Abstract: There is provided a weather strip for a double door of an automobile which has a center seal portion and a seal body. The center seal portion has a main seal and a closing seal, whereas the seal body is integrally formed with a roof seal, an end seal and a lower seal. An upper end portion of the closing seal of the center seal portion is connected to an edge end portion of the roof seal of the seal body by a die molding. A lower end portion of the closing seal of the center seal portion is connected to an edge end portion of the lower seal of the seal body by a die molding.

Abstract: There is provided a clip 30 for mounting an installation base member 22 of a weather strip 20 on a flange 100 provided along a body of an automobile, wherein said clip 30 is composed of a fixing piece 31 mounted on an exposed end portion of a resin insert 24 embedded in the installation base member 22 of said weather strip 20; and a pressuring piece 32 which is rotatably mounted to the fixing piece 31, approaches one side surface of said flange 100 by the rotation to make an elastic contact, and holds said flange 100 with an installation surface of said installation base member 22 mounted on the other side surface of said flange 100.

Abstract: A sealing structure for sealing a vehicle door against a door opening portion of a vehicle body includes a movable door glass provided outside a door frame of the vehicle door so as to move therealong, a roof moulding attached to the door opening portion of the vehicle body, which extends continuously from a roof thereof, a roof weather strip provided within the roof moulding for sealing an upper edge of the movable door glass which is raised to its closed position, and a door glass weather strip attached outside the door frame for sealing an inside face of a peripheral end of the movable door glass.

Abstract: A door outer handle structure in a vehicle having a hinge type opening and closing front side door and a slide type opening and closing rear side door, includes a front outer handle secured along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the rear end edge of the front side door, a rear outer handle secured along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the front end edge of the rear side door so as to become flush with the front outer handle, a hinge portion for rotatably supporting the front part of the rear outer handle, and a retraction portion provided at least one of the facing portions where the front outer handle and the rear outer handle are opposed to each other.

Abstract: An impact protection system is provided for a door of a motor vehicle and extends between upright door frames of a door body. On one side the impact protection system is connected with a hinge column by way of hinges and, on the other side, adjacent to a lock of the door, is connected with an additional column. The hinge column and additional column are integrated in a body structure of a body of the motor vehicle. In order to optimize this impact protection system, the lock is mounted on the latter and, in the closed condition of the door, an engaging device of the door interacts with a receiving device of a deformation device which is fastened to the additional column of the vehicle body structure.

Abstract: A door trim panel includes a substrate member having a front surface adapted to face an interior compartment of a vehicle. A sealing member is integrally molded with the front surface of the substrate member and projects therefrom. The trim panel is adapted to be mounted to a door of the vehicle wherein the door is moveable between open and closed positions with respect to a vehicle body. The sealing member is adapted to engage a portion of the vehicle body so as to form a seal between the trim panel and the vehicle body when the door is in the closed position. A two-shot molding process may be used to make the trim panel with the substrate member being formed in the first shot and the sealing member being molded with the front surface of the substrate member in the second shot.

Abstract: A weather strip includes a body side weather strip and an inner seal attached to opposite ends of a die formed part for use at a door opening edge of a car body. The inner seal has a grip with an embedded metal core for insertion into a body flange. The upper end of the inner seal is formed as a cut end face that connects to die formed part and a gap exists between a roughly triangular base part of the die formed part and at a lip a side surface of the upper end part of the inner seal. When the inner seal attaches to the flange it is curved along the flange and the side end of the base part contacts the inner seal upper end part to close the gap.

Abstract: A sealing gasket for mounting around a motor vehicle door presenting at least one corner of small radius of curvature, the gasket being mounted directly on its support without being subjected to any specific localized treatment operation in a support corner of small radius of curvature, and comprising at least a flexible or semi-rigid fixing portion fixed by adhesive to its support and an elastically-deformable tubular portion for providing sealing, wherein the elastically-deformable portion of the gasket is given a shape extending from its fixing portion that is generally triangular, being defined by two lateral pillars which between them form an angle of about 10° to 80°, and which are united by an arch, said angle being defined using two straight lines passing substantially through the middles of the two lateral pillars at ?ths and at ?ths of the total height of the gasket measured from its fixing portion.

Abstract: A front pillar garnish includes an ornamental head portion having an inward end, a groove wall protruding the ornamental head portion toward a window pane and defining a rain water gutter in cooperation with a surface of the window pane, and amounting leg portion protruding from the ornamental head portion toward a gap between the window pain and a front pillar for mounting the front pillar garnish. The groove wall includes first and second groove walls respectively positioned at an upper side and a lower side in a longitudinal direction of the front pillar garnish. A maximum distance in a direction toward an outer peripheral end face of the window pane from the inward end of the ornamental head portion to the second groove wall is larger than a maximum distance from the inward end of the ornamental head portion to the first groove wall.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a thermal barrier can be removably attached to portals such as trailer doors, partitions, bulkheads, and the like. In one embodiment, a flexible thermal barrier having an associated flexible seal is attached to an interior surface of a roll-up trailer door in a refrigerated trailer to insulate the cargo area from the ambient air. In other embodiments, seals mounted to the trailer wall cooperate with an insulating blanket disposed on a portal such as a roll-up door. In still other embodiments, wall mounted seals are used alone, without a blanket, to provide peripheral thermal sealing.

Abstract: A profiled frame, as a window frame and/or door frame of a motor vehicle door or lid, is manufactured as a roll formed profile from flat strip material, in particular from flat steel, with a preferably closed hollow profile and with preferably at least one flange following the progression of the hollow profile, and with at least one contact surface (15) and/or one attachment formation (16) on the hollow profile and/or the flange. At least one contact surface (15) and/or attachment formation (16) is fashioned into an additional profile which is separate from a hollow profile, and that the additional profile is permanently and rigidly connected with said hollow profile, in particular welded to it.

Abstract: An improved rocker panel on side sill construction includes a substantially planar horizontal top portion, a side portion with a substantially convex show surface and a substantially concave hidden surface opposite the show surface, and a clip house mounting structure disposed on the hidden surface. The improvement consists of joining the clip house to the rocker panel or side sill at the juncture formed between the top show surface and side show surface of the part. Preferably, this joint comprises at least one hollow channel surrounded by a reinforcing rib connecting to the hidden surface proximate the juncture of the top portion with the side portion and connecting the clip house mounting structure to this rib. The channel and reinforcing rib may run substantially longitudinally the length of the rocker panel. The channel and reinforcing rib inhibiting sagging in the top portion of the part between adjacent clip house mounting structures.

Abstract: There is provided a mounting structure of a weather strip comprising a weather strip 2 mounted on a door panel 1A or a body panel 1B of an automobile. The weather strip 2 comprises a fin portion 4 formed in a die molded part 3 of the weather strip 2 to cover existing holes 1b or mounting holes 1a formed in the panel 1, an insert plate 6 mounted in the fin portion 4, a locking projection 7 protrudely formed from the insert plate 6 and projects out of the fin portion 4, and an engagement member 8 attached to the locking projection 7 capable of disconnecting. The engagement member 8 is inserted into a existing hole 1b or an mounting hole 1a formed in the panel 1 for an engagement and to mount the weather strip 2 on the panel 1.

Abstract: A rear pillar structure of a vehicle frame is provided for supporting a dual mode tailgate including a pillar member having a first leg and a second leg. The first leg extends generally vertically along a side wall of the vehicle frame which partially defines a load carrying bed. The second leg extends along a cross member connecting a pair of frame rails of the vehicle frame. A support member is mounted inside the first leg for reinforcing the first leg at a location at which the dual mode tailgate connects to the pillar.

Abstract: A sound-absorbing material is attached to the bottom edge of a periphery of the lower portion of a car door 30. The material is positioned above the seal member 1 which makes a resilient contact with a body panel 20, and carries out the seal between the outside and the inside of the car. The material is made of a foam 10 having specific gravity of about 0.05–0.4. The material restrains the noise. The foam 10 may be provided with a plurality of protrusions 12 on the surface thereof, or it may be provided with a hollow part 13 along the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes a door edge, a cable harness that powers electrical components, such as a window regulator inside the door, and runs along the door edge, and a seal or molding that masks the cable harness along the door edge. During assembly, a sub-assembly including a window glass carrier and a window regulator is introduced inside a door hollow box section through an opening. The cable harness can then be introduced into the hollow box section through the opening without forming a supplementary opening through the door edge and require the operator to work blindly. The cable harness runs and connects to the electrical components of the door more simply and less expensively.

Abstract: There is provided a door weather strip attached to a door frame of an automobile provided with a latch. An automobile body is equipped with a door provided with a latch and a door not provided with a latch. The automobile body is not equipped with a center pillar. An opening for installing a latch is formed at an upper end of one side of a door frame of said door, where hinges are unprovided. An inner sidewall of a molded part of the door weather strip is attached to the upper end of the door frame. The inner sidewall is provided as the bottom end of the molded part and reaches right above the opening. A drainage rib is provided at a rear face of said sidewall for directing water into the opening.

Abstract: An opening/closing apparatus including a trapping detection structure which reliably implements detection of trapping of foreign objects, even at a structure at which an outer peripheral edge of a moving body or an inner peripheral edge of an opening includes corner portions with small radii of curvature. A pressure sensor which detects external forces from directions intersecting a length direction thereof is provided at an outer periphery portion of a back door. However, at a corner portion, at a lower end portion of a door side portion or the like, the pressure sensor is provided with a large curvature such that the pressure sensor keeps distant from the corner portion. In place thereof, another pressure sensor, with a facing pair of electrode sheets, is provided along the corner portion. When one or more of these pressure sensors detects an external force, the back door is moved for opening.

Abstract: A vehicle door has inner and outer panel parts (5, 6) defining the hollow interior (16) of the door which supports a rigid frame (not shown) for a window glass (18) which slides into and out of the hollow interior (16) through a waist gap (20) formed by the upper marginal edges of the panel parts (5, 6). Inner and outer waist seals (22, 24) are mounted on the inner and outer panel parts (5, 6) for sealing against the window glass (18) along the waist gap (20). The outer waist seal (24) comprises flexible material (44), preferably extruded, which defines first and second channels (46, 48) facing in opposite directions. The first channel (46) embracingly grips the marginal edge of the outer panel part (6) to support the waist seal (24) in position. The second channel (48) embracingly grips interlocking legs of a decorative strip arrangement (56). The decorative strip arrangement (56) may comprise two separate parts (56A and 56B) presenting contrasting decorative appearances.

Abstract: In order to attach a seal on an aperture rim of a motor vehicle body in the space-frame design, wherein said aperture rim is edged by a profile frame and is closable by means of a door or flap, for the purpose of minimising the installation effort as well as the weight, the invention provides for a profile seal (13a, 14a) comprising a lip (13a, 14a) to be jammed between the profile frame (1) and a cover panel (11) which edges the outside of the profile frame (1) and is attached to said profile frame (1), wherein said seal is supported at the rear by the profile frame (1), which is profiled accordingly, so that the closing force which is exerted on said profile seal (13, 14) by the door (T1, T2) or flap can be absorbed.

Abstract: An automotive extrusion-molded product includes a core material (2) having a U-shaped cross section which is made of a hard synthetic resin. The core material has cut portions (7, 8) with various shapes extending in the lengthwise direction. A coating body (3) made of a soft synthetic resin is adhered to the core material so as to cover the core material. The coating body (3) is provided with a pushed-in portion (5) formed integrally with the coating body and extending downward beyond the end portion (4, 4) of the core material so as to be pushed in toward an inner peripheral surface (14) having a U-shape cross section of the core material.

Abstract: A door hinge assembly is mounted between a door mounting pillar of the vehicle body and a door to swingably mount the door to the door mounting pillar. The door hinge assembly includes an upper dual pivot hinge, a lower dual pivot hinge, and a torsion bar extending substantially vertically between the upper and lower hinges. The door mounting pillar is configured and arranged to accommodate the dual pivot hinges so that that are not exposed when the door is closed.

Abstract: In combination with a vehicle and a closure, one or more lockdown regions disposed between the closure and the vehicle body, the one or more lockdown includes a device including an active material disposed in operative communication with the closure and the vehicle body, wherein the active material includes a shape memory alloy, a magnetic shape memory material, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device coupled to the active material, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the active material and effectuate a change in a dimension, a shape, and/or a flexural modulus property of the active material, wherein the change in the dimension, a shape, and/or flexural modulus of the active material locks down or releases the closure from the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle door has a supporting frame (10) substantially in the form of a rectangular annular hat beam (13–16) of high-strength steel, which, with its outer side flange (17), carries the outer panel (28) of the door and has its crown (12) towards the vehicle interior. The lower rear portion of the outer side flange (17) has a bolt 32 arranged to fit in a hole (35) in the pillar (34). In case of a side impact, the bolt will make the pillar participate in the energy absorption. The frame (10) is comparatively shallow and it can therefore have a high yield strength and all the other elements of the door can be mounted on the inside of the frame, which make them easily available for service.

Abstract: There is provided a fixing structure of a door weather strip which comprises a weather strip for a car and an insert clip for fixing a molding part of the weather strip to a door panel. The weather strip comprises a molding part having an insertion hole, and bag-shaped fitting grooves which are formed above the insertion hole at an outer side of the molding part, each having an opening at the lower end thereof. The insert clip comprises a plate-shaped body part having a clip part which projects laterally from the body part and is inserted into the insertion hole of the weather strip to fix the weather strip to the door panel. The insert clip also comprises pawl parts which stand upright from the outer end of the body part, and each pawl part tightly fits in a corresponding fitting groove of the weather strip.

Abstract: A roof frame arrangement of a motor vehicle has a front, a rear and two lateral roof frames, and a supporting device for a motor vehicle tailgate. The supporting device includes a tailgate hinge and at least one gas-filled compression spring. At least the lateral roof frame contains an inner shell and an outer shell connected to the latter. A hollow space is formed between the inner shell and outer shell. In order to provide a roof frame arrangement having increased stiffness, which can be produced in a simple and space-saving manner and with as few manufacturing tolerances as possible and in which a relatively great outlay on leakproofness is not required, it is proposed to form a rear end region of the lateral roof frame as a single-piece, circumferentially closed hollow profile which encloses the hollow space there and forms a receiving housing in which at least one of the hinge and the gas-filled compression spring is fitted.

Abstract: A side structure of a vehicle in which a rear periphery, formed correspondingly in position to an area where a second window opening area is located, is positioned at the rear side of a second rear periphery formed at the lower side of the first rear periphery. When slide door is fully opened, the longitudinal length between a front periphery and the first rear periphery is larger than the length between the front periphery and the second rear periphery. For a rear periphery of the slide door, when the slide door is fully closed, a lower portion, substantially corresponding in position to the second rear periphery, is located in front of an upper portion, substantially corresponding in position to the first rear periphery.

Abstract: A weather strip for a vehicle door for being fitted to an upper edge flange of a door inner panel forming a window opening edge of the vehicle door having a lifting/lowering window pane. The weather strip includes: a main body portion having an insertion groove to be fitted to the upper edge flange; a seal lip portion projecting from the main body portion to be in resilient contact with the lifting/lowering window pane; and a resilient retainer to be resiliently engaged with a door trim. The main body portion includes a fixing portion to be engaged with the upper edge flange. The resilient retainer is projected outward from the main body portion in a substantially horizontal direction and perpendicular to an attaching portion provided at an upper portion of the door trim, when the insertion groove is fitted to the upper edge flange substantially.

Abstract: A sealing gasket for sealing gaps adjacent to a pickup truck is provided. In alternate embodiments a combination pickup truck and sealing gasket is also provided. The sealing gasket of the present invention comprises an elongated member made of a deformable and a somewhat resilient polymeric material. The polymeric material is preferably a closed cell sponge material made of one of a number of polymeric materials which are the somewhat flexible, resilient, water resistant and the like. The cross-section of the elongated member, if divided into two parts, includes a generally triangular portion and a generally semi-circular portion which come together to form a teardrop-like shape. The elongated member preferably has a first lumen which is generally circular in shape when the sealing gasket is undeformed, and preferably a second lumen which has two converging tear surfaces which converge to join at one end and join to an arcuate inner surface at the other end.

Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly comprises a hydroformed vertical member (e.g., b-pillar), a hydroformed longitudinal member (e.g., roof rail), and a cross member with a transition flange wrapping above or below the longitudinal member. The transition flange provides rounded corners to enhance the door seal feature. In the preferred embodiment, the transition flange may be integrally formed as part of a stamped cross member or may be a separately formed transition bracket member attached to the cross member.

Abstract: In at least certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a trim panel assembly and a method of making the same. The trim panel assembly comprises a housing having a perimeter portion defining an opening. The housing comprises a housing panel and a housing skin covering at least a portion of the housing panel. The trim panel assembly further comprises a door moveable between a first position wherein the door closes the opening to a second position wherein the door provides access to the opening. The door comprises a door panel and a door skin covering at least a portion of the door panel. The trim panel assembly further comprises a bumper disposed between the housing and the door. The bumper and at least one of the skins are made during the same injection molding step.

Abstract: An automotive door sash construction has a sash main body attached to a door panel main body, an auxiliary sash provided on the sash main body for holding a corner glass and a reinforcement member disposed along the auxiliary sash. The reinforcement member is disposed either on an passenger compartment side or on a non-passenger compartment side of the auxiliary sash.

Abstract: A door hinge assembly is mounted between a door mounting pillar of the vehicle body and a door to swingably mount the door to the door mounting pillar. The door hinge assembly includes an upper hinge and a lower hinge with a double pivot pin arrangement, and a torsion bar extending substantially vertically between the upper and lower hinges. The upper and lower hinges are fastened at interior fastening points on an inner side wall of the door mounting pillar and at exterior fastening points on an exterior wall portion of the door mounting pillar with longitudinal fastening axes that extend in a substantially orthogonal direction to the inner side wall and the exterior wall portion of the door mounting pillar. The interior fastening points are disposed rearwardly of the torsion bar and the exterior fastening points are disposed forwardly of the torsion bar.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes a hollow box section, a window glass module projecting from the hollow box section, and a cable harness near the region where the window glass module exits from the hollow box section. A sub-assembly including the window glass module and a window regulator is introduced inside the hollow box section through an opening. The cable harness powers electrical components (such as a window regulator inside the door) and can then be introduced into the hollow box section through the opening without forming a supplementary opening through the door edge and require the operator to work blindly. The cable harness connects to the electrical components of the door more simply and less expensively.

Abstract: The present invention is a door sealing assembly for sealing a vehicle door to a body. The door includes a frameless door glass and a mirror patch adjacent a front edge of the door glass. The assembly includes a first seal member that is adapted to be attached to the vehicle body and sealingly engages the mirror patch, and a second seal member that is adapted to be attached to the vehicle body and sealingly engages the door glass. A third seal member is adapted to be attached to the mirror patch and sealingly engages the door glass and the second seal member.

Abstract: A vehicle side-door structure, in which a front door and a rear door cover a continuous opening with no partition in a side part of a vehicle so that the opening is opened and closed, the front door is pivotally attached on a hinge at its front part to a vehicle body so that the front door is opened and closed, and the rear door is pivotally attached on a hinge at its rear part to the vehicle body so that the rear door is opened and closed, includes: a front-door rear reinforcement, the front-door rear reinforcement being disposed at a rear end part of the front door and extending in the vertical direction along the rear end part.

Abstract: A rear roof frame of a motor vehicle has a tailgate which is fastened to the roof frame and includes an upper shell and a lower shell which is fitted to the latter. For the design of a rear roof frame, which, in spite of the shell-type construction, provides, in a simple manner and lightweight construction, sufficient torsional and flexural stiffness in order to withstand high mechanical stresses, it is proposed to arrange within the shell structure a hollow profile which leads in each case from the transition region to the lateral roof frame and parallel to the longitudinal extent of the structure, and emerges, at least at the end facing away from the lateral roof frame, in a knee which kinks in the front-end direction of the vehicle. The end of the rear roof frame forms a tubular hollow profile of the lateral roof frame, which is connected to the hollow profile of the rear roof frame.

Abstract: A lock structure for a door panel has a back panel for separating a passenger compartment and a cargo bed of a vehicle, in which an opening portion is formed to communicate the passenger compartment with the cargo bed. The door panel is provided for opening or closing the opening portion. The lock structure comprises a lock mechanism mounted in the back panel and at an edge of the opening portion, a striker mounted on the door panel for engaging with the lock mechanism, and an unlock mechanism mounted in both the back panel and the door panel for disengaging between the lock mechanism and the striker. According to the structures, the thickness of the door panel can be decreased to ensure the space of the passenger compartment, so that the design or layout of the door panel and the space of the rear seat is not restricted. Further, the user can easily open the door panel.

Abstract: A vehicle door has a stop that can move between an urging position, in which it maintains a constant distance between a lower part of the door and the vehicle body when the door is closed, and a retracted position in which the stop does not maintain this constant distance between the lower part of the door and the vehicle body when the door is closed. The stop improves contact between the vehicle window surround and the vehicle body while the vehicle is moving, and can be retracted to make it easier to close the door.

Abstract: There is provided a weather strip for a car without a metal insert which comprises a grip part having a U-shaped grip body in section and a seal part integrally molded to the outer surface of the grip part. The weather strip is installed to a flange provided to a door opening, a trunk portion and the like. The grip body is unprovided with a metal insert, and, at least, the bottom wall and the inner wall of the grip part is made of highly hardened rubber or resin having a hardness of more than Hs 90 degree.

Abstract: A beam (2, 22) is provided for use as an A-pillar (21) and roof rail (1) of a vehicle. The beam is a closed profile elongated element defining a longitudinally extending recess (3, 23) for housing a weather strip (4, 24). The recess (3, 23) includes a base (14, 34), an inner wall (15, 35) and an outer wall (16, 36) and the weather strip (4, 24) is attached to the recess (3, 23). The weather strip (4, 24) is attached to the base (14, 34) of the recess by a double-sided adhesive tape (17, 37) pre-applied to the weather strip (4, 24) which adheres to the base of the recess on contact or by application of pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle 7 is provided having a vehicle body 10 with an opening 16 having first and second ends 18, 20. The vehicle body 7 has a first door 22 and a second door 28, which has a latch connection 42 with the vehicle body between the first and second ends 18, 20. A release handle mechanism 54, accessible from an interior of the vehicle body is provided for the second door 28. The release handle mechanism 54 is also accessible from an exterior of the vehicle body when the first door 22 is open.

Abstract: A profiled seal for sealing a side window that can be raised and lowered relatively to a roof frame of an automobile is disclosed. The seal includes a support rail co-extruded with an elongated elastomeric strip. Retaining elements are attached to the support rail and are positioned in spaced relation to one another. The retaining elements have slotted bases and are attached to the support rail using rivets received within the slots. The slots are oriented lengthwise parallel to the support rail and allow the retaining elements to be positionally adjusted. The retaining elements project outwardly from the support rail and are adapted to engage the roof frame for attachment of the profiled seal thereto.

Abstract: A weather strip for use between a closure panel and the body of a vehicle includes a foundation bulb extending about the periphery of an opening in the body and a contactor bulb supported entirely by the foundation bulb and having a compliance which is less than the compliance of the foundation bulb such that the configuration of the contactor bulb remains relatively invariant as sidewalls of the foundation bulb deform in response to a compressive load imposed by the closure panel and the body opening panel.

Abstract: A door frame for a vehicle comprises a frame structure portion including a hollow portion having a hollow cross section extending in longitudinal direction and a flange portion extending from the outer profile of the hollow portion and an outer surface portion engaged with the flange portion to be integrally formed with the frame structure portion, wherein the frame structure portion and the outer surface portion are formed by separate different plate members, and the outer surface portion is bended and engaged with the frame structure portion to be integrated together. The plate member of the outer surface portion is thicker than the plate member of the frame structure portion. A material of the plate of the outer surface portion is different from a material of the frame structure portion.

Abstract: A weatherstrip for an automobile includes an attaching portion having an inverse U-shape cross section. A rising portion is formed in a protruding manner on the attaching portion and lip pieces are formed for sealing between a door inner panel and a window glass. The rising portion includes a sloping guide that leads to a concave groove with which the trim end of a trim is fitted and latched. To attach the weatherstrip to the upper edge of an inner panel of a door beltline, the attaching portion is attached to the flange by insertion. Then the trim end of the trim is pressed against the guide and is, thrust so as to be fitted and latched with the concave groove. Since the trim end need not climb over the flange while keeping a weatherstrip attached thereto, even if the angle created by the door beltline and a pillar is an acute angle, the creation of a large gap between the weatherstrip end and the pillar is eliminated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a side panel (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one opening (5) that can be closed with a cover. Said cover is slideably received in at least one guide rail (9) and at least one support (10) is provided that carries the guide rail (9) and that is linked with both the guide rail (9) and the side panel (2).

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for reinforcing a vehicle, in particular, a vehicle equipped with a retractable roof comprising of a rigid ring (3) enclosing the vehicle passenger compartment (4), the rigid ring (3) comprising elements (5,6,7) secured to the fixed parts of a body of the vehicle and of mobile elements (8,9) integrated in an upper part of vehicle doors (1,2), the mobile elements (8,9) being located in an extension of the fixed elements (5,6,7) when the doors (1,2) are closed, each mobile element (8,9) comprising at each of its ends locking devices mobile between an unlocking position and a locking position wherein the mobile elements (8,9,) are rigidly linked to the fixed elements (5,6,7) and form together a ring (3) having a uniformly distributed rigidity about the vehicle passenger compartment (4).

Abstract: In order to attach a seal on an aperture rim of a motor vehicle body in the space-frame design, wherein said aperture rim is edged by a profile frame and is closable by means of a door or flap, for the purpose of minimising the installation effort as well as the weight, the invention provides for a profile seal (13a, 14a) comprising a lip (13a, 14a) to be jammed between the profile frame (1) and a cover panel (11) which edges the outside of the profile frame (1) and is attached to said profile frame (1), wherein said seal is supported at the rear by the profile frame (1), which is profiled accordingly, so that the closing force which is exerted on said profile seal (13, 14) by the door (T1, T2) or flap can be absorbed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle door with a door inner shell and a door outer shell joined thereto. A large-area opening in the door inner shell can be covered in a sealed manner by a supporting plate by means of a sealing area, and with a channel seal, which forms the upper termination of the inner parapet area. The motor vehicle door is characterized in that the upper edge of the supporting plate supports the channel seal. The ends of the channel seal are connected to lateral sealing areas of the supporting plate.