Strain distribution check link assembly

A vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior compartment;
• a vehicle door movably coupled to the vehicle body, the vehicle door being configured to move relative to the vehicle body between an open position and a closed position;
• a check link assembly coupled between the vehicle door and the vehicle body, the check link assembly including:
• a housing coupled to the vehicle door and including a mechanical stop, the housing configured to move concomitantly with the vehicle door;
• a link movably coupled to the vehicle body and the housing, the link including a link body, the link body being elongated along a longitudinal axis and including a first link end portion and a second link end portion opposite the first link end portion, the link further including a link extension protruding from the second link end portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the housing being movable relative to the link between a first housing position and a second housing position, the link extension has a first extension end directly coupled to the link body and a second extension end opposite the first extension end, the second extension end is farther from the link body than the first extension end, the link extension defines a recess, and the recess is closer to the second extension end than to the first extension end;
• wherein the mechanical stop is in direct contact with the link extension when the vehicle door is in the open position in order to limit movement of the vehicle door;
• and
• wherein the recess is sized and shaped to at least partially receive the mechanical stop when the housing is in the second housing position.

A checklink assembly for distributing strain on sheet of metal panel having multiple strain zones and being pivotally movable with respect to an attached body comprising:

• an elongated link having one end pivotally attachable to the body an another end having a link extension;
• a checklink housing movable along said elongated link and having a mechanical stop inboard with respect to a pivotable attachment of said link to said body and configured as a sidewall to engage and apply sufficient load to said link extension when said housing moves to shift the load on said sheet metal panel sufficiently inboard with respect to said body and the strain zones of said sheet metal panel whereby to enable the downgaging of said sheet metal panel;
• wherein the checklink housing is movable relative to the link between a first housing position and a second housing position;
• wherein the link extension has a first extension end directly coupled to the link body and a second extension end opposite the first extension end, the second extension end is farther from the link body than the first extension end, the link extension defines a recess, the recess is closer to the second extension end than to the first extension end;
• and
• wherein the recess is sized and shaped to at least partially receive the mechanical stop when the checklink housing is in the second housing position.