Motor vehicle door structure

A structural automotive door body, comprising:

• an inner sheet metal layer including a pair of spaced apart end walls connected only by a bottom wall extending between the pair of spaced apart end walls thereby defining a substantially U-shaped structure having an open upper portion;
• an outer sheet metal layer;
• at least one of the inner and outer sheet metal layers including a latch mounting surface and at least one hinge mounting surface;
• a structural reinforcement member disposed between the inner and outer sheet metal layers, said member comprising top, middle and bottom cross-members and contiguous side peripheries, wherein:
• said top member abuts and extends across said outer sheet metal layer adjacent the open upper portion of said U-shaped structure of said inner sheet metal layer;
• said middle cross member extends between said side peripheries to function as a side impact beam;
• said bottom cross-member abuts and supports said inner and outer sheet metal layers;
• and
• said side peripheries include at least one hinge reinforcement and a latch reinforcement.

A door assembly, comprising:

• an inner sheet metal layer defining a substantially U-shaped structure, the inner sheet metal layer including a latch mounting surface and at least one hinge mounting surface;
• an outer, substantially planar, sheet metal layer;
• a structural reinforcement member disposed between the inner and outer sheet metal layers for reinforcing the inner and outer sheet metal layers and providing at least one hinge reinforcement and a latch reinforcement;
• a carrier assembly, including a belt-line loading member connected to a non-structural hardware carrier having at least a window regulator mounted thereon, said carrier assembly being mounted to at least the structural reinforcement member and covering the U-shaped area;
• and
• a trim component for covering said carrier assembly.

A structural automotive door body, comprising:

• an inner sheet metal layer, the inner sheet metal layer including a pair of spaced apart end walls connected only by a bottom wall extending between the pair of spaced apart end walls, said inner sheet metal layer also including a latch mounting surface and at least one hinge mounting surface;
• an outer sheet metal layer;
• and
• a structural reinforcement member disposed between the inner and outer sheet metal layers, said structural reinforcement member including top, middle and bottom cross-members and continuous side peripheries, said top member reinforcing said outer panel, said middle cross member extending between said side peripheries to function as a side impact beam, said bottom cross-member abutting and reinforcing said inner and outer sheet metal layers;
• and wherein said side peripheries include at least one hinge reinforcement and a latch reinforcement.