Handle apparatus for vehicle door

A method of using a handle apparatus provided in a compartment of a vehicle to a door of the vehicle, comprising:

• releasing a latch mechanism so as to allow the door to be opened by rotating a handle lever;
• and
• rotating a lock operational unit of a locking knob between a lock position and an unlock position and between an unlock position and a lock position, the lock operational unit being rotated with respect to a fixed cover member;
• wherein the locking knob comprises a lock base with a lock link provided outwardly from the lock base and the lock operational unit, which is radially opposed to the lock base and provided inwardly from the lock base and inwardly with respect to the lock link,
• the lock operational unit is provided to protrude into the vehicle interior, the lock operational unit being disposed in a specific region, thereby imposing a predetermined restriction on the releasing operation of the latch mechanism, and is operative for switching the locking mechanism to an unlock state when rotated into the unlock position, thereby canceling the restriction on the releasing operation of the latch mechanism;
• wherein the cover member is fixed to a handle base, and is provided inwardly with respect to at least a part of the lock operational unit and inwardly with respect to the lock link and is protruded into the vehicle interior to cover at least a rear region of said specific region in which the lock operational unit can move,
• wherein said cover member includes a front side that is in proximity to and limits access to the rear region, of said specific region in which the lock operational unit can move, when the lock operational unit is in the lock position,
• wherein the lock operational unit rotates away from the front side of the cover when rotating from the lock position to the unlock position, and
• wherein the cover member faces an interior of the vehicle and covers the at least a part of the lock operational unit in order to reduce the possibility that a passenger will unconsciously touch the lock operational unit.