FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A Vehicle Floor Integrated With Safety Structure
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian Company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTOR
Daphal Pratap N
an Indian National
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention is generally directed to the vehicle structure and more particularly it relates to a vehicle floor integrated with safety feature which stabilizes structure and minimizes the vehicle floor deformation due to occupant inertia forces in the event of vehicle crash.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Generally the chances of occupant injuries reduce if the occupant is adequately restrained in the vehicle and the deformation of the passenger compartment is minimized. Restraint system like seatbelt, air bags are provided in the vehicle to restrain the occupant in the vehicle. The effectiveness of the restraint system is optimum if the floor structure deformation is minimized.
In a conventional vehicle floor structure, the floor deforms excessively at the seat mounting particularly at the rear inboard mounting. The floor deformation can be controlled if it is provided with additional supporting members connected to the adjacent vehicle structures through appropriate array of reinforcements. The invention is developed to provide the array of reinforcements to connect the central tunnel and rear floor cross members to control the floor deformations at the sear rear inboard mountings to maximize the benefits of the restraint systems and minimizing the risk of occupant injuries.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle floor integrated with safety structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle floor integrated with safety structure having an array of reinforcements to connect the central tunnel and rear floor cross members to control the floor deformations at the sear rear inboard mountings.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle floor integrated with safety structure which provides stability to the vehicle floor with simple construction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
In accordance with present invention, improved vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety mechanism comprises; longitudinal members (1) disposed at the bottom of the vehicle floor panel (6) , upright raised channel (2) disposed centrally along the vehicle longitudinal direction on vehicle floor structure , wherein said vehicle floor structure comprises; first longitudinal reinforcement member (3) and second longitudinal reinforcement member(4) connected to the said upright raised channel member adjacently by joinery means, connection member (5) disposed along the vehicle width direction which is attached to the said reinforcement members (3, 4) to minimize the relative movement of said reinforcement members during crash, the said connection member (5) also prevents lateral expansion of the said upright raised channel member during crash.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure-1 shows the isometric view of a vehicle explaining the location of the floor
structure.
Figure 2 shows the bottom isometric view of a conventional vehicle floor
structure.

Figure-3 shows the bottom isometric view of the improved vehicle floor structure
in accordance with the present invention.
Figure-4 shows the top isometric view of the improved vehicle floor structure in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure-5 shows the isometric view of the reinforcement members in accordance
with the present invention.
Figure - 6 shows sectional view of the floor panel across the longitudinal member
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRWTION OF INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
Now referring to figure 3 to 6, in accordance with the present invention, improved vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety structure comprises; longitudinal members (1) disposed at the bottom of the vehicle floor panel (6) , upright raised channel (2) disposed centrally along the vehicle longitudinal direction on vehicle floor structure, wherein said vehicle floor structure comprises; first longitudinal reinforcement member (3) and second longitudinal reinforcement member(4) connected to the said upright raised channel member adjacently by joinery means, connection member (5) disposed along the vehicle width direction which is attached to the said reinforcement members (3, 4) to minimize the relative movement of said reinforcement members during crash, the said connection member (5) also prevents lateral expansion of the said upright raised channel member during crash first reinforcement member (3), second reinforcement member (4) disposed along the vehicle longitudinal direction spaced apart and attached to the said floor panel and the said upright raised channel member by joinery means, connection member (5) disposed transversely

which is attached to the said reinforcement members to minimize the relative movement of said reinforcement members during crash and which also prevents lateral expansion of the said upright raised channel during crash
The said connection member is positioned below the front seat rear inboard mounting (9) and it is restricted from one side of the said front seat mounting to the other side of the said front seat mounting.
The said reinforcement members (3 , 4) are attached below the vehicle floor running from the front seat front cross member (7) to the rear floor cross member (8). The rear end of the said reinforcement members is partially wrapped (10) around the said rear floor cross member appropriately to ensure its engagement with the said rear floor cross member. A predetermined gap (11) is maintained between end of the said reinforcement member and the said rear floor cross member to suit manufacturing.
In the event of frontal crash, the occupant inertia forces are transferred to the seat & the floor structure. These forces deform the floor panel & the upright raised channel. Excessive deformations of these members results in undesirable occupant kinematics leading to severe and/or fatal injuries. The said reinforcement members control and minimize the deformation of the floor panel. These reinforcement members are positioned against the rear floor cross member in such a way as to get engaged when floor structure deforms excessively.
During crash when the vehicle floor structure deforms in forward and upward direction the first and second reinforcement members engage with the rear floor cross member and prevent the further deformation of the vehicle floor structure providing the positive locking for the deformation.
In the event of crash the upright raised channel tries to open up or expand laterally due to occupant inertia loads. The connection member provides necessary support

to prevent such an opening. The connection member is also helpful to avoid displacement of the reinforcement members relative to each other.
The said first and second reinforcement members (3,4) are connected to the said floor structure of the vehicles by conventional joinery means.
Said first and second reinforcement members (3,4) preferably have a channel cross section but not necessarily restricted to the same.
The Said connection member (5) is connected laterally to the said first and second reinforcement members (3,4) by conventional joinery means. The said connection member (5) is preferably a cylindrical member but not necessarily restricted to the same.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

WE CLAIM
1) A vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety mechanism
comprising:
A vehicle floor panel having upright raised channel disposed centrally along the vehicle longitudinal direction;
first and second reinforcement members disposed at a distance from each other, said first and second reinforcement members being placed along the vehicle longitudinal direction, said reinforcement members are attached to the said upright raised channel member and extending from the front Seat front mounting cross member to the rear floor cross member.
2) The vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein a connection member disposed intermediately along the vehicle transverse direction and connected to said first and second reinforcement members such that one end of said connection member is connected to the first reinforcement members and the other end of said connection member being connected to the second reinforcement member.
3) The vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connection member is positioned below the front seat rear inboard mounting and it is restricted from one side of the said front seat mounting to the other side of the said front seat mounting.
4) The vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcement members are attached below the vehicle floor running from the front seat front cross member to the rear floor cross member.

5) The vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein rear end of the said reinforcement members is partially wrapped around the said rear floor cross member to engage with the said rear floor cross member.
6) A vehicle comprising the floor structure with crash safety mechanism as claimed in claims 1 to 5.
7) An improved vehicle floor structure integrated with crash safety mechanism and a method of mounting said structure largely as described in specification and as illustrated in accompanying figures