JP3712974B2

JP3712974B2 - Retractable assist grip

Info

Publication number: JP3712974B2
Application number: JP2001381683A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 茂実高木; 弘志山本
Original assignee: 西川化成株式会社
Priority date: 2001-12-14
Filing date: 2001-12-14
Publication date: 2005-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-14
Also published as: JP2003182432A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、例えば車両等に装備されて、不使用時に使用位置から格納位置に回動して格納される格納式アシストグリップに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来より、この種のアシストグリップとして、使用位置及び格納位置の間で回動するグリップ本体と、このグリップ本体の脚部を軸支しかつ取付部材を介して車体に取り付けられる取付座とを備えたものは知られている。そして、例えば特開２００１−７１８０４号公報に開示されるもののように、グリップ本体の脚部と取付座との間に一体的に粘性ダンパを設けて、グリップ本体が使用位置から格納位置に回動するときに所要の粘性抵抗を付与することにより、その回動速度を調節して使用感及び耐久性を向上したものがある。
【０００３】
より具体的に、上記従来例のものでは、取付座においてグリップ本体の脚部を支える支軸の軸線と同心状に断面円形の凹部を設けるとともに、この凹部の開口を閉塞する蓋部材（スペーサ）をグリップ本体の脚部に回動不能に取り付け、さらに、その蓋部材の裏側に設けた円筒部を上記凹部内に回動可能に挿入している。そして、少なくとも上記凹部の内周面と蓋部材の円筒部の外周面との間に介在するように、凹部内にシリコンオイル等の粘性剤を充填して、粘性ダンパを構成している。
【０００４】
上記の構成によれば、グリップ本体が回動するときにはその脚部と一体になって蓋部材が回動し、該蓋部材の円筒部が凹部内で回動することになり、この際、該円筒部の外周面と凹部の内周面との間に介在する粘性剤に剪断力が発生することによってグリップ本体の回動に粘性抵抗が付与され、これにより、所要の使用感が得られるものである。
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで、上記従来例の構造では、アシストグリップにおいて取付座の凹部を閉塞して粘性剤を封止する蓋部材が該取付座とグリップ本体の脚部との間のスペーサとして用いられていて、粘性剤の漏れを防止するためにはスペーサによって凹部の開口を確実に閉塞しなくてはならないから、このスペーサを脚部に対してしっかりと固定して保持する必要がある。
【０００６】
しかしながら、グリップ本体の脚部にスペーサをしっかりと固定するためにそれらをきつく嵌合させるようにすると、その組み付けのために大きな力が必要になって、作業が困難なものとなる。また、組付けの際に脚部ないしスペーサに部分的に過大な力が加わって、破損する虞れもある。
【０００７】
一方、グリップ本体の脚部とスペーサとの嵌合状態が緩いと、スペーサにがたつきが生じて使用感を損なうだけではなく、脚部に対するスペーサの位置決めが甘くなって該スペーサによる凹部の閉塞状態に緩みが生じ、このことが粘性剤の漏れの原因となる虞れもある。
【０００８】
本発明は、斯かる点に鑑みてなされたものであり、その目的とするところは、格納式アシストグリップのグリップ本体の脚部と取付座との間に粘性ダンパを一体的に設ける場合に、脚部と取付座との間に配置されかつ粘性剤を封止する機能を有するスペーサの構造に工夫を凝らして、該スペーサの脚部に対する組み付けを容易なものとしながら、組み付け後のスペーサのがたつきや緩みを防止することにある。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の目的を達成すべく、本願発明の解決手段では、スペーサの先端側に挿入部を設けてこれを取付座の凹部に挿入する一方、該スペーサの基端側には、グリップ本体の脚部に設けた貫通孔に嵌挿させる嵌合部を設けるとともに、この嵌合部と上記挿入部との間の中間部に可撓性を持たせて、その外面に突設した係止爪部を上記貫通孔の周縁部に係止させるようにした。
【００１０】
具体的に、請求項１の発明では、長さ方向の両側に脚部を有する長尺状のグリップ本体と、上記脚部をそれぞれ回動自在に軸支するとともに固定体に固定される一対の取付座と、上記グリップ本体を使用位置から格納位置に回動させる付勢手段とを備えた格納式アシストグリップを前提とする。このものにおいて、上記グリップ本体の少なくとも一方の脚部には、該グリップ本体の長さ方向に対向する２つの側壁を有しかつグリップ本体が格納位置にあるときに上記固定体に対向する面に開口して上記取付座の一部を収容する収容部を形成する。また、その一方の脚部に対応する一方の取付座には、上記収容部に収容される部分においてグリップ本体の長さ方向に延びる断面円形の有底凹部を形成し、この凹部を収容部の２つの側壁のうちの一つに向かって開口させるとともに、この側壁にはグリップ本体の長さ方向に貫通する貫通孔を形成する。さらに、上記一方の取付座の凹部にはスペーサの先端側の挿入部を回動可能に挿入して、この挿入部の外周面と凹部の内周面との間に粘性剤を介在させる一方、スペーサの基端側には、上記一方の脚部における収容部側壁の上記貫通孔に対して回動不能に嵌挿されるように嵌合部を形成する。そして、上記スペーサの挿入部と嵌合部との間の中間部は、各々該スペーサの長さ方向に延びて挿入部と嵌合部とを連繋するとともに、該スペーサの周方向に離間した複数の中間連繋部からなるものとし、この中間連繋部の１つを非可撓性の柱状体とする一方、残りの中間連繋部はそれぞれ少なくとも上記中間部の径方向に撓むように形成し、該各中間連繋部の外面には上記脚部の収容部内で側壁の貫通孔周縁部に係止される係止爪部を突設する構成とする。
【００１１】
上記の構成のアシストグリップでは、グリップ本体が取付座に対し回動するときに、該グリップ本体の一方の脚部と一体にスペーサが回動し、該スペーサ先端側の挿入部が取付座の凹部内で回動する。このとき、取付座の凹部内周面とスペーサの挿入部外周面との間に介在している粘性剤に剪断力が発生して粘性抵抗が生じることにより、グリップ本体がゆっくりと回動するようになって、その動きから高級感が得られるようになる。
【００１２】
また、上記グリップ本体の脚部に取付座を組み付けるときには、まず、該脚部に形成された収容部に取付座の一部を収容して、この取付座の凹部の開口を収容部側壁の貫通孔に対応するように位置付ける。そして、スペーサをその先端側から上記貫通孔に挿通し、この貫通孔を貫き通して取付座の凹部に挿入する。ここで、上記スペーサの長さ方向の中間部がその周方向に離間する複数の中間連繋部からなり、全体として縮径するように撓むことができるので、それら中間連繋部の外面に突出する係止爪部は貫通孔を容易に通過することができる。しかも、複数の中間連繋部のうちの１つを非可撓性の柱状体としたことで、スペーサの中間部の剛性を十分に確保できる。そして、スペーサ先端側の挿入部が取付座の凹部に挿入されたときに、上記係止爪部が収容部内で側壁の貫通孔周縁部に係止され、このことで、スペーサが側壁に対してしっかりと保持されるようになり、組み付け後のスペーサのがたつきや緩みが防止される。
【００１３】
請求項２の発明では、上記スペーサの中間部を、その周方向に略等間隔に配置されて各々挿入部と嵌合部とを連繋する４つの中間連繋部からなるものとし、その４つの中間連繋部のうち、脚部の収容部の開口側に位置する１つの中間連繋部を非可撓性の柱状体とする一方、残りの３つの中間連繋部をそれぞれ可撓性の板状体とする構成とする。
【００１４】
この構成では、スペーサの中間連繋部のうち、非可撓性の柱状体からなる１つの中間連繋部を上記グリップ本体の脚部における収容部の開口側に位置するものとし、それ以外の３つの中間連繋部をそれぞれ可撓性板状体としたことで、スペーサを貫通孔へ容易に挿通することができる。すなわち、上記貫通孔の形成された収容部の側壁において該収容部の開口側に位置する部分は比較的容易に外側に撓むものであるから、その部分に対応するスペーサの中間連繋部を柱状体としても、それ以外の中間連繋部（可撓性板状体）が撓むことでスペーサを容易に挿通できるのである。
【００１５】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１〜図８は、本発明の実施形態に係る回動型の格納式アシストグリップＧを示し、このアシストグリップＧは、主としてグリップ本体１と一対の取付座６，７とからなるものである。上記グリップ本体１は例えばＰＰ（ポリプロピレン樹脂）等からなる長尺状のもので、図１に示すように、本体部の長さ方向両端部が湾曲されて略コ字状をなし、その長さ方向の両端部である左右両端部がそれぞれ脚部１ａ，１ｂとされていて、この左右の両脚部１ａ，１ｂにて例えば固定体としての車体パネルＰに固定された取付座６，７に対し回動可能に軸支されている。そして、グリップ本体１は、その長さ方向が車体の前後方向と略一致するように上記車体パネルＰに取り付けられている。上記車体パネルＰは、図例では車両における車室内の側壁をなすものであり、上記のような各脚部１ａ，１ｂでの軸支構造によりグリップ本体１が使用位置及び格納位置の間で回動して、図２に示すように格納位置にあるときにはグリップ本体１は車体パネルＰに沿った状態となる一方、図１、３に示すように使用位置にあるときには、グリップ本体１はその中間部が車室内方に突出して水平面からやや斜め下方に向いた状態となる。
【００１６】
そして、上記図２に示すようにグリップ本体１が格納位置にあるときに、その各脚部１ａ，１ｂの外面（車体パネルＰに対向する面）には、該外面側が開口するように、それぞれグリップ本体１の脚部１ａ，１ｂの先端面、即ち同図の下端面から図の上側に向かって略矩形状に切り欠いてなる切欠部が形成されていて、この各切欠部がそれぞれグリップ本体１の格納状態で取付座６，７の一部分を収容する収容部２，２となる。また、詳しくは後述するが、グリップ本体１の一方の脚部１ａ（図１において左側の脚部）と一方の取付座６との間には、グリップ本体の回動に粘性抵抗を付与する粘性ダンパ１６が一体的に設けられ、一方、他方の脚部１ｂ（図１において右側の脚部）と他方の取付座７との間には、グリップ本体１を格納位置に向かうように回動付勢する捩りコイルばね１７（コイルばね体）が配設されている。
【００１７】
すなわち、図４及び図５に示すグリップ本体１の脚部１ａにおいて、収容部２の左右方向（グリップ本体１の長さ方向）に対向する２つの側壁のうち、グリップ本体１の左右中央に近い側に位置する内側側壁（図１で右側のもの）は軸受部３として形成され、この軸受部３の内側（収容部２側）面には有底の円形穴からなる軸受穴４が形成されている。一方、グリップ本体１の左右中央から遠い側に位置する外側側壁３ａ（図１で左側のもの）には、該側壁３ａをその厚み方向（図の左右方向）に貫通するようにスペーサ装着孔５が形成されている。このスペーサ装着孔５は、図１に示すようにグリップ本体１の長さ方向からのグリップ本体１の脚部１ａの外観視（図１において左側からグリップ本体１の上記側壁３ａを見た状態）において、該脚部１ａの先端側（使用位置における車体パネルＰ側）が略半円形状とされ、その反対側が矩形状とされていて、その半円の中心位置が上記軸受穴４の中心線（軸線Ｘ）に一致するように形成されている。
【００１８】
そして、上記一方の脚部１ａの収容部２には、上記取付座６の一部が配置収容されている。この取付座６は、例えばＰＯＭ（ポリアセタール樹脂）等からなる樹脂で形成され、車室側に開口する大略矩形の有底箱状の固定部８を有し、この固定部８の底部にはボルト挿通孔９が貫通形成されており、図４に示すように、該ボルト挿通孔９に取付ボルトＢをそのヘッド部Ｂ１が固定部８内の空間部８ａに位置するように挿通して、その取付ボルトＢを車体パネルＰの裏面に固定したウェルドナットＮに車体パネルＰを貫通して螺合締結することで、取付ボルトＢのヘッド部Ｂ１と車体パネルＰとの間に固定部８の底部を挟んで、取付座６を車体パネルＰに取付固定するようにしている。尚、上記固定部８における空間部８ａの開口の端縁部には該開口を開閉する固定部８と一体成形のヒンジ式カバー１０が配設されている。
【００１９】
また、上記取付座６の車室側には固定部８の一側壁（図４における下側壁）と一体に支持部１１が形成されている。この支持部１１は全体として左右方向（グリップ本体１の長さ方向）に長い有底円筒形状をなし、その左右方向の両側面のうち、グリップ本体１の軸受部３に対向する一方の側面には該側面から突出する支軸１２が一体に形成されていて、この支軸１２の先端部が上記軸受部３の軸受穴４に回動可能に嵌挿されている。このことで、グリップ本体１は脚部１ａの軸受部３にて取付座６の支軸１２に回動可能に支持されている。
【００２０】
一方、上記取付座６の支持部１１の他方の側面には、上記支軸１２側に向かって内径が次第に小さくなるテーパ穴からなる凹部１３が上記支軸１２と同心状に形成されるとともに、この凹部１３の底部１３ｂからその開口側に向かって、上記支軸１２と同心状に延びる先細りテーパ形状の嵌入軸１４が設けられている。換言すれば、上記凹部１３は上記収容部２の外側側壁３ａの側に向かって開口されている。また、脚部１ａのスペーサ装着孔５には略有底筒形状のスペーサ１８が回動不能に取付固定されていて、そのスペーサ１８の先端部が上記取付座６の凹部１３内に回動可能に挿入されている。すなわち、上記図５や図６及び図７にも示すように、スペーサ１８の先端部は、先細りテーパ形状の挿入部１９と、この挿入部１９の基端側に段差状に連続する相対的に大径の大径部２０とからなり、挿入部１９は取付座６の凹部１３内に挿入されて、その挿入状態で挿入部１９外周面と凹部１３内周面との間に略一定の隙間が形成されるようになっている。
【００２１】
また、上記大径部２０は取付座６の凹部１３の開口部１３ａに液密状に嵌合可能とされており、この大径部２０により凹部１３の開口部１３ａを相対回転可能に閉じて、上記挿入部１９外周面と凹部１３内周面との間の隙間、及び後述する嵌入部２９内周面と取付座６の嵌入軸１４外周面との間の隙間を密封するようになっている。また、上記スペーサ１８の大径部２０には周方向の環状溝部２０ａが形成され、この溝部２０ａに配設されたＯリング２１が後述する粘性剤Ｌの流出を防止している。
【００２２】
上記スペーサ１８の基端部は、その外径形状が上述のグリップ本体１の脚部１ａにおけるスペーサ装着孔５と略同じ形状（脚部１ａの先端側の半分が半円形状でその反対側の半分が矩形状）とされ、この基端部がスペーサ装着孔５に嵌挿されて脚部１ａの上記外側側壁３ａに対するスペーサ１８の軸線回りの回動を阻止する嵌合部２２とされている。これにより、スペーサ１８はグリップ本体１と一体となって回動する。また、上記スペーサ１８の挿入部１９と嵌合部２２との間の中間部１８ａ（図７にのみ符号を付して示す）は、各々スペーサ１８の長さ方向に延びて該挿入部１９と嵌合部２２とを連繋する４つの中間連繋部２３〜２６からなり、該各中間連繋部２３，２４，…の外周部には、スペーサ１８の直径方向に対向した位置に互いに対をなす抜止め用爪２７（係止爪部）が突設されている。そして、スペーサ１８をスペーサ装着孔５に挿通したときに、上記抜止め用爪２７，２７，…が脚部１ａの収容部２内で該収容部２の上記外側側壁３ａに係止されて、スペーサ１８のスペーサ装着孔５からの抜けを防止するようになっている。
【００２３】
より詳しくは、本願発明の特徴部分として、図７にも示すように、上記スペーサ１８の４つの中間連繋部２３〜２６は、スペーサ１８の中間部１８ａの周方向に互いに略等間隔を空けて配置されていて、上述の如くスペーサ１８の嵌合部２２がスペーサ装着孔５に嵌挿された状態で収容部２の開口側（図５において上側）に位置する第１中間連繋部２３と、その反対側（図５において下側）に位置する第２中間連繋部２４と、図２に示すようなグリップ本体１の格納状態で上側（図６、７(c)において上側）に位置する第３中間連繋部２５と、同じく格納位置で下側（図６、７(c)において下側）、即ち脚部１ａの先端側に位置する第４中間連繋部２６とからなる。
【００２４】
そして、上記第１中間連繋部２３は、図５や図７(c)に示すように、スペーサ１８の外周から中心部に至る扁平な矩形断面を有する非可撓性の柱状体とされていて、その基端側では断面積が先端側に比べて小さくされている。このように中間連繋部の１つを非可撓性の柱状体としたことで、スペーサ１８の中間部１８ａの剛性を確保することが容易になる。一方、第２〜第４の３つの中間連繋部２４〜２６は、それぞれスペーサ１８の中間部１８ａの半径方向に薄肉の可撓性の板状体とされ、その半径方向に容易に撓むようになっている。尚、特に第３中間連繋部２５は、図７(c)に示すようにスペーサ１８の接線方向（図の左右方向）に延びていて、第２及び第４中間連繋部２４，２６よりも幅の広い形状とされている。
【００２５】
また、上記抜止め用爪２７，２７，…は、それぞれ、スペーサ１８先端側の面（前面）が先端側から基端側に向かって徐々に膨出量の大きくなる緩斜面からなり、一方、スペーサ１８基端側の面（後面）は中間連繋部２３〜２６の外周面に略直角するように形成された楔形状のものである。そして、スペーサ１８がその先端側からスペーサ装着孔５に挿入されるときには、上記各抜止め用爪２７の前面がスペーサ装着孔５へ進入するに従って板状の中間連繋部２４〜２６が縮径方向に撓み、その後、各抜止め用爪２７がスペーサ装着孔５を通過して収容部２内に至ると、中間連繋部２４〜２６の復元力により該各抜止め用爪２７の後面が収容部２外側側壁３ａの側面に当接して、係止されるようになる。
【００２６】
さらにまた、上記スペーサ１８の挿入部１９の内部には、その先端面から基端側に向かって基端側が小径のテーパ状の有底穴からなる嵌入部２９が形成されている。この嵌入部２９の内部には、スペーサ１８が回転可能となるように上記取付座６の嵌入軸１４が嵌入されるようになっており、この嵌入状態で、嵌入軸１４の外周面と嵌入部２９の内周面との間に隙間が形成されるとともに、該嵌入軸１４の先端面と嵌入部２９の底面２９ａとの間にも隙間が形成される。そして、それらの隙間同士が互いに連通するとともに、スペーサ１８の挿入部１９の先端面と凹部１３の底面１３ｂとの間の隙間を介して該挿入部１９の外周面と凹部１３の内周面との間の隙間にも連通していて、このように連続する４つの隙間に例えばシリコン等の高粘度（１０００００ｃｐｓ以上が望ましい）の粘性剤Ｌが充填されている。これにより、グリップ本体１の回動に粘性抵抗を付与する粘性ダンパ１６が構成される。
【００２７】
ここで、上記図５、６に示すようにスペーサ１８先端側の挿入部１９が取付座６の凹部１３内に挿入されて、その挿入部１９内の嵌入部２９に上記取付座６の嵌入軸１４が嵌入された状態で、スペーサ１８の挿入部１９の先端面と取付座６の凹部１３の底面１３ｂとの間の隙間αは、該スペーサ１８の挿入部１９における嵌入部２９の底面２９ａと嵌入軸１４の先端面との間の隙間βよりも大きくなっている。言い換えると、上記スペーサ１８の長さ、嵌入部２９の深さ、取付座６の凹部１３の深さ、嵌入軸１４の長さ等の寸法、及びそれら各部の相互の位置関係は、上記隙間αが隙間βよりも大きくなるように設定されており、詳しくは後述するが、このことで、取付座６へのスペーサ１８の取り付けの際、それらの隙間に空気が残存するのを阻止することができる。
【００２８】
一方、グリップ本体１の他方の取付座７は、図２、３、８に示すように、上述した取付座６とは異なり、グリップ本体１の脚部１ｂに対して別体の支持軸３１により軸支されている。以下の説明では、上記取付座７において取付座６と同様の構成の部分については同じ符号を付して、その詳細な説明は省略する。そして、上記脚部１ｂでは、図８に示すように収容部２の左右両側壁（グリップ本体１の長さ方向に対向する２つの側壁）がいずれも軸受部３，３とされていて、図で左側の軸受部３の内面には有底状の軸受穴４ａが、また右側の軸受部３には貫通状の軸受孔３０がそれぞれ同心状に形成されている。
【００２９】
上記取付座７には、取付座６の支持部１１と同様にして固定部８と一体に支持部３２が形成されている。この支持部３２は、全体として左右方向（グリップ本体１の長さ方向）に長い略円筒形状のもので、その左右両側の壁部にはそれぞれ軸挿通孔３３，３４（図８にのみ示す）が同心状に貫通形成されている。そして、それら両軸挿通孔３３，３４に支持軸３１が貫通支持され、この支持軸３１の両端部がそれぞれ支持部３２の左右両側から外方に突出して、上記収容部２における軸受部３，３の軸受穴４ａ及び軸受孔３０に嵌挿されている。この構成により、取付座７の支持部３２に対してグリップ本体１が支持軸３１によりその中心線（軸線Ｘ）の周りに回動可能に支持されている。
【００３０】
また、上記支持軸３１の長さ方向中間部の周りには捩りコイルばね１７が配置されている。すなわち、上記取付座７の支持部３２の内部にはグリップ本体１の長さ方向に長い断面略円形のコイルばね収納空間３２ａが形成されていて、この収納空間３２ａに捩りコイルばね１７が収納されている。換言すれば、上記取付座７の支持部３２は、捩りコイルばね１７を収納するコイルばね体収納部である。また、上記支持部３２内の収納空間３２ａの長さ方向の寸法は捩りコイルばね１７の長さよりも大きく、一方、収納空間３２ａの径方向の寸法は捩りコイルばね１７の直径よりも若干大きく形成されており、このことで、捩りコイルばね１７は、その中心線が軸線Ｘと略一致する状態で収納空間３２ａ内をその長さ方向に移動可能となっている。
【００３１】
より詳しくは、上記支持部３２の周壁には、車体パネルＰへの固定状態で下向きとなる所定の範囲に亘ってコイルばね挿入口３５が開設されるとともに、該コイルばね挿入口３５とは反対側の周壁を貫通して周方向に延びる第１スリット３６と、この第１スリット３６に連続して支持部３２の長さ方向（グリップ本体１の長さ方向）に延びる第２スリット３７とが形成されている。すなわち、図９に示すようにコイルばね１７の挿入方向から見ると、コイルばね挿入口３５は略矩形断面を有し、その長さ方向及び幅方向についてコイルばね収納空間３２ａと略同じ大きさになっている。
【００３２】
また、上記第１スリット３６は、取付座７において固定部８との境界壁となる支持部３２の周壁を該支持部３２内の収納空間３２ａ（コイルばね収納部の内側）から固定部８内の空間部８ａ（コイルばね収納部の外側）まで貫通するとともに、支持部３２の一方の側壁（図９の左側壁）の内面（収容空間３２ａに臨む面）に沿って周方向（図９の上下方向）に延びている。また、第２スリット３７は、上記第１スリット３６の端部（図９の上端部）から支持部３２の長さ方向の中間部まで延びていて、該第１スリット３６と同様に支持部３２の周壁を貫通するとともに、収納空間３２ａから固定部８側に向かって開口幅が徐々に狭まるテーパ状とされている。そして、上記第１及び第２スリット３６，３７は、コイルばねの挿入方向から見ると、互いに連続して略Ｌ字状をなしている。
【００３３】
上記捩りコイルばね１７は、その長さ方向一端部（図８の左側の端部）の外周から線材が外方に延長されてなる延長部１７ａを有し、この延長部１７ａの先端側が折り曲げられて折曲部１７ｂが設けられている。この折曲部１７ｂの長さは第１スリット３６の長さ（図９の上下方向の長さ）よりも短くされていて、捩りコイルばね１７を支持部３２の長さ方向一側（図８、９の左側）に寄せた状態でコイルばね挿入口３５に挿入したときに、折曲部１７ｂが容易に第１スリット３６を通過するようになっている。また、上記捩りコイルばね１７は、その長さ方向の他端部（図８の右側の端部）を支持部３２の右側壁内面に当接する状態（収納位置）で収納空間３２ａに収納されており、この状態では該捩りコイルばね１７の延長部１７ａは第２スリット３７を貫通し、その先端側の折曲部１７ｂが第１スリット３６の延びる向きに折れ曲がって延びていて、この折曲部１７ｂが固定部８の空間部８ａ内において第２スリット３７の周縁部に係止されている。
【００３４】
また、上記捩りコイルばね１７の他端部の外周からも線材が外方に延長されて延長部１７ｃとされており、この延長部１７ｃは、グリップ本体１の収容部２に対して脚部１ｂの先端側に位置する内底壁（図２で下側の壁）に形成した溝部３８に係止されている。そして、捩りコイルばね１７の捩り力によって、グリップ本体１は常時は格納位置に位置付けられるように使用位置から格納位置に向かう方向（図２〜４で反時計回り方向）に回動付勢されている。
【００３５】
尚、上記図２〜４にそれぞれ示すように、上記グリップ本体１の各脚部１ａ，１ｂの先端側における収容部２の開口端部には、それぞれ当たり部３９が形成されており、一方、各取付座６，７の固定部８にはそれぞれ上記当たり部３９に当接可能なストッパ部４０が形成されている。そして、グリップ本体１が格納位置から使用位置に回動したときにその両方の脚部１ａ，１ｂの当たり部３９がそれぞれ取付座６のストッパ部４０に当接することで、グリップ本体１は、それ以上の回動が規制されて使用位置に停止される。
【００３６】
（アシストグリップの組立て）
次に、上述の如き構成のアシストグリップＧの組み立て手順について説明する。まず、取付座６については、その支軸１２をグリップ本体１の脚部１ａにおける軸受部３の軸受穴４に嵌挿して、支持部１１を収容部２内に収容し、この支持部１１に設けられた凹部１３の開口部１３ａを収容部２の外側側壁３ａに設けられたスペーサ装着孔５に対応するように位置付ける。そして、図１０、１１に示すように、スペーサ１８をその先端側からスペーサ装着孔５に挿通し、このスペーサ装着孔５を貫き通してスペーサ１８先端側の挿入部１９を取付座６の凹部１３に挿入し、同時にスペーサ１８の嵌入部２９に取付座６の嵌入軸１４を嵌入させる。
【００３７】
その際、図１１に示すように、スペーサ１８の基端側がスペーサ装着孔５を通過するときには、該スペーサ１８の第２〜第４中間連繋部２４〜２６（可撓性板状体）が内側に撓むことによって、その外面に突出する抜止め用爪２７，２７，…がスペーサ装着孔５を容易に通過するようになる。一方、第１中間連繋部２３は撓まないが、第１中間連繋部２３はグリップ本体１の脚部１ａにおける収容部２の開口側に位置しており、スペーサ装着孔５の形成された外側側壁３ａが収容部２の開口側では比較的容易に外方に撓むので、このことと上記第２〜第４中間連繋部２４〜２６の撓みとによって、第１中間連繋部２３の外面に突出する抜止め用爪２７もスペーサ装着孔５を容易に通過することになる。
【００３８】
そして、上記スペーサ１８の挿入部２９が取付座６の凹部１３に完全に挿入されたときには、スペーサ１８の上記各中間連繋部２３〜２６の抜止め用爪２７，２７，…がいずれも収容部２内に至り、該収容部２の外側側壁３ａの開口側の部位や可撓性板状体からなる第２〜第４中間連繋部２４〜２６がそれぞれ元の形状に復元して、図５、６に示すように、各中間連繋部２３〜２６の抜止め用爪２７，２７，…が収容部２の外側側壁３ａの内面（スペーサ装着孔５の周縁部）に係止される。これにより、スペーサ１８の基端側が収容部２の外側側壁３ａに対してしっかりと保持されるようになり、組み付け後のスペーサ１８のがたつきや緩みが解消される。
【００３９】
また、上記のスペーサ１８の組み付けにおいては、予めスペーサ１８の嵌入部２９内に必要量の粘性剤Ｌを充填しており、このことで、上記スペーサ１８の組み付けと同時に、嵌入部２９に侵入する嵌入軸１４によって粘性剤Ｌが押し出されて、凹部１３内の隙間に拡がって充填される。この点について詳しくは、上記図１０に示すように、予めスペーサ１８の嵌入部２９内に必要な分量の粘性剤Ｌを入れておき、このスペーサ１８の挿入部１９をグリップ本体１の脚部１ａのスペーサ装着孔５を通過させて、取付座６の支持部１１に開口する凹部１３に軸線Ｘに沿うようにして挿入する。このとき、該凹部１３内をその底面１３ｂから開口部１３ａ側に向かって延びる嵌入軸１４がスペーサ１８の嵌入部２９に挿入される。
【００４０】
そして、上記図１１に示すように、スペーサ１８をその基端側までスペーサ装着孔５に嵌挿したとき、該スペーサ１８の挿入部１９は取付座６の凹部１３の奥側まで挿入され、これに伴い、該凹部１３の嵌入軸１４がスペーサ１８の嵌入部２９の奥側に挿入されて、その嵌入部２９内の粘性剤Ｌを押し出すようになる。このようにして粘性剤Ｌが嵌入部２９の内周面と嵌入軸１４の外周面との間の隙間から押し出されて、スペーサ１８の挿入部１９の先端面と凹部１３の底面１３ｂとの間の隙間に至り、さらにそこから該スペーサ１８の挿入部１９外周面と凹部１３内周面との間の隙間に押し出されて、この隙間を凹部１３の開口部１３ａに向かって移動する。
【００４１】
そうして、上記スペーサ１８の挿入部１９を取付座６の凹部１３の最深部まで挿入したときには、該スペーサ１８の先端面と凹部１３の底面１３ｂとの間の間隔αが該スペーサ１８の嵌入部２９の底面２９ａと嵌入軸１４の先端面との間の間隔βよりも大きいことから、その嵌入軸１４の先端面が嵌入部２９の底面２９ａに当接もしくは当接直前で該嵌入部２９内の粘性剤Ｌを十分に押し出し、この押し出された粘性剤Ｌが凹部１３内の空気を殆ど全て排出するようになる。
【００４２】
かくして、上記スペーサ１８の挿入部１９外周面と取付座６の凹部１３内周面との間の隙間から該スペーサ１８の先端面と凹部１３の底面１３ｂとの間の隙間を介して、該スペーサ１８の嵌入部２９内周面と嵌入軸１４外周面との間の隙間に連続し、さらにその嵌入部２９の底面２９ａと嵌入軸１４の先端面との間の隙間まで連続する隙間全体に亘って粘性剤Ｌが充填されるとともに、この隙間、即ち凹部１３内から空気が殆ど全て排出される。
【００４３】
一方、取付座７については、最初に該取付座７の支持部３２内に捩りコイルばね１７を収納し、それから取付座７をグリップ本体１の脚部１ｂに組み付ける。すなわち、まず、図１２(a)に示すように、捩りコイルばね１７をコイルばね挿入口３５に対して図の左側に寄せた状態で、即ち、捩りコイルばね１７の一端部を支持部３２の左側壁の内面に摺接させるようにして、挿入する。こうすると、図１３(a)に示すように、捩りコイルばね１７の延長部１７ａがコイルばね挿入口３５から収納空間３２ａに入り、さらに第１スリット３６に挿通されて、同図(b)に仮想線で示すように、捩りコイルばね１７の延長部１７ａの先端側が支持部３２の外側、即ち固定部８内の空間部８ａに突出して、この空間部８ａ内に折曲部１７ｂが位置するようになる。
【００４４】
続いて、図１２(b)に実線で示すように、捩りコイルばね１７をその長さ方向に収納位置までずらして、該捩りコイルばね１７の他端部が支持部３２の右側壁内面に当接するようにする。こうすると、延長部１７ａが第２スリット３７内を移動して、その先端の折曲部１７ｂが固定部８の空間部８ａ内に臨んで第２スリット３７の周縁部に係止されるようになり、これにより、捩りコイルばね１７はその中心線を軸線Ｘに略一致させた状態で収納空間３２ａに保持されることになる。つまり、捩りコイルばね１７をコイルばね挿入口３５から収納空間３２ａに挿入して、その長さ方向にずらすだけで、容易に収納空間３２ａ内に収納して保持することができる。尚、図１２(b)では、捩りコイルばね１７の収納状態を明らかにするために、支持部３２の一部を切り欠いて示している。
【００４５】
そのようにして捩りコイルばね１７を収納した取付座７をグリップ本体１の脚部１ｂに取り付けるときには、取付座７の天地を図１３に示す状態から逆転させて、図１４に示すように、該取付座７の支持部３２をグリップ本体１の脚部１ｂの収容部２に上方から差し入れ、これとともに、捩りコイルばね１７の延長部１７ｃをグリップ本体１の溝部３８に挿入して係止させる。このとき、上記取付座７の支持部３２の左右両側壁の軸挿通孔３３，３４とグリップ本体１の脚部１ｂにおける収容部２の左右両軸受部３，３の軸受穴４ａ及び軸受孔３０とが互いに略同心状に位置付けられるとともに、それらと略同心状に捩りコイルばね１７も位置付けられることになるので、この状態で支持軸３１の先端側を上記脚部１ｂの貫通状軸受孔３０から軸受穴４ａに向かって挿入し、この支持軸３１により取付座７の軸挿通孔３３，３４と捩りコイルばね１７とを貫通させて、該支持軸３１の先端部を他方の軸受部３の有底状軸受穴４ａに嵌入させて固定する。尚、支持軸３１の基端側を軸受孔３０内でスナップリング等により抜き止めして、固定するようにしてもよい。
【００４６】
上述のようにしてグリップ本体１の脚部１ａ，１ｂにそれぞれ取付座６，７を組み付ければ、今度は、その取付座６，７の各固定部８を取付ボルトＢにより車体パネルＰへ固定する。すなわち、取付座６，７の各固定部８のカバー１０を開いて、取付ボルトＢを各固定部８の空間部８ａから底部のボルト挿通孔９に挿通し、さらに車体パネルＰも挿通させてその裏側のウェルドナットＮに螺合締結する。その後、カバー１０を閉じて固定部８の開口（空間部８ａ）を覆うようにすればよい。
【００４７】
したがって、上述の如き構成の格納式アシストグリップＧを例えば車両に適用した場合、通常はグリップ本体１が捩りコイルばね１７の付勢力により回動付勢されて格納位置に位置付けられており、車両の乗員がアシストグリップＧを使用するときには、そのグリップ本体１を手で掴んで捩りコイルばね１７の付勢力に抗して使用位置に回動させる。その後、乗員がグリップ本体１から手を離すと、グリップ本体１は捩りコイルばね１７の付勢力により使用位置から格納位置へ回動して戻る。
【００４８】
そのようなグリップ本体１の使用位置から格納位置への回動時に（上記格納位置から使用位置への回動時にも同様のことが生じる）、グリップ本体１の脚部１ａと取付座６との間では、該脚部１ａの軸受部３及び側壁３ａが取付座６の支軸１２の回りに回動し、また、該脚部１ａに回動不能に取り付けられているスペーサ１８が取付座６の凹部１３内で取付座６側の嵌入軸１４の周りに回動する。このとき、上記取付座６の凹部１３内周面とスペーサ１８の挿入部１９外周面との間の隙間、及びスペーサ１８の嵌入部２９内周面と取付座６の嵌入軸１４外周面との間の隙間において粘性剤Ｌに剪断力が発生し、上記スペーサ１８を介してグリップ本体１の回動に粘性抵抗が付与される。
【００４９】
つまり、上記グリップ本体１の脚部１ａと取付座６との間には、該取付座６とグリップ本体１側のスペーサ１８とにより一体的に粘性ダンパ１６が構成されており、この粘性ダンパ１６における粘性剤Ｌの粘性によりグリップ本体１が使用位置から格納位置へゆっくりと戻るようになって、その動きから高級感が得られるとともに、グリップ本体１が車体側の部材に強く衝突して異音を発生したり、耐久性の低下を招くことがなくなる。
【００５０】
しかも、上記の粘性ダンパ１６において、スペーサ１８の挿入部１９の先端面と取付座６の凹部１３の底面１３ｂとの間の隙間αが、該スペーサ１８の嵌入部２９の底面２９ａと取付座６の嵌入軸１４の先端面との間の隙間βよりも大きく設定されているので、スペーサ１８の組み付け時にその嵌入部２９の最深部まで凹部１３の嵌入軸１４を挿入させて、嵌入部２９内に予め入れておいた粘性剤Ｌを効果的に押し出させ、この粘性剤Ｌを粘性ダンパ１６内の隙間に行き渡らせて充填しながら、空気を排出させることができる。これにより、上記粘性ダンパ１６の隙間に空気が残存することがなく、粘性剤Ｌによる粘性抵抗を安定的に確保することができ、もってアシストグリップＧの使用感の悪化等を防止することができる。
【００５１】
また、この実施形態では、上述したように、上記グリップ本体１の脚部１ａに組み付けられる取付座６と、グリップ本体１側のスペーサ１８とによって一体的に粘性ダンパ１６を構成するようにしているので、グリップ本体１と取付座６との間に別途、専用のオイルダンパ等を追加する場合に比べてコンパクトかつ低コストのものとなる。
【００５２】
さらに、この実施形態では、上記スペーサ１８をグリップ本体１の脚部１ａに設けたスペーサ装着孔５に挿通させるときに、スペーサ１８の第２〜第４中間連繋部２４〜２６（可撓性板状体）が内側に撓み、かつ上記スペーサ装着孔５の形成された収容部２の外側側壁３ａの一部が外側に撓むことによって、スペーサ１８の抜止め用爪２７，２７，…が容易にスペーサ装着孔５を通過するようになり、これによりスペーサ１８の組み付けが容易に行える。一方、そのようにしてスペーサ１８を脚部１ａに固定したときには、各抜止め用爪２７が外側側壁３ａの内面に係止されてスペーサ１８の基端側がしっかりと保持されるようになり、これにより、組み付け後のスペーサ１８のがたつきや緩みを解消できるとともに、スペーサ１８の大径部２０により取付座６の凹部１３の開口部１３ａを確実に閉塞して、粘性剤Ｌの漏れを防止できる。
【００５３】
さらにまた、この実施形態では、グリップ本体１の脚部１ｂと取付座７との間に捩りコイルばね１７を配設するために、該取付座７の支持部３２内に捩りコイルばね１７を収納して位置決め可能な収納空間３２ａを設ける一方、捩りコイルばね１７にはその長さ方向の一端部から線材を延長して延長部１７ａを設け、この延長部１７ａの先端側の折曲部１７ｂを上記支持部３２に設けたＬ字状のスリット３６，３７に係止させるようにしている。このことで、捩りコイルばね１７を収納した取付座７をグリップ本体１の脚部１ｂの収容部２に収容して適切に配置するだけで、該取付座７から捩りコイルばね１７が脱落することを防止しながら、それらを適切な位置に保持して容易に組み付けることができる。
【００５４】
尚、上記実施形態のアシストグリップＧでは、グリップ本体１の一方の脚部１ａに粘性ダンパ１６を設け、他方の脚部１ｂに捩りコイルばね１７を配設するようにしているが、これに限るものではなく、例えば両方の脚部１ａ，１ｂにそれぞれ粘性ダンパ１６と捩りコイルばね１７とを併設するようにしてもよい。
【００５５】
また、上記実施形態では、グリップ本体１の一方の脚部１ａと取付座６との取付構造として、取付座６の支持部１に一体に形成した支軸１２を脚部１ａの軸受部３の軸受穴４に回動可能に嵌挿させているが、この構造に限るものではない。すなわち、例えば、上記脚部１ａの軸受部３に軸受穴４の代わりに貫通状の軸受孔を設けるとともに、取付座１１の支持部には支軸１２の代わりに有底状の軸孔を設けて、別途、用意した支持軸を上記貫通状軸受孔に挿通させ、その端部を上記有底状軸孔に嵌入させて固定するようにしてもよい。
【００５６】
また、上記実施形態では、取付座６，７をそれぞれボルトＢによって車体パネルＰに取り付けるようにしているが、これに限るものではなく、ボルトＢに代えて、例えば取付座６，７の裏面に爪部を有する係止片を一体に形成し、この係止片を車体パネルＰに開口形成した係止口に挿入して該係止口の周縁裏面に上記爪部を係止させることにより、取付座６，７をそれぞれ車体パネルＰに取り付けるようにしてもよい。
【００５７】
さらに、この発明に係る格納式アシストグリップは上記実施形態のように車両用のものに限定されるものでないことは勿論である。
【００５８】
【発明の効果】
以上、説明したように、本願の請求項１の発明に係る格納式アシストグリップによると、グリップ本体の脚部を固定体に取り付ける取付座の少なくとも一方に粘性剤の充填される凹部を形成する一方、その取付座を収容する脚部の収容部の側壁に貫通孔を形成し、上記取付座の凹部にスペーサの先端側挿入部を挿入して粘性剤を封止するとともに、該スペーサの基端側に設けた嵌合部を上記貫通孔に対し回動不能に挿通させて粘性ダンパを構成するようにしたものにおいて、上記スペーサの先端側挿入部と基端側嵌合部との間に互いに周方向に離間するように複数の中間連繋部を形成し、その外面に突設した係止爪部を上記貫通孔の周縁部に係止させるようにしたので、その中間連繋部の撓みによってスペーサを上記貫通孔に容易に挿通させて組み付けできるとともに、組み付け後は係止爪部が収容部側壁の貫通孔周縁部に係止されることで、スペーサをしっかりと保持してがたつきや緩みを防止できる。しかも、複数の中間連繋部のうちの１つを非可撓性の柱状体としたことで、スペーサの中間部の剛性を十分に確保できる。
【００５９】
請求項２の発明によると、スペーサの中間部をその周方向に略等間隔に配置された４つの中間連繋部からなるものとし、そのうちの収容部開口側に位置する１つを非可撓性の柱状体とし、残りの３つの中間連繋部をそれぞれ可撓性の板状体とすることで、スペーサの中間部の剛性を十分に確保しながら、該スペーサを貫通孔へ容易に挿通することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態に係る格納式アシストグリップの使用位置における斜視図である。
【図２】グリップ本体が格納位置にあるときの図１のII−II線断面図である。
【図３】グリップ本体が使用位置にあるときの図１のIII-III線断面図である。
【図４】粘性ダンパの構成を示す図１のIV−IV線断面図である。
【図５】粘性ダンパの構成を示す図１のV−V線断面図である。
【図６】粘性ダンパの構成を示す図５のVI−VI線断面図である。
【図７】スペーサの構成を示す上面図(a)、側面図(b)及び横断面図(c)である。
【図８】捩りコイルばねの配置構成を示す図１のVIII−VIII線断面図である。
【図９】捩りコイルばねの挿入方向から見た取付座の斜視図である。
【図１０】スペーサの取付座への組み付けを開始したときの図６相当の説明図である。
【図１１】スペーサの取付座への組み付けを終える直前の図１０相当図である。
【図１２】捩りコイルばねを取付座の支持部へ収納する作業の説明図である。
【図１３】捩りコイルばねを取付座の支持部へ収納する作業を図１２のXIIIa−XIIIa線断面とXIIIb−XIIIb線断面とでそれぞれ示す説明図である。
【図１４】捩りコイルばねを収納した取付座をグリップ本体の脚部に組み付ける作業の説明図である。
【符号の説明】
Ｌ粘性剤
Ｐ車体パネル（固定体）
Ｇアシストグリップ
１グリップ本体
１ａ、１ｂ脚部
２収容部
３ａ収容部の外側側壁
５スペーサ装着孔（貫通孔）
６，７取付座
１１支持部
１３凹部
１６粘性ダンパ
１７捩りコイルばね（付勢手段）
１８スペーサ
１９挿入部
２２嵌合部
２３第１中間連繋部（非可撓性の柱状体）
２４〜２６第２〜第４中間連繋部（可撓性の板状体）
２７抜止め用爪（係止爪部）[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to a retractable assist grip that is installed in, for example, a vehicle and is stored by being rotated from a use position to a storage position when not in use.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  Conventionally, this type of assist grip includes a grip body that rotates between a use position and a storage position, and a mounting seat that pivotally supports a leg portion of the grip body and is attached to a vehicle body via an attachment member. Things are known. And, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-71804, a viscous damper is integrally provided between the leg portion of the grip body and the mounting seat so that the grip body rotates from the use position to the retracted position. In some cases, by applying a required viscous resistance, the rotational speed is adjusted to improve the feeling of use and durability.
[0003]
  More specifically, in the conventional example, a concave member having a circular cross section is provided concentrically with the axis of the support shaft that supports the leg portion of the grip body in the mounting seat, and a lid member (spacer) that closes the opening of the concave portion. Is attached to the leg portion of the grip body so as not to rotate, and a cylindrical portion provided on the back side of the lid member is rotatably inserted into the recess. A viscous damper is configured by filling the concave portion with a viscous agent such as silicone oil so as to be interposed at least between the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the lid member.
[0004]
  According to the above configuration, when the grip body is rotated, the lid member is rotated integrally with the leg portion, and the cylindrical portion of the lid member is rotated in the recess. A shearing force is generated in the viscous agent interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion and the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion, whereby a viscous resistance is imparted to the rotation of the grip body, thereby obtaining a required feeling of use. It is.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  By the way, in the structure of the above conventional example, the lid member that closes the concave portion of the mounting seat and seals the viscous agent in the assist grip is used as a spacer between the mounting seat and the leg portion of the grip body. In order to prevent the leakage of the agent, the opening of the concave portion must be surely closed by the spacer. Therefore, it is necessary to hold the spacer firmly fixed to the leg portion.
[0006]
  However, if the spacers are tightly fitted in order to firmly fix the spacers to the legs of the grip body, a large force is required for the assembly, which makes the operation difficult. In addition, an excessive force is partially applied to the legs or spacers during assembly, which may cause damage.
[0007]
  On the other hand, if the fitting state between the leg portion of the grip body and the spacer is loose, not only does the spacer become rattled and the feeling of use is impaired, but also the positioning of the spacer with respect to the leg portion becomes unsatisfactory, and the recess is blocked by the spacer. There is a risk of loosening the state, which may cause leakage of the viscous agent.
[0008]
  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is to provide a viscous damper integrally between the leg portion of the grip body of the retractable assist grip and the mounting seat. The spacer structure is arranged between the leg portion and the mounting seat and has a function of sealing the viscous agent to make it easy to assemble the spacer to the leg portion. It is to prevent rattling and loosening.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, according to the solution means of the present invention, an insertion portion is provided at the distal end side of the spacer and inserted into the recess of the mounting seat, while the base portion of the spacer has a leg portion of the grip body. A fitting portion that is inserted into the through-hole provided in the mounting portion is provided, and an intermediate portion between the fitting portion and the insertion portion is provided with flexibility, and a locking claw portion protruding from the outer surface is provided. It was made to latch on the peripheral part of the said through-hole.
[0010]
  Specifically, in the first aspect of the present invention, a long grip body having legs on both sides in the length direction, and a pair of pivots that pivotably support the legs and are fixed to a fixed body. A retractable assist grip provided with a mounting seat and biasing means for rotating the grip body from the use position to the retracted position is assumed. In this structure, at least one leg of the grip body has two side walls facing the length direction of the grip body, and the grip body has a surface facing the fixed body when the grip body is in the retracted position. An accommodating portion that opens and accommodates a part of the mounting seat is formed. Moreover, a bottomed concave portion having a circular cross section extending in the length direction of the grip body is formed in one mounting seat corresponding to the one leg portion in the portion accommodated in the accommodating portion, and this concave portion is formed in the accommodating portion. While opening toward one of the two side walls, a through-hole penetrating in the length direction of the grip body is formed on the side wall. Further, the insertion portion on the distal end side of the spacer is rotatably inserted into the concave portion of the one mounting seat, and a viscous agent is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion and the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion, A fitting portion is formed on the base end side of the spacer so as to be non-rotatably fitted into the through hole of the accommodating portion side wall in the one leg portion. And the intermediate part between the insertion part and the fitting part of the spacerEach extends in the length direction of the spacer, The spacer is connected to the fitting portion and the spacerSpaced apart in the circumferential directionTheMultiple intermediate connectionsOne of the intermediate linkages is an inflexible columnar body, while the remaining intermediate linkages are eachBends at least in the radial direction of the intermediate partlikeThe engaging claw portion is formed on the outer surface of each intermediate connecting portion so as to protrude from the peripheral portion of the through hole in the side wall within the accommodating portion of the leg portion.
[0011]
  In the assist grip having the above structure, when the grip body rotates with respect to the mounting seat, the spacer rotates integrally with one leg portion of the grip body, and the insertion portion on the spacer tip side is a recess of the mounting seat. Rotate inside. At this time, since the shearing force is generated in the viscous agent interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the recess of the mounting seat and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion of the spacer, the viscous resistance is generated, so that the grip body slowly rotates. Then, a sense of quality can be obtained from the movement.
[0012]
  Further, when the mounting seat is assembled to the leg portion of the grip body, first, a part of the mounting seat is accommodated in the accommodating portion formed in the leg portion, and the opening of the concave portion of the mounting seat is passed through the side wall of the accommodating portion. Position it to correspond to the hole. Then, the spacer is inserted into the through hole from the tip end side, and is inserted through the through hole into the recess of the mounting seat. Here, the intermediate portion in the length direction of the spacer is composed of a plurality of intermediate connecting portions spaced in the circumferential direction, and can be bent so as to reduce the diameter as a whole, so that it protrudes to the outer surface of the intermediate connecting portions. The locking claw portion can easily pass through the through hole.And the rigidity of the intermediate part of a spacer is fully securable by making one of several intermediate | middle connection parts into the non-flexible columnar body.And when the insertion part of the spacer front end side is inserted in the recessed part of the mounting seat, the said locking claw part is latched by the peripheral part of the through-hole of a side wall in a accommodating part, and, thereby, a spacer with respect to a side wall It becomes firmly held, and rattling and loosening of the spacer after assembly are prevented.
[0013]
  In the invention of claim 2, the intermediate portion of the spacer is composed of four intermediate connecting portions that are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction and connect the insertion portion and the fitting portion, respectively. Among the connecting portions, one intermediate connecting portion located on the opening side of the leg accommodating portion is an inflexible columnar body, while the remaining three intermediate connecting portions are each a flexible plate-like body. The configuration is as follows.
[0014]
  In this configuration, out of the intermediate connection part of the spacer,Inflexible columnar shapeBodyBecomeOneThe intermediate connecting portion is located on the opening side of the accommodating portion in the leg portion of the grip body, and the other three intermediate connecting portions are each a flexible plate-like body, so that the spacer can be easily inserted into the through hole. Can be inserted. That is, since the portion located on the opening side of the accommodating portion in the side wall of the accommodating portion in which the through hole is formed is relatively easily bent outward, the intermediate link portion of the spacer corresponding to the portion can be a columnar body. The spacer can be easily inserted by bending the other intermediate connecting portion (flexible plate-like body).
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  1 to 8 show a pivotable retractable assist grip G according to an embodiment of the present invention. The assist grip G mainly includes a grip body 1 and a pair of mounting seats 6 and 7. . The grip body 1 has a long shape made of, for example, PP (polypropylene resin), and as shown in FIG. 1, both ends in the length direction of the body portion are curved to form a substantially U-shape. Both left and right ends, which are both ends in the direction, are leg portions 1a and 1b, respectively, and the left and right leg portions 1a and 1b are attached to the mounting seats 6 and 7 fixed to the vehicle body panel P as a fixed body, for example. It is pivotally supported so that it can rotate. And the grip main body 1 is attached to the said vehicle body panel P so that the length direction may correspond substantially with the front-back direction of a vehicle body. In the illustrated example, the vehicle body panel P forms the side wall of the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and the grip body 1 is rotated between the use position and the storage position by the pivotal support structure of the legs 1a and 1b as described above. When the grip body 1 is in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 2, the grip body 1 is in a state along the vehicle body panel P. On the other hand, when the grip body 1 is in the use position as shown in FIGS. The portion protrudes toward the interior of the vehicle and is slightly inclined downward from the horizontal plane.
[0016]
  As shown in FIG. 2, when the grip body 1 is in the retracted position, the outer surfaces of the legs 1a and 1b (surfaces facing the vehicle body panel P) are opened so that the outer surfaces are open. A notch portion is formed by cutting out the front end surfaces of the leg portions 1a and 1b of the grip body 1, that is, the lower end surface of the same figure, toward the upper side of the figure in a substantially rectangular shape, and each of these notch portions is the grip body. The housing portions 2 and 2 accommodate a part of the mounting seats 6 and 7 in the 1 storage state. In addition, as will be described in detail later, a viscosity that imparts viscous resistance to the rotation of the grip body between one leg 1a (left leg in FIG. 1) of the grip body 1 and one mounting seat 6 is provided. A damper 16 is integrally provided, and on the other hand, between the other leg 1b (the right leg in FIG. 1) and the other mounting seat 7, the grip body 1 is pivoted so as to go to the retracted position. A torsion coil spring 17 (coil spring body) is disposed.
[0017]
  That is, in the leg portion 1a of the grip body 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the two side walls facing the left-right direction (length direction of the grip body 1) of the housing portion 2 are close to the left-right center of the grip body 1. An inner side wall (on the right side in FIG. 1) located on the side is formed as a bearing portion 3, and a bearing hole 4 formed of a bottomed circular hole is formed on the inner surface (accommodating portion 2 side) of the bearing portion 3. ing. On the other hand, in the outer side wall 3a (the left side in FIG. 1) located on the side far from the left and right center of the grip body 1, a spacer mounting hole 5 is provided so as to penetrate the side wall 3a in the thickness direction (left and right direction in the figure). Is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the spacer mounting hole 5 is an external view of the leg portion 1a of the grip body 1 from the length direction of the grip body 1 (when the side wall 3a of the grip body 1 is viewed from the left side in FIG. 1). The leg portion 1a has a substantially semicircular shape on the front end side (the body panel P side in the use position) and a rectangular shape on the opposite side, and the center position of the semicircle is the center line of the bearing hole 4. It is formed so as to coincide with (axis line X).
[0018]
  A part of the mounting seat 6 is disposed and accommodated in the accommodating portion 2 of the one leg portion 1a. The mounting seat 6 is formed of, for example, a resin made of POM (polyacetal resin) or the like, and has a substantially rectangular bottomed box-shaped fixing portion 8 that opens to the passenger compartment side. As shown in FIG. 4, the insertion hole 9 is formed so that the mounting bolt B is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 9 so that the head portion B1 is positioned in the space portion 8a in the fixing portion 8. The bottom of the fixed portion 8 is fixed between the head portion B1 of the mounting bolt B and the vehicle body panel P by screwing and fastening the vehicle body panel P to the weld nut N that fixes the mounting bolt B to the back surface of the vehicle body panel P. The mounting seat 6 is fixedly mounted on the vehicle body panel P. A hinge-type cover 10 that is integrally formed with the fixing portion 8 that opens and closes the opening is disposed at the edge of the opening of the space portion 8a in the fixing portion 8.
[0019]
  Further, a support portion 11 is formed integrally with one side wall (lower side wall in FIG. 4) of the fixing portion 8 on the vehicle seat side of the mounting seat 6. The support portion 11 has a bottomed cylindrical shape that is long in the left-right direction (the length direction of the grip body 1) as a whole, and is formed on one side surface facing the bearing portion 3 of the grip body 1 out of both side surfaces in the left-right direction. The support shaft 12 protruding from the side surface is integrally formed, and the tip end portion of the support shaft 12 is rotatably inserted into the bearing hole 4 of the bearing portion 3. Thus, the grip body 1 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 12 of the mounting seat 6 by the bearing portion 3 of the leg portion 1a.
[0020]
  On the other hand, on the other side surface of the support portion 11 of the mounting seat 6, a concave portion 13 formed of a tapered hole whose inner diameter gradually decreases toward the support shaft 12 is formed concentrically with the support shaft 12. A tapered tapered insertion shaft 14 extending concentrically with the support shaft 12 is provided from the bottom 13b of the recess 13 toward the opening side. In other words, the concave portion 13 is opened toward the outer side wall 3 a side of the housing portion 2. Further, a substantially bottomed cylindrical spacer 18 is fixed and fixed to the spacer mounting hole 5 of the leg 1a so as not to rotate, and the tip of the spacer 18 can be rotated into the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6. Has been inserted. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the distal end portion of the spacer 18 has a tapered insertion portion 19 and a relatively continuous stepped shape on the proximal end side of the insertion portion 19. The insertion portion 19 is inserted into the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6 and a substantially constant gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 19 and the inner peripheral surface of the recess 13 in the inserted state. Is to be formed.
[0021]
  The large-diameter portion 20 can be liquid-tightly fitted into the opening 13a of the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6, and the large-diameter portion 20 closes the opening 13a of the recess 13 so as to be relatively rotatable. The gap between the outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion 19 and the inner circumferential surface of the recess 13 and the gap between the inner circumferential surface of the fitting portion 29 and the outer circumferential surface of the fitting shaft 14 of the mounting seat 6 described later are sealed. Yes. The large-diameter portion 20 of the spacer 18 is formed with a circumferential annular groove portion 20a, and an O-ring 21 disposed in the groove portion 20a prevents the viscous agent L described later from flowing out.
[0022]
  The base end portion of the spacer 18 has an outer diameter shape that is substantially the same as the spacer mounting hole 5 in the leg portion 1a of the grip body 1 described above (half of the tip end side of the leg portion 1a is semicircular and opposite to the spacer mounting hole 5). The base end portion is fitted into the spacer mounting hole 5 to form a fitting portion 22 that prevents the spacer 18 from rotating around the axis of the outer side wall 3a of the leg portion 1a. . Thereby, the spacer 18 rotates integrally with the grip body 1. Further, intermediate portions 18a between the insertion portion 19 and the fitting portion 22 of the spacer 18 (shown with reference numerals only in FIG. 7) extend in the length direction of the spacer 18, respectively. The intermediate connecting portions 23 to 26 that connect the fitting portion 22 are formed on the outer peripheral portion of each of the intermediate connecting portions 23, 24,. A locking claw 27 (locking claw portion) is provided in a protruding manner. When the spacer 18 is inserted into the spacer mounting hole 5, the retaining claws 27, 27, ... are locked to the outer side wall 3a of the housing portion 2 in the housing portion 2 of the leg portion 1a. The spacer 18 is prevented from coming off from the spacer mounting hole 5.
[0023]
  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7 as a characteristic part of the present invention, the four intermediate connecting portions 23 to 26 of the spacer 18 are spaced from each other at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the intermediate portion 18 a of the spacer 18. A first intermediate connecting portion 23 that is disposed and located on the opening side (upper side in FIG. 5) of the accommodating portion 2 in a state where the fitting portion 22 of the spacer 18 is inserted into the spacer mounting hole 5 as described above. The second intermediate connecting portion 24 located on the opposite side (the lower side in FIG. 5) and the grip body 1 as shown in FIG. 2 in the retracted state (the upper side in FIGS. 6 and 7 (c)). 3 intermediate linkage portions 25 and a fourth intermediate linkage portion 26 located on the lower side (lower side in FIGS. 6 and 7 (c)), that is, on the distal end side of the leg portion 1a.
[0024]
  And the said 1st intermediate | middle connection part 23 is made into the non-flexible columnar body which has a flat rectangular cross section from the outer periphery of the spacer 18 to a center part, as shown in FIG.5 and FIG.7 (c). The cross-sectional area is smaller on the proximal end side than on the distal end side. Thus, it becomes easy to ensure the rigidity of the intermediate part 18a of the spacer 18 by making one of the intermediate connection parts into a non-flexible columnar body. On the other hand, each of the second to fourth intermediate link portions 24 to 26 is a thin flexible plate-like body in the radial direction of the intermediate portion 18a of the spacer 18, and is easily bent in the radial direction. ing. In particular, the third intermediate link portion 25 extends in the tangential direction (left-right direction in the figure) of the spacer 18 as shown in FIG. 7C, and is wider than the second and fourth intermediate link portions 24 and 26. It has a wide shape.
[0025]
  In addition, each of the retaining claws 27, 27,... Is formed of a gentle slope in which the surface (front surface) on the distal end side of the spacer 18 gradually bulges from the distal end side toward the proximal end side, The base end side surface (rear surface) of the spacer 18 has a wedge shape formed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the outer peripheral surfaces of the intermediate connecting portions 23 to 26. When the spacer 18 is inserted into the spacer mounting hole 5 from the front end side, the plate-like intermediate connecting portions 24 to 26 are reduced in diameter as the front surfaces of the retaining claws 27 enter the spacer mounting hole 5. Then, when each retaining claw 27 passes through the spacer mounting hole 5 and reaches into the accommodating portion 2, the rear surface of each retaining claw 27 is accommodated by the restoring force of the intermediate connecting portions 24-26. 2 It comes into contact with the side surface of the outer side wall 3a and is locked.
[0026]
  Furthermore, an insertion portion 29 is formed in the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18. The insertion portion 29 is formed of a tapered bottomed hole having a small diameter on the proximal end side from the distal end surface toward the proximal end side. The insertion shaft 29 of the mounting seat 6 is inserted into the insertion portion 29 so that the spacer 18 can rotate. In this insertion state, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion shaft 14 and the insertion portion are inserted. A gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the insertion shaft 29 and a clearance between the tip surface of the insertion shaft 14 and the bottom surface 29 a of the insertion portion 29. The gaps communicate with each other, and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 19 and the inner peripheral surface of the recess 13 are interposed via a gap between the tip surface of the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 and the bottom surface 13b of the recess 13. The four continuous gaps are filled with a viscous agent L having a high viscosity (preferably 100000 cps or more) such as silicon. Thereby, the viscous damper 16 which provides viscous resistance to rotation of the grip body 1 is configured.
[0027]
  Here, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the insertion portion 19 on the distal end side of the spacer 18 is inserted into the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6, and the insertion shaft of the mounting seat 6 is inserted into the insertion portion 29 in the insertion portion 19. 14 is inserted, the gap α between the distal end surface of the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 and the bottom surface 13b of the concave portion 13 of the mounting seat 6 is equal to the bottom surface 29a of the insertion portion 29 in the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18. It is larger than the gap β between the front end surface of the insertion shaft 14. In other words, the length of the spacer 18, the depth of the fitting portion 29, the depth of the concave portion 13 of the mounting seat 6, the length of the fitting shaft 14, etc., and the positional relationship between these portions are determined by the gap α Is set to be larger than the gap β, which will be described in detail later. This prevents air from remaining in the gap when the spacer 18 is attached to the mounting seat 6. it can.
[0028]
  On the other hand, the other mounting seat 7 of the grip body 1 is different from the mounting seat 6 described above by a separate support shaft 31 with respect to the leg 1b of the grip body 1 as shown in FIGS. It is pivotally supported. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same components in the mounting seat 7 as those of the mounting seat 6, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. And in the said leg part 1b, as shown in FIG. 8, both the right-and-left both side walls (two side walls which oppose the length direction of the grip main body 1) of the accommodating part 2 are made into the bearing parts 3 and 3, respectively. A bottomed bearing hole 4 a is formed on the inner surface of the left bearing portion 3, and a through-hole bearing hole 30 is formed concentrically on the right bearing portion 3.
[0029]
  In the mounting seat 7, a support portion 32 is formed integrally with the fixed portion 8 in the same manner as the support portion 11 of the mounting seat 6. The support portion 32 has a substantially cylindrical shape that is long in the left-right direction (the length direction of the grip body 1) as a whole, and shaft insertion holes 33, 34 (shown only in FIG. 8) on the left and right side wall portions, respectively. Are formed concentrically. Then, the support shaft 31 is supported through the shaft insertion holes 33 and 34, and both end portions of the support shaft 31 protrude outward from the left and right sides of the support portion 32, respectively. 3 is inserted into the bearing hole 4a and the bearing hole 30. With this configuration, the grip body 1 is supported by the support shaft 31 so as to be rotatable around its center line (axis X) with respect to the support portion 32 of the mounting seat 7.
[0030]
  In addition, a torsion coil spring 17 is disposed around the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the support shaft 31. That is, a coil spring storage space 32a having a substantially circular cross section that is long in the length direction of the grip body 1 is formed inside the support portion 32 of the mounting seat 7, and the torsion coil spring 17 is stored in the storage space 32a. ing. In other words, the support portion 32 of the mounting seat 7 is a coil spring body housing portion that houses the torsion coil spring 17. The length of the storage space 32 a in the support portion 32 in the length direction is larger than the length of the torsion coil spring 17, while the size of the storage space 32 a in the radial direction is slightly larger than the diameter of the torsion coil spring 17. Thus, the torsion coil spring 17 can move in the length direction in the storage space 32a in a state in which the center line substantially coincides with the axis X.
[0031]
  More specifically, a coil spring insertion port 35 is opened on the peripheral wall of the support portion 32 over a predetermined range that is fixed downward to the vehicle body panel P, and is opposite to the coil spring insertion port 35. A first slit 36 extending in the circumferential direction through the peripheral wall on the side, and a second slit 37 extending in the length direction of the support portion 32 (the length direction of the grip body 1) continuously from the first slit 36. Is formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when viewed from the insertion direction of the coil spring 17, the coil spring insertion port 35 has a substantially rectangular cross section and is approximately the same size as the coil spring storage space 32 a in its length direction and width direction. It has become.
[0032]
  In addition, the first slit 36 is formed so that the peripheral wall of the support portion 32 that becomes a boundary wall with the fixing portion 8 in the mounting seat 7 extends from the storage space 32a in the support portion 32 (inside the coil spring storage portion) into the fixing portion 8. 9 (through the outer side of the coil spring housing portion) and circumferentially along the inner surface (the surface facing the housing space 32a) of one side wall (the left side wall in FIG. 9) of the support portion 32 (see FIG. 9). (Vertical direction). The second slit 37 extends from the end of the first slit 36 (upper end in FIG. 9) to the middle in the length direction of the support 32, and the support 32 is the same as the first slit 36. And the opening width is gradually tapered from the storage space 32a toward the fixed portion 8 side. The first and second slits 36 and 37 are substantially L-shaped continuously from the coil spring insertion direction.
[0033]
  The torsion coil spring 17 has an extension portion 17a in which a wire is extended outward from the outer periphery of one end portion in the length direction (left end portion in FIG. 8), and the distal end side of the extension portion 17a is bent. A bent portion 17b is provided. The length of the bent portion 17b is shorter than the length of the first slit 36 (the length in the vertical direction in FIG. 9), and the torsion coil spring 17 is connected to one side in the length direction of the support portion 32 (FIG. 8). The bent portion 17b can easily pass through the first slit 36 when inserted into the coil spring insertion port 35 in a state of being moved to the left side of 9. Further, the torsion coil spring 17 is stored in the storage space 32a in a state where the other end portion in the length direction (the right end portion in FIG. 8) is in contact with the inner surface of the right side wall of the support portion 32 (storage position). In this state, the extension portion 17a of the torsion coil spring 17 passes through the second slit 37, and the bent portion 17b on the tip end side thereof is bent in the extending direction of the first slit 36, and this bent portion. 17 b is engaged with the peripheral edge of the second slit 37 in the space 8 a of the fixed portion 8.
[0034]
  The wire rod is also extended outward from the outer periphery of the other end of the torsion coil spring 17 to form an extension portion 17c. The extension portion 17c is a leg portion 1b with respect to the accommodating portion 2 of the grip body 1. It is latched by the groove part 38 formed in the inner bottom wall (lower wall in FIG. 2) located in the front end side. Then, the torsional force of the torsion coil spring 17 causes the grip body 1 to be urged to rotate in the direction from the use position toward the storage position (counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 to 4) so that the grip body 1 is always positioned at the storage position. Yes.
[0035]
  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a contact portion 39 is formed at each open end of the accommodating portion 2 on the distal end side of each leg portion 1 a, 1 b of the grip body 1, A stopper portion 40 that can abut against the abutting portion 39 is formed on the fixing portion 8 of each mounting seat 6, 7. Then, when the grip body 1 is rotated from the storage position to the use position, the contact portions 39 of both the leg portions 1a and 1b come into contact with the stopper portions 40 of the mounting seat 6, respectively. The above rotation is restricted and stopped at the use position.
[0036]
  (Assembly of assist grip)
  Next, a procedure for assembling the assist grip G having the above-described configuration will be described. First, with respect to the mounting seat 6, the support shaft 12 is inserted into the bearing hole 4 of the bearing portion 3 in the leg portion 1 a of the grip body 1, and the support portion 11 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 2. The opening 13 a of the provided recess 13 is positioned so as to correspond to the spacer mounting hole 5 provided in the outer side wall 3 a of the housing portion 2. Then, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the spacer 18 is inserted into the spacer mounting hole 5 from the tip end side, and the insertion portion 19 on the tip end side of the spacer 18 is passed through the spacer mounting hole 5 to the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6. At the same time, the insertion shaft 14 of the mounting seat 6 is inserted into the insertion portion 29 of the spacer 18.
[0037]
  At that time, as shown in FIG. 11, when the proximal end side of the spacer 18 passes through the spacer mounting hole 5, the second to fourth intermediate connecting portions 24 to 26 (flexible plate-like bodies) of the spacer 18 are inside. , The retaining claws 27, 27,... Protruding from the outer surface easily pass through the spacer mounting hole 5. On the other hand, the first intermediate connecting portion 23 does not bend, but the first intermediate connecting portion 23 is located on the opening side of the accommodating portion 2 in the leg portion 1a of the grip body 1 and is formed on the outer side where the spacer mounting hole 5 is formed. Since the side wall 3a bends outward relatively easily on the opening side of the accommodating portion 2, this and the bending of the second to fourth intermediate linkage portions 24 to 26 cause the outer surface of the first intermediate linkage portion 23 to be bent. The protruding retaining claw 27 can easily pass through the spacer mounting hole 5.
[0038]
  When the insertion portion 29 of the spacer 18 is completely inserted into the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6, the retaining claws 27, 27,... 5 and the second to fourth intermediate connecting portions 24 to 26 made of a flexible plate-like body are restored to their original shapes, respectively, as shown in FIG. 6, the retaining claws 27, 27,... Of the intermediate connecting portions 23 to 26 are locked to the inner surface of the outer side wall 3 a of the housing portion 2 (the peripheral portion of the spacer mounting hole 5). As a result, the base end side of the spacer 18 is firmly held with respect to the outer side wall 3a of the housing portion 2, and rattling and loosening of the spacer 18 after assembly are eliminated.
[0039]
  In addition, when the spacer 18 is assembled, the insertion portion 29 of the spacer 18 is filled with a necessary amount of the viscous agent L in advance, so that the spacer 18 enters the insertion portion 29 simultaneously with the assembly of the spacer 18. The viscous agent L is pushed out by the insertion shaft 14, spreads in the gap in the recess 13 and is filled. In detail, as shown in FIG. 10, a necessary amount of the viscous agent L is previously placed in the insertion portion 29 of the spacer 18, and the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 is moved to the leg portion 1 a of the grip body 1. And is inserted along the axis X into the recess 13 that opens in the support portion 11 of the mounting seat 6. At this time, the insertion shaft 14 extending from the bottom surface 13 b toward the opening 13 a in the recess 13 is inserted into the insertion portion 29 of the spacer 18.
[0040]
  Then, as shown in FIG. 11, when the spacer 18 is inserted into the spacer mounting hole 5 to the proximal end side, the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 is inserted to the back side of the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6, Accordingly, the insertion shaft 14 of the recess 13 is inserted into the back side of the insertion portion 29 of the spacer 18 to push out the viscous agent L in the insertion portion 29. In this way, the viscous agent L is pushed out from the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the insertion portion 29 and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion shaft 14, and between the distal end surface of the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 and the bottom surface 13 b of the concave portion 13. Is further pushed from there into the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 and the inner peripheral surface of the recess 13, and the gap moves toward the opening 13 a of the recess 13.
[0041]
  Thus, when the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 is inserted to the deepest portion of the concave portion 13 of the mounting seat 6, the distance α between the front end surface of the spacer 18 and the bottom surface 13 b of the concave portion 13 is the insertion of the spacer 18. Since the interval β between the bottom surface 29 a of the portion 29 and the tip end surface of the insertion shaft 14 is larger, the tip end surface of the insertion shaft 14 is in contact with or just before the bottom surface 29 a of the insertion portion 29. The viscous agent L inside is sufficiently pushed out, and the extruded viscous agent L discharges almost all the air in the recess 13.
[0042]
  Thus, the spacer 18 passes through the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 19 and the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion 13 of the mounting seat 6 and the gap between the front end surface of the spacer 18 and the bottom surface 13b of the concave portion 13. 18 continuous to the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the insertion portion 29 and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion shaft 14, and further to the entire gap that continues to the clearance between the bottom surface 29 a of the insertion portion 29 and the front end surface of the insertion shaft 14. As the viscous agent L is filled, almost all of the air is discharged from the gap, that is, the recess 13.
[0043]
  On the other hand, for the mounting seat 7, the torsion coil spring 17 is first housed in the support portion 32 of the mounting seat 7, and then the mounting seat 7 is assembled to the leg portion 1 b of the grip body 1. That is, first, as shown in FIG. 12A, the torsion coil spring 17 is moved to the left side of the drawing with respect to the coil spring insertion port 35, that is, one end of the torsion coil spring 17 is connected to the support portion 32. Insert it so as to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the left side wall. Then, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the extension 17a of the torsion coil spring 17 enters the storage space 32a from the coil spring insertion port 35, and is further inserted through the first slit 36, as shown in FIG. 13 (b). As indicated by phantom lines, the distal end side of the extension portion 17a of the torsion coil spring 17 protrudes to the outside of the support portion 32, that is, the space portion 8a in the fixed portion 8, and the bent portion 17b is located in the space portion 8a. It becomes like this.
[0044]
  Subsequently, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 12B, the torsion coil spring 17 is shifted in the length direction to the storage position, and the other end of the torsion coil spring 17 contacts the inner surface of the right side wall of the support portion 32. Make contact. In this way, the extension portion 17a moves in the second slit 37, and the bent portion 17b at the tip of the extension portion 17a faces the space portion 8a of the fixed portion 8 so as to be locked to the peripheral edge portion of the second slit 37. Thus, the torsion coil spring 17 is held in the storage space 32a with its center line substantially aligned with the axis X. That is, the torsion coil spring 17 can be easily stored and held in the storage space 32a simply by inserting the torsion coil spring 17 from the coil spring insertion port 35 into the storage space 32a and shifting it in the length direction. In FIG. 12B, in order to clarify the housed state of the torsion coil spring 17, a part of the support portion 32 is notched.
[0045]
  When attaching the mounting seat 7 containing the torsion coil spring 17 to the leg 1b of the grip body 1, the top and bottom of the mounting seat 7 is reversed from the state shown in FIG. The support portion 32 of the mounting seat 7 is inserted into the accommodating portion 2 of the leg portion 1b of the grip body 1 from above, and at the same time, the extension portion 17c of the torsion coil spring 17 is inserted into the groove portion 38 of the grip body 1 and locked. At this time, the shaft insertion holes 33 and 34 on the left and right side walls of the support portion 32 of the mounting seat 7 and the bearing holes 4a and the bearing holes 30 of the left and right bearing portions 3 and 3 of the housing portion 2 in the leg portion 1b of the grip body 1 are used. Are positioned substantially concentrically with each other, and the torsion coil spring 17 is also positioned substantially concentrically with each other. In this state, the distal end side of the support shaft 31 is moved away from the through-hole bearing hole 30 of the leg portion 1b. Inserted toward the bearing hole 4 a, the support shaft 31 passes through the shaft insertion holes 33 and 34 of the mounting seat 7 and the torsion coil spring 17, and the tip of the support shaft 31 is connected to the other bearing portion 3. The bottom bearing hole 4a is fitted and fixed. Note that the base end side of the support shaft 31 may be fixed by being secured in the bearing hole 30 by a snap ring or the like.
[0046]
  If the mounting seats 6 and 7 are assembled to the leg portions 1a and 1b of the grip body 1 as described above, each fixing portion 8 of the mounting seats 6 and 7 is fixed to the vehicle body panel P by mounting bolts B. To do. That is, the cover 10 of each fixing portion 8 of the mounting seats 6 and 7 is opened, the mounting bolt B is inserted from the space portion 8a of each fixing portion 8 into the bottom bolt insertion hole 9, and the vehicle body panel P is also inserted. The weld nut N on the back side is screwed and fastened. Thereafter, the cover 10 may be closed to cover the opening (space portion 8a) of the fixed portion 8.
[0047]
  Therefore, when the retractable assist grip G having the above-described configuration is applied to, for example, a vehicle, the grip body 1 is normally rotated and urged by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 17 and is positioned at the retracted position. When the occupant uses the assist grip G, the grip body 1 is grasped by hand and turned to the use position against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 17. Thereafter, when the occupant releases the hand from the grip body 1, the grip body 1 is rotated back from the use position to the retracted position by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 17.
[0048]
  When the grip body 1 is rotated from the use position to the storage position (the same thing occurs when the grip body 1 is rotated from the storage position to the use position), the leg 1a of the grip body 1 and the mounting seat 6 are connected. In the meantime, the bearing portion 3 and the side wall 3a of the leg portion 1a are rotated around the support shaft 12 of the mounting seat 6, and the spacer 18 which is non-rotatably attached to the leg portion 1a is mounted on the mounting seat 6. It rotates around the fitting shaft 14 on the mounting seat 6 side in the recess 13. At this time, the clearance between the inner peripheral surface of the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6 and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18, and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion portion 29 of the spacer 18 and the outer peripheral surface of the insertion shaft 14 of the mounting seat 6. A shearing force is generated in the viscous agent L in the gap therebetween, and a viscous resistance is imparted to the rotation of the grip body 1 through the spacer 18.
[0049]
  That is, a viscous damper 16 is integrally formed between the leg portion 1a of the grip body 1 and the mounting seat 6 by the mounting seat 6 and the spacer 18 on the grip body 1 side. The grip body 1 slowly returns from the use position to the retracted position due to the viscosity of the viscous agent L in the case, and a high-class feeling can be obtained from the movement, and the grip body 1 strongly collides with a member on the vehicle body side and makes an abnormal noise. Will not occur and will not cause a decrease in durability.
[0050]
  Moreover, in the viscous damper 16 described above, the gap α between the distal end surface of the insertion portion 19 of the spacer 18 and the bottom surface 13b of the concave portion 13 of the mounting seat 6 is such that the bottom surface 29a of the fitting portion 29 of the spacer 18 and the mounting seat 6 The insertion shaft 14 of the recess 13 is inserted to the deepest portion of the insertion portion 29 when the spacer 18 is assembled, and the insertion portion 29 is inserted into the insertion portion 29. It is possible to discharge the air while effectively extruding the viscous agent L that has been previously placed in and filling the viscous agent L in the gap in the viscous damper 16. As a result, air does not remain in the gap between the viscous dampers 16, and the viscous resistance due to the viscous agent L can be stably secured, thereby preventing deterioration of the feeling of use of the assist grip G and the like. .
[0051]
  In this embodiment, as described above, the viscous damper 16 is integrally formed by the mounting seat 6 assembled to the leg portion 1a of the grip body 1 and the spacer 18 on the grip body 1 side. Therefore, it becomes compact and low-cost compared with the case where a dedicated oil damper or the like is separately added between the grip body 1 and the mounting seat 6.
[0052]
  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the spacer 18 is inserted into the spacer mounting hole 5 provided in the leg portion 1a of the grip body 1, the second to fourth intermediate connecting portions 24-26 of the spacer 18 (flexible plate) , And a part of the outer side wall 3a of the housing portion 2 in which the spacer mounting hole 5 is formed bends outward, so that the retaining claws 27, 27,. Then, the spacer 18 is easily passed through the spacer mounting hole 5. On the other hand, when the spacer 18 is fixed to the leg 1a as described above, the retaining claws 27 are locked to the inner surface of the outer side wall 3a so that the proximal end side of the spacer 18 is firmly held. Thus, rattling and loosening of the spacer 18 after assembly can be eliminated, and the opening 13a of the recess 13 of the mounting seat 6 is reliably closed by the large diameter portion 20 of the spacer 18 to prevent the leakage of the viscous agent L. it can.
[0053]
  Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to dispose the torsion coil spring 17 between the leg portion 1 b of the grip body 1 and the mounting seat 7, the torsion coil spring 17 is accommodated in the support portion 32 of the mounting seat 7. The torsion coil spring 17 is provided with an extension portion 17a by extending a wire from one end portion in the length direction, and a bent portion 17b on the distal end side of the extension portion 17a is provided. The L-shaped slits 36 and 37 provided in the support portion 32 are locked. Thus, the torsion coil spring 17 can be removed from the mounting seat 7 simply by housing the mounting seat 7 containing the torsion coil spring 17 in the housing portion 2 of the leg 1b of the grip body 1 and arranging it appropriately. Can be easily assembled by holding them in an appropriate position.
[0054]
  In the assist grip G of the above-described embodiment, the viscous damper 16 is provided on one leg 1a of the grip body 1 and the torsion coil spring 17 is provided on the other leg 1b. For example, the viscous damper 16 and the torsion coil spring 17 may be provided on both the leg portions 1a and 1b, respectively.
[0055]
  Moreover, in the said embodiment, as the attachment structure of the one leg part 1a of the grip main body 1, and the attachment seat 6, the spindle 12 integrally formed in the support part 1 of the attachment seat 6 is used for the bearing part 3 of the leg part 1a. Although it is inserted in the bearing hole 4 so as to be rotatable, it is not limited to this structure. That is, for example, a through-hole bearing hole is provided in the bearing portion 3 of the leg portion 1a in place of the bearing hole 4, and a bottomed shaft hole is provided in the support portion of the mounting seat 11 in place of the support shaft 12. Alternatively, a separately prepared support shaft may be inserted into the through-hole bearing hole, and an end thereof may be fitted into the bottomed shaft hole and fixed.
[0056]
  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the mounting seats 6 and 7 are each attached to the vehicle body panel P with the volt | bolt B, it is not restricted to this, For example, it replaces with the volt | bolt B and is attached to the back surface of the mounting seats 6 and 7, for example. By integrally forming a locking piece having a claw portion, inserting this locking piece into a locking port formed in the vehicle body panel P, and locking the claw portion on the peripheral back surface of the locking port, The attachment seats 6 and 7 may be attached to the vehicle body panel P, respectively.
[0057]
  Furthermore, it is needless to say that the retractable assist grip according to the present invention is not limited to the one for vehicles as in the above embodiment.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the retractable assist grip according to the first aspect of the present invention, at least one of the mounting seats for attaching the legs of the grip body to the fixed body is formed with a recess filled with a viscous agent. A through hole is formed in the side wall of the accommodating portion of the leg portion that accommodates the mounting seat, and the distal end side insertion portion of the spacer is inserted into the concave portion of the mounting seat to seal the viscous agent, and the base end of the spacer A viscous damper is configured by inserting a fitting portion provided on the side into the through hole so as not to rotate, and between the distal end side insertion portion and the proximal end side fitting portion of the spacer. A plurality of intermediate linkage portions are formed so as to be separated from each other in the circumferential direction, and the locking claw portions protruding from the outer surface are locked to the peripheral edge portion of the through hole. Can be easily inserted into the through hole. It is possible to assembly, the assembly after that engaging claw portion is engaged with the through-hole peripheral portion of the housing sidewall, thereby preventing the backlash or looseness to securely hold the spacer.And the rigidity of the intermediate part of a spacer is fully securable by making one of several intermediate | middle connection parts into the non-flexible columnar body.
[0059]
  According to the invention of claim 2, the intermediate portion of the spacer is composed of four intermediate connecting portions arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and one of the spacers located on the opening side of the accommodating portion is inflexible. By making the remaining three intermediate connection parts flexible plate-like bodies, the spacer can be easily inserted into the through-hole while sufficiently securing the rigidity of the intermediate part of the spacer. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable assist grip in use according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1 when the grip body is in the retracted position.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1 when the grip body is in a use position.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 showing the configuration of the viscous damper.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 1 showing the configuration of the viscous damper.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5 showing the configuration of the viscous damper.
FIG. 7 is a top view (a), a side view (b), and a cross-sectional view (c) showing the configuration of the spacer.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1 showing the arrangement configuration of the torsion coil spring.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mounting seat as seen from the insertion direction of the torsion coil spring.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 6 when assembly of the spacer to the mounting seat is started.
FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 10 just before the assembly of the spacer to the mounting seat.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an operation for housing the torsion coil spring in the support portion of the mounting seat.
13 is an explanatory view showing the operation of housing the torsion coil spring in the support portion of the mounting seat, along the XIIIa-XIIIa line cross section and the XIIIb-XIIIb line cross section of FIG. 12, respectively.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of assembling a mounting seat containing a torsion coil spring to a leg portion of a grip body.
[Explanation of symbols]
  L Viscous agent
  P Body panel (fixed body)
  G assist grip
  1 Grip body
  1a, 1b Leg
  2 accommodating part
  3a Outer side wall of housing
  5 Spacer mounting hole (through hole)
  6,7 mounting seat
  11 Supporting part
  13 recess
  16 Viscous damper
  17 Torsion coil spring (biasing means)
  18 Spacer
  19 Insertion section
  22 Fitting part
  23 1st intermediate connection part (non-flexible columnar body)
  24-26 2nd-4th intermediate connection part (flexible plate-shaped body)
  27 Claw for retaining (locking claw part)

Claims

A long grip body having legs on both sides in the length direction;
A pair of mounting seats that pivotably support the leg portions and are fixed to a fixed body;
In the retractable assist grip provided with biasing means for rotating the grip body from the use position to the storage position,
At least one leg portion of the grip body has two side walls facing the length direction of the grip body, and opens to a surface facing the fixed body when the grip body is in the retracted position. An accommodating portion for accommodating a part of the mounting seat is formed,
One mounting seat corresponding to the one leg portion is formed with a bottomed recessed portion having a circular cross section extending in the length direction of the grip body in a portion accommodated in the accommodating portion, and this recessed portion is formed in the accommodating portion. While opening toward one of the two side walls, a through-hole penetrating in the length direction of the grip body is formed on the side wall,
An insertion portion on the distal end side of the spacer is rotatably inserted into the concave portion of the one mounting seat, and a viscous agent is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion and the inner peripheral surface of the concave portion. In addition, on the base end side of the spacer, a fitting portion that is non-rotatably inserted into the through hole of the accommodating portion side wall in the one leg portion is formed,
An intermediate portion between the insertion portion and the fitting portion of the spacer, each with term relationship and longitudinally extending insert portion and the fitting portion of the spacer, a plurality of spaced circumferential direction of the spacer It consists of an intermediate link portion, and one of the intermediate link portions is an inflexible columnar body, while the remaining intermediate link portions are formed so as to bend at least in the radial direction of the intermediate portion. A retractable assist grip, characterized in that a locking claw portion that is locked to the peripheral portion of the through hole of the side wall in the housing portion of the leg portion projects from the outer surface of the connecting portion.

In claim 1,
The intermediate portion of the spacer is composed of four intermediate connection portions that are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction and connect the insertion portion and the fitting portion, respectively.
Of the four intermediate linkage portions, one intermediate linkage portion located on the opening side of the leg storage portion is an inflexible columnar body, while the remaining three intermediate linkage portions are each flexible. A retractable assist grip characterized by being a plate-like body.