Vehicle doors

Abstract

To provide a vehicle door whose removal from a door panel is made easy and whose thermal deformation at a high temperature is reduced.SOLUTION: A vehicle door 100 includes: a door panel 200 in which an inner panel 11 and an outer panel are superimposed and bonded; a door trim 10 which is fitted on a side surface on a cabin side of the inner panel 11 and protrudes to an inside of the cabin; a rib 14 which is provided at a specific point 16 on a side surface of the door trim 10 and protrudes to the inner panel 11; a hook claw 21 formed at an end part of the rib 14 in the direction in which the specific point 16 is displaced by thermal expansion of the door trim 10; an insertion hole 24 which is formed on the inner panel 11 and in which the hook claw 21 is inserted; and an edge 23 of the insertion hole 24 in which the hook claw 21 inserted in the insertion hole 24 is engaged by displacement of the specific point 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle door having a door trim on the vehicle interior side.

Background Art

[0002] The door of a motor vehicle is configured by attaching a resin door trim, which is an interior member, to the side surface on the vehicle interior side of a metal door panel with clips. By providing accessories such as storage spaces and armrests on the door trim, comfortable living conditions are ensured inside the vehicle. Since the resin, which is the material of the door trim, has a coefficient of thermal expansion about 10 times larger than that of metal, the door trim expands more significantly than the door panel on hot days such as in summer. Therefore, since the door trim is usually fixed to the door panel with clips at its peripheral edge, when the temperature rises, a part of it tends to bulge out toward the vehicle interior side. When the bulging amount of the door trim increases and the distance from the door panel becomes large, a gap occurs between the door trim and the door panel, deteriorating the appearance. Also, when the door trim vibrates during driving, the amplitude becomes large, increasing the vibration noise.

[0003] In order to reduce the bulging due to thermal deformation of such a door trim, conventionally, measures such as increasing the number of clips for fixing the door trim have been taken. However, when the number of clips increases, the number of pedestals for fixing the clips also increases, increasing the weight of the door trim. Also, the number of parts increases only by the number of clips. In order to prevent the occurrence of gaps due to thermal deformation of automotive interior parts, a structure has been devised in which a hook claw is integrally formed and hooked on a mating part to suppress bulging.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when the aforementioned hooking claw structure was applied to the door trim, there was a problem: the claws would catch on the inner panel, hindering the removal of the door trim from the door panel. If it is not easy to remove the door trim from the door panel, maintenance of the internal components becomes complicated.

[0006] This invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle door that reduces thermal deformation at high temperatures while maintaining easy removal from the door panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vehicle door according to this embodiment includes a door panel formed by overlapping and joining an inner panel and an outer panel, a door trim attached to the passenger compartment side of the inner panel and protruding toward the passenger compartment, a rib provided at a specific point on the side of the door trim and protruding toward the inner panel, a hooking claw formed at the tip of the rib in the direction in which the specific point is displaced due to thermal expansion of the door trim, and an insertion hole formed in the inner panel into which the hooking claw is inserted. At room temperature, the hooking claw inserted into the insertion hole is not engaged, and at temperatures higher than room temperature, the specific point is displaced due to thermal expansion of the door trim. The hooking claw inserted into the insertion hole The Combined attitude The device comprises the edge of the insertion hole and the following. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present invention provides a vehicle door that reduces thermal deformation at high temperatures while maintaining easy removal from the door panel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A schematic partial side view of a vehicle door according to the first embodiment, as seen from the vehicle's passenger compartment side. [Figure 2](A) Perspective view showing the side door from the outside of the vehicle with the outer door panel removed, (B) Enlarged view of region Ω in (A), (C) Enlarged view of region Ω in (B) with the inner panel removed to expose the back surface of the door trim. [Figure 3] (A) A perspective view showing the region Ω in Figure 2(A), which is shown in an enlarged view in Figure 2(C), from a different angle; (B) A perspective view showing the region Θ in (A) in an even more enlarged view. [Figure 4] (A) A diagram showing the arrangement relationship between the first rib and the edge of the insertion hole at room temperature, (B) A diagram showing the arrangement relationship between the first rib and the edge of the insertion hole at high temperature. [Figure 5] (A) A cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along line AA in Figure 4(A), and (B) A cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along line BB in Figure 4(A). [Figure 6] (A) A figure showing the analysis results of the deformation amount in the bulging direction of the door trim when no ribs are provided, (B) A figure showing the analysis results of the deformation amount in the bulging direction of the door trim when ribs are provided. [Figure 7] (A) Side cross-sectional view of the rib of the vehicle door according to the second embodiment at room temperature, (B) Side cross-sectional view of the rib of the vehicle door according to the second embodiment at high temperature. [Figure 8] (A) Side cross-sectional view of a modified rib according to the second embodiment at room temperature, (B) Side cross-sectional view of a modified rib according to the second embodiment at high temperature. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings.

[0011] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the vehicle door 100 according to the first embodiment, as seen from the passenger compartment side of the vehicle. The vehicle door 100 according to the first embodiment is a side door that opens and closes a door opening provided on the side of the vehicle body, as shown in Figure 1, for example. The side door 100 is constructed by attaching a resin door trim 10 to the interior side of a metal door panel 200 that forms the side of the vehicle. The door trim 10 is an interior member that is superimposed on the door panel 200 and bulges out toward the interior of the vehicle. The door panel 200 is constructed by superimposing an inner panel 11 on an outer panel (not shown) and joining their peripheral edges together. In the following explanation and drawings, the "front" or "rear" orientations are based on the front-to-rear orientation of the vehicle when the door 100 is installed on the vehicle. Also, the "back surface" of the door trim 10 refers to the side opposite to the design surface facing the interior of the vehicle, that is, the side facing the door panel 200.

[0012] Figure 2(A) is a perspective view of the side door 100 from the outside of the vehicle, with the outer panel of the door panel 200 removed. Figure 2(A) shows the side door 100 with the outer panel removed and the inner panel 11 exposed. Furthermore, Figure 2(B) is an enlarged view of region Ω in Figure 2(A). Furthermore, Figure 2(C) is an enlarged view of the region Ω in Figure 2(B) where the inner panel 11 has been removed and the back surface of the door trim 10 is exposed.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2(A), approximately ten rivet-type clips 12 are fitted into the periphery of the inner panel 11. These clips 12 are also fitted into a base 13 formed on the back surface of the door trim 10, as shown in Figure 2(C), to secure the door trim 10 to the door panel 200. In addition, as shown in Figure 2(A), some of the clips 12 are also provided in areas close to the inner panel 11 where there is a large amount of thermal deformation, in addition to the periphery of the door trim 10.

[0014] Further, on the back surface of the door trim 10, as shown in FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C), plate-shaped ribs 14 extending toward the door panel 200 are integrally formed with the door trim 10. The ribs 14 are provided at locations where it is predicted that the amount of deformation of the door trim 10 bulging toward the passenger compartment side due to thermal expansion is large. Hereinafter, such a location is referred to as a "specific point". That is, the ribs 14 are formed on this specific point 16 (FIGS. 3(A) and (B)) of the door trim 10. The position of the specific point 16 is determined, for example, in consideration of the results of a thermal deformation analysis performed in advance. Both the door trim 10 and the inner panel 11 expand and tend to spread in the in-plane direction when heated. As described above, the resin door trim 10 has a linear expansion coefficient about 10 times that of the metal inner panel 11. Therefore, the specific point 16 is displaced so as to spread both in the panel surface direction of the door trim 10 and with respect to the inner panel 11.

[0015] Incidentally, a speaker housing portion 17 is often provided in the front lower part of the door trim 10. The speaker housing portion 17 bulges toward the passenger compartment side in order to house the speaker. Therefore, the periphery of the speaker housing portion 17 is likely to bulge toward the passenger compartment side. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the ribs 14 particularly near the center of the panel of the door trim 10 in the vicinity of the speaker housing portion 17. In determining the arrangement of the ribs 14 according to each vehicle type, the above-described results of thermal deformation analysis and the arrangement of other components are further taken into account. Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C), an example will be described in which two ribs 14a and 14b are provided at a location near the speaker housing portion 17 and closer to the center of the panel of the door trim 10 than the speaker housing portion 17.

[0016] The first rib 14a is provided on an inclined surface 18 that is continuous from the speaker housing portion 17 and inclined toward the inner panel 11. On the other hand, the second rib 14b protrudes from the top of an existing boss 19 formed on the door trim 10. The boss 19 appropriately abuts against the inner panel 11 to maintain the distance between the door trim 10 and the inner panel 11 and ensure the shape of the door trim 10. By providing the rib 14b on this boss 19, the long protruding rib 14 can be reinforced by the boss 19.

[0017] Further, FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view showing the region Ω of FIG. 2(A), which is enlarged in FIG. 2(C), at a different angle. Also, FIG. 3(B) is a perspective view further enlarging the region Θ in FIG. 3(A). As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), the tip of the rib 14 is bent in the direction of the displacement on the plate surface of the specific point 16 specified by the above-mentioned thermal deformation analysis, and the hooking claw 21 is formed. That is, the rib 14 is arranged so that the hooking claw 21 faces in the direction of displacement of the specific point 16. However, the direction in which the hooking claw 21 is formed does not necessarily have to exactly coincide with the direction of displacement of the specific point 16. In many cases, the hooking claw 21 is formed to face forward or backward in the direction of the vector component of the displacement in the vehicle front-rear direction. This is because the vehicle door 100 generally has a longer length in the front-rear direction, that is, the width, than the length in the height direction, that is, the vertical width, which is perpendicular to it, so it expands more in the width direction.

[0018] Here, FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) are diagrams showing the arrangement relationship between the first rib 14a and the edge 23 of the insertion hole 24. FIG. 4(A) shows the arrangement state of the first rib 14a at normal temperature. FIG. 4(B) shows the arrangement state of the first rib 14a at high temperature. Also, FIG. 5(A) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the line A-A of FIG. 4(A), and FIG. 5(B) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the line B-B of FIG. 4(A). At normal temperature when the specific point 16 does not displace, the rib 14 is designed so that the hooking claw 21 does not catch on the edge 23 of the insertion hole 24, as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 5(A). In other words, at normal temperature, if the door trim 10 is horizontally pulled away from the inner panel 11, the hooking claw 21 can be smoothly pulled away without catching on the edge 23 of the insertion hole 24.

[0019] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 4(B) and 5(B), the rib 14 is designed so that, at high temperatures, the hooking claw 21, which moves in accordance with the specific point 16, catches on the edge 23 of the insertion hole 24. This hooking claw 21 prevents the door trim 10 from bulging outwards towards the passenger compartment when the door trim 10 attempts to expand due to heat at high temperatures, such as in summer. In other words, the specific point 16 catches on the inner panel 11 with the hooking claw 21, thereby reducing deformation of the door trim 10 at the specific point 16. Thus, the rib 14 is designed so that the hooking claw 21 only engages with the edge 23 when a specific point 16 is displaced due to thermal expansion of the door trim 10.

[0020] The insertion hole 24 may utilize an existing opening in the inner panel 11, or it may be provided separately for the rib 14. The first rib 14a is inserted into a specially provided opening 24a (Figure 4(b)). Meanwhile, the second rib 14b is inserted into an existing opening 24b provided in the inner panel 11 for wiring access. At room temperature, the edges 23 of both openings 24a and 24b do not come into contact with the hooking claws 21, but at high temperatures, they catch on the hooking claws 21 and function as the aforementioned insertion holes 24.

[0021] Here, Figures 6(A) and (B) show the analysis results obtained by analyzing the amount of deformation in the bulging direction of the door trim 10 using thermal deformation analysis. Figure 6(A) shows the analysis results when the rib 14 is not provided, and Figure 6(B) shows the analysis results when the rib 14 is provided at a sample point δ near the speaker housing 17. In this thermal deformation analysis, the position of the clip 12 shown in Figure 2(A) was analyzed while constraining its rotational and translational degrees of freedom. In Figures 6(A) and (B), the darker areas indicate a large amount of bulging in the door trim 10. The lighter areas indicate that the door trim 10 has recessed towards the inner panel 11.

[0022] Figure 6(A) shows that the deformation in the bulging direction around the speaker housing 17 is large. The analysis revealed that the amount of deformation toward the vehicle interior at sample point δ was 0.64, compared to 1 when rib 14 was not provided. In other words, the amount of deformation toward the vehicle interior at sample point δ decreased when rib 14 was provided. Furthermore, by comparing Figures 6(A) and (B), it was confirmed that providing rib 14 reduced the amount of deformation in the bulging direction even at locations far from where rib 14 was provided.

[0023] As described above, the vehicle door 100 according to the first embodiment can prevent the door trim 10 from bulging outwards towards the passenger compartment at high temperatures without hindering the removal and installation of the door trim 10. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the door trim 10 from bulging while maintaining the maintainability of the door trim 10 and its internal components. Furthermore, by integrally molding the rib 14 onto the door trim 10, it is possible to prevent an increase in parts costs due to an increase in the number of parts, as well as an increase in the weight of the vehicle door 100.

[0024] Furthermore, by providing ribs 14 in areas of the door trim 10 where deformation is significant, the application of clips 12 that require a base 13 can be limited to areas where the door trim 10 and the inner panel 11 are close together. Therefore, since there is no need to use a tall base 13, the door trim 10 can be made lighter. Furthermore, by providing the rib 14b on the inclined surface 18, the protruding length of the rib 14b can be shortened compared to the case where it is provided on the bottom of the speaker housing 17. Therefore, the rigidity against load when the hooking claw 21 is caught in the insertion hole 24 can be increased.

[0025] (Second Embodiment) Figures 7(A) and 7(B) are side cross-sectional views of the rib 14 of the vehicle door 100 according to the second embodiment. Figure 7(A) shows the arrangement of ribs 14X at room temperature. Figure 7(B) shows the arrangement of ribs 14X at high temperatures. In the vehicle door 100 according to the second embodiment, as shown in Figures 7(A) and (B), a thin-walled portion 26 is provided on the hooking claw 21 side in the thickness direction of the rib 14. To facilitate the removal of the door trim 10 at room temperature, it is preferable that the insertion hole 24 be as large as possible. However, if the insertion hole 24 is made larger, the hooking claw 21 will have difficulty catching on the edge 23 of the insertion hole 24 at high temperatures.

[0026] Therefore, in the second embodiment, a thin-walled portion 26 is provided on the rib 14, causing the rib 14 to deform so that it collapses towards the hook claw 21 side when the temperature is high. By shaping the side of the rib 14 on the hook claw 21 side to be shaved off, the amount of resin that is shaved off is reduced from expanding. Thus, due to the difference in expansion between the side on the hook claw 21 side and the opposite side, the rib 14 collapses towards the hook claw 21 side when the temperature is high. By tilting the rib 14 in this way and increasing the amount of movement of the hooking claw 21, the hooking claw 21 and the edge 23, which are widely spaced apart at room temperature, will reliably catch at high temperatures.

[0027] Furthermore, the part of the rib 14 that collapses is the thin-walled portion 26 and the part of the rib closer to the tip than the thin-walled portion 26. Therefore, it is preferable that the thin-walled portion 26 be located as close to the base of the rib 14 as possible. Furthermore, the tapered shape of the thin-walled portion 26 does not have to be a rectangular shape as shown in Figures 7(A) and (B). For example, the shape of the thin-walled portion 26 may be a shape that is tapered diagonally from the middle of the rib 14 towards the base.

[0028] Furthermore, Figures 8(A) and 8(B) are side cross-sectional views of the modified rib 14Y. Figure 8(A) shows the arrangement of ribs 14Y at room temperature, and Figure 8(B) shows the arrangement of ribs 14Y at high temperature. In a modified version of the rib 14, as shown in Figures 8(A) and (B), a brace portion 27 is provided on the side of the rib 14 opposite to the hook claw 21. The brace portion 27 connects the rib 14 and the plate surface of the door trim 10 by leaning against the rib 14.

[0029] The bracing portion 27 expands due to thermal expansion at high temperatures, causing the rib 14 to rotate and bend toward the edge portion 23. The bracing portion 27 has the same effect as the thin-walled portion 26 in that it bends the rib 14 and securely hooks it onto the inner panel 11. Furthermore, the shape of the bracing portion 27 is not particularly limited, as long as it can push and bend the rib 14 when it is hot. The shape of the bracing portion 27 may be a plate shape with a width similar to that of the rib 14, or it may be a rod shape or other more complex shapes.

[0030] Except for the fact that the rib 14 is bent down and the hooking claw 21 is hooked onto the edge 23, the second embodiment has the same structure and function as the first embodiment. Therefore, the explanation of redundant structures is omitted. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for similar structures in the drawings, and their explanations are omitted.

[0031] As described above, according to the vehicle door 100 of the second embodiment, the rib 14 is bent inward at high temperatures, increasing the amount of movement of the hooking claw 21, thereby ensuring that the hooking claw 21 is reliably hooked onto the inner panel 11.

[0032] As described above, according to at least one of the vehicle doors 100 according to each embodiment, it is possible to reduce thermal deformation at high temperatures while maintaining easy removal from the door panel 200.

[0033] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and essence of the invention, as well as within the scope of the claims and its equivalents.

[0034] For example, although the embodiment describes a door trim for a side door, the door to which the present invention applies is not limited to a side door, but may be other doors such as a back door. Furthermore, although the rib shape was described as a plate shape in the embodiment, the rib shape may also be a rod shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10...Door trim, 11...Inner panel, 12...Clip, 13...Base, 14(14a,14b,14X,14Y)...Rib, 14a(14)...First rib, 14b(14)...Second rib, 16...Specific point, 17...Speaker housing, 18...Inclined surface, 19...Boss, 21...Hooking claw, 23...Edge, 24...Insertion hole, 24a...Opening, 24b...Opening, 26...Thin wall section, 27...Bracing section, 100...Side door (vehicle door), 200...Door panel, Θ...Region, Ω...Region, δ...Sample point.

Claims

1. The door panel is formed by overlapping and joining the inner panel and the outer panel, A door trim is attached to the side of the inner panel facing the passenger compartment and protrudes toward the interior of the passenger compartment, A rib provided at a specific point on the side surface of the door trim and protruding toward the inner panel, A hooking claw is formed on the tip of the rib in the direction in which the specific point is displaced due to thermal expansion of the door trim, The inner panel has an insertion hole into which the hooking claw is inserted, A vehicle door characterized by comprising: an edge of the insertion hole in which, at room temperature, the hooking claw inserted into the insertion hole is not engaged, and at high temperatures higher than room temperature, the specific point is displaced due to thermal expansion of the door trim, and the hooking claw inserted into the insertion hole is engaged.

2. The vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the hooking claw is directed toward the vehicle longitudinal vector component of the displacement.

3. The vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the rib is integrally molded with the door trim.

4. The door trim is provided with a speaker housing that is formed therein and bulges out toward the interior of the vehicle, The vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the rib is provided on an inclined surface that is continuous with the speaker housing and slopes toward the inner panel.

5. The door trim is provided with a boss that protrudes toward the inner panel, The vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein the rib protrudes from the top of the boss toward the inner panel.

6. The vehicle door according to claim 1, wherein a thin-walled portion is provided on the hooking claw side in the plate thickness direction of the rib.

7. The vehicle door according to claim 6, wherein the thin-walled portion is provided at the base of the rib.

Images