Vehicle door lock device and method for attaching the same

A method for attaching a vehicle door lock device to a vehicle door, the vehicle door lock device including

• a door handle provided at the vehicle door,
• a door handle base provided at the vehicle door and provided with a cylinder lock, and
• a door latch mechanism provided at the vehicle door and configured to switch to a lock state or an unlock state according to door key operation for the cylinder lock,
• the cylinder lock including
• a key cylinder to be rotated by a door key,
• a paddle portion operably and detachably coupled to the door latch mechanism and configured to transmit rotation of the key cylinder to the door latch mechanism, and
• a support portion configured to rotatably support the paddle portion,
• the door latch mechanism including a key rotor into which the paddle portion is detachably inserted and which is configured to rotate in association with rotation of the paddle portion to switch the door latch mechanism to the lock state or the unlocking state, and
• the paddle portion being supported on the support portion to rotate between a direction of a center axis of the support portion and a direction inclined with respect to the center axis,
• the door latch mechanism including a guide portion configured to guide the paddle portion to a tip end insertion port of the key rotor upon insertion of the paddle portion into the key rotor, and
• the guide portion being formed in the form of a peripheral wall expanding to an outer peripheral side and extending toward a tip end side, and protruding inclined upward toward a vehicle outer side such that a direction extending along any portion of the outer peripheral side toward the tip end side points no lower than a horizontal direction that extends toward the vehicle outer side, and the guide portion opening upward at an upper edge portion of the tip end insertion port such that a line extending vertically downward intersects a lower side of the guide portion without intersecting an upper side of the guide portion,
• the method comprising:
• a first step of attaching the door handle base to the vehicle door and attaching the cylinder lock to the door handle base;
• and
• a second step of attaching the door latch mechanism to the vehicle door after the first step, wherein
• a position of the paddle portion is determined such that the paddle portion is inclined downward at a predetermined angle with respect to the center axis of the support portion at the first step, and
• at the second step, the paddle portion is inserted into the key rotor while the door latch mechanism is moving to an attachment portion of the vehicle door from the side to which the paddle portion is inclined with respect to the center axis of the support portion.