Outer handle device for vehicle door

1. An outer handle device for a vehicle door, said handle device comprising:

an operating handle having a handle main body configured to be disposed on an outer face side of an outer panel of the vehicle door, the handle main body being capable of pivoting between a non-operated position and an operated position,

a handle base configured to be mounted on an inner surface of the vehicle door's outer panel, the handle base having an insertion hole formed therein,

a cylinder lock having a key hole, the cylinder lock configured to be mounted on the handle base in an installed attitude in which the cylinder lock is inclined downward or upward in going outward in a vehicle width direction while the key hole is made to face an outside when the operating handle is in the operated position but the key hole is covered by the handle main body when the operating handle is in the non-operated position,

and a provisional holding device provided between the handle base and the cylinder lock, the provisional holding device provided for provisionally and temporarily holding a first mounted position and a first mounted attitude of the cylinder lock with respect to the handle base during assembly and before fully mounting the cylinder lock on the handle base, the first mounted position spaced outwardly away from a fully mounted position, the provisional holding device comprising:

a first projection extending outwardly on the cylinder lock,

a guide member fixed in place in the insertion hole of the handle base, the guide member configured to permit slidable movement of the first projection thereon during assembly until the cylinder lock attains the first mounted position,

and a stop member configured to temporarily stop and hold the cylinder lock in the first mounted position;

wherein the provisional holding device is formed to guide the cylinder lock, inserted into the insertion hole in the handle base, to the first mounted position during assembly,

and wherein the cylinder lock further has a holding projection part extending outwardly thereon, and the handle base has a holding groove formed therein to receive the holding projection part and to selectively permit slidable inward movement of the cylinder lock from the first mounted position to the fully mounted position,

wherein the holding groove and the holding projection part are configured to require an angular pivotal movement of the cylinder lock in relation to the handle base in order to enable the slidable inward movement of the cylinder lock in the handle base from the first mounted position to the fully mounted position, so that the cylinder lock attains the installed attitude at the fully mounted position.

2. An outer handle device for a vehicle door, said handle device comprising:

an operating handle having a handle main body configured to be disposed on an outer face side of an outer panel of the vehicle door, the handle main body being capable of pivoting between a non-operated position and an operated position,

a handle base configured to be mounted on an inner surface of the vehicle door's outer panel, the handle base having an insertion hole formed therein,

a cylinder lock having a key hole, the cylinder lock configured to be mounted on the handle base in an installed attitude in which the cylinder lock is inclined downward or upward in going outward in a vehicle width direction while the key hole is made to face an outside when the operating handle is in the operated position but the key hole is covered by the handle main body when the operating handle is in the non-operated position, the cylinder lock including a tubular main body part configured for disposition inside of the vehicle door and a protruding part protruding sideways from one end of the main body part,

and a provisional holding device provided between the handle base and the cylinder lock, the provisional holding device provided for provisionally and temporarily holding a first mounted position and a first mounted attitude of the cylinder lock with respect to the handle base during assembly and before fully mounting the cylinder lock on the handle base, the first mounted position spaced outwardly away from a fully mounted position, the provisional holding device comprising:

first and second projecting ribs spaced apart from one another on the main body part of the cylinder lock,

first and second guide grooves formed in the insertion hole of the handle base to receive the first and second projecting ribs, the guide grooves configured to permit slidable movement of the projecting ribs therein during assembly until the cylinder lock attains the first mounted position,

and a stop member configured to temporarily stop and hold the cylinder lock in the first mounted position;

wherein the provisional holding device is formed to guide the cylinder lock inserted into the insertion hole of the handle base to the first mounted position during assembly,

and wherein the main body part of the cylinder lock further has a holding projection part extending outwardly thereon, and the handle base has a holding groove formed therein to receive the holding projection part and to selectively permit slidable inward movement of the cylinder lock from the first mounted position to the fully mounted position,

wherein the holding groove and the holding projection part are configured to require an angular pivotal movement of the cylinder lock in relation to the handle base in order to enable the slidable inward movement of the cylinder lock in the handle base from the first mounted position to the fully mounted position, so that the cylinder lock attains the installed attitude at the fully mounted position.

3. A method of installing a lock cylinder into a handle base affixed to an outer panel of a vehicle door, said method comprising the steps of:

aligning the lock cylinder with the handle base such that a first outwardly extending projection of the lock cylinder is proximately adjacent to a guide member formed in the handle base;

sliding the lock cylinder inwardly in a first linear direction while moving the first projection of the lock cylinder along the guide member until the lock cylinder attains a first mounted position, in which a second outwardly extending projection of the lock cylinder contacts a guide groove formed in the handle base;

pivotally moving the lock cylinder in relation to the handle base by an angular amount; and

sliding the lock cylinder inwardly in a second linear direction while moving the second projection of the lock cylinder along the guide groove until the lock cylinder is in a fully mounted position.