Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A motor vehicle (10), comprising:
a frame (100) having a pair of long members (110) extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and at least one cross member (120) extending in a vehicle width direction (W) between the pair of long members (110);
a barrier (130) having a first portion (140) extending between a front end (140A) and a rear end (140B) in the vehicle front-rear direction, a second portion (150) extending between a front end (150A) and a rear end (150B) in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a third portion (160) extending in the vehicle width direction (W) between the rear end (140B) of the first portion (140) and the rear end (150B) of the second portion (150);
wherein, the front end (140A) of the first portion (140) and the front end (150A) of the second portion (150) are mounted on opposite ends of one of the cross members (120), and the third portion (160) is mounted at rear ends (110B) of the pair of long members (110) through one or more stay brackets (164).

2. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross members (120) comprise a trailing arm cross member (122) extending between the pair of long members (110), the trailing arm cross member (122) disposed in front of rear wheels (12) of the motor vehicle (10).
3. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front end (140A) of the first portion (140) is mounted on one end of the trailing arm cross member (122) and the front end (150A) of the second portion (150) is mounted on another end of the trailing arm cross member (122).

4. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the barrier (130) comprises of a first mounting bracket (142) attached to the front end (140A) of the first portion (140) and a second mounting bracket (152) attached to the front end (150A) of the second portion (150), the first mounting bracket (142) and the second mounting bracket (152) configured to be mounted on the trailing arm cross member (122) via one or more trailing brackets (124).

5. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier (130) comprises one or more mounting flanges (162) attached to the third portion (160) of the barrier (130).

6. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stay brackets (164) are connected to the mounting flanges (162) to the rear ends (110B) of the pair of long members (110), thereby mounting the third portion (160) on the rear ends (110B) of the pair of long members (110).
7. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein the barrier (130) comprises two mounting flanges (162) attached to the third portion (160) of the barrier (130), and two stay brackets (164), each stay bracket (164) connecting the mounting flanges (162) to the rear end (110B) of one of the long members (110).

8. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier (130) is disposed such that a gap (G) between the first portion (140) of the barrier (130) and a left side panel (22) of a passenger cabin (20), the second portion (150) of the barrier (130) and a right side panel (24) of the passenger cabin (20), and the third portion (160) of the barrier (130) and a rear panel (26) of the passenger cabin (20) is maintained at a predetermined value.

9. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined value of gap (G) between the first portion (140) of the barrier (130) and the left side panel (22) of the passenger cabin (20), the second portion (150) of the barrier (130) and the right side panel (24) of the passenger cabin (20), and the third portion (160) of the barrier (130) and the rear panel (26) of the passenger cabin (20) is ranging from 35 mm to 45 mm.

10. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier (130) comprises a plurality of elongated tube members (135) extending between the front end (140A) of the first portion (140) and the front end (150A) of the second portion (150), along the first portion (140) of the barrier (130), the third portion (160) of the barrier (130) and the second (150) portion of the barrier (130).

11. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle (10) includes a passenger vehicle, the passenger vehicle comprising a driver cabin (20A) and the passenger cabin (20), wherein the barrier (130) is adapted to substantially cover the passenger cabin (20).

12. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear ends (140B, 150B) are adapted to substantially cover joinery areas of the rear panel (26) with the right side panel (24) and the left side panel (22), and a height (H1) of the barrier (130) at the rear ends (140B, 150B) is higher than heights (H2, H2’, H3) of the barrier (130) at side and rear portions.

13. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion (140) and the second portion (150) of the barrier (130) comprises an auxiliary tube member (140C, 150C) for substantially covering a wheel arch (20B) on both sides of the passenger cabin (20), the auxiliary tube member (140C, 150C) being configured substantially in arcuate shape.

14. The motor vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier (130) comprises one or more reinforcing tubes (130A) disposed vertically between the plurality of elongated tube members (135), wherein the plurality of elongated tube members (135) is adapted to cover three sides of the passenger cabin (20).
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle. More particularly, it relates to a barrier for a passenger cabin of the motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] A typical motor vehicle consists of a driver cabin and a passenger cabin. The driver and passenger cabins are generally made with sheet metal panels with less thickness through spot weld joinery method. A bumper or a protection barrier is provided at a rear portion of the vehicle covering the passenger cabin for protection of the passenger cabin from rear impact by the following or the succeeding vehicles. In one kind of bumper arrangement, the bumper is mounted to the passenger cabin. Thus, the mounting provision for the bumper/protection barrier is necessitated be taken from the panels of the passenger cabin. In a situation like a heavy traffic, the vehicle may be impacted at the rear portion by the following vehicle. During such impact, the vehicle may get damaged at the bumper and / or at the rear panels of the passenger cabin. This further leads to customer dissatisfaction.
[003] In one kind of aftermarket modification, a grill structure covering the rear side of the vehicle is provided. The grill is attached to the passenger cabin using a conventional gas welding process. In case of any rework, the passenger cabin which is made of sheet metal panel is prone to get damaged. Further the grills do not cover left and right sides of the passenger cabin. Also, the grills do not cover the joining areas of the side and the rear panels of the passenger cabin which is very critical.
[004] Thus, the aforesaid types of the barriers which are mounted to the passenger cabin will get damaged from a rear impact of other following vehicles. This in turn damage the rear panels and side wheel arches of the vehicle. In addition, the rework and/or repair of the passenger cabin panels are difficult, and in case of aftermarket modification it damages the panels as well.
[005] Thus, there is a need in the art for a barrier for a motor vehicle which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] In an aspect, the present invention is directed to a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes a frame having a pair of long members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and at least one cross member extending in a vehicle width direction between the pair of long members. The motor vehicle further includes a barrier having a first portion extending between a front end and a rear end in the vehicle front-rear direction, a second portion extending between a front end and a rear end in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a third portion extending in the vehicle width direction between the rear end of the first portion and the rear end of the second portion. The front end of the first portion and the front end of the second portion are mounted on opposite ends of one of the cross members. The motor vehicle further includes a third portion that is mounted at rear ends of the pair of long members through one or more stay brackets.
[007] In an embodiment of the invention, the cross members include a trailing arm cross member extending between the pair of long members. The trailing arm cross member is disposed in front of rear wheels of the motor vehicle.
[008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the front end of the first portion is mounted on one end of the trailing arm cross member and the front end of the second portion is mounted on another end of the trailing arm cross member.
[009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the barrier includes of a first mounting bracket attached to the front end of the first portion and a second mounting bracket attached to the front end of the second portion. The first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket are configured to be mounted on the trailing arm cross member via one or more trailing brackets.
[010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the barrier includes one or more mounting flanges attached to the third portion of the barrier.
[011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the stay brackets are connected to the mounting flanges to the rear ends of the pair of long members, thereby mounting the third portion on the rear ends of the pair of long members.
[012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the barrier includes two mounting flanges attached to the third portion of the barrier, and two stay brackets. Each stay bracket is connected to the mounting flanges to the rear end of one of long members.
[013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the barrier is disposed such that a gap between the first portion of the barrier and a left side panel of a passenger cabin, the second portion of the barrier and a right side panel of the passenger cabin, and the third portion of the barrier and a rear panel of the passenger cabin is maintained at a predetermined value which is ranging from 35 mm to 45 mm.
[014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the barrier includes a plurality of elongated tube members extending between the front end of the first portion and the front end of the second portion, along the first portion of the barrier, the third portion of the barrier and the second portion of the barrier.
[015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle includes a passenger vehicle having a driver cabin and the passenger cabin. The barrier is adapted to substantially cover the passenger cabin.
[016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the rear ends of the first portion and the second portion of the barrier are adapted to substantially cover joinery areas of the rear panel with the right side panel and the left side panel, and a height of the barrier at the rear ends is higher than heights of the barrier at side and rear portions.
[017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first portion and the second portion of the barrier includes an auxiliary tube member for substantially covering a wheel arch on both sides of the passenger cabin. The auxiliary tube member is being configured substantially in arcuate shape.
[018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the barrier includes one or more reinforcing tubes disposed vertically between the plurality of elongated tube members. The plurality of elongated tube members is adapted to cover three sides of the passenger cabin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[019] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of a motor vehicle having a barrier for a passenger cabin of the motor vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of a portion of the motor vehicle having the barrier, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the barrier shown in Figures 1 and 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a magnified view of a portion “M” depicted in Figure 1, where a first portion of the barrier is connected with a trailing arm cross member of the motor vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a rear portion of the motor vehicle having the barrier connected behind the passenger cabin, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 illustrates a left side view of the motor vehicle having the barrier connected behind the passenger cabin, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 7 illustrates a rear view of the motor vehicle having the barrier connected behind the passenger cabin, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[020] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle. More particularly, it relates to a barrier for a passenger cabin of a three-wheeled type motor vehicle. The barrier mounted to long members of the vehicle is adapted to protect the passenger cabin by preventing damage during rear and side impacts.
[021] Figure 1 illustrates a rear perspective view of a portion of a motor vehicle 10 having a barrier 130 for a passenger cabin 20, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, in an exemplary embodiment, the motor vehicle 10 is a three-wheeled passenger vehicle.
[022] The vehicle 10 includes a frame 100 (shown in Figure 2), a seat assembly 14 (shown in Figure 6) and a fuel tank (not shown) or a gas cylinder 16 (shown in Figure 6), one or more front wheels (not shown) and one or more rear wheels 12. In one embodiment, the vehicle 10 includes two rear wheels 12. The vehicle 10 further includes an Internal combustion engine (not shown) or an electric powertrain (not shown) for driving the vehicle 10. In an embodiment, the IC engine is located at the rear portion of the vehicle 10. In another embodiment, the IC engine (not shown) is disposed on the frame 100 under the seat assembly 14. The frame 100 includes a pair of long members 110 (shown in Figure 2). The long members 110 are extended in a vehicle front-rear direction and are substantially parallel to each other. The vehicle 10 further includes one or more cross members 120 (shown in Figure 2) that are extended in a vehicle width direction (W) between the pair of long members 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cross members 120 comprise a trailing arm cross member 122 (shown in Figures 2 and 4) extending between the pair of long members 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the trailing arm cross member 122 is disposed in front of the rear wheels 12 of the vehicle 10.
[023] A front portion of the frame 100 supports a plurality of body panels to form a driver cabin 20A, where the seat assembly 14 and a handlebar (not shown) are disposed. A headlight 18 (as shown in Figure 6) is provided on a front face of the driver cabin 20A. In the embodiment where the vehicle 10 is having the IC engine (not shown), the rear wheels 12 are rotated by the driving force of the IC engine, and it is transmitted from a differential unit of the IC engine through shaft(s). The vehicle 10 further includes a passenger cabin 20 behind the driver cabin 20A.
[024] In the illustrated embodiments as referred in Figures 1 and 2, the passenger cabin 20 and the driver cabin 20A are mounted on the pair of long members 110. Typically, the passenger cabin 20 consists of multiple panels, including, but not limited to, side panels 22, 24, a rear panel 26 with a tail door 26A, a front seat base (not shown), middle and rear seat bases (not shown). The panels are joined together by spot welding, or any other fabrication method known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment in Figure 2, the side panels 22, 24 include wheel arches 20B located above the rear wheels 12 of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 further includes a barrier 130 disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle 10.
[025] Referring further to Figures 1–3, the barrier 130 includes a first portion 140 extending between a front end 140A and a rear end 140B in the vehicle front-rear direction. The first portion 140 of the barrier 130 is adapted to cover the left side panel 22 of the vehicle 10. The first portion 140 of the barrier 130 includes at least two elongated tube members 135 and one or more reinforcing tubes 130A disposed vertically in between the two elongated tube members 135. The first portion 140 of the barrier 130 further includes an auxiliary tube member 140C connected to top elongated tube member 135. The auxiliary tube member 140C is being configured substantially in arcuate shape. The auxiliary tube member 140C is adapted to cover the wheel arch 20B of the passenger cabin 20. The front end 140A of the first portion 140 is mounted on one end of the trailing arm cross member 122 through a first mounting bracket 142. That is to say, at the front end 140A of the first portion 140 of the barrier 130, the first mounting bracket 142 is attached for connecting the first portion 140 of the barrier 130 with the trailing arm cross member 122 (shown in Figure 4). The first mounting backet 142 is provided with a plurality of elongated holes 142A for connecting with the trailing bracket 124 through one or more fasteners. In the illustrated embodiment shown in Figure 3, the first portion 140 having the elongated tube members 135 has a height of H2. The height H2 excludes a height of the auxiliary tube member 140C.
[026] The barrier 130 further includes a second portion 150 extending between a front end 150A and a rear end 150B in the vehicle front-rear direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the front end 140A of the first portion 140 and the front end 150A of the second portion 150 are mounted on opposite ends of one of the cross members 120. In other words, the front end 140A of the first portion 140 is mounted on one end of the trailing arm cross member 122 and the front end 150A of the second portion 150 is mounted on another end of the trailing arm cross member 122. The construction of the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 is same as that of the first portion 140 of the barrier 130. However, the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 is adapted to cover the right-side panel 24 of the passenger cabin 20.
[027] The second portion 150 of the barrier 130 includes at least two elongated tube members 135 and one or more reinforcing tubes 130A disposed vertically in between the two elongated tube members 135. The second portion 150 of the barrier 130 further includes an auxiliary tube member 150C connected to top elongated tube member 135. The auxiliary tube member 150C is being configured substantially in arcuate shape. The auxiliary tube member 150C is adapted to cover the wheel arch 20B of the passenger cabin 20 at a right side of the vehicle 10. The front end 150A of the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 is connected to the other end of the trailing arm cross member 122 through a second mounting bracket 152. That is to say, at the front end 150A of the second portion 150 of the barrier 130, the second mounting bracket 152 is attached for connecting the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 with the trailing arm cross member 122. The second mounting backet 152 is provided with a plurality of elongated holes 152A for connecting with the trailing bracket 124. In the embodiments of the present invention, the second portion 150 having the elongated tube members 135 has a height of H2’ (shown in Figure 3). The height H2’ excludes a height of the auxiliary tube member 150C. In one exemplary embodiment, the height H2 of the first portion 140 is equal to the height H2’ of the second portion 150 for aesthetics and ease of manufacturing the barrier 130.
[028] In some embodiment of the present invention, the first portion 140 and the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 having the auxiliary tube member 140C, 150C substantially covers the wheel arch 20B on both sides of the passenger cabin 20.
[029] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the first mounting bracket 142 connected to the first portion 140 of the barrier 130 and the second mounting bracket 152 connected to the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 are configured to be mounted on the trailing arm cross member 122 via one or more trailing brackets 124. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first mounting bracket 142 and the second mounting bracket 152 are connected to the trailing brackets 124 using one or more fasteners or any other fabrication method known in the art.
[030] The barrier 130 further includes a third portion 160 extending in the vehicle width direction (W) between the rear end 140B of the first portion 140 and the rear end 150B of the second portion 150. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the third portion 160 is mounted at rear ends 110B of the pair of long members 110 through one or more stay brackets 164.
[031] The third portion 160 of the barrier 130 includes at least three elongated tube members 135 and one or more reinforcing tubes 130A disposed vertically in between the three elongated tube members 135. In the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, the three elongated tube members 135 of the third portion 160 are connected with three reinforcing tubes 130A. The third portion 160 of the barrier 130 has a height H3 (shown in Figure 3). The third portion 160 in the illustrated embodiment adjoins the first portion 140 at the second end 140B and the second portion 150 at the second end 150B, thereby forming the barrier 130 for the passenger cabin 20 of the vehicle 10. Thus, the barrier 130 includes a joinery portion between the first portion 140 and the third portion 160, and another joinery portion between the second portion 150 and the third portion 160. In an embodiment of the present invention, the rear ends 140B, 150B of the barrier 130 are adapted to substantially cover joinery areas of the rear panel 26 with the right side panel 24 and the left side panel 22, and a height H1 of the barrier 130 at the rear ends 140B, 150B is higher than heights H2, H2’, H3 of the barrier 130 at side and rear portions. The joinery portion (curved portion at the rear ends 140B and 150B) of the barrier 130 includes at least one short tube member 130B (shown in Figure 3) disposed at a top of each joinery portion of the barrier 130. Thus, the height H1 of the barrier 130 at the rear ends 140B, 150B is higher than the heights H2, H2’, H3 of the barrier 130 at side and rear portions.
[032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the barrier 130 has the plurality of elongated tube members 135 that extends between the front end 140A of the first portion 140 and the front end 150A of the second portion 150, along the first portion 140 of the barrier 130, the third portion 160 of the barrier 130 and the second 150 portion of the barrier 130. Thus, the barrier 130 is adapted to substantially cover the passenger cabin 20 of the vehicle 10. That is to say, the plurality of elongated tube members 135 is adapted to cover the three sides of the passenger cabin 20. In another embodiment, the barrier 130 has the one or more reinforcing tubes 130A vertically disposed between the plurality of elongated tube members 135. The reinforcing tubes 130A provides an additional structural stability and impact protection.
[033] The barrier 130 further comprises one or more mounting flanges 162 attached to the third portion 160 of the barrier 130. As illustrated in the figures, the mounting flanges 162 are adapted to be connected to an inner portion of the barrier 130 facing the rear panel 26 of the passenger cabin 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the third portion 160 includes two mounting flanges 162 which are further connected to the stay brackets 164 connected with the long members 110 of the vehicle 10. In the illustrated embodiment in Figure 2, one end of each stay bracket 164 is connected to the mounting flange 162 and the other end of each stay bracket 164 is connected to the rear ends 110B of the pair of long members 110, thereby mounting the third portion 160 on the rear ends 110B of the pair of long members 110. That is to say, the barrier 130 has two mounting flanges 162 which are attached to the third portion 160 of the barrier 130, and the mounting flanges 162 are connected to each of the stay bracket 164 at the rear end 110B of each long member 110. In some embodiments, the mounting flanges 162 are connected to the third portion 160 by welding or any other fabrication method known in the art. In some other embodiments, the mounting flanges 162 are connected to the stay brackets 164 using fasteners 162A (shown in Figure 5).
[034] As shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, the barrier 130 is connected to the vehicle 10 such that a gap “G” (shown in Figure 6) between the first portion 140 of the barrier 130 and the left side panel 22 of the passenger cabin 20, the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 and the right side panel 24 of the passenger cabin 20, and the third portion 160 of the barrier 130 and the rear panel 26 of the passenger cabin 20 is maintained at a predetermined value. The predetermined value of the gap “G” is ranging from 35 mm to 45 mm. In some embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 7, the predetermined gap between the first portion 140 of the barrier 130 and the left side panel 22 of the passenger cabin 20, and between the second portion 150 of the barrier 130 and the right side panel 24 of the passenger cabin 20 is less than the predetermined gap between the third portion 160 of the barrier 130 and the rear panel 26 of the passenger cabin 20. That is to say, the predetermined gap of the barrier 130 from the side panels 22, 24 is lesser than the predetermined gap of the barrier 130 from the rear panel 26.
[035] Advantageously, the barrier in the present invention extents at all around the passenger cabin preventing impact from other vehicles to the passenger cabin of the vehicle. This is because the barrier takes the support from the chassis or the long members of the vehicle by way of connecting the barrier to the chassis and not to the passenger cabin of the vehicle. If rear or left or right side impact is there, it will deflect the sheet metal of the passenger cabin when the barrier is connected to the passenger cabin and thus passenger may not be able to close the cabin door due to misalignment. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the barrier is directly connected to the long members, force due to sudden impact will be transferred to the long members having high strength and stiffness. The barrier further improves durability and aesthetics of the vehicle since the chassis mounting of the barrier does not distort or alter the panel surfaces of the passenger cabin and thus making the vehicle more market attractive. The barrier disclosed in the present invention also improves serviceability since the barrier mounting is made at the chassis and not at the passenger cabin.
[036] The first portion and the second portion of the barrier are adapted to protect the passenger cabin from side impacts and the third portion of the barrier is adapted to protect the passenger cabin from rear impacts. The barrier in the present invention has an improved section modulus which can bear the impact and ensures safety of the occupants in the passenger cabin.
[037] Owing to the predetermined gap between the barrier and the panels of the passenger cabin, the panels of the passenger cabin are protected from damage because the barrier deflection is less, and it will not reach passenger cabin panels, thereby preventing injuries to the occupants / passengers. As the mounting points of the barrier are changed from the passenger cabin panels to the chassis structural part to distribute the load, this will prevent transfer of impact load to the passenger cabin panels and to the passenger(s) seated inside the passenger cabin.
[038] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.