CN116658004A - Door lock device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a door lock device for a vehicle, which can prevent the situation that a door is deformed due to collision load input to release a latch. A lever (30) for transmitting the motion of an outer handle (12) to an opening lever (25) of a latch mechanism (20) is provided with a first portion (30 b) extending toward a base portion (21) of the latch mechanism (20), a second portion (30 c) extending from the first portion (30 b) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a third portion (30 d) extending from the second portion (30 c) to the lower side, and the third portion (30 d) is provided with a skew portion (30 e) extending obliquely toward the lower portion of a handle base (11). When deformation of the outer panel (5) due to collision load input starts, the second portion (30 c) of the lever (30) abuts against the base portion of the latch mechanism (20), preventing the upper portion of the handle base (11) from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel (5).

Description

Door lock device for vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a door lock device for a vehicle.

Background

The vehicle door lock device is provided to a door of a vehicle. The door lock device for a vehicle is provided with a handle mechanism including an outer handle, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a fork engaged with or disengaged from a lock pin of the vehicle body, and a pawl lever. The latch mechanism is switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by an operation of the outside handle by the occupant. In the latched state, the pawl lever holds the fork in a position to be engaged with the lock pin. Under latch release, the holding of the fork by the pawl lever is released and the fork is disengaged from the lock pin. The door can be opened by latch release.

Patent document 1 describes the following: the inertia acting on the vehicle at the time of collision may cause the same operation as the operation by the occupant, in other words, the operation to the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the door, to occur in the outer handle. The latch may be released by this operation.

The vehicle door lock device described in patent document 1 includes a stopper member that prevents movement of a lever that transmits an operation of an outer handle to a latch mechanism when inertia acts on a vehicle at the time of collision. The stopper member is intended to prevent the release of the latch caused by the action of the outer handle due to inertia at the time of collision.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2009-243102

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the event of a crash, in particular a side crash, the door deforms as a result of the crash load input. The vehicle door lock device described in patent document 1 has room for improvement in preventing such a situation that the door is released due to deformation of the door.

The present invention provides a door lock device for a vehicle, which can prevent a door from being deformed due to collision load input and causing a latch to be released.

Means for solving the problems

An aspect of the present invention provides a door lock device for a vehicle, comprising: a handle mechanism including a handle base disposed inside an outer panel of a door of a vehicle, and an outer handle movably held on the handle base; a latch mechanism provided with a lever for releasing the latch; a lever having a connecting portion connected to an upper portion of the handle base at one end and an engaging portion engageable with the control lever at the other end, the lever being capable of transmitting an operation of the outer handle to the control lever; and an opposing portion that opposes the handle base in a first direction, which is a direction in which the outer panel opposes the inner panel of the door, the lever including: a first portion extending from the connecting portion toward the opposing portion along the first direction; a second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction and along the opposing portion; and a third portion extending downward from the second portion and connected to the engagement portion, the lever being rotatable about an axis of the connection portion, the third portion of the lever having a skew portion extending obliquely toward a lower portion of the handle base.

In the event of a collision, in particular a side collision, the outer panel of the door deforms as a result of the input of a collision load. Depending on the design of the door, in which the length in the vehicle length direction of the door is large, or depending on the vehicle weight, the outer panel may deform in such a manner that the upper portion of the handle base rotates downward while approaching the inner panel due to the collision load input. When deformation of the outer panel due to the collision load input starts, the second portion of the lever promptly abuts against the opposing portion, and the first portion of the lever supports the collision load input. The lower end of the lever inclined portion or a portion connected to the lower end of the inclined portion is promptly brought into contact with the lower portion of the handle base, and the lever inclined portion supports the collision load input. In other words, the skew portions of the first portion and the third portion of the lever are interposed between the handle base and the opposing portion, and the relative displacement of the handle base with respect to the opposing portion is restrained. By restraining this displacement, the upper portion of the handle base is prevented from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel, whereby the lever moves downward, and the lever is controlled to displace. As a result, the latch can be prevented from being released due to deformation of the outer panel caused by the collision load input.

In assembling a door lock device for a vehicle, a latch mechanism is mounted after a handle base having a lever mounted thereon is mounted on an outer panel. At this time, the lever, which does not engage the engaging portion with the control lever of the latch mechanism, can rotate under the action of its own weight, and therefore the engaging portion of the lever enters below the handle base, and it is difficult to engage the engaging portion of the lever with the control lever of the latch mechanism. In contrast, when the lever rotates relative to the handle base under its own weight without engaging the engaging portion of the lever with the control lever of the latch mechanism, the lower end of the lever inclined portion or the portion connected to the lower end of the inclined portion abuts against the lower portion of the handle base. This can prevent the engagement portion of the lever from entering the lower portion of the handle base due to the rotation of the lever caused by the self weight. Therefore, after the handle base including the lever is mounted in the narrow door between the outer panel and the inner panel, the assemblability of the engagement portion of the lever and the control lever of the latch mechanism can be ensured when the latch mechanism is mounted next.

The skew portion of the lever may protrude further toward the handle base than the engagement portion.

According to this configuration, when the lower end of the skew portion or the portion connected to the lower end of the skew portion abuts against the handle base due to the rotation of the lever, the engagement portion of the lever is located on the opposite portion side when the door lock device for a vehicle is assembled, as compared with the case where the skew portion of the lever is located on the opposite portion side than the engagement portion. Therefore, the assemblability of the lever and the opening control lever of the latch mechanism can be ensured.

The lower end of the skew portion may be opposed to an inner end portion of the lower portion of the handle base, the inner end portion being positioned closest to the opposed portion.

According to this configuration, when the lower end of the inclined portion or the portion connected to the lower end of the inclined portion abuts against the handle base due to the rotation of the lever at the time of assembling the door lock device for a vehicle, the engagement portion of the lever is located in the vicinity of the inner end portion of the handle base. The assemblability of the lever and the opening control lever of the latch mechanism can be ensured.

The inner end portion of the handle base may be provided with a concave portion facing away from the latch mechanism, and the third portion of the lever may include a downward portion connected to the inclined portion via a bent portion and extending away from the handle base, the bent portion facing the concave portion of the handle base.

According to this structure, when the deformation of the outer panel due to the collision load input starts, the bent portion enters the concave portion of the handle base, and the downward movement of the lever can be prevented. This can prevent the outer panel from being deformed by the collision load input to release the latch. In addition, when the lever is turned by its own weight during assembly of the vehicle door lock device, the bent portion enters the concave portion of the handle base. Thus, the lever can be prevented from rotating relative to the handle base, and the assemblability of the lever and the opening control lever of the latch mechanism can be ensured.

A gap is provided between the second portion and the opposing portion.

According to this structure, the operation required for the lever at normal times is ensured.

The first portion of the lever may extend in a direction perpendicular to the opposing portion.

According to this structure, the first portion of the rod can reliably support the collision load input at the start of deformation of the outer panel due to the collision load input. As a result, the upper portion of the handle base can be more reliably prevented from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel.

The second portion of the lever may extend in a direction parallel to the opposing portion.

According to this structure, the collision load input acting through the first portion of the lever can be reliably received by the opposing portion at the start of the deformation of the outer panel due to the collision load input. As a result, the upper portion of the handle base can be more reliably prevented from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel.

The first direction may be a vehicle width direction of the vehicle, the second direction may be a vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the second portion of the lever may extend toward a rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the third portion of the lever may be connected to an end portion of the second portion on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

According to this configuration, since most of the lever is located at the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the door, the assemblability of the door lock device for a vehicle can be ensured.

The latch mechanism may include: a base portion disposed inside the inner panel; and a protruding portion protruding from a portion of the base portion on a rear side in the vehicle length direction toward the outer panel in the vehicle width direction, wherein the base portion includes the opposing portion, and the second portion of the lever is located closer to the base portion than a front end of the protruding portion.

According to this structure, the base portion of the latch mechanism doubles as the opposing portion, and therefore an increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

Effects of the invention

According to the vehicle door lock device of the present invention, the deformation of the door due to the collision load input can be prevented from causing the latch release.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view of a side door of a vehicle provided with a vehicle door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a side door of a vehicle provided with a vehicle door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of fig. 3.

Fig. 5A is a view of the handle mechanism and the lever as seen from the vehicle width direction inner side.

Fig. 5B is a perspective view of the handle mechanism and lever.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lever.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lever.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the door lock device for a vehicle.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the door lock device for a vehicle.

Fig. 10 is a view of the vehicle door lock device as seen from the upper side in the vehicle height direction.

Fig. 11 is a view of the vehicle door lock device as seen from the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to fig. 11 showing a state in which the vehicle door lock device is assembled.

Reference numerals illustrate:

1 … door lock device for vehicle;

2 … gate;

door construction;

outer plate;

inner panel;

5a … manhole;

a 6 … end plate;

7 … enclosed space;

10 … handle mechanism;

11 … handle base;

11a … handle base body;

11b … shaft support;

an insertion portion;

11d … tab;

11e … inner end;

cut-out;

11g … through holes;

recess;

outer handle;

a first end;

a second end;

13 … balance weight;

14 … lever arm;

a stem holding portion;

15 … coil spring;

16 … support shaft;

20 … latch mechanism;

21 … base part;

21a … inner side (facing portion);

22 … projection;

23 … casing;

24 … fork;

25 … open lever;

30 … poles;

a held portion (connecting portion);

first part;

second part;

third part;

a skew portion;

down part;

bending part;

the clamping part;

an insert;

g … gap;

the rotational orientation of the A1 … lever arm;

a2 … is directed opposite to the rotation of the lever arm;

b … action of the upper part of the handle base at the time of collision.

Detailed Description

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction respectively indicate the vehicle length direction, the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle height direction.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a door lock device 1 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention forms a door structure 3 together with a door 2 of a vehicle. In the present embodiment, the door 2 is a rear side door. The present invention can also be applied to a door of a vehicle other than a rear side door.

The door 2 includes an outer panel 4, an inner panel 5, and an end panel 6. The outer panel 4 and the inner panel 5 face each other in the vehicle width direction (first direction). The outer panel 4, the inner panel 5, and the end panel 6 of the door 2 define a closed space 7 (see also fig. 3 and 4). In the following description, the terms "inner" and "outer" are used for the surfaces of the outer plate 4, the inner plate 5, and the end plate 6 on the side of the closed space 7 and the surfaces of the opposite side to the closed space 7, respectively.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, the vehicle door lock device 1 includes a handle mechanism 10, a latch mechanism 20, and a lever 30, and is disposed on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the door 2.

(handle mechanism)

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the handle mechanism 10 includes a handle base 11 disposed inside the outer panel 4 (in the closed space 7), and an outer handle 12 disposed outside the outer panel 4. The handle base 11 and the outer handle 12 are each disposed along the vehicle length direction.

Referring also to fig. 5A, the outer handle 12 is held in a movable state by the handle base 11. In other words, the first end portion 12a of the outer handle 12 protruding from the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction (second direction) penetrates the outer panel 4 and is held rotatably by the handle base 11, and the second end portion 12b of the outer handle 12 protruding from the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction also penetrates the outer panel 4 and is held rotatably by the handle base 11 in the vehicle width direction. In normal operation, the latch mechanism 20 is switched from the latched state to the unlatched state by an operation (door opening operation) of turning the outside handle 12 outward in the vehicle width direction by the occupant, and the door 2 can be opened.

Referring to fig. 5A, 5B, and 8, the handle base 11 includes a support shaft 16 on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction and on the upper side in the vehicle height direction. The lever arm 14 including the counterweight 13 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 16. The held portion (connecting portion) 30a of the lever 30 is inserted through and rotatably held by the lever holding portion 14a at the upper end of the lever arm 14.

The lever arm 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow A1 in fig. 8 in conjunction with the movement of the second end portion 12b of the outside handle 12 based on the door opening operation. By this rotation, the lever holding portion 14a moves downward in the vehicle height direction, and as a result, the lever 30 descends downward in the vehicle height direction. When the lever 30 is lowered, an engagement portion 30h provided on the lever 30 presses down an opening lever 25, which will be described later, provided on the latch mechanism 20 to rotate it downward. As a result, the latch mechanism 20 is switched from the latched state to the unlatched state. The support shaft 16 is provided with a coil spring 15 that elastically biases the lever arm 14. As shown in fig. 8, the coil spring 15 biases the lever arm 14 to rotate in the direction of the arrow A2 (the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow A1), that is, to rotate in the direction opposite to the direction in which the latch mechanism 20 is switched from the latched state to the unlatched state.

(latch mechanism)

Referring to fig. 3, 4, and 8 to 11, the latch mechanism 20 is disposed inside the inner panel 5 (inside the closed space 7). The latch mechanism 20 includes a base portion 21 and a protruding portion 22. The base portion 21 is disposed so as to extend along the inner side of the inner panel 5 in the vehicle length direction. The protruding portion 22 protrudes from a portion of the base portion 21 on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction toward the outer panel 4 in the vehicle width direction. The protruding portion 21 is disposed along the inside of the end plate 6. The base portion 21 and the protruding portion 22 are constituted by a housing 23 of a half-divided structure.

A fork 24 (only shown in fig. 8) engaged with or disengaged from a lock pin (not shown) of the vehicle body and a pawl lever (not shown) are accommodated in the protruding portion 22.

An open lever 25 for releasing the latch is provided in the base portion 21. Further, a mechanism (not shown) including elements such as a link and a motor for switching the latch mechanism 20 between the unlocked state and the locked state is housed in the base portion 21. Normally, if the latch mechanism 20 is in the unlocked state, when the opening lever 25 is depressed by the operation of the outside handle 12, the latch mechanism 20 is switched from the latched state (a state in which the claw lever holds the fork 24 in a position where it is engaged with the lock pin) to the unlatched state (a state in which the holding of the claw lever to the fork 24 is released and the fork 24 is disengaged from the lock pin). On the other hand, when the latch mechanism 20 is in the locked state, the latch mechanism is not switched from the latched state to the unlatched state even if the opening lever 25 is depressed by the operation of the outer handle 12.

(rod)

The rod 30 in the present embodiment is a rod formed by bending a round steel rod having a diameter of 4.0 to 6.0mm into a shape described later.

Referring to fig. 8, the lever 30 transmits the motion of the outer handle 12 of the handle mechanism 10 to the opening control lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20. Specifically, in normal operation, when the outside handle 12 is operated to open the door, the lever 30 moves downward in the vehicle height direction along with the rotation of the lever arm 14 of the handle mechanism 10 in the direction of arrow A1, and the engagement portion 30h presses down the open lever 25.

Referring to fig. 5A, 5B, and 8, as described with respect to the handle mechanism 10 and the latch mechanism 20, the lever arm 14 is rotatably supported on the upper side of the handle base 11 in the vehicle height direction, and the held portion (connecting portion) 30a of the lever 30 is held by the lever holding portion 14a provided at the upper end of the lever arm 14. In other words, in the present embodiment, one end of the lever 30 is connected to the upper portion of the handle base 11 in the vehicle height direction via the lever arm 14.

Details of the lever 30 will be described below with reference to fig. 6 to 11.

The lever 30 includes a held portion (connecting portion) 30a, a first portion 30b, a second portion 30c, a third portion 30d, an engaging portion 30h, and an insertion portion 30i. The lever 30 has a held portion 30a at one end and an engaging portion 30h and an insertion portion 30i at the other end.

As clearly shown in fig. 8 to 11, the held portion 30a extends linearly in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and is inserted into the lever holding portion 14a of the lever arm 14 from the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The held portion 30a is rotatably held by the lever holding portion 14a. Thereby, the lever 30 can rotate around the axis of the held portion 30a.

The first portion 30b is connected to the front end portion of the held portion 30a in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The first portion 30b extends linearly in the vehicle width direction from the held portion 30a toward the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. In particular, the first portion 30b extends in a direction orthogonal to the inner side surface 21a of the base portion 21 in the vehicle width direction. The inner surface 21a is an example of the opposing portion of the present invention, and faces the handle base 11 in the vehicle width direction. In the case where a plurality of ribs protrude from the surface as in the base portion 21 of the present embodiment, the inner surface 21a may be defined as a virtual surface constituted by the tips of the plurality of ribs.

The second portion 30c is connected to an inner end portion of the first portion 30b in the vehicle width direction. The second portion 30c extends from the first portion 30b toward the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In other words, the second portion 30c extends from the first portion 30b in a direction orthogonal to the vehicle width direction and parallel to the inner side surface 21 a.

A gap G is provided between the second portion 30c of the lever 30 and the latch mechanism 20, more specifically, the inner side surface 21a of the base portion 21. The gap G ensures the operation required for the lever 30 at normal times. The gap G is set to 5 to 15mm, for example, 10mm.

As shown most clearly in fig. 10, the second portion 30c of the lever 30 is located closer to the base portion 21 side of the latch mechanism 20 than the tip end of the protruding portion 22 of the latch mechanism 20, more specifically, closer to the inner side surface 21a side as an example of the opposing portion of the present invention as described above.

The third portion 30d is connected to the rear end portion of the second portion 30c in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The third portion 30d extends from the second portion 30c to the lower side in the vehicle height direction as a whole. The lower end of the third portion 30d is connected to the engaging portion 30h.

The third portion 30d includes a skew portion 30e and a down-link portion 30f, which are connected via a bent portion 30g.

One end of the skew portion 30e is connected to the second portion 30c, and the other end is connected to the descending portion 30f. Referring to fig. 11, the inclined portion 30e extends linearly from the rear end portion of the second portion 30c in the vehicle longitudinal direction toward the lower portion of the handle base 11, obliquely downward, as viewed from the upper side in the vehicle height direction. Here, referring to fig. 5A, the lower portion of the handle base 11 is a portion lower than half of the total height H of the handle base 11 excluding the lever arm 14 including the counterweight 13, and the portion higher than half of the total height H is an upper portion.

More specifically, the lower end of the skew portion 30e faces an inner end portion 11e located innermost in the vehicle width direction (on the inner side surface 21a side of the base portion 21) in the lower portion of the handle base 11. Referring to fig. 5A and 5B, the handle base 11 includes a handle base body 11a, a shaft support portion 11B for supporting the first end portion 12a of the outer handle 12, and an insertion portion 11c for inserting the second end portion 12B of the outer handle 12, and the lever arm 14 is rotatably attached to an upper portion of the insertion portion 11c. A protruding portion 1ld protruding inward in the vehicle width direction than the other portion is provided on the rear side in the vehicle length direction of the handle base main body 11a and the front side in the vehicle length direction of the insertion portion 11c, and an inner end portion of the protruding portion 11d is an inner end portion lle. Referring to fig. 5B and 10, a notch l1f is provided on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the protruding portion 11d of the handle base 11 to ensure a space for disposing the open lever 25 protruding to the outside in the vehicle width direction in the latch mechanism 20.

Referring to fig. 5A and 10, the inclined portion 30e extends in a straight line so as to incline toward the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction as approaching the handle base 11, as viewed from the upper side in the vehicle height direction. Referring to fig. 11, a gap is provided between the lower end of the inclined portion 30e and the inner end portion 11e of the handle base 11 when viewed from the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. This clearance ensures the operation required for the lever 30 at normal times.

One end of the descending portion 30f is connected to the inclined portion 30e via the bent portion 30g, and the other end is connected to the engaging portion 30h. Referring to fig. 5A, 5B, and 11, the down-link portion 30f extends linearly inward in the vehicle width direction and downward in the vehicle height direction so as to be separated from the handle base 11. In other words, the inclination angle of the descending portion 30f is different from the inclination angle of the skew portion 30e. Thus, a curved portion 30g is formed between the inclined portion 30e and the descending portion 30f.

The engagement portion 30h is connected to a lower end portion of the descending portion 30f in the vehicle height direction. The engagement portion 30h extends linearly from the descending portion 30f to above the opening lever 25 toward the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and is slightly inclined toward the lower side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As can be understood by referring to fig. 8, when the lever 30 is lowered in the vehicle height direction, the engagement portion 30h presses down and rotates the opening control lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20.

The insertion portion 30i is connected to the lower end portion of the engagement portion 30h in the vehicle height direction. The insertion portion 30i extends linearly from the engagement portion 30h to the lower side in the vehicle height direction. The insertion portion 30i is inserted into the opening lever 25 so as to allow the lever 30 to be lifted up and lowered down relative to the opening lever 25.

(behavior of door Lock device for vehicle at the time of collision)

In the case where the lever 30 is assumed not to have the above-described shape, the vehicle door lock device 1 exhibits the following behavior in the event of a collision, particularly a side collision.

The outer panel 4 of the door 2 is deformed due to the input of the collision load. Depending on the design of the door 2, in which the length in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the door 2 is large, or depending on the vehicle weight, the outer panel 4 deforms so that the upper portion of the handle base 11 rotates downward while approaching the inner panel 5, as conceptually shown by an arrow B in fig. 3, due to the collision load input. When the upper portion of the handle base 11 is rotated as indicated by arrow B in fig. 3, the lever 30 moves downward and the opening lever 25 is pressed downward. As a result, the latch mechanism 20 is switched from the latched state to the unlatched state, and the door 2 may be opened.

In contrast, in the case of the vehicle door lock device 1 of the present embodiment, when the deformation of the outer panel 4 due to the collision load input is started, the second portion 30c of the lever 30 rapidly abuts against the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20, more specifically, the inner side surface 21a of the base portion 21, and the first portion 30b of the lever 30 supports the collision load input. Further, the bent portion 30g or the descending portion 30f of the lower end of the inclined portion 30e of the lever 30 is promptly brought into contact with the lower portion of the inner end portion 11e of the handle base 11, and the inclined portion 30e of the lever 30 supports the collision load input. In other words, the skew portions 30e of the first and third portions 30b and 30d of the lever 30 are sandwiched between the handle base 11 and the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20, and the relative movement of the lever 30 with respect to the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20 is restrained. By this restriction of movement, the upper portion of the handle base 11 is rotated downward while approaching the inner panel 5, thereby preventing the lever 30 from moving downward in the vehicle length direction. And, by preventing the descent of the lever 30, the opening lever 25 is prevented from being depressed by the lever 30. As a result, the outer panel 4 is prevented from being deformed by the collision load input, and the latch is prevented from being released.

(behavior during assembly of door Lock device for vehicle)

If the lever 30 is assumed not to take the above-described shape, the lever 30 exhibits the following behavior when the vehicle door lock device 1 is assembled in the closed space 7 of the door 2.

When the handle base 11, the lever 30, and the latch mechanism 20 are mounted in the closed space 7 of the door 2, first, the latch mechanism 20 is mounted from the manhole 5a (see fig. 2) of the inner panel 5 after the handle base 11 to which the lever 30 is assembled is mounted to the outer panel 4. At this time, the lever 30 is rotatable with respect to the handle base 11, and a cutout portion 11f for securing a disposition space is formed in the handle base 11 at a position facing the opening control lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20. Therefore, in a state where the engagement portion 30h of the lever 30 is not engaged with the opening control lever 25, the lever 30 enters the notch portion 11f, and as shown by a broken line in fig. 12, the engagement portion 30h of the lever 30 enters the lower portion of the handle base 11, and the lever 30 may rotate to an angular position in the vicinity of the outer panel 4 by its own weight. In this case, since the housing 23 of the latch mechanism 20 interferes with the handle base 11 or the opening lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20 interferes with the outer panel 4, it is difficult to insert the opening lever 25 into the insertion portion 30i of the lever 30 to engage with the engagement portion 30h.

In contrast, the lever 30 of the present embodiment includes a third portion 30d having a skew portion 30e extending obliquely toward the lower portion of the handle base 11. Therefore, as shown in fig. 12, when the lever 30 is rotated under its own weight with respect to the handle base 11 in a state in which the engagement portion 30h of the lever 30 is not engaged with the opening control lever 25, at least one of the bent portion 30g of the lower end of the inclined portion 30e and the down-link portion 30f connected to the inclined portion 30e abuts on the lower portion of the inner end portion lle of the handle base 11. This prevents the engaging portion 30h of the lever 30 from entering the lower side of the handle base 11 and being located in the vicinity of the outer panel 4 due to the rotation of the lever 30 by its own weight. Therefore, after the handle base 11 including the lever 30 is mounted in the narrow door between the outer panel 4 and the inner panel 5, the assemblability of the lever 30 and the opening control lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20 can be ensured when the latch mechanism is mounted next.

As described above, the inclined portion 30e of the lever 30 protrudes further toward the handle base 11 than the engaging portion 30h. Therefore, when the lower end or the lower portion 30f of the inclined portion 30e of the lever 30 abuts against the handle base 11 at the time of assembling the vehicle door lock device 1, the engaging portion 30h of the lever 30 is located on the base portion 21 side of the latch mechanism 20, as compared with the case where the inclined portion 30e of the lever 30 is located on the base portion 21 side of the latch mechanism 20 than the engaging portion 30h. Therefore, the assemblability of the lever 30 and the opening control lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20 can be ensured.

As described above, the lower end of the skew portion 30e faces the inner end portion 11e located on the base portion 21 side of the latch mechanism 20, which is the most closest to the lower portion of the handle base 11. Therefore, when the lower end of the inclined portion 30e or the descending portion 30f is in contact with the handle base 11 due to the rotation of the lever 30 during assembly of the vehicle door lock device 1, the engagement portion 30h of the lever 30 is located in the vicinity of the inner end 11e of the handle base 11. Therefore, the rod 30 and the opening control lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20 can be prevented from being assembled.

As described above, the first portion 30b of the lever 30 extends in the direction orthogonal to the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. Therefore, the first portion 30b of the rod 30 can reliably support the collision load input at the start of deformation of the outer panel 4 due to the collision load input. As a result, the upper portion of the handle base 11 can be more reliably prevented from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel 5.

As described above, the second portion 30c of the lever 30 extends in a direction parallel to the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. Therefore, at the start of deformation of the outer panel 4 due to the collision load input, the collision load input acting via the first portion 30b of the lever 30 can be reliably received by the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. As a result, the upper portion of the handle base 11 can be more reliably prevented from rotating downward while approaching the inner panel 5.

As described above, the second portion 30c of the lever 30 extends rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the third portion 30d of the lever 30 extends downward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the second portion 30c, and the third portion 30d is connected to the engagement portion 30h. Therefore, most of the lever 30 is disposed on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the door 2. By disposing the lever 30 rearward, interference between the lever 30 and the latch mechanism 20 when the latch mechanism 20 is disposed in the closed space 7 from the access hole 5a (see fig. 2) of the inner panel 5 can be avoided when the vehicle door lock device 1 is assembled. Therefore, the assemblability of the vehicle door lock device 1 can be ensured.

As described above, the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20 also has a function of abutting the lever 30 at the start of deformation of the outer panel 4 due to collision load input, in other words, a function of the opposing portion of the present invention. Therefore, the increase in the number of components can be suppressed as compared with the case where components functioning as the opposing portions are separately provided. However, a member that functions as an opposing portion may be provided separately from the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

For example, the bent portion 30g of the lever 30 may be opposed to the recess 11h of the second end portion 12B of the handle base 11 shown in fig. 5A and 5B, in which the insertion hole 11g through which the second end portion 12B of the outer handle 12 is inserted is not arranged. The height of the recess 11h in the vehicle height direction is smaller than the length of the third portion 30d in the vehicle height direction. The recess 11h is an example of a recess of the present invention formed in the inner end 11e of the handle base 11 and recessed toward away from the latch mechanism 20. However, the recess 11h may be defined by a wall of the lower side in the vehicle height direction and walls of the both sides in the vehicle length direction, and may be opened at the upper side in the vehicle height direction.

In this way, when the lever 30 is rotated with respect to the handle base 11, the bent portion 30g, a portion of the lower side of the inclined portion 30e, and a portion of the upper side of the lower portion 30f can enter the recess 11h of the handle base 11. Therefore, at the start of deformation of the outer panel 4 due to the input of the collision load, the bent portion 30g enters the concave portion 11h of the handle base 11, and the descending portion 30f interferes with the hole wall dividing the concave portion 11h from above, restricting downward movement of the lever 30 with respect to the base portion 21 of the latch mechanism 20. Thereby, the descent of the lever 30 is prevented, so that the opening control lever 25 can be reliably prevented from being depressed by the lever 30. Even when the door lock device 1 is assembled, if the lever 30 rotates under its own weight with respect to the handle base 11, the bent portion 30g enters the recess 11h, and the downward portion 30f interferes with the wall of the recess 11h. In other words, a part of the third portion 30d of the lever 30 engages with the insertion hole 11 g. This suppresses the rotation of the lever 30 with respect to the handle base 11, and thus ensures the assemblability of the lever 30 and the opening control lever 25 of the latch mechanism 20.

Claims (9)

1. A door lock device for a vehicle, wherein,

the vehicle door lock device includes:

a handle mechanism including a handle base disposed inside an outer panel of a door of a vehicle, and an outer handle movably held on the handle base;

a latch mechanism provided with a lever for releasing the latch;

a lever having a connecting portion connected to an upper portion of the handle base at one end and an engaging portion engageable with the control lever at the other end, the lever being capable of transmitting an operation of the outer handle to the control lever; and

an opposing portion that opposes the handle base in a first direction, which is a direction in which the outer panel opposes the inner panel of the door,

the lever is provided with:

a first portion extending from the connecting portion toward the opposing portion along the first direction;

a second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction and along the opposing portion; and

a third portion extending downward from the second portion and connected to the engagement portion,

the lever is rotatable about the axis of the connection,

the third portion of the lever includes a skew portion extending obliquely toward a lower portion of the handle base.

2. The door lock device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

the skew portion of the lever protrudes further toward the handle base than the engagement portion.

3. The door lock device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the lower end of the skew portion is opposed to an inner end portion of the lower portion of the handle base, which is located at a position closest to the opposed portion side.

4. The door lock device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein,

a concave part facing to the recess and far away from the latch mechanism is arranged at the inner end part of the handle base,

the third portion of the lever includes a descending portion connected to the skew portion via a bent portion and extending away from the handle base toward the handle base,

the curved portion faces the concave portion of the handle base.

5. The door lock device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein,

a gap is provided between the second portion and the opposing portion.

6. The door lock device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein,

the first portion of the lever extends in a direction orthogonal to the opposing portion.

7. The door lock device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein,

the second portion of the lever extends in a direction parallel to the opposing portion.

8. The door lock device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein,

the first direction is a vehicle width direction of the vehicle, the second direction is a vehicle length direction of the vehicle,

the second portion of the lever extends toward the rear side in the vehicle length direction,

the third portion of the lever is connected to an end portion of the second portion on the rear side in the vehicle length direction.

9. The door lock device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein,

the latch mechanism includes:

a base portion disposed inside the inner panel; and

a protruding portion protruding from a portion of the base portion on a rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction toward the outer panel in the vehicle width direction,

the base portion is provided with the opposing portion,

the second portion of the lever is located closer to the base portion than the tip of the protruding portion.