Automotive vehicle floor assembly and vehicle equipped with such floor assembly

The vehicle floor assembly comprises a floor and at least one attachment device for attachment of a vehicle safety component to the floor, the attachment device comprising a anchoring part for anchoring the attachment device to the floor and an attachment part for attaching a safety component to the attachment device.The anchoring part is received and sandwiched between two opposed walls of a box structure of the floor, the attachment part being accessible through an opening provided in one of the two walls.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of vehicle floor assemblies forming a floor in an automotive vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is possible to provide the vehicle floor assembly comprising a floor to be secured to the structure of the vehicle and attachment devices for allowing fastening of safety components to the floor, the attachment devices being anchored to the floor.

Safety components are components involved in the safety of the passengers of the vehicle. Safety components namely include seats, seat belt attachments, child seat attachments, etc.

However, anchoring of attachment devices on the floor requires increasing thickness and/or material performances to be able to withstand high forces encountered during crash events.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the invention is to provide a vehicle floor assembly that can be lightweight with satisfactory safety performances.

To this end, the invention proposes a vehicle floor assembly comprising a floor and at least one attachment device for attachment of a vehicle safety component to the floor, the attachment device comprising a anchoring part for anchoring the attachment device to the floor and an attachment part for attaching a safety component to the attachment device, wherein the anchoring part is received and sandwiched between two opposed walls of a box structure of the floor, the attachment part being accessible through an opening provided in one of the two walls.

In specific embodiments, the vehicle floor assembly comprises the following optional features, in isolation or in combination:the anchoring part is secured to each one of the two walls;at least one of the two walls has an embossment protruding towards the other wall in register with an attachment device, the anchoring part being sandwiched between the embossment and the other wall;the floor assembly comprises an attachment device having an anchoring part formed of a bracket comprising a flange contacting one of the walls and another flange contacting the other wall;the attachment part comprises a head connected to the bracket and a shank extending from the head;the floor assembly comprises an attachment device formed of wire shaped to form a loop-shaped attachment part and an anchoring part;the floor assembly comprises an attachment device comprises a shank forming the attachment part and a head provided at one end of the shank, the head forming the anchoring part sandwiched between the two walls;the floor assembly comprises an attachment device an attachment device having an attachment part and an anchoring part distinct from one another and secured to each other;the floor assembly comprises an attachment device having an attachment part and a anchoring part made in one single piece of material;the anchoring part is secured to at least one or to each one of the two walls by welding and/or adhesive bonding;the walls comprise an upper wall and a lower wall, the opening being defined in the upper wall;the floor comprises two superposed floor plates assembled one to the other and forming the box structure, each plate forming a respective one of the two walls;the two plates include a main plate and a reinforcing plate secured to the main plate;the reinforcing plate only partially covers the main plate.

The invention also relates to an automotive vehicle comprising a floor assembly as defined above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The vehicle floor assembly2ofFIG. 1comprises a vehicle floor4adapted for forming a floor of an automotive vehicle and attachment devices6,8,10for fastening safety components to the floor4. Safety components include seats, seat belt attachments and child seat attachments.

In the following, the terms “longitudinal”, “transversal”, “front” and “rear”, “top” and “bottom” are used with reference to the forward longitudinal direction of the vehicle illustrated by arrow S onFIG. 1.

The floor4is adapted to be integrally secured to the structure or body in white of the vehicle. The attachment devices are integrally anchored to the floor4, such that safety components attached to the attachment device are in turn anchored to the structure of the vehicle.

The floor4illustrated onFIG. 1is adapted to be installed in the rear part of the vehicle for supporting rear seats and defining a trunk. The floor4comprises a seat receiving part4A and a trunk part4B extending the seat receiving part4A rearwards.

The attachment devices6,8,10include seat attachments, seat belt attachments and child seat attachments.

The floor4comprises a hollow box structure12. More specifically, the floor4comprises a main plate14and a reinforcing plate16secured one to the other such as to define the box structure12between them. The box structure12aims at increasing rigidity of the floor4.

The main plate14substantially defines the contour of the floor4. In top view, the reinforcing plate16is of smaller dimensions than the main plate14.

The reinforcing plate16is set over the main plate14and partially covers the main plate14. The reinforcing plate16extends transversely on the entire width of the main plate14. The main plate14extends rearwards and frontwards further than the reinforcing plate16.

The main plate14is made of metal, of plastic material and/or a combination thereof. The metal can be any type of steels, aluminum, magnesium materials in the form of sheet forming or casting. The plastic material can be any type of thermoplastic or thermoset material processed by injection, compression molding, thermal forming, vacuum forming, resin transfer molding, etc. The plastic material is advantageously reinforced with synthetic and/or natural fibers. Synthetic fibers include glass fibers, carbon fibers and/or Kevlar® fibers. The fiber length can range from continuous to fraction of millimeter range.

The reinforcing plate16is made of metal, of plastic material and/or a combination thereof. The metal can be any type of steels, aluminum, magnesium materials in the form of sheet forming or casting. The plastic material can be any type of thermoplastic or thermoset material processed by injection, compression molding, thermal forming, vacuum forming, resin transfer molding, etc. The plastic material is advantageously reinforced with synthetic and/or natural fibers. Synthetic fibers include glass fiber, carbon fibers and/or Kevlar® fibers. The fiber length can range from continuous to fraction of millimeter range.

The reinforcing plate16is made of the same material than the main plate14or of a different material.

A material comprising a plastic matric reinforced with fibers is referred to as a Fiber Reinforced Material (FRM). A particularly suitable material for the main plate14and/or the reinforcing plate16is a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Material (CFRM).

As illustrated onFIGS. 2-4, the box structure12of the floor4is formed between the main plate14and the reinforcing plate16. The main plate14forms a lower wall18of the box structure12and the reinforcing plate16forms an upper wall20of the box structure12. The lower wall18and the upper wall20are spaced on from the other. The lower wall18and the upper wall20define a hollow internal cavity between them. The box structure12mechanically reinforces floor4by imparting rigidity to the floor4.

The floor4assembly comprises attachment devices6,8,10of different kinds illustrated onFIG. 2-4.

Each attachment device6,8,10comprises a anchoring part22for securing the attachment device to the floor4and an attachment part24for fastening a safety component to the attachment device.

The anchoring part22is received in the internal cavity of the box structure12with being sandwiched between the upper wall20and the lower wall18. The anchoring part22contacts each of the lower wall18and the upper wall20. More specifically, the anchoring part22contacts each of the confronting faces of the lower wall18and the upper wall20.

The anchoring part22is secured to each of the lower wall18and the upper wall20, in particular to each of the confronting faces of the lower wall18and the upper wall20. The anchoring part22is welded and/or adhesively bonded to each of the lower wall18and the upper wall20, in particular to each of the confronting faces of the lower wall18and the upper wall20.

The attachment part24is accessible from outside the box structure12through an opening25provided in the upper wall20. More specifically, the attachment part24protrudes out of the box structure12through the opening25provided in the upper wall20.

The attachment device6ofFIG. 2comprises a anchoring part22formed by a bracket26comprising a lower flange secured to lower wall18and an upper flange secured to the upper wall20.

The bracket26is plate-shaped with one flange (here the lower flange) being formed by a peripheral region28of the bracket26and the other flange (here the upper flange) being formed by a central region30of the bracket26surrounded by the peripheral region28. The attachment part24is integrally connected to the central region30. The central region30closes the opening25of the upper wall20.

The spacing between the lower wall18and the upper wall20in register with the anchoring part22is greater that the thickness of the bracket26. The bracket26comprises an upset between the two flanges. The bracket26is thus cup-shaped.

The attachment part24of the attachment device6ofFIG. 2is distinct from the anchoring part22and secured to the anchoring part22.

The attachment part24comprises a shank34and a head36provided at one end of the shank34. The shank34extends through an aperture38of the bracket26with being retained by the head36which interferes with the edge of the aperture38. The head36is optionally secured to the bracket26by welding and/or adhesive bonding. The aperture38is provided in the central region30of the bracket26. The shank34is optionally threaded.

The attachment device6ofFIG. 2is for example a seat attachment device for permanent fastening of seats to the floor4.

The attachment device8ofFIG. 3is formed of a metal wire40shaped to form a loop-shaped attachment part24and an anchoring part22.

In the present embodiment, the attachment part24has two branches42connected by an intermediate section44and the anchoring part22is formed by extensions46of the branches of the attachment part. Only one branch42and one extension46are visible onFIG. 3. Each extension46is inclined with respect to the corresponding branch42, with an elbow between the branch42and the extension46. Each extension46contacts both the lower wall18and the upper wall20. The attachment part24extends from the extensions46with protruding out of the box structure12through the opening25of the upper wall20. The attachment part24is for example U-shaped.

The anchoring part22is sandwiched between the lower wall18and the upper wall20. More specifically, the lower wall18comprises a local embossment48protruding towards the inside of the box structure12in register with the attachment device8, the anchoring part22being sandwiched between the apex of the embossment48of the lower wall18and the upper wall20. The apex of the embossment48is closer to the upper wall20than adjacent regions50of the lower wall18.

The attachment device8ofFIG. 2is for example a child seat attachment device for temporary removable fastening of a child seat to the floor4. The attachment device advantageously satisfies the ISOFIX standard.

Two similar attachment devices10are illustrated on ofFIG. 4. Each attachment device10comprises a shank52forming the attachment part24and a head54provided at one end of the shank52and forming the anchoring part22. The head54is received in the internal cavity of the box structure12with being sandwiched between the lower wall18and the upper wall20and secured to each one of the lower wall18and the upper wall20, preferably by welding and/or bonding. The head54contacts both the lower wall18and the upper wall20. The shank52extends from the head54through the opening25of the upper wall20. The head54has larger dimensions than that of the opening such as to interfere with the edge of the opening, thus retaining the attachment device10. The shank54is advantageously externally threaded for bolting of a safety component.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, the lower wall18comprises a local embossment58in register with each attachment device10, with the head54of each attachment device10forming the anchoring parts22being sandwiched between the apex of the embossment58of the lower wall18and the upper wall20. The apex of the embossment58is closer to the upper wall20than adjacent regions60of the lower wall18.

The attachment devices ofFIG. 4are for example seat belt attachment devices each for securing a seat belt end or a seat belt fastener to the floor4.

The floor4provided with a box structure12is mechanically reinforced. In addition, sandwiching the anchoring part22of a safety component attachment device between two walls of the box structure12further reinforces the floor4as the anchoring part22of the attachment device acts as in insert received in the box structure12. Reinforcement of the floor4is further enhanced by securing the anchoring part22to the two opposed walls18,20of the box structure12between which the anchoring part22is sandwiched. Besides, securing of the attachment device is also enhanced, thus improving safety performances.

The floor4assembly is obtained easily and at low cost. Enhanced reinforcement of the vehicle floor assembly2allows reducing the thickness of the floor plates thus reducing the overall weight of the vehicle floor assembly2, whilst maintaining the same mechanical and safety performances.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed above.

In one embodiment, the reinforcing plate16is secured below the main plate14instead of being above the main plate14. The reinforcing plate16forms the lower wall18of the box structure12and the main plate14forms the upper wall20of the box structure12. In this case, the openings through which the attachment parts of the attachment devices are accessible and/or protrude are provided in the main plate14.

In one embodiment, the reinforcing plate16extends to the front end and/or to the rear end of the main plate14. In one particular embodiment, the reinforcing plate16extends over the whole extend of the main plate14whereby the floor4is entirely formed of two superposed plates on its whole extend, thus forming a box-floor.

In one embodiment, the reinforcing plate16extends only partially over the width of the main plate14.

In the embodiments ofFIGS. 3 and 4, the lower wall of the box structure is provided with an embossment protruding upwardly towards the upper wall. In an alternative, the upper wall is provided with an embossment protruding downwardly towards the lower wall and sandwiching an anchoring part of an attachment member with the lower wall.

In an alternative embodiment, the lower wall and the upper wall each have inwardly protruding embossments in register, said embossments sandwiching an anchoring part of an attachment device between their apexes. The apex of each embossment for in a wall is closer to the other wall than adjacent regions of the wall.