阅读说明：本技术 车辆侧门 (Vehicle side door ) 是由 八尾崇 小岛茂树 伊藤智幸 于 2019-04-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种车辆侧门包括：门主体；后视镜支架,其固定至所述门主体以便至少部分地置于所述门主体的外侧,所述后视镜支架包括置于所述门主体的外侧的支撑部；以及后视镜单元,其包括由所述支撑部支撑的后视镜保持件,和由所述后视镜保持件支撑的后视镜,其中：所述门主体包括构成所述门主体的外表面的外板、置于所述外板的内侧并且固定至所述外板的内板,以及固定至所述内板或所述外板的加强构件；并且所述后视镜支架固定至所述加强构件。(A vehicle side door comprising: a door main body; a mirror bracket fixed to the door main body so as to be at least partially disposed at an outer side of the door main body, the mirror bracket including a support portion disposed at the outer side of the door main body; and a mirror unit including a mirror holder supported by the support portion, and a mirror supported by the mirror holder, wherein: the door main body includes an outer panel constituting an outer surface of the door main body, an inner panel placed inside the outer panel and fixed to the outer panel, and a reinforcement member fixed to the inner panel or the outer panel; and the mirror bracket is fixed to the reinforcement member.)

1. A vehicle side door, characterized by comprising:

a door main body configured to open and close a side opening of a vehicle;

a mirror bracket fixed to the door main body so as to be at least partially disposed on an outer side of the door main body in a vehicle left-right direction, the mirror bracket including a support portion disposed on the outer side of the door main body in the vehicle left-right direction; and

a mirror unit including a mirror holder supported by the support portion and a mirror supported by the mirror holder, wherein:

the door main body includes an outer panel constituting an outer surface of the door main body in the vehicle left-right direction, an inner panel placed on an inner side of the outer panel in the vehicle left-right direction and fixed to the outer panel, and a reinforcement member fixed to the inner panel or the outer panel and extending in a front-rear direction; and is

The mirror bracket is fixed to the reinforcement member.

2. The vehicle side door of claim 1, wherein:

an inner end portion of the mirror bracket in the vehicle right-left direction is fixed to the reinforcement member; and is

The mirror bracket is configured such that the inner end portion in the vehicle left-right direction has the greatest mechanical strength in the mirror bracket.

3. The vehicle side door according to claim 2, wherein the mirror bracket is configured such that the inner end portion in the vehicle left-right direction has a largest cross-sectional area in the mirror bracket when the mirror bracket is cut along a plane perpendicular to a width direction of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle side door according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by further comprising a spacer disposed in a gap between the inner panel and the outer panel, the spacer being disposed behind the mirror bracket so as to be fixed to the inner panel or to a member fixed to the inner panel.

5. The vehicle side door of claim 4, wherein the member is the reinforcement member.

6. The vehicle side door according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that:

a cross-section of the outer panel when the outer panel is cut along a horizontal plane has an arc shape;

a portion of the arc shape that is positioned on an outermost side in the vehicle left-right direction when the door main body closes the side opening is an outward protruding portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle left-right direction; and is

The spacer faces the outward protrusion.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle side door.

Background

Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2003-160077 (JP 2003-160077A) describes a two-wheeled vehicle. The vehicle includes a body and two wheels (one front wheel and one rear wheel). The driver seat is provided in a compartment (passenger compartment space) formed inside the vehicle body.

Further, left and right rollover reducing members are provided on left and right side portions of the seat, respectively. Each of the left and right rollover reduction members is movable in a left-right direction relative to the seat between a stowed position and a cantilevered position. When the rollover reduction member is disposed in the storage position, the entire rollover reduction member is disposed within the compartment. Meanwhile, when the rollover reduction member is placed in the overhanging position, the outer end portion (distal end portion) of the rollover reduction member is placed on the outer side (lateral side) of the vehicle body.

In the vehicle, the rollover reduction member moves from the stowed position to the cantilevered position when the vehicle rolls over. Thereby, the distal end of the rollover reduction member comes into contact with the road surface, thereby reducing the risk of a side portion of the vehicle body colliding seriously with the road surface.

Disclosure of Invention

However, before the rollover reducing member reaches the overhanging position, the side portion of the vehicle body may collide with the road surface, and as a result, the side portion of the vehicle may be greatly deformed.

The invention provides a vehicle side door capable of suppressing a side portion of a vehicle from being largely deformed by collision with a road surface when the vehicle turns on its side.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a vehicle side door, including: a door main body configured to open and close a side opening of a vehicle; a mirror bracket fixed to the door main body so as to be at least partially disposed on an outer side of the door main body in a vehicle left-right direction, the mirror bracket including a support portion disposed on the outer side of the door main body in the vehicle left-right direction; and a mirror unit including a mirror holder supported by the support portion and a mirror supported by the mirror holder, wherein: the door main body includes an outer panel constituting an outer surface of the door main body in the vehicle left-right direction, an inner panel placed on an inner side of the outer panel in the vehicle left-right direction and fixed to the outer panel, and a reinforcement member fixed to the inner panel or the outer panel and extending in a front-rear direction; and the mirror bracket is fixed to the reinforcement member.

Here, "mirror holder supported by the support portion" refers to a mirror holder directly supported by the support portion, and a mirror holder indirectly supported by the support portion via a member other than the support portion and the mirror holder.

In the vehicle side door of the invention, at least a part of the mirror bracket is disposed on the outer side of the door main body in the vehicle right-left direction. Further, the mirror bracket is fixed to the reinforcement member.

Therefore, for example, when another vehicle collides with the right side portion of the vehicle to which the present invention is applied and the vehicle turns on its side to the left, the mirror bracket and the mirror unit attached to the left side-open side door collide with the road surface. In this case, the mirror unit is more likely to be damaged. Meanwhile, the mirror bracket does receive the impact transmitted from the road surface. This makes it possible to suppress the side door from colliding heavily with the road surface and deforming greatly.

In the foregoing aspect, the inner end portion of the mirror bracket in the vehicle right-left direction may be fixed to the reinforcement member; and the mirror bracket may be configured such that the inner end portion in the vehicle left-right direction has the greatest mechanical strength in the mirror bracket.

When the outer end portion of the mirror bracket in the vehicle left-right direction collides with a road surface, a large force is applied to the inner end portion of the mirror bracket in the vehicle left-right direction. However, when the present invention is implemented in this embodiment, the risk of deformation or breakage of the inner end portion of the mirror bracket in the vehicle left-right direction is small, so that the side door can be surely restricted from being largely deformed.

In the foregoing aspect, the mirror bracket may be configured such that the inner end portion in the vehicle left-right direction has the largest cross-sectional area in the mirror bracket when the mirror bracket is cut along a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the vehicle.

When the present invention is implemented in this embodiment, the mechanical strength of the inner end portion of the mirror bracket in the vehicle left-right direction can be made higher than the mechanical strength of the outer end portion of the mirror bracket in the vehicle left-right direction.

In the foregoing aspect, the vehicle side door may further include a spacer disposed in a gap between the inner panel and the outer panel, the spacer being disposed behind the mirror bracket so as to be fixed to the inner panel or to a member fixed to the inner panel.

When the present invention is implemented in this embodiment, when the outer panel that collides with the road surface is deformed toward the inner panel side when the vehicle rolls on its side, the outer panel comes into contact with the spacer. Therefore, the risk of the outer panel deforming largely toward the inner panel side can be reduced.

In the above aspect, the member may be the reinforcing member.

When the present invention is implemented in this embodiment, the risk of the outer panel deforming greatly toward the inner panel side can be reduced.

In the above aspect, the cross section of the outer panel when the outer panel is cut along a horizontal plane has an arc shape; the portion of the arc shape that is placed on the outermost side in the vehicle left-right direction when the door main body closes the side opening may be an outward protruding portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle left-right direction; and the spacer may face the outward protrusion.

The "arc shape" includes a precise arc shape and a substantially arc shape.

When the present invention is embodied in this aspect, the outward protruding portion in the outer panel most easily collides with the road surface when the vehicle rolls over, so that the outward protruding portion is most likely to be deformed in the outer panel. However, the spacer surely restricts the outward protruding portion from being largely deformed toward the inner panel side.

Drawings

Features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle including a vehicle side door in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the side door with an outer panel removed, as viewed from the outer side in the right-left direction of the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a side door without some components shown;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mirror support viewed from the front side;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows V-V in FIG. 3;

fig. 6 is a rear view illustrating a part of the side door body, the mirror bracket, and the mirror unit;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inner panel, the reinforcement member, the glass run, and the spacer as viewed from the outside in the right-left direction of the vehicle;

fig. 8A is a schematic front view illustrating the vehicle of the embodiment and another vehicle that collides with the right side portion of the vehicle of the embodiment;

fig. 8B is a schematic front view illustrating the vehicle of the embodiment in a state where the vehicle is rolled over to the left;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view illustrating a portion of a side door;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view illustrating a portion of a side door when the vehicle is rolled over to the left;

fig. 11 is a side view of an inner panel, a reinforcement member, a glass run, and a spacer of a modification of the present invention when viewed from the outside in the right-left direction of the vehicle; and

fig. 12 is a perspective view of an inner panel, a reinforcement member, a glass run, and a spacer of a modification of the present invention as viewed from the outside in the vehicle right-left direction.

Detailed Description

A vehicle 10 including a vehicle side door according to an embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to fig. 1 to 10. In the present disclosure, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper" and "lower" mean front, rear, left, right, upper and lower in a vehicle.

As illustrated in fig. 1, the vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 11, one rear wheel 17, a pair of right and left front wheels 19, and a pair of right and left side doors 20 as main constituent parts. That is, the vehicle 10 is a three-wheeled vehicle.

The seat 13 and the steering wheel 14 are arranged in a passenger compartment space of the vehicle body 11. The steering wheel 14 is rotatable about its axis, as is well known.

The rear wheel 17 is provided in a rear portion of the vehicle body 11 so as to be rotatably supported with respect to the vehicle body 11. The rear wheels 17 are steered wheels whose steering angle is changed in accordance with the turning operation of the steering wheel 14. The right and left front wheels 19 are provided in a front portion of the vehicle body 11 so as to be rotatably supported with respect to the vehicle body 11. The right and left front wheels 19 are drive wheels that are rotated by a drive source (in the present embodiment, respective in-wheel motors (not shown) provided in the front wheels 19).

As illustrated in fig. 1, a door opening 12 is formed in each of the left and right side portions of the vehicle body 11 (only the left door opening 12 is illustrated in fig. 1). Further, front end portions of the side doors 20 having respective shapes corresponding to the door openings 12 are supported by the front end portions of the left and right door openings 12 in a rotatable manner about respective rotation axes in the up-down direction. Each of the left and right side doors 20 is rotatable with respect to the vehicle body 11 between a fully closed position (illustrated in fig. 1 and 8A, 8B) in which the corresponding door opening 12 is closed, and a fully open position (not shown) in which the corresponding door opening 12 is open. That is, the left and right side doors 20 are swing doors.

The side door 20 includes a well-known locking mechanism (not shown). When the side door 20 is in the closed position and the lock mechanism is in the locked state, the side door 20 is held in the closed position. Meanwhile, when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, the side door 20 is rotatable between the closed position and the open position.

The left and right side doors 20 each include, as main constituent parts, a door main body 21, a mirror bracket 40, a mirror unit 50, and a spacer 57.

As illustrated in fig. 1, 2, and 5, a door main body 21 constituting a lower half of the side door 20 includes an outer panel 22, an inner panel 25, a reinforcement member 26, a window sash frame 28, a fixed window 34, a sliding window 35, and a garnish (not shown).

The outer side surface of the door main body 21 in the vehicle right-left direction is constituted by an outer panel 22 made of a metal plate. As illustrated in fig. 1 and 5, the outer panel 22 has an opening 23 formed in an upper portion near a front end portion of the outer panel 22. As illustrated in fig. 3, the sectional shape of the outer panel 22 when the outer panel 22 is cut along a horizontal plane is an arc shape instead of a straight line. Note that "arc shape" includes a precise arc shape and a substantially arc shape. Therefore, an outward projecting portion 22a that projects outward in the vehicle right-left direction is formed in a portion of the outer panel 22 that is slightly behind the center portion of the outer panel 22 in the front-rear direction. The outward protruding portion 22a is at the outermost side in the vehicle left-right direction in the outer panel 22 when the side door 20 is in the fully closed position.

As illustrated in fig. 2 and 5, an inner panel 25 made of a metal plate is disposed on the inner side of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction. As illustrated in fig. 9 and 10, the sectional shape of the inner plate 25 when the inner plate 25 is cut along a horizontal plane is an arc shape instead of a straight line. "arcuate shape" includes precise arcuate shapes and substantially arcuate shapes.

A metal reinforcement member 26 extending in the front-rear direction is fixed to an upper portion of an outer side surface of the inner panel 25 in the vehicle left-right direction. The reinforcing member 26 is a tubular member having a substantially rectangular sectional shape. The mechanical strength of the reinforcement member 26 is higher than those of the outer panel 22 and the inner panel 25. That is, for example, when another vehicle collides with the side door 20 or when the vehicle 10 rolls over and the side door 20 collides with a road surface, the amount of deformation of the reinforcement member 26 is smaller than the amount of deformation of the outer panel 22 and the inner panel 25.

As illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, a window and door frame 28, which constitutes an upper portion of the door main body 21 and is made of metal, is fixed to the inner panel 25. The window and door frame 28 includes an upper window frame 29 extending substantially in the front-rear direction. Further, the window and door frame 28 includes a front window frame 30, a rear window frame 31, and a glass run 32 extending downward from the upper window frame 29. The glass run 32 is disposed between the front sash 30 and the rear sash 31.

As illustrated in fig. 2, the rear sash 31 is disposed rearward of the rear end of the reinforcement member 26, and the lower portion of the rear sash 31 is fixed to the outer side face of the inner panel 25 in the vehicle left-right direction. Further, as illustrated in fig. 2 and 7, the respective lower portions of the front sash 30 and the glass run 32 are disposed on the outer side of the reinforcement member 26 in the vehicle left-right direction and are fixed to the outer side face of the inner panel 25 in the vehicle left-right direction and the outer side face of the reinforcement member 26 in the vehicle left-right direction, respectively.

As illustrated in fig. 2, the fixed window 34 is disposed in a space surrounded by the rear portion of the upper reveal 29, the rear reveal 31, and the glass run channel 32. The fixed window 34 is fixed to the upper sash 29, the rear sash 31, and the glass run channel 32.

A glass run (not shown) is fixed to the rear surface of the front window frame 30. The front edge portion and the rear edge portion of the sliding window 35 are supported by the glass run and the glass run 32 so as to be slidable in the up-down direction. The sliding window 35 is movable in the up-down direction with respect to the inner panel 25 and the door sash frame 28 between a fully closed position illustrated in fig. 1 and a fully open position (not shown) that is a position below the fully closed position and in which the opening formed between the front window frame 30 and the glass run 32 is open.

The peripheral edge portion of the inner panel 25 is fixed to the inner side face of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction, except for the upper edge portion integral with the door sash 28. A space (gap) is formed between the inner panel 25 and the outer panel 22. Further, a resinous garnish (not shown) is fixed to an inner side face of the inner panel 25 in the vehicle left-right direction.

As illustrated in fig. 2 and 5, the mirror bracket 40 is fixed to the front end portion of the reinforcement member 26. The material constituting the mirror support 40 is, for example, a high-strength metal material. For example, a steel plate (preferably, high-strength steel) or an iron plate may be used as the material of the mirror bracket 40. Note that in the case of using a material (e.g., iron plate) having a lower tensile strength than high-strength steel, it is preferable to increase the plate thickness of the mirror bracket 40 as compared with the case of using high-strength steel. As illustrated in fig. 4, 5, and the like, the mirror bracket 40 includes a front plate portion 41, a rear plate portion 42, a top plate portion 43, a bottom plate portion 44, side plate portions 45, and a fixing portion 46.

Both the front plate portion 41 and the rear plate portion 42 have substantially pentagonal front surfaces. Further, the front plate portion 41 and the rear plate portion 42 each have a vertical dimension that gradually increases from the outer end side to the inner end side in the vehicle left-right direction. The front and rear end portions of the flat top plate portion 43 are connected to the upper edge portion of the front plate portion 41 and the upper edge portion of the rear plate portion 42, respectively. The front and rear end portions of the flat bottom plate portion 44 are connected to the lower edge portion of the front plate portion 41 and the lower edge portion of the rear plate portion 42, respectively. Front and rear end portions of the side plate portion 45 having a substantially V-shaped sectional shape are connected to outer end portions of the front plate portion 41 and the rear plate portion 42 in the vehicle left-right direction, respectively. Further, the upper edge portion of the side plate portion 45 is connected to the outer end portion of the top plate portion 43 in the vehicle left-right direction, and the lower edge portion of the side plate portion 45 is connected to the outer end portion of the bottom plate portion 44 in the vehicle left-right direction. Further, the fixing portions 46 are connected to respective inner ends of the front plate portion 41, the rear plate portion 42, the top plate portion 43, and the bottom plate portion 44 in the vehicle left-right direction.

Thereby, the front plate portion 41 and the rear plate portion 42 each have a vertical dimension that gradually increases from the outer end side to the inner end side in the vehicle left-right direction. Therefore, the sectional shape (sectional area) of the mirror bracket 40 cut along a plane perpendicular to the vehicle width direction (i.e., the left-right direction) gradually increases from the outer end side to the inner end side in the vehicle left-right direction. That is, in the mirror bracket 40, the inner end portion in the vehicle right-left direction has the largest cross-sectional shape (cross-sectional area) and the largest mechanical strength. For example, the bending strength (bending rigidity) when a force in the front-rear direction or a force in the up-down direction is applied to the mirror support 40 is largest at the inner end portion in the vehicle left-right direction in the mirror support 40.

As illustrated in fig. 5, the fixing portion 46 of the mirror bracket 40 is fixed to the front end portion of the outer side surface of the reinforcement member 26 in the vehicle left-right direction by welding. As a welding method, arc welding or spot welding may be used, for example. When the mirror bracket 40 is fixed to the reinforcement member 26, the top plate portion 43 and the bottom plate portion 44 are slightly inclined to the horizontal plane. Further, a portion disposed on the outer side in the vehicle left-right direction of the central portion in the vehicle width direction of the mirror bracket 40 passes through the opening 23 of the outer panel 22 so as to be disposed on the outer side in the vehicle left-right direction of the outer panel 22. Note that a portion of the top plate portion 43 that is disposed on the outer side of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction is referred to as a support portion 43 a. Further, when the side door 20 is placed in the fully closed position, the side plate portion 45 is placed on the outer side in the vehicle left-right direction of the outwardly protruding portion 22a of the outer panel 22.

Further, as illustrated in fig. 3, a virtual plane IP perpendicular to the horizontal direction is assumed. When the virtual plane IP approaches the door main body 21 from the outside in the vehicle right-left direction, the virtual plane IP contacts only the side plate portion 45 of the mirror bracket 40 and the outward protruding portion 22a of the outer panel 22. In other words, when the virtual plane IP is in contact with the side plate portion 45, the virtual plane IP is not in contact with other portions of the outer panel 22 except for the outward protruding portion 22 a.

As illustrated in fig. 1, 5, and 6, the mirror unit 50 is attached to the support portion 43 a. The mirror unit 50 includes a stay 51, a stay cover 52, a mirror holder 53, and a mirror 54 as main components.

As illustrated in fig. 5 and 6, the lower end of the support 51, which is a linearly extending metal strip-shaped member, is connected to the support portion 43a via a rotation shaft 55. A support cover 52 as a cylindrical resin member is fixed to the entire outer circumferential surface of the support 51. Further, the bottom surface of the resin mirror holder 53 is fixed to the upper ends of the stay 51 and the stay cover 52. The mirror holder 53 is a hollow body and the entire rear surface thereof is open. The mirror 54 is stored in the mirror holder 53.

The mirror unit 50 is rotatable relative to the support portion 43a about a rotation axis 55 between a use position as illustrated in fig. 1, 5 and 6 and a folded position (not shown). When the mirror unit 50 is placed in the folded position, the mirror unit 50 is closer to the front sash 30 and the sliding window 35 than in the case where the mirror unit 50 is placed in the use position.

As illustrated in fig. 2 and 7, a metal spacer 57 placed behind the mirror bracket 40 is fixed to the outer side face of the reinforcement member 26 in the vehicle left-right direction. The spacer 57 includes a base 58, a front plate portion 61, a rear plate portion 62, and a fixing portion 63. The spacer 57 can be manufactured by, for example, performing press forming on a metal plate. For example, a steel plate (preferably, high-strength steel) or an iron plate may be used as the material of the spacer 57. Note that in the case of using a material (e.g., iron plate) having a lower tensile strength than high-strength steel, it is preferable to increase the plate thickness of the spacer 57 as compared with the case of using high-strength steel.

A rib 59 extending in the up-down direction is formed in a central portion in the front-rear direction of a plate-shaped base portion 58 constituting an outer portion of the spacer 57 in the vehicle left-right direction, and a pair of front-rear facing portions 60 are formed such that the front facing portion 60 is placed forward of the rib 59 and the rear facing portion 60 is placed rearward of the rib 59. The rib 59 is recessed inward in the vehicle left-right direction from the facing portion 60. Therefore, the mechanical strength (e.g., strength with respect to compression in the left-right direction) of the spacer 57 is higher than that in the case where the rib 59 is not formed. The outer end portion of the front plate portion 61 in the vehicle left-right direction is connected to the front end portion of the front facing portion 60, and the outer end portion of the rear plate portion 62 in the vehicle left-right direction is connected to the rear end of the rear facing portion 60. Further, the fixing portions 63 protrude inward in the vehicle left-right direction from respective central portions of the front plate portion 61 and the rear plate portion 62 in the up-down direction (the fixing portions 63 on the rear side are not illustrated in this figure).

Inner end surfaces of upper portions of the front plate portion 61 and the rear plate portion 62 in the vehicle left-right direction and upper portions of inner side surfaces of the rib portions 59 in the vehicle left-right direction may be in contact with outer side surfaces of the reinforcement member 26 in the vehicle left-right direction, and the front-rear fixing portions 63 are disposed directly below the reinforcement member 26. The top surfaces of the front and rear fixing portions 63 are fixed to the bottom surface of the reinforcing member 26 by welding. As a welding method, arc welding or spot welding may be used, for example.

As illustrated in fig. 9, the front-rear facing portion 60 of the spacer 57 faces the inner side face of the outward protrusion 22a of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction via a very small gap in the vehicle width direction. Note that the reinforcement member 26, the front sash 30, and the glass run 32 are disposed on the inner side of the facing portion 60 in the vehicle left-right direction. Therefore, the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the gap formed between the inner side face of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction and each of the reinforcing member 26, the front sash 30, and the glass run 32 in the vehicle left-right direction is larger than the very small gap formed between each of the front-rear facing portions 60 and the inner side face of the outward protruding portion 22a in the vehicle left-right direction.

The following will be described next: when the left and right side doors 20 are placed in the fully closed position and the lock mechanism is in the locked state, as illustrated in fig. 8A, another vehicle X collides with the right side portion of the vehicle 10 traveling forward. In this case, a large lateral force directed from the right side to the left side is generated in the vehicle 10. Therefore, as illustrated in fig. 8B, the vehicle 10 may roll to the left, and the left outer panel 22, the mirror bracket 40, and the mirror unit 50 may collide with the road surface.

At this time, as illustrated in fig. 8B and 10, the left mirror unit 50 collides with the road surface, so that the left mirror unit 50 is deformed (broken).

Further, as illustrated in fig. 8B and 10, a side plate portion 45 (outer end portion in the vehicle left-right direction) of the left mirror bracket 40, which side plate portion 45 is disposed outside the outward projecting portion 22a of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction, collides with the road surface. Further, the outward protruding portion 22a with which the virtual plane IP is in contact collides with the road surface in fig. 3. That is, in the case where the side plate portion 45 of the mirror bracket 40 is in contact with the road surface, the risk of collision with the road surface is small at other portions (except the outward protruding portion 22 a) of the outer panel 22 that are not in contact with the virtual plane IP.

Meanwhile, the mirror bracket 40 is made of metal. Further, the front plate portion 41, the rear plate portion 42, the top plate portion 43, and the bottom plate portion 44, which are constituent parts of the mirror bracket 40, constitute a circular body, and further, the side plate portion 45 closes an outer end portion of the circular body in the vehicle left-right direction. Therefore, the mechanical strength (particularly, bending strength and compression strength described below) of the mirror bracket 40 is high. That is, the mechanical strength of the mirror bracket 40 is higher than that of the mirror unit 50.

When the mirror bracket 40 collides with a road surface, the maximum force (compressive load) in the left-right direction is applied to the inner end portion in the left-right direction of the vehicle in the mirror bracket 40. However, the sectional shape (sectional area) of the mirror bracket 40 is largest in the vehicle left-right direction inner end portion of the mirror bracket 40, and therefore, the risk of the inner end portion of the mirror bracket 40 in the vehicle left-right direction being deformed or broken by the force is small. Further, when the outer end portion of the mirror bracket 40 in the vehicle left-right direction in the vehicle running forward comes into contact with the road surface, a force to bend the mirror bracket 40 rearward is applied to the mirror bracket 40 from the road surface, and the largest force is applied to the inner end portion of the mirror bracket 40 in the vehicle left-right direction. However, since the bending rigidity of the mirror bracket 40 is greatest at the inner end portion in the mirror bracket 40 in the vehicle left-right direction, there is little risk that the inner end portion of the mirror bracket 40 in the vehicle left-right direction is bent greatly. Further, the mirror bracket 40 is fixed to the reinforcement member 26 having a higher mechanical strength than the outer panel 22 and the inner panel 25. Therefore, the entire mirror bracket 40 is hardly deformed when the mirror bracket 40 collides with the road surface.

Meanwhile, since the mechanical strength of the outer panel 22 is lower than that of the mirror bracket 40, the outwardly projecting portion 22a is deformed toward the inner panel 25 side. However, when the outward protruding portion 22a is deformed toward the inner panel 25 side, the facing portion 60 of the spacer 57, which is fixed to the reinforcement member 26 and has high mechanical strength (e.g., compressive strength in the left-right direction), is in contact with the inner surface of the outward protruding portion 22a in the vehicle left-right direction. Therefore, the risk of the outward projecting portion 22a being largely deformed toward the inner panel 25 side is small.

Thus, when the vehicle 10 turns on its side, the mirror bracket 40 and the spacer 57 surely receive the impact force generated in the side door 20. Therefore, although the mirror unit 50 may deform and the outward protrusion 22a may deform inward in the vehicle left-right direction, the risk of collision of the other portions of the outer panel 22 of the side door 20 than the outward protrusion 22a with the road surface is small. That is, the risk that the other portions of the outer panel 22 other than the outward protruding portion 22a seriously collide with the road surface and largely deform is small.

Further, in the case where the vehicle 10 is turned sideways and the mirror bracket 40 and the outward protruding portion 22a are in contact with the road surface, as illustrated in fig. 8B, the risk of collision of the window and door frame 28, the fixed window 34, and the sliding window 35 with the road surface is small. Therefore, the risk of breakage of the window and door frame 28, the fixed window 34, and the sliding window 35 is small.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be adopted within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the present invention may be implemented in the aspects of the modifications illustrated in fig. 11 and 12. In this modification, the spacer 65 includes a support plate 66 as a metal plate and a pad 67 made of hard resin (e.g., polyurethane) and fixed to an outer surface of the support plate 66 in the vehicle left-right direction. The support plate 66 and the pad 67 both have pentagonal sides. The mechanical strength of the spacer 65 is substantially the same as that of the spacer 57. The support plate 66 is fixed to the reinforcing member 26 and the glass run 32 by welding. As one welding method, for example, arc welding or spot welding may be used. Further, although not illustrated herein, the pad 67 faces the inner surface of the outward protrusion 22a of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction via a very small gap in the vehicle width direction. This very small gap has substantially the same size as the very small gap formed between each of the facing portions 60 of the spacer 57 and the inner surface of the outward projecting portion 22a in the vehicle left-right direction.

Therefore, when the vehicle 10 is rolled over and the outward protruding portion 22a of the side door 20 collides with the road surface, the outward protruding portion 22a that deforms toward the inner panel 25 side comes into contact with the pad 67, and therefore the risk of the outward protruding portion 22a deforming greatly toward the inner panel 25 side is small. Therefore, when the present invention is implemented in the scheme of the present modification, effects similar to those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

The spacer 57 (or 65) may be omitted from the vehicle 10.

The mirror unit 50 may be fixed to the support portion 43a in a non-rotatable manner with respect to the support portion 43 a.

The support 51 and the support cover 52 may be omitted from the mirror unit 50, and the mirror holder 53 may be directly attached to the support portion 43a of the mirror bracket 40.

The mirror bracket 40 may be fixed to a reinforcement member (not shown) that is fixed to an inner surface of the outer panel 22 in the vehicle left-right direction.

The structure and/or material of the mirror support is not limited to this embodiment. For example, at least one of the front plate portion 41, the rear plate portion 42, the top plate portion 43, and the bottom plate portion 44 of the mirror bracket 40 may be provided with a rib extending inwardly from the outside in the vehicle left-right direction along at least one of them. With this configuration, the mechanical strength of the mirror bracket 40 is further increased. Further, the shape of the mirror bracket 40 may be a tube shape or a solid bar shape. Even in the case of changing the structure and/or material of the mirror support 40, it is necessary to make the mechanical strength of the mirror support 40 higher than that of the mirror unit 50, and it is preferable that the mechanical strength of the mirror support 40 is as high as possible.

Further, the fixing manner of the mirror bracket 40 to the reinforcement member 26 or to the reinforcement member fixed to the outer panel 22 may be rivets or bolts.

Further, the structure and/or material of the spacer is not limited to the embodiment and the modifications. For example, the spacer may be tubular or solid bar in shape. Note that, even in the case where the structure and/or material of the spacer is changed, the spacer must have mechanical strength to such an extent that it can limit the outer panel 22 from being largely deformed toward the inner panel 25 side.

The spacer may be fixed to the inner plate 25.

The fixing means of the spacer to the reinforcement member 26 or the inner panel 25 may be a rivet or a bolt.

The vehicle 10 may not be a three-wheeled vehicle but may be a four-wheeled vehicle.

The side door 20 may be a sliding door.