Handle device for vehicle

Abstract

A handle device for a vehicle is provided with: an operating section rotatably connected to a handle base; a cable device formed by inserting in a slidable manner an inner cable, which has a connection section provided at the front end thereof, into an outer cable, the cable device being configured in such a manner that the connection section of the inner cable is fitted to a cable connection hole, which is formed in the operating section, to enable operating force applied to the operating section to be transmitted to a door lock device on the vehicle side; and a connection aid connected to the front end of the outer cable and mounted on the handle base while holding the connection section of the inner cable in a movable manner.

Claims

1. A handle device for a vehicle comprising: an operating section rotatably connected to a handle base; a cable device formed by slidably inserting, in an outer cable, an inner cable including a connection section at a front end thereof, and configured such that the connection section of the inner cable is fitted in a cable connection hole bored in the operating section, to thereby transmit operating force applied to the operating section to a door lock device on a vehicle side; and a connection aid connected to a front end of the outer cable and mounted on the handle base while movably holding the connection section of the inner cable; wherein the inner cable is configured such that, when the connection aid is mounted, the connection section is fitted from a free end thereof into the cable connection hole, and movement of the inner cable in a direction in which the connection section is fitted into the cable connection hole is restricted by a restriction wall formed on the connection aid; the cable connection hole is formed so as to prevent the connection section from being fitted into, or removed from, the cable connection hole through a periphery of the cable connection hole; an end of the connection section of the inner cable opposite the end thereof fitted in the cable connection hole is guided by a guide hole formed in the restriction wall to move within and not to fall from the guide hole; and at least a portion of the connection aid directly contacts the handle base.

2. The handle device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connection aid is connected to the handle base by being slid along the handle base and snap-locked onto the handle base.

3. The handle device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the operation sections are connected to the handle base, a plurality of the cable devices connected respectively to the plurality of operation sections are connected to the single connection aid, and the inner cable of each of the plurality of cable devices is connected to the cable connection hole of the corresponding operating section of the plurality of the operating sections when the connection aid is mounted onto the handle base.

4. The handle device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connection aid is formed in a cover shape to close an insertion opening which is bored in the handle base for the operating section, and to isolate a surface region of the handle base from a door inner space in cooperation with the handle base.

5. The handle device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the periphery of the cable connection hole is closed.

6. The handle device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connection aid is directly connected to the front end of the outer cable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a set of views showing the present invention, and part (a) is a front view and part (b) is a back view.

(2) FIG. 2 is a set of cross-sectional views of FIG. 1, and part (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2A-2A in part (b) of FIG. 1 and part (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2B-2B in part (b) of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a set of perspective views showing a connection aid, and part (a) is a view showing a state before cable devices are connected, part (b) is a view showing a state where a connection section of an inner cable is about to be connected to a guide hole, and part (c) is a view showing a state where the cable devices are connected.

(4) FIG. 4 is a set of views showing states across which the connection aid is connected to a handle base, and part (a) is a perspective view, part (b) is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between each connection section and its corresponding cable connection hole at the beginning of connecting operation, and part (c) is an explanatory view showing a state after fitting is completed.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 and the subsequent figures show an embodiment of the present invention which is made as an inside handle device for a vehicle.

(6) The inside handle device is formed by connecting two operating sections 2 (an operation handle 2-1 and a lock knob 2-2) to a handle base 1 rotatably about a rotational axis 2a, and is used with the handle base 1 fixed to an inner panel of a door of the vehicle.

(7) As shown in FIG. 2, cable devices 8 are connected to the operating sections 2, respectively, each cable device 8 being formed by inserting an inner cable 4 slidably in an outer cable 5. As shown in part (a) of FIG. 2, the cable device 8 that is connected to the operation handle 2-1 is connected to a latch control section 7a of a door lock device 7. When the operation handle 2-1 is turned in the direction of arrow A from an initial rotational position shown in part (a) of FIG. 2, the operating force is transmitted to the latch control section 7a of the door lock device 7 through the inner cable 4, thereby disengaging a latch which is maintaining the door closed.

(8) On the other hand, the lock knob 2-2 is connected to a lock control section 7b of the above door lock device 7. When the lock knob 2-2 is turned in the direction of arrow A from an initial rotational position in part (b) of FIG. 2 to a lock position, the lock control section 7b shifts to a lock state. Once the lock control section 7b shifts to the lock state, operation of the latch control section 7a through the operation handle 2-1 is inhibited.

(9) A connection aid 9 is connected to the cable devices 8 in order to enable easier mounting of the cable devices 8 to the operating sections 2.

(10) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection aid 9 is formed in a box shape capable of closing an insertion opening 12 that is bored in a bottom wall section of the handle base 1 and communicates with the inside of the door body. Two fitting fixing recesses 9a are provided in a side wall of the connection aid 9.

(11) On the other hand, as shown in part (a) of FIG. 3, each outer cable 5 has an attachment fitting 5a fixed at the front end thereof. Each cable device 8 is connected to the connection aid 9 by snap-fitting the attachment fitting 5a on its outer cable 5 into the corresponding fitting fixing recess 9a.

(12) Moreover, the inner cable 4 of each cable device 8 has a connection fitting 13 fixed at the front end thereof, and a connection section 3 is formed protruding laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the inner cable 4. Specifically, the connection fitting 13 includes: the connection section 3 which has a cylindrical shape with its center axis aligned with a direction perpendicular to the cable length direction of the inner cable 4; a small-diameter cylindrical section 13a which protrudes from one end of the connection section 3 and has a smaller diameter than the connection section 3; and a stopper flange section 13b which has a disk shape having a larger diameter than the small-diameter cylindrical section 13a and a smaller diameter than the connection section 3. This connection fitting 13 is connected to a restriction wall 10 of the connection aid 9 described below.

(13) There are two restriction walls 10 disposed along the outer cables 5 fixed to the fitting fixing recesses 9a. In each restriction wall 10, a guide hole 11 is bored which the small-diameter cylindrical section 13a of the connection fitting 13 can pass through and which has a width smaller than the diameter of the stopper flange section 13b. One of the guide holes 11 is formed by an arched hole with a curvature equal to that of the trajectory of movement of a cable connection hole 6 in the operation handle 2-1, while the other is formed by an arched hole with a curvature equal to that of the trajectory of movement of a cable connection hole 6 in the lock knob 2-2. As shown in parts (b) and (c) of FIG. 3, the inner cable 4 is mounted on the restriction wall 10 by passing the stopper flange section 13b through an introduction hole 11a which is formed at the rear end of the guide hole 11. In the mounted state, the connection fitting 13 is capable of moving in such a manner as to be guided by the guide hole 11. Then, when the connection fitting 13 is moved from the mounted position, the stopper flange section 13b and the connection section 3 sandwich the restriction wall 10 therebetween and therefore prevent the connection fitting 13 from being removed from the guide hole 11.

(14) The connection aid 9 configured as above is connected to the handle base 1 by sliding the bottom face of the connection aid 9 on a slide guide face 1a formed on the handle base 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the slide guide face 1a is formed by a flat face that is parallel with the center axis of the cable connection hole 6 of each operating section 2. In a state where the bottom face of the connection aid 9 is placed on the slide guide face, the center line of the cable connection hole 6 of each operating section 2 and the center line of the connection fitting of the corresponding inner cable 4 inside the connection aid 9 are disposed on the same plane.

(15) Moreover, the handle base 1 is provided with a positioning protrusion 1b and a locking claw 1c. As the connection aid 9 is slid with a positioning hole 9b fitted on the positioning protrusion 1b, the locking claw 1c is snap-locked onto an edge of a locking hole 9c. Once the locking claw 1c is snap-locked, removal of the connection aid 9 is restricted.

(16) The operation handle 2-1 of the handle device is held at its initial rotational position by a spring not shown, and the lock knob 2-2 of the handle device is held at its initial rotational position by the sliding resistance exerted upon operation. For this reason, the cable connection hole 6 of each operating section 2 is held at a predetermined position. On the other hand, with one end of each cable device 8 connected to the door lock device 7, the position of the connection fitting 13 on the guide hole 11 is mostly determined by the state of the door lock device 7.

(17) Thus, when the positioning hole 9b of the connection aid 9 is brought into coincidence with the positioning protrusion 1b with each operating section 2 held at the predetermined initial position and with the door lock device 7 held at a predetermined position, the center axis of the connection section 3 of each inner cable 4 and the center axis of the cable connection hole 6 of the corresponding operating section 2 coincide with each other, as shown in part (b) of FIG. 4. By sliding the connection aid 9 from this state along the positioning protrusion 1b, the connection section 3 is inserted from its free end into the cable connection hole 6 and connected to the operating section 2, as shown in part (c) of FIG. 4. The insertion opening 12, which is bored in the handle base 1, is closed when the mounting operation is finished.

(18) As shown in part (b) of FIG. 4, a tapered portion 3a is formed at the free end of each connection section 3 and a guide block portion 2b is formed around each cable connection hole 6 so that the connection section 3 can be smoothly inserted into the cable connection hole 6 when the connection aid 9 is slid.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(19) 1 HANDLE BASE

(20) 2 OPERATING SECTION

(21) 3 CONNECTION SECTION

(22) 4 INNER CABLE

(23) 5 OUTER CABLE

(24) 6 CABLE CONNECTION HOLE

(25) 7 DOOR LOCK DEVICE

(26) 8 CABLE DEVICE

(27) 9 CONNECTION AID

(28) 10 RESTRICTION WALL

(29) 11 GUIDE HOLE

(30) 12 INSERTION OPENING