CLIAMS:CLAIMS
1. A mechanism for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle, said mechanism comprising:
a first bracket adapted to anchor a plurality of seat belts; and
a second bracket adapted to transfer a load from a fore-aft member to a chassis cross member,
wherein
said first bracket is connected to a fore-aft member; and
said second bracket is connected to the fore-aft member and to the chassis cross member.
2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second bracket comprises: a plurality of side walls; a plurality of top flanges adapted to connect said second bracket to the fore-aft member; and a plurality of bottom flanges adapted to connect said second bracket to the chassis cross member.
3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first bracket comprises: a first opening adapted to connect said first bracket to the fore-aft member; a second opening adapted to anchor a driver seat belt; and a third opening adapted to anchor a co-driver seat belt.
4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second bracket further comprises a plurality of openings adapted to reduce the weight of said second bracket.
5. A method for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle, said method comprising:
anchoring a plurality of seat belts using a first bracket; and
transferring a load from a fore-aft member to a chassis cross member using a second bracket.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said method of anchoring the plurality of seat belts using the first bracket comprises: connecting the first bracket to the fore-aft member.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said method of transferring the load from the fore-aft member to the chassis cross member using the second bracket comprises: connecting the second bracket to the fore-aft member and to the chassis cross member.

Dated this 29th June 2015

Signature:

Name: Kalyan Chakravarthy
,TagSPECI:FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
“MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING A FLOOR PAN OF A VEHICLE”

APPLICANT:
Name Nationality Address
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Indian Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.,
MRV, Mahindra World City (MWC),
Plot No. 41/1, Anjur Post, Chengalpattu,
Kanchipuram District – 603204 (TN) INDIA

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to floor pan in vehicles and more particularly but not exclusively to reinforcing or strengthening of floor pan in vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, a floor pan is a stamped panel that forms the floor of a vehicle. A floor pan includes seat belt anchorage points for locking the seat belts. When a vehicle involves in a collision, load is applied on the seat belt anchorage points as the seat belts restrains the passengers. Due to this the seat belt anchorage points are subjected to excessive upward motion. This in turn results in high plastic strain, deflection and deformation of the floor pan.
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a mechanism and a method for reinforcing the floor pan.
OBJECTS
[004] The principle object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a mechanism and a method for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle.
[005] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a mechanism for transferring the load from the anchorage point to the chassis of the vehicle.
[006] The 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 preferred 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 FIGURES
[007] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout 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:
[008] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[009] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the mechanism assembled with the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the second bracket of the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 4a depicts a perspective view of the floor pan’s displacement without the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 4b depicts a graph showing the magnitude of the floor pan displacement over time without the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0013] FIG. 5a depicts a perspective view of the floor pan’s displacement with the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0014] FIG. 5b depicts a graph showing the magnitude of the floor pan displacement over time with the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] 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.
[0016] The embodiments herein achieve a mechanism and a method for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5b, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The mechanism 100 for reinforcing the floor pan 200 includes an first bracket 102 and a second bracket 104.
[0018] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the mechanism assembled with the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment the floor pan 200 is supported/held by a fore-aft member 300, a chassis cross member 400, a plurality of chassis long members 500, a front floor raiser 600, a floor cross member 700, a plurality of bulk heads 800, a plurality of side floor raisers 900 and a plurality of side panels 1000.
[0019] In an embodiment the first bracket 102 includes an first opening (not shown), a second opening (not shown) and a third opening (not shown). In an embodiment the first bracket 102 is adapted for anchoring a plurality of seat belts (not shown). In an embodiment the plurality of seat belts includes a driver seat belt (not shown) and a co-driver seat belt (not shown). In an embodiment the first bracket 102 acts as an anchorage point for both the driver and co-driver seat belts (not shown). In an embodiment the first opening (not shown) is used for connecting the first bracket 102 with the fore-aft member 300. In an embodiment the fore-aft member 300 is welded to the bottom of the floor pan 200 and to the floor cross member 700. The fore-aft member 300 gives strength to the floor pan 200 and absorbs energy during loading in the form of deformation. The first bracket 102 is connected with the fore-aft member 300 through the first opening (not shown) using fasteners (not shown). The floor pan 200 is provided with an opening (not shown) to receive the first bracket 102 for anchoring the plurality of seat belts.
[0020] In an embodiment the second opening (not shown) of the first bracket 102 is used for mounting the driver seat belt (not shown) and the third opening (not shown) of the first bracket 102 is used for mounting the co-driver/co-passenger seat belt (not shown).
[0021] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the second bracket of the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment the second bracket 104 includes a plurality of side walls 104a, a plurality of top flanges 104b, a plurality of bottom flanges 104c and a plurality of openings 104d. In an embodiment the second bracket 104 is used for transferring the regularly load from the fore-aft member 300 to the chassis cross member 400.
[0022] In an embodiment the plurality of side walls 104a is used for. In an embodiment the plurality of top flanges 104b is used for mounting the bracket 104 with the fore-aft member 300. In an embodiment the plurality of bottom flanges 104c is used for mounting the bracket 104 with the chassis cross-member 400. In an embodiment the plurality of openings 104d is used for reducing the weight of the bracket 104. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the bracket 104 without openings 104d without otherwise deterring the intended function of the bracket 104 as can be deduced from the description. In an embodiment the plurality of top flanges 104b is welded to the fore-aft member 300 and the plurality of bottom flanges 104c is welded to the chassis cross-member 400.
[0023] In an embodiment the plurality of openings 104d is used for reducing the weight of the second bracket 104. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the second bracket 104 without openings 104d without otherwise deterring the intended function of the second bracket 104 as can be deduced from the description.
[0024] The working of the mechanism 100 is as follows. During loading conditions, the load is applied on the first bracket 102 by the driver and co-driver seat belt (not shown). As a result the first bracket 102 exerts force over the fore-aft member 300. As the fore-aft member 300 is connected to the second bracket 104, the fore-aft ember 300 transmits the load to the chassis cross member 400 through the second bracket 104. Thereafter the load from the chassis cross member 400 is distributed to the chassis long members 500 and the energy is absorbed. As the fore-aft member 300 transmits the load to the chassis cross member 300 through the second bracket 104 the floor pan 200 is subjected to minimal deformation or displacement and thus the floor pan 200 is reinforced by the mechanism 100.
[0025] FIG. 4a depicts a perspective view of the floor pan’s displacement without the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. FIG. 4b depicts a graph showing the magnitude of the floor pan displacement over time without the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. From the figures 4a and 4b it is clearly evident that the floor pan 100 undergoes major displacement with a maximum value of 122mm during loading conditions without the mechanism 100 in a computer aided engineering simulation test.
[0026] FIG. 5a depicts a perspective view of the floor pan’s displacement with the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. FIG. 5b depicts a graph showing the magnitude of the floor pan displacement over time with the mechanism for reinforcing the floor pan according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. From the figures 5a and 5b it is clearly evident that the floor pan 100 undergoes minimum displacement with a maximum value of 40mm during loading conditions with the aid of the mechanism 100 in a computer aided engineering simulation test.
[0027] A method for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle includes, anchoring a plurality of seat belts using a first bracket and transferring a load from a fore aft member to a chassis cross member using a second bracket. The method of anchoring the plurality of seat belts using the first bracket includes, connecting the first bracket to the fore-aft member. The method of transferring the load from the fore aft member to the chassis cross member using the second bracket includes, connecting said second bracket to the fore-aft member and to the chassis cross member.
[001] 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 preferred 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.

CLAIMS
1. A mechanism for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle, said mechanism comprising:
a first bracket adapted to anchor a plurality of seat belts; and
a second bracket adapted to transfer a load from a fore-aft member to a chassis cross member,
wherein
said first bracket is connected to a fore-aft member; and
said second bracket is connected to the fore-aft member and to the chassis cross member.
2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second bracket comprises: a plurality of side walls; a plurality of top flanges adapted to connect said second bracket to the fore-aft member; and a plurality of bottom flanges adapted to connect said second bracket to the chassis cross member.
3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first bracket comprises: a first opening adapted to connect said first bracket to the fore-aft member; a second opening adapted to anchor a driver seat belt; and a third opening adapted to anchor a co-driver seat belt.
4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second bracket further comprises a plurality of openings adapted to reduce the weight of said second bracket.
5. A method for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle, said method comprising:
anchoring a plurality of seat belts using a first bracket; and
transferring a load from a fore-aft member to a chassis cross member using a second bracket.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said method of anchoring the plurality of seat belts using the first bracket comprises: connecting the first bracket to the fore-aft member.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said method of transferring the load from the fore-aft member to the chassis cross member using the second bracket comprises: connecting the second bracket to the fore-aft member and to the chassis cross member.

Dated this 29th June 2015

Signature:

Name: Kalyan Chakravarthy

ABSTRACT
Mechanism and method for reinforcing a floor pan of a vehicle includes a first bracket to anchor a plurality of seat belts and a second bracket to transfer a load from a fore-aft member to a chassis cross member. The first bracket is connected to a fore-aft member and the second bracket is connected to the fore-aft member and to the chassis cross member.
Fig. 1