US 11,987,107 B2
Rear door assembly
David Kovie, Livonia, MI (US); James Haupt, Livonia, MI (US); Christopher Herrala, Milford, MI (US); Edward Orcsik, LaSalle (CA); John Zakoff, Sterling Heights, MI (US); and James Filipowski, Brighton, MI (US)
Assigned to Nissan North America, Inc., Franklin, TN (US)
Filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., Franklin, TN (US)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/965,704.
Prior Publication US 2024/0123800 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. B60J 5/10 (2006.01); B62D 33/027 (2006.01)
CPC B60J 5/106 (2013.01) [B62D 33/027 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rear door assembly, comprising:
a vehicle body structure having a roof structure and a side wall that defines a wheel well structure, a rear door opening and at least one gutter on a first side of the rear door opening;
a rear door movable between a door closed orientation covering the rear door opening and the at least one gutter, and a door open orientation exposing the rear door opening and the gutter; and
a four-bar linkage assembly supporting the rear door for movement between the door open orientation and the door closed orientation, the four-bar linkage including at least a rearward member, a forward member and an extender,
the rearward member having a first end pivotally attached to the at least one gutter, a second end attached to the rear door and a protrusion spaced apart from the first end and the second end,
the forward member having a first end attached to the roof structure and a second end attached to the rear door, and
the extender having a lower end pivotally attached to a body panel fixed to the side wall above and adjacent to the wheel well structure and an upper end attached to the protrusion of the rearward member,
wherein with the rear door in the door open orientation the rearward member and the forward member support the rear door at a location above the roof structure, and with the rear door in the door closed orientation, the rearward member and the forward member are located within the gutter and are concealed by the rear door.