FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
VEHICLE DOOR HANDLE DEVICE
ALPHA CORPORATION,
A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF
JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 6-8, FUKUURA 1-CHOME, KANAZAWA-KU,
YOKOHAMA-SHI, KANAGAWA 2360004, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

2
[Technical Field]
[0001]
5 The present invention relates to a vehicle door
handle device.
[Background Art]
[0002]
10 Patent Literature 1 discloses a vehicle handle device
that links an operating handle to a base along with a slide
operation, the base being fixed to a door in advance.
[0003]
In the vehicle handle device disclosed in Patent
15 Literature 1, an abutting portion and an auxiliary stopper
portion protrude from a distal end of the operating handle.
In the base, a guide wall portion and an elastically
deformable cantilevered depth side wall portion are
provided.
20 [0004]
In a case where the operating handle slides, the
abutting portion abuts against the guide wall portion to
press down the distal end of the operating handle. Due to
the pressing, the depth side wall portion is elastically
25 deformed such that a movement path of the abutting portion
3
is opened. After the passage of the guide wall portion of
the abutting portion, the depth side wall portion is
elastically restored such that the abutting portion is
locked to the guide wall portion. Next, the movement of
5 the operating handle to the distal end side of rotation is
restricted.
[Prior Art Literature]
[Patent Literature]
[0005]
10 [Patent Literature 1] JP-A-2008-013961
[0006]
In the vehicle handle device disclosed in Patent
Literature 1, during the slide operation for mounting of
the operating handle, the abutting portion of the operating
15 handle is pressed into the guide wall portion so as to be
separated from amounting path to the guide wall portion
side. As a result, it is necessary that a movement space
of the operating handle used only for the mounting of the
operating handle is set in the base, and the degree of
20 freedom in layout is reduced.
[Summary of the Invention]
[0007]
In a vehicle door handle device according to an
25 embodiment of the present invention, an operating handle
4
can be linked to a handle base without requiring a surplus
movement space for mounting of the operating handle.
[0008]
According to an embodiment of the present invention,
5 in a vehicle door handle device including an operating
handle 2 that is linked to a handle base 1 from a door
front surface side to be rotatable around a rotation center,
the handle base being fixed to a door panel back surface of
a vehicle, a stopper protrusion 3 is provided in any one of
10 the operating handle 2 and the handle base 1, an engaged
portion 4 is provided in the other thereof, the one of the
operating handle and the handle base is elastically engaged
with the other along with a sliding movement of the
operating handle 2 to the rotation center side to restrict
15 movement of the operating handle 2 to a distal end side of
rotation, a hinge protrusion 5 is formed to protrude from
an end portion of the operating handle 2 on the rotation
center side, the handle base 1 is provided with a hinge
restriction portion 8 which includes a top wall 6 for
20 restricting movement of the hinge protrusion 5 in a door
panel direction and an abutting wall 7 of the hinge
protrusion 5, to which the hinge protrusion 5 abuts in an
internally contact manner, and which has an inner center
fitting to the rotation center of the operating handle 2 in
25 the abutting state.
5
[0009]
The door handle device includes: the handle base 1
that is fixed to the back surface of the door panel in
advance; and the operating handle 2 that is linked to the
5 handle base 1 from the front surface side of the door
panel. The linking operation of the operating handle 2 is
performed through the following steps: inserting one end of
the operating handle 2 into the door through an opening
formed in the door panel; and sliding the operating handle
10 2 to the rotation center side during the linking operation
to the handle base 1 (in this specification, hereinafter, a
state where the door handle device is mounted on the
vehicle is set as a reference, a rotation center direction
(in Figs. 1(a) and 1(b), the left) is set as “front side”,
15 a vehicle height direction (in Fig. 1(a), a vertical
direction) is set as “upper and lower sides”, and a vehicle
width direction (in Fig. 1(b), a vertical direction) is set
as “vehicle exterior side” and “interior side”).
[0010]
20 Along with the slide operation, the stopper
protrusion 3 formed in one of the operating handle 2 and
the handle base 1 elastically engages with the engaged
portion 4 formed in the other one of the operating handle 2
and the handle base 1. In this engaged state, the movement
6
of the operating handle 2 to the distal end side of
rotation, that is, the rear side is restricted.
[0011]
Since the rearward movement due to the engagement
5 between the stopper protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4
on the rotation center side is restricted, it is not
necessary to dispose a stopper member at the rear end
portion. Therefore, in a case where the operating handle 2
is operated, the generation of abnormal sound caused by
10 sliding with the stopper member can be reliably prevented.
[0012]
In addition, the engagement between the stopper
protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4 is performed by one
of the stopper protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4 being
15 moved in an engaged and disengaged direction to elastically
engage with the other one of the stopper protrusion 3 and
the engaged portion 4 along with the forward movement of
the operating handle 2. During this engagement operation,
it is not necessary to move the operating handle 2 in a
20 special direction. As a result, unlike the above-described
example of the related art, it is not necessary that the
movement space of the operating handle 2 for the engagement
is set on the handle base 1, and a reduction in the degree
of freedom in layout can be prevented.
25 [0013]
7
Further, in a case where the hinge protrusion 5
protruding from the operating handle 2 is fitted into
direct contact with the hinge restriction portion 8 of the
handle base 1 such that the inner center of the hinge
5 restriction portion 8 fits to the rotation center of the
operating handle 2, when the operating handle 2 is operated
to open the door, a pulling force in a door outside
direction (vehicle exterior side) is applied to the
rotation center by the hinge protrusion 5 and the top wall
10 6 of the hinge restriction portion 8 as illustrated in Fig.
7(a). Therefore, a load on the stopper protrusion 3 can be
reduced.
[0014]
Further, when a pulling force (T) is applied rearward
15 to the operating handle 2 in a state where the operating
handle 2 is rotated by an appropriate angle () as
illustrated in Fig. 7(b), the movement to the vehicle
exterior side is restricted by the top wall 6 of the hinge
restriction portion 8. Therefore, only a horizontal force
20 component (Th) is applied to the stopper protrusion 3 and
the wall surfaces of the engaged portion 4. This
horizontal force component (Th) is lower than the pulling
force (T). Therefore, even in this case, a load on the
stopper protrusion 3 is reduced.
25 [0015]
8
The configuration where the stopper protrusion 3 and
the engaged portion 4 engage with each other along with the
forward movement of the operating handle 2 can be realized
by adopting various structures. For example, in a
5 configuration illustrated in Fig. 8(a), the engaged
portions 4 having an opening are provided in the
cantilevered elastic wing pieces 10 that are elastically
deformable around the supporting points 12, and the stopper
protrusions 3 protrude from the operating handle 2. In
10 this configuration, the elastic wing pieces 10 are
elastically deformed along with the sliding movement of the
operating handle 2 and then elastically engage with the
engaged portions 4 due to an elastic restoring force of the
elastic wing pieces 10. Alternatively, in a configuration
15 illustrated in Fig. 8(b), the stopper protrusions 3 may be
provided on the elastic wing pieces 10 side.
[0016]
In addition, in the above-described examples, the
engaged portions 4 (Fig. 8(a)) or the stopper protrusions 3
20 (Fig. 8(b)) as the moving element formed in the elastic
wing piece 10 is engaged with the receiving element which
is the other one thereof. However, the moving element may
be disposed on the operating handle 2 side. For example,
the elastic wing pieces 10 may be provided in the operating
25 handle 2, and the stopper protrusions 3 (refer to Fig.
9
9(a)) or the engaged portions 4 (refer to Fig. 9(b)) may be
provided in the elastic wing pieces 10. Further, as
illustrated in Figs. 9(c) and 9(d), the stopper protrusion
3 may be formed as a pin-shaped member that advances and
5 retreats by being biased in a protruding direction by a
spring 13.
[0017]
In the embodiment of the present invention, a gap
that keeps a non-contact state between the stopper
10 protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4 during a
translational movement of the operating handle 2 to the
outside of a door may be provided between the stopper
protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4.
[0018]
15 According to this structure, in a case where an
operating force for opening the door is applied to the
operating handle 2 and a moving force to the outside of the
door is applied to the rotation center portion of the
operating handle 2, the gap formed between the stopper
20 protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4 absorbs the movement
to the vehicle exterior side. As a result, when the
operating handle 2 is operated to open the door, the entire
load is applied to the top wall 6 of the hinge restriction
portion 8 of the handle base 1. Therefore, a load
10
generated during the operation is not applied to the
stopper protrusion 3.
[0019]
In the vehicle door handle device according to the
5 embodiment of the present invention, the engaged portion 4
may be formed to have an opening. By forming the engaged
portion 4 to have an opening, the structure can be
simplified, careless disengaged of the stopper protrusion 3
from the engaged portion 4 can be completely prevented.
10 [0020]
According to the embodiment of the present invention,
the stopper protrusion 3 may be disposed at a rotation
center position of the operating handle 2.
[0021]
15 As illustrated in Fig. 7(a), the stopper protrusion 3
may be disposed at a position distant from the rotation
center of the operating handle 2, and the engaged portion 4
may be formed in an arc shape centering on the rotation
center of the operating handle 2. However, in a case where
20 the stopper protrusion 3 is disposed at the rotation center
position of the operating handle 2, it is not necessary to
take the movement path of the stopper protrusion 3 into
consideration, and thus space-saving can be achieved.
[0022]
11
According to the embodiment of the present invention,
in a state where one of the stopper protrusion 3 and the
engaged portion 4 as a moving element moving in an engaged
and disengaged direction engages with the other one of the
5 stopper protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4 as a
receiving element along with the sliding movement of the
operating handle 2 to the rotation center side, in a presscontact portion between the moving element and the
receiving element formed along with the sliding movement of
10 the operating handle 2 to the distal end side of rotation,
a line in the engaged and disengaged direction of the
moving element is substantially perpendicular to an
operation line of the operating handle 2 on the receiving
element.
15 [0023]
The engagement between the engaged portion 4 and the
stopper protrusion 3 is performed by one (the moving
element) of the engaged portion 4 and the stopper
protrusion 3 being moved in the engaged and disengaged
20 direction to engage with the other one (the receiving
element) of the engaged portion 4 and the stopper
protrusion 3 when the operating handle 2 slides forward.
In a case where the operating handle 2 is pulled to the
distal end side of rotation in the engaged state, the
25 stopper protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4 abut against
12
each other such that the movement of the operating handle 2
is restricted.
[0024]
In this state, in the abutting point, the line of the
5 engaged and disengaged direction of the moving element is
substantially perpendicular to the direction of the
operation line of the operating force of the operating
handle 2 on the distal end side of rotation. In this case,
when the operating handle 2 is pulled rearward, the force
10 component in the engaged and disengaged direction is not
applied to the moving element. Therefore, even in a case
where a user is strongly pulled the operating handle 2
rearward, the engaged state between the moving element and
the receiving element, that is, between the stopper
15 protrusion 3 and the engaged portion 4 is not released, and
the reliability is improved.
[0025]
According to the embodiment of the present invention,
the stopper protrusion 3 may protrude from the
20 operating handle 2, a cantilevered elastic wing piece 10
that is disposed along a slide operation direction of the
operating handle 2 may be formed in the handle base 1, the
elastic wing piece 10 may include a fixed end in an
operation distal end direction during the slide operation
25 of the operating handle 2 to the rotation center side, the
13
elastic wing piece 10 may include a stopper abutting piece
9 at a free end, the elastic wing piece 10 may be
elastically deformed to allow passage of the stopper
protrusion 3 by the stopper protrusion 3 coming into press
5 contact with the stopper abutting piece 9 during the
sliding movement of the operating handle 2 to the rotation
center side, and the engaged portion 4 may be formed in the
elastic wing piece 10 and may engage with the stopper
protrusion 3 due to an elastic restoration operation of the
10 elastic wing piece 10 after the passage of the stopper
protrusion 3.
[0026]
In this case, in a case where the vehicle door handle
device is configured such that an engagement releasing
15 portion 11 that operates the elastic wing piece 10 to
release the engagement of the engaged portion 4 extends
from the stopper abutting piece 9, the operating handle 2
can be easily removed from the handle base 1.
[0027]
20 According to the embodiment of the present invention,
the operating handle does not move in a direction
perpendicular to the sliding direction during the mounting.
Therefore, during the mounting of the operating handle, it
is not necessary to set a surplus movement space, and the
25 internal space of the handle base can be effectively used.
14
[Brief Description of the Drawings]
[0028]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1(a) is a front view illustrating a
5 door handle device. Fig. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view
taken along line 1B-1B of Fig. 1(a).
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating an
operating handle.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3(a) is a plan view illustrating a
10 distal end portion of a handle base. Fig. 3(b) is a crosssectional view taken along line 3B-3B of Fig. 3(a).
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4(a) is a front view illustrating a
linking operation of the operating handle. Fig. 4(b) is a
diagram when seen in a direction indicated by arrow 4B of
15 Fig. 4(a).
[Fig. 5] Figs. 5(a) to 5(d) are cross-sectional views
taken along line 5A-5A of Fig. 4(b) illustrating the
linking operation of the operating handle. Fig. 5(a) is a
diagram corresponding to Fig. 4(a). Fig. 5(b) is a diagram
20 illustrating a state where stopper protrusions abut against
a stopper abutting piece. Fig. 5(c) is a diagram
illustrating a state where elastic wing pieces are
elastically deformed by the stopper protrusion. Fig. 5(d)
is a diagram illustrating a state where an engaged portion
25 is engaged with the stopper protrusion.
15
[Fig. 6] Figs 6(a) to 6(e) are diagrams illustrating
a state where the operating handle is linked to the handle
base. Fig. 6(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line
6A-6A of Fig. 5(d). Fig. 6(b) is a diagram corresponding
5 to Fig. 6(a) illustrating a state where the operating
handle is rotated. Fig. 6(c) is a diagram when seen in a
direction indicated by arrow 6C of Fig. 5(d). Fig. 6(d) is
a diagram corresponding to Fig. 6(c) illustrating a state
where the operating handle is rotated. Fig. 6(e) is a
10 diagram when seen in a direction indicated by arrow 6E of
Fig. 6(c).
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7(a) is a diagram illustrating a state
where the operating handle is positioned in an initial
rotation position. Fig. 7(b) is a diagram illustrating a
15 state where the operating handle is rotated by a
predetermined angle.
[Fig. 8] Figs. 8(a) and 8(b) are diagrams
illustrating a relationship between the stopper protrusions
and the engaged portion.
20 [Fig. 9] Figs. 9(a) to 9(d) are diagrams illustrating
another example of a relationship between the stopper
protrusions and the engaged portion.
[Description of Embodiments]
25 [0029]
16
As illustrated in Figs. 1(a) and 1(b), a door handle
device is formed by linking an operating handle 2 to a
handle base 1. In order to prevent exposure to the outside
of a vehicle, the handle base 1 is fixed to a back surface
5 of a door panel (not illustrated), and the operating handle
2 is linked to the handle base 1 from the outside of the
vehicle after the mounting of the handle base 1 to the
vehicle.
[0030]
10 In order to block a rear opening 14b that is formed
in the handle base 1 described below, a cap member 15 is
fixed to the handle base 1 through a bolt 16.
[0031]
An activation lever 17 is linked to a rear end
15 portion of the handle base 1 so as to be rotatable around a
rotation axis (C17). Accordingly, the handle base 1
transmits the rotation of the activation lever 17 to a door
lock device 19 through a cable device 18 and the like to
operate the door lock device 19, the door lock device 19
20 keeping a closed state of the door.
[0032]
On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the
operating handle 2 includes a hinge protrusion 5 at a front
end and includes an activation leg 20 at a rear end. In
25 the linked state, the operating handle 2 rotates around the
17
center of the hinge protrusion 5 as a rotation center. In
the state where the operating handle 2 is linked to the
handle base 1, as illustrated in Fig. 1(b), a locking step
portion 20a that protrudes forward from a free end of the
5 activation leg 20 is locked to a locking rod 17a that
protrudes from the activation lever 17, and the activation
lever 17 rotates along with the rotation of the operating
handle 2.
[0033]
10 The mounting of the operating handle 2 to the handle
base 1 is performed as illustrated in Figs. 4(a) and 4(b)
through the following steps: inserting the hinge protrusion
5 and the activation leg 20 of the operating handle 2 into
the door through front and rear openings 14a and 14b
15 provided in the handle base 1 and front and rear openings
(not illustrated) of the door panel; and sliding the entire
portion of the operating handle 2 forward in a direction
indicated by an arrow of Figs. 4(a) and 4(b).
[0034]
20 In a state where the operating handle 2 is set as
illustrated in Fig. 4(b), a vehicle exterior surface of the
locking step portion 20a is positioned on a vehicle
exterior side from an interior surface of the locking rod
17a (process gap ), and the locking rod 17a temporarily
25 rotates against a biasing force of a torsion spring 21 due
18
to the forward slide operation of the operating handle 2 to
allow the passage of the locking step portion 20a, and then
comes into press contact with the locking step portion 20a.
In this state, the locking step portion 20a is pressed to
5 the interior side such that rattling is prevented.
Further, the locking step portion 20a moves outward due to
the rotation of the operating handle 2 such that the
activation lever 17 rotates.
[0035]
10 In addition, a front end surface of the hinge
protrusion 5 of the operating handle 2 is formed of an arcshaped surface, and cylindrical stopper protrusions 3
protrude from upper and lower surfaces of the hinge
protrusion 5 in a center position of the arc-shaped
15 surface. Further, in a front end portion of the handle
base 1, cantilevered elastic wing pieces 10 including a
front end that is a fixed end are formed.
[0036]
As illustrated in Fig. 3(b), and 5(a) to 5(d), two
20 elastic wing pieces 10 are disposed in parallel at
substantially same intervals in a vertical direction of the
hinge protrusion 5 of the operating handle 2, and stopper
abutting pieces 9 are formed by bending respective free
ends of the elastic wing pieces 10 in a trailing direction.
25 [0037]
19
In addition, as illustrated in Fig. 3(a), an engaged
portion 4 is provided in each of the elastic wing pieces
10. The engaged portions 4 are openings that have a curved
portion having the same diameter as the stopper protrusions
5 3 of the operating handle 2 at one corner, and an interval
between an interior side edge and an exterior side edge and
an interval between front and rear side edges are larger
than the diameter of the stopper protrusions 3.
[0038]
10 Accordingly, in this example, in a state where the
operating handle 2 is set as illustrated in Fig. 5(a), the
stopper abutting pieces 9 of the elastic wing pieces 10 are
positioned on a movement path of the stopper protrusions 3
of the operating handle 2. In a case where the operating
15 handle 2 slides forward from the above-described state, the
stopper protrusions 3 abut against the stopper abutting
pieces 9 as illustrated in Fig. 5(b).
[0039]
Next, in a case where the operating handle 2 further
20 slides, as illustrated in Fig. 5(c), the opposite elastic
wing pieces 10 are elastically deformed so as to retreat by
the respective stopper protrusions 3 to allow the passage
of the stopper protrusions 3. Next, in a case where the
stopper protrusions 3 are positioned at positions
25 corresponding to the engaged portions 4, the opposite
20
elastic wing pieces 10 are elastically restored such that
the engaged portions 4 as a moving element elastically
engage with the stopper protrusions 3 as a receiving
element as illustrated in Fig. 5(d).
5 [0040]
In a state where the stopper protrusions 3 are fitted
to the engaged portions 4, the rearward movement of the
stopper protrusions 3, that is, the operating handle 2 is
restricted by peripheral walls of the engaged portions 4.
10 In this state, as illustrated in Fig. 1(b), an appropriate
clearance is secured between a rear end surface of the
activation leg 20 of the operating handle 2 and the cap
member 15. Thus, in a state where the operating handle 2
rotates, sliding with the cap member 15 is reliably
15 prevented.
[0041]
In addition, when the operating handle 2 is pulled
rearward in a state where the stopper protrusions 3 are
fitted to the engaged portions 4, a force is applied to the
20 elastic wing pieces 10 in a direction indicated by arrow F
in Fig. 5(d). On the other hand, this force is
perpendicular to a direction (a direction indicated by
arrow R in Fig. 5(d)) in which the engagement between the
stopper protrusions 3 and the cantilevered elastic wing
25 pieces 10 that extend rearward from the respective fixed
21
ends is released. Therefore, even in a case where the
pulling force indicated by arrow F is applied to the
operating handle 2, the force component in the direction
indicated by arrow R is not applied to the elastic wing
5 pieces 10, and the engagement between the stopper
protrusions 3 and the engaged portions 4 is not released
carelessly during the operation of the operating handle 2.
[0042]
In addition, in the example, in a case where the
10 portions where the stopper protrusions 3 and the engaged
portions 4 are engaged with each other are configured to be
perpendicular to arrow F as illustrated in Fig. 5(d), even
when the pulling force in the direction indicated by arrow
F is applied to the operating handle 2, the force component
15 in the direction indicated by arrow R is not generated.
The portions where the stopper protrusions 3 and the
engaged portions 4 are engaged with each other can be
arbitrarily configured to be in line contact or surface
contact with each other.
20 [0043]
Further, supporting points 12 that are fixed ends of
the cantilevered elastic wing pieces 10, and the portions
where the stopper protrusions 3 and the engaged portions 4
are engaged with each other may be configured to be on the
25 same straight line in the direction (arrow F) of the force
22
generated by pulling the operating handle 2 rearward such
that the force component (arrow R) in the direction in
which the engagement between the elastic wing pieces 10 and
the stopper protrusions 3 is released is not generated.
5 [0044]
Further, in a state where the stopper protrusions 3
are fitted to the engaged portions 4 as illustrated in
Figs. 6(a) to 6(e), the hinge protrusion 5 abuts against a
hinge restriction portion 8 that is formed in the handle
10 base 1. The hinge restriction portion 8 includes a top
wall 6 and an abutting wall 7. In a state where the arcshaped surface of the hinge protrusion 5 abuts against the
abutting wall 7, the movement of the entire portion of the
operating handle 2 to the interior side is restricted by
15 the door panel. Concurrently, the arc-shaped surface abuts
into direct contact with the top wall 6 in an internally
contact manner, and an inner center of the hinge protrusion
5 provides a rotation center during the rotation of the
operating handle 2.
20 [0045]
In addition, in the example, the abutting wall 7 of
the hinge restriction portion 8 is formed to be in an
elastically deformable cantilever shape, and is in press
contact with a distal end of the hinge protrusion 5 in a
25 state where the operating handle 2 is linked to the handle
23
base 1. As a result, a biasing force is applied to the
operating handle 2 by the abutting wall 7, and thus the
stopper protrusions 3 and the engaged portions 4 are in
press contact with each other and rattling of the operating
5 handle 2 is prevented.
[0046]
Further, in a case where the operating handle 2 is
operated to open the door, an operating force (P) of the
operating handle 2 functions as a force of pressing the
10 hinge restriction portion 8 of the hinge protrusion 5 to
the top wall 6 as illustrated in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b). On
the other hand, in the top wall 6 of the hinge restriction
portion 8, upper and lower edges are linked to upper and
lower wall surfaces of a distal end portion of the handle
15 base 1, and a front end edge is linked to a front end wall
surface of the handle base 1. As a result, the top wall 6
has high rigidity and strength. In addition, since a
clearance d is set between the stopper protrusions 3 and
inner peripheral wall surfaces of the engaged portions 4,
20 the operating force (P) is not applied to the stopper
protrusions 3. Therefore, the strength can be improved
during the operation of the operating handle 2.
[0047]
Further, in a state where the door panel is fixed to
25 the handle device as illustrated in Fig. 6(e), engagement
24
releasing portions 11 are exposed from the door panel back
surface. Therefore, by operating the engagement releasing
portions 11 in directions indicated by arrows, the
operating handle 2 can be easily removed from the handle
5 base 1.
[0048]
In this case, in a case where an exposure opening 22
from which the elastic wing pieces 10 are exposed to the
vehicle exterior side is provided in the handle base 1 and
10 overhang sides 22a are provided in the exposure opening 22
as illustrated in Fig. 6(e), the operating handle 2 can be
simply removed by directly inserting fingers into gaps
between the overhang sides and the engagement releasing
portions 11.
15 [0049]
While the invention has been described in detail and
with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent
to those skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit
20 and scope of the invention.
This application is based on Japanese Patent
Application (No. 2015-249636) filed on December 22, 2015
and contents thereof are incorporated herein as a
reference.
25 [Reference Signs List]
25
[0050]
1: Handle base
2: Operating handle
3: Stopper protrusion
5 4: Engaged portion
5: Hinge protrusion
6: Top wall
7: Abutting wall
8: Hinge restriction portion
10 9: Stopper abutting piece
10: Elastic wing piece
11: Engagement releasing portion
26
We Claim :
1. A vehicle door handle device comprising:
a handle base that is fixed to a door panel back
5 surface of a vehicle;
an operating handle that is linked to the handle base
from a door front surface side to be rotatable around a
rotation center;
a stopper protrusion that is provided in any one of
10 the operating handle and the handle base; and
an engaged portion that is provided in the other one
of the operating handle and the handle base,
wherein along with sliding of the operating handle to
a rotation center side, the stopper protrusion and the
15 engaged portion are elastically engaged with each other so
that movement of the operating handle to a rotation distal
end side is restricted,
wherein a hinge protrusion protrudes from an end
portion of the operating handle on the rotation center
20 side,
wherein the handle base includes a hinge restriction
portion,
wherein the hinge restriction portion includes a top
wall restricting movement of the hinge protrusion in a door
27
panel direction and an abutting wall of the hinge
protrusion,
wherein the hinge protrusion abuts into the hinge
restriction portion in an internally contact manner, and
5 wherein in a state that the hinge protrusion abuts
against the hinge restriction portion, an inner center of
the hinge restriction portion fits to the rotation center
of the operating handle.
10 2. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1,
wherein a gap that keeps a non-contact state of the
stopper protrusion and the engaged portion during a
translational movement of the operating handle to outside
of a door is provided between the stopper protrusion and
15 the engaged portion.
3. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1
or 2,
wherein the engaged portion is formed to have an
20 opening.
4. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 1,
2, or 3,
wherein the stopper protrusion is positioned at the
25 rotation center of the operating handle.
28
5. The vehicle door handle device according to any one
of claims 1 to 4,
wherein in a state that one of the stopper protrusion
5 and the engaged portion as a moving element moving in an
engaged and disengaged direction, engages with the other
one of the stopper protrusion and the engaged portion as a
receiving element along with a sliding movement of the
operating handle to the rotation center side, in a press10 contact portion between the moving element and the
receiving element along with the sliding of the operating
handle to the rotation center side, a line of the engaged
and disengaged direction of the moving element is
substantially perpendicular to an operation line of the
15 operating handle on the receiving element in an engagement
releasing direction.
6. The vehicle door handle device according to any one
of claims 1 to 4,
20 wherein the stopper protrusion protrudes from the
operating handle,
wherein an elastic wing piece that is cantilevered
and positioned along a sliding operation direction of the
operating handle is formed in the handle base,
29
wherein the elastic wing piece includes a fixed end
in an operation distal end direction during a slide
operation of the operating handle to the rotation center
side,
5 wherein the elastic wing piece includes a stopper
abutting piece at a free end,
wherein the stopper protrusion presses and contacts
to the stopper abutting piece during the sliding movement
of the operating handle to the rotation center side and the
10 elastic wing piece is elastically deformed to allow passage
of the stopper protrusion, and
wherein the engaged portion is formed in the elastic
wing piece and elastically engages with the stopper
protrusion due to an elastic restoration operation of the
15 elastic wing piece after the passage of the stopper
protrusion.

30
7. The vehicle door handle device according to claim 6,
wherein an engagement releasing portion in which the
elastic wing piece is operated to release an engagement of
the engaged portion, extends from the stopper abutting
piece.