Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-05-15
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Door or window with specified vehicle feature
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231112
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle door. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a vehicle door assembly that includes a door inner panel attached to a pair of door hinge devices, a door lock device and a base panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known type of vehicle door assembly is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 62(1987)-189921. This vehicle door assembly includes a door inner panel and a base panel. The door inner panel possesses a frame shape and the base panel possesses an X-shape having four arm portions. The four arms of the base panel are fixed by welding to the four corner portions of the door inner panel so that the base panel is united to the door inner panel by the four arms. Therefore, the strength of the vehicle door assembly is secured by the door inner panel and the base panel.
In the above-described vehicle door assembly, a pair of door hinge devices, a door lock device and the door outer panel are adapted to be mounted on the door inner panel. By virtue of this construction, the attachment strength of the door hinge devices and the lock device is secured by only the door inner panel. Because the four arms of the base panel are fixed to the four corner portions of the door inner panel, the thickness of the inner panel must be increased to provide sufficient strength. Therefore, the thickness of the door inner panel is increased. As a result, the weight of the vehicle door assembly is increased.
In light of the foregoing, a need exists for a vehicle door assembly having sufficient strength, but without a significant increase in weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, the vehicle door assembly includes a door inner panel and a base panel. The door inner panel possesses a hinge attachment portion on which is to be mounted a pair of door hinge devices and a lock attachment portion on which is to be mounted a door lock device. The base panel has four arm portions that connect the base panel to the door inner panel. The four arm portions include first and a second arm portions fixed to the hinge attachment portion of the door inner panel, and a third arm portion attached to the lock attachment portion of the door inner panel.
According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicle door assembly includes a door inner panel having a hinge attachment portion and a lock attachment portion, a pair of door hinge devices mounted on the hinge attachment portion of the door inner panel by respective first securing devices, a door lock device mounted on the lock attachment portion by a second securing device, and a base panel having at least three arm portions connecting the base panel to the door inner panel. The three arm portions include a first arm portion connected to the hinge attachment portion of the door inner panel by one of the first securing devices, a second arm portion connected to the hinge attachment portion of the door inner panel by one of the first securing devices, and a third arm portion attached to the lock attachment portion of the door inner panel by the second securing device.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a vehicle door assembly includes a door inner panel having a hinge attachment portion and a lock attachment portion, a pair of door hinge devices mounted on the hinge attachment portion of the door inner panel by respective first securing devices, a door lock device mounted on the lock attachment portion by a second securing device, and a base panel having a plurality of arm portions connecting the base panel to the door inner panel. In addition, a door frame forming a window opening has one end connected to the hinge attachment portion of the door inner panel by one of the first securing devices and has another end connected to the lock attachment portion the door inner panel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4174865 (1979-11-01), Doveinis
patent: 4295298 (1981-10-01), Pundt
patent: 4743062 (1988-05-01), McLaren et al.
patent: 4924630 (1990-05-01), Lomasney et al.
patent: 5040334 (1991-08-01), Dossin et al.
patent: 5306067 (1994-04-01), Hull et al.
patent: 5429410 (1995-07-01), Fleischer
patent: 5570922 (1996-11-01), DeRees et al.
patent: 5573297 (1996-11-01), DeRees et al.
patent: 5584144 (1996-12-01), Hisano
patent: 5857732 (1999-01-01), Ritchie
patent: 5902004 (1999-05-01), Waltz et al.
patent: 5907897 (1999-06-01), Hisano
patent: 5908216 (1999-06-01), Townsend
patent: 6036255 (2000-03-01), Lester et al.
patent: 6134840 (2000-10-01), Pleiss
patent: 6135537 (2000-10-01), Giddons
patent: 6148564 (2000-11-01), Dancasius
patent: 004212261 A1 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 004343254 A1 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 0752336 A1 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 002698047 A1 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 62-189921 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 404191123 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 404257728 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 405058158 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 405178092 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 406080022 (1994-03-01), None
Fukumoto Ryoichi
Fukushima Keiichi
Gotanda Terutsugu
Hoshina Masaru
Kokubo Motohiro
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Dayoan D. Glenn
Gutman Hilary
LandOfFree
Vehicle door assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle door assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle door assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2540785