U.S. patent application number 09/739016 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-05 for mounting structure for center rail of slide door.
This patent application is currently assigned to Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Arakawa, Satoshi, Tsubokura, Ichiro.
Application Number | 20010006298 09/739016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18481125 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010006298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsubokura, Ichiro ; et
al. |
July 5, 2001 |
Mounting structure for center rail of slide door
Abstract
In a mounting structure for a center rail, a recess extending
horizontally along the lower edge of a window opening of a lateral
face of a vehicle body is formed, and the center rail is disposed
in the recess to guide a slide door. The center rail is divided in
the vertical direction and thus composed of an upper rail member
and a lower rail member. The upper rail member is securely fitted
to an upper part of the recess and covered with an opaque
elongation of the lower edge of a window glass. After mounting the
slide door to the lateral face of the vehicle body and painting the
vehicle body, the lower rail member painted in a color different
from that of the vehicle body is mounted so as to cover a lower
part of the recess.
Inventors: |
Tsubokura, Ichiro;
(Kariya-shi, JP) ; Arakawa, Satoshi; (Kariya-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Oliff & Berridge PLC
P. O. Box 19928
Alexandria
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
Toyota Shatai Kabushiki
Kaisha
|
Family ID: |
18481125 |
Appl. No.: |
09/739016 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05D 2015/1057 20130101;
B60J 5/06 20130101; E05D 15/1047 20130101; E05Y 2201/684
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/155 |
International
Class: |
B60J 005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 1999 |
JP |
11-364158 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mounting structure for a center rail of a slide door,
comprising: a recess formed so as to extend horizontally along a
lower edge of a window opening in a lateral face of a vehicle body;
a center rail disposed in the recess to guide the slide door; and a
window glass shielding the window opening, an opaque elongation
being formed below the lower edge of the window opening and the
elongation being located outside the recess so that a lower edge of
the window glass covers an upper part of the center rail, wherein
the center rail is composed of two vertically divided members,
namely, an upper rail member and a lower rail member, wherein the
upper rail member is securely fitted to the recess, and wherein the
lower rail member is superposed on the outside of the upper rail
member or securely fitted to the recess along a lower edge of the
upper rail member.
2. The mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower
rail member is mounted so as to cover a lower part of the recess
located below the lower edge of the elongation of the window
glass.
3. The mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the slide
door is provided with a center roller having a horizontal roller
and a vertical roller, wherein the upper rail member is composed of
a guide having a generally inverse-U-shaped cross-section and
guiding rollwise the horizontal roller and a lower end in the shape
of a vertical wall extending downwardly of the guide, and wherein
the lower rail member is composed of a horizontal flat guide
guiding rollwise the vertical roller, an extension extending
outwards from an outer edge of the guide to cover a lower wall of
the recess, and an upper end in the shape of a vertical wall
extending upwards from an inner edge of the guide.
4. The mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein the lower
end of the upper rail member is tightly fastened, by means of a
plurality of first bolts provided with a predetermined interval
formed therebetween, to a generally vertical lateral wall of the
recess, and wherein the upper end of the lower rail member is
superposed on the outside of the lower end of the upper rail member
to cover the first bolts, integrated with the lower end, and
tightly fastened, by means of a plurality of second bolts provided
with a predetermined interval formed therebetween, to the lateral
wall of the recess.
5. The mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein the lower
rail member is provided at a plurality of positions along the
longitudinal direction with protrusions protruding upwards from an
upper edge of the upper end, and wherein the upper rail member is
provided with an upper wall and a lower wall abutting on upper ends
of the protrusions and a lower face of the guide of the lower rail
member respectively and sandwiching them in the vertical
direction.
6. The mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein the upper
rail member and the lower rail member are respectively provided at
their front ends with curvatures curving towards the interior of
the vehicle, wherein a notch is formed in the curvature of the
lower rail member, wherein a pin is arranged in a standing manner
on the curvature of the upper rail member, and wherein the
curvature of the lower rail member is positioned by fitting the pin
into the notch.
7. The mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein a
horizontal support supporting the vertical roller when mounting the
slide door is formed in the proximity of the front end of the upper
rail member or the front end of the recess.
8. The mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower
rail member is painted in the same color as the color of a lace
arranged along a belt line of the slide door.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-364158
filed on Dec. 22, 1999 including the specification, drawings and
abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a mounting structure of a center
rail for guiding a slide door on the lateral face of a vehicle
body.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. HEI 6-12976 discloses a
mounting structure of a center rail for guiding a slide door as
shown in FIGS. 4, 5. In this structure, a recess 1 is formed at the
upper edge of a quarter panel QP along the opening lower edge of a
quarter window QW on the lateral face of a vehicle body behind a
slide door SD, and a center rail 2 is securely fitted into the
recess 1. The lower edge of a window glass 7 shielding the opening
of the quarter window QW is elongated further downwards than the
opening lower edge of the quarter window QW to form an opaque
elongation 70. The recess 1 and the center rail 2 are covered with
the elongation 70 with a view to enhancing the visual
attractiveness of the lateral face of the vehicle body.
[0006] A center roller 6 composed of a horizontal roller 61 and a
vertical roller 62 is disposed at the end of a bracket 60
protruding from the inner face of the slide door SD. The center
rail 2 is a long-extending member having a generally
inverse-C-shaped cross-section corresponding to the center roller 6
and is tightly fastened to the recess 1 by means of bolts. The
center rail 2 rollably guides the horizontal roller 61 with its
upper part and the vertical roller 62 with its bottom part. The
inner face of the elongation 70 of the window glass 7 is painted in
a black coating material 71 and made opaque. A gap K ensuring the
orbit of the bracket 60 of the center rail 6 is provided between a
lower edge 701 of the elongation 70 and a lower edge 10 of the
recess 1.
[0007] On the lateral face of the vehicle body, a belt line B1 of a
front door FD, a belt line B2 of the slide door SD and the gap K
are aligned continuously. Thus, the belt lines B1, B2 and the gap K
constitute a rectilinear side line, whereby the gap K is made
unnoticeable.
[0008] In manufacturing processes of a vehicle, for the purpose of
preventing the surfaces of the vehicle body from being damaged
before being painted or the chromatic difference from being
generated between the vehicle body and doors or the like, the doors
are mounted before the vehicle body is painted, and the vehicle
body and the doors are painted altogether. For this reason, the
center rail 2, which is required to mount the slide door SD, is
also mounted to the vehicle body before being painted. The center
rail 2 is also painted in the same color as that of the vehicle
body and the slide door. Accordingly, after the vehicle has been
manufactured, the lower portions of the recess 1 and the center
rail 2 painted in the same color as that of the vehicle body are
visible in the gap K when viewed from the outside of the vehicle.
However, if a lace different in color from the vehicle body is
arranged along the belt lines B1, B2 of the doors FD, SD, a sense
of continuity is lost between the lace and the gap K painted in the
same color as that of the vehicle body. This causes a problem of
making the gap K rather conspicuous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a mounting
structure of a center rail for a slide door wherein the structure
is continuously aligned with belt lines of doors and chromatically
identical thereto so that the visual attractiveness of the lateral
face of a vehicle body can be enhanced.
[0010] In a mounting structure for a center rail of a slide door
according to a first aspect of the invention, a recess extending
horizontally along the lower edge of a window opening of a lateral
face of a vehicle body is formed, a center rail is disposed in the
recess to guide the slide door, the lower edge of a window glass
shielding the window opening is elongated downwardly of the lower
edge of the window opening to form an opaque elongation, and the
elongation is positioned outside the recess to cover an upper part
of the center rail. In this structure, the center rail is composed
of two vertically divided members, namely, an upper rail member and
a lower rail member. The upper rail member is securely fitted to
the recess, and the lower rail member is superposed on the outside
of the upper rail member or securely fitted to the recess along the
lower edge of the upper rail member. It is possible to mount only
one of the constituents of the center rail, that is, the upper rail
member when mounting the slide door, and mount the lower rail
member after the painting of the vehicle body has been carried out
in a series of manufacturing processes of the vehicle. Thereby it
becomes possible to paint the mounting structure in a color
different from that of the vehicle body and the slide door.
[0011] The lower rail member may be mounted so as to cover a lower
part of the recess located below the lower edge of the elongation
of the window glass. If the lower rail member is painted in a color
different from that of the vehicle body and the slide door, for
example, in the same color as that of a lace arranged along the
belt lines of the doors, the lower rail member and the belt lines
can constitute a side line having a sense of continuity on the
lateral face of the vehicle body. Thus, it is possible to enhance
the visual attractiveness of the lateral face of the vehicle
body.
[0012] The mounting structure of the aforementioned aspect may be
constructed as follows. The slide door is provided with a center
roller having a horizontal roller and a vertical roller. The upper
rail member is composed of a guide having a generally
inverse-U-shaped cross-section and guiding rollwise the horizontal
roller and a lower end in the shape of a vertical wall extending
downwardly of the guide. The lower end is tightly fastened, by
means of a plurality of first bolts provided with a predetermined
interval formed therebetween, to a generally vertical lateral wall
of the recess. The lower rail member is composed of a horizontal
flat guide guiding rollwise the vertical roller, an extension
extending outwards from an outer edge of the guide to cover a lower
wall of the recess, and an upper end in the shape of a vertical
wall extending upwards from an inner edge of the guide. The upper
end of the lower rail member is superposed on the outside of the
lower end of the upper rail member to cover the first bolts
provided with a predetermined interval formed therebetween,
integrated with the lower end, and tightly fastened, by means of a
plurality of second bolts, to the lateral wall of the recess. Thus,
the number of bolts that are visible from the gap between the lower
edge of the elongation of the window glass and the lower edge of
the recess is reduced. This makes it possible to enhance the visual
attractiveness of the lateral face of the vehicle.
[0013] The lower rail member may be provided at a plurality of
positions along the longitudinal direction with protrusions
protruding upwards from an upper edge of the upper end, and the
upper rail member may be provided with an upper wall and a lower
wall abutting on upper ends of the protrusions and a lower face of
the guide of the lower rail member respectively and sandwiching
them in the vertical direction. Thus, the lower rail member can be
vertically positioned with respect to the upper rail member easily
and precisely.
[0014] The mounting structure of the aforementioned aspect may be
constructed as follows. The upper rail member and the lower rail
member are respectively provided at their front ends with
curvatures curving towards the interior of the vehicle. A notch is
formed in the curvature of the lower rail member, and a pin is
arranged in a standing manner on the curvature of the upper rail
member. The curvature of the lower rail member is positioned by
fitting the pin into the notch. Thus, the curvature of the lower
rail member can be positioned with respect to the upper rail member
and secured thereto easily and precisely.
[0015] A horizontal support supporting the vertical roller when
mounting the slide door may be formed in the proximity of the front
end of the upper rail member or the front end of the recess. Thus,
the slide door can be stably mounted to the vehicle body before
mounting the lower rail member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting structure for
a center rail according to an embodiment of the invention, taken
along a line I-I in FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting structure
for the center rail according to the embodiment of the invention,
taken along a line II-II in FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting
structure for the center rail according to the embodiment of the
invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lateral face of a
vehicle.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting structure for
a center rail, taken along a line V-V in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0022] This embodiment is applicable to a lateral part of a vehicle
as shown in FIG. 4. That is, a recess 1 is formed in an upper edge
of a quarter panel QP along an opening lower edge of a quarter
window QW on the lateral face of the vehicle behind a slide door
SD, and a center rail 2 is securely fitted to the recess 1. The
recess 1 and the center rail 2 are covered with an opaque
elongation 70 formed in a lower edge portion of a window glass 7 of
the quarter window QW. In the lateral face of the vehicle body, a
gap K between a lower edge 701 of the elongation 70 of the window
glass 7 and a lower edge 10 of the recess 1 is matched with belt
lines B1, B2 of a front door FD and the slide door SD, so that the
belt lines B1, B2 and the gap K constitute a side line extending
straight and continuously.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, the recess 1 is formed in a panel
member P1 of a generally U-shaped cross-section. The panel member
P1 is securely fitted to the upper edge of the quarter panel QP and
opens to the outside of the vehicle. In the panel member P1, an
outer edge of a lower wall 11 is superposed on the upper edge of
the quarter panel QP and welded thereto. On the other hand, a
generally vertical upper edge flange is superposed on an upper edge
flange of an inner panel P2 on the side of a cabin and welded
thereto, so that the welded portion constitutes the opening lower
edge of the quarter window QW. A plurality of (five in FIG. 3)
threaded holes 13 are formed at predetermined intervals along the
longitudinal direction in a lateral wall 12 of the recess 1. Each
of the threaded holes 13 has a weld nut securely fitted to the side
of the back face of the panel.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the center rail 2 is composed
of two divided rail members, namely, an upper rail member 3 and a
lower rail member 4. The upper rail member 3 is a long-extending
member having a cross-sectional shape unchanged along the entire
length. A curvature 30 that is curved towards the interior of the
vehicle along a rear edge of an opening S of the slide door on the
lateral face of the vehicle body is formed at the front end of the
upper rail member 3. A guide 31 of a generally inverse-U-shaped
cross-section opening downwards is formed at the upper end of the
upper rail member 3. The guide 31 guides rollwise a horizontal
roller 61 constituting a center roller 6 of the slide door SD.
[0025] A generally vertical lateral wall 32 extending downwards
from the guide 31 of the upper rail member 3 is offset towards the
interior of the vehicle with respect to the guide 31. A stepped
upper wall 33 is formed between the guide 31 and the lateral wall
32. The upper rail member 3 is further provided with a lower wall
34 extending from a lower edge of the lateral wall 32 towards the
outside of the vehicle and facing the guide 31 in the vertical
direction.
[0026] A plurality of (five) bolt holes 35 corresponding to the
threaded holes 13 in the lateral wall 12 of the recess 1 are formed
at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction in the
lateral wall 32 of the upper rail member 3. A pin 36 is arranged in
a standing manner on the curvature 30 of the upper rail member 3 at
the front end of the lateral wall 32.
[0027] The lateral wall 32 of the upper rail member 3 is superposed
on the lateral wall 12 of the recess 1 along the recess 1 of the
lateral wall of the vehicle body. First bolts 5A are screwed into
the threaded holes 13 in the lateral wall 12 of the recess 1
through the first, second and fourth ones of the bolt holes 35, and
securely tightened.
[0028] In manufacturing processes of a vehicle, the upper rail
member 3 is mounted to support the center roller 6 of the slide
door SD before the vehicle body is painted. The center roller 6 is
composed of a horizontal roller 61 and a vertical roller 62. The
horizontal roller 61 is rotatably supported by a first support
shaft 63 arranged vertically in a standing manner at the end of a
bracket 60 protruding from a door inner plate (not shown). The
vertical roller 62 is rotatably supported by a second support shaft
64 arranged substantially horizontally in a standing manner at the
end of the bracket 60. The horizontal roller 61 is rollably fitted
into the guide 31 of the upper rail member 3, and the vertical
roller 62 is laid on the lower wall 34 and supported thereby. In
this case, the vertical roller 62 is temporarily supported by the
lower wall 34 of the upper rail member 3. That is, the vertical
roller 62 is laid on the lower wall 34 of the upper rail member 3
such that the vertical roller 62 can be pressed slightly upwards.
The painting process is carried out in this state, and the vehicle
body, the slide door SD and the upper rail member 3 are painted in
the same color.
[0029] The lower rail member 4 is mounted after the aforementioned
painting process. The lower rail member 4 is a long-extending body
extending along the upper rail member 3. A curvature 40 that is
curved towards the interior of the vehicle along the curvature 30
of the upper rail member 3 is formed at the front end of the lower
rail member 4. The lower rail member 4 is provided with a
horizontal guide 41 guiding rollwise the vertical roller 62 of the
center roller 6 along the entire length. A vertical lateral wall 42
protruding upwards is formed along the lateral edge of the guide 41
on the side of the interior of the vehicle. The lateral wall 42 is
lower than the lateral wall 32 of the upper rail member 3.
[0030] In the curvature 40 of the lower rail member 4, the front
end of the guide 41 protrudes further forwards than the front edge
of the lateral wall 42, and a groove-like notch 43 opening in
coordination with the pin 36 of the upper rail member 3 is formed
at the front end of the lateral wall 42.
[0031] Bulges 44 are formed on the lateral wall 42 of the lower
rail member 4 at positions corresponding to the second and fourth
ones of the first bolts 5A that are used to clamp the upper rail
member 3 to the recess 1. The bulges 44 swell towards the exterior
of the vehicle and cover the heads of the bolts. Mounting seats 45
are formed in the lateral wall 42 at positions corresponding to the
third and fifth ones of the bolt holes 35 in the upper rail member
3. The mounting seats 45 swell towards the interior of the vehicle
and are superposed on the regions around the bolt holes 35 in the
lateral wall 32 of the upper rail member 3. Bolt holes 46 are
formed at the centers of the respective mounting seats 45. The bolt
holes 46 correspond to the bolt holes 35 and are slightly larger in
diameter than the bolt holes 35.
[0032] Protrusions 47 are formed on the upper edge of the lateral
wall 42 of the lower rail member 4. The protrusions 47 protrude
upwards from the upper edges of the respective mounting seats 45,
and the upper ends of the protrusions 47 are bent towards the
exterior of the vehicle. The protrusions 47 are dimensioned such
that their height from the guide 41 coincides with the height of
the lateral wall 32 of the upper rail member 3, namely, the height
of the upper wall 33 from the lower wall 34.
[0033] An extension 48 extending outwards from the guide 41 is
formed in a rear part of the lower rail member 4 other than the
curvature 40. The extension 48 slightly slants with a smooth and
generally downwardly extending curve, from the guide 41 to the
outer edge.
[0034] The entire surface of the lower rail member 4 is painted in
black nylon fine particles in coordination with a black lace (not
shown) arranged along the belt lines B1, B2 (FIG. 4) of the front
door FD and the slide door SD, and with the intention of deadening
rolling noise of the vertical roller 62. A rubber sealing material
49 is stuck to the extension 48 along its edge.
[0035] In mounting the lower rail member 4, the slide door SD is
displaced forwards and arranged such that the slide door opening S
in the vehicle body is closed. The front end of the guide 41 of the
curvature 40 of the lower rail member 4 is inserted into a space
between the lower wall 34 of the upper rail member 3 and the
vertical roller 62 that has already been installed. The vertical
roller 62 is then laid rollably on the upper face of the guide 41,
and the pin 36 of the upper rail member 3 is fitted into the notch
43 at the front end of the lateral wall 42. A groove is formed
along the circumference of the root of the pin 36 and fitted into
the notch 43. The entire lower face of the guide 41 is then
superposed on the upper face of the lower wall 34 of the upper rail
member 3, and the lower wall 11 of the recess 1 is covered with the
extension 48. The protrusions 47 are thereafter brought into
abutment on the upper wall 33 of the upper rail member 3, and the
heads of the first bolts 5A used to clamp the upper rail member 3
are covered with the bulges 44. The mounting seats 45 are then
superposed on the regions around the other bolt holes 35 in the
lateral wall 32 of the upper rail member 3.
[0036] In this case, the protrusions 47 and the guide 41 of the
lower rail member 4 are clamped between the upper wall 33 and the
lower wall 34 of the upper rail member 3, such that the lower rail
member 4 is fitted into a lower part of the upper rail member 3.
Therefore, the lower rail member 4 can be reliably positioned in
the vertical direction. A plurality of second bolts 5B are screwed
into the threaded holes 13 in the recess 1 through the bolt holes
46, 35. Thus, the lower rail member 4 is integrated with the upper
rail member 3 and secured to the recess 1.
[0037] Because the pin 36 fitted into the notch 43 formed in the
curvature 40 at the front end of the lower rail member 4 can be
displaced along the notch 43, it is possible to absorb the
dimensional difference between the curvature 40 and the curvature
30 of the upper rail member 3. Also, because the aforementioned
groove formed in the root of the pin 36 is fitted into the notch
43, it is possible to reliably fit the curvature 40 along the
curvature 30 of the upper rail member 3.
[0038] The elongation 70 of the window glass 7 protruding downwards
from the opening lower edge of the quarter window QW is opaque with
its inner face painted in a black coating material 71, and covers
the upper part of the recess 1. The lower edge 701 of the
elongation 70 is set at a position substantially corresponding to
the upper edge of the lateral wall 42 of the lower rail member 4. A
gap K for ensuring the orbit of the bracket 60 of the center roller
6 is provided between the lower edge 701 of the elongation 70 and
the lower edge 10 of the recess 1. The reference numeral 8 in FIGS.
1, 2 denotes a sealing material for the window glass.
[0039] According to this embodiment, the center rail 2 is composed
of two separate members, namely, the upper rail member 3 and the
lower rail member 4, and the lower rail member 4 is mounted to the
lower part of the upper rail member 3 with the lower part of the
recess 1 being covered, after the vehicle body has been painted.
Therefore, the lower rail member 4 is the only component that is
visible from the gap K. Accordingly, if the lower rail member 4 is
mounted to the lateral face of the vehicle body and painted in the
same color as that of the belt lines B1, B2 of the front door FD
and the slide door SD, for example, that of the lace arranged along
the belt lines B1, B2, it is possible to highlight a single-color
continuous side line composed of the lace and the gap K, and
enhance the visual attractiveness of the vehicle body.
[0040] In mounting the lower rail member 4, the protrusions 47 are
brought into abutment on the upper wall 33 of the upper rail member
3, whereby it becomes possible to reliably position the lower rail
member 4 in the vertical direction. Because the number of the
second bolts 5B for securing the lower rail member 4 is minimized,
the mounting operation is easy to perform, and the number of bolts
visible from the gap K can also be reduced. Because the pin 36 is
fitted into the notch 43 formed in the curvature 40, it is possible
to absorb the dimensional difference and perform the fitting
operation easily and reliably.
[0041] The lower wall 34 of the upper rail member 3 can support the
vertical roller 62 of the center roller 6. Therefore, even if the
lower rail member 4 has not been prepared before painting the
vehicle body, the slide door SD can be stably mounted to the
vehicle body. The supporting portion is not limited to the lower
wall 34 of the upper rail member 3 and may be formed at the front
end of the lower wall 11 of the recess 1 of the vehicle body.
[0042] The invention is not limited to the aforementioned
embodiment. For example, although not shown in the drawings, it is
possible to employ the following structure. The upper rail member
is composed of the guide for guiding the horizontal roller of the
center roller and the lateral wall extending vertically downwards,
and the lateral wall is securely fitted to the upper part of the
recess of the lateral wall of the vehicle body. On the other hand,
the lower rail member is composed of the vertically extending
lateral wall, the elongation and the guide of the vertical roller,
and the lower rail member is arranged vertically adjacent and
parallel to the lower part of the upper rail member without being
superposed thereon. The upper edge of the lateral wall of the lower
rail member is brought into abutment on the lower edge of the
lateral wall of the upper rail member and positioned thereon. Thus,
the lower rail member is securely fitted to the lower part of the
recess.
* * * * *