TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure described herein, in general, relates to a rear
floor structure of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to
improving the structural strength and mechanical stability of the rear seating of a
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.
25 . Loads due to road camber, side wind, cornering force while taking a turn,
which results in lateral bending of side members.
2
. Loads 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
5 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
10 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, additionally provide a portion on which stress is
15 concentrated with a stiffener member or a reinforcement member, increase the
sectional area of the structure of the base portion or the like. However, these
measures lead to additional components which increase the 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
20 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] Furthermore, the floor structure should efficiently use of existing space
in the car floor area or chassis area and means to achieve placement of other
25 automotive components and features.
[0006] 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 without connecting any additional components which
otherwise increases the weight and cost of the vehicle, welding work and cycle
3
time in mass production, reduces legroom for passengers and provide other
drawbacks associated with using additional components for retaining the stiffness
of the vehicle.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
5 [0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one
embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0008] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a rear floor
structure of a vehicle that helps in maintaining the stiffness, stability, and rigidity
both in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle
10 without the use of any additional components.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a rear floor
structure 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.
15 [0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a rear floor
structure which has improved torsional strength, rigidity, and endurance.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a rear floor
structure for effective utilization of the installation space that is available in the
floor or underfloor region of the vehicle, particularly the accommodation of
20 additional function parts like large fuel tank, spare tire and other vehicle
components in a space-saving manner.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent
when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
25 [0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a rear floor
structure of a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed
description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential
4
features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the
scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0014] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a rear floor structure for
rear seating area of a vehicle. The structure comprises a longitudinal portion
5 provided with longitudinal beads along the length of the floor structure, a vertical
portion provided with vertical beads along the width of the floor structure and an
integrated transverse beam portion formed at inter-junction of the vertical portion
and the longitudinal portion along the width of the floor structure. The
longitudinal beads originate from the integrated beam portion to form a comb-
10 shaped structural configuration. The vertical and the longitudinal beads can be
continuous or discontinuous beads. Further, the vertical and the longitudinal beads
can be provided in alternate beads configuration or in in-line beads configuration.
[0015] The present invention thus is able to solve the technical problem to
provide an improved rear floor structure for rear seating of a vehicle in terms of
15 structural strength and mechanical stability with minimum design space
requirement. The floor structure reduces the vehicle body weight, and vehicle
manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the floor structure is an efficient use of existing
space in the vehicle floor area or chassis area, particularly in a space-saving
manner and means to achieve placement of other automotive components and
20 features. In 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
reference to the accompanying drawing. However, the drawing is illustrative only
25 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 figure in which
like numerals represent like components.
5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[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
5 effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the
accompanying figure. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be
best understood by reference to the drawing, 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,
10 and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein,
wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1A illustrates the design of an existing rear floor structure of a
vehicle;
[0020] FIG. 1B illustrates the bottom view of the existing rear floor structure;
15 [0021] FIG. 1C illustrates a section A-A of the bottom view of the existing
rear floor structure of FIG. 1B;
[0022] FIG. 2A illustrates the design of a rear floor structure in accordance
with the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2B illustrates the bottom view of the rear floor structure in
20 accordance with the present disclosure; and
[0024] FIG. 2C illustrates a section B-B of the bottom view of the rear floor
structure of FIG. 2B in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0025] The figure depicts embodiments of the present subject matter for the
purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from
25 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.
6
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the
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
5 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
falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the
appended claims.
10 [0027] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised
that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of
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.
15 [0028] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
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
20 “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
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.
[0029] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the
25 functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example,
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.
7
[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific
terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of
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
5 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.
[0031] 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
10 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. FIG. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate one such existing
design of the vehicle floor structure for the rear seating area. The rear floor
15 structure 100 as shown in 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 interjunction
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
20 rear floor structure 100. FIG. 1B illustrates the bottom view of the existing rear
floor structure The rear 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
25 the rear floor structure 100 in 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 rear floor structure 100. The transverse beam member 110
30 extends along the width of the rear floor structure 100. The transverse member
106, additional transverse member 108 and the transverse beam member 110
8
together provide mechanical stability and structural strength and rigidity to the
rear floor structure 100. However, the transverse member 106 and the additional
transverse member 108 are additional components which increase the weight and
cost of the vehicle, enlarge the occupied area, increase difficulty in welding work
5 in mass production and the like. As the components 106, 108 require a lot of
space in the rear region of the floor structure, this 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. Therefore,
there is a need to provide an alternate solution by which stiffness and rigidity of
10 the rear floor structure are retained but without increasing the weight and cost of
the vehicle and in a space-saving manner.
[0032] Accordingly, FIG. 2A shows the rear floor structure 200 for rear
seating area of a vehicle in accordance with the present disclosure. The rear floor
structure 200 at the rear seat of a vehicle includes a pair of side sills (not
15 referenced). The rear 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 a cross member (not referenced).
[0033] The rear floor structure 200 comprises a rear floor longitudinal panel
20 having a longitudinal portion 202 and a rear floor vertical panel having a vertical
portion 204. The longitudinal portion 202 comprises a plurality of longitudinal
beads 202a along the length of the floor structure 200. The vertical portion 204
comprises a plurality of vertical beads 204a spread along the width of the floor
structure 200. The rear floor structure 200 further comprises an integrated
25 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 longitudinal
beads 202a originates from the integrated transverse beam portion 206 and
extends till the end of the rear passenger seating area to form a comb-shaped
structural configuration. The longitudinal beads 202a and vertical beads 204a
30 helps in maximizing the bending stiffness under passenger seating loads and other
9
dynamic loads in different vehicle running conditions. The integrated transverse
beam portion 206 helps in distributing the rear passenger loads safely to the other
high stiffness regions and reduces deflection at the central area.
[0034] In an aspect, the longitudinal beads and the vertical beads 202a, 204a can
5 be continuous or discontinuous beads. Further, the longitudinal beads 202a and
the vertical beads 204a can be provided in alternate beads configuration or in inline
beads configuration. The vertical beads 204a and the longitudinal beads 202a
help in providing panel stiffness. Since the mechanical stiffness and rigidity is
attained by longitudinal and vertical beads 202a, 204a and the integrated
10 transverse beam portion 206, there is no requirement of connecting any additional
components like stiffener, reinforcement, etc. The integrated beam portion 206 is
the main stiffness member provided at an inter-junction of the longitudinal portion
202 and the vertical portion 204 to distribute the load from the rear seat of the
vehicle. Since no additional components are used to achieve the desired stiffness
15 of the floor structure 200, the weight and cost are reduced and space is also saved.
Further, it is preferable to use lightweight construction materials, possibly presshardened
high-strength or ultrahigh-strength steel sheet.
[0035] FIG. 2B illustrates the bottom view of the rear floor structure in
accordance with the present disclosure and FIG. 2C illustrates a section B-B of the
20 bottom view of the rear seating area of the rear floor structure 200. The rear floor
longitudinal panel and the rear floor vertical panel is in a 90-degree configuration.
Such type of configuration helps in increasing the legroom for passenger and fuel
tank packaging. The rear floor longitudinal panel and the rear floor vertical panel
form a 2-panel structure. The 2-panel structure and the integrated transverse beam
25 portion 206 in accordance with the present disclosure can be adapted for lower Hpoint
seating design in normal vehicles as well as for raised SUVish stance
vehicles just by varying the height of the rear floor vertical panel. This also
enables the minimization of EPP seat material usage. The rear floor structure 200
further improves the load-bearing capacity to withstand the loads due to rear
30 passenger weight and other dynamic loads in different vehicle running conditions.
10
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
5 [0036] The present disclosure provides a rear floor structure for rear seating
area of a vehicle that helps in maintaining the stiffness, stability, and rigidity both
in the transverse vehicle direction and the vehicle longitudinal direction.
[0037] The present disclosure provides a rear floor structure for rear seating
area of a vehicle which on one hand makes possible simple and cost-effective
10 manufacture and assembly, while on the other hand contributes towards
maintaining or reducing overall vehicle weight.
[0038] The present disclosure provides a rear floor structure for rear seating
area of a vehicle which has improved torsional strength, rigidity & endurance.
[0039] The present disclosure provides a rear floor structure for rear seating
15 area of a vehicle which provides 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 in a
space-saving manner and improved passenger legroom.
[0040] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present
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
disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the
person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
1. A rear floor structure (200) of a vehicle, comprising:
a longitudinal portion (202) provided with longitudinal beads (202a)
along the length of the rear floor structure (200),
a vertical portion (204) provided with vertical beads (204a); and
an integrated transverse beam portion (206) formed at the interjunction
of the longitudinal portion (202) and the vertical portion (204)
along the width of the rear floor structure (200).
10 2. The rear floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal beads (202a) originate from the integrated beam portion (206)
to form a comb-shaped structural configuration.
3. The rear floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal beads (202a) and the vertical beads (204a) are discontinuous
beads.
4. The rear floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal beads (202a) and the vertical beads (204a) are continuous
beads.
5. The rear floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal beads (202a) and the vertical beads (204a) are provided in
alternate beads configuration.
6. The rear floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal beads (202a) and the vertical beads (204a) are provided in inline
beads configuration.
7. The rear floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated
beam portion (206) is the main stiffness member provided at an inter-
junction of the longitudinal portion (202) and the vertical portion (204) to
distribute the load from the rear seating of the vehicle.
8. The rear floor structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal portion (202) and the vertical portion (204) form a 90-degree
angle so as to increase legroom for the rear seating of the vehicle.