Magna International Inc.

Lawrence Michael Plourde, Jr

David Wayne Cummings

Mari Chellman

Gianfranco Gabbianelli

Ryan Robert Warpup

Azhagu Subramanian

Sten Burris

Armando Perez

Vijaykumar Gabbita

Arun Kumar Reddyvaripalli Narayanaswamy

A door structure system for a vehicle includes an inner panel, an outer panel, and an outer belt reinforcement member. The outer belt reinforcement member extends in a fore-and-aft direction of the door structure. The outer belt reinforcement member creates an overlap joint with a hem flange portion of the inner panel. The outer belt reinforcement member includes touch-down feature that extends toward the inner panel and into contact with a bearing surface of the inner panel that is stepped down relative to the hem flange portion. The overlap joint and the touch-down feature both contribute to an increased upper frame stiffness of the door structure and improve sealing performance between the door structure and the vehicle body structure.

Automotive side door structure

A system for opening and closing a sliding vehicle door includes a vehicle door that engages with the body in the closed position. A longitudinal track is fixedly mounted to an interior of the vehicle door. A hinged bracket is fixedly mounted to the vehicle body adjacent an opening defined by the vehicle body. The hinged bracket has a laterally compressed shape when the door is closed, and expands laterally outward when the door is opened. The door and the track fixed thereto slide longitudinally along the opened hinged bracket when the door is opened. The interface between the hinged bracket and the track remains at the same generally location relative to the vehicle body, and shifts relative to the vehicle door when the door is opened.

Vehicle sliding door system

A vehicle door system includes a door with a door module and a hinge module. The hinge module is attached to the vehicle body. The door module is attached to the hinge module. The hinge module includes a hinge bracket attached to the vehicle body, and a pair of arms extending from the hinge bracket that can pivot relative to the hinge bracket and a cross brace attached at the ends of the arms. The door module attaches to the cross brace. The door module moves along with the cross brace, which moves along with the arms as they pivot relative to the hinge bracket. The door module includes a latch mechanism at a bottom edge, with the latch mechanism engaging with the vehicle body. A lateral edge of the door may seal against a lateral edge of the second door without a latch interface.

Modular individually operable vehicle door

Growing community of inventors

Macomb, MI, United States of America

Lawrence Michael Plourde, Jr