Patent ID: 9592721
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: B60J

Claim:
1. A vehicle door structure comprising: a first door panel having a main upright portion, a front wall portion extending vertically along a front area of the main upright portion, a rear wall portion extending vertically along a rear area of the main upright portion and a lower wall portion extending horizontally along a lower area of the main upright portion from a lower end of the front wall portion to a lower end of the rear wall portion, the main upright portion, the front wall portion, the rear wall portion and the lower wall portion at least partially defining a door cavity; and a reinforcing structure extending between the front wall portion and the rear wall portion within the door cavity, the reinforcing structure including a first bracket fixed to at least one of the front wall portion and the main upright portion of the first door panel and a reinforcing bar having a first end section rigidly fixed to the first bracket, the first end section of the reinforcing bar having a contoured end surface that is spaced apart from adjacent surfaces of the first bracket when the first bracket is in an undeformed state, the contoured end surface being shaped to correspond with a shape of the first bracket and maximize surface area contact between the first end section of the reinforcing bar and the adjacent surfaces of the first bracket when the first bracket is moved to a deformed state upon application of sufficient force acting on the reinforcing bar in a direction causing the reinforcing bar to move toward the main upright portion of the first door panel.