Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-16
2001-10-16
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
C296S005000, C052S633000, C049S502000, C049S503000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302474
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a reinforcement device for a door, and to a door including such a device. The invention relates, in particular, to a reinforced vehicle door which allows ingress and egress of a passenger into, and out of, a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
A vehicle door is conventionally constructed of a frame constituted by a metal plate having in-turned flanges at the ends thereof, a door panel fixed to the frame on the outside thereof, and an internal trim panel fixed to the inside surface of the frame. In order to strengthen such a vehicle door, particularly in order to protect passengers from side impacts, it is known to position a side impact beam within the vehicle door. Typically, this beam extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and is fixed to the frame by, for example, welded, rivets or bolts. Hinges are attached to one of the flanges of the frame, and a latch mechanism is secured to the other flange.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the invention is to provide a vehicle door having an improved resistance to side impacts.
According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a reinforcement device for a vehicle door, the reinforcement device comprising a first elongate reinforcement member, and a second elongate reinforcement member extending generally transversely with respect to the first elongate reinforcement member, the two elongate reinforcement members being fixed together, and being adapted for fixing to a frame of the vehicle door.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a reinforcement module for a vehicle door, the module comprising a plurality of elongate reinforcement members and a plurality of connectors, each connector being engageable with the free end portions of at least two of the elongate reinforcement members to connect said elongate reinforcement members together, the arrangement being such that at least one of the elongate reinforcement members extends generally transversely with respect to at least one other elongate reinforcement member.
Advantageously, the elongate reinforcement members and the connectors are arranged in a grid-like structure, and preferably the elongate reinforcement members of each pair of elongate reinforcement members extend at right-angles at one another.
In a preferred embodiment, there are twelve elongate reinforcement members, four L-shaped connectors, four T-shaped connectors and one X-shaped connector.
The elongate reinforcement members and the connectors may be made of mild steel, and each of the elongate reinforcement members may be a solid rod or tubular.
Conveniently, each of the connectors is generally solid, and is formed with respective sockets for receiving the free end portions of associated elongate reinforcement members. Alternatively, each of the connectors is of hollow construction.
The invention further provides a vehicle door having a door frame and a reinforcement module fixed thereto, the reinforcement module being as defined above.
Each of the connectors may be fixed to the door frame, for example by welding.
In a preferred embodiment, the door frame is constituted by a generally laminar plate formed with in-turned flanges at opposite sides thereof, one of said flanges supporting a pair of door hinges, and the other flange support a latch, wherein the hinges and the latch are fixed to adjacent elongate reinforcement members of the module.
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Search Report Date Nov. 11, 1999.
Beaulieu John Robert
Birt David
Bland Timothy
Drysdale Stephen
Foster Steven Murray
Carlson Gaskey & Olds P.C.
Meritor Light Vehicle Systems--France
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
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