Vehicle door and process of assembling the vehicle door

• US 6,449,907 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Kenichi, Nishikawa, Ikuo, Shouno, Noboru, Kawamoto, Chikashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Redman, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US09/790,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20020007598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 495/01, 495/02, 49D/IG.2, 296/146.7
• US Class Current: 49/502
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0416 Assembly panels to be installed in doors as a module with components, e.g. lock or window lifter, attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0425 the elements being arranged essentially horizontal in the centre of the lower door structure B60J5/0426 - B60J5/0448 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0451 Block or short strip-type elements beams B60J5/0443, position thereof B60J5/0423
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/684 Rails; Tracks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/10 Adjustable

Abstract

A vehicle door includes an outer door panel, an inner door panel formed with an aperture and a plastic mounting panel to which functional devices of the vehicle door and door parts are installed and which is installed to the inner door panel to enclose the aperture thereof, the mounting panel having a plastic panel, a plastic structural part appendant to the plastic panel, and a breakable joint connecting the plastic structural part to the plastic panel as one whole piece. The structural part is separated from the plastic panel by breaking away the joint from the plastic panel and installed to the plastic panel after having installed the plastic panel to the vehicle door in order to cover an access opening which provides access to the interior of the vehicle door for assembling for example an exterior door handle and window glass.

Claims

1. A vehicle door comprising an outer door panel, an inner door panel formed with an aperture, and a mourning panel to which functional devices of the vehicle door and door parts are installed and which is installed to the inner door panel to cover up the aperture of the inner door panel, said mounting panel comprising:

a plastic panel formed in conformity with the aperture of the inner door panel;

a plastic structural part appendant to said plastic panel; and

a breakable joint connecting said plastic structural part to said plastic panel;

wherein said plastic panel, said plastic structural part and said joint are formed as one piece and said part is separated from said plastic panel by brig away said joint from said plastic panel during installing work of said mounting panel to said inner door panel;

and wherein said plastic structural part is one of said door parts that is installed to said mounting panel.

2. A vehicle door as defined in claim 1, wherein said plastic panel is formed with an opening for an access to an inside of the vehicle door for assembling the vehicle door, said opening being covered by said plastic structural part when said plastic structural part is installed to said plastic panel after installation of said plastic panel to the inner door panel.

3. A vehicle door as defined in 1, wherein said inner door panel has a substantial wall section forming part of a side wall of a passenger compartment of the vehicle and said plastic structural part before separation from said plastic panel occupies a location where said plastic structural part overlaps said substantial wall section when said mounting panel is installed.

4. A vehicle door as defined in claim 3, whereim said plastic structural part is one of said door parts that is installed to said mounting panel.

5. A vehicle door as defined in claim 4, wherein said plastic panel is formed with an opening for an access to an inside of the vehicle door for assembling the vehicle door, said opening being covered by said structural part installed to the plastic panel after installation of said plastic panel to the inner door panel.

6. A vehicle door as defined in claim 5, wherein said strums part is formed with ribs operative to absorb shocks from the outer door panel.