DESC:VEHICLE SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY
Field of the invention:
The present invention generally relates to seat mounting bracket of a vehicle and more particularly it relates to a seat mounting bracket for body mounted side facing seat in vehicles.
Background of the invention:
Vehicles of M2 category, designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, require mounting brackets for side facing seats. Packaging of the side facing seats is a major problem because of space constraint. Generally a hanger type bracket for seat backrest requires more than 20mm (approx) gap between hanging rod and panel. Less than 4mm gap between the rear quarter panel and the seat back rest makes it difficult to fix U shape bracket, as it consumes more space. The present design provides no space for hanger or mounting of seat back rest with limited zone of 4mm and does not maintain proper gap between two side facing seats as per regulations and ergonomics point of view.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a bracket for mounting the side facing seats, that occupies very less space between the side body panel and the seat backrest and increases the leg space for side facing passengers.
Objects of the invention:
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat mounting bracket assembly that occupies very less space for mounting between the side body panel and the seat backrest.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and cost effective bracket for mounting side facing seat.
Still another objective of the present invention is to increase the legs space available for side facing passengers.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a single bracket for the back rest and seat assembly of the side facing seats.
Summary of the invention
Accordingly, the present invention provides a seat mounting bracket assembly for mounting a backrest of a side facing seat in a rear quarter panel of a vehicle. The seat mounting bracket assembly of the present invention is specially designed for the D+9 Variants (M2-Catagory) vehicles which need vehicles which require mounting brackets for side facing seats. The seat mounting bracket assembly comprises of hooks fixed on back side of the backrest and a bracket welded to the rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The bracket is designed in such a way that the seat backrest is mounted on the rear quarter panel of the vehicle with a minimum gap of 3mm. The bracket is an elongated metal sheet having two locating flanges configured thereon. A primary locating hole and a primary locating slot are configured on the bracket. The locating flanges are having elevated surfaces with resting edge for clinging the hook of the backrest thereon. A single bracket for the back rest and seat assembly of the side facing seats is a simple and cost effective solution to the existing problem of fitting the side facing seats in a vehicle.
Brief description of the figures
The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein
Figure 1 shows a seat mounting bracket assembly in a vehicle in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 shows an expanded view of the seat mounting bracket welded to the rear quarter panel of the vehicle, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 shows the seat back rest hooks rested on the seat mounting bracket, spot welded to the quarter panel, with quarter panel in a hide position, in accordance with the present invention;
Figures 4 to 6 show different views of the seat mounting bracket, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 7 shows a detailed view of the seat mounting bracket details, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 8 shows a detailed view with different cross sections of the seat mounting bracket details, in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 9 shows seat mounting bracket welded to the rear quarter panel of the vehicle, while figure 10 shows spot welding details of seat mounting bracket and quarter panel, in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments:
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.
The present invention provides a vehicle seat mounting bracket assembly that occupies very less space for mounting between the side body panel and the seat backrest. A single bracket for the back rest and seat assembly of the side facing seats is a simple and cost effective solution to the existing problem of fitting the side facing seats in a vehicle. The seat mounting bracket of the present invention is integrated with the rear quarter panel assembly of the vehicle.
The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.
Referring to figures 1 to 7, a seat mounting bracket assembly (100) (hereinafter ‘the assembly (100)’), in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. Figure 1 shows the position of the assembly (100) in a vehicle having four rows of seats. The fourth row seats are side facing seats having their backrest (70) mounted on the rear quarter panel, with the help of the assembly (100). The assembly (100) comprises of at least two hooks (90) fixed on back side of the back rest (60); and a bracket (50) welded to the rear quarter panel (60). The bracket is an elongated metal sheet having at least two locating flanges (54) configured thereon. Figures 4 to 8 illustrate the bracket (50) with various side views and cross sections. A primary locating slot (51) is provided on one of the locating flanges (54) while a primary locating hole (52) is configured on the second locating flange (54). A drain (56) is provided for paint and electrophoretic coating. In an embodiment, the locating flanges (54) are having elevated surfaces with resting edge (55) around them for clinging the hook (90) thereon. Figure 9 and 10 show the spot welding details of the assembly (100) intyegrated with the rear quarter panel (60). The assembly (100) of the present invention provides a unique solution through which the seat back rest (70) is hooked in a minimum gap of less than 4 mm. More particularly, the seat back rest (70) is hooked in a gap of 3 mm.
Generally a hanger type bracket for seat backrest requires more than 20mm (approx) gap between hanging rod and panel, but it provides a unique solution through which we can hanger a seat backrest (70) within minimum gap (less than 4mm). In case of a SUV vehicle, approx 23.5mm gap per side is needed to fit the seat back rest. The present invention provides a unique idea for resting the seat backrest hanger rod on part edge equal to sheet thickness. The space which is going to save by the virtue of this concept increases the legs space of 20mm per side for side facing passengers, which equal to approx 40mm total. The
Advantages of the invention:
• The seat mounting assembly (100) of the present invention is a simple structure bracket having a single piece design and having better position control and can be manufactured with less number of operations. The complete back rest of the side facing seats rests only on one single mounting.
• As very less space available to assemble the seat (4th row side facing) and “U” shape bracket is very difficult to package here in less than 4 mm space, the assembly (100) serves the best solution to the space constraints.
• It is cost advantage (e.g. Manufacturing, Service, Maintenance, Material, etc.)
Same approach can be referred or adopted for upcoming project to resolve the space constraints.
• No need to for separate assembly and hardware as the seat mounting bracket is integrated with the quarter panel of the vehicle.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A seat mounting bracket assembly (100) for mounting a backrest (70) of a side facing seat in a rear quarter panel (60) of a vehicle, the seat mounting bracket assembly (100) comprising:
at least two hooks (90) fixed on back side of the backrest (70); and
a bracket (50) welded to the rear quarter panel (60), the bracket being an elongated metal sheet having at least two locating flanges (54) configured thereon, the locating flanges configured with any one selected from a primary locating slot (51) and a primary locating hole (52) and a drain (56) provided for paint and electrophoretic coating; wherein the locating flanges (54) are having elevated surfaces with resting edge (55) for clinging the hook (90) thereon, thereby enabling mounting of the back rest (70) on the rear quarter panel (60) with a gap of 3 mm there between.
Dated this 4th day of August, 2017

Ashwini Kelkar
(Agent for Applicant)
IN-PA/2461