes: a first rotation lever  90 ; a switch device  100  having a blade spring  101 ; a motor  110  having a second rotation lever  111 ; a connection lever  120 ; and a cover member  130 . 
     (First Rotation Lever  90 ) 
     The first rotation lever  90  is connected to the cable K mounted to the handle  50 , and is rotated in conjunction with rotation of the handle  50 . The first rotation lever  90  has, in a center portion thereof, a hole (not shown) in which a shaft  131  of the cover member  130  is inserted. Thus, the first rotation lever  90  is rotationally supported by the shaft  131  so as to be inclined in the forward direction of the vehicle (in the direction of the arrow shown in  FIG. 6 ). In addition, the first rotation lever  90  includes a body  91 , a switch pressing portion  92 , and a connection lever pressing portion  93 , which extend in different directions, respectively, from the rotation axis of the first rotation lever  90 . 
     The body  91  has, at an end thereof, a groove  95  to which the cable K is mounted. When the first rotation lever  90  is inclined in the forward direction of the vehicle according to the movement amount of the handle  50  moving from the closed position to the first position, the switch pressing portion  92  presses another end of the later-described blade spring  101 . The connection lever pressing portion  93  is formed behind the switch pressing portion  92 . When the first rotation lever  90  is inclined in the forward direction of the vehicle according to the movement amount of the handle  50  moving from the closed position to the second position, the connection lever pressing portion  93  presses an extension  124  of the later-described connection lever  120  upward. Further, the interval between the connection lever pressing portion  93  and the extension  124  is larger than that between the switch pressing portion  92  and the blade spring  101 . 
     (Switch Device  100 ) 
     The switch device  100  has a drive button (not shown) for driving the later-described motor  110 , and the blade spring  101 . When the drive button is pressed, a voltage is applied from a battery (not shown) to the motor  110  to drive the motor  110 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the blade spring  101  has a substantially V shape. The blade spring  101  is mounted at one end of the substantially V shape thereof to the switch device  100  such that the top of the center portion of the substantially V shape thereof is brought into contact with the drive button. Further, the blade spring  101  extends, at the other end of the substantially V shape thereof, to a trajectory on which the switch pressing portion  92  of the first rotation lever  90  is rotated, and has a curved portion  102  which is formed at the other end thereof and which is pressed by the rotated switch pressing portion  92 . The curved portion  102  is curved so as to be convexed toward the switch pressing portion  92 . Note that the top of the convex of the curved portion  102  is referred to as a curved portion top  103 . According to the above structure, when the first rotation lever  90  is rotated, the switch pressing portion  92  presses the curved portion  102  of the blade spring  101 , causing the center portion of the blade spring  101  to press the drive button of the switch device  100 . 
     (Motor  110 ) 
     The motor  110  is a drive member which rotates by a voltage being applied from the battery (not shown) thereto, and has a rotation shaft to which the second rotation lever  111  is mounted. The second rotation lever  111  has a substantially V shape and transmits the driving force of the rotation shaft of the motor  110  to the connection lever  120 . The second rotation lever  111  is mounted at one end thereof to the rotation shaft of the motor  110 , and is brought at the other end thereof into contact with a locking portion  122  of the later-described connection lever  120 . 
     (Connection Lever  120 ) 
     The connection lever  120  has a substantially J shape. The connection lever  120  has: an elongated hole  121  formed in a center portion thereof along the vertical direction; the locking portion  122 , at one end thereof, with which the second rotation lever  111  is brought into contact; a projection  123 , at the other end thereof, which presses the switch portion  73  of the latch mechanism  70 ; and the extension  124  which is located on the lower side of the projection  123  and with which the first rotation lever  90  is brought into contact. The connection lever  120  is mounted so as to be moveable in the vertical direction, by a shaft  132 , which extends in the lateral direction of the cover member  130 , being inserted into the elongated hole  121 . The connection lever  120  is provided at such a location that the first rotation lever  90  and the second rotation lever  111  can be brought into contact therewith, and that the connection lever  120  is moved upward by rotation of the first rotation lever  90  or the second rotation lever  111  to cause the projection  123  to press the switch portion  73  of the latch mechanism  70 . Note that, in order to release the pressing of the switch portion  73 , the connection lever  120  has an urging member (not shown) which moves the connection lever  120  downward when the connection lever  120  is not pressed by the first rotation lever  90  or the second rotation lever  111 . 
     (Cover Member  130 ) 
     The cover member  130  accommodates the latch drive mechanism  80  other than the motor  110 , and includes: the shaft  131  which pivotally supports the first rotation lever  90 ; and the shaft  132  which pivotally supports the connection lever  120 . 
     The components of the latch drive mechanism  80  have been described above. Note that, of the components of the latch drive mechanism  80 , the first rotation lever  90 , the switch device  100 , the motor  120  having the second rotation lever  111 , and the connection lever  130 , correspond to an “electric latch drive mechanism” recited in the appended claims. Further, the first rotation lever  90  and the connection lever  130  correspond to a “mechanical latch drive mechanism” recited in the appended claims. 
     (Usage) 
     The following will describe the usage of the handle stroke change structure according to the embodiment. The usage will be described separately for closed time, for normal time, and for emergency. In addition, a release state maintaining mechanism for emergency will be also described. 
     (Closed Time) 
     Prior to operation, as shown in  FIG. 7A , the handle  50  is located at the closed position. In other words, the handle locking portion  62  of the spring  60  is locked with the support portion  51  of the handle  50  and urges the support portion  51  so as to move the handle  50  to the closed position. Further, the trigger button locking portion  63  of the spring  60  at the other end is locked with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  and urges the locking portion  42  so as to move the trigger button  40  rightward. 
     (Normal Time) 
     In an open operation at normal time, as shown in  FIG. 7B , the grip  52  of the handle  50 , which is an operation member, is pulled toward the vehicle compartment side. By so doing, the handle  50 , which is rotationally supported by the case  30 , is rotated in the direction toward the vehicle compartment side. In addition, in the rotated handle  50 , the locked portion  53   a  of the projection  53  is brought into contact with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40 , whereby the rotation of the handle  50  is restricted and the handle  50  stops at the first position. 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the first rotation lever  90 , which is connected to the handle  50  via the cable K, is rotated according to a stroke amount of the handle  50  from the closed position to the first position. The switch pressing portion  92  of the first rotation lever  90  presses the curved portion  102  of the blade spring  101 , causing the center portion of the blade spring  101  to press the drive button (not shown) of the switch device  100 . Then, the switch device  100  applies a predetermined voltage from the battery (not shown) to the motor  110  to rotate the rotation shaft of the motor  110 . Note that, at that time, the connection lever pressing portion  93  of the first rotation lever  90  is not brought into contact with the connection lever  124 . 
     The second rotation lever  111 , which is mounted to the rotation shaft of the motor  110 , is rotated so as to raise the locking portion  122  of the connection lever  120 . Then, by the connection lever  120  being raised, the projection  123  presses the switch portion  73  of the latch mechanism  70 . Thus, the latch mechanism  70  whose switch portion  73  has been pressed moves the engagement portion  72  downward, such that the engagement portion  72  disengages from the door lock striker  2 . Then, by pushing the door  1  toward the vehicle outside, the door opening can be opened. 
     (Emergency) 
     At emergency, for example, when the battery runs out, the occupant presses leftward the trigger button  40 , which is urged rightward by the trigger button locking portion  63  of the spring  60 . By so doing, the trigger button  40  is moved against the urging force of the spring  60  as shown in  FIG. 9A , and hence the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  is not located on the trajectory, on which the projection  53  of the handle  50  is rotated, and is not brought into contact with the projection  53 . Thus, the occupant can move the handle  50  to the second position. 
     Then, while pressing the trigger button  40  leftward, the occupant pulls the handle  50  from the closed position to the second position as shown in  FIG. 9B . By so doing, the first rotation lever  90 , which is connected to the handle  50  via the cable K, is rotated according to the rotation amount of the handle  50  from the closed position to the second position as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The rotation amount of the handle  50  from the closed position to the second position is greater than the rotation amount of the handle  50  from the closed position to the first position. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the first rotation lever  90  is rotated by an amount greater than that at normal time. Then, the connection lever pressing portion  93  of the first rotation lever  90  is brought into contact with the lower portion of the extension  124  of the connection lever  120 , raising the connection lever  120 . By the connection lever  120  being moved upward, the projection  123  presses the switch portion  73  of the latch mechanism  70 . 
     By so doing, the latch mechanism  70  whose switch portion  73  has been pressed moves the engagement portion  72  downward such that the engagement portion  72  disengages from the door lock striker  2 . Then, by pushing the door  1  toward the vehicle outside, the door opening can be opened. 
     In addition, at emergency, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the first rotation lever  90  is rotated by an amount greater than that at normal time, and hence the switch pressing portion  92  is also displaced more greatly than at normal time. Here, the curved portion  102  of the blade spring  101 , which is pressed by the switch pressing portion  92 , is convexly curved. In other words, even if the switch pressing portion  92  is displaced more greatly than at normal time, the switch pressing portion  92  contacts the curved portion  102  so as to slide thereon over the curved portion top  103  toward the other end of the blade spring  101 . Thus, an excessive force is not applied to the curved portion  102 . Therefore, even if the switch pressing portion  92  is displaced more greatly than at normal time by the rotation of the first rotation lever  90  at emergency, the blade spring  101  is not excessively pressed, and hence the switch device  100  can be prevented from being damaged. 
     (Release State Maintaining Mechanism) 
     When a state where the door  1  is released is desired to be maintained, the pressing of the trigger button  40  is released in the state where the handle  50  is held at the second position as shown in  FIG. 9B . In this case, as shown in  FIG. 9C , the trigger button  40  is urged by the trigger button locking portion  63  of the spring  60  so as to be moved rightward. Thus, when the handle  50  is about to be rotated from the second position back to the closed position by the handle locking portion  62  of the spring  60 , the second locked portion  53   b  of the projection  53  is brought into contact with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  so as to be locked therewith, and hence the handle  50  is not returned to the closed position and the state where the handle  50  is located at the second position can be maintained. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the state where the first rotation lever  90  has been rotated in conjunction with the handle  50  located at the second position is maintained, so that the first rotation lever  90  continues to press the switch portion  73  of the latch mechanism  70  and the latch mechanism  70  is maintained in a release state. 
     As described above, according to the door stroke change mechanism of the embodiment, the operation member operated in the open operation at normal time, and the operation member operated in an open operation at emergency, are the handle  50  which is a common operation member. In addition, the operating manners of the handle  50  at normal time and at emergency are different from each other in the rotation amount to the first position or the second position, but basically involve the same motion of pulling the grip  52  of the handle  50  toward the vehicle compartment side. Thus, the operation member for normal time and emergency is the handle  50  operated in the same manner, and hence a user can reduce the burden to memorize the operating manners for normal time and for emergency. Further, since the operating manners are the same, it is less likely to forget the door open operation for emergency and the possibility of being trapped in the vehicle is reduced. 
     Moreover, the shaft  35  of the case  30 , which rotationally supports the handle  50  in the case  30 , is an existing component which rotationally supports the handle  50 . The trigger button  40  of the embodiment is pivotally supported by the shaft  35  of the case  30 . Thus, the number of parts is reduced when compared to that in the case where a shaft  35  for pivotally supporting the trigger button  40  is separately provided. 
     Moreover, the handle locking portion  62 , which is located at the one end of the spring  60 , is locked with the handle  50  in order to return the rotated handle  50  to the closed position. However, in the embodiment, the trigger button locking portion  63 , which is located at the other end of the spring  60 , is locked with the trigger button  40 . Thus, the number of parts is not particularly increased. 
     Moreover, the locking portion  42 , which is formed in the trigger button  40 , restricts the rotation amount of the handle  50  to the amount from the closed position to the first position, and restricts the handle  50  which has been rotated to the second position from returning to the closed position. Thus, according to the trigger button  40  of the embodiment, the one projection  53  has the functions of two restrictive members (the first locked portion  53   a  and the second locked portion  53   b ). Therefore, the structure can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. 
     The door stroke change mechanism has been described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  may have a fragile portion. The fragile portion allows the locking portion  42  to be broken when a great force is applied thereto. Examples of the fragile portion include a notch along the rotation direction of the locking portion  42 . According to this, when an occupant, who fails to open the door  1  by the operating manner for normal time, strongly pulls the handle  50  toward the vehicle compartment side, the projection  53  of the handle  50  can be brought into contact with the locking portion  42  of the trigger button  40  to break the locking portion  42 . Then, the handle  50  can be moved to the second position, and it is possible to open the door  1 . 
     According to the door handle stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to operate the electric latch drive mechanism and the mechanical latch drive mechanism, by operating the common operation member. The operating manner of moving the operation member from the closed position, at which the latch mechanism is not caused to perform the open action, to the first position, at which the latch mechanism is caused to perform the open action by the electric latch drive mechanism, and the operating manner of moving the operation member from the close position to the second position at which the latch mechanism is caused to perform the open action by the mechanical latch drive mechanism, are the same. Thus, by changing a movement amount of the operation member which operates the electric latch drive mechanism and the mechanical latch drive mechanism, namely, a stroke of the operation member, the electric latch drive mechanism and the mechanical latch drive mechanism can be operated with the operation member and by the same operating manner. Therefore, the user easily understands and memorizes the operating manner of the operation member, and user&#39;s burden can be reduced. In addition, the possibility of forgetting the operating manner before use can be reduced, and the user can be prevented from being trapped in the vehicle compartment due to the operating manner for emergency being forgotten. 
     Since the common operation member which operates the electric latch drive mechanism and the mechanical latch drive mechanism can be provided, the number of parts can be reduced. In addition, the operating manner of the operation member at emergency is moving the operation member from the closed position to the second position, the amount of which moving is greater than the movement amount of the operation member from the closed position to the first position at normal time. Thus, at normal time, the latch mechanism is caused to perform the open action with a small movement amount of the operation member, and hence the user can release the door with a small force. On the other hand, at emergency, there is a high possibility that the operation member will be strongly operated due to panic. By being strongly operated, the operation member can be moved to the second position, causing the latch mechanism to perform the open action. Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility of being trapped in the vehicle compartment. 
     In the door handle stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, a restriction mechanism which restricts a movement of the operation member from the first position to the second position may be provided, and the restriction mechanism may include a release mechanism which releases restriction of the movement of the operation member from the first position to the second position. 
     Since the door handle stroke change structure of the second aspect has the restriction mechanism which restricts the movement of the operation member from the first position to the second position, the user can be prevented from accidentally moving the operation member to the second position at normal time. Meanwhile, by providing the release mechanism which releases the restriction mechanism, the user can move the operation member to the second position only at emergency, and can urgently release the door. 
     In the door handle stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, a restriction member which restricts the movement of the operation member from the first position to the second position may be provided; the operation member may be a handle which rotates about a rotation shaft provided in the door; the restriction mechanism may include a locking portion provided in the restriction member, and a locked portion which is provided in the handle and locked with a locking portion provided in the restriction member, in a rotation direction of the handle; the release mechanism may include the restriction member which has the locking portion and an elongated hole in which the rotation shaft is inserted; the restriction member may be locked with the locked portion of the handle when the rotation shaft is located at one end of the elongated hole in a longitudinal direction thereof; and locking with the locked portion of the handle may be released when the rotation shaft is located at the other end of the elongated hole in the longitudinal direction thereof. 
     According to the door stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, since the restriction member slides using, as a guide, the rotation shaft of the handle through the elongated hole formed in the restriction member, the restriction mechanism and the release mechanism can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. 
     In the door handle stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, the handle may be urged by an urging member so as to return to the closed position, and the restriction member may be urged by the urging member so as to return to a position at which the locking portion of the restriction member is locked with the locked portion of the handle. 
     According to the door stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, by using the urging member which urges the handle such that the handle returns to the closed position, the restriction member is returned to the position at which the locking portion of the restriction member is locked with the locked portion of the handle. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced when compared to that in the case where an urging member is separately provided. 
     The door handle stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention may further include a release state maintaining mechanism which is able to hold the operation member at the second position. 
     According to the door stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, even when the user does not hold the operation member at the second position, the operation member can be held at the second position by the release state maintaining mechanism. Thus, even when the user accidentally closes the door, the door can be opened again without moving the operation member to the second position. 
     In particular, the door stroke change structure of the fifth aspect may be applied to only an inner handle of the door, and the occupant may close the door after getting off the vehicle. In such a case, when opening the door, the occupant has to use a door release mechanism for emergency which is located outside the vehicle and different from the door handle stroke change structure. This operation takes time and effort. Thus, in such a case, by the release state maintaining mechanism, the operation member can be maintained at a state of releasing the door, and time and effort for using the door release mechanism for emergency from outside the vehicle, can be avoided. 
     In the door handle stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, the handle may have a projection which projects in a radial direction of the rotation shaft; the locked portion may be provided at one end of the projection in a rotation shaft direction of the handle; the second locked portion which is able to be locked with the locking portion of the restriction member may be provided at the other end of the projection in the rotation shaft direction of the handle; and the second locked portion may be locked with the locking portion of the restriction member when the handle is located at the second position. 
     According to the door stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, since the locking portion of the restriction member is locked with the second locked portion provided in the handle, the handle can be held at the second position. 
     Further, the door handle stroke change structure of the sixth aspect may be applied to only an inner handle of the door, and the occupant may close the door after getting off the vehicle. In such a case, when opening the door, the occupant has to use a door release mechanism for emergency. This operation takes time and effort. Thus, in such a case, by the release state maintaining mechanism, the operation member can be maintained at a state of releasing the door, and time and effort for using the door release mechanism for emergency from outside the vehicle, can be avoided. By providing, in the handle, the projection which is simple in structure, two functions of: restricting the movement amount of the operation member to the first position; and holding the operation member at the second position can be provided. Thus, the structure can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. 
     In the door handle stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, the restriction member may have a fragile portion which is able to break when a predetermined force is applied to the operation member by a motion of moving the operation member from the first position to the second position. 
     According to the door stroke change structure of the embodiment of the present invention, the fragile portion is provided, which breaks by the predetermined force which is stronger than a normal force. Thus, at emergency, since there is a high possibility that the user will operate the operation member with a strong force due to panic, the restriction member breaks by the strong force, and hence the user can move the operation member to the second position and urgently release the door. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.