Vehicle doors including reinforcement members
A vehicle door is disclosed that includes: an outer panel; an inner panel located inboard of the outer panel; a window channel; a window glass; a structural beam; and a reinforcement member supported by the inner panel and the structural beam so as to inhibit force transmission through the vehicle door during a side impact. The window glass is movable within a window slot collectively defined by the outer panel and the inner panel. The window channel is supported by the inner panel, extends in generally orthogonal relation to the window slot, and is configured to receive the window glass such that the window glass is movable therethrough. The structural beam is supported by the inner panel and defines a longitudinal axis. The structural beam is configured such that the longitudinal axis extends in generally parallel relation to the window slot and in generally orthogonal relation to the window channel.
1 . A vehicle door comprising:
an outer panel;
an inner panel located inboard of the outer panel and defining a receptacle;
a structural beam supported by the inner panel, wherein the structural beam includes a support member with a single hook having a generally J-shaped configuration and extending in an inboard direction; and
a reinforcement member supported by the inner panel and the structural beam, wherein the reinforcement member includes a lower end extending inside the single hook in an outboard direction and an upper end opposite the lower end with an overhang extending into the receptacle in the inboard direction such that the inner panel supports and inhibits movement of the reinforcement member prior to a side impact, wherein the reinforcement member is configured to inhibit force transmission through the vehicle door during the side impact and includes:
a main body portion having an irregular octagonal cross-sectional configuration, the main body portion defining:
an upper inboard side wall;
a lateral wall extending outboard from the upper inboard side wall;
a lower inboard side wall extending from the lateral wall;
a lower end wall extending outboard from the lower inboard side wall,
wherein the single hook contacts the lower end wall prior to the side impact;
a lower beveled wall extending from the lower end wall;
an outboard side wall extending from the lower beveled wall;
an upper beveled wall extending from the outboard side wall; and
an upper end wall extending inboard from the upper beveled wall such that the upper end wall extends between the upper beveled wall and the upper inboard side wall;
a first guard located at an outboard end of the reinforcement member; and
a second guard located at an inboard end of the reinforcement member, wherein the main body portion, the first guard, and the second guard are configured as discrete components of the reinforcement member.
2 . The vehicle door of claim 1 , wherein the first guard extends from the upper end wall to a point located between the upper end wall and the lower beveled wall.
3 . The vehicle door of claim 1 , wherein the first guard includes:
a first segment secured to the upper beveled wall; and
a second segment secured to the outboard side wall.
4 . The vehicle door of claim 1 , wherein the upper inboard side wall, the lateral wall, and the lower inboard side wall are configured to define the overhang.
5 . The vehicle door of claim 4 , wherein the second guard includes:
a third segment secured to the upper inboard side wall; and
a fourth segment secured to the lateral wall such that the second guard is positioned between the lateral wall and the inner panel of the vehicle door.