Vehicle provided with a sliding door

Abstract: The present invention relates to a car providing a sliding door (2) comprising guide rails (5₁, 5₂, 5₃) mounted along an entry opening (4) formed on the front half section of a car body (1) and a sliding door used as a front door to be slid through a roller assembly (13₁, 13₂, 13₃) to be engaged with each guide rail (5₁, 5₂, 5₃) when it is opened or shut. In this car, the sliding amount of the sliding door (2) is regulated so as to disable the rear end of the sliding door to be projected from the rear end of a car body (2) when it is opened. And, in order to enable the entry opening to be fully opened, an auxiliary handle (24) is provided in addition to an outside handle (15) and an inside handle (16). Further, the invention also relates to improvement of opening or shutting mechanism and structure of the sliding door.

Description: The present invention relates to a car provided with a sliding door according to the first part of claim 1. Such a sliding door is generally known from FR-A-13 59 899. Object and Summary of the Invention It is, an object of the invention to provide a car providing a sliding door which is capable of limiting an opening amount of the sliding door, and eliminating interference between the sliding door and the back door. It is another object of the invention to provide a car providing a sliding door which is capable of fully opening the sliding door and easily opening or shutting it. It is a further object of the invention to provide a car providing a sliding door which is designed to avoid interference of a door mirror against the operation of an outside door by designing positional relation between the door mirror and the outside door. It is still another object of the invention to provide a car providing a sliding door which is capable of offering fully improved riding comfort, advantage on the supporting strength, and becoming less expensive. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a car providing a sliding door which provides an auxiliary handle on the inner side of the sliding door independently of the door locking inside handle and locates the auxiliary handle on the lower front portion of the sliding door in a manner to allow the sliding door to be easily opened or shut. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 illustrate one embodiment of an automotive vehicle providing a sliding door according to the invention, in which Fig.1 is a concept view showing a car from which a sliding door is removed, Fig.2 is a perspective view showing an entry side wall surface on a car side; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on A - A line of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on B - B line of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a concept view showing structure of a sliding door provided in a car providing a sliding door according to the invention; Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments With reference to Fig. 1, 1 denotes a main body of a car providing a sliding door 2. The car main body 1 has an entry opening 4 for mounting a side panel 3 to a sliding door 2. The sliding door 2 is similar to a normal door provided in a normal passenger car. That is, an upper side length I of the sliding door 2 is longer than an lower side length m and the front portion of the upper side is sloped. 1a denotes a hatch-back type back door. An upper edge 4a and a lower edge 4c of the opening 4 respectively provide an upper guide rail 5₁ and a lower guide rail 5₃. And, a middle guide rail 5₂ is also provided in the similar direction to these upper and lower guide rails 5₁ and 5₃. The upper guide rail 5₁ is formed to have the same surface as the upper edge 4a along the interval from the upper edge 4a of the opening 4 to a rear panel section 3b. The upper guide rail 5₁ further extends along the panel section 3b. The length of the upper guide rail 5₁ is set identical to the length of the lower guide rail 5₃. 6 denotes a quarter garnish provided outside to the upper guide rail 5₁ and formed to be connected with a roof panel 7. The quarter garnish 6 provides at its lower edge a step portion 9 for forming a given gap between a quarter glass 8 and the quarter garnish 6 itself. It also provides at its rear surface a mount flange 6a and an engaging pawl 6b. The quarter garnish 6 is mounted on the car body by fixing the mount flange 6a on a mounting panel mounted on the panel section 3b with a screw 11 and then engaging an engaging portion 12 provided on the top of the mounting panel 10 with the engaging pawl 6b. On the other hand, the sliding door 2 provides guide rollers 13₁, 13₂, 13₃ to be engaged with the upper, middle, and lower guide rails 5₁, 5₂, 5₃ through respective supporting arms 14. The upper guide roller 13₁ is supported by the upper supporting arm 14 mounted at the upper corner of the sliding door 2. The sliding door 2 is designed to be locked by a door locking mechanism when it is shut. The sliding door 2 is opened or closed with an outside handle provided at the outer surface and a door locking inside handle 16 provided at the rear surface. This door locking inside handle 16 is located to avoid interference with an instrument panel 23. 24 denotes an auxiliary handle provided at the front and lower portion on the rear surface of the sliding door 2. The auxiliary handle 24 is located to be behind the lower portion of the instrument panel 23 when the sliding door 2 is shut. The auxiliary handle 24 has a lower and rear end extended rearwardly so as to form an L-character handle and a stopper 25 formed of an elastic material such as rubber which is mounted on the rear end of the extension. The stopper 25 is fixed on a side wall surface 26 of the entry and serves to regulate the opening amount of the sliding door 2 so as to disable the rear end of the sliding door 2 to be projected from the rear end of the sliding door 2. 27 denotes a bead provided on the outer surface of the side panel 3 or the sliding door 2 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bead 27 is provided from a viewpoint of improvement of rigidity of the overall panel and of the design. The bead 27 is provided at a substantially middle position between the guide rails 5₂ and 5₃ in a manner to be essentially in parallel with the guide rails 5₂ and 5₃. The stopper 25 of the auxiliary handle 24 is provided against the entry side wall surface 26 on which the bead 27 is provided. The side wall 26 provides on its inner surface an reinforcing plate 28 as shown in Fig. 4 in a manner to protect the side wall surface 26 from being deformed by the stopper 25 contacted therewith. Next, a description will be directed to structure of the sliding door with reference to Fig. 5. The car body 1 has the side panel (rear quarter panel) 3 curved outward of the car, and the sliding door 2 has a door inner panel 29 curved along the side panel 3. The door inner panel 29 has a tension type door trim installed thereon. The peripheral and central portions of the door trim are fixed on the door inner panel 29 by a clip 31 in a manner to allow the door trim to be formed along the door inner panel 29. In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, the auxiliary handle 24 is fixed on the door inner panel 29 through the door trim by means of a screw 32. Next, when the sliding door 2 is opened from the inside, it is opened on a half way with the door locking inside handle 16 and, after the door locking inside handle 16 passes over the opening 4, it is fully opened with the auxiliary handle 24. At this time, the sliding door 2 operates to open the opening 4 as a result of rotating the guide roller 13₁, 13₂ , 13₃ along the upper,middle, and lower guide rails 5₁, 5₂,and 5₃. And, the upper guide roller 13₁ is traveled along the upper guide rail 5₁ into a gap between the quarter garnish 6 and the quarter glass 8, thereby the sliding door 2 being allowed to be fully opened. On the other hand, when the sliding door 2 is opened, the stopper is fixed on the entry side wall surface 26, thereby the opening distance of the sliding door 2 being regulated. It results in allowing the sliding door 2 to stop at a position where it is disabled to be projected from the rear end of the car body 1. Since the side wall surface 26 is reinforced by the bead 27 and the reinforcing plate, sufficient strength can be offered to this sliding door 2. As set forth above, the car providing a sliding door according to the invention makes it possible to protect the sliding door from being pressed on the back door even if the sliding door is opened in the state that the hatch back type back door is half opened, because the rear end of the sliding door is not projected from the rear end of the car body. And, the invention provides on the inside of the sliding door the auxiliary handle independently of the door locking inside handle, the auxiliary handle being located at the front lower side of the sliding door. Hence, it also makes it possible to open the sliding door fully and easily perform opening or shutting operation. Further, the reinforcing member is provided on the inside of the rear side wall of the entry corresponding to the beat provided in a horizontal manner to the outside of the side body, and the auxiliary handle is fixed on the side wall surface having the reinforcing member so as to limit the opening amount of the sliding door. Hence, it is possible to reinforce the entry side wall surface to protect it from shock given when the sliding door is opened. Further, the outside handle for opening or shutting a door provided on the sliding door is located at the front lower side of the door mirror so as to avoid interference of the door mirror against the manual opening or shutting operation and to allow a passenger to get on or get off the car with smooth manual sliding operation. And, the position of locating the outside handle stays at the front side portion of the sliding door, that is, the portion near the door locking mechanism. Hence, the invention also has an advantage that it is possible to employ some short members such as a locking releasing rod or the like provided between the outside handle and the door locking mechanism. The sliding door has the door inner panel curved like the rear quarter panel and the door trim curved like the door inner panel. Hence, the sliding door is located close to the car side body, thereby a shorter arm for supporting the sliding door on the side body being able to employ and thus the supporting strength being more advantageous. And, when the sliding door is shut, it is possible to keep wider space inside of the car and superior riding comfort. In addition, since the deformed tension type door trim is mounted on the door inner panel, the cost is made lower. The two dust seals serve to screen muddy water and dirt jumped from the lower of the sliding door so that the lower rail is protected from them. Hence, the present invention can improve durability of the lower guide rail more than the conventional structure providing one dust seal at the lower portion of the lower guide rail. In addition, the invention can offer a sufficient sealing effect if these dust seals has low rigidity, so that the sliding door can keep smooth travel at any time.

Claims: A car provided with a sliding door (2) comprising guide rails (5) mounted along an entry opening (4) formed on the front half section of a car body (1) and a sliding door (2) used as a front door to be slid by means of a roller assembly (13) to be engaged with each guide rail when it is opened or shut, said sliding door (2) having means for regulating the amount of sliding of said sliding door (2) from being projected beyond the rear end of a car body when the sliding door (2) is opened, characterized by an auxiliary handle (24) being provided inside of said sliding door (2) on the door inner panel (29) and independently of a door locking inside handle (16), said auxiliary handle (24) having an elastic material (25) mounted thereon being stopped against the side wall surface of the entry opening and that a reinforcing member (28) is provided inside of the rear side wall of an entry opening corresponding to a bead (27) provided on the outside surface of the side body in a horizontal manner and said auxiliary handle (24) is stopped against the side wall (26) providing said reinforcing member (28) in a manner to limit the opening amount of said sliding door (2).

Inventors: ASAI KEIICHI, HORI KAZUNOBU, OGAWA FUMIHIKO, WATANABE TOMOYOSHI, ASAI, KEIICHI, HORI, KAZUNOBU, OGAWA, FUMIHIKO, WATANABE, TOMOYOSHI
Applicants: SUZUKI MOTOR CO, SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E05D15
IPC codes: B60J5, E05D15