Vehicular door assemblies and vehicles having same

A utility vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• at least one front seat supported by the frame;
• a utility bed supported by the frame, the utility bed being convertible into at least one rear seat
• a door;
• and
• at least one hinge structure, the at least one hinge structure pivotally coupling the door with the frame, each of the at least one hinge structure comprising a knuckle extending away from the door, the door and the knuckle of each of the at least one hinge structure being integrally formed as a unitary structure;
• wherein:
• the knuckle of each of the at least one hinge structure comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and defines a bore extending through the knuckle and opening onto each of the upper surface and the lower surface;
• each of the at least one hinge structure further com rises a bushing, a bracket, and a male hinge member, the bushing defining a hinge aperture and a hinge axis, at least a substantial portion of the bushing being positioned within the bore defined by a respective one of the knuckles;
• the door and the knuckle of each of the at least one hinge structure are integrally formed from a polymeric material as a unitary structure;
• and
• for each of the at least one hinge structure:
• the bracket is attached to the frame, and the male hinge member extends through the hinge aperture defined by the bushing and pivotally couples the knuckle with the bracket, such that the door is pivotable between a closed position and an open position about the hinge axis;
• the knuckle further comprises a beam portion and a barrel portion integral with the beam portion and positioned outwardly from the door, the barrel portion defining the bore;
• the beam portion comprises an upper flange, a lower flange, and a web extending between the upper flange and the lower flange, the web being offset inwardly from the upper flange and the lower flange;
• the bushing comprises an outer surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins, each of the fins extending outwardly from the outer surface and longitudinally parallel with the hinge axis;
• and
• the barrel portion of the knuckle comprises an inner surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs, each of the ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface and longitudinally parallel with the hinge axis, the fins of the bushing being meshed with the ribs of the barrel portion of the knuckle.

A door assembly for a vehicle, the door assembly

• a door;
• and
• at least one hinge structure, each of the at least one hinge structure comprising a knuckle extending away from the door, the door and the knuckle of each of the at least one hinge structure being integrally formed as a unitary structure;
• wherein:
• the knuckle of each of the at least one hinge structure comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and defines a bore extending through the knuckle and opening onto each of the upper surface and the lower surface;
• each of the at least one hinge structure further comprises a bushing, the bushing defining a hinge aperture and a hinge axis extending longitudinally through the hinge aperture, at least a substantial portion of the bushing being positioned within the bore defined by a respective one of the knuckles;
• each of the at least one hinge structure is configured for coupling with a frame of a vehicle;
• the door and the knuckle of each of the at least one hinge structure are integrally formed from a polymeric material as a unitary structure;
• for each of the at least one hinge structure:
• the knuckle further comprises a beam portion and a barrel portion integral with the beam portion and positioned outwardly from the door, the barrel portion defining the bore;
• and
• the beam portion comprises an upper flange, a lower flange, and a web extending between the upper flange and the lower flange, the web being offset inwardly from the upper flange and the lower flange;
• the bushing comprises an outer surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins, each of the fins extending outwardly from the outer surface and longitudinally parallel with the hinge axis;
• and
• the barrel portion of the knuckle comprises an inner surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs, each of the ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface and longitudinally parallel with the hinge axis, the fins of the bushing being meshed with the ribs of the barrel portion of the knuckle.

A door assembly for a vehicle, the door assembly comprising:

• a door;
• and
• at least one hinge structure, each of the at least one hinge structure comprising a knuckle extending away from the door, the door and the knuckle of each of the at least one hinge structure being integrally formed as a unitary structure;
• wherein:
• each of the at least one hinge structure further comprises a bushing, the bushing defining a hinge aperture and a hinge axis extending longitudinally through the hinge aperture, at least a substantial portion of the bushing being positioned within the bore defined by a respective one of the knuckles;
• for each of the at least one hinge structure:
• the bushing comprises an outer surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins, each of the fins extending outwardly from the outer surface and longitudinally parallel with the hinge axis;
• and
• the barrel portion of the knuckle comprises an inner surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs, each of the ribs extending inwardly from the inner surface and longitudinally parallel with the hinge axis, the fins of the bushing being meshed with the ribs of the barrel portion of the knuckle.