Patent Publication Number: US-11639620-B2

Title: Vehicular door handle device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application 2019-032627, filed on Feb. 26, 2019, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure generally relates to a vehicular door handle device. 
     BACKGROUND DISCUSSION 
     A vehicular door lock device generally includes a latch mechanism for engaging with a striker provided on an edge portion of an opening (for example, an entrance) of a vehicle main body, and keeping a vehicular door in a closed state. Furthermore, the vehicular door lock device includes a release mechanism for releasing engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker. The release mechanism is coupled to a handle portion of a vehicular door handle device via a link mechanism (such as a rod and a cable). The handle portion is rotatably supported about a predetermined shaft member on a door panel. In a state where the latch mechanism and the striker engage with each other, when a user pulls the handle portion toward the user, the handle portion rotates with respect to the door panel. Then, the rotating operation is transmitted to the release mechanism via the link mechanism, and the engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker is released. In other words, the vehicular door is brought into an openable state. Further, the vehicular door lock device including an electric actuator that drives the release mechanism is also known. 
     Furthermore, the vehicular door lock device generally includes a lock/unlock mechanism. The lock/unlock mechanism switches a state (unlock state) where the link mechanism and the release mechanism engage with each other and a state (lock state) where the engagement between the link mechanism and the release mechanism is released. The lock/unlock mechanism is coupled to a door lock knob. Further, the vehicular door lock device including an electric actuator that drives the lock/unlock mechanism is also known. 
     The electric actuator described above is controlled by a control device (ECU) of the vehicle. The control device controls the electric actuator, based on an output signal of a sensor provided on the vehicular door handle device. 
     For example, JP 2012-129762A (Reference 1) discloses a vehicular door handle including a touch sensor that detects a change in capacitance. The touch sensor is connected to a control device (ECU) of a vehicle. The control device controls an electric actuator that drives a lock/unlock mechanism of a vehicular door lock device, based on an output signal (signal according to a change in capacitance) of the touch sensor. 
     The control device may also control an electric actuator that drives a release mechanism of the vehicular door lock device, based on an output signal of the touch sensor. In this case, when a user touches a detection region of the touch sensor on an outer surface of a handle portion, the touch sensor outputs a signal according to a change in capacitance. The control device activates the electric actuator, based on the output signal of the touch sensor, releases engagement between a latch and a striker, and brings a vehicular door into an openable state. Then, when the user pulls the handle portion toward the user in this state, the vehicular door opens. 
     In order to activate the electric actuator, predetermined electric power needs to be supplied to the electric actuator from a power source device (battery) of a vehicle. In a state where sufficient electric power can be supplied to the electric actuator, the electric actuator drives the release device only by a touch on the touch sensor by a user, and engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker is released. Therefore, this case does not need a structure that rotates the handle portion with respect to a door panel, and a link mechanism for coupling the handle portion and the release mechanism to each other. Furthermore, in a state where the engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker is released by the electric actuator, the vehicular door opens more easily when the handle portion is fixed to the door panel than when the handle portion is rotatably supported with respect to the door panel. 
     However, when electric power supplied to the electric actuator from the power source device is insufficient, the electric actuator is failed to be appropriately activated. In other words, the engagement between the latch mechanism and the striker is not released only by a touch on the touch sensor by a user. Thus, in this case, the release mechanism needs to be activated via the link mechanism by rotating the handle portion with respect to the door panel. 
     A need thus exists for a vehicular door handle device which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vehicular door handle device according to this disclosure includes a main body portion, a sensor, a frame portion, and a fixing mechanism. The main body portion is disposed on an outside surface of a door panel of a vehicle, extends in a predetermined direction, and includes a hollow portion in an intermediate portion in the extending direction. The sensor is housed in the hollow portion, detects a change in capacitance, and is connected to a control device that controls an opening mechanism for setting a closed vehicular door in an openable state. The frame portion includes a shaft portion that extends in the predetermined direction and rotatably supports the main body portion. The fixing mechanism fixes the main body portion to the frame portion. Fixing of the main body portion to the frame portion by the fixing mechanism is temporarily released, and the opening mechanism is configured to be driven by rotating the main body portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of a front door to which a door handle device according to one embodiment of this disclosure is applied; 
         FIG.  2    is a front view when the door handle device in  FIG.  1    is seen from a compartment inner side; 
         FIG.  3    is a front view when the door handle device in  FIG.  1    is seen from a compartment outer side; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view taken along a IV-IV line in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along a V-V line in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view taken along a VI-VI line in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view taken along a VII-VII line in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a fixing pin; 
         FIG.  9    is a bottom view of the fixing pin; 
         FIG.  10    is a plan view of the fixing pin; 
         FIG.  11    is a side view of the fixing pin; 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the fixing pin is inserted in a slit of a handle portion and a frame portion; 
         FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the fixing pin in  FIG.  12    is rotated 90° and fixes the handle portion and the frame portion; 
         FIG.  14    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rotating operation of an intermediate portion of the handle portion; 
         FIG.  15    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rotating operation of a rear portion (a IV-IV portion in  FIG.  2   ) of the handle portion; 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a rotating operation of a rear portion (a VII-VII portion in  FIG.  2   ) of the handle portion; and 
         FIG.  17    is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate portion of a handle portion including a protruding portion according to a modification example of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment disclosed here will be explained with reference to the attached drawings. 
     Note that, in the following description of each component of this disclosure, reference signs of corresponding components and parts in an embodiment is described in parentheses in order to facilitate understanding of this disclosure. However, each component of this disclosure should not be limited to a configuration of the corresponding components and parts indicated by the reference sign in the embodiment for interpretation. 
     A door handle device  1  according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described below. First, an outline of a front door FD (see  FIG.  1   ) to which the door handle device  1  is applied will be described. The front door FD is attached to a right entrance of a vehicle, for example. A front end surface of the front door FD is assembled to the entrance provided on a side surface portion of a main body portion of the vehicle via a hinge(s) (not illustrated). The front door FD rotates about a shaft of the hinge(s), and opens and closes the entrance of the vehicle. Various directions in the following description represent directions in a state where the front door FD is closed. Note that this embodiment is an example of applying the door handle device  1  to the right front door FD of the vehicle, but the door handle device  1  is also applicable to another door. 
     The front door FD includes a door panel DP. The door panel DP is provided with an inner panel DP 1  (compartment inner side panel) and an outer panel DP 2  (compartment outer side panel). Outer circumferential portions of the inner panel DP 1  and the outer panel DP 2  are bonded to each other. The inner panel DP 1  and the outer panel DP 2  are press-molded in advance into a shape including space formed between the inner panel DP 1  and the outer panel DP 2 , in the state where the outer circumferential portions of the inner panel DP 1  and the outer panel DP 2  are bonded to each other. In other words, the door panel DP is a box-shaped part (or a bag-shaped part). 
     A door lock device DL and the door handle device  1  are attached to the door panel DP. The door lock device DL is disposed on a rear end surface in the door panel DP. The door lock device DL includes a latch mechanism LM for engaging with a striker ST provided on a circumferential portion of the entrance of the vehicle, and holding the state where the front door FD is closed. A part of the latch mechanism LM is exposed from an opening provided in the rear end surface of the door panel DP. When the front door FD is closed, the striker ST enters the door panel DP through the opening, and the latch mechanism LM and the striker ST engage with each other. 
     Furthermore, the door lock device DL includes a release mechanism RM (open mechanism) for releasing the engagement between the latch mechanism LM and the striker ST. The release mechanism RM includes a lever, a link member, and the like that engage with the latch mechanism LM. Furthermore, the door lock device DL includes an electric actuator AC that drives the release mechanism RM (that rotates or moves the lever, the link member, and the like). The electric actuator AC is connected to a control device of the vehicle via a cable (not illustrated). The control device includes a microcomputer and an electric power supply device to the electric actuator AC. Furthermore, the release mechanism RM is coupled to the door handle device  1  described later via a link mechanism LK (for example, a rod RD extending in a vehicle height direction). As described later in detail, the release mechanism RM is normally driven by the electric actuator AC. When a malfunction occurs in the electric actuator AC or the control device, the release mechanism RM is driven by the door handle device  1  and the link mechanism LK. 
     A recessed portion RP being slightly recessed toward a left side (door panel DP inner side) is formed in a portion that is a rear portion of the outer panel DP 2  and is located above the door lock device DL. An anteroposterior pair of openings (through holes) OP and OP (see  FIG.  2    as well as  FIGS.  6  and  7   ) are provided in the recessed portion RP. The door handle device  1  is attached to the recessed portion RP. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  to  7   , the door handle device  1  includes a frame portion  10 , a handle portion  20 , a touch sensor  30 , and a fixing pin  40 . 
     The frame portion  10  is disposed in the door panel DP. As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the frame portion  10  includes a support body  11  and a shaft  12 . The support body  11  is attached to a left side surface of the recessed portion RP (inside surface of the door panel DP). 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , a tube portion  111  is formed on a rear portion of the support body  11 . A central axis of the tube portion  111  is inclined in such a way that a lower end side thereof is located closer to the right than an upper end side. A slit S 111a  extending in a vehicle anteroposterior direction is formed in a bottom wall portion  111   a  of the tube portion  111  (see  FIG.  15   ). A lower end portion of the tube portion  111  protrudes from the opening OP provided in the outer panel DP 2  toward the outside of the door panel DP. 
     The shaft  12  extends in the vehicle anteroposterior direction slightly above and slightly on the left (inner panel DP 1  side) when seen from the openings OP and OP, and is supported by the support body  11  (see  FIG.  2    as well as  FIGS.  6  and  7   ). 
     As described later in detail, the handle portion  20  is supported rotatably about the shaft  12 , but the handle portion  20  is normally fixed to the frame portion  10  by the fixing pin  40 . Various directions in the following description of the configuration of the handle portion  20  are directions in a state where the handle portion  20  is fixed to the frame portion  10 . 
     Next, the configuration of the handle portion  20  will be described. The handle portion  20  includes a main body portion  21  and an anteroposterior pair of arm portions  22  and  23  (see  FIGS.  2  and  3   ). The main body portion  21  extends in the vehicle anteroposterior direction. The main body portion  21  is disposed on a right surface of the recessed portion RP (outside surface of the outer panel DP 2 ). The main body portion  21  is disposed in an upper half portion of the recessed portion RP. When seen from the right of the front door FD, the main body portion  21  has a trapezoid that is a substantially trapezoid extending in the vehicle anteroposterior direction and has an upper bottom side  21   a  longer than a lower bottom side  21   b  (see  FIG.  3   ). In  FIG.  3   , the upper bottom side  21   a  is linear, but the lower bottom side  21   b  is curved in such a way that a central portion thereof is slightly located closer to the top than both end portions. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , a hollow portion  21 Ma is provided in an intermediate portion  21 M in an extending direction (vehicle anteroposterior direction) of the main body portion  21 . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the hollow portion  21 Ma is a space surrounded by a bottom wall portion W 1 , an outer wall portion W 2 , an upper wall portion W 3 , and an inner wall portion W 4 . 
     The bottom wall portion W 1  is a flat plate portion extending in the vehicle anteroposterior direction. The bottom wall portion W 1  is disposed in such a way that one end portion in a width direction (direction perpendicular to a plate thickness direction and the vehicle anteroposterior direction) thereof is located closer to the bottom than the other end portion. In other words, the plate thickness direction of the bottom wall portion W 1  is inclined to the vehicle height direction and a vehicle width direction. 
     The outer wall portion W 2  is a flat plate portion that extends upward from a right end portion of the bottom wall portion W 1  and also extends in the vehicle anteroposterior direction. 
     The upper wall portion W 3  extends leftward from an upper end portion of the outer wall portion W 2  and also extends in the vehicle anteroposterior direction. The upper wall portion W 3  has a substantially right triangle in a section of the intermediate portion  21 M perpendicular to the vehicle anteroposterior direction. In the section, a sharp portion (one corner portion) of the upper wall portion W 3  is directed toward the left. 
     The inner wall portion W 4  is a flat plate portion extending in the vehicle anteroposterior direction. The inner wall portion W 4  is disposed substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall portion W 1 . 
     The bottom wall portion W 1 , the outer wall portion W 2 , and the upper wall portion W 3  are integrally formed. The inner wall portion W 4  is different from the bottom wall portion W 1 , the outer wall portion W 2 , and the upper wall portion W 3 . A space being surrounded by the bottom wall portion W 1 , the outer wall portion W 2 , and the upper wall portion W 3  and open obliquely upward to the left is formed, and the opening is closed with the upper wall portion W 4 . 
     A protruding portion P 1  protruding downward is formed on a connection portion (corner portion) between the bottom wall portion W 1  and the outer wall portion W 2 . Further, a protruding portion P 2  protruding obliquely downward to the left is formed on a connection portion (corner portion) between the bottom wall portion W 1  and the inner wall portion W 4 . The protruding portion P 1  and the protruding portion P 2  extend in the vehicle anteroposterior direction along both end portions in the width direction of the bottom wall portion W 1 . 
     Furthermore, the main body portion  21  includes a plate portion  21 Ra protruding obliquely downward to the left from a lower portion of a left surface of a rear portion  21 R thereof (see  FIG.  4   ). The plate portion  21 Ra overlaps with an outside surface of the bottom wall portion  111   a  of the tube portion  111 . A slit S 21Ra  extending in the vehicle anteroposterior direction is formed in the plate portion  21 Ra. The slit S 21Ra  and the slit S 111a  overlap and communicate with each other. The slit S 21Ra  and the slit S 111a  have the same width and length. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the arm portions  22  and  23  extend leftward and upward from a left surface of the main body portion  21 . The arm portions  22  and  23  include support arm portions  22   a  and  23   a  that are inserted into the door panel DP from the openings OP and OP and are supported by the shaft  12 . Tip end portions of the support arm portions  22   a  and  23   a  are supported rotatably about the shaft  12 . The support arm portions  22   a  and  23   a  are biased by a torsion coil spring (not illustrated) in a clockwise direction in  FIGS.  6  and  7   . The main body portion  21  abuts an outside surface of the recessed portion RP, and the handle portion  20  is at rest. Furthermore, the arm portion  23  includes a crank arm portion  23   b  extending leftward from the tip end portion of the support arm portion  23   a.    
     The touch sensor  30  is housed in the hollow portion  21 Ma. The touch sensor  30  includes a detection unit  31  that detects a change in capacitance (see  FIG.  5   ). The detection unit  31  is a rectangular plate-shaped portion extending in the vehicle anteroposterior direction. The detection unit  31  has a width and a length smaller than a width and a length of the bottom wall portion W 1 . The detection unit  31  overlaps with and is fixed to an upper surface of the bottom wall portion W 1  (inside surface of the hollow portion  21 Ma). The detection unit  31  detects a change in capacitance of an outside surface of the bottom wall portion W 1 . The touch sensor  30  outputs a signal according to the change in capacitance. A region that is the outside surface of the bottom wall portion W 1  and allows the detection unit  31  to detect a change in capacitance is referred to as a detection region X. Note that, after the touch sensor  30  is attached to the bottom wall portion W 1 , the inner wall portion W 4  is attached. A circumferential portion of the inner wall portion W 4  (such as a boundary portion between the inner wall portion W 4  and the bottom wall portion W 1  and a boundary portion between the inner wall portion W 4  and the bottom wall portion W 1 ) is sealed by using a seal member (not illustrated). The touch sensor  30  is connected to a microcomputer of the control device of the vehicle via a cable (not illustrated). When a user touches the outside surface of the bottom wall portion W 1 , a capacitance of the detection unit  31  changes. The touch sensor  30  supplies a signal according to the change in capacitance to the control device. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , the fixing pin  40  includes a head portion  41 , a shaft portion  42 , and a pair of flange portions  43  and  43 . As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , the head portion  41  is formed into a disk shape. A linear groove G passing through a central portion is formed in one of side surfaces of the head portion  41 . The shaft portion  42  is formed on a central portion of the other side surface of the head portion  41 . The shaft portion  42  extends in a plate thickness direction of the head portion  41 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  10  and  11   , the flange portions  43  and  43  are rectangular plate-shaped portions each protruding in a diameter direction of the shaft portion  42  from a tip end portion of the shaft portion  42 . One flange portion  43  and the other flange portion  43  are offset by 180° in the diameter direction of the shaft portion  42 . As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , the flange portion  43  is formed into a wedge shape. In other words, a side surface portion  43   a  located opposite to the head portion  41  is perpendicular to an extending direction of the shaft portion  42 , and a side surface portion  43   b  located on the head portion  41  side is inclined to the side surface portion  43   a . More specifically, when the flange portion  43  is seen from an outer peripheral side of the fixing pin  40 , a left end of the side surface portion  43   b  is located above a right end. In other words, in  FIG.  11   , a plate thickness of the flange portion  43  gradually increases from the right end of the flange portion  43  toward the left end. A diameter of the shaft portion  42  and a width of the flange portions  43  and  43  are slightly smaller than a width of the slit S 21Ra  and the slit S 111a . A distance between a tip end surface in an extending direction of one flange portion  43  and a tip end surface in an extending direction of the other flange portion  43  is slightly smaller than a length of the slit S 21Ra  and the slit S 111a . 
     A tip end portion of the fixing pin  40  is inserted in the slit S 21Ra  and the slit S 111a  from below the plate portion  21 Ra. As illustrated in  FIG.  12   , in a state where the head portion  41  of the fixing pin  40  abuts an outside surface of the plate portion  21 Ra, end portions on a thin-walled portion side (sharp portion side) of the flange portions  43  and  43  are located in the tube portion  111 , but end portions on a thick-walled portion side of the flange portions  43  and  43  are located outside the tube portion  111 . A predetermined tool is inserted in the groove portion G, and the fixing pin  40  is rotated 90° in the clockwise direction when seen from one side surface portion side of the head portion  41  by using the tool. In this way, as illustrated in  FIG.  13   , the shaft portion  42  rotates while becoming elastically deformed so as to slightly extend, and the entire flange portions  43  and  43  enter the tube portion  111 . In such a manner, the flange portions  43  and  43  engage with a circumferential portion of the slit S 111a . In this way, the handle portion  20  is fixed to the frame portion  10 . In other words, the rotation of the handle portion  20  about the shaft  12  is regulated. 
     As described above, the bottom wall portion  111   a  and the plate portion  21 Ra are sandwiched between the head portion  41  and the flange portions  43  and  43 . In this state, the shaft portion  42  is elastically deformed so as to extend. Thus, the flange portions  43  and  43  are pulled toward the bottom wall portion  111   a  side by the shaft portion  42 , and the side surface portions  43   a  and  43   b  of the flange portions  43  and  43  are pressed against the bottom wall portion  111   a . Further, the head portion  41  is pulled toward the plate portion  21 Ra side by the shaft portion  42 , and the head portion  41  is pressed against the plate portion  21 Ra. Thus, the fixing pin  40  is prevented from rotating due to an impact when the front door FD is open and closed, vibration during traveling of the vehicle, and the like and then falling off the frame portion  10  and the handle portion  20 . 
     Note that, as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , in a state where the handle portion  20  is fixed to the frame portion  10  by the fixing pin  40 , a lower end of the main body portion  21  is located slightly below a lower end of the fixing pin  40 . Therefore, when the handle portion  20  of the front door FD is seen, the fixing pin  40  is not visually recognized. Thus, an excellent aesthetic appearance of the side surface portion of the vehicle is maintained. 
     In the door handle device  1  configured as described above, the protruding portions P 1  and P 2  protruding downward are formed on the both end portions in the width direction of the bottom wall portion W 1 . In other words, the protruding portions P 1  and P 2  each protrude downward farther than one end portion and the other end portion in the width direction of the detection region X of the touch sensor  30 . For example, when a raindrop flows on the outer wall portion W 2  or the inner wall portion W 4  of the main body portion  21  and flows downward in rain, the raindrop accumulates to a certain extent on the tip end portions of the protruding portions P 1  and P 2  by action of its surface tension, and then falls due to its own weight. In other words, the protruding portions P 1  and P 2  regulate the raindrop flowing to the outside surface (detection region X) of the bottom wall portion W 1  from the outer wall portion W 2  or the inner wall portion W 4 . Thus, the raindrop is less likely to adhere to the bottom wall portion W 1 , and activation of the electric actuator AC by mistake by the control device can be suppressed. 
     Further, when a user touches the outside surface of the bottom wall portion W 1  in the state where the front door FD is closed, a capacitance of the detection unit  31  changes, and a signal according to the change in capacitance is supplied to the control device from the touch sensor  30 . The control device supplies electric power to the electric actuator AC of the door lock device DL, based on the signal supplied from the touch sensor  30 , and activates the electric actuator AC. In this way, the release mechanism RM is driven, and the engagement between the latch mechanism LM and the striker ST is released. In other words, the front door FD is in an openable state. When a user pulls the handle portion  20  toward the user, the front door FD opens. At this time, the handle portion  20  is fixed to the frame portion  10 , and thus the user can easily pull the handle portion  20  toward the user. 
     There is a case where a malfunction (for example, a state of an extremely small charge amount of a battery of the vehicle) occurs in the touch sensor  30 , the electric actuator AC, or the control device, and the electric actuator AC does not operate even when a user touches the bottom wall portion W 1 . In case of such malfunction, the user rotates the fixing pin  40  90° counterclockwise by using a predetermined tool, and removes the fixing pin  40  from the frame portion  10  and the handle portion  20 . Then, as illustrated in  FIGS.  14  to  16   , the handle portion  20  is rotated about the shaft  12  by pulling up a lower end portion of the handle portion  20  toward the front. Then, the rod RD is pushed downward by the crank arm portion  23   b . In this way, the release mechanism RM is driven by the link mechanism LK, and the engagement between the latch mechanism LM and the striker ST is released. 
     Note that the shaft  12  is disposed closer to the right than a line extending from a central axis line of the tube portion  111  in such a way that a track of the plate portion  21 Ra when the handle portion  20  is rotated is not superimposed on the corner portion of the tube portion  111 . 
     Furthermore, the implementation of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the purpose of this disclosure. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  17   , the outside surface of the protruding portion P 1  may be constituted with a portion extending obliquely downward to the right from the outside surface of the bottom wall portion W 1  and a portion extending downward from the outside surface of the outer wall portion W 2 . Further, for example, a nut may be disposed in the tube portion  111 , and the handle portion  20  may be fixed to the frame portion  10  by using a screw instead of the fixing pin  40 . 
     A vehicular door handle device according to this disclosure includes a main body portion, a sensor, a frame portion, and a fixing mechanism. The main body portion is disposed on an outside surface of a door panel of a vehicle, extends in a predetermined direction, and includes a hollow portion in an intermediate portion in the extending direction. The sensor is housed in the hollow portion, detects a change in capacitance, and is connected to a control device that controls an opening mechanism for setting a closed vehicular door in an openable state. The frame portion includes a shaft portion that extends in the predetermined direction and rotatably supports the main body portion. The fixing mechanism fixes the main body portion to the frame portion. Fixing of the main body portion to the frame portion by the fixing mechanism is temporarily released, and the opening mechanism is configured to be driven by rotating the main body portion. 
     In the vehicular door handle device according to an aspect of this disclosure, the main body portion may include an arm portion extending toward a compartment side. A shaft portion of the frame portion may rotatably support an end portion of the arm portion. The fixing mechanism may include a fixing member that engages with the main body portion and the frame portion from an outside of a vehicle and fixes the main body portion to the frame portion. 
     In the vehicular door handle device according to an aspect of this disclosure, the fixing member may include a stick-shaped portion. The main body portion and the frame portion may include a communication portion, and the main body portion may be fixed to the frame portion by inserting the stick-shaped portion into the communication portion. 
     In the vehicular door handle device according to an aspect of this disclosure, the frame portion may include a tubular portion that extends obliquely toward a compartment outer side and downward from a predetermined position in the door panel, and includes a bottom wall portion being perpendicular to the extending direction and having a flat plate shape. The main body portion may include a plate-shaped portion overlapping with an outside surface of the bottom wall portion of the tubular portion. A through hole serving as the communication portion may be provided in the tubular portion and the plate-shaped portion. The through hole and the tubular portion may be disposed coaxially. A shaft portion of the frame portion may extend in a horizontal direction, and a central axis of the shaft portion may be located on a compartment outer side when seen from a central axis of the tubular portion. 
     When a user touches the hollow portion of the main body portion in a state where the vehicular door is closed, a capacitance in a detection region of the sensor changes, and a signal according to the change in capacitance is supplied to the control device from the sensor. The control device supplies electric power to an electric actuator, based on the signal supplied from the sensor, and activates the electric actuator. In this way, the vehicular door is brought into an openable state. The main body portion is fixed to the frame portion when a user pulls the main body portion toward the user, and thus the user can easily pull a handle portion toward the user. 
     There is a case where a malfunction (for example, a state of an extremely small charge amount of a battery of the vehicle) occurs in the sensor, the electric actuator, or the control device, and the electric actuator is not activated even when a user touches the hollow portion. In case of such a malfunction, fixing of the main body portion to the frame portion by the fixing mechanism may be released. In this way, the main body portion is rotatable about a shaft portion of the frame portion. A user can open the vehicular door by rotating the main body portion. 
     According to this disclosure, it is possible to is to provide a vehicular door handle device that is applied to a vehicular door including an electric actuator that drives an open mechanism for setting a closed vehicular door in an openable state, that facilitates an operation of opening the vehicular door under normal circumstances, and that can drive the open mechanism by using a handle portion in an unusual case. 
     The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.