TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure described herein, in general, relates to a floor
structure for mounting rear seat of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure
relates to improving the structural strength and mechanical stability of the rear
seat mounting area of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 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] Motor vehicles usually have a frame structure in the region of the rear
floor which is used for mounting or joining other necessary vehicle components
such as a spare tire, fuel tank, etc. to it and provides stiffness and rigidity to the
vehicle. A vehicle floor structure or frame comprises a rear floor panel or
structure and a front floor structure. The rear floor structure of the vehicle is
subjected to various kinds of loads such as:
20 . Weight of the vehicle and the passengers, which causes vertical bending
of the side members.
. Vertical loads when the vehicle comes across a bump or hollow, which
results in longitudinal torsion due to one wheel lifted with other wheels at
the usual road level.
. Loads due to road camber, side wind, cornering force while taking a turn,
which results in lateral bending of side members.
. Load due to wheel impact with road obstacles may cause that particular
wheel to remain obstructed while the other wheel tends to move forward,
distorting the frame to parallelogram shape.
. Engine torque and braking torque tending to bend the side members in
the vertical plane.
. Sudden impact loads during a collision, which may result in the general
collapse.
[0004] Therefore, the rear floor structure of the vehicle should be extremely
rigid and strong or stiff so that it can withstand shocks, twists, stresses, noise, and
vibrations to which it is subjected while the vehicle is moving on the road so that
the passengers sitting inside the vehicle can feel safe and comfortable. To achieve
or maintain the desired rigidity and stiffness of the rear floor structure, a number
of possible options are available. For e.g. it is possible to just increase the
thickness of each panel member, an end to end reinforcement in the front portion
of the rear floor or the like. However, these measures lead to additional weight
and cost, enlargement of the occupied area, increased difficulty in welding work
in mass production or the like. These components require a lot of space
particularly in the rear region of the floor structure which in turn limits the
possibility of arranging other necessary vehicle components such as a spare wheel
or a preferably large volume of a fuel tank or passenger legroom space.
[0005] In view of the above, there is a need to provide an alternate solution by
which stiffness and rigidity of the rear floor structure is retained particularly in a
space-saving manner and without increasing the weight and cost of the vehicle,
welding work and cycle time in mass production, increasing legroom for
passengers and provide other advantages which existing vehicle floor structures
fail to provide while retaining the stiffness of the vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle
floor structure should provide sufficient space in the car floor area or chassis area
and provide means to achieve placement of other automotive components and
features.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one
embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0007] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a floor
5 structure for mounting rear seat of a vehicle that helps in maintaining the stiffness,
stability, and rigidity both in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction
of the vehicle in a space-saving manner.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a floor structure
for mounting rear seat which on one hand makes possible simple and cost-
effective manufacture and assembly, while on the other hand contributes towards
maintaining or reducing overall vehicle weight.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a floor structure
for mounting rear seat which has improved torsional strength, endurance, and
rigidity.
15 [0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an improved
floor structure for mounting rear seat which increases the load-bearing capacity to
withstand the localized loads transferred through seat mounting brackets.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a floor
structure for mounting rear seat for effective utilization of the installation space
that is available in the floor or underfloor region of the vehicle, particularly the
accommodation of additional function parts like large fuel tank, spare tire, and
other vehicle components.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent
when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
25 SUMMARY
4
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a floor
structure for mounting rear seat 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
5 used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0014] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a floor structure for
mounting rear seat of a vehicle. The floor structure comprises semi bell-shaped
structure integrated at the ends of an integrated transverse beam portion formed at
the inter-junction of a longitudinal portion and a vertical portion at the front side
10 of rear seating of the vehicle. The integration of the semi bell-shaped structure
along with the integrated transverse beam portion forms a C-shaped stiffness
structure. The floor structure further comprises extension reinforcements provided
below seat mounting brackets to distribute the localized loads transferred through
the seat mounting brackets. The extension reinforcements are provided with U-
15 shaped open section at one end and a step section in the central region of the
extension reinforcement forming a closed section with the semi bell-shaped
structure. The floor structure further comprises a longitudinal reinforcement
member provided near a central region of the rear seating area of the floor
structure. The longitudinal reinforcement member connects the integrated
20 transverse beam portion at the front side of the rear seating area of the floor
structure with a beam portion at the rear side of the rear seating area of the floor
structure to transfer load from low stiffness central region to high stiffness
portions.
[0015] Thus, the present invention is able to solve the technical problem to
25 provide an improved floor structure for mounting rear seat of a vehicle in terms of
structural strength and mechanical stability with minimum design space. The floor
structure reduces the vehicle body weight, and vehicle manufacturing cost.
Furthermore, the floor structure is efficient in making use of existing space in the
vehicle floor area or chassis area, particularly in a space-saving manner and
30 means to achieve placement of other automotive components and features. In
5
addition, the vehicle body floor structure itself improves torsional strength and
rigidity.
[0016] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents
of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with
5 reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative
only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0017] 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
10 like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] 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
15 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,
20 and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein,
wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1A illustrates the design of an existing vehicle rear floor
structure;
[0020] FIG. 1B illustrates the bottom view of the existing vehicle rear floor
25 structure;
[0021] FIG. 1C illustrates a section A-A of the bottom view of the existing
rear seating area of vehicle rear floor structure of FIG. 1B;
6
[0022] FIG. 2A illustrates the design of a vehicle rear floor structure in
accordance with the present disclosure;
[0023] FIGS. 2B and 2C illustrate the semi bell-shaped structure near the seat
mounting brackets and integration of the semi bell-shaped structure with the
5 integrated transverse beam portion in accordance with the present invention
disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates the provision of extension reinforcements below seat
mounting brackets and section B-B of rear seat mounting location in accordance
with the present disclosure; and
10 [0025] FIG. 4 illustrates the provision of a longitudinal reinforcement member
and section C-C of the longitudinal reinforcement member with the rear floor
structure in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0026] 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
15 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
[0027] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the
20 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
25 falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the
appended claims.
[0028] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised
that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of
7
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.
[0029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
5 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,
10 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.
[0030] 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,
15 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.
[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific
terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
20 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.
25 [0032] The rear floor structure of a vehicle should be extremely rigid and
strong or stiff so that it can withstand shocks, twists, stresses, noise, and
vibrations to which it is subjected while the vehicle is moving on the road so that
the passengers sitting inside the vehicle can feel safe and comfortable. To achieve
8
or maintain the desired rigidity and stiffness of the rear floor structure, a number
of possible options are available.
[0033] FIG. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate one such existing design of the floor
structure for mounting rear seat of a vehicle. The floor structure 100 as shown in
5 the FIG. 1A comprises a rear floor horizontal panel having a horizontal portion
102 and a rear floor vertical panel having a vertical portion 104. A transverse
member 106 is provided at the top side of the inter-junction of the horizontal
portion 102 and the vertical portion 104 to maximize the rigidity and stiffness.
The transverse portion 106 is formed along the width of the floor structure 100.
10 FIG. 1B illustrates the bottom view of the existing rear floor structure. The floor
structure 100 further comprises an additional transverse member 108 having a
large section modulus provided at the bottom side of the inter-junction of the
horizontal portion 102 and vertical portion 104 to maximize the rigidity and
stiffness as shown in section A-A of the bottom view of the floor structure 100 in
15 FIG. 1C. The transverse member 108 typically has a cross-section height similar
to that of the rear floor vertical panel and varying width depending upon the
performance requirements. Further as shown in the FIG. 1C, a transverse beam
member 110 is provided at the end of the horizontal portion 102 of the floor
structure 100. The transverse beam member 110 extends along the width of the
20 floor structure 100. The transverse member 106, additional transverse member
108 and the transverse beam member 110 together provide mechanical stability
and structural strength and rigidity to the floor structure 100. However, the
transverse member 106 and the additional transverse member 108 are large
components which increase the weight and cost of the vehicle, enlarge the
25 occupied area, increase difficulty in welding work in mass production and the
like. The existing vehicle floor structure further has low stiffness and rigidity in
central and front corner regions of passenger seating area near seat mounting
brackets which leads to performance deterioration in vehicle durability. These
components 106 and 108 require a lot of space in the rear region of the floor
30 structure, this limits the possibility of arranging other necessary vehicle
9
components such as a spare wheel or a preferably large volume of a fuel tank or
passenger legroom space. Therefore, there is a need to provide an alternate
solution by which stiffness and rigidity of the floor structure at rear seat mounting
location are retained in a space-saving manner and without significantly
5 increasing the weight and cost of the vehicle and without providing other
drawbacks associated with the existing vehicle floor structure.
[0034] Accordingly, FIG. 2A shows a floor structure 200 for mounting rear
seat of a vehicle in accordance with the present disclosure. The floor structure 200
around a rear seat of a vehicle includes a pair of side sills, a cross member, a seat
10 attachment member, and a rear floor panel (not given reference numeral in the
FIG.2A). The floor structure 200 constitutes a bottom part of the body in a rear
part of the vehicle (e.g. from the rear seat to the storage compartment) and extends
rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body from an upper part of
the cross member (not referenced).
15 [0035] The floor structure 200 comprises a rear floor longitudinal panel
having a longitudinal portion 202 and a rear floor vertical panel having a vertical
portion 204. The floor structure 200 further comprises an integrated transverse
beam portion 206 which is formed at the top side of the inter-junction of the
longitudinal portion 202 and the vertical portion 204. The integrated transverse
20 beam portion 206 helps in distributing the rear passenger loads safely to the other
high stiffness regions and reduces deflection at the central area. A plurality of seat
mounting brackets 208 is also provided at the front side ends of the floor structure
200 which are used to mount the rear seats to the rear floor longitudinal panel.
[0036] The floor structure 200 further improves the load-bearing capacity to
25 withstand the loads due to rear passenger weight and other dynamic loads in
different vehicle running conditions.
[0037] FIG. 2B illustrates a semi bell-shaped structure 210 near seat mounting
brackets 208 (shown in FIG. 2A) in accordance with the present invention
disclosure. The semi bell-shaped structure 210 helps in providing the local
10
stiffness and rigidity. The semi bell-shaped structure 210 is provided at the ends
of the integrated transverse beam portion 206 as shown in the FIG. 2C. The
integration of semi bell-shaped structure 210 along with the integrated transverse
beam portion 206 forms a C-shaped stiffness structure which maximizes the load-
5 bearing capacity of the vehicle floor structure 200 as shown in the FIG. 2B.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows the provision of extension reinforcements 300 below the
seat mounting brackets 208 so as to distribute the localized loads transferred
through the seat mounting brackets 208. Each of the extension reinforcements 300
forms a connection with seat mounting bracket 208, rear floor longitudinal panel
10 202 and a portion of the integrated transverse beam portion 206 thereby providing
support and rigidity to the floor structure 200. The extension reinforcements 300
are provided with U-shaped open section at one end and a step section in the
central region of the reinforcement 300 forming closed section with the semi bellshaped
structure 210 as shown in the section B-B of the FIG. 3. The extension
15 reinforcements 300 are plate-like structures that are placed symmetrically on the
RH and LH side as shown in the FIG. 3. The extension reinforcements 300 are
made of lightweight material possibly press-hardened high-strength or ultrahighstrength
steel sheet. The extension reinforcements 300 may be connected with the
help of fastening means such as nut-bolt, riveting or the like or maybe welded
20 preferably spot-welded with the rear floor longitudinal panel.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows provision of longitudinal reinforcement member 400
near a central region of a rear seating area of the vehicle. The longitudinal
reinforcement member 400 provides support to the fuel pump region and rigidity
to the vehicle floor structure 200 by forming a closed section with the rear floor
25 structure in the longitudinal direction (as shown in section C-C of FIG. 4). The
longitudinal reinforcement member 400 connects the integrated transverse beam
portion 206 at the front side of the floor structure 200 with a beam portion (not
referenced) at the rear side of the floor structure 200 to transfer load from low
stiffness central region to high stiffness members for safe load distribution. The
30 longitudinal reinforcement member 400 is thin in the middle and thicker at the
11
ends. The longitudinal reinforcement member 400 is made of lightweight
material, possibly press-hardened high-strength or ultrahigh-strength steel sheet.
The longitudinal reinforcement member 400 may be connected with the help of
fastening means such as nut-bolt, riveting or the like or maybe welded preferably
5 spot-welded with the rear floor structure.
[0040] Although the present invention is described with respect to integrated
transverse beam portion formed at the inter-junction of a longitudinal portion and
a vertical portion, the invention is also applicable in the case where a separate
main stiffness member is used instead of the integrated transverse beam portion.
10 The main stiffness member along with the semi bell-shaped structure provides
stiffness to the rear seat mounting location of the vehicle.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0041] The present disclosure provides a floor structure for mounting rear seat
of a vehicle that helps in maintaining the stiffness, stability, and rigidity both in
15 the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in a spacesaving
manner.
[0042] The present disclosure provides a floor structure mounting rear seat of
a vehicle which on one hand makes possible simple and cost-effective
manufacture and assembly, while on the other hand contributes towards
20 maintaining or reducing overall vehicle weight.
[0043] The present disclosure provides a floor structure for mounting rear seat
of a vehicle which has improved torsional strength, endurance, and rigidity.
[0044] The present disclosure provides an improved floor structure for
mounting rear seat which increases the load-bearing capacity to withstand the
25 localized loads transferred through seat mounting brackets
[0045] The present disclosure provides a floor structure for mounting rear seat
of a vehicle which provides effective utilization of the installation space that is
12
available in the floor or underfloor region of the vehicle, particularly the
accommodation of additional function parts like large fuel tank, spare tire in a
space-saving manner and improved passenger legroom space.
[0046] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present
5 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
10 disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the
person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
1. A floor structure (200) for mounting rear seat of a vehicle, comprising:
a semi bell-shaped structure (210) integrated at the ends of an
integrated transverse beam portion (206) which is formed at the inter-
junction of a longitudinal portion (202) and a vertical portion (204) at a
front side of rear seating of the vehicle.
2. The floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integration of
the semi bell-shaped structure (210) along with the integrated transverse
beam portion (206) forms a C-shaped stiffness structure.
3. The floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, further comprises
extension reinforcements (300) provided below seat mounting brackets
(208) to distribute the localized loads transferred through the seat
mounting brackets (208).
4. The floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the extension
reinforcements (300) are provided with U-shaped open section at one end
and a step section in central region of the extension reinforcement (300)
forming a closed section with the semi bell-shaped structure (210).
5. The floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, further comprises a
longitudinal reinforcement member (400) provided near a central region of
a rear seating area of the floor structure (200).
6. The floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the longitudinal
reinforcement member (400) connects the integrated transverse beam
portion (206) at the front side of the rear seating area of the floor structure
(200) with a beam portion at rear side of the rear seating area of the floor
structure (200) to transfer load from low stiffness central region to high
stiffness portions.
7. The floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the longitudinal
reinforcement member (400) forms a closed section with the floor
structure (200) in longitudinal direction.