Mazda Motor Corporation

Morio Umeda

Takeshi Konishi

Takanori Tuchiya

Koji Kuraoka

Hisao Fukutomi

Yutaka Imura

Takeshi Yamamoto

Nobutaka Tanaka

Hideyuki Katoh

Takesi Konisi

The vehicle door construction contains an inner door panel and an outer door panel with a skeleton juxtaposed by the inner and outer door panels and mounted with interior door parts. The vehicle door construction is assembled with the vehicle body by mounting the interior door parts on the skeleton and then mounting the inner door panel on the skeleton. This vehicle door construction permits a less laborious assembly of the side door and enhances serviceability.

Method of assembling a vehicle door

An open-top vehicle including a foldable hood supported by a U-shaped pillar and a linkage for extending and folding the hood and pillar. At each side, a reversible motor is provided for actuating the linkage. There is provided a motor control circuit which prohibits motor operation when the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value.

Open-top vehicle having a power operated roof structure

An open-top vehicle body structure including a foldable hood and a linkage for extending and folding the hood. At each side, a reversible motor is provided for actuating the linkage. In order to synchronize the operation of the motors at the respective sides, a connecting rod or flexible shaft is provided and connects together the output shafts of the motor. The linkage includes a swingable pillar of an inverted U-shape having opposite leg portions mounted on the body section for swinging movement about a transverse extending horizontal axis. The hood is connected at a front edge portion to the swingable pillar and at a rear edge portion to a part of the body located rearwardly of the swingable pillar. A rigid roof panel is removably mounted between a swingable pillar and a front windshield. The rotation of the motors produces a swingable movement of the pillar. The linkage includes a first link having one end pivotably connected with the leg portion of the swingable pillar and a second link having one end pivotably connected with the other end of the first link. The other end of the second link is connected with an upward shaft of the motor.

Upper body structure of an open-top vehicle

A vehicle door structure including a door panel assembly made of an outer panel of a plastic material and an inner panel of a plastic material which are connected together at front, rear and lower edge portions. A reinforcement frame is provided in the door panel assembly and includes a front member extending substantially along the front edge portion of the door panel assembly, a rear member extending substantially along the rear edge portion of the door panel assembly and a longitudinal member extending between the front and rear members. The longitudinal member is connected with the front member through a gusset plate rigidly so that a sideward rigidity of the door structure can be ensured.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Morio Umeda