Vehicle door device

Abstract

To accurately open and close the door.SOLUTION: A door device 70 includes a door-side correction member 71 with a door-side correction surface 81 that is provided at an end part 5we in the vehicle width direction of a door 5 that opens and closes a door opening part 3 provided on the vehicle body 2. The door device 70 also includes a door-opening-side correction member 72 that is provided at an end part 3we in the vehicle width direction of the door opening 3, having a door-opening-side correction surface 82 that faces the door-side correction surface 81 based on the closing operation of the door 5 entering the door opening 3. In the door device 70, the door-side correction surface 81 and the door-opening-side correction surface 82 come into sliding contact with each other in accordance with the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2, thereby correcting the supporting posture of the door 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, some vehicle doors have a so-called flip-up type configuration, such as the back door described in Patent Document 1. That is, a door opening provided at the rear end of a vehicle body and opening rearward is generally called a rear hatch, rear hatch, rear gate, etc. A door supported by such a door opening at the rear of a vehicle is called a back door.

[0003] Furthermore, a flip-up door has a connection point for the door to the vehicle body near the upper end of the door opening, and the door rotates around this connection point, causing the lower end of the door to lift upward during opening, thereby opening and closing the door.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the door is supported on the vehicle body via a pair of four-bar linkage mechanisms provided on both sides of the door opening in the width direction, which makes it difficult for the movement trajectory of the door constituting the back door to bulge toward the rear of the vehicle when opening or closing near the fully closed position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-195091 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, regardless of the type of vehicle, high quality is required for vehicle doors, and therefore, accurate opening and closing operations are an important issue. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vehicle door device of the present invention comprises: a door-side straightening member having a door-side straightening surface provided at a vehicle width end of a door that opens and closes a door opening provided on a vehicle body; and a door-opening-side straightening member provided at the vehicle width end of the door opening, having a door-opening-side straightening surface that faces the door-side straightening surface based on the closing action of the door entering the door opening, and the door-side straightening surface and the door-opening-side straightening surface come into sliding contact with each other in accordance with the supporting posture of the door relative to the vehicle body, thereby correcting the supporting posture.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the door can be positioned in the fully closed position in a correct supporting posture, which allows the door to be opened and closed with high precision, thereby improving the quality of the door. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the door can be opened and closed with high precision. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view of the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the rear of the vehicle. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of the door-side straightening member and the door-opening-side straightening member. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a door-side straightening member provided at the end of the door in the width direction. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a front view of the door-side straightening member. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view of the door opening side correcting member. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the door opening side correcting member. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the engagement groove, the engagement member, and the stopper member. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the engagement groove, the engagement member, and the stopper member. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the engagement groove, the engagement member, and the stopper member as viewed from the direction in which the engagement member enters the engagement groove. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a plan view of an engaging groove and an engaging member according to another embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of an engaging groove and an engaging member according to another embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an engaging groove and an engaging member according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle door device according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Backdoor> As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a door opening 3 that opens to the rear of the vehicle (to the right in Figure 3) and is provided at the rear end 2r of the vehicle body 2, and a door 5 that opens and closes this door opening 3.

[0012] More specifically, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the width direction of the vehicle 1, that is, the vehicle width direction, is the width direction of these door openings 3 and doors 5. Note that the "vehicle width direction" is synonymous with the "vehicle width direction." The width direction of the door opening 3 can also be referred to as its "opening width direction."

[0013] The vehicle 1 of this embodiment also includes a pair of left and right four-bar link mechanisms 10, 10 provided on both sides of the door opening 3 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the door 5 of this embodiment is supported on both sides of the vehicle width direction by the vehicle body 2 via these four-bar link mechanisms 10, 10. As a result, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the door 5 provided in the door opening 3 at the rear end of the vehicle opens and closes in the vertical direction based on the operation of the four-bar link mechanisms 10, 10. In other words, the vehicle 1 is configured so that a back door 15 provided in a rear hatch 13 of the vehicle 1 opens and closes in the vertical direction.

[0014] <Door support structure using a four-bar link mechanism> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, each four-bar link mechanism 10 includes a main link 21 and a sub-link 22 as a pair of link members 20 constituting each four-bar link mechanism 10. The main link 21 and the sub-link 22 each have a pivotal connection point X1 with respect to the vehicle body 2 and a pivotal connection point X2 with respect to the door 5. In the four-bar link mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the sub-link 22 is configured as a short link that is shorter than the main link 21. In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the main link 21 supports the door 5 on the vehicle body 2 at a position lower than the sub-link 22.

[0015] 3 to 5, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the sub-link 22 has a rotation connection point X1 with respect to the vehicle body 2 at a position above the upper end 3a of the door opening 3, more specifically, at a position where the vehicle body 2 forms the roof 23 of the vehicle 1. The sub-link 22 of this embodiment has a rotation connection point X2 with respect to the door 5 near the upper end 5a of the door 5.

[0016] On the other hand, the main link 21 has a rotation connection point X1 with respect to the vehicle body 2 at a position lower than the upper end 3a of the door opening 3. The main link 21 also has a rotation connection point X2 with respect to the door 5 at a position lower than the rotation connection point X2 of the sub-link 22 with respect to the door 5.

[0017] Specifically, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, when the door 5 constituting the back door 15 is in the fully closed position P0, the rear window 24 provided on the door 5 faces diagonally upward (diagonally upward and to the right in FIG. 3 ) toward the rear of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, the door 5 has an upper window frame 25 constituting the rear window 24, and a lower wall 26 extending vertically (vertically in each drawing) continuous with the lower end portion of the upper window frame 25. The main link 21 of this embodiment has a pivot connection point X2 with respect to the door 5 at the connection portion of the door 5 between the upper window frame 25 and the lower wall 26.

[0018] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the main link 21 and the sub-link 22 each rotate counterclockwise in the drawings about a rotational connection point X1 relative to the vehicle body 2, thereby opening the door 5 supported by the four-bar link mechanism 10. More specifically, the main link 21 and the sub-link 22 each rotate about the rotational connection point X1 relative to the vehicle body 2, while rotating relative to the door 5 about a rotational connection point X2. The vehicle 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the door 5 supported by the four-bar link mechanism 10 closes when the main link 21 and the sub-link 22 each rotate clockwise in the drawings about the rotational connection point X1 relative to the vehicle body 2.

[0019] In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the sub-link 22 supporting the vicinity of the upper end 5a of the door 5 is a short link that is shorter than the main link 21, so that when the door 5 is opened, the lower end 5b side is lifted up more than the upper end 5a side. As a result, the back door 15 of the vehicle 1 of this embodiment has a so-called flip-up type configuration.

[0020] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, when the door 5 is opened, the upper end 5a of the door 5 supported by the sub-link 22 is pulled up above the roof 23 by the rotation of the sub-link 22. As a result, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is configured such that the movement trajectory R of the door 5 constituting the back door 15 is less likely to bulge toward the rear of the vehicle (to the right in each drawing) when the door 5 is opened or closed near the fully closed position P0.

[0021] <Variable connection length mechanism> 3 to 5, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the main link 21 constituting the link member 20 of the four-bar link mechanism 10 is provided with a variable connection length mechanism 30 that changes the connection length L of the main link 21 between the vehicle body 2 and the door 5. That is, the main link 21 of this embodiment changes the connection length L between the pivot connection point X1 relative to the vehicle body 2 and the pivot connection point X2 relative to the door 5 based on the operation of the variable connection length mechanism 30. Specifically, when the main link 21 rotates around the pivot connection point X1 relative to the vehicle body 2 in conjunction with the opening or closing of the door 5, the variable connection length mechanism 30 has the function of changing the connection length L of the main link 21 in accordance with the rotation position. Thus, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the movement locus R of the door 5 constituting the back door 15 is even less likely to bulge toward the rear of the vehicle during opening or closing operations near the fully closed position P0.

[0022] More specifically, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, when the door 5 is opened, the connection length L of the main link 21 is gradually shortened (L0 → Lx, L0 > Lx) based on the operation of the connection length variable mechanism 30 until the door 5 reaches the intermediate position Px from the fully closed position P0. When the door 5 is closed, the connection length L of the main link 21 is gradually extended (Lx → L0) based on the operation of the connection length variable mechanism 30 until the door 5 reaches the fully closed position P0 from the intermediate position Px. Thus, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the door 5 is opened and closed with the lower end 5b of the door 5 moving substantially in the vertical direction near the fully closed position P0.

[0023] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, when the door 5 is fully closed, the door 5 moves to its fully closed position P0 while entering the door opening 3. And, with this, the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that when the door 5 is in the fully closed state, the outer surface 5s of the door 5 and the outer surface 2s of the vehicle body 2 are arranged substantially flush.

[0024] Also, in the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, during the opening operation of the door 5, based on the operation of the link length variable mechanism 30, as the door 5 reaches from the intermediate position Px to the fully open position P1, gradually, the connection length L of the main link 21 is extended (Lx → L1, Lx < L1). Also, during the closing operation of the door 5, as the door 5 reaches from the fully open position P1 to the intermediate position Px, gradually, the connection length L of the main link 21 is shortened (L1 → Lx). And, with this, the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that at the fully open position P1, the rotation connection point X2 of the main link 21 with respect to the door 5, that is, the lower end portion 5b side of the door 5 supported by the main link 21 is lifted significantly upward.

[0025] <Locking device> Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 1 of the present embodiment includes a locking device 40 that holds the door 5 as the back door 15 in a fully closed state in the door opening 3 at the rear end of the vehicle. Specifically, this vehicle 1 includes, as the locking device 40, an upper lock 40U provided at the upper end portion 5a of the door 5 and a lower lock 40L provided at the lower end portion 5b of the door 5. Further, each of these locking devices 40 includes a latch mechanism 43 that engages with a striker 41 provided on the vehicle body 2 side as the door 5 moves to the fully closed position P0. And each locking device 40 restrains the door 5 at the fully closed position P0 based on the engaging force of each of these latch mechanisms 43 and each striker 41.

[0026] That is, the lower latch 43L constituting the latch mechanism 43 of the lower lock 40L restrains the lower end 5b of the door 5 on which the lower latch 43L is provided, to the lower end 3b of the door opening 3. Furthermore, the upper latch 43U constituting the latch mechanism 43 of the upper lock 40U restrains the upper end 5a of the door 5 on which the upper latch 43U is provided, to the upper end 3a of the door opening 3. Thus, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is configured to stably maintain the door 5, which has been moved to the fully closed position P0, in that fully closed state.

[0027] <Drive unit> As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a drive device 50 that drives the main link 21 to open and close the door 5 based on the operation of the four-bar link mechanism 10, which uses the main link 21 as a link member 20.

[0028] More specifically, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the drive unit 50 includes an actuator 51 driven by a motor (not shown) as a drive source, and a torque input unit 52 that inputs the drive output of the actuator 51 to the main link 21. Specifically, the actuator 51 of this embodiment is configured as a linear actuator 53 that expands and contracts in its axial length when driven by the motor. The drive unit 50 of this embodiment also arranges the actuator 51 along the vehicle width direction end 3we of the door opening 3, below a pivotal connection point X1 of the main link 21 relative to the vehicle body 2. Furthermore, the torque input unit 52 of this embodiment converts the expansion and contraction of the axial length, which constitutes the drive output of the actuator 51, into drive torque for the main link 21 near the pivotal connection point X1 of the main link 21 relative to the vehicle body 2. The drive unit 50 of this embodiment is thus configured to drive the main link 21 to rotate about the pivotal connection point X1 relative to the vehicle body 2 based on the drive force of the actuator 51.

[0029] <System configuration> As shown in Fig. 3, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the operation of the drive unit 50 configured as described above is controlled by a control device 60. Specifically, the control device 60 of this embodiment supplies drive power to the actuator 51 of the drive unit 50, more specifically, to a motor (not shown) that serves as the drive source thereof. The control device 60 of this embodiment controls the operation of the drive unit 50 through the supply of this drive power. In other words, the control device 60 is configured to control the opening and closing operation of the door 5 supported by the four-bar link mechanism 10 formed by the main link 21 and sub-link 22 driven by the drive unit 50.

[0030] 1 to 3, a user's operation input to an operation input unit 61 provided on a door 5 of the vehicle 1, in the vehicle interior, or on a portable device or the like is input as an operation input signal S1 to the control device 60 of this embodiment. For example, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is provided with a capacitance sensor 63 below the door 5 configured as a flip-up tailgate 15 and the door opening 3, and below the rear bumper 62. That is, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is provided with a so-called kick sensor 64 that can detect the user's operation input in a non-contact manner using the capacitance sensor 63. The control device 60 of this embodiment detects a user's request to operate the door 5 based on the operation input signal S1 output by the operation input unit 61.

[0031] Furthermore, various control signals S2 indicating the operation state of the door 5 and the vehicle state are input to the control device 60 of this embodiment. For example, the opening / closing operation position of the door 5, the vehicle speed, etc. are input to the control device 60 of this embodiment as the control signals S2. The control device 60 of this embodiment controls the opening / closing operation of the door 5 based on the driving force of the drive device 50 based on these control signals S2 in addition to the operation input signal S1.

[0032] In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, a touch sensor 65 is provided at the lower end 5b of the door 5 to detect the occurrence of pinching when the door 5 is closing. The touch sensor 65 may be a contact-type or capacitance-type pressure-sensitive sensor, or a non-contact sensor. When the control device 60 of this embodiment detects the occurrence of pinching based on the output signal of the touch sensor 65, the control device 60 executes control to eliminate the pinching, such as by driving the door 5 in the reverse direction during the closing operation.

[0033] In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the operation input signals S1 output by each of the operation input units 61 and the control signals S2 output by the various sensor devices 66 are input to the control device 60 via an in-vehicle network 67 such as a CAN (Control Area Network). Alternatively, a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like can be used as the in-vehicle network 67. The in-vehicle network 67 can be configured using a wired system using a signal line or wireless communication.

[0034] In addition, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the control device 60 controls the operation of the closer device 68 provided in the door 5. That is, the closer device 68 has a closing function that drives the latch mechanism 43 of each locking device 40 to transition to a fully latched state when the latch mechanism 43 is in a half-latched state. The closer device 68 also has a release function that drives the latch mechanism 43 to transition to an unlatched state. The control device 60 of this embodiment controls the engaged and disengaged states of the latch mechanisms 43 constituting each locking device 40 through the operation of the closer device 68, that is, it restrains the door 5 at the fully closed position P0 and releases the restraint.

[0035] Specifically, the closer device 68 of this embodiment is provided integrally with the lower lock 40L. Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the driving force of this closer device 68 is transmitted to the upper lock 40U via a drive cable (not shown). This enables the control device 60 of this embodiment to control the operation of the lower lock 40L and the upper lock 40U while the lower latch 43L and the upper latch 43U are interlocked.

[0036] The type and location of the closer device 68 can be changed as desired. For example, the closer device 68 can be configured to be integral with the upper lock 40U. Alternatively, an independent closer device 68 can be provided for each of the locking devices 40. Furthermore, the closer device 68 can be located at a position away from each of the locking devices 40. A release device for releasing each of the locking devices 40 can be provided separately from the closer device 68 for closing each of the locking devices 40.

[0037] 3, the control device 60 of this embodiment controls the operation of the closer device 68 together with the drive device 50 based on an input of an operation input signal S1 indicating an operation request from a user. For example, before controlling the opening drive of the door 5 by the operation of the drive device 50, the control device 60 controls the release of each lock device 40 by the operation of the closer device 68. Furthermore, after controlling the closing drive of the door 5 by the operation of the drive device 50, the control device 60 subsequently controls the closing of each lock device 40 by the operation of the closer device 68. Thus, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the opening operation of the door 5 supported by the four-bar link mechanism 10 formed by the main link 21 and the sub-link 22 from a fully closed state and the closing operation of the door 5 to a fully closed state can be smoothly performed.

[0038] <Support posture correction mechanism> As described above, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is provided with a door device 70 configured as a so-called power back door. Furthermore, the door device 70 of this embodiment has a function of correcting the support posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2. This allows the door 5 provided as the back door 15 in the door opening 3 at the rear end of the vehicle to be opened and closed with precision.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , a door device 70 of this embodiment includes a pair of left and right door-side straightening members 71, 71 provided at both vehicle width direction ends 5we, 5we of a door 5 that opens and closes in the vertical direction, with the vehicle width direction being the width direction (left and right direction in FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The door device 70 also includes a pair of left and right door-opening-side straightening members 72, 72 provided at both vehicle width direction ends 3we, 3we of a door opening 3 that is opened and closed by the door 5. Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, when the door 5 is in the fully closed position P0, the door-side straightening members 71, 71 and the door-opening-side straightening members 72, 72 are positioned opposite each other. In other words, the door-side straightening members 71, 71 and the door-opening-side straightening members 72, 72 are positioned opposite each other in the vehicle width direction, i.e., in the width direction, based on the closing operation of the door 5 entering the door opening 3. The door device 70 of this embodiment is configured so that each of the door side correction members 71, 71 and each of the door opening side correction members 72, 72 functions as a support posture correction mechanism 75 for the door 5 provided in the door opening 3.

[0040] In the door device 70 of this embodiment, the door-side straightening members 71, 71 have substantially the same configuration except that they are symmetrical in the vehicle width direction of the door 5. Furthermore, the door-opening-side straightening members 72, 72 also have substantially the same configuration except that they are symmetrical in the vehicle width direction of the door opening 3. Therefore, for the sake of convenience, the following description will only describe the configuration of the door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 provided on one side (the left side in each drawing) of the door opening 3 and the door 5 in the vehicle width direction, with reference to the drawings.

[0041] <Straightening plate and tapered surface> 8 to 10, the door-side straightening member 71 of this embodiment has a substantially flat straightening plate 73 fixed to the vehicle width direction end 5we of the door 5 in a state extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1 (vertical direction in each drawing) when the door 5 is in the fully closed position P0. In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the door-side straightening member 71 is fixed near the connection portion between the upper window frame portion 25 and the lower wall portion 26, where the rotation connection point X2 of the main link 21 with respect to the door 5 is provided, more specifically, at the upper end position of the lower wall portion 26. Similarly, the door opening-side straightening members 72, 72 have a substantially flat straightening plate 74 fixed to the vehicle width direction end 3we of the door opening 3 in a state extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, when the door 5 is in the fully closed position P0, the correcting plates 73 of the door-side correcting member 71 and the correcting plates 74 of the door-opening-side correcting member 72 face each other in the vehicle width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 8 ) with a small gap between them. This enables the door device 70 of this embodiment to correct the supporting posture of the door 5 with respect to the vehicle body 2 provided in the door opening 3 by the door-side correcting member 71 and the door-opening-side correcting member 72.

[0042] That is, as described above, in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the door 5 is supported on the vehicle body 2 via a pair of four-bar link mechanisms 10, 10 provided on both sides of the door opening 3 in the vehicle width direction. The door device 70 of this embodiment is thus configured to ensure a degree of freedom in designing the opening and closing operation of the door 5 configured as a flip-up type back door 15.

[0043] However, the use of such a four-bar linkage mechanism 10 tends to cause disturbances in the support posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 due to, for example, tolerances and assembly errors. This can lead to, for example, misalignment between the latch mechanism 43 and the striker 41 that engage with each other during a full-closing operation, reducing the precision of the opening and closing operation, making it difficult to ensure the desired feel.

[0044] In consideration of this, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, the straightening plate 73 of the door-side straightening member 71 and the straightening plate 74 of the door-opening-side straightening member 72 constitute the door-side straightening surface 81 and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82 that face each other. More specifically, the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m face each other in the width direction of the door opening 3 and the door 5, i.e., the vehicle width direction. That is, when the door 5 is fully closed, the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m are positioned to face each other based on the closing operation of the door 5 entering the door opening 3. Furthermore, the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m are configured to be able to slide against each other depending on the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2. Specifically, when the door 5 is fully closed, if the door 5 is in the correct supporting posture, the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m do not slide against each other. On the other hand, when a disturbance occurs in the supporting posture of the door 5, the door-side correcting surface 81m and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82m come into sliding contact with each other. Then, the door device 70 of this embodiment corrects the supporting posture of the door 5 with respect to the vehicle body 2 based on a reaction force generated by the sliding contact of the door-side correcting surface 81m and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82m. More specifically, the door device 70 is configured to correct the disturbance in the supporting posture of the door 5 in the vehicle width direction where the door-side correcting surface 81m and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82m face each other.

[0045] In the vehicle 1 of this embodiment, based on the closing operation of the door 5 from above to below, the lower end 5b of the door 5 located in the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3 is the entering end 85 of the door 5. Furthermore, when the door 5 is in the fully closed position P0, the lower end 3b of the door opening 3 opposing the lower end 5b of the door 5 is the received end 86 of the door opening 3. Furthermore, when the door 5 is fully closed, the lower end 5b of the door 5 and the lower end 3b of the door opening 3 face each other, so that the latch mechanism 43 and the striker 41 engage with each other in a correct positional relationship. The door device 70 of this embodiment is configured so that the supporting posture of the door 5 in which the entering end 85 of the door 5 and the received end 86 of the door opening 3 face each other is considered to be the correct posture, and the supporting posture correction mechanism 75 corrects the supporting posture of the door 5.

[0046] 8, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, the door-side straightening surface 81m formed by the straightening plate 73 of the door-side straightening member 71 has a tapered surface 90. Specifically, the tapered surface 90 has a tapered surface shape that gradually tapers from the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3 (downward in FIG. 8) toward the inside in the vehicle width direction (rightward in FIG. 8). In other words, the tapered surface shape of the tapered surface 90 is positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the lower end 73b of the straightening plate 73 located on the side in the entering direction of the door 5. Thus, the door device 70 of this embodiment is configured to gradually correct the supporting posture of the door 5 as the door 5 enters the door opening 3 while suppressing sliding resistance generated by sliding contact between the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m.

[0047] Furthermore, the door-side straightening member 71 of this embodiment has a door-side large tapered portion 91 provided at a position that becomes the lower end 73b of the straightening plate 73, that is, at the approach-direction end 71b that is located in the approach direction of the door 5 into the door opening 3 when the door 5 is fully closed. That is, a taper angle θ2 that is larger than the taper angle θ1 of the tapered surface 90 imparted to the door-side straightening surface 81m is given to this door-side large tapered portion 91. Thus, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, even when the support posture of the door 5 is disturbed, the door-side straightening surface 81m can smoothly move to a position where it comes into sliding contact with the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m when the door 5 approaches the door opening 3.

[0048] In the door device 70 of this embodiment, the door opening-side correcting member 72 has a door opening-side large tapered portion 92 provided at a position corresponding to the upper end 74a of the correcting plate 74. That is, the door opening-side large tapered portion 92 is provided at the exit-direction end 72a of the door opening-side correcting member 72 located in the direction in which the door 5 exits the door opening 3 (upper side in FIG. 8 ) during the door opening operation. Furthermore, the door opening-side large tapered portion 92 also has a tapered surface shape that gradually tapers toward the inside in the vehicle width direction in the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3. In other words, the tapered surface shape of the door opening-side large tapered portion 92 is positioned further inward in the vehicle width direction at a lower position on the upper end 74a of the correcting plate 74 located on the exit-direction side of the door 5. In the door device 70 of this embodiment, no taper angle θ is imparted to the door opening-side correcting surface 82m. Therefore, the upper end 74a of the correcting plate 74, which is the retracting direction end 72a of the door opening side correcting member 72, becomes the door opening side large taper portion 92 with the large taper angle θ. This allows the door device 70 of this embodiment to more smoothly move to a position where the door side correcting surface 81m slides against the door opening side correcting surface 82m.

[0049] Furthermore, the door-side straightening member 71 of this embodiment has an exit-side tapered surface 93 provided at a position that corresponds to the upper end 73a of the straightening plate 73, that is, at the exit-direction end 71a located in the direction in which the door 5 exits from the door opening 3 during the opening operation of the door 5. Furthermore, this exit-side tapered surface 93 has a tapered surface shape that gradually tapers inward in the vehicle width direction in the direction in which the door 5 exits from the door opening 3. In other words, the exit-side tapered surface 93 is positioned further inward in the vehicle width direction at an upper position of the upper end 73a of the straightening plate 73 located on the exit direction side of the door 5. Thus, the door device 70 of this embodiment is configured so that the upper end 73a of the straightening plate 73 is less likely to get caught on the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m even when the door 5 opens from a state in which the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m are in sliding contact with each other.

[0050] <Engagement groove and engagement member> 11 to 14, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, the door opening-side correction member 72 has an engagement groove 100 extending in the vertical direction provided in the correction plate 74. Furthermore, the door-side correction member 71 has an engagement member 110 that enters the engagement groove 100 on the door opening-side correction member 72 side as the door 5 enters the door opening 3 during the fully closing operation of the door 5 (see FIG. 10). The door device 70 of this embodiment is configured to be able to correct the supporting posture of the door 5 with respect to the vehicle body 2 also by the engagement of the engagement groove 100 and the engagement member 110.

[0051] More specifically, in the door opening-side correcting member 72 of this embodiment, the engagement groove 100 is provided in a manner penetrating a correcting plate 74 having a generally flat outer shape in the thickness direction, that is, in the vehicle width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 11 and 12 ). The engagement groove 100 extends in the vertical direction of the correcting plate 74 with an inclination such that an upper end 74a side of the correcting plate 74 is positioned closer to the rear of the vehicle (left side in FIG. 11 , right side in FIG. 12 ) than a lower end 74b side when the door 5 is in the fully closed position P0. The door opening-side correcting member 72 of this embodiment is thus configured so that the engagement groove 100 provided in the correcting plate 74 extends along the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3.

[0052] The correcting plate 74 of this embodiment has a shape in which a portion on the side of the upper end 74a located on the vehicle rear side is cut out. As a result, the door opening-side correcting member 72 is configured so that, of the opposing side wall surfaces 100sa, 100sb of the engagement groove 100, the upper end portion of one side wall surface 100sa facing the vehicle rear side is exposed outside the engagement groove 100 up to the upper end 74a of the correcting plate 74.

[0053] In the door device 70 of this embodiment, the engaging member 110 provided on the door-side straightening member 71 is configured as a roller 111 having a flat, approximately cylindrical outer shape. Specifically, the door-side straightening member 71 of this embodiment has a spindle 112 provided on the straightening plate 73 in a manner that protrudes from the door-side straightening surface 81m toward the outside in the vehicle width direction of the door 5 (see FIG. 8, left side in the figure). The door-side straightening member 71 of this embodiment has a configuration in which the roller 111 serving as the engaging member 110 is rotatably supported by the spindle 112.

[0054] Furthermore, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, when the door 5 is fully closed, the peripheral surface 111s of the roller 111 that has entered the engagement groove 100 of the door-opening-side correcting member 72 faces the side wall surfaces 100sa, 100sb of the engagement groove 100. Specifically, by being disposed in the engagement groove 100, the roller 111 of this embodiment faces the side wall surface 100sa facing the rear side of the vehicle and also faces the side wall surface 100sb facing the front side of the vehicle (the right side in FIG. 11 and the left side in FIG. 12). Note that, in the door-opening-side correcting member 72 of this embodiment, before the roller 111 enters the engagement groove 100, the peripheral surface 111s of the roller 111 faces the side wall surface 100sa that is exposed outside the engagement groove 100 and faces the rear side of the vehicle. The door device 70 of this embodiment is configured so that the peripheral surface 111s of the roller 111, which constitutes the engaging member 110, and the side wall surfaces 100sa, 100sb of the engaging groove 100 can slide against each other depending on the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2.

[0055] That is, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, the peripheral surface 111s of the roller 111 provided on the door-side straightening member 71 serves as the opposing surface 110s on the engaging member 110 side, and this peripheral surface 111s of the roller 111 constitutes the door-side straightening surface 81. Also, both side wall surfaces 100sa, 100sb constituting the inner surface 100s of the engaging groove 100 provided on the door-opening-side straightening member 72 each constitute the door-opening-side straightening surface 82. Furthermore, both side wall surfaces 100sa, 100sb of the engaging groove 100 and the opposing surface 110s on the engaging member 110 side face each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Thus, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, the door-side straightening surface 81n and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82n that face each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction are constituted.

[0056] Furthermore, the door-side correction surface 81n and the door-opening-side correction surface 82n are also configured to be able to slide against each other depending on the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2. Specifically, when the door 5 is fully closed, if the door 5 is in the correct supporting posture, the door-side correction surface 81n and the door-opening-side correction surface 82n do not slide against each other. On the other hand, if a disturbance occurs in the supporting posture of the door 5, the door-side correction surface 81n and the door-opening-side correction surface 82n slide against each other. The door device 70 of this embodiment corrects the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 based on a reaction force generated by the sliding contact of the door-side correction surface 81n and the door-opening-side correction surface 82n. Specifically, the door device 70 is configured to correct a disturbance in the supporting posture that occurs in the vehicle front-rear direction, which is the thickness direction of the door 5.

[0057] More specifically, the groove width W of the engagement groove 100 of this embodiment becomes wider as it approaches the position where the roller 111 serving as the engagement member 110 enters the engagement groove 100, that is, the opening end 100a of the engagement groove 100. Thus, even when the support posture of the door 5 is disturbed, the door device 70 of this embodiment allows the roller 111 serving as the engagement member 110 to smoothly enter the engagement groove 100 when the door 5 enters the door opening 3. In other words, the door-side correcting surface 81n and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82n can move to a position where they come into sliding contact with each other.

[0058] <Stopper member> 12 to 15, the door-opening-side correcting member 72 of this embodiment includes a stopper member 130 fixed to the correcting plate 74 near the bottom 100b of the engagement groove 100 configured as described above. Specifically, the stopper member 130 of this embodiment has a substantially flat plate-like outer shape and includes a fixing portion 131 fixed to the back surface 74sb of the correcting plate 74, that is, the back side of the door-opening-side correcting surface 82m. Furthermore, the stopper member 130 includes a contact portion 132 disposed in the engagement groove 100. That is, the roller 111 of the door-side correcting member 71 that has entered the engagement groove 100 of the door-opening-side correcting member 72 moves toward the bottom 100b within the engagement groove 100 based on the closing operation of the door 5, and thus the stopper member 130 of this embodiment contacts the contact portion 132. The door device 70 of this embodiment is configured to thereby restrict the movement of the roller 111 within the door opening 3, that is, the movement in the closing direction of the door 5 to which the door-side corrective member 71, which uses the roller 111 as the engaging member 110, is fixed.

[0059] More specifically, in the stopper member 130 of this embodiment, the abutting portion 132 has an abutting surface 130s having a curved surface shape with a substantially arc-shaped cross section. Furthermore, this abutting surface 130s has substantially the same radius of curvature as the circumferential surface 111s of the roller 111 constituting the engaging member 110 on the door-side correcting member 71 side. This enables the stopper member 130 of this embodiment to stably hold the roller 111 at a position where the roller 111 abuts on the abutting portion 132.

[0060] Furthermore, the stopper member 130 of this embodiment has an abutting portion 132 that continuously connects the abutting surface 130s of the abutting portion 132 to both side wall surfaces 100sa, 100sb of the engagement groove 100. As a result, the door device 70 of this embodiment is configured so that the stopper member 130 has a correcting surface 135 that is continuous with the inner surface 100s of the engagement groove 100 and faces the opposing surface 110s of the engagement member 110.

[0061] <Operation of this embodiment> That is, in the door device 70 of this embodiment, when the door 5 is fully closed, a disturbance occurs in the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2, causing the door-side correcting surface 81 and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82, which are arranged in opposing positions, to come into sliding contact with each other. As a result, the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 is corrected based on the reaction force generated by the sliding contact of the door-side correcting surface 81 and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82.

[0062] <Effects of this embodiment> Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The door device 70 includes a door-side straightening member 71 having a door-side straightening surface 81 provided at a vehicle width direction end 5we of a door 5 that opens and closes a door opening 3 provided in a vehicle body 2. The door device 70 also includes a door-opening-side straightening member 72 provided at a vehicle width direction end 3we of the door opening 3, having a door-opening-side straightening surface 82 that faces the door-side straightening surface 81 based on the closing operation of the door 5 entering the door opening 3. In the door device 70, the door-side straightening surface 81 and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82 come into sliding contact with each other in accordance with the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2, thereby correcting the supporting posture of the door 5.

[0063] According to the above configuration, the door 5 can be positioned at the fully closed position P0 in a correct supporting posture. As a result, the door 5 can be opened and closed with high precision. This improves the quality of the door 5.

[0064] In addition, even if an impact load is applied to the vehicle body 2 near the door opening 3, for example, during a vehicle collision, the door 5 can suitably maintain the door opening 3 closed, thereby ensuring high safety and reliability.

[0065] (2) In the door device 70, the door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 constitute the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m that face each other in the vehicle width direction. The door-side straightening surface 81m has a tapered surface 90 that tapers inward in the vehicle width direction toward the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3 based on the closing operation of the door 5 that opens and closes in the vertical direction.

[0066] According to the above configuration, it is possible to suitably correct any disturbance in the support posture of the door 5 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, based on the tapered surface shape, it is possible to suppress the sliding resistance generated by the sliding contact between the door-side correcting surface 81m and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82m. This makes it possible to smoothly correct the support posture of the door 5. As a result, it is possible to ensure a high quality feel.

[0067] (3) The door opening-side correction member 72 has an engagement groove 100 that extends along the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3 based on the closing operation of the door 5, which opens and closes in the vertical direction. The door-side correction member 71 also has an engagement member 110 that enters the engagement groove 100 as the door 5 enters the door opening 3 during the fully closing operation of the door 5. As a result, in the door device 70, the inner surface 100s of the engagement groove 100 and the opposing surface 110s of the engagement member 110 that faces the inner surface 100s constitute the door-side correction surface 81 and the door-opening-side correction surface 82.

[0068] According to the above configuration, in the direction in which the inner surface 100s of the engagement groove 100 and the opposing surface 110s of the engagement member 110 face each other, the door-side correcting surface 81 and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82 slide in contact with each other to correct the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2. Then, based on the engaging force between the engagement groove 100 and the engagement member 110, the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 can be strongly corrected.

[0069] (4) The door 5 is configured as a back door 15 that opens and closes the door opening 3 that opens to the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, the door 5 is supported on the vehicle body 2 via four-bar linkage mechanisms 10, 10 provided on both sides of the door opening 3 in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the door 5 opens and closes in the vertical direction based on the operation of the four-bar linkage mechanisms 10, 10.

[0070] The above-described configuration increases the degree of freedom in designing the opening and closing operation of the back door 15 of the vehicle 1, which opens and closes in the vertical direction while being supported by the vehicle body 2. However, there is a tendency for the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 to become unstable due to tolerances, assembly errors, etc. Therefore, by providing the door-side straightening member 71 and the door opening-side straightening member 72 in such a configuration, a more significant effect can be obtained.

[0071] (5) The door-side straightening member 71 has a door-side large tapered portion 91 provided at the approach direction end portion 71b located in the approach direction of the door 5 relative to the door opening 3 based on the closing operation of the door 5. The door-side large tapered portion 91 is given a tapered angle θ2 that is larger than the tapered angle θ1 of the tapered surface 90 given to the door-side straightening surface 81m.

[0072] According to the above-described configuration, even when the supporting posture of the door 5 is disturbed, the door-side large tapered portion 91 serves as a guide portion, and the door-side correcting surface 81m can smoothly move to a position where it comes into sliding contact with the door-opening-side correcting surface 82m.

[0073] (6) The door opening-side correcting member 72 has a door opening-side large tapered portion 92 provided at the exit-direction end portion 72a located in the direction in which the door 5 exits the door opening 3 based on the opening operation of the door 5. The door opening-side large tapered portion 92 has a tapered surface shape that gradually tapers inward in the vehicle width direction in the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3.

[0074] According to the above configuration, even when the supporting posture of the door 5 is disturbed, the door opening side large tapered portion 92 serves as a guide portion, and the door side correcting surface 81m can be smoothly moved to a position where it comes into sliding contact with the door opening side correcting surface 82m.

[0075] (7) The door-side straightening member 71 has an exit-side tapered surface 93 provided on an exit-side end portion 71a located in the direction in which the door 5 exits from the door opening 3 based on the opening operation of the door 5. The exit-side tapered surface 93 has a tapered surface shape that tapers inward in the vehicle width direction in the direction in which the door 5 exits from the door opening 3.

[0076] According to the above configuration, even when the door 5 is opened from a state in which the door side straightening surface 81m and the door opening side straightening surface 82m are in sliding contact with each other, the exit direction end portion 71a of the door side straightening member 71 is unlikely to get caught on the door opening side straightening surface 82m.

[0077] (8) In the door device 70, the inner surface 100s of the engagement groove 100 and the opposing surface 110s of the engagement member 110 face each other in the vehicle front-rear direction. According to the above configuration, the door-side correcting surface 81n and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82n, which are formed by the inner surface 100s of the engaging groove 100 and the opposing surface 110s of the engaging member 110, can be configured to be able to slide against each other while facing each other in the thickness direction of the door 5. This makes it possible to preferably correct any disturbance in the supporting posture that occurs in the thickness direction of the door 5.

[0078] (9) The groove width W of the engagement groove 100 increases as it approaches the position where the roller 111 serving as the engagement member 110 enters the engagement groove 100, that is, the opening end 100a of the engagement groove 100.

[0079] According to the above configuration, even if the support posture of the door 5 is disturbed, when the door 5 enters the door opening 3, the engaging member 110 can be smoothly inserted into the engaging groove 100.

[0080] (10) The door device 70 includes the stopper member 130 that restricts movement of the engaging member 110 within the door opening 3 by coming into contact with the engaging member 110 that has entered the engaging groove 100 .

[0081] According to the above configuration, the fully closed position P0 of the door 5 can be determined at the position where the engaging member 110 abuts against the stopper member 130. As a result, even if the support posture of the door 5 placed at the fully closed position P0 is likely to be disturbed due to factors such as tolerances and assembly errors in the support structure of the door 5, the door 5 can be placed at the fully closed position P0 in the correct support posture. As a result, the door 5 can be opened and closed with greater precision. In addition, even when an impact load is applied to the vehicle body 2, the door opening 3 can be more suitably maintained closed by the door 5.

[0082] (11) The stopper member 130 has a correcting surface 135 that is continuous with the inner surface 100 s of the engagement groove 100 and faces the opposing surface 110 s of the engagement member 110 . According to the above configuration, the supporting attitude of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 can be more suitably corrected in the direction in which the inner surface 100s of the engagement groove 100 and the opposing surface 110s of the engagement member 110 face each other.

[0083] (12) The door device 70 includes a pair of left and right door side straightening members 71, 71 provided at both vehicle width direction ends 5we, 5we of the door 5, and a pair of left and right door opening side straightening members 72, 72 provided at both vehicle width direction ends 3we, 3we of the door opening 3.

[0084] According to the above configuration, when the supporting posture of the door 5 is disturbed, the door-side correcting surface 81 and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82 of either the door-side correcting member 71 or the door-opening-side correcting member 72 provided on both sides of the door 5 and the door opening 3 in the vehicle width direction can be brought into sliding contact with each other. This makes it possible to more suitably correct the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2.

[0085] (13) In the door device 70, the support posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 is corrected so that the entering end 85 of the door 5, which is located in the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3, and the entered end 86 of the door opening 3 are directly opposite each other based on the closing operation of the door 5.

[0086] According to the above configuration, the latch mechanism 43 provided on the door 5 and the striker 41 provided on the door opening 3 can be engaged with each other in a correct positional relationship. This ensures highly accurate opening and closing operations, thereby improving the quality of the door 5.

[0087] (14) The door device 70 includes a variable connection length mechanism 30 provided on the main link 21 that constitutes the link member 20 of the four-bar link mechanism 10. The door device 70 is configured to be able to change the connection length L between the pivot connection point X1 of the main link 21 relative to the vehicle body 2 and the pivot connection point X2 of the main link 21 relative to the door 5 based on the operation of the variable connection length mechanism 30.

[0088] According to the above configuration, it is possible to further increase the degree of freedom in designing the opening and closing operation of the door 5 that opens and closes the door opening 3 while being supported by the vehicle body 2. However, this makes it easier for the supporting posture of the door 5 relative to the vehicle body 2 to become unstable. Therefore, by providing the door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 in such a configuration, a more significant effect can be obtained.

[0089] The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the door-side straightening surface 81m has a tapered surface shape that gradually tapers inward in the vehicle width direction toward the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3. However, this is not limited to this, and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m may have a tapered surface shape that gradually tapers inward in the vehicle width direction toward the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3. Furthermore, both the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m may have such a tapered surface shape. Furthermore, both the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m may not have such a tapered surface shape.

[0091] The taper angle θ1 of the tapered surface 90 and the taper angle θ2 of the door-side large taper portion 91 may each be set arbitrarily. The tapered surface shapes of the door-opening-side large taper portion 92 and the exit-side tapered surface 93 may also each be set arbitrarily.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the door-side straightening member 71 has a door-side large tapered portion 91 provided at its entry-side end 71b and an exit-side tapered surface 93 provided at its exit-side end 71a. The door-opening-side straightening member 72 has a door-opening-side large tapered portion 92 provided at its exit-side end 72a. However, this is not limiting, and the door-side straightening member 71 may have either the door-side large tapered portion 91 or the exit-side tapered surface 93. Furthermore, the door-side straightening member 71 may not have such a door-side large tapered portion 91 or exit-side tapered surface 93. Furthermore, the door-opening-side straightening member 72 may not have the door-opening-side large tapered portion 92.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the engaging member 110 is configured as a roller 111 having a flat, generally cylindrical outer shape. However, this is not limiting, and the shape of the engaging member 110 may be changed as desired. The groove shape of the engaging groove 100 may also be changed as desired to match the shape of the engaging member 110.

[0094] For example, as shown in Fig. 16, the roller 111B constituting the engaging member 110B has a substantially conical outer shape, thereby forming a tapered surface 140 tapering outward in the vehicle width direction (left side in Fig. 16). The engaging groove 100B on the door opening side correcting member 72 side is also modified so that the tapered surface 140 of this roller 111B becomes the opposing surface 110s of the engaging member 110B. In other words, both side wall surfaces 100sa, 100sb constituting the inner surface 100s of this engaging groove 100B may be formed as tapered surfaces 150 tapering outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0095] According to the above configuration, the door-side correcting surface 81n and the door-opening-side correcting surface 82n, which are formed by the inner surface 100s of the engaging groove 100B and the opposing surface 110s of the engaging member 110B, can slide in contact with each other in the vehicle width direction as well. As a result, by using the engaging member 110B and the engaging groove 100B in the support posture correcting mechanism 75, it is possible to preferably correct any disturbance in the support posture of the door 5 in the vehicle width direction.

[0096] 17, the engagement groove 100C has, as its inner surface 100s, an end wall surface 100sc facing the vehicle width direction inner side (the right side in FIG. 17). The engagement member 110C may have a surface 110s facing the end wall surface 100sc. In this example, a substantially hemispherical roller 111C is used, so that the spherical surface 160 of the roller 111C faces the both side wall surfaces 100sa and 100sb and the end wall surface 100sc that constitute the inner surface 100s of the engagement groove 100C. Even with this configuration, the engagement member 110C and the engagement groove 100C can be used in the support posture correction mechanism 75 to suitably correct any disturbance in the support posture of the door 5 in the vehicle width direction.

[0097] 18, the roller 111D constituting the engaging member 110D has a tapered surface 141 tapered outward in the vehicle width direction and a tapered surface 142 tapered inward in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the engaging groove 100D also has, as its inner surface 100s, a tapered surface 151 tapered outward in the vehicle width direction and a tapered surface 152 tapered inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the tapered surfaces 141, 142 of the roller 111D may be configured to serve as opposing surfaces 110s of the engaging member 110D that face the tapered surfaces 151, 152 on the engaging groove 100D side, respectively.

[0098] According to the above configuration, the support posture correction mechanism 75, which is constituted by a pair of the engaging groove 100D and the engaging member 110D, can suitably correct any disturbance in the support posture of the door 5 in both directions of the vehicle width.

[0099] The configuration of the engaging member 110 may be changed as desired. It is not necessary to use a rotating body such as the roller 111. For example, the engaging member 110 may be formed of a shaft-shaped member, a hook-shaped member, or the like.

[0100] In the above embodiment, a pair of left and right door-side straightening members 71, 71 are provided at both vehicle width direction ends 5we, 5we of the door 5, and a pair of left and right door-opening-side straightening members 72, 72 are provided at both vehicle width direction ends 3we, 3we of the door opening 3. However, without being limited to this, a configuration may be adopted in which the door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 are provided at one vehicle width direction end 5we of the door 5 and the vehicle width direction end 3we of the door opening 3 facing the one vehicle width direction end 5we.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the door opening side correcting member 72 has the engagement groove 100 extending along the direction in which the door 5 enters the door opening 3, and the door side correcting member 71 has the engagement member 110 that enters the engagement groove 100. However, this is not limiting, and the door opening side correcting member 72 may have the engagement member 110, and the door side correcting member 71 may have the engagement groove 100.

[0102] In the above embodiment, the door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 have the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m that face each other in the vehicle width direction. The door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 are also provided with the engagement groove 100 and the engagement member 110. However, this is not limiting, and the door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 may be configured not to have the door-side straightening surface 81m and the door-opening-side straightening surface 82m that face each other in the vehicle width direction. The door-side straightening member 71 and the door-opening-side straightening member 72 may be configured not to have the engagement groove 100 and the engagement member 110.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the variable connection length mechanism 30 is provided on the main link 21 of the four-bar link mechanism 10. However, this is not limiting, and the variable connection length mechanism 30 may be provided on the sub-link 22. Also, the variable connection length mechanism 30 may be provided on both the main link 21 and the sub-link 22. Furthermore, a configuration without such a variable connection length mechanism 30 is also possible.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the door 5 is supported on the vehicle body 2 via four-bar linkage mechanisms 10, 10 provided on both sides of the door opening 3 in the vehicle width direction. However, the support structure of the door 5 is not limited to this, and may be changed arbitrarily. It is sufficient that the door 5 supported on the vehicle body 2 can open and close the door opening 3.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the present invention is embodied in the door 5 constituting the flip-up back door 15 provided on the rear hatch 13 of the vehicle 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to, for example, a front door that opens and closes the door opening 3 that opens to the front of the vehicle. Furthermore, the shape of the door 5 may also be changed as desired. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to, for example, an opening and closing body for a vehicle that has the same function as a door called a lid, a hood, or the like.

[0106] The configuration of the drive device 50 may also be changed as desired. For example, the actuator 51 does not necessarily have to be a linear actuator 53. The present invention may also be applied to a manual vehicle door device that does not have a drive device 50.

[0107] Next, the technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described. (i) The door-side straightening surface and the door-opening-side straightening surface face each other in the vehicle width direction, and at least one of the door-side straightening surface and the door-opening-side straightening surface has a tapered surface that tapers inward in the vehicle width direction toward the direction in which the door enters the door opening based on the closing operation of the door, which opens and closes in the vertical direction.

[0108] According to the above configuration, it is possible to effectively correct the disturbance in the support posture of the door in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, based on the tapered surface shape, it is possible to suppress the sliding resistance generated by the sliding contact between the door-side correcting surface and the door opening-side correcting surface. This allows the support posture of the door to be smoothly corrected. As a result, it is possible to ensure a high quality feel.

[0109] (b) One of the door-side straightening member and the door-opening-side straightening member has an engagement groove extending along the direction in which the door enters the door opening based on the closing operation of the door which opens and closes in the vertical direction, and the other of the door-side straightening member and the door-opening-side straightening member has an engagement member that enters into the engagement groove based on the closing operation of the door, and the inner surface of the engagement groove and the opposing surface of the engagement member facing the inner surface constitute the door-side straightening surface and the door-opening-side straightening surface.

[0110] According to the above configuration, the door support posture relative to the vehicle body can be corrected by sliding contact between the door-side correcting surface and the door opening-side correcting surface in the direction in which the inner surface of the engagement groove and the opposing surface of the engagement member face each other. Then, the engagement force between the engagement groove and the engagement member can more strongly correct the door support posture relative to the vehicle body.

[0111] (c) The door is a back door that opens and closes the door opening that opens to the rear of the vehicle, and the door, which is supported on the vehicle body via a four-bar link mechanism, opens and closes in the vertical direction based on the operation of a four-bar link mechanism provided on both sides of the door opening in the vehicle width direction.

[0112] The above-described configuration allows for greater design flexibility in the opening and closing operation of a vehicle back door that opens and closes vertically while supported by the vehicle body. However, due to factors such as tolerances and assembly errors, the door's support posture relative to the vehicle body tends to be easily disturbed. Therefore, by providing a door-side straightening member and a door opening-side straightening member in this configuration, a more significant effect can be achieved.

[0113] (e) The door-side straightening member has a door-side large tapered portion at an end portion in the direction of entry of the door into the door opening based on the closing operation of the door, the door-side large tapered portion having a tapered surface with a larger taper angle than the door-side straightening surface.

[0114] According to the above configuration, even when the supporting posture of the door is disturbed, the door-side large tapered portion serves as a guide portion, and the door-side correcting surface can smoothly move to a position where it comes into sliding contact with the door-opening-side correcting surface.

[0115] (f) The door opening side straightening member has a large tapered portion at its end in the exit direction, the end being positioned in the direction in which the door exits the door opening based on the door opening operation, and the tapered surface has a larger taper angle than the door opening side straightening surface.

[0116] According to the above configuration, even when the supporting posture of the door is disturbed, the door opening side large tapered portion serves as a guide portion, and the door side correcting surface can smoothly move to a position where it comes into sliding contact with the door opening side correcting surface.

[0117] (d) The door-side straightening member has an exit-side tapered surface at its exit-side end, which is located in the direction in which the door exits from the door opening based on the door opening operation, and which tapers inward in the vehicle width direction toward the exit direction of the door.

[0118] According to the above configuration, even when the door is opened from a state in which the door side straightening surface and the door opening side straightening surface are in sliding contact with each other, the exiting end of the door side straightening member is less likely to get caught on the door opening side straightening surface.

[0119] (h) The inner surface of the engagement groove and the opposing surface of the engagement member face each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. According to the above configuration, the door-side correcting surface and the door-opening-side correcting surface, which are formed by the inner surface of the engagement groove and the opposing surface of the engagement member, can be configured to be slidably contacted with each other while facing each other in the vehicle front-to-rear direction, which is the thickness direction of the door, thereby making it possible to preferably correct any disturbance in the support posture that occurs in the thickness direction of the door.

[0120] (i) The groove width of the engagement groove becomes wider as it approaches the open end of the engagement groove where the engagement member enters. According to the above configuration, even if the supporting posture of the door is disturbed, when the door enters the door opening, the engaging member can be smoothly inserted into the engaging groove.

[0121] (J) A stopper member is provided which restricts movement of the engaging member within the engaging groove by coming into contact with the engaging member that has entered the engaging groove. According to the above configuration, the fully closed position of the door can be determined at the position where the engaging member abuts against the stopper member. Therefore, even if the support posture of the door when positioned in the fully closed position is easily disturbed due to factors such as tolerances or assembly errors in the door support structure, the door can be positioned in the fully closed position in the correct support posture. As a result, the door can be opened and closed more accurately. Furthermore, even when an impact load is applied to the vehicle body, the door can more appropriately maintain the door opening closed.

[0122] (k) The stopper member has a correcting surface that is continuous with the inner surface of the engaging groove and faces the opposing surface of the engaging member. According to the above configuration, the supporting attitude of the door relative to the vehicle body can be more suitably corrected in the direction in which the inner surface of the engaging groove and the opposing surface of the engaging member face each other.

[0123] (l) The inner surface of the engaging groove and the opposing surface of the engaging member have tapered surfaces that taper in the vehicle width direction. According to the above configuration, the door-side correcting surface and the door-opening-side correcting surface, which are formed by the inner surfaces of the engaging grooves and the opposing surfaces of the engaging members, can slide in contact with each other in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the engaging members and engaging grooves can be used in the support posture correcting mechanism to preferably correct any disturbance in the support posture of the door in the vehicle width direction.

[0124] (m) The inner surface of the engagement groove and the opposing surface of the engagement member face each other in the vehicle width direction. According to the above configuration, the door-side correcting surface and the door-opening-side correcting surface, which are formed by the inner surfaces of the engaging grooves and the opposing surfaces of the engaging members, can slide in contact with each other in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the engaging members and engaging grooves can be used in the support posture correcting mechanism to preferably correct any disturbance in the support posture of the door in the vehicle width direction.

[0125] (f) A pair of door-side straightening members are provided at both vehicle width direction ends of the door, and a pair of door opening-side straightening members are provided at both vehicle width direction ends of the door opening. According to the above configuration, when the door support posture is disturbed, the door-side correcting surface and the door-opening-side correcting surface of either the door-side correcting member or the door-opening-side correcting member provided on both sides of the door and the door opening in the vehicle width direction can be brought into sliding contact with each other, thereby more preferably correcting the support posture of the door relative to the vehicle body.

[0126] (Y) Based on the closing operation of the door, the support posture of the door is corrected so that the entering end of the door, which is located in the direction in which the door enters the door opening, and the entered end of the door opening are directly opposite each other.

[0127] According to the above configuration, the latch mechanism provided on the door and the striker provided in the door opening can be engaged in the correct positional relationship with each other, thereby ensuring high precision in opening and closing operations and improving the quality of the door.

[0128] (T) A variable connection length mechanism is provided on a link member that has a pivotal connection point relative to the vehicle body and a pivotal connection point relative to the door, and that connects the vehicle body and the door to form the four-bar link, thereby enabling the connection length of the door relative to the vehicle body to be changed.

[0129] The above-described configuration allows for greater flexibility in the design of the opening and closing operation of a door that is supported on the vehicle body and opens and closes a door opening. However, this can easily cause the door to lose its position relative to the vehicle body. Therefore, by providing a door-side straightening member and a door-opening-side straightening member in this configuration, a more significant effect can be achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0130] 2...vehicle body, 3...door opening, 3we...vehicle width direction end, 5...door, 5we...vehicle width direction end, 70...door device, 71...door side straightening member, 72...door opening side straightening member, 81...door side straightening surface, 82...door opening side straightening surface.

Claims

1. a door-side straightening member having a door-side straightening surface provided at a vehicle width direction end of a door that opens and closes a door opening provided in a vehicle body; a door opening side straightening member provided at an end of the door opening in the vehicle width direction, the door opening side straightening member having a door opening side straightening surface that faces the door side straightening surface based on the closing operation of the door entering the door opening, The vehicle door device corrects the supporting posture of the door relative to the vehicle body by sliding contact between the door-side correcting surface and the door-opening-side correcting surface.

2. 2. The vehicle door device according to claim 1, wherein the door-side straightening surface and the door-opening-side straightening surface face each other in the vehicle width direction, and at least one of the door-side straightening surface and the door-opening-side straightening surface has a tapered surface that tapers inward in the vehicle width direction toward the door's entry direction into the door opening based on the door's closing operation in the vertical direction.

3. One of the door-side straightening member and the door opening-side straightening member has an engagement groove extending along the direction in which the door enters the door opening based on a closing operation of the door that opens and closes in the vertical direction, the other of the door-side straightening member and the door-opening-side straightening member includes an engaging member that enters into the engaging groove based on the closing operation of the door, 2. The vehicle door device according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the engagement groove and an opposing surface of the engagement member that faces the inner surface constitute the door-side straightening surface and the door-opening-side straightening surface.

4. The door is a back door that opens and closes the door opening that opens to the rear of the vehicle, and the door, which is supported on the vehicle body via a four-bar link mechanism, opens and closes in the vertical direction based on the operation of the four-bar link mechanism provided on both sides of the door opening in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle door device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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