Patent Description:
A vehicle door includes an outer panel on a vehicle outer side and an inner panel on a cabin side. Of these panels, particularly, the outer panel is frequently touched by persons and objects. For this reason, a panel reinforcement as a reinforcing member is attached to an inner side of the outer panel, so as to prevent easy deformation of the outer panel (see Patent document <NUM>).

Meanwhile, upon designing a vehicle, it is also important to lower a frequency of sound, which is generated at the time of closing the door, so as to produce base sound and, consequently, to give the vehicle a sense of luxury. However, in the case where the panel reinforcement, which is arranged on the inner side of the outer panel, is fixed by an adhesive with a clearance being provided therebetween, a natural vibration frequency of the outer panel is increased while rigidity thereof is increased. As a result, the sound that is generated at the time of closing the door is shifted to the high-frequency side, and the sense of luxury is lost.

<CIT> describes that a vehicle door includes: an inner panel; and an outer panel disposed at the vehicle outer side of the inner panel. The inner panel has: an opening; a cut and rise part extending from an edge of the opening to the outer panel side; and an adhesive surface which is formed by bending a tip of the cut and rise part and adhered to the outer panel. The adhesive surface is formed with a bead having a closed recessed shape.

<CIT> describes that a door structure of a vehicle includes: an outer panel; an inner member arranged on an inner side of the outer panel in a vehicle width direction; a rigid member arranged between the inner member and the outer panel; and a vibration suppression member arranged between the outer panel and the rigid member. The outer panel includes a hem section disposed on a periphery thereof and connected to the inner member by swaging.

<CIT> describes that the arrangement has a door inner plate with one-sided and two-sided attachment sections at two sides in a thickness direction of a door. A door outer plate is arranged close to one of the sides and attached to the inner plate.

In view of the above, the present invention has a purpose of providing a vehicle door in which an outer panel is reinforced by a panel reinforcement and which is configured to generate low-frequency sound dominantly at the time of closing the door.

The above purpose is achieved by the present invention as defined in claim <NUM>.

In the present invention, the number of the adhesion sections that are provided in the lower area and in a front lower area, which may be near the front hinge, is larger than the number of the adhesion sections that are provided in the lower area and in a rear lower area, which may be away from the front hinge.

The front lower area may be in front of the rear lower area, and/or the front lower area may be closer to the front hinge than the rear lower area.

According to the present invention, the number of the adhesion sections in the upper area, which is located above the concave bottom line of the belt-like concave section of the outer panel, is larger than the number of the adhesion sections in the lower area, which is located under the concave bottom line of the belt-like concave section of the outer panel. In addition, the number of the adhesion sections in a front lower area, which may be near the front hinge, in the lower area is larger than the number of the adhesion sections in a rear lower area, which may be away from the front hinge, in the lower area. Since the number of the adhesion sections in the upper area is larger than the number of the adhesion sections in the lower area, rigidity of the upper area is higher than rigidity of the lower area. Accordingly, when an occupant touches the upper area of the outer panel to open/close the door, the upper area is prevented from being easily deflected by an external force due to the sufficiently high rigidity. In addition, since the number of the adhesion sections in the front lower area is larger than the number of the adhesion sections in the rear lower area, rigidity of the rear lower area is lower than rigidity of the front lower area. This rear lower area is an area where door closing sound is generated when the occupant closes the door, has the sufficiently low rigidity, and thus has a low natural vibration frequency. Accordingly, when the occupant closes the door, low-frequency sound, that is, the heavy door closing sound can be generated.

The plural adhesion sections may exist on the concave bottom line.

According to this configuration, since the plural adhesion sections exist on the concave bottom line, the rigidity of the belt-like concave section is sufficiently maintained.

The first belt-like convex section may have:.

According to this configuration, the number of the adhesion sections that are provided between the concave bottom line and the convex ridge line falls within the range of <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the number of the adhesion sections, at each of which the outer panel and the panel reinforcement adhere to each other. Therefore, the area, rigidity of which tends to be low, and which is located between the first belt-like convex section and the belt-like concave section, is sufficiently stiffened.

The panel reinforcement may exist in a manner to expand from a front end of the outer panel toward a rear end thereof.

According to this configuration, the panel reinforcement exists in the manner to expand from the front end of the outer panel toward the rear end thereof. Therefore, the rigidity of the outer panel is sufficiently maintained to prevent the outer panel from being easily deflected by the external force.

According to this configuration, the panel reinforcement has: the first panel reinforcement section that extends from the front end of the outer panel toward the rear end thereof; and the second panel reinforcement section that is arranged under the first panel reinforcement section and extends from the front end of the outer panel toward the rear end thereof. Therefore, even when the vehicle is subjected to a lateral collision, the rigidity of the outer panel is sufficiently maintained to prevent the outer panel from being easily deformed by the external force.

The first panel reinforcement section may be arranged to slope downward from the front end of the outer panel toward the rear end thereof,.

According to this configuration, the downward slope of the second panel reinforcement section is steeper than the downward slope of the first panel reinforcement section. Thus, a sufficiently large area where the first panel reinforcement section and the second panel reinforcement section are not fixed is secured in the rear lower area of the outer panel. For this reason, the rear lower area has the sufficiently low rigidity, thus has the low natural vibration frequency, and easily generates the heavy door closing sound.

A vertical length of the second belt-like convex section may be increased toward a vehicle rear side.

According to this configuration, the vertical length of the second belt-like convex section is increased toward the vehicle rear side. Thus, the area that is located between the belt-like concave section and the second belt-like convex section and has the low rigidity is increased toward the vehicle rear side. Therefore, such an area has the low natural vibration frequency and easily generates the heavy door closing sound.

The adhesion sections may be disposed only in the first belt-like convex section and the belt-like concave section.

According to this configuration, since the adhesion sections are disposed only in the first belt-like convex section and the belt-like concave section, the second belt-like convex section has the sufficiently low rigidity. For this reason, the second belt-like convex section has the low natural vibration frequency and easily generates the heavy door closing sound.

The outer panel may be
divided by a horizontal line and a vertical line, each of which passes a center of gravity of the outer panel, when the outer panel is seen from a vehicle outer side, and may have:.

According to this configuration, when the outer panel is seen from the vehicle outer side, the number of the adhesion sections in each of the first quadrant and the second quadrant, which are located above the horizontal line passing the center of gravity of the outer panel, is larger than the number of the adhesion sections in each of the third quadrant and the fourth quadrant, which are located under the horizontal line. Since the number of the adhesion sections in the first quadrant and the second quadrant is larger than the number of the adhesion sections in the third quadrant and the fourth quadrant, rigidity in the first quadrant and the second quadrant is higher than rigidity in the third quadrant and the fourth quadrant. Accordingly, when the occupant touches the first quadrant or the second quadrant of the outer panel to open/close the door, the first quadrant or the second quadrant of the outer panel is prevented from being easily deflected by the external force due to the sufficiently high rigidity. In addition, the third quadrant and the fourth quadrant of the outer panel have the lower rigidity than the first quadrant and the second quadrant thereof, and thus has the low natural vibration frequency. Therefore, when the occupant closes the door, the heavy door closing sound can be generated in the third quadrant and the fourth quadrant.

The number of the adhesion sections in the fourth quadrant may be larger than the number of the adhesion sections in the third quadrant.

According to this configuration, since the number of the adhesion sections in the fourth quadrant is larger than the number of the adhesion sections in the third quadrant, the rigidity in the third quadrant is lower than the rigidity in the fourth quadrant. This third quadrant is the area where the door closing sound is generated when the occupant closes the door, has the sufficiently low rigidity, and thus has the low natural vibration frequency. Therefore, when the occupant closes the door, the heavy door closing sound can be generated in the third quadrant.

According to this configuration, the panel reinforcement has: the first panel reinforcement section that extends from the front end of the outer panel toward the rear end thereof; and the second panel reinforcement section that is arranged under the first panel reinforcement section and extends from the front end of the outer panel toward the rear end thereof. Therefore, even when the vehicle is subjected to the lateral collision, the rigidity of the outer panel is sufficiently maintained to prevent the outer panel from being easily deformed by the external force.

According to the present invention, the outer panel is reinforced by the panel reinforcement, and is configured to generate the low-frequency sound dominantly at the time of closing the door.

A description will hereinafter be made on embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> illustrates a vehicle door <NUM> according to a first embodiment, in particular, a front door that is seen on a right side when a vehicle (not shown) is seen forward from the rear and that is located near a driver's seat or a front passenger seat on a vehicle front side (or a vehicle front portion).

The door <NUM> is coupled to a vehicle body, which is not illustrated, in a manner to be openable/closable about a vertical axis <NUM> and has: a substantially quadrilateral outer panel <NUM> that is attached in an openable/closable manner to the vehicle body by front hinges <NUM>; a window frame <NUM> that is coupled on top of the outer panel <NUM>; and a garnish attachment section <NUM> that is coupled to a bottom of the outer panel <NUM>.

The outer panel <NUM> may be formed by processing a steel plate having a thickness of e.g. <NUM> to <NUM> or an aluminum or plastic plate having substantially the same strength as the above steel plate, and may have a streamlined shape that flows rearward from the front of the vehicle from a design perspective of giving a dynamic shape to the vehicle body and a technical perspective of reducing aerodynamic drag of the vehicle body. More specifically, the vehicle door <NUM> in the embodiment has three curved surfaces that are: a first belt-like convex section <NUM> on an upper side that is projected, in a vehicle width direction, to a vehicle outer side and extends in a vehicle front-rear direction; a belt-like concave section <NUM> on an intermediate side that is provided adjacent to and/or under the first belt-like convex section <NUM>, is projected, in the vehicle width direction, to a cabin side (i.e., a vehicle inner side), and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction; and a second belt-like convex section <NUM> on a lower side that is provided adjacent to and/or under the belt-like concave section <NUM>, is projected, in the vehicle width direction, to the vehicle outer side, and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction.

<FIG> are cross-sectional views of the outer panel that are respectively taken along lines II-II, III-III, IV-IV, and V-V in <FIG>.

Returning to <FIG>, a boundary between the first belt-like convex section <NUM> and the belt-like concave section <NUM> (that is, a line connecting inflection points that change from a convex curved surface to a concave curved surface) is indicated as a first inflection curve <NUM>, and a boundary between the belt-like concave section <NUM> and the second belt-like convex section <NUM> (that is, a line connecting inflection points that change from the concave curved surface to a convex curved surface) is indicated as a second inflection curve <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a line that indicates an upper edge of the first belt-like convex section <NUM> on the upper side may extend almost horizontally while a line that indicates a lower edge of the first belt-like convex section <NUM> (which is also a line that indicates an upper edge of the belt-like concave section <NUM>) may extend to be gradually elevated from the front to the rear (from a right side to a left side of the drawing). A line that indicates a lower edge of the second belt-like convex section <NUM> on the lower side may extend almost horizontally while a line that indicates an upper edge of the second belt-like convex section <NUM> (which is also a line that indicates a lower edge of the belt-like concave section <NUM>) may extend to be gradually elevated from the front to the rear. Both of the lines that respectively indicate the upper edge and the lower edge of the belt-like concave section <NUM> on the intermediate side extend to be gradually elevated from the front to the rear. Thus, a convex ridge line <NUM> connecting points, each of which is most projected, in the vehicle width direction, to the vehicle outer side of a respective vertical cross section of the first belt-like convex section <NUM>, and a concave bottom line <NUM> connecting points, each of which is recessed to the vehicle inner side in a respective vertical cross section of the belt-like concave section <NUM>, may also extend to be gradually elevated from the front to the rear.

Although not illustrated, outer surfaces of a vehicle body front portion and a rear door, each of which is adjacent to the door <NUM>, may be each formed with a concave-convex curved surface continuous with a concave-convex curved surface of the door <NUM>. These concave-convex curved surfaces cooperatively create dynamic, streamlined external appearance of the vehicle.

In the illustrated embodiment, a front end of the second belt-like convex section <NUM> may be located approximately in the middle between a front end and a rear end of the front door <NUM>, and the second belt-like convex section <NUM> may appear as a substantially triangular area (the second belt-like convex section <NUM>) from the intermediate position thereof to the rear. However, similarly to the first belt-like convex section <NUM> and the belt-like concave section <NUM>, the front end of the second belt-like convex section <NUM> may be located at the front end of the front door <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view in which the door <NUM>, from which the above-described outer panel <NUM> is partially removed, is seen from outside of the vehicle. As illustrated in <FIG>, an inner panel <NUM> is disposed on the cabin side of the outer panel <NUM>. Similarly to the outer panel <NUM>, the inner panel <NUM> maybe made of a metal plate, such as of iron or aluminum, or a plastic plate.

At a position between the outer panel <NUM> and the inner panel <NUM>, a panel reinforcement <NUM> that reinforces the outer panel <NUM> may be arranged along an inner surface of the outer panel <NUM> in a manner to expand (that is, in a manner that a vertical height is gradually increased) from a front end of the outer panel <NUM> toward a rear end thereof (from a right side to a left side of the drawing).

In the embodiment, the panel reinforcement <NUM> mainly includes a first panel reinforcement section <NUM> on an upper side and a second panel reinforcement section <NUM> on a lower side.

Similarly to the outer panel <NUM>, the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> and the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> are each made of the metal plate, such as of iron or aluminum, or the plastic plate.

In the first embodiment, the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> and the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be each arranged to slope downward from the front end of the outer panel <NUM> toward the rear end thereof. The downward slope of the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> is set to be steeper than the downward slope of the first panel reinforcement section <NUM>. Accordingly, an area surrounded by the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> and the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> expands toward a rear end.

Each of the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> and the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> fixedly adheres to the outer panel <NUM> by plural adhesion sections <NUM>. For example, an epoxide-based adhesive or an adhesive using synthetic rubber as a material may be used as an adhesive for the adhesion sections <NUM>. Each of the adhesion sections <NUM> may have a substantially circular shape with a diameter of approximately <NUM>.

As illustrated, <FIG> illustrates areas of the first belt-like convex section <NUM>, the belt-like concave section <NUM>, the second belt-like convex section <NUM>, the convex ridge line <NUM>, and the concave bottom line <NUM>, and the like so as to illustrates positional relationships among the areas and the like, each of which has been described with reference to <FIG>, the panel reinforcement sections <NUM>, <NUM>, and the adhesion sections <NUM>.

It is clear from <FIG> that, at a position near an intermediate side of a front portion of the first belt-like convex section <NUM>, a front end of the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> on the upper side may be fixed to the outer panel <NUM> and, at a position near an intermediate side of a rear portion of the belt-like concave section <NUM>, a rear end of the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be fixed to the outer panel <NUM>. In the embodiment, the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be thick in an intermediate portion between the front end and the rear end (is vertically large) and may be gradually thinned (becomes small vertically) from the intermediate portion toward each of the front end and the rear end. In addition, the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be arranged to diagonally cross the first inflection curve <NUM>, which is the boundary between the first belt-like convex section <NUM> and the belt-like concave section <NUM>, from the front to the rear.

At a position near a lower side of the front portion of the first belt-like convex section <NUM>, a front end of the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be fixed to the outer panel <NUM> and, at a position near a lower side of an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the second belt-like convex section <NUM>, a rear end of the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be fixed to the outer panel <NUM>.

Almost all of the adhesion sections <NUM> for the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be located between near the convex ridge line <NUM> of the first belt-like convex section <NUM> and the concave bottom line <NUM> of the belt-like concave section <NUM>, and may be arranged along the first inflection curve <NUM>, which is the boundary between the first belt-like convex section <NUM> and the belt-like concave section <NUM>, or on an upper side and a lower side of the first inflection curve <NUM> with the first inflection curve <NUM> being a center. In particular, some of the adhesion sections <NUM> for the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be arranged on or near the first inflection curve <NUM>, and thus the outer panel <NUM> may be strongly reinforced at such positions by the first panel reinforcement section <NUM>.

A door handle <NUM> for opening/closing the door <NUM> may be provided at a position near the rear end of the door <NUM> and near the first inflection curve <NUM>. Thus, an area near the first inflection curve <NUM> may be an area where an occupant may frequently touch at the time of opening/closing the door, and the like. In addition, the area near the first inflection curve <NUM> may be an area that is likely to receive a shock and the like from the outside, and may also be a vulnerable area to deformation due to zero curvature thereof. Thus, as described above, a large number of the adhesion sections <NUM> may be arranged near the first inflection curve <NUM>, and the outer panel <NUM> at such positions is integrated with and reinforced by the first panel reinforcement section <NUM>.

Meanwhile, almost all of the adhesion sections <NUM> for the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be arranged in an area of the belt-like concave section <NUM>, and thus may not exist in the second belt-like convex section <NUM>.

In the embodiment, in regard to the number of the adhesion sections <NUM>, the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> for the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> is larger than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> for the second panel reinforcement section <NUM>. For example, in the embodiment, the nine adhesion sections <NUM> may be provided for the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> while the four adhesion sections <NUM> may be provided for the second panel reinforcement section <NUM>.

Just as described, in the door <NUM> of the embodiment, a portion of the outer panel <NUM> near the first inflection curve <NUM>, which is most likely to be applied with an external force, may be integrated with and reinforced by the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> via the adhesion sections <NUM>. Therefore, deformation of such a portion of the outer panel <NUM> is reliably prevented.

In addition, in the door <NUM> of the embodiment, the larger number of the adhesion sections <NUM> is provided in an upper area <NUM>, which is located above the concave bottom line <NUM> of the belt-like concave section <NUM> of the outer panel <NUM>, than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in a lower area <NUM>, which is located under the concave bottom line <NUM>. For example, the <NUM> adhesion sections <NUM> may be arranged in the upper area <NUM> while the <NUM> adhesion sections <NUM> may be arranged in the lower area <NUM>. Therefore, compared to the lower area <NUM>, in the upper area <NUM>, a portion of the outer panel <NUM> and the panel reinforcement <NUM> supporting such a portion of the outer panel <NUM> are further integrated.

Furthermore, the large number of the adhesion sections <NUM> are provided in a front lower area <NUM> (see <FIG>), which is located in the lower area <NUM> and may be near the front hinge <NUM>, than in a rear lower area <NUM> (see <FIG>) that may be away from the front hinge <NUM>. For example, the two adhesion sections <NUM> may be arranged in the front lower area <NUM> while the adhesion section <NUM> may not be arranged in the rear lower area <NUM>. Therefore, compared to the rear lower area <NUM>, in the front lower area <NUM>, the portion of the outer panel <NUM> and the panel reinforcement <NUM> supporting such a portion of the outer panel <NUM> are further integrated.

For this reason, in the outer panel <NUM>, rigidity of the upper area <NUM> is higher than rigidity of the lower area <NUM>. Therefore, even when the occupant strongly touches the upper area <NUM> of the outer panel <NUM>, or even when the shock is applied thereto from the outside, the outer panel <NUM> is not easily deformed.

Moreover, since the rigidity of the lower area <NUM> is lower than that of the upper area <NUM>, the lower area <NUM> generates sound at a low frequency to give a sense of luxury at the time of closing the door <NUM>.

In particular, the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> in the rear lower area <NUM> is smaller than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> in the front lower area <NUM>. For this reason, the sound generated from the rear lower area <NUM> has the lowest frequency and is the heaviest.

<FIG> illustrates distribution of vibration power that is generated on the outer panel <NUM> at the time of closing the door <NUM> in the above-described embodiment. In <FIG>, a darker colored portion represents the higher power.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the vibration power in the area above the first inflection curve <NUM> is much lower than that in the area under the first inflection curve <NUM>. This indicates that the rigidity of the portion of the outer panel <NUM> near the first inflection curve <NUM> is high. Accordingly, even when the large force acts on the area near the first inflection curve <NUM> at the time of opening/closing the door <NUM>, or the like, or even when the shock from the outside acts thereon, the portion of the outer panel <NUM> near the first inflection curve <NUM> is not easily deformed.

The vibration power in the lower area <NUM> under the first inflection curve <NUM> is much higher than that in the upper area <NUM> above the first inflection curve <NUM>. In addition, when the lower area <NUM> is observed, the vibration power in the rear lower area <NUM> is higher than that in the front lower area <NUM>. As a result, the lower area <NUM>, particularly, the rear lower area <NUM> generates the bass sound at the time of closing the door.

In the above-described embodiment, most of the adhesion sections <NUM> are provided between the convex ridge line <NUM> and the concave bottom line <NUM>. However, the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> to be arranged in this area is preferably within a range of <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the total number of the adhesion sections <NUM>.

A description will be made on a vehicle door <NUM> according to a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to <FIG>.

Similarly to <FIG>, <FIG> is a front view of a door that is seen on the right side of the vehicle, that is, on a side appearing as the right side when the vehicle is seen forward from the rear and that is located near the driver's seat or the front passenger seat on the vehicle front side. In <FIG>, center of gravity <NUM> of the outer panel <NUM>, a horizontal line <NUM> passing the center of gravity <NUM>, and a vertical line <NUM> passing the center of gravity <NUM> are added to the configuration illustrated in <FIG>. Accordingly, a configuration of the outer panel <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is substantially the same as the configuration of the outer panel <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Thus, the same portions or corresponding portions will be denoted by the same reference signs and numerals, and a description thereon will not be made.

In the following description, four areas that are divided by the horizontal line <NUM> and the vertical line <NUM>, that is, a front upper area, a rear upper area, a rear lower area, and a front lower area, which sequentially appear in a counterclockwise direction in <FIG>, will respectively be referred to as a first quadrant <NUM>, a second quadrant <NUM>, a third quadrant <NUM>, and a fourth quadrant <NUM>.

Here, this terminology is used to identify four areas of the door on the vehicle right side. Thus, in the case of an opposite front door on a vehicle left side, a front upper area, a rear upper area, a rear lower area, and a front lower area, which sequentially appear in a clockwise direction when this door is seen from the outside, respectively correspond to the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the center of gravity <NUM> of the outer panel <NUM> is substantially located at a center of the belt-like concave section <NUM>. In addition, most of the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> on the upper side may extend obliquely downward from the front end of the door <NUM> toward the rear end thereof in the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM>, and the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> on the lower side extends obliquely downward from the front end of the door <NUM> toward the rear end thereof in the first quadrant <NUM>, the fourth quadrant <NUM>, and the third quadrant <NUM>.

When <FIG> is seen in regard to the number of the adhesion sections <NUM>, all of the adhesion sections <NUM> for the first panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be distributed in the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM>, and the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> in each of the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM> may be almost the same. However, the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in one of the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM> may be larger than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in the other thereof.

The adhesion sections <NUM> for the second panel reinforcement section <NUM> may be distributed in the first quadrant <NUM> and the fourth quadrant <NUM>, and the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in the third quadrant <NUM> may be zero. Here, the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in the fourth quadrant <NUM> is smaller than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in each of the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM>. In addition, the smaller number of the adhesion sections <NUM> than that in the fourth quadrant <NUM> may be provided in the third quadrant <NUM>.

Just as described, in the embodiment, the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in each of the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM> is larger than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in each of the third quadrant <NUM> and the fourth quadrant <NUM>, and the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in the fourth quadrant <NUM> is larger than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> provided in the third quadrant <NUM>.

Since the adhesion sections <NUM> are arranged just as described, compared to the third quadrant <NUM> and the fourth quadrant <NUM>, in the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM>, the outer panel <NUM> and the panel reinforcement <NUM> supporting the outer panel <NUM> are further integrated. In addition, compared to the third quadrant <NUM>, in the fourth quadrant <NUM>, the outer panel <NUM> and the panel reinforcement <NUM> supporting the outer panel <NUM> are further integrated.

For this reason, in the outer panel <NUM>, the rigidity of each of the first quadrant <NUM> and the second quadrant <NUM> is higher than the rigidity of each of the third quadrant <NUM> and the fourth quadrant <NUM>. Therefore, even when the occupant strongly touches the first quadrant <NUM> or the second quadrant <NUM> of the outer panel <NUM>, or even when the shock is applied thereto from the outside, the outer panel <NUM> is not easily deformed.

The number of the adhesion sections <NUM> in the third quadrant <NUM> is smaller than the number of the adhesion sections <NUM> in each of the other first quadrant <NUM>, second quadrant <NUM>, and fourth quadrant <NUM>. For this reason, the sound generated from the third quadrant <NUM> has the lowest frequency and is the heaviest.

The description has been made so far on the embodiments, in each of which the present invention is applied to the door located near the driver's seat or the front passenger seat. However, the present invention can also be applied to a door (e.g. a rear door) which may be located near a rear seat in a similar manner. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the doors that are mounted on an automobile, but is also widely applicable to doors of other vehicles.

Claim 1:
A vehicle door (<NUM>) having: an outer panel (<NUM>) that is attached in an openable/closable manner to a vehicle body by a front hinge (<NUM>); and a panel reinforcement (<NUM>) that extends in a vehicle front-rear direction on an inner side of the outer panel (<NUM>), and in which the outer panel (<NUM>) and the panel reinforcement (<NUM>) are fixed by plural adhesion sections (<NUM>), wherein
the outer panel (<NUM>) includes:
a first belt-like convex section (<NUM>) that is projected to a vehicle outer side and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction;
a belt-like concave section (<NUM>) that is provided under the first belt-like convex section (<NUM>), is projected to a cabin side, and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction; and
a second belt-like convex section (<NUM>) that is provided under the belt-like concave section (<NUM>), is projected to the vehicle outer side, and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction,
the belt-like concave section (<NUM>) includes:
a concave bottom line (<NUM>) that is located between an upper end and a lower end of the belt-like concave section (<NUM>), is most projected to the cabin side, and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction,
the outer panel (<NUM>) includes:
an upper area (<NUM>) that is located above the concave bottom line (<NUM>); and
a lower area (<NUM>) that is located under the concave bottom line (<NUM>), and
the number of the adhesion sections (<NUM>) in the upper area (<NUM>) is larger than the number of the adhesion sections (<NUM>) in the lower area (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the number of the adhesion sections (<NUM>) in a front lower area (<NUM>) in the lower area (<NUM>) is larger than the number of the adhesion sections (<NUM>) in a rear lower area (<NUM>) in the lower area (<NUM>).