[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a vehicle construction and more particularly, relates to an anchorage structure for securing a child seat to a rear seat of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Recent studies show that there is an increasing trend of risk of injuries for rear seat occupants as compared to front seat occupants; more over as compared to adult rear passengers, child rear passengers are prone to severe injuries during crash. Consideration of the rear child occupants in the standards, regulations and safety rating systems is increasing in all countries. In order to properly protect the child occupants, children less than 135 cm in height are restrained by a child restraint system (CRS or a booster) as per Economic commission for Europe.
[003] Child safety seats have been required for many years by law for small children riding in automotive vehicles. In the past, child safety seats have been secured to a passenger seat using standard seatbelts provided for adult passengers that are anchored to one or more structural members of the vehicle. The child safety seat mounting procedure is awkward and sometimes complex, which may result in improper securement of the child safety seat to the seat of the vehicle. So, a proper isofix anchor seat system is required for anchoring the child seats in the vehicle for the safety of the children.
[004] Conventionally, the isofix anchor brackets are designed to be directly fitted to the vehicle seat or to the vehicle floor panel by welding, so as to accommodate the child restraint systems (CRS) based on the rear seat chair height and layout of vehicle. However, such designs are complex, heavy, and cost inclusive. Further, the isofix anchor brackets are mounted to vehicle floor having flat rear panel which gets deformed easily during crash. Hence, there is a requirement of effective child restraint system which can withstand the impact during crash and protect the child inside the vehicle.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[005] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide an optimally designed isofix anchorage structure for securing child seats to a rear seat of a vehicle, the isofix anchorage structure having ability to withstand sufficient load and reduce displacement of child seats and to meet the stringent regulatory criteria for isofix anchorage strength evaluation as per ECER-14.
[006] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a simple, cost effective, and efficiently designed isofix anchorage structure that is distinct from all conventional designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[007] The present invention relates to an isofix anchorage structure for a vehicle. The isofix anchorage structure includes a tubular cross member; a plurality of isofix bars defining a U-shaped profile having an edge, and a plurality of extensions coupled to the tubular cross member; a plurality of isofix brackets defining an arcuate profile having a base configured to be coupled to a rear floor panel, a first flange and a second flange extending from the base, the first flange defining an aperture and the second flange defining an arcuate end, the aperture and the arcuate end configured to receive the tubular cross member adjacent to plurality of extensions; and a plurality of reinforcement plates coupled to the tubular cross member and the plurality of isofix bars, each of the plurality of reinforcement plates provided beneath the plurality of extensions.
[008] 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 drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] 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 effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0010] Fig. la illustrates a rear perspective view of a vehicle construction provided with an isofix anchorage structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] Fig. lb illustrates an enlarged view of the isofix anchorage structure of Fig. la;
[0012] Fig. lc illustrates an enlarged view of rear floor of the vehicle with the isofix anchorage structure of Fig la in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the isofix anchorage structure of Fig. lb;
[0014] Fig. 3a illustrates a top view of the vehicle construction of Fig. la provided with the isofix anchorage structure;
[0015] Fig. 3b illustrates an enlarged view of the isofix anchorage structure of Fig. 3a; and
[0016] Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b illustrate displacement of isofix jigs under a testing environment.
[0017] 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 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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0018] The present disclosure presents embodiments for an isofix anchorage structure for a vehicle. The isofix anchorage structure includes a tubular cross member; a plurality of isofix bars defining a U-shaped profile having an edge, and a plurality of extensions coupled to the tubular cross member; a plurality of isofix brackets defining an arcuate profile having a base configured to be coupled to a rear floor panel, a first flange and a second flange extending from the base, the first flange defining an aperture and the second flange defining an arcuate end, the aperture and the arcuate end configured to receive the tubular cross member adjacent to plurality of extensions; and a plurality of reinforcement plates coupled to the tubular cross member and the plurality of isofix bars, each of the plurality of reinforcement plates provided beneath the plurality of extensions.
[0019] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.

[0020] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise 5 various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0021] Fig. 1a illustrates a rear perspective view of a vehicle construction provided with an isofix anchorage structure 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, a child restraint system 90
10 includes a child restraint seat (represented by isofix jigs) 95 and the isofix anchorage structure 100. The isofix anchorage structure 100 is configured to secure the child restraint seat 95 to a rear seat portion of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the isofix anchorage structure 100 includes an optimized and stiffer design for mounting child restraint seat 95 in the vehicle along with reduction in
15 displacement of the child restraint seat 95 during crash. Further, the design of the isofix anchorage structure 100 is based upon a rear seat chair height, where the rear seat chair height is a vertical distance of hip point to heel point of a passenger. Fig. 1b illustrates an enlarged view of the isofix anchorage structure 100.
20 [0022] In an embodiment, the isofix anchorage structure 100 includes a tubular cross member 102. The tubular cross member 102 includes a length substantially along a width of the child restraint system 90. In an example, the tubular cross member 102 is pipe shaped. Alternatively, the tubular cross member 102 may include any geometrical configuration. The isofix anchorage structure 100 further
25 includes a plurality of isofix bars 104. The plurality of isofix bars 104 define a U-shaped profile having an edge 106 configured to be coupled to the child restraint seat 95, and a plurality of extensions 108 coupled to the tubular cross member 102. In an example, the plurality of extensions 108 define arched edges configured to couple with the tubular cross member 102.
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[0023] The isofix anchorage structure 100 further includes a plurality of isofix brackets 110 defining an arcuate profile. The isofix bracket 110 includes a base 112 configured to be coupled to a rear floor panel 114 of the vehicle. In an example, the base 112 is bolted to the rear floor panel 114. Such a bolted 5 arrangement provides an ease of assembling of the isofix anchorage structure 100, where the isofix anchorage structure 100 can be used when required as per the regulation norms in the country specific. Alternatively, the base 112 may be coupled to the rear floor panel 114 using welding, or the like joining processes. The isofix bracket 110 further includes a first flange 116 and a second flange 118 10 extending from the base 112. The first flange 116 defines an aperture 120 and the second flange 118 defines an arcuate end 122. The aperture 120 and the arcuate end 122 are configured to receive the tubular cross member 102 adjacent to plurality of extensions 108. The two-flange design of the isofix bracket 110 increases stiffness of the isofix anchorage structure 100.
15 [0024] The isofix anchorage structure 110 further includes a plurality of reinforcement plates 124, each coupled to the tubular cross member 102 and the isofix bar 104. In an example, the reinforcement plate 124 is arc welded to the tubular cross member 102 and the isofix bars 104. In an embodiment, a width “W” of the reinforcement plate 124 is provided beneath the plurality of extensions
20 108 of the isofix bars 104.
[0025] Fig. 1c illustrates an enlarged view 125 of the rear floor of the vehicle with the isofix anchorage structure 100 in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig 1c, the rear floor panel 114 of vehicle is provided with a stepped portion 126 near a mounting location “A” of the isofix
25 bracket 110, such that a resting point of the isofix bracket 110 at a mounting location “B” is vertically different from a resting point of the isofix bracket 110 at the mounting location “A". In an example, the stepped portion 126 increases stiffness of the rear floor near the mounting locations “A” and / or “B” by enhancing the section modulus of the rear floor. The increased stiffness thereby
30 reduces the floor deformation during a crash like situation, and further enhances
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strength of the child restraint system 90. As shown in fig. 1c, the stepped profile 126 is provided at a center location of the rear floor panel 114, however, the stepped portion 126 can be provided at any part of the rear floor panel 114 near the mounting location(s) “A” or “B” of the isofix bracket 110.
5 [0026] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the isofix anchorage structure 100. As shown, the isofix anchorage structure 100 includes the tubular cross member 102, the plurality of isofix bars 104, the isofix bracket 110, and the reinforcement plate 124.
[0027] Fig. 3a illustrates a top view of the vehicle construction of Fig. 1a 10 provided with the isofix anchorage structure 100. Fig. 3b illustrates an enlarged view of the isofix anchorage structure 100 of Fig. 3a. In an embodiment, the plurality of extensions 108 of the isofix bars 104 defines an overhang length “L” substantially between the coupling of the edge 106 and the child restraint seat 95, and the coupling of the plurality of extensions 108 with the tubular cross member 15 102.
[0028] During operation or running condition of the vehicle, the overhang length “L” of the isofix bars 104 undergoes stress and bending moment. In an embodiment, the width “W” of the reinforcement plate 124 being provided beneath the plurality of extensions 108 of the isofix bars 104 provides sufficient
20 stiffness to the overhang length “L” of the isofix bars 104 against the stress and bending moment. In an embodiment, the width “W” of the reinforcement plate 124 can be optimized in relation to the overhang length “L” for providing an optimized stiffness to the isofix anchorage structure 100. Hence, the various components of the isofix anchorage structure 100 provides an optimized design
25 and effective stiffness, that leads to reduction in displacement of the child restraint seat 95, and the isofix anchorage structure 100 falls well within safety standards.
[0029] Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b illustrate displacement of the child restraint seat (represented by isofix jigs) 95 under a testing environment, wherein the child restraint seat 95 being coupled to the isofix anchorage structure 100 undergoes a
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straight pull (with and without tether), and oblique pull (right and left). Figs. 4a and 4b provides displacement of right and left child restraint seat 95 respectively.
[0030] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:

An isofix anchorage structure (100) for a vehicle, the isofix anchorage structure (100) comprising:
a tubular cross member (102);
a plurality of isofix bars (104) defining a U-shaped profile having an edge (106), and a plurality of extensions (108) coupled to the tubular cross member (102);
a plurality of isofix brackets (110) defining an arcuate profile having a base (112) configured to be coupled to a rear floor panel (114), a first flange (116) and a second flange (118) extending from the base (112), the first flange (116) defining an aperture (120) and the second flange (118) defining an arcuate end (122), the aperture (120) and the arcuate end (122) configured to receive the tubular cross member (102) adjacent to plurality of extensions (108); and
a plurality of reinforcement plates (124) coupled to the tubular cross member (102) and the plurality of isofix bars (104), each of the plurality of reinforcement plates (124) provided beneath the plurality of extensions (108).
The isofix anchorage structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
plurality of extensions (108) define arched edges configured to couple with
the tubular cross member (102).
The isofix anchorage structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base
(112) is bolted to the rear floor panel (114).
The isofix anchorage structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
plurality of extensions (108) of the isofix bars (104) defines an overhang
length "L" substantially between the coupling of the edge (106) and child
restraint seat (95), and the coupling of the plurality of extensions (108) with
the tubular cross member (102).

The isofix anchorage structure (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein a width "W" of the reinforcement plate (124) is being provided beneath the plurality of extensions (108) of the isofix bars (104) to provide sufficient stiffness to the overhang length "L" of the isofix bars (104).
The isofix anchorage structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear floor panel (114) is provided with a stepped portion (126) near mounting locations A and / or B of at least one of the plurality of isofix brackets (110).