[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a door structure for
a vehicle and, more particularly, relates to a robust structure inside a door
5 required for strengthening an inner panel of the door that is used for
mounting a pull handle, which is required for closing or opening of the door
from inside of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Vehicle doors, especially doors for motor vehicles, consisting of
10 an inner panel and an outer panel, connected to one another and forming a
basic element of the door. The inner panel and outer panel of the door are
arched in opposite directions inside the vehicle door and enclose an interior
door space, which receives windowpane and functional elements.
Moreover, the inner panel has mounting apertures or cut-outs, which make
15 possible the fitting of the functional elements.
[0003] Also, the inner panel of the door generally use the material theme
of the dashboard and pillars while concealing intricate electrical and
mechanical components for operating locks, windows, and other features.
The inner panel of the door has evolved from a simple two-part system of a
20 latch and simple winding mechanism to a more sophisticated enclosure.
Doors currently have an inner full-width panel consisting of electronic
windows, central locking system, and speakers. These panels typically
consist of a foamed core covered with either textiles or plastics.
[0004] Generally, the door’s inner panel is expected to meet one of the
25 toughest sets of requirements among interior car components. The inner
panel should be designed to withstand and channel loads into the body of
3
the car while being thin, i.e., of less than 2 mm. These loads could be
horizontal and vertical in nature, like the force applied on opening or closing
doors while leaning/resting on them or when stepping on the armrest to
access the roof. An additional consideration is their ability to protect
5 occupants from injury during a side collision.
[0005] Moreover, the door structure of the vehicle is such that an
opening is provided in the inner panel of a door main body, and a cable type
window regulator is also provided for vertically moving a window pane (a
window glass) and an embossed mounting hole in which the pull handle is
10 assembled that is capable of closing and opening the door.
[0006] In the door structure for the vehicle as mentioned above, the
structure is made such that a pull handle that is fixed to a centre portion of
the embossed mounting hole is properly gripped that makes an easy
opening and closing of the door from the inside of the vehicle.
15 [0007] Accordingly, a force is applied while pulling and pushing the door
of the vehicle during closing and opening the door of the vehicle
respectively, and a sideward force is also applied to the centre portion of
the embossed mounting hole at a time of operating the handle, therefore it
is necessary to increase a rigidity of the embossed mounting hole so that
20 the embossed mounting hole does not deform in door opening and closing
direction as well as in a thickness direction as the embossed mounting hole
is sometimes formed adjacent to a service hole of a door inner panel.
[0008] To resolve the problem of deformation of the embossed mounting
hole of the door panel in which the handle is mounted while opening and
25 closing of the door, there is a need for a structure that supports the
embossed mounting hole required for mounting the handle and also
reduces the stress produced while opening and closing the door.
4
[0009] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a structure that supports the
embossed mounting hole in which the handle is mounted and also reduces
the stress produced while opening and closing the door of the vehicle.
5 SUMMARY
[0010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a
robust door structure. 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
10 used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0011] The present disclosure proposes a robust door structure having
an inner panel. In particular, the inner panel includes a bead arrangement
to strengthened a mounting hole for a grab handle formed adjacent to a
service hole. The proposed bead arrangement uses stepped vertical arc
15 shaped ribs above the mounting hole of the grab handle to control the
bending (or twisting) of a mounting face of the inner panel during loading
and uses stepped horizontal ribs to strengthen for both inward as well as
outward load application during operation of the grab handle. The bead
arrangement, formed around the grab handle mounting hole, is to be
20 connected to a longest reinforced central rib structure connecting extreme
vertical lines of the door structure for dispersal of load directly to the larger
size of the inner panel.
[0012] In an aspect, the stepped horizontal ribs are formed as linear ribs.
[0013] In an aspect, the stepped horizontal ribs converge towards the
25 embossed mounting hole for fixing a pull handle.
5
[0014] In an aspect, the stepped horizontal ribs include two ribs and a
recess between them.
[0015] In an aspect, the stepped vertical ribs include two ribs and a
recess between them.
5 [0016] In an aspect, the embossed mounting hole is formed with a
square-shaped module base having a circular-shaped protrusion with a
mounting hole for fixing of the pull handle.
[0017] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the
inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following
10 detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the
accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like
components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
15 [0018] 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
20 as claimed herein, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of an inner door
panel of the door in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the structure
25 that supports the handle in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
6
[0021] FIG.3 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the stepped
horizontal ribs and stepped vertical ribs that supports the handle in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the
disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are
in such detail as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of
detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of
10 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.
[0023] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that
follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference unless
15 the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description
herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
[0024] The present disclosure aims to solve a technical problem of
providing a structure that supports an embossed mounting hole in which a
20 pull handle is mounted and also reducing the stress produced while opening
and closing a door of the vehicle.
[0025] Furthermore, the present disclosure also aims to uniformly
distribute stress from a flange area on which an embossed mounting hole
is formed for mounting the pull handle.
25 [0026] To achieve uniform distribution of stress, the present disclosure
provides a robust door structure having an inner panel with a reinforced
7
central rib structure connecting extreme vertical lines of the door At one of
the extreme vertical lines near a service hole, stepped horizontal ribs are
formed for connecting the reinforced central rib structure to an embossed
mounting hole. In an aspect, the embossed mounting hole is formed
5 adjacent to a service hole for fixing a pull handle. In addition to the stepped
horizontal ribs, stepped vertical ribs are formed, which extend from a top
side of the embossed mounting hole along a vertical periphery of the service
hole.
[0027] The stepped horizontal as well as vertical ribs provided in the
10 robust door structure serve the purpose of providing rigidity to the embossed
mounting hole, as the pull handle that is mounted over the embossed
mounting hole is frequently used. Moreover, the robust door structure
channelizes the stresses from embossed mounting hole to the reinforced
central rib structure that helps in lowering the concentration of stress.
15 [0028] In an aspect, the stepped horizontal ribs are defined in the form
of linear ribs.
[0029] In an aspect, the stepped horizontal ribs converge towards the
embossed mounting hole for fixing a pull handle.
[0030] In an aspect, the stepped horizontal ribs include two ribs and a
20 recess between them.
[0031] In an aspect, the stepped vertical ribs are defined as in the form
of arc shaped ribs.
[0032] In an aspect, the stepped vertical ribs include two ribs and a
recess between them.
8
[0033] In an aspect, the reinforced central rib structure is used for
connecting extreme vertical lines of the door and ensures proper transfer of
force.
[0034] In an aspect, the embossed mounting hole is formed with a
5 square-shaped module base having circular-shaped protrusion with a
mounting hole for fixing of the pull handle.
[0035] FIG. 1 shows an enlarged perspective view of an inner door panel
102 of a door structure 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure. The inner door panel 102 of the door structure 100
10 including an embossed mounting hole 104 formed adjacent to a service hole
106 for fixing a pull handle. The embossed mounting hole 104 is formed
with a square-shaped module base 104a having a circular-shaped
protrusion 104b with a mounting hole 104c for fixing of the pull handle.
[0036] The embossed mounting hole 104 accommodates both stepped
15 vertical ribs 112 and stepped horizontal ribs 108. The stepped horizontal
ribs 108 connecting a lateral side of the embossed mounting hole 104 with
a reinforced central rib structure 110 of the door structure 100 and the
stepped vertical ribs 112 extending from a top side of the embossed
mounting hole 104 along a vertical periphery of the service hole 106. The
20 vertical ribs 112 are made arc shaped, not linear, so that they can properly
distribute the stress along the periphery of the service hole 106 without
forming a bending axis.
[0037] Moreover, in an aspect, the reinforced central rib structure 110 is
formed to provide strength to the inner panel 102 of the door structure 100.
25 The reinforced central rib structure 110 is used for connecting extreme
vertical lines 116 of the door structure 100.
9
[0038] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the door structure
100 that supports the handle in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows the embossed mounting hole 104 that is
formed with the square-shaped module base 104a having the circular5 shaped protrusion 104b with the mounting hole 104c for fixing of the pull
handle. The embossed mounting hole 104 accommodates the stepped
vertical ribs 112 and the stepped horizontal ribs 108. The stepped vertical
ribs 112 are arc shaped that is used above the embossed mounting hole
104 that controls the bending, or twisting, of the mounting face during
10 loading.
[0039] Additionally, the stepped horizontal ribs 108 and stepped vertical
ribs 112 are used to strengthen the inner panel 102 that reduces the
stresses produced during inward as well as outward load applications. The
ribs arrangement on the inner panel 102 is in such a manner that it is
15 connected to the central rib structure 110 (longest structure) available
around the pull case mounting for direct dispersal of a load to the large size
of the inner panel 102.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of the stepped
horizontal ribs 108 and stepped vertical ribs 112 that support the pull handle
20 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The
embossed mounting hole 104 accommodates the stepped vertical ribs 112
and the stepped horizontal ribs 108. As shown in the section B-B, the
stepped horizontal ribs 108 includes two protruded ribs 108a and a recess
108b between them. The two protruded ribs 108a help in resisting the
25 bending or torsion of the door panel 102 while pulling the gate. The recess
108b that is in between the two protruded ribs 108a helps in resisting the
bending or torsion of the inner panel 102 while pushing the door structure
100.
10
[0041] Furthermore, the stepped vertical ribs 112 are in the form of arc
shaped ribs. As shown in the section A-A, the stepped vertical ribs 112 has
two protruded ribs 112a and a recess 112b between them. The two
protruded ribs 112a help in resisting the bending or torsion of the inner panel
5 102 while pulling the door structure 100. The recess 112b that is in between
the two protruded ribs 112a helps in resisting the bending or torsion of the
inner panel 102 while pushing the door structure 100.
[0042] Thus, with the inner panel 102 and its structure described in the
present disclosure, various technical problems of the state of the art are
10 resolved. In addition, although a number of exemplary mounting options are
described herein, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the structure of
the inner door panel using ribs, without deviating from the scope of the
subject matter of the present disclosure.
[0043] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be
15 able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described
or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included
within its scope.
[0044] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended
expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in
20 understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed
by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being
without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also,
the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually
exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other
25 embodiments to form new embodiments.
[0045] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the
invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised
11
without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention
is determined by the claims that follow. The invention 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 invention
5 when combined with information and knowledge available to the person
having ordinary skill in the art.

WE CLAIM

1. A robust door structure (100) having an inner panel (102) comprising:
an embossed mounting hole (104) formed adjacent to a
5 service hole (106) for fixing a pull handle;
stepped horizontal ribs (108) connecting a lateral side of the
embossed mounting hole (104) with a reinforced central rib structure
(110) of a door; and
stepped vertical ribs (112) extending from a top side of the
10 embossed mounting hole (104) along a vertical periphery of the
service hole (106),
wherein the stepped vertical ribs (112) are formed as arc
shaped ribs.
15 2. The robust door structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
stepped horizontal ribs (108) are formed as linear ribs.
3. The robust door structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
stepped horizontal ribs (108) converge towards the embossed
20 mounting hole (104) for fixing a pull handle.
4. The robust door structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
stepped horizontal ribs (108) include two ribs (108a) and a recess
(108b) between them.
25
13
5. The robust door structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
stepped vertical ribs (112) include two ribs (112a) and a recess
(112b) between them.
5 6. The robust door structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
embossed mounting hole (104) is formed with a square-shaped
module base (104a) having a circular-shaped protrusion (104b) with
a mounting hole (104c) for fixing of the pull handle.