FR3046965A1 - ELEMENT OF THE BASE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a base element (58) of a motor vehicle comprising a device for fixing a rear seat in the vehicle, the underbody element (58) having a rear area (56) and comprising a rear space located to the right of said rear zone to receive said rear seat, said rear area having two side edges (60, 62), said rear seat comprising a seat having a rear edge and a backrest (66) adapted to be mounted inclined with respect to said seat along said rear edge. The fixing device comprises a support member (10) intended to be mounted in abutment on said rear zone (56), between said lateral edges (60, 62), to be able to support said single backrest (66) of said rear seat.

Description

Undercarriage element of a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a base member of a motor vehicle comprising a rear seat attachment device.

Standard motor vehicles include a cockpit with a driver's seat and an adjoining passenger seat at the front and a retractable rear seat at the rear. The vehicles comprise a base formed by the frame frame on which the floor rests. The rear seat is installed in the right rear area of the base and has a seat portion having a rear edge, and a back portion generally articulated on the rear edge of the seat. In addition, the seat portion is itself pivotally mounted along its front edge opposite its rear edge. In this way, to retract the rear seat, it is first fold the back portion on the seat portion, and then pivoted forwardly against the rear of the driver and passenger seats. In this way, we obtain a functional free rear volume for loading bulky objects.

This type of retractable rear seat has a number of disadvantages. Indeed, the anchoring points are essentially at the front edge of the seat, although the backrest has laterally in its upper part unlatched hooks. In the normal position, the seat comes to bear against the rear zone of the base, while the releasable hooks maintain the backrest in a position substantially inclined relative to the seat. Therefore, the rear seat is a little rigid.

Also, a problem that arises and that aims to solve the present invention is to provide a device for fixing a rear seat that not only improves its rigidity, but also, which is inexpensive to implement.

For this purpose, there is provided a base member of a motor vehicle comprising a device for fixing a rear seat in the vehicle, the underbody element having a rear area and comprising a rear space located in line with said area. rear seat for receiving said rear seat, said rear area having two side edges, said rear seat comprising a seat having a rear edge and a backrest adapted to be mounted inclined relative to said seat along said rear edge. The fixing device comprises a support member intended to be mounted in abutment on said rear zone, between said side edges, to be able to support said single backrest of said rear seat.

Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the implementation of a support member on the rear zone of the underbody element to be able to support the single file. In this way, the backrest is supported on the surplus element of its other attachment parts, which stiffens the rear seat. Such a support member is adapted to be implemented on the underbody element of conventional vehicles, for which the implementation of a retractable rear seat is not necessary. Therefore, the backrest can be mounted in a fixed position at the rear of the passenger compartment and be directly secured to the underbody element so as to obtain a better rigidity of the seat. The backrest is also held laterally in a fixed position against the vertical walls of the passenger compartment.

In addition, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said support member is mounted substantially equidistant from said lateral edges. In this way, the backrest which extends transversely to the right of the rear zone of the base element, is retained substantially at its center and therefore symmetrically.

According to an embodiment of the preferred embodiment, but not limiting, said support member has a foot portion intended to be secured to said rear area and a fastening portion inclined with respect to said foot portion, said folder being intended for be connected to said fixing portion. In this way, the support member is firmly anchored in the underbody element while the fixing part is dedicated to the connection with the backrest. The foot portion is indeed in support flat against the underbody element. The manner in which the foot portion is first prefixed by means of rivets and then welded for perfect anchoring will be explained in greater detail in the following description.

Preferably, said foot portion extends in a longitudinal direction, while said attachment portion extends in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction. Thus, the foot portion is pressed against the base member at the center in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, while the attachment portion extends transversely to the motor vehicle. In this way, the attachment portion extends a distance greater than that of the width of the foot portion. As a result, a relatively wide fixing portion is obtained with respect to the foot portion for connecting the support member to the backrest.

In addition, said attachment portion has a receiving surface and a lower flange extending partially around said receiving surface. Thus, the fixing portion has in its upper part a sharp edge, located opposite the lower flange with respect to the receiving surface. Also, said folder comprises at least one fastener adapted to come to apply against said receiving surface and abut against said bottom flange. Said at least one fastener, is substantially flat and the backrest is carried above the underbody element so as to dock the fastener against the receiving surface, in a first phase, and then to slide against the surface as the backrest approaches the underbody element until the end of the clip abuts against the lower edge of the attachment portion. This operation is made even easier, when advantageously, the fastening portion is inclined relative to the base member, and that, when the folder is driven vertically to the base member, the fastener is driven in friction against the receiving surface. The fastener is thus guided against the fastening portion until it abuts against the lower flange. In this way, and to a certain extent, the record can be adjusted blindly.

According to an alternative embodiment, said receiving surface has two portions symmetrical to one another with respect to a median plane intersecting perpendicularly said foot portion. In this way, we obtain not only a better fixation of the file, but also a better distribution of efforts when the file is requested.

Advantageously, said two portions each have an orifice and a ring forming a nut in the extension of said orifice. The nuts are preferably adjusted on the face of the fixing portion opposite to the receiving surface, and coaxial with the orifices. Also, the file includes in this case two fasteners each having a light coming opposite the orifices. Therefore, it is then easy to screw a screw directly through the slots inside the nuts on the side of the receiving surface of the fastening portion to secure the backrest to the support member.

Preferably, said attachment portion has upper guide vanes extending from said receiving surface opposite said lower retaining lip. The fins can further guide the approach of the fastener to the receiving surface when mounting the folder.

According to a preferred embodiment, said lower flange extends continuously from the fixing portion around said foot portion. In this way, the foot portion is mechanically reinforced. It will be observed that the lower rim of the fixing part also contributes to its stiffening.

Preferably, the support member is formed of a single stamped metal part. It has a generally concave shape that gives it a great overall mechanical strength. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of three quarters front right of an element of the fastener according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the element shown in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a partial schematic perspective view of a motor vehicle part and the element shown in Figures 1 and 2, cooperating with said motor vehicle part, in a first phase; and - Figure 4 is a schematic top view of said motor vehicle part and the element shown in Figures 1 and 2, cooperating with said motor vehicle part, in a second phase.

FIG. 1 illustrates a support member 10 having a first foot portion 12, defining a mean plane Pp and a second attachment portion 14, defining a mean plane P.sub.1. The first foot portion 12 extends in a longitudinal direction L, while the second fixing portion 14 extends in a transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, between two opposite ends 11, 13. Also, the support member 10 and in particular the second attachment portion 14 has two parts , right 16, left 18 symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane Pm longitudinally cutting the first leg portion 12 and normal to this portion and its mean plane Pp. The second fixing portion 14, has a notch 15 separating from one another symmetrically the two parts 16, 18. These two parts 16, 18 respectively define two receiving half-surfaces.

The first 12 and second 14 parts are made essentially in a single stamped metal plate. The metal plate has a thickness of the order of a millimeter, for example 1.5 mm.

The first leg portion 12 is substantially rectangular and has a central rib 20 extending in the longitudinal direction L. Due to this central rib 20 is increased the mechanical strength of the leg portion 12. Also, it has two holes 22 , 24 formed respectively on each side of the central rib 20 whose function will be explained below.

In addition, the first foot portion 12 has a lower face of application opposed to an upper face 27. In addition, the first foot portion 12 has a continuous rim 26 on the side of the upper face 27. With this rim 26, the mechanical strength of the foot portion 12 is further increased.

The second portion 14 has two fixing orifices 30, 32 respectively formed near the two opposite ends 11,13 in the two parts 16, 18 and symmetrical to each other with respect to the median plane Pm. The two parts 16, 18 each further have an upper edge 34, 36, extended by a guide fin 38, 40. The two guide vanes 38, 40 extend parallel outside the median plane Pf of the fixing portion 14 opposite the foot portion 12.

In addition, the flange 26 bordering the first foot portion 12 extends symmetrically and continuously in the second fastening portion 14, in two portions 42, 44 extending partially in an arc and respectively around the two fastening holes 30. 32. The two rim portions 42, 44 each have an end 46, 48 and the line I joining its two ends 46, 48 substantially intersects the axes of the two fixing orifices 30, 32.

The two flange portions 42, 44, in addition to making it possible to mechanically stiffen the fastening portion 14, also make it possible to form a stop, as will be explained hereinafter.

The fixing portion 14, here shown in transparency, shows in the extension of the two fixing holes 30, 32 respectively, two nut rings 50, 52 coaxial with its two orifices and back. Referring to Figure 2, showing the support member 10 seen from the side and on which appears behind, the nut rings 52, 50, masked one by the other.

This Figure 2 shows the first foot portion 12 and the second attachment portion 14 which extends it. It also contains the two guide fins 38, 40 which themselves respectively extend the upper edges 34, 36 towards the rear of the fixing portion 14. It will be observed that the mean planes Pp and Pf respectively defined by the portion forming foot 12 and the fixing part 14 are inclined with respect to each other by an angle alpha greater than 90 °, for example 115 °. In addition, the guide fins 38, 40 are themselves inclined at an angle close to 40 ° relative to the mean plane Pf of the fixing portion 14.

Except for the two nut rings 50, 52, the support member 10 is made in a one-piece stamped metal plate. This gives it all its rigidity. The two nut rings 50, 52 are then attached by welding.

Referring now to Figure 3, illustrating the implementation of the support member 10 within 54 of a motor vehicle. This FIG. 3 partially illustrates a rear zone 56 of a motor vehicle underbody element 58. The underbody element 58 extends longitudinally towards the front of the motor vehicle according to the arrow AV, and towards the rear according to the arrow AR. In addition, the base element has a right lateral edge 60 opposite to a left lateral edge 62. Between the two lateral edges 60, 62, the base member 58, in its rear zone 56 has a substantially horizontal portion 64, on which it comes to apply longitudinally flat the foot portion 12 of the support member 10, so that the fixing portion 12 is oriented rearward AR. The support member 10 is prefixed to the underbody element 58 via the two bores 22, 24 by means of two pop rivets. Next, the fastening is completed by weld seams at the joint between the foot portion 12 and the rear zone 56 of the underbody member. When the support member 10 is thus secured to the underbody element 58, the fastening portion 12 extends inclined rearward AR of the motor vehicle substantially equidistant from the side edges 60, 62 of the bedrock 58.

FIG. 3 also partially illustrates a backrest 66 having a lower edge 68 from which two fasteners 70, 72 project in parallel. These fasteners 70, 72 extend substantially parallel to the mean plane defined by the backrest 66. stamped flats having a curved edge defining a closed flange 74. This closed flange notably makes it possible to stiffen them, and also to provide them with a volume in thickness.

Each of the fasteners 70, 72 has an oblong slot 76. And the oblong slots 76 of the two fasteners 70, 72 have centers spaced from one another by a distance equal to that of the centers of the two nut rings 50, 52.

Thus, in the relative position of the backrest 66 and these fasteners 70, 72 and the fastening portion 12 of the support member 10, where the fasteners 70, 72 are substantially inclined relative to the vertical, as the part of 12, the vertical movement of the backrest 66 towards the underbody element 58 causes the fasteners 74, 72 respectively to approach the two half-reception surfaces corresponding to the two parts 16, 18 of the second part 14. It will be observed that the approach can be made blind, to a certain extent, because if the two fasteners 74, 72 come in range on the guide vanes 38, 40, they then guide the fasteners 74, 72 to the surfaces of reception respectively.

Continuing their movements, the two fasteners 74, 72 are frictionally driven in the two half-receiving surfaces corresponding to the two parts 16, 18 until their ends come into abutment respectively, against the two portions 42, 44 of rim . In this position, the two fasteners 74, 72 are not only locked in translation towards the underbody element 58 but also laterally and, moreover, the oblong slots 76 extend respectively opposite the fixing orifices 32.

In this position, screws are then engaged respectively through the oblong slots 76 and the fixing orifices 30, 32 to be screwed inside the two nut rings 50, 52. This situation is found in FIG. two screws 78, 80 join the two fasteners 70, 72 to the attachment portion 14 of the support member 10.

In this way, the backrest 66 is perfectly secured to the underbody element 58. A not shown seat is then supported on the underbody element at the front of the backrest 66 to form a rear seat.

Claims (10)

A base member (58) of a motor vehicle comprising a device for securing a rear seat in the vehicle, the underbody element (58) having a rear area (56) and comprising a rear space in the right said rear area for receiving said rear seat, said rear area having two side edges (60, 62), said rear seat comprising a seat having a rear edge and a backrest (66) adapted to be mounted inclined with respect to said seat along said rear edge; characterized in that it comprises a support member (10) intended to be mounted in abutment on said rear zone (56), between said lateral edges (60, 62), to be able to support said single backrest (66) of said rear seat . 2. Base member according to claim 1, characterized in that said support member (10) is mounted substantially equidistant from said side edges (60, 62). 3. Base element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said support member (10) has a foot portion (12) intended to be secured to said rear zone (56) and a fastening portion (14) inclined with respect to said foot portion (12), said backrest (66) being adapted to be connected to said attachment portion (14). 4. Base element according to claim 3, characterized in that said foot portion (12) extends in a longitudinal direction, while said attachment portion (14) extends in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to said direction longitudinal. Bottom element according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said fixing portion (14) has a receiving surface and a lower flange (42, 44) extending partially around said receiving surface. 6. Base element according to claim 5, characterized in that said backrest (66) comprises at least one fastener (70, 72) adapted to be applied against said receiving surface and in abutment against said lower edge (42, 44). ). 7. Base element according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said receiving surface has two portions (16, 18) symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane intersecting perpendicularly said foot portion (12). ). 8. Base element according to claim 6, characterized in that said two portions (16, 18) each have a hole (30, 32) and a ring (50, 52) forming a nut in the extension of said orifice. Bottom element according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said fixing portion (14) has upper guide vanes (38, 40) extending from said receiving surface to the opposite side. said lower retaining rim (42, 44). 10. Base element according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that said lower flange (42, 44) extends continuously from the fixing portion (14) around said foot portion (12).