Routing structure of operation cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9333838-B2
Application number	US-201414766143-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2014
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide a routing structure that is for an operation cable and that, with a simple structure, can route an operation cable ( 7 ) with sufficient excess length. The present invention has: a handle device ( 5 ) that is affixed to the door ( 1 ) of a vehicle and that causes the operation force to an operation handle ( 3 ) rotatably connected to a handle base ( 2 ) to be output from an output section ( 4 ); a door lock device ( 6 ) that is disposed in proximity to the output section ( 4 ) of the handle device ( 5 ); and an operation cable ( 7 ) that couples the output section ( 4 ) of the handle device ( 5 ) and the door lock device ( 6 ). The operation cable ( 7 ) is connected from the output section ( 4 ) to the door lock device ( 6 ) via an excess length securing pathway that is approximately one circuit of the perimeter of the handle device ( 5 ), and the operation cable ( 7 ) is movably supported by a guide section ( 9 ) provided to an intermediate position of a mobile member ( 8 ) of the handle device ( 5 ), and the connection section to the door lock device ( 6 ) of the operation cable ( 7 ), and on the handle base ( 2 ), and thus the ingress of the mobile member ( 8 ) into a mobile region is restricted.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An operation cable routing structure comprising:
a handle device affixed to a door of a vehicle, the handle device including an operation handle rotatably coupled to a handle base, a movable member, and an output section that outputs an operation force applied to the operation handle;
a door lock device disposed in proximity to the output section of the handle device;
an operation cable that couples the output section of the handle device and the door lock device; and
a guide section that movably supports the operation cable; wherein
the operation cable extends from the output section to the door lock device via an extra length securing pathway that substantially encircles the handle device;
the guide section is provided on the handle base at an intermediate position between a portion of the operation cable and the movable member of the handle device;
the guide section restricts the operation cable from entering a range of motion of the movable member; and
the portion of the operation cable is coupled to the door lock device.

2. The operation cable routing structure according to claim 1 , wherein the guide section supports the operation cable such that the operation cable is separated from the guide section when moved in a vehicle width direction.

3. The operation cable routing structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a tube made of a spongy material mounted on a section of the operation cable that is supported by the guide section.

4. A handle device comprising:
a handle base affixed to a door of a vehicle;
an operation handle rotatably coupled to a first end of the handle base; and
an output section including a counterweight rotatably coupled to a side portion of a second end of the handle base, the counterweight being rotationally driven by displacement of a tip end of the operation handle at a circumference of rotation of the operation handle; wherein
the counterweight cancels out an inertia force applied to the door by a collision of an object with the door in a direction of opening the door;
a peripheral section of the handle base, opposite to a peripheral section of the handle base on which the output section is pivoted, includes a cable coupling section to which one end of an operation cable that displaces the output section out is coupled; and
the peripheral section on which the output section is pivoted includes a guide section that movably supports the operation cable, which surrounds substantially an entire periphery of the handle base, and that restricts the operation cable from entering a range of motion the counterweight.

5. The handle device according to claim 4 , wherein the guide section has a rectangular plate shape and, at one side edge, supports the operation cable such that the operation cable is separated from the guide section when moved in a vehicle width direction.

Assignees

• Alpha Corp

Inventors

• Ichikawa Shinji

Classifications

• E05B77/06

  by means of inertial forces · CPC title

• E05B79/20 Primary

  using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables · CPC title

• E05C3/162

  the handle or member moving essentially towards or away of the plane of the wing or frame (E05C3/167 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05B85/16

  a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part · CPC title

• E05B79/22

  Operative connections between handles, sill buttons or lock knobs and the lock unit (mounting of non-movable base elements of a handle to a lock E05B79/06) · CPC title