WO2018124975A1

WO2018124975A1 - Floor panel structure for mounting seat belt of vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2018124975A1
Application number: PCT/TH2016/000109
Authority: WO
Inventors: Naoyuki Tamura; Sikarin THONGTUBTIM
Original assignee: Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2016-12-28
Filing date: 2016-12-28
Publication date: 2018-07-05

Abstract

The present invention discloses a floor panel structure 1 for mounting a seat belt 10 of a vehicle including: a floor panel 20 above which the seat belt 10 is positioned; and a seat belt anchor bracket 30 which is assembled to the floor panel 20 and connected with an inner buckle 12 of the seat belt 10. An opening 22 is formed in the floor panel 20. The seat belt anchor bracket 30 is welded under the floor panel 20 and is provided with a projecting portion 38 for connecting with the seat belt 10 and being disposed the seat belt anchor bracket 34 through the opening 22 of the floor panel 20.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

FLOOR PANEL STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING SEAT BELT OF VEHICLE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a floor panel structure for mounting a seat belt of a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that a floor panel structure for a vehicle includes an seat belt anchor bracket which is welded to an upper surface of a floor panel, as is disclosed in JP2015- 101233 Al hereinafter called a prior art.

The prior art further discloses that the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel are formed to be overlapped integrally for keeping a simple design of a mounting structure of the seat belt anchor bracket.

However, because the seat belt anchor bracket is arranged at the top layer of the floor panel, the seat belt anchor bracket receives large tensile force from the seat belt as when the vehicle is suddenly stopped. As such, if the seat belt anchor bracket receives large tensile force from the seat belt, there is a possibility that the seat belt anchor bracket comes off from the floor panel.

Therefore, the development of the floor panel structure for mounting a seat belt of a vehicle which increases the connection strength between the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel is required.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PTL 1 : Japanese laid-open publication No. JP2015- 101233 A 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a floor panel structure for mounting a seat belt of a vehicle which increases the connection strength between the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel to resist large tensile force, even if the seat belt anchor bracket receives large tensile force from the seat belt.

In order to achieve the above objective, an embodiment of the present invention provides a floor panel structure for mounting a seat belt of a vehicle including: a floor panel above which the seat belt is positioned; and a seat belt anchor bracket which is assembled to the floor panel and connected with an inner buckle of the seat belt; wherein an opening is formed in the floor panel, and wherein the seat belt anchor bracket is welded under the floor panel and is provided with a projecting portion for connecting with the inner buckle of the seat belt and being disposed through the opening of the floor panel.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the seat belt anchor bracket is welded under the floor panel, at least a welded portion of the seat belt anchor bracket is disposed on the side opposite to a direction of the tensile force from the seat belt with respect to the floor panel.

Also, since the seat belt anchor bracket is provided with the projecting portion for connects with the inner buckle of the seat belt and is disposed through the opening of the floor panel, a pressing force of the seat belt anchor bracket to the floor panel is applied to the seat belt anchor bracket when the seat belt anchor bracket receives large tensile force pulled by the seat belt. As such, the connection strength between the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel to resist large tensile force is able to be increased.

Therefore, even if the seat belt anchor bracket receives the large tensile force pulled by the seat belt, the floor panel structure is able to resist the large tensile force.

Moreover, since the floor panel is provided with the opening, it is not necessary for the floor panel structure to use additional components. As such, the floor panel structure is able to reduce the weight and the material cost.

In the floor panel structure for mounting the seat belt of the embodiment of the present invention, the floor panel structure further includes a lower cross member which covers the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel from a bottom side of the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel, and wherein the seat belt anchor bracket is welded to the lower cross member.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the seat belt anchor bracket is welded to the lower cross member, the seat belt anchor bracket is integrated with the lower cross member. Therefore, since the seat belt anchor bracket and the lower cross member are pressed against the floor panel when the seat belt anchor bracket receives the tensile force from the seat belt, the connection strength between the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel to resist large tensile force is able to be furthermore increased.

In the floor panel structure for mounting the seat belt of the embodiment of the present invention, the floor panel structure further includes an upper cross member which covers the projecting portion of the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel from an upper side of the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel. According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the upper cross member covers the seat belt anchor bracket from an upper side of the seat belt anchor bracket and the floor panel, the upper cross member functions as a seat belt anchor bracket reinforcement member or additional layer which is able to prevent the seat belt anchor bracket from being damaged by a force from an upper side, namely large tensile force from the seat belt. As such, it is possible to form the seat belt anchor bracket securely and firmly.

In the floor panel structure for mounting the seat belt of the embodiment of the present invention, the floor panel further includes a recess portion which is formed in a downward concave shape and positioned lower than an upper surface line of the floor panel when viewed from front, and wherein the opening is located within the recess portion when viewed from above.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the opening is located within the recess portion, a space for accommodating the connection portion of the seat belt anchor bracket is formed within the area that is concaved downward. Therefore, it is possible for the recess portion to be utilized as the mounting area for other parts where the degree of freedom of a design layout of other parts is remarkably widened.

In the floor panel structure for mounting the seat belt of the embodiment of the present invention, the recess portion further includes at least one reinforcement structure which is arranged nearer to the opening than an outer end of said recess portion and is configured to increase the strength of the recess portion.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the recess portion includes at least one reinforcement structure which is arranged near the opening, the reinforcement structure makes a peripheral area of the opening stronger. Moreover, since the reinforcement structure is formed in the recess portion, the rigidity of the recess potion is increased without interfering with the other parts which are housed in the recess portion.

In the floor panel structure for mounting the seat belt of the embodiment of the present invention, the seat belt anchor bracket includes a flange portion which is arranged on an outer periphery of the seat belt anchor bracket and is formed to be attached to a peripheral area of an opening side of the floor panel through a sealing material.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since a flange portion is arranged on an outer periphery of the seat belt anchor bracket and is formed to be attached to a peripheral area of an opening side of the floor panel, it is possible to increase the strength of the peripheral area of the opening side of the floor panel without decreasing in an opening area of the opening. Moreover, since the flange portion is formed to be attached to a peripheral area of an opening side of the floor panel through a sealing material, it is possible to minimize the clearance between the peripheral area of the opening side of the floor panel and the flange portion of the seat belt anchor bracket, and to increase the sealing performance of a region between the peripheral area of the opening side of the floor panel and the flange portion. Also, it is possible to manufacture the floor panel structure faster without using any fastening elements, and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the floor panel structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIO OF DRAWINGS

The principle of the present invention and its advantages will become apparent in the following description taking in consideration with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a floor panel structure for mounting a seat belt of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG.2 is a top view of the floor panel structure of FIG. l ;

FIG.3 is an exploded view of the floor panel structure of FIG.1 ;

FIG.4 is a top view of a seat belt anchor bracket o the floor panel structure;

FIG.5 is a left view of the seat belt anchor bracket of FIG.4.

FIG.6 is an end view taken along line VI -VI of FIG.2; and

FIG.7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCTIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. l to FIG.7.

In the following detailed description, relative positional terms such as "front", "rear", "right side" and "left side" correspond to those directions considered from the vantage point of a vehicle operator, seated in the driver's seat and facing forwardly.

The embodiment of the invention discloses a floor panel structure 1 for mounting a seat belt 10 of a vehicle including a floor panel 20; a seat belt anchor bracket 30 which consists a first seat belt anchor bracket 30L and a second seat belt anchor bracket 30R, an upper cross member 40, and lower cross member 50. The floor panel structure 1 is configured to sandwich the floor panel 20 and the seat belt anchor bracket 30 between the upper cross member 40 and the lower cross member 50. As shown in FIG. l , the floor panel structure 1 is located under a rear seat 2 so as that the passenger who seats on the rear seat 2 wears the seat belt 10. The seat belt 10 includes a seat belt hooking portion 14 and an inner buckle 12 which is formed to engage with the seat belt hooking portion 14. The inner buckle 12 connects with the seat belt anchor bracket 30. For example, the seat belt hooking portion 14 which is located on the seat belt 10, and formed in a hook shape. A seat belt winder (not show n in the figure) for maintaining tension of a seat belt 10 after winding the seat belt 10 is arranged on the seat belt 10.

As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, the floor panel 20 constitutes a floor of a trunk room of a vehicle, which is located at the rear of a floor of a vehicle cabin. The floor panel 20 includes a tire pan 23 at a rear portion of the floor panel 20. The tire pan 23 is formed to project downward from the rear portion of the floor panel 20 and to accommodate a spare wheel. The floor panel 20 is formed of a steel plate or multiple steel plates.

The floor panel 20 includes an opening 22 at the front of the tire pan 23. The opening 22 consists of a first opening 22 L and a second opening 22R. The first opening 22L and the second opening 22R are formed to be located under the upper cross member 40 when viewed from the above. As shown in FIG.2, the first opening 22 L and the second opening 22 R are formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The openings 22L, 22R are not limited to be the substantially rectangular shape and may be a circle, an oval shape, an elliptic shape, a semicircular shape, a semi-elliptic shape, various triangle shapes and so on.

The floor panel 20 includes a recess portion 24 which is formed in a downward concave shape from an outer end 25 of the recess portion 24 with respect to the upper surface (e.g. a horizontal surface) of the floor panel 20 and to be located under the upper cross member 40 when viewed from the above. Also, the recess portion 24 is formed so as to surround the openings 22L, 22R inside. Namely, the openings 22L, 22R is located within the recess portion 24, so that a space for accommodating the connection portion of the seat belt anchor bracket 30 is formed within the area that is concaved downward. As such, the recess portion 24 is utilized as the mounting area for other parts where the degree of freedom of a design lay out of other parts is remarkably widened.

As shown in FIG.3, the floor panel 20 includes a plurality of reinforcement structures 26 which are arranged under the upper cross member 40 and formed into a shallow recessed shape so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement structure 26 is located nearer to the opening 22 than the outer end 25 of the recess portion 24 so as to make a peripheral area of the opening 22 stronger. Moreover, since the reinforcement structure 26 is formed in the recess portion 24, the rigidity of the recess potion 24 is increased without interfering with the other parts which are housed in the recess portion 24. The reinforcement structure 26 is not limited to the long and thin recess, but, for example, the long and thin protrusion may be used.

As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, the upper cross member 40 is arranged on the floor panel 20 so as to cover the openings 22L, 22R of the recess portion 24 from an upper side of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L, 30R and a part of the floor panel 20, and extend in the left and right direction of the vehicle.

The upper cross member 40 functions as a seat belt anchor bracket reinforcement member or additional layer which is able to prevent the seat belt anchor bracket 30 from being damaged by a force from an upper side, namely large tensile force from the seat belt 10. As such, the seat belt anchor bracket 30 is formed securely and firmly.

The upper cross member 40 is attached (welded) to the floor panel 20 by spot welding. The upper cross member 40 includes a pair of holes 42 L, 42R for the first and second seat belt anchor brackets 30L, 30R. The holes 42L (42R) is formed so that a seat belt anchor bolt 32b (32b) is passed through the hole 42 L (42R) to engage with a seat belt anchor nut 34 of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L (30R). A seat belt connecting member 35 is fixed at the position of the hole 42L (42 R) on the upper cross member 40 by engaging with a the head 32a of the seat belt anchor bolt 32b to be formed to connect with the inner buckle 12 of the seat belt 10.

As shown in FIG.3, the lower cross member 50 is arranged on the floor panel 20 so as to cover the openings 22L, 22R of the recess portion 2, namely the seat belt anchor bracket 30L, 30R and a part of the floor panel 20 from a bottom side of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L, 30R and a part of the floor panel 20, and extend in the left and right direction. The lower cross member 50 is attached (welded) to the floor panel 20 and the seat belt anchor brackets 30 L 30R by spot welding.

The seat belt anchor bracket is integrated with the lower cross member 50. As such, the connection strength between the seat belt anchor bracket 30 and the floor panel 20 to resist large tensile force is able to be furthermore increased.

Also, as shown in FIG.4 to FIG.6, the seat belt anchor bracket 30L (30R) includes a flange portion 36 which is provided as an outer periphery of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L (30R) and is formed to be attached to a peripheral area of an opening side o the floor panel 20 through a sealing material, and a projecting portion 38 which is formed to be surrounded by the flange portion 36 and to be raised toward the upper side. The seat belt anchor bracket 30L (30R) is welded under the floor panel 20, so that welded portions of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L (30R) are disposed on the side opposite to a direction of the tensile force from the seat belt 10 with respect to the floor panel 20. The flange portion 36 increases the strength of the peripheral area of the opening side of the floor panel 20 without decreasing in an opening area of the opening 22 L (22R), as well as to minimize the clearance in upward and downward direction, namely the clearance between the peripheral area of the opening side of the floor panel 20 and the flange portion 36 of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L (3 OR).

As shown in F1G.4 to FIG.6, the projecting portion 38 is provided to be projected upward for coupling with the seat belt connecting member 35. The projecting portion 38 is inserted into the opening 22 of the floor panel 20. The seat belt connecting member 35 is fixed to the projecting portion 38 by being engaged with the head 32a of the seat belt anchor bolt 32b which is inserted into a seat belt anchor nut 34 and integrally engaged with the seat belt anchor nut 34. Also, an opening portion is formed to the seat belt connecting member 35 so as to mount the inner buckle 14 for the seat belt hooking portion 12 (See FIG.6).

For example, a pressing force of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L to the floor panel 20 is applied to the seat belt anchor bracket 30L when the seat belt anchor bracket 30L (30R) receives large tensile force pulled by the seat belt 10. As such, the connection strength between the seat belt anchor bracket 30L (30R) and the floor panel 20 to resist large tensile force is increased. Therefore, even if the seat belt anchor bracket 30L receives the large tensile force pulled by the seat belt 10, the floor panel structure 1 resists the large tensile force.

As shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7, the seat belt anchor bracket 30 (30L, 30R) is covered by the floor panel 20 and the upper cross member 40 from an upper side of the seat belt anchor bracket 30 (30L, 30R), and covered by the lower cross member 50 from an bottom side of the seat belt anchor bracket 30 (30L, 30R). In the outer periphery of the seat belt anchor bracket 30 (30L, 30R), the upper cross member 40, the floor panel 20, and a flange portion 36 are overlapped in this order.

For example, firstly, the flange portion 36 of the seat belt anchor bracket 30 (30L, 30R) is attached under the floor panel 20 at the periphery area of the opening 22 by spot welding. The seat belt connecting member 35 is inserted and disposed through the opening 22 of the floor panel 20 when assembling the floor frame structure 1.

Secondly, after the floor panel 20 and the seat belt anchor bracket 30 are welded each other, the lower cross member 50 is also attached to the floor panel 20 and the seat belt anchor bracket 30 from the bottom side by spot welding.

Finally, the upper cross member 40 is attached to the floor panel 20 from above by spot welding. In particular, the upper cross member 40 has the holes 42L, 42 so that are located in the areas corresponding to the seat belt anchor nut 34 of the projecting portion 38 for inserting the seat belt anchor bolt 32b and fixing the seat belt connecting members 35, 35. The floor panel structure 1 is assembled.

Regarding the floor panel structure 1 , since the flange portion 36 is attached to the peripheral area of the opening 22 L (22R) by welding, it is possible to manufacture the floor panel structure 1 faster without using any fastening elements, and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the floor panel structure 1, in comparison with a case that a seat belt anchor bracket is arranged at the top layer of the floor panel 20.

Also, the seat belt anchor bracket 30 is disposed on the opposite side of the upper cross member 40 to a direction of a tensile force TF generated by a severe pulling or by suddenly stopping the vehicle. As such, the connection strength between the floor panel 20, the seat belt anchor bracket 30 and the lower cross member 50 to resist a large tensile force is able to be furthermore increased.

Moreover, since the upper cross member 40 that covers the floor panel 20 and the seat belt anchor bracket 30 prevents the seat belt anchor bracket 30 from being damaged by a force from an upper side, the floor panel structure 1 including the seat belt anchor bracket 30 is formed securely and firmly. Furthermore, as shown in FIG.6, the seat belt connecting member 35 is fixed to the projecting portion 38 through the upper cross member 40. it is possible to secure the connection of the inner buckle 12 and the seat belt anchor bracket 30 without any additional layer structure.

FIG.7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG.2 in order to explain the relation between the recess portion 24 of the floor panel 20, the seat belt anchor bracket 30 (30L, 30R), the upper cross member 40, and the lower cross member 50. The line (hereinafter referred to as "upper surface line") UL shows an upper surface of the floor panel 20 on the 1X-IX line of FIG.2.

As shown in FIG.7, the recess portion 24 is formed in a downward concave shape that begins from the outer end 25 of the recess portion 24 with respect to the upper surface of the floor panel 20 corresponding to the upper surface line UL. In this embodiment, the upper surface line UL is set as a horizontal line. The cavity (space) is provided between the upper cross member 40 and the recess portion 24 of the floor panel 20 so as accommodate the raised portion 38 and so on. As such, since a dead space which is lower portion of the cavity is effectively utilized and an upper space of the cavity is utilized in order to accommodate other parts, it is possible to increase a degree of freedom for design layout of other parts remarkably. Also, inside the recess portion 24, the reinforcement structures 26 are formed near the opening 22L, 22 R in order to reinforce the recess portion 24. Next, the operation of the floor panel structure 1 when the vehicle is suddenly stopped will be provided with reference to FIG.6 and FIG.7.

Firstly, when the vehicle is suddenly stopped, the seat belt connecting member 35 which connects the inner buckle 12 of the seat belt 10 receives large tensile force TF from the seat belt 10. The tensile force TF is caused in the direction from the seat belt connecting member 35 to the seat belt 10 (See FIG.6).

Secondly, since the head 32a and the seat belt anchor bolt 32b which is engaged with the seat belt connecting member 35 are integrated, the tensile force TF is transmitted to the seat belt anchor nut 34.

Thirdly, the force occurred from the tensile force TF transmitted through the seat belt anchor bracket 30 via the projecting portion 38 and the flange portion 36 respectively. In particular, the tensile force TF is changed to a first force to pull the seat belt connecting member 35 on the upper cross member 40 and a second force for pressing the projecting portion 38, then distributing to the flange portion 36 of the seat belt anchor bracket 30L on the floor panel 20.

In the flange portion 36 when viewed from above, the seat belt anchor bracket 30L is arranged on the side opposite to a direction of the second force of the tensile force TF with respect to the floor panel 20. Additionally, the lower cross member 50 is attached to support the seat belt anchor bracket 30 and the floor panel 20 from below, and the upper cross member 40 is attached (welded) to support the floor panel 20 from above. Therefore, even if the seat belt anchor bracket 30L receives the large tensile force TF from the seat belt 10, the floor panel structure 1 is able to resist the large tensile force TF. As a result, the connection strength between the seat belt anchor bracket 30L and the floor panel 20 is increased.

Moreover, though the first seat belt anchor bracket 30L and the second seat belt anchor bracket 3 OR are at different position (See FIG.3 and FIG.7.), the operation of the floor plane structure 1 relating to the first seat belt anchor bracket 30L is able to be is explained similarly.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described as well as illustrated in the companying drawings, it is simply for the purpose of better understanding of the principle of the present invention and it is not as a limitation of the scope and spirit of the teaching of the present invention. Adaption and modification to various structures such as design or material of the invention, mounting mechanism of various parts and elements or embodiments are possible and apparent to a skilled person without departing from the scope of the present invention which is to be determined by the claims. List of reference:

1 floor panel structure

2 rear seat

10 seat belt

12 inner buckle

14 seat belt hooking portion

20 floor panel

22, 22L, 22R opening

23 tire pan

24 recess portion

25 outer end

26 reinforcement structure

30 seat belt anchor bracket

30L first seat belt anchor bracket 30R second seat belt anchor bracket 32a head of seat belt anchor bolt 32b seat belt anchor bolt

34 seat belt anchor nut

35 seat belt connecting member

36 flange portion

38 projecting portion

40 upper cross member

42L, 42R hole

44 access hole

50 lower cross member

TF tensile force

UL upper surface line

Claims

1. A floor panel structure ( 1) for mounting a seat belt ( 10) of a vehicle comprising:

a floor panel (20) above which said seat belt ( 10) is positioned; and

a seat belt anchor bracket (30) which is assembled to said floor panel (20) and connected with an inner buckle ( 12) of said seat belt ( 10);

wherein an opening (22) is formed in said floor panel (20), and

wherein said seat belt anchor bracket (30) is welded under said floor panel (20) and is provided with a projecting portion (38) for connecting with said inner buckle (12) of said seat belt ( 10) and being disposed through said opening (22) of said floor panel (20).

2. The floor panel structure ( 1 ) for mounting said seat belt ( 10) of said vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said floor panel structure (1 ) further comprises a lower cross member (50) which covers said seat belt anchor bracket (30) and said floor panel (20) from a bottom side of said seat belt anchor bracket (30) and said floor panel (20), and wherein said seat belt anchor bracket (30) is welded to said lower cross member (50).

3. The floor panel structure (1) for mounting said seat belt (10) of said vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said floor panel structure (1) further comprises an upper cross member (40) which covers said projecting portion (38) of said seat belt anchor bracket (30) and said floor panel (20) from an upper side of said seat belt anchor bracket (30) and said floor panel (20).

4. The floor panel structure (1 ) for mounting said seat belt ( 10) of said vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said floor panel (20) further comprises a recess portion (24) which is formed in a downward concave shape and positioned lower than an upper surface line (UL) of said floor panel (20) when viewed from front, and herein said opening (22) is located within said recess portion (24) when viewed from above.

5. The floor panel structure ( 1 ) for mounting said seat belt ( 10) of said vehicle of claim 4, wherein said recess portion (24) further comprises at least one reinforcement structure (26) which is arranged nearer to said opening (22) than an outer end (25) of said recess portion (24) and is configured to increase the strength of the recess portion (24).

6. The floor panel structure ( 1 ) for mounting said seat belt ( 10) of said vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said seat belt anchor bracket (30) comprises a flange portion (36) which is arranged on an outer periphery o said seat belt anchor bracket (30) and is formed to be attached to a peripheral area of an opening side of said floor panel (20) through a sealing material.