Link mechanism for vehicle door and vehicle door opening and closing apparatus having the same

A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus, comprising:

• a vehicle door;
• a rail mounted on a vehicle body;
• and
• a link mechanism that connects the vehicle body and the vehicle door, and allows the vehicle door to open and close in one mode selected from sliding mode, in which the vehicle door slides along the rail, and swing mode, in which the vehicle door swings in a predetermined position of the rail,
• wherein the link mechanism includes:
• a body having a first end portion facing the vehicle body and a second end portion facing the vehicle door;
• a first mounting member moving along the rail of the vehicle body, and rotatably connected to the first end portion of the body through a first shaft;
• a second mounting member mounted on the vehicle door, and rotatably connected to the second end portion of the body through a second shaft;
• and
• a rotation restricting unit configured to selectively restrict a rotation of the second mounting member,
• wherein the rotation restricting unit includes a restricting element that releasably holds the second mounting member, and
• wherein the restricting element moves between an engaging position in which the restricting element directly contacts the second mounting member and a release position in which the restricting element releases the second mounting member.