JP2008240492A - Vehicular out handle device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent reduction in an appearance and productivity as the whole operation handle, while preventing reduction in sensor sensitivity, in a vehicular out handle device of applying painting to at least a part of an outside surface of an operation handle formed of a synthetic resin and arranged on the outside surface side of a vehicular door, detecting the approach or contact of a vehicle user to a predetermined place of the operation handle and storing at least one of an unlocking sensor and a locking sensor in the operation handle. <P>SOLUTION: Electrostatic painting is applied to the outside surface of the operation handle 17A in a part except for the predetermined place of the operation handle 17A, and the outside surface of the operation handle 17A is constituted so as to have electric non-conductivity in the predetermined place. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  According to the present invention, at least a part of the outer surface of an operation handle formed of a synthetic resin and disposed on the outer surface side of a vehicle door is coated to detect approach or contact of a vehicle user to a predetermined portion of the operation handle. The present invention relates to an out-handle apparatus for a vehicle in which at least one of an unlock sensor and a lock sensor to be stored is housed in the operation handle.

Capacitance type unlock sensors and lock sensors are accommodated in the operation handle, and when the vehicle user approaches or comes into contact with the operation handle at a portion corresponding to these sensors, the vehicle door can be locked and unlocked. What is made to do is known from Patent Document 1.
JP 2003-221947 A

  By the way, when coating the outer surface of such an operation handle, electrostatic coating is generally performed to increase the coating efficiency. In this case, a conductive layer (primer) is applied to the operation handle. Layer), the sensor sensitivity is reduced. In other words, if there is a conductive layer at a position corresponding to a capacitance type sensor, the capacitance between the conductive layer and the sensor increases, and the increased capacity is added to the original base capacity near the sensor. As a result, the rate of change in capacitance due to the approach or contact of the vehicle user decreases, and the sensor sensitivity decreases.

  In order to solve such problems, it is conceivable to increase the sensor sensitivity by applying non-electrostatic coating to the outer surface of the operation handle, but in the case of non-electrostatic coating, the coating efficiency for the operation handle having a curved surface is excellent. However, the coating film thickness tends to vary, resulting in uneven color and the like, leading to a decrease in the appearance of the operation handle, and a high incidence of defects, resulting in a decrease in productivity. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and while reducing the sensitivity of the electrostatic capacity type unlock sensor and the lock sensor, the appearance of the operation handle as a whole and the productivity are lowered. It is an object of the present invention to provide an out-handle apparatus for a vehicle that can prevent the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the outer surface of the operation handle formed of synthetic resin and disposed on the outer surface side of the vehicle door is coated. In the vehicle out handle device in which at least one of an unlock sensor and a lock sensor for detecting approach or contact of a vehicle user to a predetermined location is accommodated in the operation handle, the operation is performed at a portion other than the predetermined location of the operation handle. Electrostatic coating is applied to the outer surface of the handle, and the outer surface of the operation handle is configured to be non-conductive at the predetermined location.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, an appearance member formed as a separate member from the operation handle and provided with non-electrostatic coating at a predetermined position of the operation handle. Is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the electrostatic coating is applied to the outer surface of the operation handle except for a predetermined portion corresponding to the sensor accommodated in the operation handle among the capacitance type unlock sensor and the lock sensor. Therefore, the coating efficiency can be improved to improve the appearance of the operation handle and the productivity can be avoided, and the outer surface of the operation handle has non-conductivity in the portion corresponding to the sensor. Can be prevented.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the appearance member to which non-electrostatic coating is applied is disposed at a predetermined position of the operation handle, the portion where the appearance member is disposed is masked to be statically attached to the operation handle. After the electrocoating, the appearance member can be disposed on the operation handle as a retrofit, thereby improving the workability during electrostatic coating.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an operation handle, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lock sensor, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow 4 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the cover and the cap.

  First, in FIG. 1, an operation handle 17 </ b> A extending in the vehicle front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) is rotatably attached to the outer panel 16 of the vehicle door 15. The operation handle 17A is formed of a hard synthetic resin and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is disposed on the outer surface side of the outer panel 16, and a cover made of synthetic resin that covers the outside of the handle main body 18A. 19A.

  The handle body 18A extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a substantially L-shaped support arm portion 18Aa that projects into the outer panel 16 is integrally provided at one end portion in the longitudinal direction (the right end portion in FIG. 1). The other end of the handle body 18A is integrally provided with an operating arm portion 18Ab that enters the outer panel 16.

  The support arm 18Aa is provided with a recess 23 into which the support member 22 provided on the outer panel 16 side is inserted, and one end of the operation handle 17A is turned to the outer panel 16 via the support member 22. It is supported movably. The operating arm 18Ab is connected to a latch mechanism (not shown). When the vehicle door 15 is unlocked, the operating mechanism 17A is operated so that the latch mechanism closes the vehicle door 15. The state is released, and the vehicle door 15 can be opened by operating the operation handle 17A.

  In FIG. 2, the handle body 18 </ b> A is formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape that is open on the opposite side of the outer panel 16 so as to form an accommodation recess 24 that is open on the cover 19 </ b> A side. In the housing recess 24, a circuit board 26 on which the antenna 25 is disposed is housed on the front surface side, and the back surface side of the circuit board 26 is bonded to the handle body 18A by a double-sided adhesive tape 27.

  3 and 4, in the operation handle 17A, a capacitance type for confirming the vehicle user's intention to lock the vehicle user by approaching or contacting a predetermined location of the operation handle. The lock sensor 28 is accommodated.

  Thus, a pair of support protrusions 30, 30 spaced apart from each other are provided at the other end of the handle body 18A, and the ends of the support protrusions 30 are formed in a circular shape. In addition, recesses 30a, 30a for positioning and mounting both sides of the lock sensor 28 are formed, and the lock sensor 28 is formed on the recesses 30a of the both support protrusions 30 by a double-sided adhesive tape 29. Glued.

  The lock sensor 28 is electrically connected to the circuit board 26 through a conductive wire 31. By the way, even if the lock sensor 28 is provided on the circuit board 26, the lock sensor 28 functions to confirm the will of locking. However, depending on the model, the lock sensor 28 is not necessary, and therefore the lock sensor 28 separated from the circuit board 26 is used. Electrical connection is made to the circuit board 26 via the conducting wire 31. As shown in FIG. 1, a harness 33 formed by collecting a plurality of conductive wires 32 electrically connected to the circuit board 26 is connected to the outside through a through hole 34 provided on one end side of the handle body 18A. Derived.

  As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the cover 19A is integrally provided on the other end side of the handle body 18A and a leg portion 35 that contacts the one end side of the handle body 18A so as to cover the handle body 18A from the outside. A leg portion 36 that fits into the support cylinder 37 is provided integrally with the cover 19A, and screw members 38 and 39 inserted through the handle body 18A are screwed into the leg portions 35 and 36, respectively.

  The circuit board 26 and the electrical connection portions to the circuit board 26 and the lock sensor 28 are covered with a potting agent 42, and an introduction for introducing the potting agent 42 into one end side of the handle body 18A. A hole 43 is provided. Thus, the operation handle 17A is configured by fastening the cover 19A to the handle main body 18A to which the circuit board 26 is fixed and the lock sensor 28 is positioned and fixed, and the operation arm portion 18Ab is positioned at the lower position. A predetermined amount of potting agent 42 is filled into the operation handle 17A from the introduction hole 43 in a state where 17A is in a posture that extends vertically.

  A concave portion 40 is provided on an outer surface of the operation handle 17A corresponding to the lock sensor 28 of the cover 19A, and the concave portion 40 indicates that the predetermined location corresponds to the lock sensor 28. A circular cap 41 is fitted and fixed as an outer appearance member. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, a substantially L-shaped positioning protrusion 43 that fits into a substantially L-shaped positioning groove 44 provided in the concave portion 40 protrudes from the back surface of the cap 41. The cap 41 is positioned and fixed to the cover 19A by fitting the cap 41 into the recess 40 with the groove 44 filled with an adhesive (not shown).

  By the way, electrostatic coating is applied to the outer surface of the operation handle 17A in most of the operation handle 17A except for a predetermined portion of the operation handle 17A, that is, a portion where the concave portion 40 is provided in the cover 19A. On the other hand, a non-electrostatic coating is applied to the outer surface of the cap 41 which is formed as a separate member from the operation handle 17A and is fitted and fixed to the recess 40, and corresponds to the lock sensor 28. At a predetermined position set on the operation handle 17A, the outer surface of the operation handle 17A is configured to have non-conductivity.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. A capacitance-type lock sensor 28 that confirms the will of locking by contact of the vehicle user with a predetermined position set on the operation handle 17A is a potting agent 42. Since the positioning is fixed to the handle body 18A before the filling of the potting agent 42, the potting agent 42 covers the circuit board 26 and the electrical connection portion to the circuit board 26 and the lock sensor 28 by one filling operation of the potting agent 42. However, the detection by the lock sensor 28 is not affected, and the assembly workability can be improved.

  Further, since the potting agent 42 is filled in the operation handle 17A in a state where the circuit board 26 and the lock sensor 28 are accommodated and fixed, the handle body 18A and the cover 19A are assembled to each other to constitute the operation handle 17A. In this state, the potting agent 42 can be filled into the operation handle 17A, and there is no fear that the lock sensor 28 is displaced from a predetermined position.

  In addition, all the necessary parts in the operation handle 17A are filled with the potting agent 42, and it is erroneous that the lock sensor 28 erroneously confirms the movement of rainwater that has entered the operation handle 17A is the vehicle user's intention to lock. Absent.

  Further, since the outer surface of the operation handle 17A is applied to the outer surface of the operation handle 17A except for a predetermined portion corresponding to the capacitance type lock sensor 28 accommodated in the operation handle 17A, the appearance of the operation handle 17A is improved by increasing the coating efficiency. It is possible to improve productivity and avoid a decrease in productivity. Further, in the portion corresponding to the lock sensor 28, the outer surface of the operation handle 17A has non-conductivity, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in sensor sensitivity.

  Further, a cap 41 formed as a separate member from the operation handle 17A and provided with a non-electrostatic coating is disposed at a predetermined position of the operation handle 17A. Therefore, a portion where the cap 41 is disposed is masked. After electrostatic coating is applied to the operation handle 17A, the cap 41 can be attached to the operation handle 17A as a retrofit to improve workability during electrostatic coating.

  FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The parts corresponding to the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description is omitted.

  The operation handle 17B includes a handle body 18B and a cover 19B that covers the handle body 18B, and a cap 46 as an external member that covers the lock sensor 28 that is positioned and fixed to the handle body 18B includes a part thereof. The handle body 18B can be fitted to the cover 19B and is assembled to the handle body 18B side.

  That is, the lock sensor 28 in a state where one end of the conducting wire 31 is electrically connected is assembled in a cap 46 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a holder 47 that sandwiches the lock sensor 28 with the cap 46 is a cap. 46. Thus, the engaging claws 47 a provided integrally with the holder 47 are elastically engaged with the plurality of engaging holes 48 provided in the cap 46, so that the holder 47 is connected to the cap 46. The lock sensor 28 is sandwiched between the cap 46 and the cap 46.

  On the other hand, the handle body 18B is provided with a fitting hole 51 opened to the cover 19B side so that the cap 46 can be lightly press-fitted, and in the middle of the fitting hole 51, an annular shape facing the cover 19b side is provided. The step portion 51a is formed, and the cap 46 is lightly press-fitted into the fitting hole 51 until it comes into contact with the step portion 51a.

  An annular seal that elastically contacts the outer periphery of the cap 46 that is partially fitted into the opening 49 is provided at the periphery of the opening 49 provided in the cover 19B at a predetermined position corresponding to the lock sensor 28. The member 50 is attached.

  Thus, the circuit board 26 is adhered to the handle body 18B with the double-sided adhesive tape 27, and the lock sensor 28 is interposed between the cap 46 lightly press-fitted into the handle body 18B and the holder 47 incorporated in the cap 46. The cover 19B is fastened to the handle body 18B in a state in which the electrical connection of the lock sensor 28 to the circuit board 26 and the electrical connection of the harness 33 (see the first embodiment) to the circuit board 26 are completed. Before the potting agent 42 is filled, the handle body 18B is filled.

  Further, most of the operation handle 17B except for a predetermined portion of the operation handle 17B, that is, a portion where the opening 49 is provided in the cover 19B, electrostatic coating is applied to the outer surface of the operation handle 17B. A non-electrostatic coating is applied to the outer surface of the cap 46 that is formed as a separate member and fits into the opening 49, and is a predetermined location set on the operation handle 17 </ b> B corresponding to the lock sensor 28. Then, the outer surface of the operation handle 17B is configured to have non-conductivity.

  According to the third embodiment, the handle main body 18B in a state in which the circuit board 26 and the lock sensor 28 covered with the cap 46 are fixed is filled with the potting agent 42 by a necessary amount once, and then the handle When the operation handle 17B is configured by assembling the cover 19B to the main body 18B, the cap 46 is fitted into the cover 19B, and the filling amount of the potting agent 42 can be minimized.

  There is a possibility that a gap is formed between the potting agent 42 and the cover 19B in the operation handle 17B, and rainwater may enter the gap. However, since the lock sensor 28 is covered with the cap 46, the movement of the rainwater Is not erroneously confirmed that the lock sensor 28 is the vehicle user's intention to lock.

  Further, since the outer surface of the operation handle 17B is applied to the outer surface of the operation handle 17B except for a predetermined portion corresponding to the electrostatic capacity type lock sensor 28 accommodated in the operation handle 17B, the appearance of the operation handle 17B is improved by increasing the coating efficiency. It is possible to improve productivity and avoid a decrease in productivity. Further, in the portion corresponding to the lock sensor 28, the outer surface of the operation handle 17B has non-conductivity, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in sensor sensitivity.

  In addition, since a cap 46 formed as a separate member from the operation handle 17B and applied with non-electrostatic coating is disposed at a predetermined position of the operation handle 17B, the portion where the cap 46 is disposed is masked. After electrostatic coating is applied to the operation handle 17B, the cap 46 can be disposed on the operation handle 17B as a retrofit to improve workability during electrostatic coating.

  In the first and second embodiments, the outer surfaces of the operation handles 17A and 17B are provided at predetermined positions corresponding to the lock sensor 28 by applying non-electrostatic coating to the caps 41 and 46 which are members different from the operation handles 17A and 17B. However, as still another embodiment of the present invention, a part of the operation handle made of synthetic resin is left in a non-painted state and is given a wrinkle pattern or the like at a predetermined position. It may be configured such that the outer surface of the operation handle has non-conductivity at a portion corresponding to the lock sensor 28 while displaying the fact.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims. It is.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the lock sensor 28 is accommodated in the operation handle has been described. However, when both the lock sensor 28 and the unlock sensor are accommodated in the operation handle, or only the unlock sensor is included in the operation handle. The present invention can also be applied to the case of being housed inside.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the operation handle of 1st Example. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a part of handle body and a lock sensor. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow 4 in FIG. 1. It is a disassembled perspective view of a part of cover and a cap. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 4 of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

15 ... Vehicle doors 17A, 17B ... Operating handle 28 ... Lock sensors 41, 46 ... Caps that are appearance members

Claims (2)

  At least a part of the outer surface of the operation handle (17A, 17B) formed of synthetic resin and disposed on the outer surface side of the vehicle door (15) is painted, and a predetermined portion of the operation handle (17A, 17B) is applied. In the vehicle out-handle device in which at least one of the unlock sensor and the lock sensor (28) for detecting the approach or contact of the vehicle user is housed in the operation handle (17A, 17B), the operation handle (17A, 17B) The outer surface of the operation handle (17A, 17B) is applied to the outer surface of the operation handle (17A, 17B) at a portion other than the predetermined portion, and the outer surface of the operation handle (17A, 17B) is non-conductive at the predetermined portion. An out-handle device for a vehicle.   An exterior member formed as a separate member from the operation handle (17A, 17B) and subjected to non-electrostatic coating is disposed at a predetermined position of the operation handle (17A, 17B). Item 4. The out-handle device for a vehicle according to Item 1.

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