Door frame structure for vehicle

Abstract

According to the present invention, a door frame structure for a vehicle comprises a door panel that constitutes a door frame, a first sash that is fixed to an upper part of the door frame, a second sash that is joined to the first sash and fixed to a side part of the door frame, and a rail that guides the up / down movement of door glass that is held by the door frame. An extending part that extends along an upper part of the second sash is provided at an end part of the first sash. The rail is provided across the extending part and the second sash and is joined to both the extending part and the second sash.

Description

Vehicle door frame structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a door frame structure for a vehicle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which an upright pillar sash extending in the vertical direction of a door and an upper sash forming the upper edge of the door are joined at a door corner portion.

[0003] Patent No. 6151524

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the end of the upright pillar sash and the end of the upper sash are joined at the corners of the door frame, which poses a problem in terms of the rigidity of the door frame.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle door frame structure that can improve the rigidity of the door frame.

[0006] A vehicle door frame structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes a door panel constituting a door frame, a first sash fixed to an upper portion of the door frame, a second sash fixed to a side portion of the door frame and joined to the first sash, and a rail for guiding the raising and lowering of a door glass held by the door frame. An extension portion is provided at an end of the first sash so as to extend along the upper portion of the second sash. The rail is disposed across the extension portion and the second sash and is joined to both the extension portion and the second sash.

[0007] According to the above vehicle door frame structure, the rigidity of the door frame can be improved.

[0008] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a door frame structure according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a door frame structure according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the door frame structure according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a side view showing the door frame structure according to an embodiment. Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 4. Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 4. Fig. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 4.

[0009] Hereinafter, a vehicle door frame structure according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the lower in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the left and right in the width direction of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the front, rear, lower, left, and right, respectively. Furthermore, components having the same functions as those already described will be assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again. Hereinafter, the left door frame structure of the vehicle will be described. The right door frame structure of the vehicle is similar to the left door frame structure, and therefore will not be described again.

[0010] The vehicle door frame structure according to the embodiment includes a door panel 1 constituting a vehicle door frame 2, a first sash 11 fixed to an upper frame portion 2A of the door frame 2, a second sash 21 fixed to a frame side portion 2B of the door frame 2, and a rail 31 for guiding the raising and lowering of a door glass 4 held by the door frame 2 (see Figures 1, 2, and 4).

[0011] The door panel 1 is a component that constitutes a vehicle door, such as a door inner panel (hereinafter referred to as the door inner panel 1). A frame-shaped door frame 2 having an opening 3 is formed at the top of the door inner panel 1. A door glass 4 is arranged in the opening 3, which is surrounded by the inner edge of the door frame 2, so that it can be raised and lowered (see Figures 1-4).

[0012] The door frame 2 includes an upper frame portion 2A, side frame portions 2B, and frame corner portions 2C, which are corner portions of the door frame 2. The upper frame portion 2A extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The side frame portions 2B extend downward while sloping rearward from the lower end portion of the rear end of the upper frame portion 2A. The rear end of the upper frame portion 2A is connected to the upper end of the side frame portions 2B at the frame corner portions 2C. The extending directions of the upper frame portion 2A and the side frame portions 2B are not limited to those described above; the upper frame portion 2A may be slanted relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the side frame portions 2B may extend in the vertical direction.

[0013] A first sash 11 and a second sash 21 are fixed to the door frame 2 as reinforcing members (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The first sash 11 is disposed along the frame upper portion 2A, extends substantially in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is fixed to the outer side of the frame upper portion 2A in the vehicle width direction. In the following description, the first sash 11 will be referred to as the upper sash 11. The second sash 21 is disposed along the frame side portion 2B, extends downward while slanting rearward, and is fixed to the outer side of the frame side portion 2B in the vehicle width direction. In the following description, the second sash 21 will be referred to as the side sash 21. The arrangement of the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 is not limited to the above; the upper sash 11 may be disposed at an angle relative to the frame upper portion 2A, and the side sash 21 may be disposed at an angle relative to the frame side portion 2B.

[0014] The upper sash 11 includes an upper main body portion 12, a corner portion 13, and an extension portion 14 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The upper main body portion 12 forms a portion that extends along the frame upper portion 2A. The corner portion 13 forms the rear portion of the upper sash 11 and is fixed to a frame corner portion 2C. The configuration of the extension portion 14 will be described later.

[0015] The side sash 21 includes a side main body portion 22 and an upper portion 23 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The side main body portion 22 constitutes the lower and central portions of the side sash 21. The upper portion 23 constitutes the upper portion of the side sash 21 and extends from the side main body portion 22 toward the corner portion 13 of the upper sash 11. In other words, the upper portion 23 extends from the side main body portion 22 toward the corner portion 13 along the frame side portion 2B of the door frame 2.

[0016] In this embodiment, the upper portion 23 extends from the rear of the side main body portion 22 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). That is, the base end of the upper portion 23 is formed at the rear of the side main body portion 22. The tip 23A of the upper portion 23 may be disposed so as to overlap the lower end of the corner portion 13 in the thickness direction (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The front edge of the upper portion 23 is formed to be set back rearward from the front edge of the side main body portion 22. That is, the width of the upper portion 23 when viewed in the vehicle width direction is narrower than the width of the side main body portion 22. In other words, the outer shape of the side sash 21 has a shape in which the upper and front portions of the side sash 21 are cut out. Therefore, the outer shape of the side sash 21 when viewed from the inside in the vehicle width direction is generally L-shaped (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4).

[0017] The extension portion 14 extends from a portion of the corner portion 13 along the upper portion 23 of the side sash 21 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). That is, the extension portion 14 extends from the lower end of the corner portion 13 in the extension direction of the side sash 21. Therefore, the extension portion 14 is formed along the upper portion 23 of the side sash 21 and the frame side portion 2B of the door frame 2. In this embodiment, the extension portion 14 is formed extending from a lower end slightly forward of the rear end of the corner portion 13 toward the side main body portion 22. That is, the base end of the extension portion 14 is formed at a lower end slightly forward of the rear end of the corner portion 13. The tip of the extension portion 14 may be positioned so as to overlap the upper end of the side main body portion 22 in the thickness direction (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The front edge of the extension portion 14 approximately coincides with the inner edge of the frame side portion 2B.

[0018] The extension portion 14 may have an overlapping portion 15 that is joined to and overlaps with a portion of the side sash 21 when joined to the door frame 2. In the embodiment, the overlapping portion 15 is formed to protrude rearward from a portion of the rear edge of the extension portion 14 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The overlapping portion 15 may be provided with an upper sash hole 15A that communicates with the extension portion 14 in the thickness direction (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). In this case, when joined to the door frame 2, the overlapping portion 15 and the upper sash hole 15A are positioned to overlap with the side sash 21 when viewed in the thickness direction of the door frame 2 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). In other words, when joined to the door frame 2, the overlapping portion 15 and the upper sash hole 15A are positioned rearward of a portion of the front edge of the side sash 21.

[0019] When joined to the door frame 2, side sash holes 23B communicating with the side sashes 21 in the thickness direction may be provided at positions corresponding to the upper sash holes 15A of the overlapping portions 15 when viewed in the thickness direction of the door frame 2. In this embodiment, the side sash holes 23B are provided in the upper portion 23 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The upper sash holes 15A and the side sash holes 23B are located at the same positions in the drawings. The position and shape of the extension portions 14 are not limited to those described above, as long as they extend from the corner portions 13, which are the ends of the upper sash 11, along the upper portions 23 of the side sashes 21. When viewed in the thickness direction of the door frame 2, the edges of the extension portions 14 and the corner portions 13 may be positioned overlapping or adjacent to the side sashes 21 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4).

[0020] The rail 31 is disposed along the frame side portion 2B, extends downward while inclining rearward, and is fixed to the outer side of the frame side portion 2B in the vehicle width direction (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). The rail 31 is also disposed on the inner side of the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 in the vehicle width direction (see FIGS. 5A-5C). That is, the rail 31 is disposed between the frame side portion 2B and the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 in the vehicle width direction. The rail 31 guides the lifting and lowering of the door glass 4 held in the door frame 2. More specifically, when the door glass 4 is lifted to the upper end of the opening 3 of the door frame 2, a portion of the peripheral edge of the door glass 4 is accommodated in the rail 31. A rail 32 for lifting and lowering the door glass 4 may be disposed at the lower part of the frame side portion 2B of the door frame 2 (see FIG. 4). The lifting and lowering rail 32 may be disposed below the rail 31. Note that the lifting and lowering rail 32 is omitted from FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0021] The rail 31 is disposed across the extension portion 14 and the side sash 21 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). That is, when viewed in the vehicle width direction, the upper portion of the rail 31 is disposed overlapping the extension portion 14. The lower portion of the rail 31 is disposed overlapping the side sash 21. A portion of the rail 31 may be formed into a groove shape having a U-shaped open cross section. The open portion of the U-shape may be disposed facing the opening 3. The rail 31 may include an upper wall 31U, which is an upper wall facing the U-shape, and a lower wall 31D, which is a lower wall facing the U-shape (see FIGS. 5B and 5C). In this case, a portion of the peripheral portion of the door glass 4 can be accommodated between the upper wall 31U and the lower wall 31D.

[0022] The rail 31 is joined to the extension portion 14 at an upper joint point P1 provided in a portion overlapping the extension portion 14 in the thickness direction. At the upper joint point P1, a rivet R is inserted from the extension portion 14 into the upper wall 31U of the rail 31 and fastened, thereby joining the rail 31 and the extension portion 14 (see FIG. 5B ). The rail 31 is joined to the side sash 21 at a lower joint point P2 provided in a portion overlapping the side sash 21 in the thickness direction. At the lower joint point P2, a rivet R is inserted from the side sash 21 into the upper wall 31U of the rail 31 and fastened, thereby joining the rail 31 and the side sash 21 (see FIG. 5C ). The joining method of the rail 31 to the extension portion 14 and the side sash 21 is not limited to the above and may be, for example, spot welding.

[0023] A molding member 5 may be disposed on the upper portion of the door frame structure according to the embodiment, covering a portion of the upper sash 11 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 3 ). A cover 6 may be disposed on the side portion of the door frame structure, covering a portion of the upper sash 11, the side sash 21, the rail 31, and the lift rail 32 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction. A door outer panel 7, for example, is disposed on the outer side of the door inner panel 1 in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] The procedure for joining the upper sash 11, the side sashes 21, and the rail 31 to the door frame 2 will be described. First, a jig having a pin extending in one direction is used, and the pin is inserted into a hole provided in the door frame 2. Next, the rail 31 is placed in a predetermined position on the door frame 2. Next, the pin of the jig is inserted into the upper sash hole 15A provided in the overlapping portion 15 of the extension portion 14. Then, the pin of the jig is inserted into the side sash hole 23B in the upper portion 23 of the side sash 21. This allows the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 to be placed in a predetermined position on the door frame 2. That is, by inserting the pin into the upper sash hole 15A and the side sash hole 23B, the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 can be simultaneously positioned relative to the door frame 2. In this state, the rail 31 is joined to the extension portion 14 and the side sash 21 by riveting. Thereafter, the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 are joined to the door frame 2 by welding. Note that the procedure and method for joining the above-mentioned components are not limited to the above. For example, instead of using a jig with a pin, a pin extending in the thickness direction may be provided on the door frame 2. In this case, too, the pin can be inserted through the upper sash hole 15A and the side sash hole 23B in the same manner as above, and the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 can be simultaneously positioned relative to the door frame 2.

[0025] (1) The vehicle door frame structure according to the embodiment includes a door panel 1 constituting a vehicle door frame 2, an upper sash 11 fixed to a frame upper portion 2A of the door frame 2, a side sash 21 fixed to a frame side portion 2B of the door frame 2 and joined to the upper sash 11, and a rail 31 that guides the raising and lowering of a door glass 4 held in the door frame 2. An extension portion 14 is provided at an end portion 11A of the upper sash 11 so as to extend along an upper portion 23 of the side sash 21. The rail 31 is disposed across the extension portion 14 and the side sash 21 and is joined to both the extension portion 14 and the side sash 21.

[0026] According to the above-described configuration, the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 are each fixed to the door frame 2 as reinforcing members. That is, the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 are configured separately as reinforcing members of the door frame 2. This allows for more effective use of component material than when the reinforcing members of the door frame 2 are configured as a single unit, thereby improving the yield rate of component molding. Furthermore, the rail 31 is disposed across the extension portion 14 of the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 and is joined to the extension portion 14 and the side sash 21, thereby reinforcing the portion of the door frame 2 where the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 are separately disposed. This improves the rigidity of the door frame 2.

[0027] (2) In the embodiment, the extension portion 14 has an overlapping portion 15 that is joined to and overlaps a portion of the side sash 21 in the thickness direction. The overlapping portion 15 and the side sash 21 are respectively provided with an upper sash hole 15A and a side sash hole 23B that are holes for positioning the extension portion 14 relative to the door panel 1. According to the above configuration, the upper sash hole 15A and the side sash hole 23B can simultaneously position the upper sash 11 and the side sash 21 relative to the door frame 2, facilitating the assembly of the door frame structure.

[0028] The above-described embodiments are merely examples described to facilitate understanding of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above-described embodiments, but also includes various modifications, changes, alternative technologies, etc. that can be easily derived therefrom.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the door frame of the left rear door of a vehicle, but it may also be applied to door frames such as a front door.

[0030] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Door inner panel (door panel) 2 Door frame 2A Frame upper part (upper part) 2B Frame side part (side part) 4 Door glass 11 Upper sash (first sash) 11A End part 14 Extension part 15 Overlap part 15A Upper sash hole (hole) 21 Side sash (second sash) 23 Upper part 23B Side sash hole (hole) 31 Rail

Claims

1. A door frame structure comprising: a door panel that constitutes a vehicle door frame; a first sash fixed to the top of the door frame; a second sash fixed to the side of the door frame and joined to the first sash; and a rail that guides the raising and lowering of a door glass held in the door frame, wherein an extension portion is provided at the end of the first sash so as to extend along the top of the second sash, and the rail is positioned across the extension portion and the second sash and is joined to both the extension portion and the second sash.

2. The door frame structure according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion has an overlapping portion that overlaps and is joined to a portion of the second sash in the thickness direction, and the overlapping portion and the second sash are each provided with holes for positioning them relative to the door panel.

Images