Abstract: The door inner and outer panels are detachably attached to one another to permit separation to access the space therebetween containing the door hardware. A device mounts the door inner panel and the door outer panel on the vehicle body for independent hinging movement so that the panels move between door open and door closed position in unison with one another when the panels are attached, and the detachment of the panels from one another permits the outer panel to swing away from the inner panel to provide unobstructed access to the door hardware mounted in the space between the panels. The inner and outer panels may be constructed of molded plastic and with one panel having a receptacle receiving the door guard beam and the other panel having an integral molded structure receiving the receptacle upon attachment of the panels together so that the door guard beam becomes effectively coupled with both of the panels.

Abstract: A hinge pin is temporarily held on a first hinge member on the automobile body by means of a hinge pin support mechanism. A door to be attached to the automobile body is held in position, and a second hinge member on the door is brought into engagement with the first hinge member. The hinge pin is pressed into the second hinge member through the first hinge member to couple the door to the automobile door. The hinge pin support mechanism includes a hinge pin retaining member including a ring separably joined to a plurality of legs. When the hinge pin is pressed into the hinge members, the ring is sheared off from the legs and rides in a peripheral groove defined in the hinge pin. The ring then engages one of the hinge members to prevent the hinge pin from being removed from the hinge members. The door can automatically be attached to the automobile body by a door attaching mechanism and detached from the automobile body by a door detaching mechanism.

Abstract: An alignment assembly for aligning a door in a door jamb as the door is rotated into a closed position is disclosed. The door alignment assembly includes at least two door alignment components mounted in proximity to one another generally opposite the pivot axis of the door, one alignment component mounted on the door and the other alignment component mounted on the door jamb. The door alignment components include an alignment wedge having an arcuate surface and an alignment assistor having an angled lateral edge positioned to contact the arcuate surface of the alignment wedge along a substantially point contact to align the door in a top/bottom orientation in the door jamb.

Abstract: A door hinge for a vehicle door is provided with an integrated door check. One hinge member carries on its one end face a profile in the form of depressions, in which are inserted the retaining elements, e.g. in the form of balls, for a temporary arresting in predetermined positions. The balls are pressed down by a set of cup springs via a pressure plate or a ball bearing, so that there is a rolling movement of the retaining elements on the profile faces and on the pressure plate or ball bearing. The door check integrated into the door hinge is adjustable and/or readjustable with respect to its arresting force.

Abstract: A vehicle body has left and right front pillars, each formed of an inner panel and an outer panel and having a closed cross-section, and a dashboard upper panel extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle body between the left and right front pillars. A steering shaft support member which supports a steering shaft and extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body is connected to the corresponding front pillar at each end thereof by way of a bracket which forms a closed cross-section together with the corresponding front pillar.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting sealing strips on motor vehicles and the like comprises: at least one structural member of the vehicle having projecting rivets formed integrally from the member along a gap to be sealed; and, a sealing strip pressably affixed to the projecting rivets along the gap, obviating the need to provide separate studs or rivets for affixing the sealing strip. In a preferred method, at least two structural members of the vehicle are joined to one another by rivets formed integrally from one or both of the members and extending through one of the members, along the gap to be sealed.

Abstract: A lid for closing an automobile body recess, particularly a filler inlet compartment lid for a motor vehicle, is pivotally connected by means of a hinge, a hinge arm being fastened at the body recess. In order to, on the one hand, achieve a surface transition from the lid to the adjacent outer wall of the body that is flush with the shell of the body and, on the other hand, ensure a surrounding, constant gap between the lid and the body opening, the hinge arm that faces the body recess is held in position at the body recess, by an adjusting device.

Abstract: A utility door assembly is provided for mounting on the side of a recreation vehicle, which includes a rain deflector over the door that minimizes the leakage of rain through the top of the door. The deflector includes an upper surface extending at a downward-outward incline of at least 60.degree. from the horizontal, and merging with a lower surface that extends in a concave curve that is progressively more horizontal at progressively outward locations, with the bottom of the deflector surface lying outward of the door and ending in a sharp corner. Raindrops which have impacted the vehicle and are flowing downwardly along the side are directed downwardly and outwardly so they tend to fly away from the outer edge of the deflector instead of flowing around it and leaking in through the top of the utility door.

Abstract: A rear body structure of an automobile having a corner portion constituted by a rear header, rear pillar and roof side rail of a closed cross-section in which first and second extensions are integrally formed in a rear pillar outer panel and extend into the closed cross sections of the rear header and roof side rail so that the rear body structure is improved in rigidity. The closed cross-section is terminated half way in the transverse direction of the body. A hinge reinforcement is mounted in the vicinity of the end of the closed cross-section structure to reinforce the rear body structure.

Abstract: An applique structure for the external B pillar areas of a four door vehicle is provided. The vehicle structure is one wherein the pair of doors on each side are hingedly mounted at the forward edges and wherein the B pillar areas are defined by the upper door edges. The appliques are adhered to the B pillar area and form a double seal at the juncture therebetween. Additional seals are provided around the periphery of the appliques.

Abstract: An automobile body side structure including a front side outer panel and a rear side outer panel. The front side outer panel defines a side door opening and formed with a rear pillar reinforcement at the rear end of the side door opening. The rear side outer panel includes a rear fender outer panel section and a rear pillar outer panel section formed at the front edge portion of the rear fender outer panel section. A rear pillar inner panel is welded to the rear pillar outer panel section at the front and rear edge portions with the rear pillar reinforcement panel section interposed therebetween to form a rear pillar of a closed cross-section.

Abstract: An automobile body is disclosed herein having a roof hinged door operable between a raised open position and a lowered closed position wherein the hinge is a unitary construction having a well with arcuate side portions mating with a seal secured in the roof door jamb so as to be conformed with the outline of the automobile body configuration and further includes foldable, telescoping articulated support struts as well as lock mechanisms for releasably securing the door in its closed position.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a small lightweight automotive vehicle having a frame supported on front and rear axles, a stationary front module containing an engine, drive train, controls, etc. and a rear seating module which is pivotally supported by the frame for movement about a generally vertically axis extending above the rear axles to permit easy entry into and exit from the vehicle. The vehicle could either have a single or a pair of pivotal rear seating modules and the basic geometric structural shell for the vehicle is a tetrahedron so that the seating module or modules when pivoted to an open position to permit entry to and exit from the vehicle requires relatively little side clearance.

Abstract: A sealing structure for an automotive vehicle comprising a drip seal attached to a flange formed along the vehicle body roof and the vehicle body front pillar and shutting off the clearance along the front pillar between the vehicle body and the vehicle door. The drip seal has two ridges forming inner and outer lips, the outer lip being held in abutting contact with an inner face of the door. The inner lip extends along the vehicle body roof parallel to and spaced from the outer lip and forming with the outer lip an upwardly opened drip channel. The front tip edge of the door sash and the front pillar abut the opposite longitudinally extending sides of the inner lip along the front pillar and shut off the clearance between the door sash and front pillar substantially flush with the outer surface of the vehicle.

Abstract: An operator's cab for a self-propelled crop harvesting machine is disclosed wherein the access door is pivotally mounted on a forwardly inclined support post. The hinge axis for the access door is inclined in both a forward direction and in an inward direction toward an operator's station to permit the bottom frame member of the access door to swing in a substantially horizontal plane. The access door is pivotally movable between a closed position and a fully opened position which is approximately 90.degree. of rotation apart. The hinge axis casts a vertical projection relative to the access door when the access door is rotated midway between the closed and fully opened positions so that the bottom frame member can be horizontally positioned in both the closed and fully opened positions without dropping below a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for a vehicle door comprising a first arm and a second arm extending between the door section and the vehicle body for supporting the door section during opening and closing thereof. The first arm includes a first shaft for pivotally mounting the door section to the vehicle body and a second shaft for pivotally mounting the door section on the end of the first arm opposite the first shaft. The first shaft is mounted along the vehicle body and is positioned beneath a rearward section of a fixed fender portion. An attaching element rotatably mounts a movable fender portion on the first shaft for rotation with the first arm. The movable fender is adjacent to and substantially beneath the fixed fender portion when the door section is closed. The movable fender also includes an extension projecting forward of the first shaft, the extension defining a path of movement about the first shaft during opening and closing of the door section.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for a vehicle door including a support arm and a control arm, both which are pivotably connected between a mounting surface along the vehicle body and the door. The support arm is typically mounted forward of the control arm along the vehicle body. The door includes an end surface extending between an exterior and an interior of the door adjacent the mounting surface of the vehicle body. The end surface has a lower vertical section measuring a predetermined length and an upper inclined section. The mounting surface is aligned with the vertical section. The support arm extends along a substantial portion of the predetermined length of the vertical section of the door. The support arm is mounted to the mounting surface of the vehicle body by a first shaft and a second shaft pivotally mounts the door along the end surface thereof to the opposite end of the support arm.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for a vehicle door, in which a vehicle body includes a door section having an arm rest extending along an interior portion thereof. The bottom surface of the arm rest contains a recessed section defined along the vehicle interior by a contour line extending along at least a forward portion of the bottom surface of the arm rest. A support arm extends between the door section and the vehicle body to provide primary support for the door section. A control arm with attached cover extends between the door section and the vehicle body for guiding the door section when the door section is opened and closed. The support arm and the control arm are pivotally attached to both the door section and the vehicle body. The control arm and cover have a cross-sectional dimension, when viewed from above, substantially corresponding to the contour line, enabling the control arm and cover to be substantially flush with the contour line when the door is closed.

Abstract: An improved hinge assembly for a vehicle, such as a van having a rear door and a tail light. The hinge assembly mounts the door to the vehicle, and in addition, is hidden from view from outside the vehicle, but for edge surfaces of a pair of movable hinge members that are located within spaced gaps to either side of the tail light. The edge surfaces thereby appear to border the tail light, providing an enhanced aesthetic appearance. In addition, the movable hinge members move out through the spaced gaps, which open both sidewise and rearwardly of the vehicle body, when the door opens. Consequently, the door can open wide, outboard of the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle having no pillar between adjacent front swinging and rear sliding doors is provided a structure for mounting a front door striker engageable with a door lock of the front door. The door striker is mounted on a vehicle side sill with a reinforcement which provides sufficient stiffness for the vehicle side sill for resisting against bending stress applied thereto. A guide rail retainer secured to an inner wall of the side sill supports an end of a guide rail for the sliding rear door.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle door structure which has an improved outer aesthetic appearance and which can reduce air resistance along the outer surface of a vehicle. The vehicle door structure includes a fastener and a door weather strip. The fastener is fixed on a body side member of the vehicle, and the door weather strip is mounted on the fastener. The door weather strip includes a core portion made of solid rubber and a crust portion made of sponge rubber. The core portion includes an outer recess and the crust portion includes an inner recess and a contact portion. The fastener includes an outer hook inserted into the outer recess of the core portion of the door weather strip and an inner hook inserted into the inner recess of the crust portion of the door weather strip.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body having side windows separated by a column is provided with an adjustable cover for the column which is aligned with the outer surfaces of the window. The cover is made from glass, light-permeable synthetic resin, or the like. Transverse adjustment is provided to facilitate alignment with the window surfaces. Gaskets are provided to seal adjoining doors.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure which increases the rigidity of a side door supporting mechanism which is defined by a vertical supporting pillar and a horizontal rocker panel. The structure has a reinforcement member which is sandwiched between a lower portion of an outer pillar panel and an outer rocker panel, and is fixed to the outer pillar and rocker panels by welding methods, resulting in the increased rigidity of the entire side door supporting mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle body comprises a windshield weatherstrip mounted to a front hinge pillar and extending along and engaged with the lateral end of a windshield glass. A door frame adjacent the front hinge pillar has an outer surface adapted to match the outer surface of the windshield glass and is engageable at the inner surface of the forward end thereof with the windshield weatherstrip. The windshield weatherstrip has an outer surface smoothly extending between the windshield glass and the door frame.

Abstract: A rear side door structure for a four-door type automobile including a door panel having an upper hem for defining a lower edge of a window opening, a guide member extending upwardly from the upper hem of the door panel to divide the window opening into a front and rear opening portions, a front and rear glass panels respectively provided in the opening portions. One of the glass panels is fixed to the door panel and the other is movable along the guide member. A cover panel is integrally formed with the door panel to cover the guide member.

Abstract: A vehicle body pillar garnish, made up of two individual pillar garnish members and having a seam mark defined by the mating edge portions of the pillar garnish members, is formed with a recess having two parallel bottom corners. One of the walls defining the recess is formed by one of the mating edges such that one of the corners coincides with the seam mark.

Abstract: A flexible net-like covering for the doorway of a recreational vehicle to prevent occupants or objects from falling through the accidentally opened door. The covering, carried by a roller biased to a rolled condition and positioned above the recreational vehicle doorway, is manually extendable downwardly to cover the doorway. The sides of the covering provide fasteners movably carried in channels positioned on the sides of the doorway to maintain the net in operative position covering the door against applied forces.