Patent Publication Number: US-10781618-B2

Title: Vehicle door hinge structure

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-249731 filed on Dec. 26, 2017 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a vehicle door hinge structure. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-171113 (JP 2017-171113 A) describes a structure in which a bead extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided in a lower part of a B-pillar in order to improve strength of the lower part of the B-pillar. According to JP 2017-171113 A, with such a structure, a lateral load input from a front door or a side door at the time of a side collision of a vehicle is dispersed to a side sill via the bead. The strength of the lower part of the B-pillar is increased by dispersing the collision load as such. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the meantime, in the configuration described in JP 2017-171113 A, the bead for impact absorption at the time of a side collision is placed inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the side door. Here, in the configuration described in JP 2017-171113 A, a space is provided between the side door and the bead so that they do not interfere with each other at the time when the side door is opened or closed. 
     In the configuration where the space is provided as such, it takes some time until the side door deforms and interferes with the bead at the time of a side collision. That is, some time passes until the bead starts to absorb energy caused by the collision. 
     In consideration of such a point, there is room to improve a structure of a vehicle side portion so that a configuration around the side door of the vehicle can absorb or disperse an impact more efficiently. 
     The disclosure provides a vehicle door hinge structure that can disperse a collision load efficiently at the time of a side collision of a vehicle. 
     A first aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle door hinge structure characterized by including: a door-side hinge fixed to a side door of a vehicle; and a body-side hinge rotatably connected to the door-side hinge, the body-side hinge being fixed to a pillar of the vehicle at a position inward, in a vehicle width direction, of a connection part with the door-side hinge and at a height equal to or lower than a lower end of the door-side hinge in a vehicle up-down direction. 
     In the above aspect, when the vehicle has a collision from a lateral direction, a collision load is first transmitted from the side door that has received the collision load to the door-side hinge via its fixation part. Then, the load transmitted to the door-side hinge is transmitted to the body-side hinge via the connection part. Further, the load input into the body-side hinge is input into the pillar to which the body-side hinge is fixed via its fixation part. 
     Here, the body-side hinge is fixed to the pillar of the vehicle at the height not higher than the lower end of the door-side hinge. On this account, the collision load is dispersed to a part below the height at which the load is input from the side door to the door-side hinge. That is, the collision load input from the side door via the door-side hinge is input into the pillar at the height not higher than the door-side hinge via the body-side hinge. 
     When the collision load is dispersed to the lower side distanced from the central part of the pillar of the vehicle in its height direction as such, a maximum value of a bending moment applied to the pillar can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce a maximum deflection of the pillar. 
     Further, by dispersing the collision load to the lower side of the pillar, more of the load received by the pillar can be dispersed to peripheral members joined to the lower side of the pillar. 
     In the first aspect, the body-side hinge may be further fixed to the pillar of the vehicle at a height higher than the lower end of the door-side hinge. 
     With the configuration, the body-side hinge is fixed to the pillar in at least two positions, i.e., at a height higher than the lower end of the door-side hinge and at a height not higher than the lower end of the door-side hinge. Hereby, the fixation part provided at the height higher than the lower end of the door-side hinge serves as a supporting point, so that the collision load can be dispersed to the fixation part provided at the height not higher than the lower end of the door-side hinge. 
     A second aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle door hinge structure including: a door-side hinge fixed to a side door of a vehicle; and a body-side hinge rotatably connected to the door-side hinge, the body-side hinge being fixed to a pillar of the vehicle at a position inward, in a vehicle width direction, of a connection part with the door-side hinge and at a height below the connection part in a vehicle up-down direction. 
     With the configuration, when the vehicle has a collision from a lateral direction, a collision load is first transmitted from the side door that has received the collision load to the door-side hinge via its fixation part. The load transmitted to the door-side hinge is transmitted to the body-side hinge via the connection part. Further, the load input into the body-side hinge is input into the pillar to which the body-side hinge is fixed via a fixation part between the body-side hinge and the pillar. 
     Here, the body-side hinge is fixed to the pillar of the vehicle at a position inward, in the vehicle width direction, of the connection part with the door-side hinge at a height below the lower end of the door-side hinge. On this account, the collision load is dispersed to a part below the connection part that is a transmission part of the load from the door-side hinge to the body-side hinge. 
     When the collision load is dispersed to the lower side distanced from the central part of the pillar of the vehicle in its height direction as such, a maximum value of a bending moment applied to the pillar can be reduced. That is, it is possible to reduce a maximum deflection of the pillar. 
     Further, by dispersing the collision load to the lower side of the pillar, the load received by the pillar can be dispersed and absorbed by other members joined to the lower side of the pillar. 
     In the second aspect, the body-side hinge may be further fixed to the pillar of the vehicle at a height equal to or higher than the connection part with the door-side hinge. 
     With the configuration, the body-side hinge is fixed to the pillar in at least two positions, i.e., at a height higher than the connection part with the door-side hinge and at a height not higher than the connection part with the door-side hinge. Hereby, the fixation part provided at the height higher than the connection part with the door-side hinge serves as a supporting point, so that the collision load can be dispersed to the fixation part provided at the height not higher than the connection part with the door-side hinge. 
     In the first aspect and the second aspect, the body-side hinge may include a first side face member extending inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the connection part with the door-side hinge and extending in the vehicle up-down direction, and a center of a rotation axis of the connection part between the body-side hinge and the door-side hinge may be placed on an extension line extending outwardly in the vehicle width direction from the first side face member. 
     With the configuration, the body-side hinge includes the first side face member extending inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the connection part with the door-side hinge and extending in the up-down direction. On this account, the collision load from a lateral side in the vehicle width direction can be efficiently transmitted to the body-side hinge. Further, since the first side face member is placed with a length to some extent in the vehicle width direction, the first side face member deforms at the time of a collision, so that the first side face member can absorb the collision load from the lateral side in the vehicle width direction. 
     Further, with the configuration, the center of the rotation axis of the connection part between the body-side hinge and the door-side hinge is placed on the extension line extending outwardly in the vehicle width direction from the first side face member. At the time when the vehicle receives a collision load from the lateral side, the load input into the side door is transmitted to the door-side hinge. Further, the load input into the door-side hinge is transmitted to the body-side hinge via the connection part with the body-side hinge. At this time, the load is applied inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the center of the rotation axis of the connection part between the body-side hinge and the door-side hinge. Here, with the vehicle door hinge structure as described above, the center of the rotation axis of the connection part between the body-side hinge and the door-side hinge is arranged linearly to the first side face member along the vehicle width direction, so that the load can be transmitted efficiently. 
     In the above configuration, the first side face member may become shorter in length along the vehicle width direction toward a lower side in the vehicle up-down direction from the connection part between the body-side hinge and the door-side hinge. 
     With the configuration, the load input from the door-side hinge is dispersed downward in the vehicle up-down direction via an outer end surface, in the vehicle width direction, of the first side face member in the body-side hinge. On this account, when the load is transmitted from the body-side hinge to the pillar, the load can be dispersed to a lower position. 
     In the above configuration, the body-side hinge may include a second side face member extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and extending in the vehicle up-down direction. 
     With the configuration, a wider area of a fixation surface between the body-side hinge and the pillar of the vehicle can be secured. This makes it possible to improve the strength of a joining part between the body-side hinge and the pillar. Further, when the area of the joining part becomes wider, it is possible to efficiently transmit the load. Further, the second side face member extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and extending in the up-down direction. With such a configuration, the input load can be more easily dispersed in the up-down direction, in comparison with a case where a side face member extending only in the vehicle front-rear direction is employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle door hinge structure and some of its peripheral members in a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating the vehicle door hinge structure and some of the peripheral members in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating, in a vehicle front view, a positional relationship between components at the time of an impact test in terms of the vehicle door hinge structure and the peripheral members in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic view illustrating how a load is transmitted when the impact test is performed on the vehicle door hinge structure in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic view illustrating how a load is transmitted when the impact test is performed on a vehicle door hinge structure in a reference example; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating the operations of the vehicle door hinge structure in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the operations of the vehicle door hinge structure in the first embodiment in the vehicle front view; 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the operations of the vehicle door hinge structure in the reference example in a vehicle front view; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a vehicle door hinge structure in a second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a vehicle door hinge structure in a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, some embodiments of a vehicle door hinge structure of the disclosure will be described. Note that an arrow FR drawn as appropriate in each of the drawings indicates the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction, an arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle up-down direction, and an arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle right-left direction. Hereinafter, in a case where a description is made by use of merely directions of front and rear, up and down, and right and left, they indicate the front and rear sides in the vehicle front-rear direction, the up and down sides in the vehicle up-down direction, and the right and left sides when a vehicle faces its traveling direction, respectively, unless otherwise specified. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle door hinge structure  10  and some of its peripheral members in the first embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vehicle door hinge structure  10  of the present embodiment is attached to a pillar  22  provided in a side portion of a vehicle. 
     The vehicle door hinge structure  10  includes a body-side hinge  30 , a pin  62 , and a door-side hinge  50 . Here, the body-side hinge  30  and the door-side hinge  50  are connected so that a body-side hinge connecting portion  46  and a door-side hinge connecting portion  54  are rotatable around the pin  62  serving as the axial center. 
     The body-side hinge includes the body-side hinge connecting portion, a first side face member  32 , and a second side face member  34 . Here, the body-side hinge connecting portion is placed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Further, the first side face member  32  is placed inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the body-side hinge connecting portion  46 . Further, the second side face member  34  is placed inwardly in the vehicle width direction and forward in the vehicle front-rear direction from the first side face member  32 . 
     The first side face member  32  of the body-side hinge  30  is placed so as to extend inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the body-side hinge connecting portion  46  and extend in the up-down direction. The first side face member  32  is shortened in dimension along the vehicle width direction as it goes downward from the body-side hinge connecting portion  46 . More specifically, an outer end surface, in the vehicle width direction, of a part of the first side face member  32  below the body-side hinge connecting portion  46  is formed as an inclined portion  36  directed inwardly in the vehicle width direction toward the lower side. 
     A lower end  44  of the first side face member  32  in the body-side hinge  30  is placed below a door-side hinge lower end  52 . Note that the door-side hinge lower end  52  is formed horizontally and lineally in the vehicle width direction. 
     The second side face member  34  is provided inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the first side face member  32 . The second side face member  34  has a flat shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and extending in the vehicle up-down direction. The second side face member  34  is fixed to a pillar side face  23  provided on the outer side of the pillar  22  in the vehicle width direction. 
     A rear end surface, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the second side face member  34  is connected to an inner end surface, in the vehicle width direction, of the first side face member  32 . Note that, in the first embodiment, the first side face member  32  and the second side face member  34  are formed as an integrated member. Further, the first side face member  32  and the second side face member  34  are placed such that their flat surfaces are generally vertical to each other. 
     An inclined portion  42  inclined rearward is formed on a front end surface, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the second side face member  34 , below body-side hinge upper fixed portions  40  (described later). 
     An upper end  48  of the second side face member  34  has an end surface at the same height as an upper end  45  of the first side face member  32  and an upper end of the body-side hinge connecting portion  46 . Further, a lower end  49  of the second side face member  34  has an end surface at the same height as the lower end  44  of the first side face member  32 . Here, the lower end  49  of the second side face member  34  is placed below the door-side hinge lower end  52 , similarly to the lower end  44  of the first side face member  32 . 
     The second side face member  34  is fixed to the pillar  22  generally at the same height as the body-side hinge connecting portion  46 . More specifically, the second side face member  34  is fastened to the pillar side face  23  at two positions in the vehicle front-rear direction with bolts (hereinafter, fastening parts thereof are referred to as the “body-side hinge upper fixed portions  40 ” as appropriate). Similarly, the second side face member  34  is fixed to the pillar  22  at a height below the door-side hinge lower end  52  (hereinafter, a fastening part thereof is referred to as a “body-side hinge lower fixed portion” as appropriate). 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the vehicle door hinge structure  10  and some of its peripheral members in the first embodiment. Bolt-insertion holes are provided in an upper fixed portion  60  and a lower fixed portion  58  in the door-side hinge  50 . Further, in an attachment part to the door-side hinge  50  in the side door  24 , an upper fixed portion  28  and a lower fixed portion  29  are provided at positions corresponding to those holes. Further, bolt-insertion holes are provided in the upper fixed portion  28  and the lower fixed portion  29 . 
     A bolt  70  is passed through the holes provided in the door-side hinge upper fixed portion  60  and the upper fixed portion  28  of the side door  24 . Further, a nut (not shown) is provided at a corresponding position on the back of the front side face  26  of the side door, and when the bolt  70  is passed therethrough, the upper part of the door-side hinge  50  is fastened to the side door  24 . 
     Similarly, a bolt  78  is passed through the holes provided in the door-side hinge lower fixed portion  58  and the lower fixed portion  29  of the side door  24 . Further, a nut (not shown) is provided at a corresponding position on the back of the front side face  26  of the side door, and when the bolt  78  is passed therethrough, the lower part of the door-side hinge  50  is fastened to the side door  24 . 
     In the meantime, bolts  80  are passed through two holes provided in the body-side hinge upper fixed portions  40  and two holes provided in upper fixed portions  25  of the pillar side face  23 . Further, nuts (not shown) are provided at corresponding positions on the back of the pillar side face  23 , and when the bolts  80  are passed therethrough, the upper part of the body-side hinge  30  is fastened to the pillar side face  23 . 
     Similarly, a bolt  79  is passed through the holes provided in the body-side hinge lower fixed portion  38  and the lower fixed portion  21  of the pillar side face  23 . Further, a nut (not shown) is provided at a corresponding position on the back of the pillar side face  23 , and when the bolt  79  is passed therethrough, the lower part of the body-side hinge  30  is fastened to the pillar side face  23 . 
     Impact Test 
     Next will be described an impact test to describe the operations and effects of the first embodiment with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a positional relationship between components at the time of an impact test in terms of a vehicle provided with the vehicle door hinge structure  10  of the first embodiment. Note that  FIG. 3  illustrates only the vehicle door hinge structure  10  and some components necessary for the description from among its peripheral components. 
     Here, the impact test to be used for the description is an SUV lateral collision test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (hereinafter just referred to as “SUV lateral collision test” as appropriate). The SUV lateral collision test is a test in which a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a high vehicle height collides with a general passenger vehicle from a lateral side. More specifically, a moving barrier having a weight of about 1500 kg collides with a side face of an immobile target vehicle at a speed of 50 km/h. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a positional relationship between components related to the vehicle door hinge structure  10  at the time when a moving barrier  90  collides with the side door  24 . A collision portion  92  imitating the bumper of the SUV is provided in the moving barrier  90  used in the SUV lateral collision test. The collision portion  92  is provided at a position higher than the height of a bumper of a passenger vehicle of a general sedan type. On this account, a collision load is input at a position close to a lower end side of the side door  24  in the target vehicle for the test. 
     In the first embodiment, the vehicle door hinge structure  10  is placed at a height generally corresponding to the collision portion  92  in the moving barrier  90 . More specifically, the door-side hinge  50  and the body-side hinge connecting portion  46  in the body-side hinge  30  are placed between the heights of an upper end and a lower end of the collision portion  92 . 
     Operations and Effects 
     Next will be described the operations and effects of the first embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 7 . 
       FIG. 4A  schematically illustrates how a force is transmitted at the time of a collision in the vehicle door hinge structure  10  in the first embodiment and  FIG. 4B  schematically illustrates how a force is transmitted at the time of a collision in a vehicle door hinge structure  110  in a reference example. 
     First,  FIG. 4A  illustrates how a load is transmitted at the time of a side collision in the vehicle door hinge structure  10  in the first embodiment. A load F input from the collision portion  92  is transmitted to the side door  24 . Then, the load is transmitted from the side door  24  to the door-side hinge  50  via the upper and lower door-side hinge fixed portions ( 60 ,  58 ). Further, the load input into the door-side hinge  50  is transmitted to the first side face member  32  in the body-side hinge  30  via the door-side hinge connecting portion  54  and the body-side hinge connecting portion  46 . 
     Here, the first side face member  32  includes the inclined portion  36  inclined downward in the vehicle up-down direction and inwardly in the vehicle width direction. Meanwhile, the upper end  45  of the first side face member into which the load is input extends inwardly in the vehicle width direction in a generally horizontal manner. With such shapes of the upper end and the lower end, a part of the input load (a load F 1 ) is dispersed downward in the vehicle up-down direction along the inclined portion  36 . 
     As such, the load dispersed in the first side face member  32  is transmitted from the first side face member  32  to the second side face member  34 . Then, the load is dispersed to the body-side hinge upper fixed portions  40  and the body-side hinge lower fixed portion  38  provided in the second side face member  34  and then transmitted to the pillar side face  23 . 
     In the meantime,  FIG. 4B  illustrates how a load is transmitted at the time of a side collision in the vehicle door hinge structure  110  in the reference example. A load F input from the collision portion  92  is transmitted to the side door  24 . Then, the load is transmitted from the side door  24  to a door-side hinge  150  via upper and lower door-side hinge fixed portions ( 160 ,  158 ). Further, the load input into the door-side hinge  150  is transmitted to a first side face member  132  in a body-side hinge  130  via a door-side hinge connecting portion  154  and a body-side hinge connecting portion  146 . 
     Differently from the vehicle door hinge structure  10  in the first embodiment, the first side face member  132  in the reference example does not include the inclined portion  36  inclined downward in the vehicle up-down direction and inwardly in the vehicle width direction. Instead, a lower end of the first side face member  132  extends horizontally toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction at the same height as the body-side hinge connecting portion  146 . With the shapes of an upper end and the lower end formed as such, the input load is horizontally transmitted to the pillar side face  23  as it is. 
     That is, when the vehicle door hinge structure  10  ( FIG. 4A ) in the first embodiment is compared with the vehicle door hinge structure  110  ( FIG. 4B ) in the reference example, the position of the load input into the pillar  22  is dispersed downwardly in the case of the vehicle door hinge structure  10 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the operations of the first embodiment. More specifically,  FIG. 5  schematically illustrates how a bending moment M, a shear force W, and a deflection δ applied to the pillar  22  change when a load distribution to the pillar  22  is dispersed downwardly by employing the vehicle door hinge structure  10  of the first embodiment. Note that  FIG. 5  briefly illustrates the operations by replacing the pillar  22  with a both-ends supported beam H. 
     A load F illustrated in the beam H of  FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a collision load input by a side collision. In a case where the vehicle door hinge structure  110  ( FIG. 4B ) of the reference example is employed, the load is expected to be transmitted to this position in the pillar  22 . In addition to this, a load F 3  moved downward only by a length S is schematically illustrated in the beam H of  FIG. 5  for comparison. Here, the load F and the load F 3  are illustrated as loads having the same magnitude for comparison. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when a bending moment M 1  by the load F applied at a position close to the center of the beam H is compared with a bending moment M 2  by the load F 3  applied to a position near a lower end of the beam H, it is found that M 2  has a smaller absolute value. Similarly, a shear force by the load F is indicated by W 1  and a shear force by the load F 3  is indicated by W 2 . In such a state, a deflection δ 2  by the load F 3  is smaller than a deflection δ 1  by the load F. 
     That is, by dispersing (moving) the position of the load applied to the pillar  22  from a side closer to the center in the up-down direction to the end (on the lower side) by use of the vehicle door hinge structure  10  of the first embodiment, a deformation amount of the pillar  22  toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility that the pillar  22  deforms and interferes with an occupant (a dummy  99  in  FIG. 5 ) in the vehicle at the time of a collision. 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates, in a vehicle front view, a predicted deformation of the pillar  22  (a deformed pillar  222 ) at the time when an impact test is performed on a vehicle provided with the vehicle door hinge structure  10  of the first embodiment. Here, a load F input from the collision portion  92  of the barrier is partially dispersed (a load F 1 ) downward in the vehicle up-down direction by the vehicle door hinge structure  10 . As a result, the load received by the pillar  22  is reduced, so that its deformation amount is reduced. This decreases the probability that the deformed pillar  222  makes contact with the occupant (the dummy  99 ). 
     In the meantime,  FIG. 7  schematically illustrates, in a vehicle front view, a predicted deformation (a deformed pillar  122 ) of the pillar  22  at the time when an impact test is performed on a vehicle provided with the vehicle door hinge structure  110  of the reference example. Here, a load F input from the collision portion  92  of the barrier is input into the pillar  22  without being dispersed downward. That is, in comparison with the case of  FIG. 6 , the load is input to a position close to the center of the pillar  22  in the up-down direction. Hereby, the vehicle ( FIG. 7 ) provided with the vehicle door hinge structure  110  of the reference example largely deforms inwardly in the vehicle width direction, in comparison with the vehicle ( FIG. 6 ) provided with the vehicle door hinge structure  10  of the first embodiment. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next will be described a vehicle door hinge structure of the second embodiment. Note that the door hinge structure of the second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. Accordingly, a constituent common with the first embodiment has a corresponding reference sign, and a description thereof is omitted. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a vehicle door hinge structure  210  of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a door-side hinge  250  includes a bending portion  251  between a door-side hinge fixed surface  253  fixed to the side door and a door-side hinge connecting portion  254 . The bending portion  251  arcuately bends forward in the vehicle front-rear direction from the door-side hinge fixed surface  253  side. Since the bending portion  251  is provided, the door-side hinge connecting portion  254  is placed forward in the vehicle front-rear direction from a flat surface of the door-side hinge fixed surface  253 . 
     A body-side hinge connecting portion  246  rotatably connected to the door-side hinge connecting portion  254  is placed outwardly in the vehicle width direction from a first side face member  232  of a body-side hinge  230 . Here, the center of a rotation axis of the body-side hinge connecting portion  246  is placed on an extension line (toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction) from a plane formed by the first side face member  232 . 
     A body-side hinge lower end  247  of the first side face member  232  is placed below a door-side hinge lower end  252 . In the meantime, an upper end  245  of the first side face member is placed at the same height as an upper end of the body-side hinge connecting portion  246 . Further, the first side face member  232  includes an inclined portion  236  extending inwardly in the vehicle width direction and downward on an outer end surface in the vehicle width direction such that the inclined portion  236  is placed below the body-side hinge connecting portion  246 . 
     A second side face member  234  is placed inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the first side face member  232 . The second side face member  234  has a generally flat shape along the side face of the vehicle. More specifically, the second side face member  234  has a generally flat shape extending forward in the vehicle front-rear direction and downward in the vehicle up-down direction. 
     The second side face member  234  includes an upper end  248  at the same height as the body-side hinge connecting portion  246  and the upper end  245  of the first side face member. Further, a lower end of the second side face member  234  includes an inclined portion  242  extending downward in the vehicle up-down direction and rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction. A starting point (an upper end) of the inclined portion is placed above the door-side hinge lower end  252  and the door-side hinge lower fixed portion  58  but below body-side hinge upper fixed portions. 
     An inclined portion  235  directed inwardly in the vehicle width direction and forward in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided in a generally central part of the second side face member  234  in vehicle front-rear direction. The inclined portion  235  extends in the vehicle up-down direction. From the inclined portion, the thickness of a rear flat surface  233 , in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the second side face member  234  becomes thicker than that of a front flat surface  237  thereof in the vehicle front-rear direction. 
     Operations and Effects 
     Next will be described the operations and effects of the second embodiment. 
     In the vehicle door hinge structure  210  of the second embodiment, the body-side hinge connecting portion  246 , the door-side hinge connecting portion  254 , and the first side face member  232  are placed linearly in the vehicle width direction due to the bending portion  251 . Hereby, a collision load from a lateral direction can be efficiently transmitted to the body-side hinge  230 . 
     Further, the lower end of the body-side hinge  230  is provided with the inclined portion  236  and the inclined portion  242 . With those inclined portions, the vehicle door hinge structure  210  of the second embodiment can be attached to a vehicle designed such that its lower side is inclined inwardly in the vehicle width direction or attached to a part having no attachment space in a lower part on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. 
     Further, in the vehicle door hinge structure  210  of the second embodiment, the thickness of the front flat surface of the body-side hinge is thin. Hereby, even in a case where an attachment part on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction is narrow, the vehicle door hinge structure  210  can be attached thereto. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next will be described a vehicle door hinge structure of the third embodiment. Note that the door hinge structure of the third embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Accordingly, a constituent common with the first embodiment and the second embodiment has a corresponding reference sign, and a description thereof is omitted. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a top view of a vehicle door hinge structure  310  of the third embodiment together with a partial sectional view of its peripheral members. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a door-side hinge  350  of the third embodiment is fixed to the front side face  26 , in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the side door  24 . A door-side hinge upper fixed portion  362  is fixed by a bolt and a nut. Similarly, a door-side hinge lower fixed portion (not shown) is also fixed by a bolt and a nut. 
     In the meantime, a body-side hinge  330  is fixed to the pillar side face  23  on the outer side of the pillar  22  in the vehicle width direction at body-side hinge upper fixed portions  340  by bolts and nuts. Similarly, a body-side hinge lower fixed portion (not shown) is fixed thereto by a bolt and a nut. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a door-side hinge connecting portion  354  of the door-side hinge  350  is placed outwardly, in the vehicle width direction, from a first side face member  332  of the body-side hinge  330 . Here, a rear flat surface, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the first side face member  332  is a vertical surface  353  extending in the vehicle width direction. In the meantime, a front flat surface, in the vehicle front-rear direction, of the first side face member  332  is an inclined portion  351  inclined inwardly in the vehicle width direction and forward in the vehicle front-rear direction. 
     Similarly to the vehicle door hinge structure  210  of the second embodiment, a second side face member  334  placed inwardly in the vehicle width direction from the first side face member  332  includes an inclined portion  335 . Accordingly, a rear flat surface  333  on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction is thicker than a front flat surface  337  on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. 
     Operations and Effects 
     Next will be described the operations and effects of the third embodiment. 
     When the side door  24  receives a collision load by a side collision, the load is transmitted to the door-side hinge  350  via the fixed portion  362 . Further, the collision load thus transmitted is transmitted from the door-side hinge connecting portion  354  to the first side face member  332  of the body-side hinge  330  via a body-side hinge connecting portion (not shown). 
     Here, the vehicle door hinge structure  310  of the third embodiment includes the inclined portion  351  in the first side face member  332 . Hereby, the load is transmitted to the inclined portion  351  and dispersed forward in the vehicle front-rear direction. As a result, deformation of the first side face member  332  is restrained as compared with a case where the inclined portion  351  is not provided. That is, the ratio of the load to be transmitted to the second side face member via the first side face member  332  is increased. Hereby, a collision load is efficiently dispersed to the fixed portion. 
     The vehicle door hinge structures of the embodiments have been described above, but it is needless to say that the disclosure may be performable in various aspects as long as the various aspects are not beyond the gist thereof. For example, the vehicle door hinge structure in each of the embodiments is not limited to a door hinge on the lower side in the vehicle up-down direction, but may be employed as a door hinge on the upper side in the vehicle up-down direction. Further, in this case, the inclined portion to be provided in the first side face member of the body-side hinge may be provided on the upper end face of the first side face member so as to be inclined upward in the vehicle up-down direction. Further, in each of the embodiments, a fixation method of the vehicle door hinge structure is fixation by a bolt, but the fixation method may be replaced with other methods such as welding as long as the effects of the disclosure are not impaired remarkably. In each of the embodiments, the body-side hinge upper fixed portions positions generally at the same height as the body-side hinge connecting portion, but the body-side hinge upper fixed portions may position at higher positions than the body-side hinge connection portion.