Abstract: A door reinforcement system for closing an aperture in a side of a body of a pick-up truck includes a first door and a second door pivotally connected to the body and joined pillarlessly between an open position and a closed position, a vertical reinforcement beam disposed within one of the first door and the second door, and a door latch striker connected directly to the vertical reinforcement beam and a door latch connected to the other one of the first door and the second door to engage the door latch striker to resist inward movement of the first door and second door from the closed position with respect to the body of the pick-up truck.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 22, 1997
Date of Patent:
May 19, 1998
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Gary Eugene Heldt, Ryan Spencer Marshall, Tadeusz Joseph Siedlecki, David Rush