Outer door handle structure for vehicular door

An outer door handle structure for a door of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

• a base portion adapted to be mounted on an outer panel of a door of an automotive vehicle and having, operating openings;
• a manually operable outer door handle;
• first and second arm portions spaced from each other and passing through said operating openings, one end of each of said first and second arm portions being secured to said outer door handle, and the other end of each of said first and second arm portions being adapted for placement inside of the outer panel, the first and second arm portions being pivotably supported so as to rotate into contact with end portions of the operating openings upon operation of said outer door handle;
• an operating lever connected to said first arm portion, said operating lever having a preset rotational stroke and being configured to transmit its rotational stroke to a door lock;
• and
• means for biasing said first and second arm portions so that said outer door handle contacts portions surrounding said operating openings when said outer door handle is not operated,
• wherein one of said end portions of said operating openings has a recessed portion, and
• wherein said operating openings are configured to permit said first arm portion to rotate through a preset rotational stroke and to permit said second arm portion to rotate through a rotational stroke that is larger than the preset rotational stroke of said first arm portion.

An outer door handle structure for vehicles having a vehicle body, a door and a door lock assembly for locking the door to the vehicle body, the outer door handle structure comprising:

• an unlock element configured to operate a door lock assembly to unlock a door of a vehicle;
• a door handle member rotatable and flexible in a first direction, the door handle member comprising:
• a first integral portion having the unlock element secured thereto;
• and
• a second integral portion spaced from the first integral portion in a second direction which intersects the first direction;
• a stop element defining a first range of rotation for the door handle member;
• and
• flexure allowance means for allowing the second integral portion of the door handle member to flex within a second range of rotation which is greater than the first range of rotation,
• wherein the flexure allowance means comprises a recess formed in the second integral portion of the door handle member.

An outer door handle structure for vehicles having a vehicle body, a door and a door lock assembly for locking the door to the vehicle body, the outer door handle structure comprising:

• an unlock element configured to operate a door lock assembly to unlock a door of a vehicle;
• a door handle member rotatable and flexible in a first direction, the door handle member comprising:
• a first integral portion having the unlock element secured thereto;
• and
• a second integral portion spaced from the first integral portion in a second direction which intersects the first direction;
• a stop element defining a first range of rotation for the door handle member;
• and
• flexure allowance means for allowing the second integral portion of the door handle member to flex within a second range of rotation which is greater than the first range of rotation,
• wherein the flexure allowance means comprises a recess formed in the stop element.