Abstract:
A vehicular module ( 20 ) secures a plurality of components to a motor vehicle ( 10 ) having a frame ( 29 ). The vehicular module ( 20 ) includes a tray ( 22 ) and a support member ( 24 ) that is fixedly secured to the tray ( 22 ). The tray ( 22 ) includes a plurality of receiving apertures for mounting a plurality of components thereto. The support member ( 24 ) engages the frame ( 29 ) of the motor vehicle ( 10 ) to support the tray ( 22 ) and provide structural integrity to the vehicle frame ( 29 ). The module ( 20 ) may be pre-assembled prior to installation to the vehicle frame ( 29 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a vehiclular mid structural module. More particularly, this invention relates to a vehicular module incorporating a tray assembly for securing a plurality of components to a mid region of the frame of a motor vehicle.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    According to conventional motor vehicle construction, multiple components are installed to the frame assembly separately of one another in the rear interior area of a vehicle passenger compartment. These components are typically packaged and shipped separately from various suppliers to a vehicle assembly site.  
           [0003]    In particular, the installation of various vehicle components into the rear interior area of the motor vehicle can be difficult due to the needs for installing individual components in confined and restricted spaces. Individual installation of these components at a main vehicular assembly line slows the vehicle construction, is time-consuming, and is costly. As a result, there is a need for a more efficient system for assembly of the rear interior portion of the motor vehicle.  
           [0004]    In many instances, a rear tray is a structural component of the motor vehicle. Not only does the tray provide a surface to which various components may be secured, it also adds to the structural integrity of the frame. It does so by maintaining the rear windshield in its proper position. To fulfill such requirements, the tray must be structurally reinforced. Structural reinforcement is accomplished by using tens of sheet metal pieces that are bonded or otherwise secured to the tray. This adds extra weight to the motor vehicle.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    A vehicular mid structural module secures a plurality of components to a motor vehicle frame and adds structural integrity thereto. The vehicular assembly includes a tray having a bottom surface, a top surface, a front edge, a back edge, and a pair of sides extending between the front edge and the back edge. The tray includes a plurality of receiving apertures for mounting a plurality of components thereto. The vehicular assembly also includes a support member that is fixedly secured to the tray. The support member extends between the tray and the frame of the motor vehicle to support and strengthen the tray. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle including a module according to one embodiment of the invention, a decklid, and a rear windshield;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the module according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the motor vehicle and a plurality of receiving apertures formed along a sidewall thereof;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the module of one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the module of one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the module of one embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along lines  7 - 7  in FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 1, a motor vehicle is generally shown at  10 . A rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10  extends between a rear seating area  14  and a rear bumper  16 , and is bounded by a pair of sidewalls (B or C pillar regions)  18  extending between the rear seating area  14  and the rear bumper  16 . A vehicular module, generally indicated at  20 , includes a tray  22  and a support member  24 . The tray  22  extends between the sidewalls  18  upon installation inside the vehicle  10 . The tray  22 , along with the support member  24 , supports a later-installed seat back portion  25  of a seat structure  27 , which is positioned over a vehicle frame  29 . Optionally, the seat back portion  25  of the seat structure  27  may be secured directly to the support member  24  before the tray  22  and the support member  24  are installed inside the vehicle  10 . The tray  22  and the support member  24  also serve to increase vehicle stiffness against side impacts. A decklid  26  and a rear windshield  28 , both of which are mounted to the tray  22  (as described in further detail below), are also shown.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIG. 2, the support member  24  is generally an inverted U-shape and includes a pair of side support arms  30 ,  32  and a top support member  34  extending therebetween in the bight of the U. The top support member  34  defines a middle segment  36  and a pair of top member ends  38 ,  40 . The middle segment  36  defines a recessed portion  42  extending along the length of the top support member  34 . The recessed portion  42  is formed to complementarily receive the tray  22  for attachment thereto. The support member  24  and the tray  22  may be bonded, fastened or otherwise attached as known by those skilled in the art. An upper mount  44  and a lower mount  46  are provided on each of the top member ends  38 ,  40  for attachment of the support member  24  to the sidewalls  18  of the vehicle  10 . The upper mount  44  may also support a rear speaker assembly, generally indicated at  85  (as shown in FIG. 5).  
         [0016]    The tray  22  includes a generally L-shaped front edge  52 , a back edge  54 , and a pair of side edges  56 ,  58  extending between the front edge  52  and the back edge  54 . The tray  22  further defines a pair of generally circular-shaped apertures  60 ,  62  therethrough for receiving a speaker (as seen in FIG. 3). The tray  22  also defines a generally rectangular-shaped cavity  64  therethrough for receiving an additional vehicle component. The tray  22  further includes a mount  65  on each of the sides  56 ,  58  for mounting the tray  22  within the apertures  50 .  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of support member-receiving apertures  48  and a tray-receiving aperture  50  are formed in the opposite sidewalls  18 . It will be appreciated that the number of upper  44  and lower  46  mounts and the number of complementary receiving apertures  48 ,  50  may vary depending on the design of the tray  22  and the support member  24 .  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 4, the tray  22  has a top surface  66  and an underside  68 . The underside defines a series of reinforcing or structural ribs integrally molded or formed therein. The tray  22  defines a pair of head restraint mounts  70 ,  72  adjacent to the front edge  52  thereof. Each of the head restraint mounts  70 ,  72  are shaped to receive a head restraint  73  therein. The tray  22  also includes a pair of oval-shaped mounting apertures  74 ,  76  adjacent the back edge  54  thereof for receiving a plurality of air ventilation outlets  78 ,  80 . In addition, the tray  22  includes a center mounting aperture  81  for receiving rear windshield mount  82  adjacent to the back edge  54  for supporting the rear windshield  28 . The tray  22  defines a drainage trough  84  adjacent the back edge  54  thereof. The drainage trough  84  is formed to retain any water that collects therein upon opening of the decklid  26 . The tray  22  also defines a plurality of semi-circular shaped apertures  77  for receiving additional vehicle components, such as a child seat restraint attachment member  79 .  
         [0019]    Each of the plurality of circular-shaped apertures  56 ,  58  formed through the tray  22  receives a speaker assembly  85  including a subwoofer  86  and a grill cover  88 . The plurality of components, including the head restraints  73 , the air ventilation outlets  78 ,  80 , the child seat restraint attachment member  79 , the speaker assembly  85 , and a center high mounted stop light (CHMSL) support  91 , is secured to the tray  22  before installation of the tray  22  into the rear seating area  14  of the vehicle  10 .  
         [0020]    The side support members  30 ,  32  include a seat belt mechanism  90  having a seat belt guide  92  for aligning a seatbelt  94  as it slides therethrough bidirectionally. Referring to FIG. 5, a seat belt anchor  96  is formed at the bottom surface  68  of the tray  22 .  
         [0021]    The bottom surface  68  of the tray  22  also includes a pair of hinge brackets  98 ,  100  extending downwardly therefrom. Referring to FIG. 6, a pair of generally S-shaped decklid hinges  102 ,  104  is mounted to the bottom surface  68  of the tray  22 . The decklid  26  is pivotally secured to the decklid hinges  102 ,  104  for moving the decklid between an open and a closed position.  
         [0022]    Finally, referring to FIG. 7, the tray  22  includes a rear windshield mount  82  for mounting the rear windshield  28 . In addition the back edge  54  of the tray  22  includes a seal member  106  extending along the length of the back edge  54 . The seal member  106  extends within a channel  83  along a portion of the periphery of a trunk compartment.  
         [0023]    The method for installing the vehicular module  20  to the rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10  begins with securing the plurality of components to the tray  22 . The tray  22  includes a plurality of mounting members and receiving apertures for securing such vehicle components thereto. The tray  22  is secured to the support member  24 . The step of attaching the tray  22  to the support member  24  can occur by molding the tray  22  to the support member  24 . Before the final step of attaching the support member  24  to the rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10 , the apertures  48  and apertures  50  must be formed in the B or C pillar region  18  of the vehicle  10 . Finally, the support member  24  and the tray  22  are attached to the B or C pillar region  18  of the vehicle  10 . The rear windshield  28  is mounted to the tray  22  and sealed against the seal  106  extending along the channel  83 .  
         [0024]    Alternatively, the step of attaching the support member  24  to the rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10  may be performed prior to the step of connecting the tray  22  to the support member  24 . As a result, the tray  22  and the plurality of components attached thereto can be directly installed to the support member  22  of the vehicle  10 .  
         [0025]    The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.