Floor structure for automobile

A front seat 31 is foldable such that a seat back 33 is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion 32, a rear seat 39 is foldable such that a seat back 41 is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion 40, and a trunk floor 53 extending from a front pillar 12 to a rear pillar 14 is formable by laying a trunk board 49 across a gap formed between a rear face of the seat back 33 of the front seat 31 and a rear face of the seat back 41 of the rear seat 39 with the front seat 31 and the rear seat 39 in a folded state.

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-065432 filed in Japan on Mar. 29, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a floor structure of an automobile in which a door opening where a front door and a rear door are arranged is partitioned by a side sill, a front pillar, a roof side rail, and a rear pillar, while a front seat and a rear seat are arranged on a floor panel connecting the right and left side sills.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Japanese Patent No. 5716605 describes a seat device of an automobile in which a seat cushion of a rear seat of an automobile is raised toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and a seat back is collapsed frontward and stored in a space where the seat cushion was placed, to thereby form a large trunk floor in a rear part of a vehicle body. The document also mentions that the automobile does not have a center pillar, and may have a door opening common to a front door and a rear door.

Incidentally, the conventional structure has a problem that the raised seat cushion of the rear seat narrows the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the trunk floor. Moreover, since the trunk floor is not formed in a position of a front seat, long luggage cannot be loaded, and the wide door opening common to the front door and the rear door cannot be used effectively for loading and unloading of luggage.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need to form a large trunk floor that enables easy loading and unloading of luggage in a vehicle compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment according to the present invention, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile in which a door opening where a front door and a rear door are arranged is partitioned by a side sill, a front pillar, a roof side rail, and a rear pillar, while a front seat and a rear seat are arranged on a floor panel connecting the right and left side sills, characterized in that: the front seat is foldable such that a seat back is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion; the rear seat is foldable such that a seat back is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion; and a trunk floor extending from the front pillar to the rear pillar is formable by laying a trunk board across a gap formed between a rear face of the seat back of the front seat and a rear face of the seat back of the rear seat with the front seat and the rear seat in a folded state.

According to a second embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the floor panel includes a first cross member, a second cross member, a third cross member, and a fourth cross member in this order from front to rear; the front seat has front and rear leg portions supported by the second cross member and the third cross member, respectively; the rear seat has front and rear leg portions supported by a first reinforcement portion between the third cross member and the fourth cross member and the fourth cross member, respectively; and the front seat in the folded state is supported by the first cross member or a second reinforcement portion between the first cross member and the second cross member.

According to a third embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the front door is openably supported by the front pillar through a hinge; and the rear door is slidably supported by upper and lower rails provided in the roof side rail and the side sill.

According to a fourth embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, belt locking portions for locking a luggage fixing belt are provided on an inner face in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar and inner and outer positions in the vehicle width direction in a rear part of the seat cushion of the front seat.

According to a fifth embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, any one of the front seat and the rear seat is configured to allow the seat back to collapse frontwardly and be placed on an upper face of the seat cushion.

According to a sixth embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment, any one of the front seat and the rear seat is configured to allow the front leg portion and the rear leg portion to collapse frontwardly to place the seat cushion on an upper face of the floor panel.

Proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that any one of the front seat and the rear seat includes a first rotation axis for frontwardly collapsing the seat back, in an upper part of the rear leg portion, and also includes a second rotation axis for frontwardly collapsing the rear leg portion relative to the floor panel.

According to a seventh embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the fifth embodiment, any one of the front seat and the rear seat includes a third rotation axis for frontwardly collapsing the front leg portion relative to the floor panel.

According to a seventh embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment, the floor panel includes an upwardly bulging raised portion between the second cross member and the third cross member; and a fuel tank is placed below the raised portion.

According to an eighth embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment, a trunk floor portion forming a part of the trunk floor is formed in a rear face of the rear leg portion of the front seat; a board supporting face supporting a front part of the trunk board is formed in a bracket supporting the rear leg portion; and a board supporting face supporting a rear part of the trunk board is formed in a rear face of the seat back of the rear seat.

According to a ninth embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a reinforcing metal plate is provided inside the seat backs of the front seat and the rear seat forming a part of the trunk floor.

According to a tenth embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the roof side rail has a closed section formed of an outer panel, an inner panel, and a stiffener; an outer end in the vehicle width direction of a roof arch supporting a roof panel is supported by the inner panel; and an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the roof panel is supported by the outer panel.

According to a eleventh embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a dashboard lower rising from a front part of the floor panel is provided; and the dashboard lower includes a stepped portion having substantially the same height as the trunk floor.

According to a twelfth embodiment, proposed is a floor structure of an automobile characterized in that: in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a rear floor bulging from a rear part of the floor panel is provided; and the rear floor includes a flat portion having substantially the same height as the trunk floor.

Note that the front leg portion35, the rear leg portion36, the front leg portion43, and the rear leg portion44of the embodiment correspond to the leg portion of the present invention.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the configuration of the first embodiment, a door opening where a front door and a rear door are arranged is partitioned by a side sill, a front pillar, a roof side rail, and a rear pillar to obtain a wide door opening without a center pillar. Also, a front seat and a rear seat are arranged on a floor panel connecting the right and left side sills so as to face the door opening. The front seat is foldable such that a seat back is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion, the rear seat is foldable such that a seat back is frontwardly collapsed and placed on a seat cushion, and a trunk floor extending from the front pillar to the rear pillar is formable by laying a trunk board across a gap formed between a rear face of the seat back of the front seat and a rear face of the seat back of the rear seat with the front seat and the rear seat in a folded state so as to face the wide door opening. Hence, not only can a large trunk floor be formed in a vehicle compartment to load a large amount of luggage, but also luggage can be loaded and unloaded easily through a wide door opening without a center pillar.

According to the configuration of the second embodiment, the floor panel includes a first cross member, a second cross member, a third cross member, and a fourth cross member in this order from front to rear, the front seat has front and rear leg portions supported by the second cross member and the third cross member, respectively, the rear seat has front and rear leg portions supported by a first reinforcement portion between the third cross member and the fourth cross member and the fourth cross member, respectively, and the front seat in the folded state is supported by the first cross member or a second reinforcement portion between the first cross member and the second cross member. Hence, not only can the front seat and the rear seat by supported firmly on the floor panel, but also the weight of heavy luggage loaded on the folded front seat can be supported securely.

According to the configuration of the third embodiment, the front door is openably supported by the front pillar through a hinge, and the rear door is slidably supported by upper and lower rails provided in the roof side rail and the side sill. Hence, luggage can be loaded and unloaded even more easily by opening the door opening widely by opening the front door to the front and opening the rear door to the rear.

According to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, belt locking portions for locking a luggage fixing belt are provided on an inner face in the vehicle width direction of the front pillar and inner and outer positions in the vehicle width direction in a rear part of the seat cushion of the front seat. Hence, by restraining a front part of long luggage to the belt locking portions with the luggage fixing belt, the luggage can be prevented from falling from the door opening even without a center pillar.

According to the configuration of the fifth embodiment, any one of the front seat and the rear seat is configured to allow the seat back to collapse frontwardly and be placed on an upper face of the seat cushion. Hence, a trunk floor can be formed by the rear face of the folded seat back.

According to the configuration of the sixth embodiment, any one of the front seat and the rear seat is configured to allow the front leg portion and the rear leg portion to collapse frontwardly to place the seat cushion on an upper face of the floor panel. Hence, the luggage loading capacity can be increased by lowering the trunk floor and expanding the vehicle compartment space. Additionally, since the trunk floor can be kept low even after placing the seats, luggage can be loaded and unloaded easily.

According to the configuration of the seventh embodiment, the floor panel includes an upwardly bulging raised portion between the second cross member and the third cross member, and a fuel tank is placed below the raised portion. Hence, not only can the capacity of the fuel tank be increased while keeping the height of the floor panel low, but also the sectional area of the second cross member and the third cross member can be increased to enhance mounting stiffness of the front seat.

According to the configuration of the eighth embodiment, a trunk floor portion forming a part of the trunk floor is formed in a rear face of the rear leg portion of the front seat, a board supporting face supporting a front part of the trunk board is formed in a bracket supporting the rear leg portion, and a board supporting face supporting a rear part of the trunk board is formed in a rear face of the seat back of the rear seat. Hence, a flat trunk floor extending from the front seat to the rear seat can be formed.

According to the configuration of the ninth embodiment, a reinforcing metal plate is provided inside the seat backs of the front seat and the rear seat forming a part of the trunk floor. Hence, even when heavy luggage is loaded on the folded front seat and rear seat, deformation of the front seat and rear seat can be prevented.

According to the configuration of the tenth embodiment, the roof side rail has a closed section formed of an outer panel, an inner panel, and a stiffener, an outer end in the vehicle width direction of a roof arch supporting a roof panel is supported by the inner panel, and an outer end in the vehicle width direction of the roof panel is supported by the outer panel. Hence, in a part of a roof on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, the roof panel can be projected further to the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the roof arch, whereby the vehicle compartment space can be expanded.

According to the configuration of the eleventh embodiment, a dashboard lower rising from a front part of the floor panel is provided, and the dashboard lower includes a stepped portion having substantially the same height as the trunk floor. Hence, the trunk floor can be extended to the front by the stepped portion of the dashboard lower.

According to the configuration of the twelfth embodiment, a rear floor bulging from a rear part of the floor panel is provided, and the rear floor includes a flat portion having substantially the same height as the trunk floor. Hence, the trunk floor can be extended to the rear by the flat portion of the rear floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 7. Note that the longitudinal direction, the transverse direction (vehicle width direction), and the vertical direction in the specification are defined on the basis of an occupant seated in a driver's seat.

As shown inFIG. 1, an automobile of the embodiment has a door opening15surrounded by a side sill11, a front pillar12, a roof side rail13, and a rear pillar14. A front part of a left front door16is pivotally supported by the front pillar12through hinges18,18, while an upper part and a lower part of a left rear door17are slidably supported by rails19,19provided in the roof side rail13and the side sill11. The door opening15common to the front door16and the rear door17does not have a center pillar.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, a floor panel22is arranged in such a manner as to connect a dashboard lower20in a front part of the vehicle body and a rear floor21in a rear part of the vehicle body. On a lower face of the floor panel22, a first cross member23, a second cross member24, a third cross member25, and a fourth cross member26are placed in the vehicle width direction in this order from the front to rear. A first reinforcement portion27extending in the vehicle width direction is formed on an upper face of the floor panel22sandwiched between the third cross member25and the fourth cross member26, and a second reinforcement portion28extending in the vehicle width direction is formed on a lower face of the floor panel22sandwiched between the first cross member23and the second cross member24.

A left front seat31which is a passenger's seat includes a seat cushion32, a seat back33that can be raised and collapsed in the longitudinal direction through a first rotation axis34provided on the rear end of the seat cushion32, a front leg portion35, and a rear leg portion36. The lower end of the rear leg portion36is supported to a bracket47fixed so as to straddle the second cross member24and the third cross member25, so that the rear leg portion can be raised and collapsed in the longitudinal direction through a second rotation axis37. The upper end of the rear leg portion36is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion32and the lower end of the seat back33through the first rotation axis34. The lower end of the front leg portion35is supported to the second cross member24, so that the front leg portion can be raised and collapsed in the longitudinal direction through a third rotation axis38. A metal plate33ais embedded in the seat back33of the front seat31. Note that the metal plate33amay be exposed instead of being embedded.

A rear seat39includes a right and left pair of seat cushions40,40, a right and left pair of seat backs41,41, front leg portions43,43, and rear leg portions44,44integrated with the seat backs41,41. The rear ends of the seat cushions40,40are connected to the upper ends of the rear leg portions44,44through first rotation axes42,42, and the lower ends of the rear leg portions44,44are supported to brackets48,48fixed to the fourth cross member26, so that the rear leg portions can be raised and collapsed in the longitudinal direction through second rotation axes45,45. The lower ends of the front leg portions43,43are supported to the first reinforcement portion27, so that the front leg portions can be raised and collapsed in the longitudinal direction through third rotation axes46,46. Metal plates41b,41bare embedded in the seat backs41,41of the rear seat39. Note that the metal plate41bmay be exposed instead of being embedded.

A flat trunk floor portion36ais formed on a rear face (upper face in a collapsed state) of the rear leg portion36of the front seat31, and board supporting faces47a,47bare formed in the bracket47. A plate-shaped trunk board49can be placed on the board supporting faces47a,47bof the bracket47and a board supporting face41aformed on an upper rear face (upper face in a collapsed state) of the left seat back41of the rear seat39such that the plate-shaped trunk board49extends therebetween and bridges the seat backs in the horizontal direction. When the trunk board49is not used, the trunk board49can be stored below the seat cushion32or the seat cushion40.

The floor panel22between the second cross member24and the third cross member25forms an upwardly bulging raised portion22a, and a fuel tank50is stored in the raised portion22a. A horizontal stepped portion20ais formed in the dashboard lower20inclined upward toward the front, and a horizontal flat portion21ais formed in the rear floor21inclined upward toward the rear.

As shown inFIG. 6, a U-shaped belt locking portion12ais provided on an inner face in the vehicle width direction of a lower part of the left front pillar12, and U-shaped belt locking portions47c,47dare provided on both right and left side parts of the bracket47supporting the seat cushion32of the left front seat31. A loop portion51aprovided in an intermediate part of a luggage fixing belt51, and hooks52,52provided on both end parts of the luggage fixing belt are locked onto the belt locking portions12a,47c, and47d. Note that the loop portion51amay be changed to the hook52.

As shown inFIG. 4and part (B) ofFIG. 5, when the front seat31and the rear seat39configured in the above manner are folded, a flat trunk floor53is formed above the floor panel22. In part (B) ofFIG. 5, the trunk floor53is surrounded by a thick chain line.

As shown inFIG. 7, the roof side rail13is formed into a closed section by combining an outer panel13a, an inner panel13b, and a stiffener13c. The outer end in the vehicle width direction of a roof arch55supporting a roof panel54is supported by the inner panel13bof the roof side rail13, and the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the roof panel54is supported by the outer panel13aof the roof side rail13.

Next, effects of the embodiment of the present invention configured in the above manner will be described.

The left front seat31is firmly attached onto the floor panel22, by supporting the lower end of the rear leg portion36to the bracket47fixed so as to straddle the second cross member24and the third cross member25, and supporting the lower end of the front leg portion35to the second cross member24. The rear seat39is firmly attached onto the floor panel22by supporting the lower ends of the rear leg portions44,44to the brackets48,48fixed to the fourth cross member26, and supporting the lower ends of the front leg portions43,43to the first reinforcement portion27.

In order to form the trunk floor53in the vehicle compartment, the rear leg portion36and the front leg portion35supporting the seat cushion32of the front seat31are collapsed frontward around the second rotation axis37and the third rotation axis38, to place the seat back33on the seat cushion32and place the seat cushion32on the floor panel22. Furthermore, the rear leg portions44,44and the front leg portions43,43of the rear seat39are collapsed frontward around the second rotation axes45,45and the third rotation axes46,46, to place the seat backs41,41on upper faces of the seat cushions40,40and place the seat cushions40,40on the floor panel22. Then, the trunk board49is placed on the board supporting faces47a,47bof the bracket47of the front seat31and the board supporting face41aon the rear face of the left seat back41of the rear seat39, to bridge across a gap formed between the collapsed seat back33of the front seat31and the collapsed left seat back41of the rear seat39.

In this state, a rear face of the seat back33of the front seat31, the trunk floor portion36aof the rear leg portion36of the front seat31, the trunk board49, the rear face of the seat back41of the rear seat39, and a trunk floor portion44aof the rear leg portion44of the rear seat39are aligned at the same height, whereby the flat trunk floor53is formed. At this time, the stepped portion20aof the dashboard lower20is continuous with the front end of the trunk floor53and the flat portion21aof the rear floor21is continuous with the rear end of the trunk floor53, so that the substantial longitudinal dimension of the trunk floor53is extended.

Although luggage is placed on an upper face of the seat back33of the folded front seat31and upper faces of the seat backs41,41of the folded rear seat39, since the metal plates33aand41b,41bare embedded in the seat back33of the front seat31and the seat backs41,41of the rear seat39, the metal plates33aand41b,41bcan support the weight of the luggage and prevent deformation of the front seat31and the rear seat39. Additionally, since a front part of the seat back33of the folded front seat31is supported by the first cross member23and the second reinforcement portion28between the first cross member23and the second cross member24, the weight of luggage placed on the upper face of the seat back33of the front seat31can be supported securely. Note that inFIG. 4, lower face shapes of front parts of the seat cushion32and the seat cushion40that come into contact with the floor panel22are omitted.

The door opening15surrounded by the side sill11, the front pillar12, the roof side rail13, and the rear pillar14does not include a center pillar, the front part of the front door16is pivotally supported by the front pillar12through hinges18,18, and the rear door17is a slide door slidably supported by the rails19,19provided in the roof side rail13and the side sill11. Accordingly, the trunk floor53faces the wide door opening15, so that even large luggage can be loaded and unloaded easily.

Moreover, when long luggage such as a rolled carpet is loaded over the entire length of the trunk floor53, a front part of the long luggage may be restrained by the luggage fixing belt51having the loop portion51aand the hooks52,52hooked onto the belt locking portion12aprovided in the front pillar12and the belt locking portions47c,47dprovided on inner and outer positions in the vehicle width direction of the bracket47supporting the rear leg portion36of the front seat31. This can prevent the luggage from falling from the door opening15.

In addition, the floor panel22has the upwardly bulging raised portion22abetween the second cross member24and the third cross member25, and the fuel tank50is stored in the raised portion22a. Hence, not only can the capacity of the fuel tank50be increased while keeping the height of the floor panel22low, but also the sectional area of the second cross member24and the third cross member25can be increased to enhance mounting stiffness of the front seat31.

Furthermore, the roof side rail13is formed into a closed section by the outer panel13a, the inner panel13b, and the stiffener13c, the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the roof arch55supporting the roof panel54is supported by the inner panel13b, and the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the roof panel54is supported by the outer panel13a. Hence, in a part of the roof on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, the roof panel54is positioned higher and on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the roof arch55, whereby the vehicle compartment space can be expanded.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, various design changes may be made in the invention, without departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, although the trunk floor53is formed between the front seat31and the rear seat39on the left side in the embodiment, a trunk floor may be formed between the front seat and the rear seat on the right side.