DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to vehicle seats and seat belts in automotive vehicles, and more particularly but not exclusively, to a floor pan assembly in the automotive vehicles for reinforcing seat assembly and seat belt anchorage.

BACKGROUND
[002] Conventionally, a seat is anchored to a cross member of a floor pan of a vehicle. Also, a seat belt system (at least a portion of the seat belt system) is anchored to the cross member of the floor pan of the vehicle. One important consideration when the seats and seat belts are integrated with the floor pan is strength and integrity of the connection between the seat assembly and the underlying floor panel so as to withstand the severe loading which may occur in emergency situations of sudden deceleration, such as may occur in a collision. Sudden deceleration creates elevated forces resulting from the mass of a seated and restrained occupant tending to remain in motion, while the vehicle rapidly decelerates. Under these conditions, when the seat assembly and the safety restraint belt is rapidly tensioned by the momentum of an occupant, the restraining forces are transmitted from the seat and the safety restraint belt and through the various structures in the seat assembly, and finally to the locations at which the bottom frame is anchored to the floor of the passenger compartment. The bottom frame typically includes a pair of side rail which have respective mounting features for fastening to the floor panel. These mounting features must be adequately designed to prevent unnecessary injury to the occupant, and yet be relatively convenient to access and manipulate during the seat installation process.
[003] The conventional way of anchoring the seat and seat belt to the vehicle’s floor pan results in deformation of the floor pan during the event of the collision or during abrupt deceleration of the vehicle. The seat and seat belt anchorage location in the floor pan may even rupture when the deformation exceeds a predetermined limit.
[004] Therefore, there exists a need for a floor pan assembly for supporting seat and seat belt anchorage in automotive vehicles.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a vehicle floor pan assembly to reinforce a seat assembly in the floor pan.
[006] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a vehicle floor pan assembly to reinforce a seat belt anchorage in the floor pan.
[007] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[008] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[009] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a floor pan assembly, according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of the floor pan assembly along the line X-X shown in FIG. 1, according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the floor pan assembly, according to a second embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a reinforcing bracket of the floor pan assembly, according to the embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 5 depicts a side view of the reinforcing bracket of the floor pan assembly, according to the embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0014] FIG. 6 depicts a graph showing the performance of the conventional floor pan assembly and the floor pan assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0015] FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of a method of providing a floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in automotive vehicles, according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0016] FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of an alternate method of providing a floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in automotive vehicles, according to a second embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0018] The embodiments herein achieve a vehicle floor pan assembly to reinforce a seat assembly in the floor pan. Further, the embodiments herein achieve a vehicle floor pan assembly to reinforce a seat belt anchorage in the floor pan. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the floor pan assembly, according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In a first embodiment, the floor pan assembly 100 for an automotive vehicle (not shown) includes a floor pan 102, at least one cross member 104, at least one reinforcing bracket 106, at least one sleeve 108 and at least one fastener (not shown). In an embodiment, the vehicle (not shown) further includes at least one chassis cross member 200, at least one seat (not shown) and at least one seat belt anchorage frame (not shown). In an embodiment the chassis cross member 200 has a circular cross section. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the chassis cross member 200 in square, rectangle or any other cross section.
[0020] FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of the floor pan assembly along the line X-X shown in FIG. 1, according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the floor pan 102 defines a floor for the vehicle. In an embodiment, the at least one cross member 104 is provided in the vehicle to support the floor pan 102. The at least one cross member 104 is connected to a bottom surface of the floor pan 102.
[0021] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view and a side view of the reinforcing bracket 106 of the floor pan assembly, according to the embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the reinforcing bracket 106 includes a first portion 106a, a second portion 106b and a shank 106c. In an embodiment, the first portion 106a is adapted to receive the chassis cross member 200 of the vehicle. The first portion 106a is adapted based on the cross section of the chassis cross member 200. In an embodiment, the first portion 106a substantially includes a U-shaped cross section. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of cross section for the first portion 106a of the reinforcing bracket without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting with the chassis cross member 200 as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0022] In an embodiment, the first portion 106a is connected to the chassis cross member 200 through welding. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of connection between the first portion 106a of the reinforcing bracket and the chassis cross member 200 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0023] In an embodiment, the second portion 106b is adapted to receive the at least one cross member 104. The second portion 106b is connected to the bottom of the at least one cross member 104. In an embodiment, the second portion 106b includes at least one opening 106d. The at least one opening 106d is used for receiving the fastener (not shown) for connecting the second portion 106b to the at least one cross member 104.
[0024] In an embodiment, the shank 106c connects the first portion 106a and the second portion 106b. In an embodiment, the shank 106c is transverse to the second portion 106b. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the shank 106c parallel to the second portion 106b.
[0025] In an embodiment, the reinforcing bracket 106 is adapted to transfer a load received by the at least one cross member 104 to the chassis cross member 200 to reinforce a seat anchorage (not shown) or a seat belt anchorage (not shown) in the floor pan 102.
[0026] In an embodiment, the sleeve 108 is adapted to receive the fastener (not shown). In an embodiment, the sleeve 108 is provided in the cross member 104 of the floor pan assembly 100. In an embodiment, the sleeve 108 includes a plurality of internal threads (not shown) adapted to receive the fastener (not shown). However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of connecting means between the fastener and the sleeve 108 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0027] In an embodiment, the fastener (not shown) is used for connecting the seat belt (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown) to the floor pan assembly 100 and to connect the reinforcing bracket 106 to the cross member 104. In an embodiment, the fastener (not shown) is used for connecting an anchor frame (not shown) of the seat belt (not shown) to the floor pan assembly 100. In an embodiment, the anchor frame (not shown) of the seat belt includes an opening (not shown) for receiving the fastener (not shown). However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of connecting means between the fastener (not shown) to connect any other part of the seat belt (not shown) to the floor pan assembly 100 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connecting as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0028] In another embodiment, the fastener (not shown) is used for connecting the seat (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown) to the floor pan assembly 100 and to connect the reinforcing bracket 106 to the cross member 104. In an alternate embodiment, the fastener (not shown) is used for connecting a seat track (not shown) of the seat (not shown) to the floor pan assembly 100. In an embodiment, the seat track (not shown) includes an opening (not shown) for receiving the fastener (not shown). However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the fastener (not shown) to connect any other part of the seat (not shown) to the floor pan assembly 100.
[0029] The working of floor pan assembly 100 is as follows. During a collision event or during abrupt deceleration of the vehicle (not shown) a load acting on the seat belt (not shown) or seat (not shown) acts on the at least one cross member 104. The seat belt or seat is connected to the floor pan assembly 100 through the fastener (not shown). As the reinforcing bracket 106 is connected to the at least one cross member 104 through the fastener (not shown), the load from the at least one cross member 104 is transferred to the chassis cross member 200 through the reinforcing bracket 106, thereby reinforcing the seat anchorage or seat belt anchorage in the floor pan 102 and preventing or reducing deformation and damage of the floor pan 102.
[0030] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the floor pan assembly, according to a second embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In a second embodiment, the floor pan assembly 100 for the vehicle (not shown) includes the floor pan 102, the at least one cross member 104, a plurality of reinforcing brackets 106, a plurality of sleeves 108, a plurality of fasteners (not shown) and at least one mounting bracket 110.
[0031] In an embodiment, the at least one mounting bracket 110 includes a plurality of first openings (not shown) for receiving the plurality of fasteners (not shown) of the floor pan assembly 100 to connect the at least one mounting bracket 110 to the floor pan 102 according to the second embodiment of the floor pan assembly 100. In the second embodiment, the plurality of fasteners (not shown) is used for connecting the at least one mounting bracket 110 to the floor pan 102 and to connect the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 to the at least one cross member 104. In an embodiment, the at least one mounting bracket is mounted on a top surface of the floor pan 102.
[0032] In an embodiment, the at least one mounting bracket 110 is used for mounting the seat (not shown) of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the at least one mounting bracket 110 is used for mounting the seat belt (not shown) of the vehicle.
[0033] The working of floor pan assembly 100 according to the second embodiment is explained herein below. During a collision event or during abrupt deceleration of the vehicle (not shown) a load acting on the seat belt (not shown) or seat (not shown) through the mounting bracket 110 acts on the at least one cross member 104. As the reinforcing brackets 106 are connected to the cross member 104 through the fasteners (not shown), the load from the cross member 104 is transferred to the chassis cross member 200 through the reinforcing brackets 106, thereby reinforcing the seat anchorage or seat belt anchorage in the floor pan 102 and preventing or reducing deformation and damage of the floor pan 102.
[0034] FIG. 6 depicts a graph showing the performance of the conventional floor pan assembly and the floor pan assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. A conventional floor pan assembly (not shown) and the floor pan assembly 100 are tested with a seat belt anchorage test and the results are plotted in the graph as shown in FIG. 6. A line “B” indicates the performance of the conventional floor pan assembly and a line “A” indicates the performance of the floor pan assembly 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention as disclosed. From the graph, it is evident that the floor pan assembly 100 reduces deformation of the floor pan 102.
[0035] FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of a method of providing a floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in automotive vehicles, according to a first embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a method 200 of providing a floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in automotive vehicles includes, providing at least one cross member 104 to support a floor pan 102 of the vehicle (step 202). Further, the method includes connecting at least one reinforcing bracket 106 to the at least one cross member 104 (step 204). In an embodiment, the at least one reinforcing bracket 106 includes a first portion 106a, a second portion 106b, and a shank 106c. In an embodiment, the at least one cross member 104 is supported at the second portion 106b of the at least one reinforcing bracket 106. In an embodiment, the first portion 106a of the at least one reinforcing bracket 106 is adapted to receive a portion of at least one chassis cross member 200 of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes, providing at least one sleeve 108 in the at least one cross member 104 (step 206). In an embodiment, the at least one sleeve 108 is configured to receive at least one fastener. In an embodiment, the at least one fastener is used for connecting the at least one seat to the floor pan 102, the at least one seat belt anchorage frame to the floor pan 102, and for connecting the reinforcing bracket 106 to the at least one cross member 104.
[0036] In an alternate embodiment, a method 300 of providing a floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in automotive vehicles includes, providing at least one cross member 104 configured to support a floor pan 102 of the vehicle (step 302). Further, the method includes, connecting a plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 to the at least one cross member 104 (step 304). In an embodiment, the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 includes a first portion 106a, a second portion 106b, and a shank 106c. In an embodiment, the at least one cross member 104 is supported at the second portion 106b of the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106. In an embodiment, the first portion 106a of the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 is adapted to receive at least one chassis cross member 200 of the vehicle. Furthermore, the method includes, providing a plurality of sleeves 108 in the at least one cross member 104 (step 306). In an embodiment, the plurality of sleeves 108 is configured to receive a plurality of fasteners. In addition, the method includes, mounting at least one mounting bracket 110 on top surface of the floor panel 102 (step 308). In an embodiment, the at least one mounting bracket 110 is used for mounting the at least one seat to the floor pan 102, and mounting the at least one seat belt anchorage frame to the floor pan 102. In an embodiment, the at least one mounting bracket 110 includes a plurality of first openings for receiving the plurality of fasteners to connect the at least one mounting bracket 110 to the floor panel 102.
[0037] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Referral Numerals:

Assembly 100
Floor pan 102
Cross member 104
Reinforcing Bracket 106
First portion of reinforcing bracket 106a
Second portion of reinforcing bracket 106b
Shank 106c
Opening in reinforcing bracket 106d
sleeve 108
Mounting bracket 110
,CLAIMS:STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in an automotive vehicles, the assembly 100 comprising:
at least one cross member 104 configured to support a floor pan 102 of the vehicle;
at least one reinforcing bracket 106 having a first portion 106a, a second portion 106b, and a shank 106c, wherein
the at least one cross member 104 is supported at the second portion 106b of the at least one reinforcing bracket 106;
the first portion 106a of the at least one reinforcing bracket 106 is adapted to receive a portion of at least one chassis cross member 200 of the vehicle; and
at least one sleeve 108 provided in the at least one cross member 104, wherein the at least one sleeve 108 is configured to receive at least one fastener;
wherein
the at least one fastener is used for connecting the at least one seat to the floor pan 102;
the at least one fastener is used for connecting the at least one seat belt anchorage frame to the floor pan 102;
the at least one fastener is used for connecting the reinforcing bracket 106 to the at least one cross member 104.

2. The floor pan assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion 106b is connected to bottom surface of the at least one cross member 104.

3. The floor pan assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion 106b includes an opening 106d for receiving the fastener to connect the second portion 106b to the at least one cross member 104.

4. The floor pan assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing bracket 106 is adapted to transfer a load received by the at least one cross member 104 to the at least one chassis cross member 200.

5. A floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in an automotive vehicles, the assembly comprising:
at least one cross member 104 configured to support a floor pan 102 of the vehicle;
a plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 having a first portion 106a, a second portion 106b, and a shank 106c,
wherein
the at least one cross member 104 is supported at the second portion 106b of the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106;
the first portion 106a of the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 is adapted to receive at least one chassis cross member 200 of the vehicle;
a plurality of sleeves 108 defined in the at least one cross member 104, wherein the plurality of sleeves 108 is configured to receive a plurality of fasteners; and
at least one mounting bracket 110 mounted on top surface of the floor panel 102;
wherein
the at least one mounting bracket 110 is used for mounting the at least one seat to the floor pan 102;
the at least one mounting bracket 110 is used for mounting the at least one seat belt anchorage frame to the floor pan 102;
the at least one mounting bracket 110 includes a plurality of first openings for receiving the plurality of fasteners to connect the mounting bracket 110 to the floor pan 102.

6. The floor pan assembly 100 as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of fasteners is used for connecting the at least one mounting bracket 110 to the floor pan 102 and to connect the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 to the at least one cross member 104.

7. A method 200 of providing a floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in automotive vehicles, the method 200 comprising steps of:
providing at least one cross member 104 to support a floor pan 102 of the vehicle;
connecting at least one reinforcing bracket 106 to the at least one cross member 104,
wherein
the at least one reinforcing bracket 106 includes a first portion 106a, a second portion 106b, and a shank 106c,
the at least one cross member 104 is supported at the second portion 106b of the at least one reinforcing bracket 106;
the first portion 106a of the at least one reinforcing bracket 106 is adapted to receive a portion of at least one chassis cross member 200 of the vehicle; and
providing at least one sleeve 108 in the at least one cross member 104, wherein the at least one sleeve 108 is configured to receive at least one fastener;
wherein
the at least one fastener is used for connecting the at least one seat to the floor pan 102;
the at least one fastener is used for connecting the at least one seat belt anchorage frame to the floor pan 102;
the at least one fastener is used for connecting the reinforcing bracket 106 to the at least one cross member 104.

8. The method 200 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second portion 106b includes an opening 106d for receiving the fastener to connect the second portion 106b to the at least one cross member 104.

9. The method 200 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 is adapted to transfer a load received by the at least one cross member 104 to the at least one chassis cross member 200.

10. A method 300 of providing a floor pan assembly 100 for supporting at least one seat and at least one seat belt anchorage frame in automotive vehicles, the method 300 comprising steps of:
providing at least one cross member 104 configured to support a floor pan 102 of the vehicle;
connecting a plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 to the at least one cross member 104,
wherein
the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 includes a first portion 106a, a second portion 106b, and a shank 106c,
the at least one cross member 104 is supported at the second portion 106b of the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106;
the first portion 106a of the plurality of reinforcing brackets 106 is adapted to receive at least one chassis cross member 200 of the vehicle;
providing a plurality of sleeves 108 in the at least one cross member 104, wherein the plurality of sleeves 108 is configured to receive a plurality of fasteners; and
mounting at least one mounting bracket 110 on top surface of the floor panel 102;
wherein
the at least one mounting bracket 110 is used for mounting the at least one seat to the floor pan 102;
the at least one mounting bracket 110 is used for mounting the at least one seat belt anchorage frame to the floor pan 102;
the at least one mounting bracket 110 includes a plurality of first openings for receiving the plurality of fasteners to connect the at least one mounting bracket 110 to the floor panel 102.