TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle handle device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A device described in Patent Document 1 has been known as a vehicle handle device
including a handle base on which an operation handle and a lock lever are disposed
next to each other and rotatably held.
[0003] In this conventional example, an inside handle (operation handle) is mounted by fitting
a first rotation shaft part which protrudes from one side wall of a rotation base
end section into a first supporting part bored in a cover member (handle base) and
by fitting a first swivel hole in the opposite wall face of the rotation base end
section onto a third supporting part on the handle base. A lock knob mounted adjacently
to the operation handle restricts movement of the operation handle in a disengagement
direction.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No.
3138422
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0005] Here, in the above conventional example, the lock knob restricts the movement of
the operation handle in the direction of pulling it from the shaft parts, i.e. widthwise
movement. For this reason, clanking easily occurs in lateral directions due to the
influence of errors in the dimensions of the lock knob or the like. In addition, in
order to prevent the clanking, the operation handle and the lock knob are in sliding
contact with each other, which in turn leads to a problem such as unintentional operation
of the lock knob as a result of following the operation of the operation handle, or
an increase in the frictional resistance against the operation of the operation handle.
[0006] Meanwhile, this problem may be solved by adding an additional component which restricts
the movement of the operation handle. In this case, however, a mounting step is required
for the added component, which leads to a problem of lowered assembly workability.
[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above drawbacks, and an object thereof
is to provide a vehicle handle device which has excellent assembly workability and
which is capable of effectively preventing the operation handle from clanking and
the lock knob from drag turning.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
[0008] According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by providing a vehicle
handle device, including: a handle base 5 which includes a hinge-forming wall 1 disposed
between a pair of mutually facing regions of a peripheral wall of the handle base
5, and is configured such that hinge receiving parts 2 formed at opposite side faces
of an operation handle 3 are rotatably pivoted on hinge receiving parts 2 formed respectively
at one of the mutually facing regions of the peripheral wall and the hinge-forming
wall 1, and opposite side faces of a lock lever 4 are pivoted on the hinge-forming
wall 1 and the other of the mutually facing regions of the peripheral wall, in which
the operation handle 3 is mounted to the handle base 5 by inserting a shaft-form hinge
receiving part 2 which is formed integrally with either one of the handle base 5 and
the operation handle 3, into a hole-form hinge receiving part 2 formed on the other,
by sliding the operation handle 3 in an axial direction of a rotation shaft from a
position where the hinge-forming wall 1 is laid between a hinge plate 6 in which the
hinge receiving part 2 at one of the side faces of the operation handle 3 is formed,
and the side face of the operation handle 3 facing the hinge plate 6, and
an engagement claw 7 protruding from the hinge-forming wall 1 engages elastically
with the hinge plate 6 as a result of the mounting operation to thereby restrict movement
of the operation handle 3 in a separation direction.
[0009] In the present invention, the handle device is formed by rotatably pivoting the operation
handle 3 and the lock lever 4 on the handle base 5. The opposite side walls of the
operation handle 3 are coupled to the handle base 5 by inserting the shaft-form hinge
receiving part (hinge shaft part 2A) which is formed integrally with either one of
each side wall and the corresponding section of the handle base 5, into the hole-form
hinge receiving part (hinge hole 2B) formed in the other.
[0010] By forming the hinge shaft part 2A integrally with the side wall of the operation
handle 3 or the like and axially sliding the operation handle 3 to mount it, a shaft
member such as a shaft is not additionally required. Accordingly, the number of components
can be reduced and the assembly workability is improved as well.
[0011] Moreover, the restriction of the movement of the operation handle 3 is done by the
engagement claw 7 and does not involve the lock lever 4. This makes it possible to
ensure the prevention of clanking due to errors in the dimensions of the lock lever
4 or the like, and drag turning of the lock lever 4 due to pressure contact between
the operation handle 3 and the lock lever 4.
[0012] Further, as a result of mounting the operation handle 3 to the handle base 5, the
engagement claw 7 engages elastically with the operation handle 3 to thereby restrict
axial movement of the operation handle 3. In this way, neither the number of components
nor the man hours for the mounting increases.
[0013] In addition, the operation handle 3 can be held on the handle base 5 without the
lock lever 4 mounted. This allows the operation handle 3 to be stored in a sub-assembled
state and also improves the workability for the mounting of a return spring to the
operation handle 3.
[0014] Further, the vehicle handle device can be configured such that
on the hinge plate 6 of the operation handle 3, an arc-form peripheral part 8 is formed
which is centered at a rotation center of the operation handle 3 and with which the
engagement claw 8 engages elastically.
[0015] The position of engagement of the engagement claw 7 may be set as appropriate on
the operation handle 3. However, by, like the present invention, engaging the engagement
claw 7 with the arc-form peripheral part 8 of the hinge plate 6, which is provided
correspondingly to the hinge-forming wall 1 and pivoted on the hinge-forming wall
1, the engagement claw 7 can be moved relative to the operation handle 3 along the
arc-form peripheral part 8 when the operation handle 3 is turned. Thus, interference
with the engagement claw 7 in the turning of the operation handle 3 can be easily
avoided with a simpler structure.
[0016] Moreover, with the lock lever 4 removed, the position of engagement of the engagement
claw 7 is exposed to the outside, and the operation handle 3 can therefore be removed
easily as well.
[0017] Further, the lock lever 4 can be pivoted on the handle base 5 by using appropriate
members.
[0018] However, the hinge receiving part 2A of the hinge-forming wall 1 may be formed in
a shaft form, and one of side walls of the lock lever 4 may be pivoted on a portion
of the shaft-form hinge receiving part 2A, the portion projecting from the hinge plate
6. In this way, the structure is simple.
[0019] In the above case, the vehicle handle device may be configured such that
the shaft-form hinge receiving part 2A is formed in a stepped pin form including a
small diameter protrusion 9 at a tip thereof, the smaller diameter protrusion 9 being
inserted in one side wall section of the lock lever 4 and including a base end part
restricting movement of the lock lever 4 toward the operation handle 3. In this way,
it is possible to ensure the prevention of contact between the lock lever 4 and the
operation handle 3 with the help of the engagement claw 7 on the operation handle
3 side.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0020] According to the present invention, the operation handle is mounted to the handle
base by sliding the operation handle in the axial direction of the rotation shaft,
and the engagement claw, which has come into engagement with the operation handle
as a result of the mounting operation, restricts the movement of the operation handle
in the sliding direction, so that the operation handle is held at a predetermined
position independently of the lock knob. In this way, the operation handle can be
prevented from contacting the lock knob without lowering the assembly workability.
Hence, it is possible to effectively prevent the operation handle from clanking and
the lock knob from drag turning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021]
Fig. 1 is a set of views showing the present invention, and part (a) is a front view
and part (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1B-1B in part (a).
Fig. 2 is a set of views showing a handle base, and part (a) is a front view showing
a main section and part (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of an
operation handle.
Fig. 3 is a set of views showing the mounted state of the operation handle, and part
(a) is an enlarged view of the main s seen from the direction of arrows 3A in part
(a) of Fig. 2 and part (b) is a view showing the mounted state.
Fig. 4 is a set of cross-sectional views of a handle device, and part (a) is a cross-sectional
view taken along line 4A-4A in part (b) of Fig. 3 and part (b) is a cross-sectional
view taken along line 4B-4B in part (a) of Fig. 1.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] Fig. 1 and the following figures show an embodiment of the present invention which
is made as an inside vehicle handle device. The inside handle device includes: a handle
base 5 in the form of a thin container with a peripheral wall rising along substantially
the entire periphery; and a lock lever 4 and an operation handle 3 which are rotatably
pivoted at a given spot on the handle base 5.
[0023] The lock lever 4 and the operation handle 3 are disposed next to each other. A door
lock device not shown can be unlocked by turning the lock lever 4 from an initial
rotation position shown in part (b) of Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow A to pull
it toward the outer side. Moreover, the operation handle 3 is urged toward its initial
rotation position shown in part (b) of Fig. 1 by a torsion spring 10. A latch in the
door lock device can be disengaged by turning the operation handle 3 from the initial
rotation position in the direction of arrow B.
[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, in order to pivot the lock lever 4 and the operation handle 3,
a hinge housing opening 11 is bored in a front end section (left end side in Fig.
1) of the handle base 5, and a hinge-forming wall 1 is laid at the middle of the hinge
housing opening 11, thereby defining a lever opening 11A and a handle opening 11B.
The wall face of the hinge-forming wall 1 on the lever opening 11A side is integrally
provided with a shaft-form hinge receiving part (hinge shaft part 2A) including a
small diameter protrusion 9 at the tip.
[0025] The operation handle 3 includes a finger hooking part 3a at one end while a pair
of hinge receiving parts 2 are formed at the other end. One of the pair of the hinge
receiving parts 2 is formed in a hinge plate 6 as a hole-form hinge receiving part
(hinge hole 2B) through which the hinge shaft part 2A of the hinge-forming wall 1
can be inserted. The other hinge receiving part 2 is formed as a hinge shaft part
2A.
[0026] The hinge plate 6 protrudes laterally from a free end portion of a support column
part 6a having a semi-circular tube form. The distance (D) between the inner wall
of this hinge plate 6 and the inner wall face of the operation handle 3 facing the
inner wall of the hinge plate 6 (hereinafter, referred to as the facing inner wall
face) is set to be larger than the distance (d) between the tip of the hinge shaft
part 2A of the hinge-forming wall 1 and the opposite wall face of the hinge-forming
wall 1. As shown in part (b) of Fig. 2, the operation handle 3 can sandwich the hinge-forming
wall 1 between the hinge plate 6 and the facing inner wall face.
[0027] The operation handle 3 can be mounted by sliding it laterally (in the direction of
arrow C in part (b) of Fig. 2) with the hinge-forming wall 1 laid between the hinge
plate 6 and the facing inner wall face. By this sliding, the hinge hole 2B of the
hinge plate 6 is fitted onto the hinge shaft part 2A of the hinge-forming wall 1,
and the hinge shaft part 2A on the wall face facing the hinge plate 6 is fitted into
a hinge hole 2B in the handle base 5.
[0028] Further, on the hinge-forming wall 1, an engagement claw 7 is formed which includes
a support column part 7a and a claw part 7b protruding from the tip thereof. The support
column part 7a of the engagement claw 7 is disposed on the hinge-forming wall 1 at
a position separated by an appropriate distance from the center of the hinge shaft
part 2A on the hinge-forming wall 1. The claw part 7b of the engagement claw 7 protrudes
toward the hinge shaft part 2A.
[0029] On the other hand, on the hinge plate 6 of the operation handle 3, an arc-form peripheral
part 8 is formed which is centered at the center of the above hinge shaft part 2A.
The arc-form peripheral part 8 is formed such that its diameter is slightly smaller
than the distance between the support column part 7a of the claw 7 and the hinge shaft
part 2A, and is provided with an engagement recess 8a in the outer peripheral face
thereof within a range slight larger than the angle of operation of the operation
handle 3.
[0030] Thus, in this embodiment, upon sliding of the operation handle 3 in the axial direction
of the hinge shaft part 2A to mount the operation handle 3 to the handle base 5, the
arc-form peripheral part 8 of the hinge plate 6 comes into contact with the claw part
7b of the engagement claw 7. An inclined face is formed on the region of the claw
part 7b where it comes into contact with the hinge plate 6. Thus, when the operation
handle 3 is pushed further down, the engagement claw 7 receives an outward pressure
from this inclined face, thereby temporarily elastically deforming and turning aside
the hinge plate 6. Thereafter, as shown in part (a) of Fig. 4, the engagement claw
7 elastically returns to its original form, so that the claw part 7b engages with
the engagement recess 8a. The engagement recess 8a is formed to such a depth that
the upper face of the claw part 7b in the engaged state does not project from the
upper face of the hinge plate 6.
[0031] In the state where the claw part 7b is in engagement with the hinge plate 6, the
claw part 7b restricts movement of the operation handle 3 in a direction of pulling
it from the hinge shaft part 2A and therefore maintains the operation handle 3 in
the mounted state. Further, since the arc-form peripheral part 8 moves along the support
column part 7a of the engagement claw 7, the arc-form peripheral part 8 will never
interfere with the turning of the operation handle 3.
[0032] The handle device is assembled by: mounting the torsion spring 10 to the operation
handle 3 which has been mounted as described above; and then mounting the lock lever
4 adjacently to the operation handle 3. As shown in Fig. 4, the lock lever 4 is provided
with a hinge hole 2B bored therethrough, and the small diameter protrusion 9, which
is formed at the tip of the hinge shaft part 2A on the hinge-forming wall 1, can be
inserted through the hinge hole 2B. The lock lever 4 is mounted by inserting, into
the hinge hole 2B, the small diameter protrusion 9 and a hinge shaft part 2A protruding
from an outer wall section of the handle base 5 facing the hinge-forming wall 1.
[0033] As shown in part (a) of Fig. 4, the hinge shaft part 2A inserted in the hinge hole
2B of the lock lever 4 is formed on a cantilevered leg piece 12 formed on the outer
wall of the handle base 5. The lock lever 4 can be mounted at a predetermined position
by elastically deforming this leg piece 12.
[0034] Movement of the lock lever 4, which is pivoted on the hinge shaft part 2A, toward
the operation handle 3 is restricted by a step formed at the base end of the small
diameter protrusion 9 of the hinge shaft part 2A formed on the hinge-forming wall
1, so that contact of the lock lever 4 with the operation handle 3 is prevented.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0035]
- 1
- HINGE-FORMING WALL
- 2
- HINGE RECEIVING PART
- 3
- OPERATION HANDLE
- 4
- LOCK LEVER
- 5
- HANDLE BASE
- 6
- HINGE PLATE
- 7
- ENGAGEMENT CLAW
- 8
- ARC-FORM PERIPHERAL PART
- 9
- SMALL DIAMETER PROTRUSION
1. A vehicle handle device, comprising: a handle base which includes a hinge-forming
wall disposed between a pair of mutually facing regions of a peripheral wall of the
handle base, and is configured such that hinge receiving parts formed at opposite
side faces of an operation handle are rotatably pivoted on hinge receiving parts formed
respectively at one of the mutually facing regions of the peripheral wall and the
hinge-forming wall, and opposite side faces of a lock lever are pivoted on the hinge-forming
wall and the other of the mutually facing regions of the peripheral wall, wherein
the operation handle is mounted to the handle base by inserting a shaft-form hinge
receiving part which is formed integrally with either one of the handle base and the
operation handle, into a hole-form hinge receiving part formed on the other, by sliding
the operation handle in an axial direction of a rotation shaft from a position where
the hinge-forming wall is laid between a hinge plate in which the hinge receiving
part at one of the side faces of the operation handle is formed, and the side face
of the operation handle facing the hinge plate, and
an engagement claw protruding from the hinge-forming wall engages elastically with
the hinge plate as a result of the mounting operation to thereby restrict movement
of the operation handle in a separation direction.
2. The vehicle handle device according to claim 1, wherein on the hinge plate of the
operation handle, an arc-form peripheral part is formed which is centered at a rotation
center of the operation handle and with which the engagement claw engages elastically.
3. The vehicle handle device according to claim 1, wherein
the hinge receiving part of the hinge-forming wall is formed in a shaft form, and
one of side walls of the lock lever is pivoted on a portion of the shaft-form hinge
receiving part, the portion projecting from the hinge plate.
4. The vehicle handle device according to claim 3, wherein the shaft-form hinge receiving
part is formed in a stepped pin form including a small diameter protrusion at a tip
thereof, the smaller diameter protrusion being inserted in one side wall section of
the lock lever and including a base end part restricting movement of the lock lever
toward the operation handle.