Abstract:
A reinforcement plate for a floor pan of a front foot well of an automotive vehicle. The reinforcement plate has impact resistant surfaces for reinforcing the floor pan against impacts in two and preferably three different directions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a floor pan in a front foot well of an automotive vehicle, and more particularly to a reinforcement for the floor pan.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Typically, there is a floor pan in the front foot well of an automotive vehicle. The floor pan can be crushed by a 90° impact coming from the side of the vehicle or by an acute angle impact. There is a need for the floor pan to be reinforced to prevent it from being crushed on impact and also to reduce, if not eliminate, noise, vibration and harshness often experienced under normal driving conditions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In accordance with the present invention, the floor pan is reinforced by a reinforcement plate. The reinforcement plate is adapted to be secured to the floor pan and protects the floor pan from crushing impact in at least two and preferably three directions. This is accomplished by portions of the reinforcement plate which preferably are disposed perpendicular to one another. The reinforcement plate also adds stiffness to the floor pan. A mounting assembly mounts the reinforcement plate preferably on rigid vehicle support structure such as a chassis frame member of the vehicle.  
         [0004]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of the reinforcement plate secured to the underside of the floor pan, in accordance with the invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the parts in  FIG. 1  from a different angle;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged exploded view of the parts shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a detail view in perspective of the underside of the reinforcement plate;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken on the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken on the line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the reinforcement plate as viewed from above. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0014]     Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a floor pan  10  reinforced by a reinforcement plate  12 . The floor pan  10  is located in a foot well of an automotive vehicle in front of the driver&#39;s seat. The reinforcement plate is beneath the floor pan and is secured to the undersurface thereof. A similar floor pan and reinforcement plate may be provided in front of a passenger seated next to the driver.  
         [0015]     The floor pan  10  has an upright front portion  14  which extends vertically downward, and then curves rearwardly to provide a generally horizontal bottom portion  16 .  
         [0016]     The configuration of the reinforcement plate  12  is generally similar to the configuration of the floor pan  10 , following the general contour thereof. Thus the reinforcement plate has an upright front portion  20  which extends vertically downward from the top edge  22 , and then curves rearwardly to provide a generally horizontal bottom portion  24 . The reinforcement plate  12  has a flat vertical top rim  26  across the top edge  22 . The reinforcement plate  12  also has a flat horizontal rear rim  28  across the rear edge  30 , and a side rim  32  extending from an end of the top rim  26  to an end of the rear rim  28 .  
         [0017]     Fasteners  40  which may be simple spot welds, secure the vertical top rim  26  to the upright front portion  14  of the floor pan  10  in a surface-to-surface relationship. Similar spot welds  42  secure the horizontal rear rim  28  to the horizontal bottom portion  16  of the floor pan. The spot welds  42  continue along the side rim  32  to secure the side edge portion of the reinforcement plate  12  to the overlying floor pan  10 .  
         [0018]     The vertical top rim  26  is disposed in a flat vertical plane designated X in  FIG. 4 , and the horizontal rear rim  28 , as well as a portion of the side rim  32 , is disposed in a flat horizontal plane designated Z in  FIG. 4 . The planes X and Z are perpendicular to one another.  
         [0019]     The reinforcement plate  12  has a flat lateral flange  50  along one side. The lateral flange  50  is disposed in a flat lateral plane designated Y in  FIG. 4 . The plane Y is perpendicular to both of the planes X and Z. The flange  50  is secured to rigid vehicle frame structure, specifically a side sill  52 , in a surface-to-surface relationship, by fasteners such as the spot welds  54 .  
         [0020]     The reinforcement plate  12  is mounted on a chassis frame member  56  of the vehicle frame structure. To accomplish this, the reinforcement plate  12  has an upwardly opening cup-shaped formation providing a receptacle  60 . A clamping plate  62  fits down into the receptacle. A body mount  64  carried by a bracket  65  on the chassis frame member  56  supports a screw  66  which threads into the clamping plate  62  through a hole in the bottom of the receptacle to clamp the clamping plate  12  to the bracket.  
         [0021]     Rigid vehicle frame structure, specifically an underbody hold-down  67 , is secured to the bottom of the receptacle  60  in a surface-to-surface relationship and similarly to other portions of the reinforcement plate  12  by fasteners such as the welds  68 .  
         [0022]     It will be noted in  FIG. 4  that there are other areas  70 ,  72  and  74  of the reinforcement plate  12  which are in planes marked X and hence are parallel to the vertical plane of the vertical top rim  26 . There is another area  76  of the reinforcement plate  12  which is marked Y and hence is parallel to the plane of the flange  50 . There are other areas  78 ,  79  and  80  marked Z and hence are parallel to the horizontal plane of the horizontal rear rim  28 .  
         [0023]     All of the areas of the reinforcement plate  12  marked X are in generally vertical planes and reinforce the floor pan  10  against frontal or rear impacts. All of the areas of the reinforcement plate  12  marked Y are in generally lateral planes and reinforce the floor pan  10  against side impacts. All of the areas of the reinforcement plate marked Z are in generally horizontal planes and reinforce the floor pan  10  against vertical impacts. The three planes X, Y and Z are perpendicular to one another and thus reinforce the floor pan  10  in three directions. The reinforcement also eliminates, or at least substantially reduces noise vibration and harshness.  
         [0024]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.