Automobile side door assembly

Abstract

A side door assembly in an automobile body structure for selectively opening and closing an access opening includes a generally rectangular double-walled door panel structure having a windowpane chamber and a windowpane slot both defined therein. A windowpane is supported for movement between elevated and lowered positions through the windowpane slot such that the windowpane in the lowered position can be substantially concealed within the windowpane chamber. The side door assembly also comprises a window sash mounted on the door panel structure so as to extend above the windowpane slot. This window sash has a front sash portion, a generally horizontally extending sash portion continued from the front sash portion and a generally upright rear sash portion continued from the horizontally extending sash portion. There is also provided a bezel mounted on the door panel structure at a location rearwardly of the upright sash portion and at a level above the waist level of an individual. A door handle is operatively supported by the bezel for pivotal movement between released and locked positions, and a weather strip is fitted to the horizontally extending sash portion and a rear edge of the bezel so as to continue from the horizontally extending sash portion down to a rear edge of the door panel structure by way of the rear edge of the bezel.