Vehicle door assembly
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorsDavid Snyder, Christopher Herrala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle door assembly includes an outer door panel that is fixed to an outer periphery of an inner door panel such that the inner door panel and the outer door panel define a door cavity therebetween. A support bracket is attached to a forward area of the inner door panel within the door cavity. A reinforcing panel is attached to the support bracket within the door cavity. A window opening support panel is attached to the support bracket, the reinforcing panel and the inner door panel within the door cavity. A side view mirror is located along an exterior side of the outer door panel. The side view mirror includes at least one fastener that extends through the window opening support panel and the reinforcing panel thereby attaching the side view mirror thereto.
Claims18
A vehicle door assembly, comprising:
- an inner door panel;
- an outer door panel fixed to an outer periphery of the inner door panel such that the inner door panel and the outer door panel define a door cavity therebetween and a window opening above the door cavity;
- a support bracket attached to a forward area of the inner door panel within the door cavity;
- a reinforcing panel attached to the support bracket within the door cavity;
- a window opening support panel attached to the support bracket, the reinforcing panel and the inner door panel within the door cavity, the window opening support panel having an upper flange that extends from proximate the front area of the inner door panel to proximate the rear area of the inner door panel below the window opening;
- and
- a side view mirror having a housing and an attachment flange that extends from inside the housing and into the door cavity below the window opening, the attachment flange being attached to the window opening support panel and the reinforcing panel via mechanical fasteners such that the side view mirror housing is located along an exterior side of the outer door panel when installed, the fasteners extending through the window opening support panel and the reinforcing panel thereby attaching the side view mirror thereto.
A vehicle door assembly comprising:
- an inner door panel that includes a main panel portion that extends the full horizontal length of the door assembly and a front peripheral portion that extends laterally in an outboard direction and defines the outer periphery of the inner door panel;
- an outer door panel fixed to an outer periphery of the inner door panel such that the inner door panel and the outer door panel define a door cavity therebetween, the main panel portion and the front peripheral portion of the inner door panel at least partially defining inboard and forward boundaries of the door cavity;
- a support bracket attached to a forward area of the inner door panel within the door cavity, the support bracket including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending laterally in the outboard direction from the second portion and overlays an upper area of the front peripheral portion of the inner door panel, the second portion overlaying a forward upper area of the main panel portion of the inner door panel and being fixed thereto;
- a reinforcing panel attached to the support bracket within the door cavity, the reinforcing panel having a main section, a forward flange portion, a lower flange and a rearward flange, the forward flange being attached to the support bracket;
- a window opening support panel attached to the support bracket, the reinforcing panel and the inner door panel within the door cavity, the window opening support panel is located outboard of the reinforcing panel and is dimensioned and shaped to overlay at least a portion of the reinforcing panel, and the rearward flange of the reinforcing panel being attached an inboard surface of the window opening support panel;
- and
- a side view mirror located along an exterior side of the outer door panel, the side view mirror including at least one fastener that extends through the window opening support panel and the reinforcing panel thereby attaching the side view mirror thereto, an upper edge portion of the inner door panel defining an inboard side of the window slot with the main section of the reinforcing panel being located outboard relative to the window slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.