Sliding door support structure

Abstract

The visibility (degree of external exposure) of the sliding support mechanism when the door is closed is reduced in a manner that does not obstruct the movement of the sliding door. [Solution] A sliding door support structure is disclosed, comprising a sliding support mechanism that slidably supports a door that can be opened and closed through the door opening of the vehicle body and has a sliding rail in the mechanism arrangement part on the vehicle body side; a cover member supported on the vehicle body in a manner that allows it to move between a first position that does not obstruct the movement of the door via the sliding support mechanism and a second position that at least partially closes the mechanism arrangement part; and a drive mechanism for the cover member, wherein the cover member is in the second position when the door is closed, and the drive mechanism moves the cover member from the second position to the first position in conjunction with the movement of the door to the open state.

Claims

[Claim 1] A sliding support mechanism that supports a door that can be opened and closed in the door opening of the vehicle body, and has a sliding rail in the mechanism arrangement part on the vehicle body side, A cover member supported by the vehicle body is provided in such a manner that it is movable between a first position that does not obstruct the movement of the door via the slide support mechanism and a second position that at least partially covers the mechanism arrangement portion. The cover member is equipped with a drive mechanism, The cover member is positioned in the second position when the door is closed. The drive mechanism is a sliding door support structure that mechanically moves the cover member from the second position to the first position in conjunction with the movement of the door to the open position. [Claim 2] The sliding door support structure according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism starts moving the cover member from the second position to the first position after the door has moved outward in the vehicle width direction. [Claim 3] The aforementioned drive mechanism is The hinge mechanism that rotatably supports the door relative to the vehicle body includes a drive member provided on the vehicle body side hinge portion, The sliding door support structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive member has a first portion that pushes the cover member outward in the vehicle width direction when the door is in a first opening range which is more fully closed than the intermediate opening and more fully open than the fully closed position, and a second portion that supports the cover member from below when the door is in a second opening range which is more fully open than the first opening range. [Claim 4] The first portion includes the side portion of the drive member that faces outward in the vehicle width direction when the door opening is within the first opening range, The sliding door support structure according to claim 3, wherein the second portion includes the upper part of the drive member facing upward. [Claim 5] The cover member has a third portion that corresponds to the first portion of the drive member when the door is open within the first opening range, and a fourth portion that corresponds to the second portion of the drive member when the door is open within the second opening range. It has, The sliding door support structure according to claim 3, wherein the fourth portion includes a protrusion that protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction when the cover member is in the second position. [Claim 6] The sliding door support structure according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion is formed such that its protruding height increases as the door opens towards the fully open side. [Claim 7] The sliding door support structure according to claim 3, wherein the drive member maintains contact with the cover member throughout the entire opening range of the door, encompassing both the first and second opening ranges. [Claim 8] The aforementioned slide support mechanism is The slide rail is provided in the vehicle body below the upper end of the door opening and above the lower end of the door opening, It has a roller that moves while rotating along the slide rail, The roller is rotatably supported on the vehicle body side hinge portion provided between the door and the vehicle body. The aforementioned drive mechanism includes the vehicle body side hinge portion, The sliding door support structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body side hinge portion applies a driving force to the cover member that enables the cover member to move from the second position to the first position based on the movement accompanying the movement of the door to the open state. [Claim 9] The aforementioned door has a window frame, The sliding door support structure according to claim 8, wherein the sliding rail is provided below the window frame in the vertical direction. [Claim 10] The sliding door support structure according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the cover member when it is stopped in the second position and the door is closed.

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