Patent ID: 7520557
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
1. A side structure of a vehicle, comprising: a sliding side door for opening and closing a door aperture by sliding along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, an arm which is fixed to the lower end portion of said sliding door and extends laterally toward the passenger compartment, a lower roller which is provided at a distal end of said arm in such a way that the lower roller together with the arm projects laterally toward a passenger compartment; a side sill incorporating a guide rail member for guiding the lower roller along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body when said sliding side door is slid, said side sill having a door slide opening which is directed laterally outward and extends along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; and an engaging member which is fixed to the lower end portion of said sliding side door and extends laterally toward the passenger compartment, wherein said engaging member is located in said door slide opening when said sliding side door is closed, and said engaging member becomes engaged with a peripheral portion of said door slide opening when said sliding side door deforms as a result of a side impact crash.