GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE SLIDING DOOR

摘要

A guide rail structure for an automotive sliding door, particularly applicable for an automotive vehicle having a center pillarless body construction. A guide rail is mounted onto a vehicle body side frame such as roof side frame or side sill. The guide rail has a section extending substantially along the side frame which serves as longitudinal reinforcement and a section inserted into an internal space of the side frame and extending across the internal space. The latter section of the guide rail is supported by a reinforcement which is disposed within the internal space of the side frame and cooperates with the reinforcement to provide lateral reinforcement for the side frame.