JP2014136945A - Door lock device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a door lock device for a vehicle which improves occupant protection performance at the time of lateral collision at a low cost with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: In a rod 50, a lower connection part 51 is connected to the lower end of a vertical extension part 57. The lower connection part 51 comprises a horizontal extension part 54 which is bent in the approximately horizontal direction from the lower end of the vertical extension part 57, and an insertion part 53 which extends downward from the end of the horizontal extension part 54 and is inserted through an insertion hole 36. The insertion part 53 comprises a large diameter part 71 which is engaged with the insertion hole 36 through a guide part 37, and a small diameter part 72 which extends downward continuously from the lower end of the large diameter part 71. An upper end part of the small diameter part 72 is formed with a tapered part 72a widening toward the large diameter part 71, and a linear straight line part 72b extends downward from the lower end of the tapered part 72a.

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a vehicle door lock device provided on a vehicle body and a door.

  2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle door lock device is known in which a latch unit operates via a rod by pulling a door outer handle, and a door latch is released (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (FIG. 3)).

  The vehicle door lock device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a latch unit capable of latching and unlatching motion, and a door outer handle for performing a latch releasing operation of the latch unit. The latch unit performs a latching and unlatching motion with respect to a striker provided in the vehicle body.

  By releasing the door outer handle, the rod connected to the door outer handle is pushed down, and when the rod pushes down the latch release lever of the latch unit, the latch of the latch unit is released.

  An outline of Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13A is a diagram for explaining a normal state of the vehicle door lock device of Patent Document 1. FIG. The lower part of the rod 100 has a crank shape. The rod 100 is fitted in the opening 102 of the latch release lever 101. The inclination angle of the inclined portion 104 with respect to the center line 103 of the opening 102 is θ. Since the inclination angle θ is large, the rod 100 is connected to the latch release lever 101, and when the rod 100 moves downward as indicated by the arrow Dw, the latch release lever 101 also moves downward (Dw).

  FIG. 13B is a diagram for explaining a state at the time of collision of the vehicle door lock device of Patent Document 1. FIG. When the latch unit moves forward as indicated by an arrow Fr relative to the door outer handle due to an impact force at the time of a vehicle collision (the latch unit and the door outer handle move toward each other), the latch release lever 101 also moves relative. Move forward. Then, the rod 100 is tilted from the original position indicated by the imaginary line to the position indicated by the solid line. As a result, the inclination angle θ is reduced, and the rod 100 moves so as to pass through downward, so that the connection between the rod 100 and the latch release lever 101 is released.

  By the way, for example, when a collision load acts on the vehicle from the side, the door of the automobile is deformed and recessed due to a so-called side collision. When the door is deformed, the door outer handle is pulled toward the hollow side, and the rod is also pulled by following the door outer handle. Since the door outer handle moves in a direction away from the latch unit, the above structure does not release the connection. Then, when the door is deformed and recessed, the rod is displaced in a direction in which the latch release lever is pushed down, and the latch can be released.

  The fact that the latch release lever is pushed down at the time of a side collision is disadvantageous in improving the protection performance of the occupant in the vehicle. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to separately provide a latch release prevention mechanism at the time of a side collision in the vehicle door lock device. However, the mechanism for preventing latch release at the time of a side collision tends to be complicated and expensive.

JP 2008-88748 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle door lock device with improved occupant protection performance at the time of a side collision with a low-cost and simple configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the striker provided at the door opening of the vehicle body, the latch unit capable of latching and unlatching with respect to the striker, and rotating downward provided on the latch unit. A latch release lever for releasing the latch with respect to the striker, and a door outer handle for releasing the latch release lever via the rod, and the latch unit and a position higher than the latch unit. The door outer handle is provided on the door, the upper end of the rod is connected to the door outer handle, and the lower end of the rod is latched in conjunction with a latch release operation of the door outer handle. The release lever is connected to the latch release lever so that it can be displaced in the downward direction in the latch release direction. In the vehicle door lock device, the rod includes an insertion portion that is provided on the latch release lever and that is inserted from above into an insertion hole that vertically penetrates, and the insertion portion is a large-diameter portion that fits into the insertion hole. And a small-diameter portion that continuously extends downward from the large-diameter portion and has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion.

  As described in claim 2, preferably, the axis of the insertion portion is inclined forward with respect to the axis of the insertion hole as it goes downward.

  More preferably, as for the said small diameter part, the whole region from the lower end of the said large diameter part to the front-end | tip of the said rod is formed in the small diameter.

  More preferably, the upper end portion of the small-diameter portion is formed with a tapered portion that widens toward the large-diameter portion.

  As described in claim 5, more preferably, the latch release lever includes a guide portion for guiding the insertion portion from above when the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion hole, and the guide portion includes: The guide surface is tapered from top to bottom, and the guide surface is formed from the side of the insertion hole in the vehicle width direction to the rear.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the rod includes an insertion portion that is provided in the latch release lever and is inserted from above into an insertion hole that vertically penetrates, and the insertion portion includes a large-diameter portion that fits into the insertion hole, A small-diameter portion that continuously extends downward from the large-diameter portion and has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion. When a collision load acts on the vehicle from the side, the door outer handle is pulled into the vehicle due to the deformation of the door during a so-called side collision. Along with this, when the door outer handle and the latch unit are relatively displaced in a direction away from each other, the rod moves in a direction in which the rod is pulled out from the latch release lever. Since the position where the rod is inserted into the insertion hole moves from the large-diameter portion to the small-diameter portion, the gap between the insertion hole and the rod increases, and even if the latch release lever and the rod are relatively inclined, the rod Can be prevented from engaging the latch release lever. For this reason, the door is deformed and moves so that the hollow door outer handle is tilted forward, but the latch release lever cannot be pushed down, so that the locked state of the door can be maintained.

  In addition, since the portion of the insertion portion that fits into the insertion hole has a large diameter, the gap between the insertion hole and the rod can be reduced, and rattling between the rod and the latch release lever can be prevented. The rod insertion part is composed of a large-diameter part and a small-diameter part that extends continuously from the large-diameter part. A door lock device can be provided.

  In the invention according to claim 2, since the axis of the insertion portion is inclined forward with respect to the axis of the insertion hole as it goes downward, the axis of the insertion portion when the rod is displaced to the vehicle front inner side in the initial stage of the collision. The relative angle of the axis of the insertion hole approaches zero, and the insertion portion does not get caught in the insertion hole and faces the direction in which it can be easily removed. Since the large diameter portion of the insertion portion is easily removed from the insertion hole, it is possible to prevent the large diameter portion and the latch release lever from engaging with each other.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the entire area from the lower end of the large diameter portion to the tip of the rod is formed to have a small diameter. Even when the relative displacement between the door outer handle and the latch unit becomes large at the time of a collision, the small diameter portion is formed long enough to reach the tip of the rod. Engagement can be prevented. In addition, since the small diameter is formed up to the tip of the rod, the assembling property when the rod is inserted into the insertion hole of the latch release lever is improved.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the upper end portion of the small diameter portion is formed with a tapered portion that becomes wider toward the large diameter portion. When the rod is assembled to the latch release lever, it can be easily inserted into the insertion hole of the latch release lever from the small diameter portion, and can be smoothly shifted to the large diameter portion by the taper portion. For this reason, the transition from the small diameter portion to the large diameter portion is not caught, and the assembling property of the rod to the latch release lever is further improved.

  In the invention according to claim 5, the latch release lever includes a guide portion for guiding the insertion portion to the insertion hole when the insertion portion is inserted into the insertion hole from above. The guide part has a guide surface that tapers from top to bottom, and the guide surface is formed from the side of the insertion hole in the vehicle width direction to the rear, so that the rod can be easily assembled to the latch release lever. Can be.

It is a side view around the vehicle door lock device of the vehicle according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining the basic principle of the door lock device for vehicles shown by FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the latch unit shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the guide portion shown in FIG. 5. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the latch release lever was rotated by the door inner handle of the vehicle door locking device shown by FIG. It is an effect | action figure which the door outer handle of the vehicle door lock device which concerns on this invention displaces inside a vehicle. It is an effect | action figure in the middle of the displacement of the rod of the door lock device for vehicles which concerns on this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG.10 (b). It is an effect | action figure of the door lock apparatus for vehicles which concerns on a comparative example and this invention. It is a figure explaining the basic principle of the door lock device for vehicles concerning a prior art.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below based on an accompanying drawing.

  The side part of the vehicle to which the vehicle door lock device according to the embodiment is attached will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 is an automobile in which a vehicle body 11 includes left and right front doors 12, left and right rear doors 13, and wheels 14.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle door lock device 20 attached to the left rear door 13 will be described. The vehicle door lock device 20 includes a striker 15 provided in the vehicle body 11, a latch unit 30 provided inside the rear end of the door 13, and a door outer handle 40 provided outside the rear portion of the door 13. Including.

  The latch unit 30 performs a latching and unlatching operation on the striker 15, and the door 13 is closed by being latched, and the door 13 is released by being unlatched.

  A center sash 16 is provided at the front part of the door 13, and a rear sash 17 (hereinafter referred to as a door sash 17) is provided at the rear part of the door 13. A glass 18 is supported by the center sash 16 and the door sash 17 so as to be movable up and down. The door sash 17 extends upward from the vicinity of the latch unit 30 inside the door 13.

Next, the basic principle of the vehicle door lock device will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle door lock device 20 includes a door outer handle 40 that is swingably provided on a door 13 (see FIG. 1) with a handle shaft 41 as a fulcrum, and the door outer handle 40. A locking piece 43 that is connected and extends rearward with a pivot 42 as a fulcrum, and a bell crank-shaped cam plate 45 that is swingably provided with a camshaft 44 as a fulcrum and swings with the locking piece 43. And a rod 50 provided in the rod support hole 46 of the cam plate 45.

  The locking piece 43 is urged inward in the vehicle width direction by the first elastic member 47. The cam plate 45 is urged inward in the vehicle width direction by the second elastic member 48. By pulling the door outer handle 40 outward in the vehicle width direction, the rear portion of the locking piece 43 moves outward in the vehicle width direction, and when the rear portion of the locking piece 43 moves outward in the vehicle width direction, the cam plate 45 woken up. As a result, the rod 50 is pushed downward.

  The latch unit 30 includes a latch unit main body 31, a latch release lever 32 which is provided on the latch unit main body 31 so as to be swingable up and down and is connected to the lower connecting portion 51 of the rod 50, and a latch shaft 33 of the latch unit main body 31. And a latch 34 that is swingably provided on the striker 15. The latch 34 is urged in a direction to be hooked on the striker 15 by the third elastic member 35. When the latch release lever 32 is pushed down, the latch 34 is released.

  That is, by pulling the door outer handle 40 outward in the vehicle width direction, the rod 50 is pushed and displaced so as to push the latch release lever 32 in the latch release direction, and the latch release lever 32 is pushed and displaced, so that the latch 34 is the striker. 15 is released, and the door 13 (see FIG. 1) is released. Thereafter, the rod 50 is returned in the pulling direction and returned to the original position.

  The lower end 52 of the rod 50 is connected to the latch release lever 32. The lower end portion 52 includes an insertion portion 53 that is inserted into an insertion hole 36 that penetrates the latch release lever 32 vertically and a horizontal extension portion 54 that is bent from the upper end of the insertion portion 53 and pushes down the latch release lever 32. Become.

  The rod 50 has an upper connecting portion 56 that is connected to the rod support hole 46 of the cam plate 45, and a vertically extending portion 57 that extends downward from the end of the upper connecting portion 56. An upper connection portion 56 is provided at the upper end portion 55 of the rod 50, and the horizontal extension portion 54 extends from the lower end of the vertical extension portion 57. That is, the rod 50 extends from the door outer handle 40 side to the latch release lever 32. Hereinafter, the rod 50 and the latch unit 30 will be described in detail.

Next, the mounting position of the latch unit will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the door 13 includes a door inner panel 61 and a door outer panel 62. The door outer handle 40 is provided at the rear part of the door outer panel 62, and the latch unit 30 is provided at the rear part of the door inner panel 61 and at a lower position of the door outer handle 40. The door outer handle 40 is positioned higher than the latch unit 30.

  The rod 50 connected to the rear portion of the door outer handle 40 via the cam plate 45 (see FIG. 2) extends downward, and is connected to the latch release lever 32 by the lower connection portion 51 formed at the lower end portion 52 of the rod 50. Connected.

  The door sash 17 is arranged on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (back side in the figure) than the door outer handle 40 and on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (front side in the figure) than the latch unit main body 31. That is, the door sash 17 is disposed between the rod 50 and the latch unit 30.

Next, the rod will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 4, the latch release lever 32 is formed with an insertion hole 36 penetrating vertically to allow the rod 50 to pass therethrough. Since the inner diameter of the insertion hole 36 is larger than the outer diameter of the rod 50, the rod 50 is movably inserted into the insertion hole 36.

  The lower connecting portion 51 provided at the lower end portion 52 of the rod 50 includes a linear insertion portion 53 that passes through the insertion hole 36 and a horizontal extension portion 54 that is bent and extends from the upper end of the insertion portion 53. A vertically extending portion 57 extends from the end of the horizontally extending portion 54 so as to be inclined upward.

  When the door outer handle 40 (see FIG. 3) is pulled, the rod 50 moves as indicated by the arrow a, and the horizontal extending portion 54 displaces the latch release lever 32 in the direction of pushing down as indicated by the arrow b.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the latch release lever 32 includes a guide portion 37 for guiding the rod 50 to the insertion hole 36 when the rod 50 is inserted into the insertion hole 36 from above. The guide portion 37 is provided with a plurality of lever hooking claws 38 at the lower portion, and the guide portion 37 is held by the latch release lever 32 by hooking these lever hooking claws 38 into the insertion holes 36. Further, the lever hooking claw 38 is provided with a protruding detent (not shown), and this protruding detent is fitted in a notch (not shown) near the insertion hole 36. There is no rotation with respect to the axis 36 a of the insertion hole 36.

  The axis 53a of the insertion portion 53 is inclined forward from the axis 36a of the insertion hole 36 as it goes downward. The angle formed by the axis 36a of the insertion hole 36 and the axis 53a of the insertion portion 53 is α. Further, the insertion portion 53 is set longer than the movable range of the latch release lever 32.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the rod 50 has a lower connecting portion 51 connected to the lower end of the vertically extending portion 57. The lower connecting portion 51 includes a horizontal extension portion 54 that is bent in a substantially horizontal direction from the lower end of the vertical extension portion 57, and an insertion portion that extends downward from the end portion of the horizontal extension portion 54 and is inserted into the insertion hole 36. 53.

  The insertion portion 53 includes a large diameter portion 71 that fits into the insertion hole 36 via a guide portion 37 and a small diameter portion 72 that continuously extends downward from the lower end of the large diameter portion 71. A tapered portion 72a is formed at the upper end portion of the small diameter portion 72 so as to expand toward the large diameter portion 71, and a linear straight portion 72b extends downward from the lower end of the tapered portion 72a.

  The guide part 37 has a guide surface 39 that tapers from top to bottom. When the rod 50 is assembled, the insertion part 53 is guided to the insertion hole 36 by guiding the insertion part 53 by the guide surface 39. The diameter of the insertion hole 36 is D1. The lower end of the guide surface 39 is located inside the insertion hole 36, and the inner diameter of the lower end of the guide portion 37 is D2, and D2 <D1.

  The outer diameter of the large diameter portion 71 of the insertion portion 53 is d3. The outer diameter of the small diameter portion 72b is d4, and d4 <d3. Further, the entire area of the tapered portion 72 a is set to be smaller than the outer diameter d 3 of the large diameter portion 71. Further, since d3 <D2 <D1 and there is a gap between the large diameter portion 71 and the insertion hole 36, the insertion portion 53 can move in the vertical direction.

  The large diameter portion 71 and the tapered portion 72a are continuous and formed so as to be smoothly connected. The tapered portion 72a and the linear portion 72b are continuous and formed so as to be smoothly connected.

Next, the guide part will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, the guide portion 37 has a substantially mortar-shaped guide surface 39. The guide surface 39 is formed from the side in the vehicle width direction to the rear of the insertion hole 36 (see FIG. 6). Since the guide surface 39 has a substantially mortar shape, it is easy to guide the rod 50 (see FIG. 6). Moreover, since the front is notched, it does not interfere with the arrangement of the horizontally extending portion 54 (see FIG. 6) of the rod 50. Further, a claw 39a for preventing the rod 50 (see FIG. 5) from rattling is provided at the lower end of the guide surface 39.

Next, a state where the latch is released by the door inner handle will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the door inner handle (shown) is operated, only the latch release lever 32 moves downward as indicated by the arrow c to enter the latch release state. At this time, the insertion hole 36 of the latch release lever 32 is located in the straight portion 72 b of the small diameter portion 72.

  When the latch release lever 32 returns to the original position, the insertion portion 53 remains inserted through the insertion hole 36, but the insertion portion 53 is not caught by the insertion hole 36 because of the tapered portion 72a. For this reason, the latch release lever 32 rises smoothly and returns to the original position.

Next, the operation at the time of a vehicle side collision in the vehicle door lock device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Fig.9 (a) is a top view in the normal state of the vehicle door lock device 20 of an Example. In the vehicle door lock device 20, a rod 50 is disposed outside the latch unit 30, and a door outer handle 40 is disposed outside the rod 50. At the time of a vehicle side collision, the door receives an impact force indicated by an arrow F, and the door outer handle 40 is displaced toward the inside of the vehicle.

  FIG. 9B is a plan view for explaining the displacement of the rod 50 of the vehicle door lock device 20. Pulled by the door outer handle 40, the rod 50 moves as indicated by an arrow d.

  Fig.10 (a) is the figure which looked at the normal state of the vehicle door lock apparatus 20 of an Example from the side. In the vehicle door lock device 20, a rod 50 is movably inserted into a latch release lever 32 of the latch unit 30. The rod 50 includes an upper connecting portion 56 that is connected to the door outer handle, a vertical extending portion 57, a horizontal extending portion 54, and an insertion portion 53. At the time of a vehicle-side collision, the door outer handle 40 (see FIG. 3) moves to tilt forward, and the rod 50 also moves to tilt forward.

  FIG. 10B is a side view for explaining the displacement of the rod of the vehicle door lock device 20. The rod 50 is pulled upward and moves in a direction to come out of the latch release lever 32, but the insertion portion 53 is inserted through the insertion hole 36 of the latch release lever 32.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the rod 50 moves upward with respect to the latch release lever 32, the insertion portion 53 moves in a direction to exit from the insertion hole 36, and the position of the insertion hole 36 is changed from the large diameter portion 71 to the small diameter. It moves relative to the unit 72. By pulling the rod 50, the angle formed by the axis 36a of the insertion hole 36 and the axis 53a of the insertion portion 53 becomes β. However, when the position of the insertion hole 36 moves from the large diameter portion 71 to the small diameter portion 72, the gap between the small diameter portion 72 and the insertion hole 36 becomes large. For this reason, even if the angle β formed by the axis 36a of the insertion hole 36 and the axis 53a of the insertion portion 53 becomes a predetermined angle, the rod 50 does not engage so as to bite the insertion hole 36. That is, the rod 50 can freely move in the vertical direction with respect to the latch release lever 32 even at the time of a vehicle side collision.

  FIG. 12A is a diagram for explaining the state of the rod at the time of a vehicle-side collision in the comparative example, and the outer diameter of the rod 100 is formed to a constant size up to the tip. In a normal state, the rod 100 can move up and down with respect to the insertion hole 102 of the latch release lever 101. However, when the rod 100 is pulled by the door outer handle at the time of a vehicle side collision, if the rod 100 moves obliquely upward, the gap between the rod 100 and the insertion hole 102 is small, so that the rod 100 and the insertion hole 102 bite. Engage. Then, when the door outer handle is tilted forward, the rod 100 moves as indicated by an arrow e. As a result, the latch release lever 101 may move as indicated by the arrow f.

  FIG. 12B is a diagram for explaining the state of the rod at the time of vehicle side collision in the embodiment. When the rod 50 moves obliquely upward at the time of vehicle side collision, the insertion hole 36 is a straight portion 72b of the small diameter portion 72. Move relative to. Since the gap between the small-diameter portion 72 and the insertion hole 36 is large, the rod 50 and the insertion hole 36 do not engage with each other so that the rod 50 freely moves up and down with respect to the latch release lever 32. Although the door outer handle moves so as to tilt forward, the position of the latch release lever 32 does not change. For this reason, the latch is not released.

The vehicle door lock device described above will be collectively described below.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 12, when a collision load is applied to the vehicle from the side, the door outer handle 40 is pulled into the vehicle due to the deformation of the door 13 during a so-called side collision. Accordingly, when the door outer handle 40 and the latch unit 30 are relatively displaced in a direction away from each other, the rod 50 moves in a direction in which the rod 50 is pulled out from the latch release lever 32. Since the position of the rod 50 fitted in the insertion hole 36 moves from the large diameter portion 71 to the small diameter portion 72, the gap between the insertion hole 36 and the rod 50 is increased, and the latch release lever 32 and the rod 50 are moved. Even if it is relatively inclined, it is possible to prevent the rod 50 from being engaged with the latch release lever 32. For this reason, the door outer handle 40 moves so as to tilt forward, but the latch release lever 32 cannot be pushed down, so that the locked state of the door 13 can be maintained.

  In addition, since the insertion portion 53 has a large diameter in the portion fitted in the insertion hole 36, the gap between the insertion hole 36 and the rod 50 can be reduced, and rattling between the rod 50 and the latch release lever 32 can be prevented. Can do. The insertion portion 53 of the rod 50 is composed of a large-diameter portion 71 and a small-diameter portion 72 extending continuously from the large-diameter portion 71. Therefore, the occupant protection performance at the time of a side collision can be achieved with a low-cost and simple configuration. It is possible to provide the vehicle door lock device 20 with improved height.

  As shown in FIG. 6, since the axis 53a of the insertion portion 53 is inclined forward from the axis 36a of the insertion hole 36 as it goes downward, the rod 50 is displaced inward in the front of the vehicle at the initial stage of the collision. The insertion portion 53 does not get caught in the insertion hole 36 and faces the direction in which it can be easily removed. Since the large-diameter portion 71 of the insertion portion 53 can be easily removed from the insertion hole 36, it is possible to prevent the large-diameter portion 71 and the latch release lever 32 from being engaged with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the entire area from the lower end of the large diameter portion 71 to the tip of the rod 50 is formed in the small diameter portion 72 with a small diameter. Even when the relative displacement between the door outer handle 40 and the latch unit 30 (see FIG. 3) becomes large at the time of a collision, the small diameter portion 72 is formed long to reach the tip of the rod 50. 72, it is possible to prevent the latch release lever 32 and the rod 50 from being engaged with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the upper end portion of the small diameter portion 72 is formed with a tapered portion 72 a that widens toward the large diameter portion 71. Even when the rod 50 is displaced in the pulling direction with respect to the latch release lever 32 at the time of collision, the rod 50 has the taper portion 72a even if it is displaced in the returning direction. It can move smoothly without being caught and can be unlocked.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the latch release lever 32 includes a guide portion 37 for guiding the insertion portion 53 to the insertion hole 36 when the insertion portion 53 is inserted into the insertion hole 36 from above. The guide portion 37 has a guide surface 39 that tapers from the top to the bottom, and the guide surface 39 is formed from the side of the insertion hole toward the rear side in the vehicle width direction. 32 can be easily assembled.

  In the embodiment, the vehicle door lock device is provided on the left rear door of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided on the front door on the left side of the vehicle and the front and rear doors on the right side of the vehicle. Absent.

  The technology according to the present invention is suitable for a vehicle door lock device in which a rod connected to a door outer handle is inserted into an insertion hole of a latch release lever.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle (automobile), 11 ... Vehicle body, 12 ... Front door (door), 13 ... Rear door (door), 15 ... Striker, 20 ... Door lock device for vehicles, 30 ... Latch unit, 32 ... Latch release lever, 36 ... Insertion hole, 36a ... Insertion hole axis, 37 ... Guide part, 39 ... Guide surface, 40 ... Door outer handle, 50 ... Rod, 53 ... Insertion part, 53a ... Insertion part axis, 71 ... Large diameter part, 72: Small diameter portion, 72a: Tapered portion.

Claims (5)

A striker provided at the door opening of the vehicle body;
A latch unit capable of latching and unlatching the striker;
A latch release lever which is provided in the latch unit and releases the latch with respect to the striker by rotating downward;
A door outer handle for performing latch release operation of the latch release lever via the rod,
The latch unit and the door outer handle positioned higher than the latch unit are provided on the door,
The upper end of the rod is connected to the door outer handle,
The lower end portion of the rod is connected to the latch release lever so that the latch release lever can be displaced downward in the latch release direction in conjunction with the latch release operation of the door outer handle. In the device
The rod includes an insertion portion that is provided in the latch release lever and is inserted from above into an insertion hole that penetrates vertically.
The insertion portion includes a large-diameter portion that fits into the insertion hole, and a small-diameter portion that continuously extends downward from the large-diameter portion and has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion. Locking device.   The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1, wherein an axis of the insertion portion is inclined forward with respect to an axis of the insertion hole as it goes downward.   3. The vehicle door lock device according to claim 1, wherein the small-diameter portion has a small diameter in a whole area from a lower end of the large-diameter portion to a tip of the rod.   The vehicular door lock device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an upper end portion of the small-diameter portion is formed with a tapered portion that becomes wider toward the large-diameter portion. The latch release lever includes a guide part for guiding the insertion part when the insertion part is inserted into the insertion hole from above,
This guide portion has a guide surface that tapers from top to bottom,
The vehicle door lock device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide surface is formed from a side in a vehicle width direction to a rear side of the insertion hole.

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