# US 7,461,876 B1 · Vehicle door structures having anti-chipping performance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,461,876 B1 - Document ID: US7461876B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/757,464 - Filed: 2007-06-04 - Published: 2008-12-04 - Granted: 2008-12-09 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-04 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: Aaron William Joseph Atkinson; George Holmes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7461876B1 ## CPC - B60R 13/04: {External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12)} - B60J 5/0469: {for door panels, e.g. hemming (hemming equipment B21D39/00)} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract Embodiments of a vehicle door structure are provided, wherein the door structure comprises a door panel configured to couple to a vehicle frame. The door panel comprises at least one clip receptacle disposed on a lower portion of the door panel. The vehicle door structure comprise a molding component comprising at least one clip, wherein the molding component is flush mounted to the lower portion of the door panel, wherein the at least one clip engages the least one clip receptacle of the door panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle door structure comprising: a door panel configured to couple to a vehicle frame, and comprising at least one clip receptacle disposed on a lower portion of the door panel; and a molding component comprising at least one clip, the molding component being flush mounted to the lower portion of the door panel the least one clip receptacle of the door panel, wherein the molding component comprises a lower lip extending under the door panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A vehicle door structure according to claim 1 wherein the at least one clip receptacle is disposed at multiple locations along the lower portion of the door panel to facilitate flush mounting of the molding component at multiple locations along the lower portion of the door panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A vehicle door structure according to claim 1 wherein the molding component comprises plastic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A vehicle door structure according to claim 3 wherein the molding component comprises a coating overlaying the plastic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A vehicle door structure according to claim 1 wherein the molding component is the same color as the door panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A vehicle door structure according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle door structure does not include a rocker molding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A vehicle door structure according to claim 1 wherein no gap is present between the door panel and molding component along at least one cross-section of the door panel and molding component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle door structure according to claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the molding component substantially matches the exterior of a lower portion of the door panel. ### Claim 9 A vehicle door structure comprising: a door panel configured to couple to a vehicle frame, and comprising a plurality of clip receptacles disposed on a lower portion of the door panel; and a coated plastic molding component comprising a plurality of clips, the molding component being flush mounted to the lower portion of the door panel by inserting the plurality of clips into the plurality of receptacles, wherein the molding component is configured to substantially block road debris from contacting the door panel without using a rocker molding through a lower lip of the molding component that extends under the lower portion of the door panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A vehicle door structure according to claim 9 wherein the at least one clip receptacle is disposed at multiple locations along the lower portion of the door panel to facilitate flush mounting of the molding component at multiple locations along the lower portion of the door panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A vehicle door structure according to claim 9 wherein no gap is present between the door panel and molding component along at least one cross-section of the door panel and molding component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A vehicle door structure according to claim 9 wherein the interior surface of the molding component substantially matches the exterior of a lower portion of the door panel. ### Claim 13 A method of protecting a vehicle door structure from road debris comprising: providing a door panel comprising at least one clip receptacle disposed on a lower portion of the door panel; and flush mounting a molding component to the lower portion of the door panel by inserting at least one clip of the molding component into at least one receptacle of the door panel, wherein the molding component comprises a lower lip extending under the door panel to substantially block road debris from contacting the door panel without the use of a rocker molding. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13 wherein the at least one clip receptacle is disposed at multiple locations along the lower portion of the door panel to facilitate flush mounting of the molding component at multiple locations along the lower portion of the door panel.