WO2001051337A1

WO2001051337A1 - Floor pan with raised seat support section

Info

Publication number: WO2001051337A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/029676
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph E. Mrozowski; John P. Pacella
Original assignee: The Budd Company
Priority date: 2000-01-11
Filing date: 2000-10-27
Publication date: 2001-07-19
Also published as: AU2001211044A1

Abstract

A vehicle body with a floor pan having a lower surface and a seat support extending upwardly from the lower surface. The seat support provides a convenient and cost effective location for mounting vehicle seats for the vehicle. Further, in an illustrated embodiment, the floor pan further includes a raised center segment extending in a longitudinal direction and the seat support is configured to extend above the raised center segment.

Description

FLOOR PAN WITH RAISED SEAT SUPPORT SECTION BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to automobile bodies and, more particularly, to a floor pan configuration for an automobile body.

2. Discussion

An automobile body generally consists of a frame, closure panels, and various trim components. The design of each of these components takes into account numerous criteria intended to provide a functional and safe vehicle body. An area of primary concern is the stability and crash resistance of the vehicle's frame. The robustness of the frame and body design is commonly balanced against concerns regarding the overall weight of the vehicle as well as the effective use of the interior compartment or cockpit of the vehicle. An area that receives a high degree of focus both for safety and comfort is the driver and passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to the configuration of the floor pan of the vehicle body. Conventionally, the floor pan defines the bottom structural surface of the passenger compartment including a support for the vehicle seats. More particularly, as is shown in the right hand portion of Figure 2, the vehicle seat assemblies are coupled to the floor pan using seat risers. The seat risers are of sufficient height to place the seat in a predetermined location relative to the floor pan and, most commonly, above a raised central segment of the floor pan.

While the above-described conventional configuration has been adequate with respect to design and safety guidelines, a continuing need exists to increase the overall performance and cost effectiveness of the vehicle structure. In this regard, the present invention is directed to a floor pan configuration that increases the elevation of the seat support section of the floor pan to eliminate and/or reduce the height of the risers. This improved configuration reduces the weight of the seat mounting assembly, lowers the center of gravity thereof to provide greater stability, and increases the overall strength of the vehicle structure, and particularly its resistance to side impact collisions. Thus, the present invention provides superior crash performance at a reduced weight and cost.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention includes a floor pan having a lower surface and a seat mount extending upwardly from the lower surface. In a specific embodiment, the seat mount extends above a longitudinally extending raised center segment that separates a first and second lower surface of the floor pan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of a vehicle body with a floor pan according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle body shown in Figure 1 and taken along the line 2-2 illustrating a conventional floor and seat mounting configuration to the right of the vehicle centerline 10 and an illustrative embodiment of the improved floor pan configuration of the present invention shown to the left of the vehicle centerline 10;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of the seat mount taken along the line 3-3 shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate construction of the floor pan of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a vehicle 8 is illustrated to show a conventional floor pan and seat assembly configuration to the right of the vehicle centerline 10 and, to the left of vehicle centerline 10, the floor pan configuration of the present invention. In either instance, the body of the vehicle generally includes a frame 14 including a frame rail 16 and a floor pan 18. The floor pan is commonly a stamped steel panel coupled to the fore and aft running frame rails 16. As is shown in the conventional configuration, the floor pan commonly includes a seat support section 20 and a raised center segment 22 on each side of the vehicle centerline. Seat support section 20 defines a mounting surface 23 for a seat mounting stand 24.

Seat mounting stand 24 generally includes a positioning assembly 26 and, in the conventional configuration, a plurality of risers 28 to conveniently orient the seats 30 within the vehicle cockpit. In the present invention shown left of centerline 10, the floor pan 18 is illustrated to include an outer flange segment 42 and a center raised segment 44 that is substantially identical to the conventional floor pan configuration illustrated to the right of centerline 10 and described above. Floor pan 18 also includes a seat support section 46 extending between outer flange segment 42 and raised segment 44. When viewed together, Figures 1-3 illustrate the transverse location, fore and aft location, and general configuration of the floor pan 18 proximate to the seat support section 46. It should be appreciated that the floor pan may be configured to include an elevated seat support section 46 for each location that a vehicle seat is coupled to the floor pan. Moreover, while a particular configuration of the seat support section 46 is described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of configurations may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the seat support section 46 includes a rear inclined surface 48 and a front inclined surface 50 each extending upwardly from the lower surfaces 52 of the floor pan and terminating at a raised support surface 54 (Figure 3). Support section 46 also includes an outer inclined surface 58 extending between outer flange segment 42 and a raised support surface 54 as well as an inner inclined surface 59 extending downwardly from raised support surface 54 to raised center segment 44. As is also common in the art, the outer flange segment 42 of the floor pan 18 is fixed to the frame rail 16 to provide the necessary structural rigidity for the vehicle body. While the front and rear location of the seat support section 46 is intended to be varied to accommodate the desired location of the seat, in the illustrated embodiment, seat support section 46 is located slightly forward of a B-pillar 60 of the body side (Figure 1 ).

In the preferred embodiment, the raised support surface 54 of seat support section 46 is positioned such that the seat positioning assembly 26 of conventional construction may be directly coupled to the support surface 54. By this configuration, the present invention eliminates the need for seat risers to interconnect the positioning assembly 26 and the seat support section 46. This direct connection reduces the center of gravity of the seat mounting stand 26 while reducing the overall weight of the seat support structure. Accordingly, the present invention eliminates the additional weight and instability incorporated by the seat risers. Moreover, the present invention provides a more stable connection between the positioning assembly and floor pan. Further, the raising of the floor pan in the seat support structure forms a beam-like cross car structure that coincides with the location of the bumper impact zone designated by applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. This structure, both alone and in combination with appropriate structural reinforcement, increases the seat support structure's resistance to side impacts. Again, it should be appreciated that the specific configuration and height of the seat support section may be varied to accommodate a specific seat height as well as a variety of positioning assemblies. Further, a floor pan having a raised seat support section 46 as contemplated by the present invention may also be used in combination with seat risers of reduced height to achieve many of the benefits of the present invention.

As is illustrated in the drawings, the uppermost surface 54 of seat support structure 46 is elevated to a significantly greater degree relative to the outer flange segment 42 that is conventionally provided. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface 54 of the seat support section 46 has a greater elevation than the uppermost surface of the raised central segment 44. However, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the elevational of the upper surface 54 may be varied for a particular application relative to both the frame member 16 and central raised segment 44.

In addition to the above discussed advantages, the raising of the seat support structure 46 provides an additional cavity 61 thereunder (Figure 3) which is capable of accommodating various underbody components such as exhaust, fuel or drive train elements. For example, while the raised central segment 44, 22 of the floor pan is generally included to provide a tunnel to accommodate the drive shaft or drive train that operatively connects the engine to the rear drive axle, the cavity 61 may be used to accommodate components of the exhaust system such as the catalytic converter.

It is anticipated that the floor pan of the present invention will be manufactured through the stamping of sheet metal material in a conventional manner. However, the floor pan of the present invention may be manufactured through a variety of materials without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the floor pan of the present invention may be used with a unitized vehicle body. As shown in FIG. 4, it is also contemplated that floor pan 18 may be alternatively constructed from a tailored blank 62. Tailored blank 62 includes a first section 64 constructed from material of a first thickness 66 welded to a second section 68 constructed from material of a second thickness 70. Second thickness 70 is preferably greater than first thickness 66. Second thickness 70 is preferably in the range of .030-.090 inches. First section 64 extends throughout the majority of the vehicle passenger compartment. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of second sections 68 are patched throughout floor pan 18 to locally reinforce areas subject to high stress. Specifically, second sections 68 are sized and positioned such that seat 30 mounts to a floor pan portion having increased thickness.

It should be apparent from the above description that the floor pan of the present invention provides numerous advantages relative to conventional floor pan configurations. For example, the floor pan provides increased stability and weight reduction of the seat mounting stand as well as increased crash resistance and more effective use of interior and exterior vehicle spaces.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat Is Claimed Is:

1. A floor pan for a vehicle, comprising: a lower surface and a seat support extending upwardly from said lower surface.

2. The floor pan of Claim 1 wherein said seat support includes a rear inclined surface and a front inclined surface extending upwardly from said lower surface.

3. The floor pan of Claim 2 further comprising an outer flange positioned at a first elevation and a raised center segment positioned above said first elevation, wherein said seat support includes an outer inclined surface and a raised support surface, said outer inclined surface extending between said outer flange and said raised support surface, said seat support further including an inner inclined surface extending from said raised support surface to said raised center segment.

4. The floor pan of Claim 3 wherein said raised support surface is positioned above said raised center segment.

5. The floor pan of Claim 1 wherein said floor pan includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness.

6. The floor pan of Claim 5 wherein said second thickness is greater than said first thickness and wherein said seat support is at least partially constructed from said second portion.

7. A vehicle body comprising: a floor pan having a lower surface and a seat support extending upwardly from said lower surface and a vehicle seat coupled to said seat support.

8. The vehicle body of Claim 2 wherein said floor pan extends in a longitudinal direction from a front end to a rear end of the vehicle body and wherein said floor pan includes a raised center segment extending in said longitudinal direction, said seat support extending above said raised center segment.

9. The vehicle body of Claim 8 wherein said floor pan further includes an outer flange and wherein said seat support includes an outer inclined surface extending from said outer flange to said raised center segment.

10. The vehicle body of Claim 7 wherein said seat support includes a rear inclined surface and a front inclined surface extending upwardly from said lower surface.

11. The vehicle body of Claim 7 wherein said floor pan includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness.

12. The vehicle body of Claim 11 wherein said second thickness is greater than said first thickness and wherein said seat support is at least partially constructed from said second portion.