Door assembly for a pick-up truck
First Claim
1. A door assembly in combination with a motor vehicle having a body with a transversely extending side and a longitudinally extending side, the body further including a rear pillar positioned at the intersection between the laterally extending side and the longitudinally extending side, the door assembly comprising:
- a door proper extending forward of the rear pillar and pivotally attached to the rear pillar for movement between a closed position and an open position about a fixed pivot axis, said door proper including an outer panel having a rear portion and a side portion, said rear portion laterally extending inward beyond said pivot axis when said door proper is in said closed position, said a side portion being flush with said transversely extending side when said door proper is in said closed position, and said rear portion being substantially co-planar with said longitudinally extending side when said door proper is in said closed position.
21 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved door assembly for a motor vehicle, especially a pick-up truck having a rear window, whereby the outer panel of the of the rear door is fabricated to form parts of both the side and rear surfaces of the body portion of the vehicle. An operating clearance needed for opening and closing the rear door assembly is positioned on the rear of the vehicle so as to improve the appearance of the vehicle when the vehicle is viewed from the side. The operating clearance on the rear of the vehicle can be positioned to coincide with the frame of a window set into the body of the vehicle to partially obscure the operating clearance when viewing the vehicle from the rear. With specific reference to a pick-up truck, further obscuring of the operating clearance can be obtained by positioning the operating clearance below the window frame behind the bed of the pick-up truck. A plurality of hinges are used to attach the rear door to the body of the vehicle. The pivot axis of the hinges is positioned outward of the operating clearance and away from the aperture in the cab of the pick-up truck so as to improve ingress to and egress from the cab of the pick-up truck.
43 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A door assembly in combination with a motor vehicle having a body with a transversely extending side and a longitudinally extending side, the body further including a rear pillar positioned at the intersection between the laterally extending side and the longitudinally extending side, the door assembly comprising:
a door proper extending forward of the rear pillar and pivotally attached to the rear pillar for movement between a closed position and an open position about a fixed pivot axis, said door proper including an outer panel having a rear portion and a side portion, said rear portion laterally extending inward beyond said pivot axis when said door proper is in said closed position, said a side portion being flush with said transversely extending side when said door proper is in said closed position, and said rear portion being substantially co-planar with said longitudinally extending side when said door proper is in said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20)
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7. A pick-up truck comprising:
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a cab having a rear side, a rear pillar, and a lateral side; and a door positioned forward of the rear pillar and pivotally attached to the rear pillar for movement between a closed position and an open position, said door including an outer panel attached to said rear pillar for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, said door having an outer panel including a side portion which is flush with the lateral side of said cab when said door is in said closed position and a rear portion substantially perpendicular to said side portion, said rear portion substantially co-planar with the rear surface of said cab. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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13. A pick-up truck comprising:
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a cab having a rear pillar, first and second lateral sides, and a rear side including a window and a window frame; a front door; a rear door pivotally attached to said rear pillar for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, said rear door having an outer panel including a side portion which is flush with the lateral side of said cab when said rear door is in said closed position and a rear portion substantially perpendicular to said side portion and substantially co-planar with the rear side of said cab; and said rear side and said rear portion of said outer panel defining an operating space therebetween for facilitating the opening and closing of said rear door. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 22)
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Specification