Abstract:
In an example, a vehicle door module has a carrier carrying a plurality of functional door hardware components. The carrier defines a wet side facing towards a door cavity and a dry side facing away from the door cavity. The door includes an inner door panel having a front pocket and a rear pocket. The carrier includes front and rear latch presenters and carries front and rear door latches on the dry side thereof which seat in the front and rear door pockets. The latches are connected to reinforcement plates which are connected by fasteners at positions surrounding the door pockets thus enabling each latch to be easily accessed for service by simply removing the corresponding reinforcement plate, which may be located under an easily removed interior trim panel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/491,285, filed May 30, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to vehicle doors and door modules and more particularly to a vehicle door and a door module that carries a latch for the vehicle door. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In a door module, a variety of functional door hardware components are pre-assembled onto a plate or some other form of carrier so that these components can all be loaded into a vehicle door at one time on the vehicle assembly line and save assembly steps. Examples of door modules are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,004, U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,919, U.S. Publication No. 2011/0308163, and PCT Publication No. 2008/138122. 
         [0004]    It is also known to utilize a door module for a sliding vehicle door such as found in passenger minivans. However, some door modules for sliding vehicle doors do not include components such as locking mechanisms. Instead, the locking mechanisms are separately installed within the door cavity, making the locking mechanisms difficult to service, as the entire module must be removed in order to access the locking mechanisms. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In an aspect, a sliding vehicle door is provided. The sliding vehicle door includes an outer door panel and an inner door panel joined to the outer door panel so as to define a door cavity between the inner and outer door panels. The inner door panel has an aperture providing access to the door cavity. A door module including a carrier carrying a plurality of functional door hardware components is mounted to the inner door panel to seal the aperture. The carrier defines a wet side of the door module facing towards the door cavity and a dry side of the door module facing away from the door cavity. The inner door panel includes a front pocket positioned adjacent a front edge of the inner door panel and extending towards the outer door panel. The inner door panel further includes a rear pocket positioned adjacent a rear edge of the inner door panel and extending towards the outer door panel. The carrier includes a front latch presenter positioned to at least partially seat in the front pocket. The carrier further includes a rear latch presenter positioned to at least partially seat in the rear pocket. The door module includes a front latch that is carried by the front latch presenter on the dry side of the door module so as to be at least partially seated in the front pocket. The door module includes a rear latch that is carried by the rear latch presenter on the dry side of the door module so as to be at least partially seated in the rear pocket. 
         [0006]    In the foregoing manner, the front and rear latches are no longer located in the door cavity but instead both latches are located in more easily accessible places. 
         [0007]    The front latch presenter may include a shroud having an outer wall and top and bottom walls, with the front latch being positioned on the front latch presenter such that the shroud outer wall lies between the front latch and the inner door panel front pocket. The front latch presenter shroud may be impervious to water and electrical connections may be made to the front latch within the front latch presenter shroud. The front latch presenter may be integrally formed with the carrier. 
         [0008]    Likewise, the rear latch presenter may include a shroud having an outer wall and top and bottom walls, with the rear latch being positioned on the rear latch presenter such that the shroud outer wall lies between the rear latch and the inner door panel rear pocket. The rear latch presenter shroud may be impervious to water and electrical connections may be made to the rear latch within the rear latch presenter shroud. The rear latch presenter may also be integrally formed with the carrier. 
         [0009]    A front latch reinforcement plate may be connected to the front latch, and the front latch may be connected to the inner door panel by connecting the front latch reinforcement plate to the inner door panel with fasteners at positions outside the front pocket and outside of the front latch. The front latch reinforcement plate may include a first wall and an adjoining side wall transversely oriented to the first wall, and the inner door panel may include a longitudinal wall that is supported by the front latch reinforcement plate side wall. 
         [0010]    Likewise, a rear latch reinforcement plate may be connected to the rear latch, and the rear latch may be connected to the inner door panel by connecting the rear latch reinforcement plate to the inner door panel with fasteners at positions outside the rear pocket and outside of the rear latch. The rear latch reinforcement plate may include top, bottom and side wings that respectively attach to points above, below and to the side of the rear pocket. 
         [0011]    In the foregoing manner, the front or rear latch can be easily accessed for service by simply removing the corresponding reinforcement plate, which may be located under an easily removed interior trim panel. 
         [0012]    At least one of the front and rear latch presenters may include slots positioned on the dry side of the door module for routing at least one cable or wire connected to the latch carried by the at least one of the front and rear latch presenters. At least one of the front and rear latch presenters may also include a web portion along which the at least one cable or wire travels along the dry side of the door module, and a cover may cover the web portion. 
         [0013]    An inside handle may be mounted to the dry side of the carrier and operatively connected to the front and rear latches. 
         [0014]    At least one of the front and rear latches may be a cinching latch. 
         [0015]    The door module may include a window regulator including drive cable and a cable drum positioned on the wet side of the carrier and a motor positioned on the dry side of the carrier and operatively connected to the cable drum through an aperture in the carrier. The wet side of the carrier may incorporate a network of channels in which the drive cable runs. The window regulator may include at least one lift bracket connected to the drive cable and the wet side of the carrier may include at least one integrally formed rail guiding the at least one lift bracket. 
         [0016]    At least one glass run channel may be mounted separately to the inner door panel for guiding edges of a window. 
         [0017]    In another aspect a vehicle door is provided which may be a sliding vehicle door, or which may be another kind of door, such as a hinged vehicle door. The vehicle door includes an outer door panel, an inner door panel joined to the outer door panel, and a door module including a carrier carrying a plurality of functional door hardware components mounted to the inner door panel. The carrier includes a latch presenter positioned to at least partially seat in a pocket on the inner door panel. The door module includes a latch carried by the latch presenter. A latch reinforcement plate is connected to the latch, and is connected to the inner door panel by a plurality of fasteners at positions outside of the latch. 
         [0018]    In yet another aspect, a vehicle door is provided which may be a sliding vehicle door, or which may be another kind of door, such as a hinged vehicle door, which includes a an outer door panel, an inner door panel joined to the outer door panel, and a door module including a carrier carrying a plurality of functional door hardware components mounted to the inner door panel, and wherein the carrier includes a latch presenter positioned on a dry side of the door module and positioned to at least partially seat in the pocket, wherein the latch presenter is integral with the carrier and made from a polymeric material. The door module includes a latch carried by the latch presenter on the dry side of the door module so as to be at least partially seated in a pocket on the inner door panel. The door module further includes a latch reinforcement plate covering the latch. The latch reinforcement plate is connected to the inner door panel by a plurality of fasteners. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The foregoing and other aspects will now be described by way of example only with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a first side of a door module; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a second side (opposite the first side) of the door module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the door module shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the door module shown in  FIG. 1  in the process of being mounted to an inner panel of a vehicle sliding door; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  is a magnified perspective view of a latch portion of the door module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  is a magnified view of a portion of the vehicle sliding door to which a glass run channel is mounted; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a carrier portion of the door module shown in  FIG. 1 , as seen from the first side of the door module; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the carrier portion of the door module shown in  FIG. 1 , as seen from the second side of the door module; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the vehicle sliding door shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a side view, taken from the first side, of the door module shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to the inner panel of the vehicle sliding door; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a side view, taken from the second side, of the door module shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to the inner panel of the vehicle sliding door. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a first side of a door module  10  and  FIG. 2  shows a second side of the door module  10 , the second side being opposite to the first side. The first side of the door module  10  seen in  FIG. 1  may be referred to in this document as the “dry side” because, as discussed in greater detail below, when the door module  10  is installed in a vehicle door, the door module  10  seals the passenger compartment against the ambient environment such that the first side, which faces towards the passenger compartment, is protected from the environment and remains dry. Similarly, the second side of the door module  10  seen in  FIG. 2  may be referred to in this document as the “wet side” because when the door module  10  is installed in a vehicle door the second side of the door module  10  faces outwardly, away from the passenger compartment, and may be exposed to the ambient environment as a result of apertures in the vehicle door (such as the large slot through which a window moves between opened and closed positions). 
         [0032]    The door module  10  includes a carrier  12 , which is generally plate-like in configuration, although it will be understood that the carrier  12  has a variety of integrally formed three dimensional features as discussed in greater detail below. The carrier  12  holds a variety of functional door hardware components so as to minimize the handling of individual door components and reduce assembly time by aligning at one time multiple door hardware components to the installation positions of the door hardware components. The carrier  12  may be structural in the sense that the door hardware components may be mounted on the carrier  12  without requiring additional fasteners to mount the door hardware components to the vehicle sheet metal once the carrier  12  is mounted in the vehicle door. Alternatively, the carrier  12  may be non-structural such that additional fasteners are needed to mount the door components to the vehicle sheet metal after the carrier  12  is mounted to the vehicle door. The carrier  12  may alternatively be semi-structural, enabling some door hardware components to be mounted solely to the carrier  12  and requiring other door hardware components that are subject to greater stress to be additionally fastened to the vehicle sheet metal. The carrier  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is semi-structural as will be apparent from the description that follows. The carrier  12  may be manufactured from structural or non-structural resin (or any other suitable polymer) and formed using an injection moulding process as known in the art. Alternatively, the carrier  12  may be formed from other materials such as metal in a “super plastic” forming process as known in the art. Other known manufacturing methods are also possible. 
         [0033]    Referring additionally to  FIG. 4 , the door module  10  illustrated in the drawings is configured for installation to a sliding vehicle door  100  having a window  108  that moves up and down as is popular in late model minivans. The sliding vehicle door  100  includes an inner door panel  102  joined to an outer door panel  104  at the peripheries of the inner and outer door panels  102 ,  104  so as so to define a door cavity  106  between the inner and outer door panels  102 ,  104 . The inner door panel  102  may be made from sheet metal and may in such circumstances be referred to as an inner sheet metal layer  102 . The outer door panel  104  may be made from sheet metal and may in such circumstances be referred to as an outer sheet metal layer. The outer door panel  104  is schematically illustrated by a silhouette line. 
         [0034]    The window  108  is stored in the door cavity  106  when the window  108  is opened. The inner door panel  102  includes an aperture  110  providing access to the door cavity  106 . 
         [0035]    The carrier  12  includes a circumferential sealing bead  14  on the wet side of the carrier  12  that may be provided in any suitable way. For example, if the carrier  12  is injection molded the sealing bead  14  may be co-molded with the carrier  12 . As seen best in  FIG. 10  the carrier  12  is mounted against the inner door panel  102  with the circumferential sealing bead  14  surrounding the aperture  110 . The carrier  12  is substantially impervious to water and once the carrier  12  is mounted the sealing bead  14  is compressed to take up any irregularities in the mating surfaces of the carrier  12  and the inner door panel  102  to substantially prevent the infiltration of moisture into the passenger cabin. 
         [0036]    A trim panel (not shown) covers the door module  10  for aesthetic purposes. The trim panel may provide various convenience features such as a map holder, a cup holder and an armrest. 
         [0037]    The door module  10  as illustrated in the drawings carries most if not all of the functional door hardware components for the sliding vehicle door  100 . The major door hardware components for the sliding vehicle door  100  may include: a window regulator  20 , a main door latch  24 , a cinching latch  30 , an inside handle  34 , an electronic control unit (ECU)  36  and a wire harness  38 . Depending on the design of the sliding vehicle door  100  the door module  10  may omit one or more of these aforementioned door hardware components or include other or additional door hardware components such as a speaker (not shown). For example, the door module  10  may omit the window regulator  20  in circumstances where the door module  10  is intended for a sliding vehicle door that has a fixed window. 
         [0038]    In the door module  10  illustrated in the drawings the carrier  12  functions as an integral part of the window regulator  20  in that the carrier  12  supports and guides operating elements of the window regulator  20 . Referring in particular to  FIG. 2 , the window regulator  20  includes two lift brackets  40  to which the window  108  (see  FIG. 10 ) may be connected after the door module  10  is installed. Examples of suitable lift brackets are disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO2008/138122 entitled “Window Regulator Assembly for a Vehicle”, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety, although the door module  10  may use other types of lift brackets. Each lift bracket  40  is guided by a rail track  42  that is integrally molded in the body of the carrier  12 . The carrier  12  thus has two rail tracks  42 , each of which includes two parallel rails  44  that are positioned within a longitudinal channel  46  provided in the carrier  12 . Each lift bracket  40  includes at least one slot or edge (not shown) that interacts with at least one of the rails  44  and is thus guided for movement by at least one of the rails  44 . The rail tracks  42  including longitudinal channels  46  may be curve-linear in form, as illustrated, allowing the lift brackets  40  and consequently the window  108  to follow a curve-linear path to match the outer contour of the vehicle. 
         [0039]    As seen best in the isolated views of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the longitudinal channels  46  may be provided as depressions in the wet side of the carrier  12  and elevations on the dry side of the carrier  12  in order to minimize the overall depth of the door module  10 . 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lift brackets  40  are driven along the rail tracks  42  by a cable drive system  50 . The cable drive system  50  includes a wire or cable  52  which is connected to the lift brackets  40  and guided along a drive path by cable guides  54 . The cable  52  is connected to a cable drive drum  56 , as known in the art, which is mounted for rotation in a nesting mount  58  located on the wet side of the carrier  12 . A bidirectional motor  60  is located on the dry side of the carrier  12  and connected to the cable drive drum  56  via a shaft (not shown) which extends through a hole  57  (see  FIG. 7 ) in the carrier  12  to the dry side to interconnect the cable drive drum  56  and motor  60 . The motor  60  is controlled by the ECU  36 . When the ECU  36  rotates the motor  60  in one directional sense, the cable drive drum  56  is also rotated to tension the cable  52  and the move the lift brackets  40  and window  108  in one direction, and conversely when the ECU reverses the rotation of the motor the lift brackets  40  and window  108  move in the opposite direction. 
         [0041]    As seen best in  FIG. 7 , the nesting mount  58  is provided by a depression  62  and an overhanging web  64  formed in the carrier  12  that cooperate with one another to seat the cable drive drum  56  between the depression  62  and the overhanging web  64 . A rivet  66  (see  FIG. 2 ) is installed through the overhanging web  64  to journal the cable drive drum  56  at the wet side of the carrier  12 . The overhanging web  64  also includes a series of ribs  68  extending radially from the rivet  66  to increase the stiffness of the overhanging web  64 . The window module  10  may utilize other mounting structures. 
         [0042]    The carrier  12  also includes integrally formed cross-channels  70  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) that join with the longitudinal channels  46  allowing the cable  52  to run cleanly through the network of longitudinal channels  46  and cross-channels  70  whilst minimizing the risk of the cable  52  being snared by the window  108  or other portion of the sliding vehicle door  100  as the window  108  moves up or down. 
         [0043]    The cable  52  may be unsheathed, as illustrated, and guided entirely by the cable guides  54  such as rotating pulleys  72  or fixed directional guides  74 . The illustrated door module  10  includes three pulleys  72  and one fixed guide  74  but the number of pulleys or fixed guides may vary depending on the requirements of the window regulator  20  such as how much damping, if any, is required in the cable drive system  50 . The cable  52  may also be a one piece element or formed from multiple segments as known in the art. The cable drive system  50  may also omit one or more of the cable guides  54  and utilize sheathed cable as an alternative technique for routing the cable  52  along one or more legs of the cable drive path. 
         [0044]    The fixed cable guides  74  may be formed as an integral part of the carrier  12 . The pulleys  72  are separate components which are fastened to the carrier  12  using pulley fasteners  76 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , to move the lift brackets  40  and window  108  upwards the cable drive drum  56  rotates counterclockwise and thus pulley  54 B bears high load stress. In order to support the high load this pulley  54 B utilizes a conical pulley bearing member  78  which enables the pulley  54 B to operate at high load without deforming the carrier  12  as described in PCT Publication No. WO2008/138122. The conical pulley bearing member  78  may be utilized for other pulleys or omitted altogether, and/or other techniques for dealing with loading stresses may be employed depending on the application. 
         [0045]    The window regulator  20  as shown in the drawings utilizes a dual rail structure, however it will be noted that the door module  10  may employ a single rail (with single or dual lift brackets) structure or a structure that utilizes more than two rail tracks and/or lift brackets. Likewise, each rail track  42  may have only one rail  44  or include more than two rails  44  depending on the particular configuration of the lift bracket  40  and the manner in which the lift bracket  40  is guided by the rail  44 . 
         [0046]    To facilitate installation, the door module  10  as illustrated does not incorporate glass run channels for guiding edges of the window  108 . Instead, glass run channels  80  are intended to be either integrated in the structure of the sliding vehicle door  100  or mounted separately to the sliding vehicle door as shown in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0047]    The locking mechanisms connected to the door module  10  include the cinching latch  30  and the main door latch  24 . The cinching latch  30  locks the sliding vehicle door  100  when the sliding vehicle door  100  is closed and the cinching latch  30  has a cinching mechanism as known in the art for clinching the sliding vehicle door  100  shut when the sliding vehicle door  100  nears full closure. The main door latch  24  locks the vehicle sliding vehicle door  100  and provides substantial support against opening stresses. The inside handle  34  cooperates with the cinching latch  30  and the main door latch  24  to open the cinching latch  30  and the main door latch  24  and lock the latches  24 ,  30 , depending on the position of the sliding vehicle door  100 . In the illustrated door module  10 , the window regulator motor  60  also functions to actuate various locking and unlocking levers of the cinching latch  30  and/or the main latch  24  as known in the art and is connected to a distribution plate  84  that controls various cables  88  connected to various levers of the cinching latch  30  and/or the main door latch  24 . The ECU  36  is electrically connected to the inside handle  34  and controls the window regulator motor  60  as known in the art in order to selectively tension the cables  88  through the distribution plate  84  as known in the art and effect various opening, closing and/or locking sequences of the sliding vehicle door  100  in response to manipulation of the inside handle  34 . 
         [0048]    To support the locking mechanisms, the carrier  12  includes an integral handle bracket  90  and front and rear latch presenters  92 ,  94  that position the cinching latch  30  and main latch  24 , respectively, relative to the inner door panel  102  of the sliding vehicle door  100 . The latch presenters  92 ,  94  locate the cinching latch  30  and main latch  24  on the dry side of the carrier  12 , and as discussed in greater detail below, enable the cinching latch  30  and the main latch  24  to be easily serviced. 
         [0049]    The inner door panel  102  of the sliding vehicle door  100  illustrated in the drawings differs from the conventional in that the inner door panel  102  includes a front pocket  112  at a front edge of the inner door panel  102 . The front pocket  112  extends outwards toward the outer door panel  104  and substantially reduces the distance between the inner and outer door panels  102  in the area of the rear pocket  112 . 
         [0050]    The inner door panel  102  further differs from the conventional in that the inner door panel  102  includes a rear pocket  114  at a rear edge of the inner door panel  102 . The rear pocket  114  extends outwards toward the outer door panel  104  and substantially reduce the distance between the inner and outer door panels  102 ,  104  in the area of the rear pocket  114 . 
         [0051]    The front and rear pockets  112 ,  114  may be formed via a deep draw in inner door panel  102  and may be formed through known manufacturing techniques such as progressive die stamping or hydroforming. The pockets  112 ,  114  are configured to allow the main latch  24  and the cinching latch  30  to be positioned on the dry side even when the strikers or keepers which cooperate with these latches are positioned proximate the outer door panel  104 . 
         [0052]    A keeper  31  for cinching latch  30  is shown schematically in  FIGS. 1 and 9 . In practice the keeper  31  is mounted to a pillar in the vehicle (not shown). The main latch  24  also cooperates with a keeper (not shown) that is mounted to another pillar in the vehicle. 
         [0053]    The rear pocket  114  stores the main latch  24  and the rear latch presenter  94  on which the main latch  24  is held on the carrier  12 . The rear latch presenter  94  includes a web portion  120  extending rearward form the main body of the carrier  12 . The web portion  120  includes an integrated divider  122  that has a flat front surface with a number of latitudinal slots running through the divider  122  for organizing and retaining various mechanical cables and electrical wires leading to the main latch. Yet, the divider  122  maintains an overall flat surface for receiving and supporting the trim panel whilst routing and presenting all the mechanical cables and electrical wires required for the main latch  24  on the dry side of the carrier  12  without having to fish any mechanical cables and/or electrical wires through holes in the carrier. 
         [0054]    As seen best in  FIGS. 3 and 5A , a cover plate  126  is attached to the web portion  120  which includes elevated fastener mounts  128  for receiving mounting fasteners. 
         [0055]    The web portion  120  of the rear latch presenter  94  transitions into a shroud portion  130  having an outer wall  132  joined to top and bottom walls  134 ,  136 , respectively. The shroud portion  130  form fits into the rear pocket  114  and encapsulates the majority of the outer sides of the main latch  24 . The shroud portion  130  thus provides a measure of insulation against the inner sheet layer metal  102  and also inhibits the entry of water to the main latch  24  to protect electrical connections and the like to the main latch  24  thus reducing the need for exhaustive countermeasures that may otherwise be needed to seal latches located in areas where there is exposure to water. 
         [0056]    A rear latch reinforcement plate  140  is attached to the main latch  24  and is thus indirectly carried by the door module  10 . The rear latch reinforcement plate  140  overlies the cover  126 . After the door module  10  is installed, the rear latch reinforcement plate  140  is fastened to the inner door panel  102  with fasteners  142  at a plurality of points about the rear pocket  114 . In the illustrated door module, the rear latch reinforcement plate  140  has top, bottom and side wings  144 ,  146 ,  148  that are respectively fastened to the inner door panel  102  at points located respectively above, below and to the side of the rear pocket  114 . Thus the main latch  24  is not directly mounted to the inner sheet metal layer  102 ; instead, the rear latch reinforcement plate  140  retains the main latch  24  in the rear pocket  114  and substantially bears the loads that the main latch  24  is subject to such as lateral loads that occur in the event of a crash. 
         [0057]    It will be noted that the positions of the fasteners  124  are outside of the pocket  112  and outside of the latch  24  itself (i.e. outside of the occupied volume of the latch  24 ). Thus, the fasteners  124  spread forces that may be incurred by the latch  24  during a side impact over a larger section of the inner door panel  102  than is occupied by the latch  24  itself. In this way, the vehicle door  100  is better able to withstand the forces incurred during such a side impact. It will further be noted that, by mounting the rear latch reinforcement plate  140  to the inner door panel  102  using three or more fasteners  142  mounted in a way that they are not all collinear (i.e. they are positioned non-colinearly) along the inner door panel  102 , the rear latch reinforcement plate  140  is better able to spread forces exerted in any direction. By contrast a latch that is mounted to a door panel using only two fasteners (or three or more fasteners that are colinear) is relatively weak in resisting bending forces or components of bending forces that are exerted in a direction that is perpendicular to a line extending between the fasteners. By spreading the forces as described above, the vehicle door  100  may be made sufficient strong in the area of the latch  24  without the need for a non-removable reinforcement plate mounted (e.g. by welding or the like) to the inner door panel. 
         [0058]    Conventionally, vehicle doors typically incorporate reinforcement blanks or gussets about the door hinge and/or latch areas in order to support the stresses about these areas that thin sheet metal is not able to support. In the illustrated sliding vehicle door, the deep draw about the rear pocket  114  may not leave sufficient room for such reinforcements; however, reinforcements (not shown) may be provided in the areas about the latch reinforcement plate fastening points. 
         [0059]    Advantageously, the main latch  24  is easily accessible and serviceable from the dry side by removing the trim panel and the rear latch reinforcement plate  140 . 
         [0060]    A small foam seal or the like (not shown) may be provided on the front latch reinforcement plate  160  around the fishmouth of the cinch latch  30  to further assist in sealing against water infiltration into the cinch latch  30 . 
         [0061]    The front pocket  112  stores the cinch latch  30  and the front latch presenter  92  on which the cinch latch  30  is held on the carrier  12 . The front latch presenter  92  includes a shorter web portion  150  extending forward from the main body of the carrier  12 . Clips  151  integrally formed in the carrier  12  hold and organize various cables and electrical wires leading to the cinch latch  30 . 
         [0062]    The web portion  150  of the front latch presenter  92  transitions into a shroud portion  152  having an outer wall  153  joined to top and bottom walls  154 ,  155 , respectively. The shroud portion  152  form fits to the front pocket  92  and encapsulates the majority of the outer sides of the cinch latch  30 . The shroud portion  152  thus provides a measure of insulation against the inner sheet layer metal  102  and also the entry of water into the cinch latch  30  to protect electrical connections and the like to the cinch latch  30  thus reducing the need for exhaustive countermeasures that may otherwise be needed to seal latches located in areas where there is exposure to water. 
         [0063]    A front latch reinforcement plate  160  is attached to the cinch latch  30  and is thus indirectly carried by the door module  10 . After the door module  10  is installed, the front latch reinforcement plate  160  is fastened to the inner door panel  102  with fasteners  162  (see  FIG. 4 ) at a plurality of points about the front pocket  112 . In the illustrated door module  10 , the front latch reinforcement plate  160  has top and bottom wings  164 ,  166  that are respectively fastened to the inner door panel  102  at points located respectively above and below the front pocket  112 . The front latch reinforcement plate  160  also includes a side wall  168  for continuing and strengthening a stiffening wall  170  (see  FIG. 9 ) in the inner door panel  102 . The cinch latch  30  is also not directly mounted to the inner door panel  102  but is retained in the front pocket  112  by the front latch reinforcement plate  160  which substantially bears the loads that the cinch latch  30  is subject to. In the illustrated sliding vehicle door  100 , the deep draw about the front pocket  112  may also not leave sufficient room for tailor blank reinforcements, however, reinforcements (not shown) may be provided in the areas about the latch reinforcement plate fastening points. 
         [0064]    The cinch latch  30  is thus also easily accessible and serviceable from the dry side by removing the trim panel and the front latch reinforcement plate  160 . 
         [0065]    In similar manner to the rear latch reinforcement plate  140 , it will be noted that the positions of the fasteners  162  are outside of the pocket  112  and outside the occupied volume of the cinch latch  30  itself. Thus, the fasteners  162  spread forces that may be incurred by the cinch latch  30  during a side impact over a larger section of the inner door panel  102  than is occupied by the cinch latch  30  itself. In this way, the vehicle door  100  is better able to withstand the forces incurred during such a side impact. Also in similar manner to the rear latch reinforcement plate  140 , it will further be noted that the front latch reinforcement plate  160  is mounted to the inner door panel  102  using three or more fasteners  162  mounted in a way that they are not all collinear (i.e. they are positioned non-colinearly) along the inner door panel  102 . By spreading the forces as described above, the vehicle door  100  may be made sufficient strong in the area of the cinch latch  30  without the need for a non-removable reinforcement plate mounted (e.g. by welding or the like) to the inner door panel. 
         [0066]    A small foam seal or the like (not shown) may be provided on the front latch reinforcement plate  160  around the fishmouth of the cinch latch  30  to further assist in sealing against water infiltration into the cinch latch  30 . 
         [0067]    Some of the advantages and features described above are applicable to both sliding vehicle doors and to hinged vehicle doors (such as the doors on a coupe or sedan). For example, mounting a latch reinforcement plate of either the front or rear latch  24  or  30  outside of the latch  24  or  30  itself is advantageous whether on a hinged vehicle door or on a sliding vehicle door, and would be advantageous regardless of whether a vehicle door had one or two latches, and, on vehicle doors that include front and rear latches would be advantageous whether the latch reinforcement plate is mounted outside of the front latch or whether the latch reinforcement plate is mounted outside the rear latch. 
         [0068]    It will be noted that, by providing a latch reinforcement plate such as plate  140  or  160 , which covers a latch, such as latch  24  or latch  30 , and by providing the latch  24  or  30  on the dry side of the carrier  12  the latch presenters  92  or  94  may be provided on the dry side of the carrier  12  and may be made from a polymeric material, and may easily be molded as one piece with the main portion of the carrier  12 , shown at  172 . By contrast carriers where the latches are provided on the wet side and where latch reinforcement plates such as those shown and described herein are not provided may not easily be provided from a polymeric material and may not easily be molded with a main portion of the carrier if it is desired to keep the carrier on the inboard side of the inner door panel, due to the complexity of the shape of the carrier and latch presenter. 
         [0069]    While the above description constitutes specific examples, these examples are susceptible to further modification and change without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims.