Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a vehicle door latch device that includes a Bowden cable for transmitting operation of an outside handle to a door latch mechanism.

A door latch mechanism is disposed in a door, and releases engagement with a striker on a vehicle body side based on door opening operation of an outside handle provided in the door outside a vehicle to enable the door to be opened. A Bowden cable is used as means for transmitting door opening operation of the outside handle to a door latch device.

Patent Literature <NUM> describes a Bowden cable that includes an outer cable and an inner cable inserted into the outer cable. The inner cable is coupled at one end to an outside handle, and at the other end to a release lever of a door latch mechanism. Accordingly, when the outside handle is subjected to door opening operation, the inner cable is pulled up to operate the release lever.

<CIT> discloses a device whereby a manually actuatable handle can move in relation to a carrier which is fixed in the door and acts on the closure by means of a Bowden cable. Said Bowden cable consists of a jacket having a core which can move longitudinally therein. Said core is connected to an active element which moves when the handle moves, whereas the handle-side end part of the jacket is held on a fixed shoulder of the carrier. In order to be able to adjust the Bowden cable in the assembled state, a spacer element is arranged as required between the supporting shoulder on the carrier and a counter-shoulder on the end part of the jacket. Said end part of the jacket is subjected to applied force in the direction of the supporting shoulder and is held at a distance from the supporting surface when the spacer element is in an active position. The spacer element can be removed as required by means of a handle provided thereon, the counter-shoulder of the end part of the jacket being applied directly against the supporting surface.

<CIT> discloses a water-proof cover disposed cooperatively with an inner cable, said cover overlies the whole of the end portion of an outer casing over the distance longer than the stroke distance of forward and backward movement of said inner cable. When said inner cable is operated, even if water is about to enter said outer casing from the top directly or along said inner cable, it is led from the end portion of said outer casing to the outside by said water-proof cover since the water-proof always overlies the outside of said outer casing, thereby the water can be prevented from entering said outer casing. Technical Problem to be Solved.

Unfortunately, an outside handle disposed on a vehicle exterior side of a door is generally disposed above a door latch mechanism, so that one end of each of an inner cable and an outer cable coupled to the outside handle faces upward. This may cause rainwater entering the inside of the door along the outside handle to enter the inside of the outer cable. When rainwater enters the inside of the outer cable, freezing or rust may occur inside the outer cable to cause a malfunction.

The present invention is made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a vehicle door latch device that prevents ingress of rainwater into an outer cable of a Bowden cable as set out in independent claim <NUM>. Optional features are presented in the appended dependent claims.

Disclosed is an operation handle supported by a handle base provided in a door; a door latch mechanism that maintains the door in a closed state; a Bowden cable having an outer cable that is fixed at one end to the handle base and at the other end to the door latch mechanism, and an inner cable that is inserted into the outer cable while being coupled at one end to the operation handle and at the other end to a release lever of the door latch mechanism; and an elastic cap having a cover portion in a cylindrical shape, extending in a movement direction of the inner cable to cover the inner cable extending from the one end of the outer cable.

It is preferable that the cover portion of the elasticity cap is formed in a bellows shape capable of expansion and contraction in the movement direction of the inner cable, and that the inner cable is bonded with adhesive to an outlet of the cover portion.

It is preferable that the elastic cap is filled with grease.

It is preferable that the door latch mechanism includes a cable holding portion for fixing the other end of the outer cable, and that the cable holding portion fixes the other end of the outer cable while being engaged with the Bowden cable in its axial direction and around its axis.

According to the present invention, providing the elastic cap covering the inner cable extending from one end upward of the outer cable enables stable operation to be acquired over a long period by preventing ingress of rainwater into the outer cable.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, vehicle door latch device <NUM> according to the present invention includes door latch mechanism <NUM>, outside handle operation handle <NUM> (an example of an operation handle), Bowden cable <NUM>, elastic cap <NUM> of a first embodiment (refer to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) or elastic cap <NUM> of a second embodiment (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>).

Here, door latch mechanism <NUM> is disposed in door <NUM> of a vehicle. Outside handle <NUM> is disposed on a vehicle exterior side of door <NUM>. Bowden cable <NUM> includes outer cable <NUM> that transmits door opening operation of outside handle <NUM> to release lever <NUM> described below of door latch mechanism <NUM>, and inner cable <NUM> inserted into outer cable <NUM>. Elastic cap <NUM> of the first embodiment and elastic cap <NUM> of the second embodiment prevent ingress of rainwater into outer cable <NUM> in Bowden cable <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, outside handle <NUM> is disposed above door latch mechanism <NUM> in a vertical direction, for example. In another view, door latch mechanism <NUM> is disposed below outside handle <NUM> in the vertical direction, for example.

Door <NUM> is formed of outer panel <NUM> on the vehicle exterior side and inner panel <NUM> on a vehicle interior side. Door <NUM> has a front end portion that is pivoted to a vehicle body side face to be openable and closable with a door hinge (not illustrated) having a rotating shaft with a vertical axis. Outer panel <NUM> is provided on its outer face with outside handle <NUM>. Outer panel <NUM> of door <NUM> has an inner face to which door beam <NUM> extending in a longitudinal direction is fastened.

As illustrated in <FIG>, door latch mechanism <NUM> has an engagement unit including latch <NUM> and ratchet <NUM>, various levers, and housing <NUM>.

Latch <NUM> is detachable from a striker S fastened to a vehicle body. Ratchet <NUM> is detachable from latch <NUM>. The various levers are directly or indirectly coupled to ratchet <NUM>. Housing <NUM> is made of synthetic resin to cover the various levers. The various levers include also release lever <NUM>.

Release lever <NUM> is pivoted in a lower portion of housing <NUM>. Terminal part <NUM> fastened to a downward end of inner cable <NUM> of Bowden cable <NUM> is coupled to coupling portion 24a projecting from housing <NUM> in release lever <NUM>. This causes release lever <NUM> to receive door opening operation of outside handle <NUM> to operate ratchet <NUM> for release. As a result, engagement between ratchet <NUM> and latch <NUM> is released to enable door <NUM> to be opened.

Cable holding portion <NUM> for fixing an end portion of outer cable <NUM> in Bowden cable <NUM> is integrally formed in a portion of housing <NUM>, above release lever <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). Structure of cable holding portion <NUM> and the end portion of outer cable <NUM> will be described below in detail.

As illustrated in <FIG>, outside handle <NUM> is supported in handle base <NUM> fixed to an inner face of outer panel <NUM> to be capable of swinging outward about a shaft with a vertical axis. Lever <NUM> configured to operate together with door opening operation of outside handle <NUM> is pivoted in handle base <NUM> to be able to turn around shaft 6a with an axis in a longitudinal direction through a predetermined angle, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. Terminal part <NUM> fastened to an upper end of inner cable <NUM> is coupled to coupling portion 6b being a turning end in lever <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. As described above, door opening operation of outside handle <NUM> is transmitted to release lever <NUM> of door latch mechanism <NUM> with lever <NUM> and inner cable <NUM>.

Bowden cable <NUM> includes flexible outer cable <NUM>, and flexible inner cable <NUM> inserted into outer cable <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, Bowden cable <NUM> is coupled at upper end (one end) to outside handle <NUM>, and at lower end (the other end) to door latch mechanism <NUM>. Bowden cable <NUM> extends, along the inner face of outer panel <NUM>, obliquely downward, forward from its upper end on an outside handle <NUM> side, then turns upward, and extend downward to reach its lower end on a door latch mechanism <NUM> side, in a form of being wired in door <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

It is preferable to apply zinc plating to a surface of inner cable <NUM>. This prevents rust from occurring in inner cable <NUM> to enable smooth sliding to be acquired.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, cushioning material <NUM> in a cylindrical shape is fitted onto outer cable <NUM> overlapping with door beam <NUM> in door <NUM> in a direction toward inside and outside door <NUM> to prevent an abnormal sound from occurring.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, one end upward of outer cable <NUM> is fixed to holding portion 5a of handle base <NUM> with handle-side end cap <NUM> in a cylindrical shape fastened to the one end upward. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, inner cable <NUM> extending upward from a tip of handle-side end cap <NUM> is coupled to coupling portion 6b of lever <NUM> with terminal part <NUM> fastened to the tip. Terminal part <NUM> of inner cable <NUM> may be configured to be directly coupled to a movable part of outside handle <NUM>, instead of coupling portion 6b of lever <NUM>. In this case, lever <NUM> is eliminated.

In the description below, a portion in inner cable <NUM>, extending upward from the tip of handle-side end cap <NUM>, is referred to as handle-side projecting cable 42a (refer to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) for convenience of explanation.

Elastic cap <NUM> made of rubber according to the first embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, or elastic cap <NUM> made of rubber according to the second embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, is fixed to handle-side end cap <NUM> fastened to one end of outer cable <NUM>. Each of elastic caps <NUM> and <NUM> prevents ingress of rainwater into outer cable <NUM> from the one end of outer cable <NUM> by covering handle-side projecting cable 42a of inner cable <NUM>. Each of elastic caps <NUM> and <NUM> will be described below in detail.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the other end downward of outer cable <NUM> is fixed to cable holding portion <NUM> of door latch mechanism <NUM> with door-latch-side end cap <NUM> fastened to the other end. Inner cable <NUM> extending downward from a tip (lower end) of door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is coupled to release lever <NUM> of door latch mechanism <NUM> with terminal part <NUM> fastened to the tip.

As illustrated in <FIG>, cable holding portion <NUM> of door latch mechanism <NUM> includes holding portion 25a in a U-shape in plan view, with an open side facing rear panel 12a (refer to <FIG>) of inner panel <NUM>, to which door latch mechanism <NUM> is fixed. Into holding portion 25a, a central pillar portion 44a in an oval shape in cross section of door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is inserted. Holding portion 25a has an opening facing rearward, the opening being formed to be slightly narrow in width corresponding to a minor-axis dimension of central pillar portion 44a.

In addition, groove 25b in a semicircular shape in cross section is formed in a portion below holding portion 25a in cable holding portion <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Into groove 25b, engagement flange 44b in the shape of a disk of door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is inserted from the rear in a vehicle toward the front in the vehicle, and is engaged. Engagement between groove 25b and engagement flange 44b reduces displacement of door-latch-side end cap <NUM> in a vehicle vertical direction with respect to cable holding portion <NUM>. This causes the other end of outer cable <NUM> to be reliably fixed to cable holding portion <NUM>.

Further, a pair of engagement projecting portions 25c and 25c is formed in a portion above holding portion 25a in cable holding portion <NUM>. Rotating hooks 44c and 44c of door-latch-side end cap <NUM> are engaged with respective engagement projecting portions 25c and 25c. Each of rotating hooks 44c and 44c is formed integrally with door-latch-side end cap <NUM>, and turns together with door-latch-side end cap <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a part of an outer peripheral surface of each of rotating hooks 44c and 44c is an arc face gradually increasing in radius, and the arc face is provided at its terminal end with the corresponding one of claw portions 44d and 44d formed radially.

Door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is fixed to cable holding portion <NUM> as follows.

First, door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is set such that a major-axis of central pillar portion 44a faces in a vehicle longitudinal direction like door-latch-side end cap <NUM> illustrated by a two-dot chain line in in <FIG>. Next, door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is inserted into cable holding portion <NUM> from the rear in a vehicle toward the front. In this case, the insertion is performed such that central pillar portion 44a is fitted into holding portion 25a, engagement flange 44b is fitted into groove 25b, and rotating hooks 44c and 44c are fitted between engagement projecting portions 25c and 25c.

Subsequently, when door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is turned together with outer cable <NUM> in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from vertically above, like door-latch-side end cap <NUM> illustrated by a solid line in <FIG>, the arc face gradually increasing in radius of each of rotating hooks 44c and 44c is brought into contact with the corresponding one of engagement projecting portions 25c and 25c to expand the portion. Then, when turning of door-latch-side end cap <NUM> through a predetermined angle (<NUM> degrees) is finished, claw portions 44d and 44d of respective rotating hooks 44c and 44c are engaged with respective engagement projecting portions 25c and 25c, as illustrated by a solid line in <FIG>.

As described above, displacement of Bowden cable <NUM> in door-latch-side end cap <NUM> in its axial direction (longitudinal direction) is prevented by engagement of engagement flange 44b with groove 25b. In addition, turning of Bowden cable <NUM> around its axis is prevented by engagement of engagement projecting portions 25c and 25c with respective claw portions 44d and 44d. This causes the other end of outer cable <NUM> to be reliably fixed to cable holding portion <NUM> of door latch mechanism <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an opened rear side of cable holding portion <NUM> faces rear panel 12a while being close to rear panel 12a of inner panel <NUM>. Thus, door-latch-side end cap <NUM> is not removed rearward from the opening of cable holding portion <NUM>, so that cable holding portion <NUM> is reliably fixed.

Next, elastic caps <NUM> and <NUM> of the corresponding first and second embodiments will be described.

<FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view of a main section of outside handle <NUM> according to the first embodiment in a non-operated state. <FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view of a main section of outside handle <NUM> according to the first embodiment in an operated state.

Elastic cap <NUM> according to the first embodiment includes: fitting portion <NUM> increased in diameter with a length of about <NUM>/<NUM> of elastic cap <NUM>, formed on its lower side in its longitudinal direction (vertical direction), and cover portion <NUM> in a cylindrical shape with a small diameter and a length of about <NUM>/<NUM> of elastic cap <NUM>, formed on its upper side while extending in a movement direction of handle-side projecting cable 42a.

Fitting portion <NUM> is fixed to an upper end of handle-side end cap <NUM> when annular projecting portion 71a formed on its inner peripheral surface is fitted onto annular groove 43a formed in an outer periphery of an upper end portion of handle-side end cap <NUM>. When fitting portion <NUM> is fitted and fixed onto handle-side end cap <NUM>, handle-side projecting cable 42a of inner cable <NUM> is covered with cover portion <NUM> in its movement direction. Handle-side projecting cable 42a passes through the inside of cover portion <NUM> to extend from outlet 72a being the tip of cover portion <NUM>, and then terminal part <NUM> at a tip of handle-side projecting cable 42a is coupled to coupling portion 6b of lever <NUM>. It is preferable to set an inner diameter of cover portion <NUM> so as to be slightly larger than an outside diameter of handle-side projecting cable 42a. This causes a minute clearance between an inner peripheral surface of cover portion <NUM> and an outer peripheral surface of handle-side projecting cable 42a, so that the first embodiment can reduce ingress of rainwater from outlet 72a of cover portion <NUM> to a minimum. As a result, the first embodiment prevents ingress of rainwater into outer cable <NUM>.

In an inner peripheral surface of the boundary between fitting portion <NUM> and cover portion <NUM>, there is provided annular projecting portion <NUM> that is always in close contact with a part of the surface of handle-side projecting cable 42a of inner cable <NUM> throughout its whole circumference in the circumferential direction. In other words, between fitting portion <NUM> and cover portion <NUM>, there is provided annular projecting portion <NUM> (an example of a part of cover portion <NUM>) that is always in close contact with a part of the surface of handle-side projecting cable 42a of inner cable <NUM> throughout its whole circumference in the circumferential direction. In still other words, above fitting portion <NUM> or below cover portion <NUM>, there is provided annular projecting portion <NUM> that is always in close contact with a part of the surface of handle-side projecting cable 42a of inner cable <NUM> throughout its whole circumference in the circumferential direction. As a result, when inner cable <NUM> vertically moves through the inside of cover portion <NUM> of elastic cap <NUM> in response to door opening operation of outside handle <NUM>, inner cable <NUM> vertically slides while an outer peripheral surface of inner cable <NUM> is in close contact with annular projecting portion <NUM>. Thus, the first embodiment reliably prevents ingress of rainwater into elastic cap <NUM>. This enables the first embodiment to reliably prevent ingress of rainwater into outer cable <NUM>. It is preferable to pour silicon grease <NUM> into a space formed between fitting portion <NUM> and the upper end of handle-side end cap <NUM>. This enables the first embodiment to more reliably prevent ingress of rainwater into outer cable <NUM> with silicon grease <NUM>.

<FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view of a main section of outside handle <NUM> according to the second embodiment in an operated state.

In the description below of the second embodiment, a difference from the first embodiment will be described, and description of the same portion is eliminated. In the second embodiment, the same component and the like as those of the first embodiment are each basically designated by the same reference sign in the description below and in <FIG>.

Elastic cap <NUM> according to the second embodiment includes: fitting portion <NUM> increased in diameter with a length of about <NUM>/<NUM> of elastic cap <NUM>, formed on its lower side in its longitudinal direction (vertical direction); and cover portion <NUM> in a cylindrical shape and a bellows shape with a length of about <NUM>/<NUM> of elastic cap <NUM>, formed on its upper side while extending in a movement direction of handle-side projecting cable 42a.

Fitting portion <NUM> is fixed to an upper end of handle-side end cap <NUM> when annular projecting portion 81a formed on its inner peripheral surface is fitted onto annular groove 43a formed in an outer periphery of an upper end portion of handle-side end cap <NUM>.

Handle-side projecting cable 42a of inner cable <NUM> passes through the inside of cover portion <NUM> of elastic cap <NUM> to project upward from outlet 82a being an upper end of cover portion <NUM>. Then, a portion in handle-side projecting cable 42a, passing through outlet 82a, is bonded with adhesive <NUM> to outlet 82a so as to allow the inner periphery of outlet 82a to be completely sealed throughout its whole circumference in the circumferential direction. In another view, cover portion <NUM> includes outlet 82a that completely seal a part of the surface of handle-side projecting cable 42a of inner cable <NUM> throughout its whole circumference in the circumferential direction. As a result, when inner cable <NUM> vertically moves in response to door opening operation of outside handle <NUM>, cover portion <NUM> in a bellows shape vertically expands and contracts by following vertical motion of inner cable <NUM>. This enables inner cable <NUM> to be vertically and smoothly moved. In addition, outlet 82a of cover portion <NUM> is completely closed with adhesive <NUM> and inner cable <NUM>, so that the second embodiment enables ingress of rainwater into elastic cap <NUM> and outer cable <NUM> to be reliably prevented. It is preferable to pour silicon grease <NUM> into a space formed between fitting portion <NUM> and the upper end of handle-side end cap <NUM>. This enables the second embodiment to more reliably prevent ingress of rainwater into outer cable <NUM> with silicon grease <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A vehicle door latch device (<NUM>) comprising:
an operation handle (<NUM>) that is supported by a handle base (<NUM>) provided in a door (<NUM>);
a door latch mechanism (<NUM>) that maintains said door (<NUM>) in a closed state;
a Bowden cable (<NUM>) including an outer cable (<NUM>) that is fixed at one end to said handle base (<NUM>) and at the other end to said door latch mechanism (<NUM>), and an inner cable (<NUM>) that is inserted into said outer cable (<NUM>) while being coupled at one end to said operation handle (<NUM>) and at the other end to a release lever (<NUM>) of said door latch mechanism (<NUM>); and
an elastic cap (<NUM>) that has a cover portion (<NUM>) in a cylindrical shape, extending in a movement direction of said inner cable (<NUM>) to cover said inner cable (<NUM>) extending from the one end of said outer cable (<NUM>),
wherein said elastic cap (<NUM>) includes an annular first projecting portion (<NUM>) that is always in close contact with a part of said inner cable (<NUM>) throughout its whole circumference in a circumferential direction,
said annular first projecting portion (<NUM>) is provided below said cover portion (<NUM>), and
said elastic cap (<NUM>) is filled with grease (<NUM>), wherein
the Bowden cable (<NUM>) includes an end cap (<NUM>) fixed to the outer cable (<NUM>), wherein the end cap (<NUM>) has an annular groove (43a) formed in an outer periphery of an upper end portion of the end cap (<NUM>); and
the elastic cap (<NUM>) has a fitting portion (<NUM>) fixed to the end cap (<NUM>) and the cover portion (<NUM>) is formed on an upper side of the fitting portion (<NUM>), wherein the cover portion (<NUM>) has a smaller diameter than the fitting portion (<NUM>), wherein
the elastic cap (<NUM>) includes a second annular projecting portion (71a) formed on an inner peripheral surface of the fitting portion (<NUM>), wherein the first annular projecting portion (71a) fixes the elastic cap (<NUM>) to the end cap (<NUM>) by being fitted onto the annular groove (43a), and wherein
the grease (<NUM>) is put in a space formed between the fitting portion (<NUM>) and the upper end of the end cap (<NUM>), and the inner cable passes through the grease (<NUM>) in the space.