The present disclosure described herein, in general, relates to a door panel structure of a vehicle to improve dent resistance around the handle area and buckling resistance in the middle area. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a reinforcement structure provided to an inner door panel of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Vehicle doors are subjected to dent formation around the handle area due to pressure applied while opening or closing the vehicle door. The chances of occurrence of these dents are more prevalent in vehicle doors with a pull-type handle. In order to prevent such dents and provide stiffness to the vehicle door panel, several solutions are available. For instance, a stiffener sheet near the door handle area is provided but during the time of painting, the stiffener sheet gets contracted and creates a pull on the outer door panel resulting in the formation of dents. According to other existing solutions, reinforcement is provided either above or below the door handle area. However, the reinforcement prevents dent formation only in the area of its application and not in the other area. In order to prevent dent formation in another area, another reinforcement can be provided to that area but this poses several drawbacks. The provision of such two reinforcements can cause an issue of packaging space and quality-related concerns.

[0004] In view of the above, there is a need to provide a reinforcement structure which can provide good dent resistance and stiffness to the outer panel of the vehicle door completely and also doesn't pose the above-mentioned problems.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0006] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforcement structure that is provided to an inner door panel of a vehicle that provides improved dent resistance to the outer door panel of the vehicle.
[0007] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a reinforcement structure that is provided to an inner door panel that improves the buckling/static stiffness or rigidity of the outer door panel of the vehicle.
[0008] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a reinforcement structure that is provided to an inner door panel such that packaging space and quality concerns are less.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcement structure that is provided to an inner door panel that enables high load-bearing capacity.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a reinforcement structure provided to an inner door panel of a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0012] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a reinforcement structure provided to an inner door panel of a vehicle. The reinforcement structure comprises a first end which is attached at the door hinge area of the inner door panel, a second end which is wrapped around the vehicle handle area of the inner door panel. The reinforcement structure converges longitudinally from the second end to the first end and the reinforcement structure is provided between a waist reinforcement and an outer center lower reinforcement. The disclosed reinforcement structure is a single component structure that provides improved dent resistance and buckling/stiffness to the outer door panel of the vehicle completely. Also, since the reinforcement structure is converging at one end, packaging space and quality concerns are less.
[0013] In an aspect, the reinforcement structure includes longitudinal beads and transverse beads and external flanges which together help in providing more strength and rigidity and increases the high load-bearing capacity of the outer door panel.
[0014] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0015] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the

accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0017] FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate existing ways of preventing the occurrence of dents on the outer door panel of a vehicle with the help of provision of various elements;
[0018] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate reinforcement structure provided to an inner door panel of a vehicle, in accordance with the present disclosure; and
[0019] FIGS. 2D and 2E illustrate a side view of various sections of reinforcement profiles, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0020] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0022] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0023] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0024] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0026] In order to prevent the occurrence of dents on a vehicle door, various solutions are known in the existing scenario. FIGS. 1A-1D shows various solutions wherein a vehicle door 100 is provided with various elements attached to vehicle

door inner panel (not visible). FIG. 1A depicts one such solution wherein a stiffener sheet 102 is provided near the handle area. The stiffener sheet 102 is applied in the weld shop and during the painting, the stiffener sheet 102 gets stiffened. However, the stiffener sheet 102 gets contracted gradually and creates a pull on vehicle door outer panel lOOo which results in the formation of dent. In another existing solution, a reinforcement 104 is provided above the handle area as shown in FIG. IB. The reinforcement 104 is, however, able to prevent dent formation in the upper area of the vehicle door 100 and not in the lower area. Similarly, a reinforcement 106 is provided below the handle area as shown in FIG. 1C. However, in this case as well the reinforcement 106 prevents dent formation in the lower area of the vehicle door 100 and not in the upper area. A provision of two reinforcements 106 and 108 is also provided above and below the handle area as shown in FIG. ID to overcome the drawbacks associated with using a single reinforcement as shown in FIGS. IB and 1C. Although the provision of two reinforcements 106 and 108 avoid dent formation completely the solution poses other problems such as that of packaging and quality as the number of parts have increased. Therefore, the present disclosure is aimed at providing a single reinforcement or improved reinforcement structure which can provide good dent resistance and stiffness to the vehicle door 100 and doesn't pose the above-mentioned problems.
[0027] Accordingly, FIG. 2A illustrates a reinforcement structure 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. The reinforcement structure 200 is a single component structure which comprises a first end 202 and a second end 204. The reinforcement structure 200 converges longitudinally from the second end 204 to the first end 202. This converging of the reinforcement structure 200 helps in avoiding packaging constraints. The reinforcement structure 200 includes longitudinal beads 206 provided along the length of the reinforcement structure 200. The reinforcement structure 200 also includes external flanges 208 which also extends along the length of the reinforcement structure 200. The external flanges 208 comprises transverse beads 210 provided at regular intervals along the entire length of the reinforcement structure 200. The longitudinal beads 206 and

transverse beads 210 helps in providing additional strength and rigidity along with the high load-bearing capacity to outer door panel 212-0 (not visible in the FIG. 2A). The reinforcement structure 200 is provided to inner door panel 212-1 of the vehicle extending along the length of the vehicle door 100 as shown in FIG. 2B in such a way that the reinforcement structure 200 is provided between a waist reinforcement 214 and an outer center lower reinforcement 216. As visible from the FIG. 2B, the first end 202 is attached at the door hinge area of the inner door panel 212-1 and the second end 204 is wrapped around the vehicle handle area of the inner door panel 212-1. Mastic sealants are provided between the reinforcement structure 200 and the outer door panel 212-0 (not visible) of the vehicle at various locations of the reinforcement structure 200. The mastic sealants help in preventing panel deformation of the outer door panel 212-0 and hence resisting dent formation and buckling phenomenon.
[0028] FIG. 2C shows a close view of the second end 204 of the reinforcement structure 200. The reinforcement structure 200 has a handle cutout 218 in the vehicle handle area which facilitates the mounting of a vehicle handle. With the provision of the handle cutout 218, the reinforcement structure 200 doesn't affect the functionality and mounting concept of the vehicle handle. The reinforcement structure 200 has a grommet cutout 220 in a wrapped around region of the vehicle handle area for receiving a vehicle handle grommet.
[0029] FIG. 2D shows a side view of section A-A which represents a reinforcement profile. The section A-A is cut vertically along the width of the reinforcement structure 200 specifically where transverse beads 210 are formed. FIG. 2E shows a side view of section B-B which represents another reinforcement profile. The section B-B is cut vertically along the width of the reinforcement structure 200 where the transverse beads 210 are not formed and the external flange 208 are attached with the inner door panel 212-1 at the ends and where the mastic sealants are provided between the reinforcement 200 and the outer door panel (212-O). The longitudinal beads 206 in both the reinforcement profiles form a double-hat shaped reinforcement profile along the length of the reinforcement structure

200. The reinforcement structure 200 has not been made rectangular which otherwise would have required more packaging space between the vehicle outer and inner door panel 212-0, 212-1 in the hinge mounting area resulting in a change of hinge rotational axis. The reinforcement structure 200 is made up of lightweight but strong material.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0030] The present disclosure provides a reinforcement structure provided to the inner door panel of the vehicle that provides improved dent resistance of the vehicle's outer door panel.
[0031] The present disclosure provides a reinforcement structure provided to the inner door panel that improves the buckling/static stiffness or rigidity of the vehicle's outer door panel.
[0032] The present disclosure provides a reinforcement structure provided to the inner door panel such that packaging space and quality concerns are less as a single reinforcement structure is used.
[0033] The present disclosure provides a reinforcement structure provided to the inner door panel that enables high load-bearing capacity.
[0034] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:

1. A reinforcement structure (200) provided to an inner door panel (212-
I) of a vehicle, the reinforcement structure (200) comprising:
a first end (202) attached at the door hinge area of the inner door panel (212-
i);
a second end (204) wrapped around the vehicle handle area of the inner door panel (212-1);
wherein the reinforcement structure (200) converges longitudinally from the second end (204) to the first end (202), and
wherein the reinforcement structure (200) is provided between a waist reinforcement (214) and an outer center lower reinforcement (216).
2. The reinforcement structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement structure (200) includes longitudinal beads (206) and transverse beads (210).
3. The reinforcement structure (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the longitudinal beads (206) forms a double hat-shaped reinforcement profile along the length of the reinforcement structure (200).
4. The reinforcement structure (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transverse beads (210) are provided along external flanges (208) of the double hat-shaped reinforcement profile.
5. The reinforcement structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprising mastic sealants provided between the reinforcement structure (200) and outer door panel (212-0) at various locations of the reinforcement structure (200).

6. The reinforcement structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement structure (200) has a handle cutout (218) in the vehicle handle area for facilitating the mounting of a vehicle handle.
7. The reinforcement structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement structure (200) has a grommet cutout (220) in a wrapped around region of the vehicle handle area for receiving a vehicle handle grommet.