Energy absorbing structure of vehicular door

Abstract

An energy absorbing structure of a vehicular door has an energy absorbing member that is disposed on a compartment side of an inner panel, at such a position as to substantially face a hip of an occupant sitting on a seat. The energy absorbing member has a block or container shape. A generally rectangular protruded portion is formed together with the energy absorbing member. The protruded portion is protruded from a front-to-rear middle portion of an upper end portion of a bottom wall of the energy absorbing member that faces the inner panel when the energy absorbing member is mounted. The bottom wall has an increased wall thickness and therefore resists bending deformation. The protruded portion is designed so that the protruded portion is substantially prevented from undergoing compression deformation at the time of impact. In a door assembly, the protruded portion protrudes from a service hole formed in the inner panel toward to an outer panel. A substantially vertically extending windowpane regulator guide is disposed at a side of the protruded portion, the side being opposite from the compartment. The windowpane regulator guide is spaced from the protruded portion by a small clearance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.