US 12,151,544 B2
Vehicle side structure
Hideaki Kanasugi, Nisshin (JP); Dai Hidaka, Kariya (JP); and Taiki Ishiguro, Kariya (JP)
Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP); and AISIN CORPORATION, Kariya Aichi (JP)
Filed by TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP); and AISIN CORPORATION, Kariya Aichi (JP)
Filed on May 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/828,602.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-107037 (JP), filed on Jun. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0410673 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B60J 5/06 (2006.01); E05B 77/46 (2014.01); E05D 15/10 (2006.01); E05F 15/638 (2015.01)
CPC B60J 5/06 (2013.01) [E05B 77/46 (2013.01); E05D 15/1047 (2013.01); E05F 15/638 (2015.01); E05D 2015/1055 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle side structure, comprising:
a vehicle body side structure including a boarding opening through which an occupant gets into and out of a vehicle;
a sliding door that slides to open and close the boarding opening;
an upper hinge configured to slide with the sliding door;
an upper rail located along an upper edge of the boarding opening on the vehicle body side structure, and configured to guide the upper hinge;
a center hinge configured to slide with the sliding door;
a center rail located on the vehicle body side structure and extending from a side edge of the boarding opening in a direction away from the boarding opening, the center rail being configured to guide the center hinge;
a lower hinge located near the side edge of the boarding opening on the vehicle body side structure;
a lower rail located at a position lower than the center rail on the sliding door, and configured to be guided when the sliding door slides; and
a lower edge lock mechanism configured to fix a lower end of a tip edge of the sliding door to the vehicle body side structure when the sliding door is closed,
wherein the lower rail is located along a lower edge of the sliding door;
wherein the sliding door includes a door panel;
wherein the lower rail includes a straight portion and a curved portion, the straight portion being located inward of the door panel in a lateral direction of the vehicle and at a distance from the door panel and extending from the tip edge of the sliding door along the door panel, and the curved portion extending in a curved manner from an opposite end of the straight portion from the tip edge of the sliding door toward the door panel;
wherein the lower edge lock mechanism includes a lower edge striker located at a lower edge of the boarding opening, and a lower edge lock unit including a hook configured to engage with the lower edge striker, the lower edge lock unit being located between the door panel and the straight portion of the lower rail;
wherein the sliding door includes a lower edge lock unit cover, the lower edge lock unit cover being fixed to an inner side of the door panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle, and covering the lower edge lock unit located between the lower edge lock unit cover and the door panel; and
wherein the straight portion of the lower rail is located inward of the lower edge lock unit cover in the lateral direction of the vehicle.