Structural storage boxes in vehicle cabins

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle may include rear-facing front seats and forward-facing rear seats. The present application provides a common foot or leg area between the seats that faces each other. The vehicle includes a vehicle body having a pair of opposing B-pillars. A support beam extends through the common leg area, between the front seats and the rear seats, and is mounted to the B-pillars. The support beam provides direct structural support for the B-pillars. A luggage compartment is connected to the support beam and extends between the B-pillars. The luggage compartment has forward-facing and rear-facing entry openings, allowing front and rear passengers to store luggage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to structural storage boxes within the cabin of a motor vehicle. More specifically, the storage box both provides a container for storing items such as luggage and reinforces the side pillars of the vehicle body. Background Art

[0002] Autonomous vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in their research and design, performance, and safety measures. Since the driver in an autonomous vehicle can enjoy the scenery outside more than when he / she is driving, developments are underway to enhance the occupants' ability to see the outdoors better. These features include 360-degree panoramic views, moving roof structures, 360-degree movable seats including rear-facing seats, and other features.

[0003] Additionally, vehicles are continually being designed and developed to reduce weight and cost while still maintaining or improving safety (eg, crash) characteristics. To enable some features such as panoramic views, the vehicle frame must be redesigned to provide a more complete view of the exterior. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one embodiment, an autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle compartment having rearward-facing front seats and forward-facing rear seats with a common leg area for passenger legs between the seats. The vehicle compartment includes a pair of opposing B-pillars located between the front seats and the rear seats. A support beam extends through the common leg area and is mounted directly to the B-pillars. A luggage compartment is mounted above the support beam and extends between the B-pillars.

[0005] The support beam may be a single unitary aluminum beam. The luggage compartment may connect the two B-pillars. The luggage compartment may include a frame made of sheet molding compound. The luggage compartment may include a door providing access to a chamber sized to accommodate passenger luggage.

[0006] In another embodiment, an autonomous vehicle includes an interior cabin defined by a cabin floor and a cabin ceiling. The vehicle body structure includes a pair of opposing B-pillars. A crossbar extends through the cabin closer to the cabin floor than to the cabin ceiling and is mounted on the B-pillars. A luggage compartment is sized to receive a passenger luggage compartment and is mounted on a surface of the crossbar.

[0007] In yet another embodiment, a vehicle includes a vehicle compartment including front seats, rear seats facing the front seats, and a common floor between the seats. The vehicle body includes a pair of opposing pillars. A support beam extends through the vehicle compartment between the front seats and the rear seats. The support beam is spaced above the common floor and mounted to the pillars. A storage box is mounted on a surface of the support beam.

[0008] According to the present invention, a vehicle is also disclosed, comprising:

[0009] a vehicle compartment, the vehicle compartment comprising front seats, rear seats facing the front seats, and a common floor between the seats;

[0010] a vehicle body, the vehicle body comprising a pair of opposing struts;

[0011] a support beam extending through the vehicle compartment between the front and rear seats, the support beam being spaced above the common floor and mounted on the pillars; and

[0012] A storage box is mounted on the surface of the support beam.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the support beam is an integrally extruded aluminum beam.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage box has an access opening facing the front seat and the rear seat.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage box has a flat upper surface, and the flat upper surface provides a tabletop between the front seat and the rear seat.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body includes a roof rail, and the pillar is a partial B-pillar that is not connected to the roof rail.

[0017] According to the present invention, there is provided an autonomous vehicle, comprising

[0018] a vehicle compartment having rearward-facing front seats and forward-facing rear seats with a common leg area for passengers' legs between the seats;

[0019] a vehicle body including a pair of opposing B-pillars located between the front seats and the rear seats;

[0020] a support beam extending through the common leg area and mounted directly to the B-pillar; and

[0021] a luggage compartment mounted above the support beam and extending between the B-pillars;

[0022] The luggage box includes a first door facing the front seats, the first door providing front passengers with access to a first chamber sized to accommodate luggage, and the luggage box includes a second door facing the rear seats, the second door providing rear passengers with access to the first chamber or a second chamber suitable for accommodating luggage.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the support beam is a single integral aluminum beam.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the luggage case includes a frame made of sheet molding compound.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the luggage compartment includes a door providing access to a compartment sized to accommodate passenger luggage.

[0026] According to the present invention, an autonomous vehicle is also disclosed, comprising:

[0027] an interior compartment defined by a compartment floor and a compartment ceiling;

[0028] a body structure including a pair of opposing B-pillars;

[0029] a cross beam spanning the vehicle cabin, closer to the vehicle cabin floor than to the vehicle cabin ceiling, and mounted on the B-pillar; and

[0030] A luggage case, sized to accommodate passenger luggage, is mounted on the surface of the crossbar and has a flat upper surface providing a tabletop.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the luggage box is directly supported from below by the upper surface of the crossbar.

[0032] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the luggage compartment is mounted directly to the B-pillars and extends completely across the distance between the B-pillars within the vehicle cabin.

[0033] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further includes a front seat facing the luggage box and a rear seat facing the luggage box.

[0034] According to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the luggage case includes a frame and a first door and a second door connected to the frame, the first door faces the front seat, and the second door faces the rear seat.

[0035] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the luggage case includes a frame made of sheet molding compound.

[0036] According to another embodiment of the invention, the cross beam is a single integral aluminum beam.

[0037] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the cross beams are spaced apart above the compartment floor.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is a gap between the cross beam and the compartment floor, wherein the gap is dimensioned such that passengers can stretch their feet between the cross beam and the compartment floor.

[0039] According to the present invention, a vehicle is also disclosed, comprising:

[0040] a vehicle compartment, the vehicle compartment comprising front seats, rear seats facing the front seats, and a common floor between the seats;

[0041] a vehicle body, the vehicle body comprising a pair of opposing struts;

[0042] a support beam extending through the vehicle compartment between the front and rear seats, spaced above the common floor and mounted on the pillars; and

[0043] A storage box has an access opening facing the front seat and the rear seat and is mounted on a surface of the support beam.

[0044] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the support beam is an integrally extruded aluminum beam.

[0045] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage box has a flat upper surface, and the flat upper surface provides a tabletop between the front seat and the rear seat.

[0046] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body includes a roof rail, and the pillar is a partial B-pillar that is not connected to the roof rail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to one embodiment, showing in cross-section an interior compartment of the vehicle having a structural storage box;

[0048] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a structural storage box according to one embodiment, wherein items are stored at the structural storage box;

[0049] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the structural supports used to support the storage box. Figure 3 The central structural support is mounted or otherwise attached to a side pillar of the structural body of the vehicle;

[0050] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a side impact event. Figure 4 The side of one of the vehicles is struck by the front of another vehicle;

[0051] Figure 5 is another perspective view of a side impact event, Figure 5 The vehicle that is struck from its side is equipped with a storage box and associated structural supports underneath it that support the side pillars of the vehicle body to resist side impact forces. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples, and other embodiments may take various forms and alternative forms. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; certain features may be exaggerated or reduced to show the details of a particular component. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to use the embodiments in various ways. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the various features shown and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with the features shown in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly shown or described. The combination of features shown provides representative embodiments of typical applications. However, for specific applications or implementations, various combinations and modifications of features consistent with the teachings of the present disclosure may be required.

[0053] Figure 1 A vehicle 10 is shown having an interior compartment 12 for seating an occupant or operator. The term "vehicle" refers to a land motor vehicle, such as a car, truck, van, etc. The vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle, wherein the vehicle may accelerate, brake, steer, etc., with minimal or no direct input from a required driver. Such autonomy is known in the art, and the technology to bring fully autonomous vehicles to the public continues to increase rapidly. An autonomous vehicle capable of substantially self-driving allows the front seats 14 to face rearward, while the rear seats 16 face forward. In other words, the front seats 14 and the rear seats 16 may face each other. This seating configuration provides the possibility of redesigning the compartment to properly accommodate passengers. A common leg area may be provided between the seats on the floor of the compartment, in which the front and rear passengers may rest their legs and feet.

[0054] Thus, the present disclosure relates to a structural storage box 20 (also referred to as a luggage box) located in the vehicle 10. The storage box 20 can be located between the front seat 14 and the rear seat 16. As described below, the storage box 20 includes one or more internal chambers or compartments sized to store luggage, etc. This is particularly suitable if the vehicle 10 is a rental or ride-sharing vehicle for passengers who may be traveling or temporarily in town. The top surface 22 can be generally planar or flat to provide a desktop between the front and rear seats. This provides a flat work surface for passengers who wish to perform work or activities such as writing, typing, etc. while the vehicle is in motion.

[0055] Figure 2A perspective view of a storage box 20 is shown. The storage box 20 may be provided with one or more doors 24 to allow passengers to enter the interior of the storage box 20. In the illustrated embodiment, two doors are provided on each front and rear side of the storage box. The interior of the storage box 20 may be divided accordingly using an interior area associated with and accessible from one of the forward and rear doors. In another embodiment, the interior of the storage box 20 may be a single open chamber without partitions or separate compartments therein.

[0056] like Figure 2 As shown, the interior dimensions of the storage compartment 20 are suitable for storing luggage, groceries, luggage, etc. In one embodiment, the interior of the storage compartment 20 is approximately 24 inches high and 24 inches deep and extends from side to side across the entire cabin of the vehicle.

[0057] The storage box 20 is supported by a structural support member 30, such as Figure 3 As shown, the storage box is removed for illustrative purposes. In one embodiment, the structural support member 30 is an integral extruded aluminum beam made of 6000 series aluminum. The structural support member 30 can be a double-unit aluminum member with side-by-side hollow cells. The structural support member extends from the side of the vehicle to the side and is installed or otherwise attached to the vehicle frame 32. More specifically, the structural support member 30 can be attached or mounted to the side pillar (e.g., B-pillar) 34 of the vehicle frame 32. Methods for attaching or mounting the structural support member 30 to the side pillar 34 include welding, brazing, fastening (e.g., bolting), soft soldering, etc. These methods provide for the structural support member 30 to be directly attached or directly mounted to the side pillar 34. Alternatively, the structural support member 30 can be an integral extension of the frame 32.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, the side pillar 34 is a partial B-pillar that extends only partially toward the top of the vehicle. In other words, the side pillar 34 may not extend completely to the roof or other components of the covering frame above the vehicle cabin. Such a partial B-pillar may be particularly suitable for autonomous vehicles such as those shown in the figure, where the front seats and rear seats face each other. Removing a portion of the B-pillar improves the field of view of the passengers, allowing the glass window to extend in the vertical space between the partial B-pillar and the roof structure. The structural support 30 improves the rigidity and impact resistance of the partial B-pillar, improving the ability of the vehicle to absorb and resist the forces that may be generated by a side collision.

[0059] In one embodiment, the structural storage box 20 is made of sheet molding composite or sheet molding compound (SMC). The SMC is bonded or otherwise attached to the upper surface of the structural support 30. The structural storage box 20 can be supported by the structural support 30 alone and can also be attached to the side pillars 34. In another embodiment, the storage box 20 is supported only by the structural support 30 and is not directly connected to the side pillars.

[0060] like Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the structural support 30 can be raised from the floor 36 of the vehicle cabin. This provides space for passengers to place their feet under the structural support 30. To also allow for legroom, the storage box 20 can taper to become narrower toward the underlying structural support 30, such as Figure 2 As shown. The interior 20 of the storage box can be tapered at the bottom accordingly. Alternatively, a flat floor can be located in the storage box at an elevated distance away from the underlying structural support, thereby reducing or eliminating the tapering of the interior of the storage box 20. This ensures that larger items installed in the storage box have a flat surface to rest on that extends the entire depth of the compartment interior so that the items will not fall into or be supported by the tapered interior.

[0061] As described above, the storage box 20 may be provided with one or more doors 24. These doors seal the interior of the storage box when closed, so that the storage box is a completely closed structure. The door 24 may include a transparent material or be made of a transparent material (e.g., glass, plastic, plexiglass, etc.) to allow the occupant to always monitor and view the items stored therein. Similarly, the upper surface 22 may include the same transparent material or be made of the same transparent material to obtain similar benefits.

[0062] refer to Figure 4 , shows an example of a side impact event where a first vehicle 40 strikes a second vehicle 42. The second vehicle is not equipped with a structural storage box 20 or underlying structural support 30. The B-pillar 44 is directly impacted by the first vehicle 40 and absorbs much of the impact while directing the impact to a different portion of the vehicle frame.

[0063] refer to Figure 5 , shows an example of a similar side impact event, where a first vehicle 40 impacts the vehicle 10 described above. The vehicle 10 equipped with the structural storage box 20 and the underlying structural support 30 is better able to handle a direct impact to the B-pillar. In this embodiment, the underlying structural support 30 (and optionally the structural storage box 20 itself) is directly mounted or connected to the B-pillar, extending between the B-pillars. This acts as an anti-collision structure to reduce damage to the vehicle 10 in the event of a direct side impact to the B-pillar.

[0064] Although exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms covered by the claims. The words used in the specification are descriptive rather than restrictive, and it should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. As previously mentioned, the features of the various embodiments can be combined to form other embodiments of the present invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. Although various embodiments can be described as providing advantages or being superior to other embodiments or prior art implementations relative to one or more desired characteristics, it is recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that, depending on the specific application and implementation, one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve the desired overall system properties. These properties may include, but are not limited to, cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, applicability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. Therefore, with respect to one or more features, when any embodiment is described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations, these embodiments are not outside the scope of the present disclosure and may be desirable for specific applications.

Claims

1. An autonomous vehicle comprising: a vehicle compartment having rearward-facing front seats and forward-facing rear seats with a common leg area for passengers' legs between the seats; a vehicle body including a pair of opposing B-pillars located between the front seats and the rear seats; a support beam extending through the common leg area and mounted directly to the B-pillar; and a luggage compartment mounted above the support beam and extending between the B-pillars, The luggage case includes a first door facing the front seats, the first door providing front passengers with access to a first chamber sized to accommodate luggage, and the luggage case includes a second door facing the rear seats, the second door providing rear passengers with access to the first chamber or a second chamber sized to accommodate luggage.

2. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein: The support beam is a single unitary aluminum beam.

3. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the trunk connects two B-pillars.

4. The autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the luggage compartment comprises a frame made from sheet molding compound.

5. An autonomous vehicle comprising: an interior compartment defined by a compartment floor and a compartment ceiling; a body structure including a pair of opposing B-pillars; a cross beam spanning the vehicle cabin, closer to the vehicle cabin floor than to the vehicle cabin ceiling, and mounted on the B-pillar; a luggage compartment sized to receive passenger luggage and mounted on a surface of the crossbar; and a front seat facing the luggage compartment and a rear seat facing the luggage compartment, The luggage case includes a first door facing the front seats, the first door providing front passengers with access to a first chamber sized to accommodate luggage, and the luggage case includes a second door facing the rear seats, the second door providing rear passengers with access to the first chamber or a second chamber sized to accommodate luggage.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the luggage compartment is directly supported below by an upper surface of the cross member.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the trunk is mounted directly to the B-pillars and extends completely across the distance between the B-pillars within the cabin.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the trunk includes a frame, the first door and the second door being connected to the frame.

9. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the luggage compartment includes a frame formed from sheet molding compound.

10. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein: The cross beam is a single unitary aluminum beam.

11. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the cross beam is spaced above the cabin floor.

12. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein a gap exists between the cross beam and the cabin floor, wherein the gap is sized to enable passengers to extend their feet between the cross beam and the cabin floor.

13. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle compartment, the vehicle compartment comprising front seats, rear seats facing the front seats, and a common floor between the seats; a vehicle body, the vehicle body comprising a pair of opposing struts; a support beam extending through the vehicle compartment between the front seats and the rear seats, the support beam being spaced above the common floor and mounted on the pillars; and a storage box, the storage box being mounted on the surface of the support beam, The storage box includes a first door facing the front seat, the first door providing front passengers with access to a first chamber sized to accommodate luggage, and the storage box includes a second door facing the rear seat, the second door providing rear passengers with access to the first chamber or a second chamber sized to accommodate luggage.

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