US 11,872,873 B2
Vehicle door assembly
David Snyder, Southfield, MI (US); and Christopher Herrala, Milford, MI (US)
Assigned to Nissan North America, Inc., Franklin, TN (US)
Filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., Franklin, TN (US)
Filed on May 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/829,273.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382202 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B60J 5/04 (2006.01); B60J 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC B60J 5/0425 (2013.01) [B60J 1/12 (2013.01); B60J 5/0413 (2013.01); B60J 5/0415 (2013.01); B60J 5/0436 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle door assembly, comprising:
an inner door panel;
an outer door panel fixed to an outer periphery of the inner door panel such that the inner door panel and the outer door panel define a door cavity therebetween and a window opening above the door cavity;
a support bracket attached to a forward area of the inner door panel within the door cavity;
a reinforcing panel attached to the support bracket within the door cavity;
a window opening support panel attached to the support bracket, the reinforcing panel and the inner door panel within the door cavity, the window opening support panel having an upper flange that extends from proximate the front area of the inner door panel to proximate the rear area of the inner door panel below the window opening; and
a side view mirror having a housing and an attachment flange that extends from inside the housing and into the door cavity below the window opening, the attachment flange being attached to the window opening support panel and the reinforcing panel via mechanical fasteners such that the side view mirror housing is located along an exterior side of the outer door panel when installed, the fasteners extending through the window opening support panel and the reinforcing panel thereby attaching the side view mirror thereto.