Vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-up seat mounting member and a vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-up seat mounting part and a vehicle are provided. The vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-up seat mounting part includes a pair of rear side members engaged with a floor panel of a vehicle body, the pair of rear side members being spaced apart from each other by a spaced distance, a cross member having a length corresponding to the spaced distance between the pair of rear side members, the cross member being connected to end portions of upper surfaces of the pair of rear side members at opposite ends thereof, and a back panel in contact with one surface of the cross member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a vehicle body structure for reinforcing pop-out seat mounting components and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional vehicle seats are mounted and supported on a floor panel that forms the floor of the passenger compartment in the vehicle body.

[0003] Vehicle seats need to be securely mounted and supported on the floor panel so that occupants can feel comfortable. For this purpose, in conventional technology, a separate mounting reinforcement is used when the vehicle seat is mounted on the floor panel. This vehicle seat mounting reinforcement includes a seat crossbeam member, which is formed to extend in the width direction of the vehicle and is mounted on the floor panel. The outer end of the seat crossbeam member extending in the width direction is attached to an inner member of a side beam, which is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the inner end of the seat crossbeam member extending in the width direction is attached to a passage portion of the floor panel.

[0004] Side beam members are body components that are positioned along the outer side of the vehicle in the width direction to absorb and cushion impacts applied to the sides of the vehicle body in the event of a side collision. To increase the stiffness of the side beam members, bulges are inserted into and installed within them.

[0005] In addition, an inner seat mounting member and an outer seat mounting member are provided for mounting the vehicle seat. The outer seat mounting member extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, overlaps with the outer end of the seat crossbeam member, and is attached to the inner surface of the side beam member oriented in the width direction of the vehicle. The inner seat mounting member extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and overlaps with the inner end of the seat crossbeam member. Thus, the vehicle seat is mounted and supported on the inner and outer seat mounting members. The outer seat mounting member is used to reinforce the side beam member to effectively absorb and disperse the impact applied to the side of the vehicle in the event of a side collision. The inner seat mounting member is used to disperse the impact energy transmitted through the seat crossbeam member in the event of a side collision and to increase the stiffness of the seat crossbeam member.

[0006] High-strength steel is typically used to manufacture seat crossbeams to withstand side impacts. However, a problem with seat crossbeams is that the flange connecting to the side beams is relatively short, making it difficult to weld the side beams together, thus degrading the rigidity of the connection between the side beams and the seat crossbeams. Furthermore, because only a portion of the seat crossbeam is inserted into the bulkhead and side beams, the side beams are not adequately reinforced and therefore cannot effectively withstand side impacts. Additionally, the joint between the side beams and the seat crossbeams is prone to bending in a side impact.

[0007] At the same time, seat belts are typically used to restrain the driver or passenger in the event of a vehicle collision to prevent the driver or passenger from colliding with the vehicle's shock absorbers or being ejected from the vehicle.

[0008] The conventional seatbelts in the rear seats are installed with their three ends connected to bolted anchors on the left, right, and center of the vehicle body. In this configuration, the crossbeam and reinforcing plate are spot-welded vertically to the lower end of the rear seat mounting plate on the rear floor panel. Therefore, when testing the strength of the center anchor of the seatbelt, if the seatbelt is pulled forward and upward, simulating a vehicle collision, the welded portion of the rear flange of the crossbeam may break, potentially compromising passenger safety. Furthermore, when the fourth-row pop-out lowered seats are installed at the rear of the vehicle's passenger compartment, sufficient strength must be ensured for the body components located below the tailgate opening.

[0009] The information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background technology of this invention, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute related technology known to those skilled in the art.

[0010] Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0521881 describes information relevant to this subject matter. Summary of the Invention

[0011] This disclosure relates to a vehicle body structure for reinforcing pop-out seat mounting components. Specific embodiments relate to a vehicle body structure for reinforcing pop-out seat mounting components in which rear side members and lateral members are directly joined to each other and the rear panel is manufactured using welded blanks.

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention can solve problems related to the related art, and embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle body structure for reinforcing pop-out seat mounting components, wherein the lateral members and the rear members are directly engaged with each other, thereby increasing the strength of the seat belt anchors of the pop-out seats.

[0013] Another embodiment of the invention provides a vehicle body structure for reinforcing pop-out seat mounting components, wherein the rear member has a U-shaped cross-section that rotates 90° and opens outward in the vehicle's outward direction, thereby ensuring additional space for the lower shaft portion.

[0014] The features of the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other features not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description, and the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. Furthermore, the features of the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by the components and combinations thereof described in the appended claims.

[0015] One embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component, the vehicle body structure including a pair of rear side members engaged with a bottom panel of the vehicle body in a spaced-apart state; a transverse member formed having a length corresponding to the spacing between the pair of rear side members, the transverse member being connected at its opposite ends to the ends of the upper surfaces of the pair of rear side members; and a back panel formed to contact a surface of the transverse member.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, each of the pair of rear side members may have a U-shaped cross-section that rotates 90° and opens outward in the vehicle's outward direction.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the back panel may include an upper back panel and a lower back panel arranged in the height direction, and the upper back panel may be engaged with a transverse member to form a closed cross section.

[0018] In yet another preferred embodiment, at least one of the upper back panel or the lower back panel may be a welded blank.

[0019] In yet another preferred embodiment, the vehicle body structure may further include a rear roof side panel spaced apart from the upper end of the transverse member, and a pair of first brackets connecting the transverse member and the rear roof side panel.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment, the vehicle body structure may further include a pair of second brackets, each of the second brackets contacting one end of a corresponding one of the pair of first brackets and the upper surface of the transverse member, and connecting the transverse member and the rear roof side panel.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, each of the pair of second supports may be formed to have a curvature such that its height gradually decreases from the end that engages with the rear top cover side panel to the other end.

[0022] In another, more preferred embodiment, the vehicle body structure may further include an intermediate reinforcement disposed in the middle of the back panel to cause bending deformation of the vehicle's seat belt anchors.

[0023] Other aspects and preferred embodiments of the invention are discussed below.

[0024] It should be understood that the term "vehicle" or "of a vehicle" or other similar terms as used herein generally include motor vehicles, such as passenger cars, including SUVs, buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, ships (including various vessels), aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other vehicles powered by alternative fuels (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle with two or more power sources, such as a vehicle that combines gasoline and electric power.

[0025] The above and other features of the embodiments of the present invention are discussed below. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The above and other features of embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, which are given hereinafter by way of illustration only and therefore do not limit the invention, and in the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1A This is a perspective view of a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 1B This is a view showing the cross-sectional shape of the rear member of a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 The diagram shows an end of the tailgate opening, a first bracket, and a second bracket of a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a view showing the back panel and intermediate reinforcement of the vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031] Figure 4 It is based on Figure 1A The image shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in the vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-out seat mounting component, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and present slightly simplified representations of various preferred features illustrating the basic principles of embodiments of the invention. Specific design features of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific intended application and usage environment.

[0033] In the accompanying drawings, reference numerals throughout the various figures refer to the same or equivalent portions of embodiments of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0034] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the invention thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0035] Furthermore, the terms "upper end" and "lower end" used in this paper are defined based on the height direction in the figure.

[0036] Additionally, in the following description, the terms "first" and "second" are used only to avoid confusion regarding the specified components and do not indicate the order or importance of the components or the relationship between them.

[0037] Conventional vehicles equipped with pop-out fourth-row seats have a structure in which lateral members are mounted in the transverse direction of the back panel, and crossbeam members are also provided to increase the strength of the seatbelt anchors for the pop-out fourth-row seats. Four seat mounting brackets connect the lateral members to the crossbeam members and contact the back panel, which is made of a single material, to form a closed-section structure.

[0038] In this case, the transverse member has an extension at its opposite end that connects to an opening for the tailgate. Additionally, a rear panel reinforcement member is provided to connect the extension of the transverse member to the rear side member.

[0039] In this conventional body structure, the rear member is a plate with a U-shaped cross-section, which is a component of the lower section. Therefore, there is an issue of increased component numbers. Furthermore, when evaluating the strength of the seatbelt anchors for the fourth-row pop-out seats, the load is applied to the transverse member along the vehicle's direction of travel. However, the structure consisting of the transverse member and its extensions is not robust enough.

[0040] Meanwhile, the crossbeam members lack high resistance to deformation. That is, when a load is applied to the crossbeam members, they are prone to deformation when the adjacent plates deform. Furthermore, due to the large number of plates and components adjacent to the lower shaft section, it is difficult to ensure sufficient rigidity to withstand surface pressure. Additionally, because there are many components requiring sealing, the possibility of leakage and seepage due to poor sealing is high.

[0041] Therefore, sufficient strength of the seatbelt anchors needs to be ensured by increasing the strength of the lateral members in the left-right direction, ensuring high connectivity of the crossbeam members, or applying reinforcing members to the crossbeam members. Furthermore, the robustness of the vehicle body's sealing needs to be ensured by reducing the number of plates and components, and driving stability needs to be improved by increasing the strength of the body components located below the tailgate opening.

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle body structure for reinforcing pop-out seat mounting components, wherein the lateral member 200 is directly engaged with the rear member 100, and the back panel 300 is manufactured using a welded blank, thereby improving the pop-out seat belt anchor.

[0043] Figure 1A This is a perspective view of a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] refer to Figure 1A According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component may include a rear side member 100, a transverse member 200, and a back panel 300.

[0045] The rear side member 100 can engage with the bottom panel of the vehicle body. The rear side members 100 can be arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. A pair of rear side members 100 can be arranged on the outer side of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle to absorb and cushion the impact applied to the rear of the vehicle body in the event of a collision.

[0046] Figure 1B This is a view showing the cross-sectional shape of the rear member of a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 1B The figure illustrates a fourth-row pop-out seat 2000 and an extendable seat 3000, with the rear side member 100 having a U-shaped cross-section that rotates 90° and opens outward in the vehicle's direction. Preferably, one end face of the rear side member 100 is welded to the seat structure in the longitudinal direction, thereby eliminating the need for weld flanges for height-direction welding and increasing the amount of usable interior space, as shown in the prior art (denoted by 1000) and the current embodiment (denoted by 4000) in the figure. Therefore, the cushion length of the pop-out seat can be increased, thereby improving ride comfort.

[0047] The lateral member 200 may be configured to extend in the lateral direction of the vehicle. The lateral member 200 may be located between a pair of rear side members 100. Preferably, the lateral member 200 may be configured to have a length corresponding to the spacing between the pair of rear side members 100, and may be connected at its opposite ends to the rear end of the upper surface of the respective rear side member 100.

[0048] The rear panel 300 may be configured to contact a surface of the transverse member 200. Preferably, the transverse member 200 may extend laterally within the vehicle interior, and the rear panel 300 may be configured to correspond to the transverse member 200 and be exposed to the exterior of the vehicle.

[0049] Figure 2 The diagram illustrates an end of the tailgate opening, a first bracket, and a second bracket of a vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention. (Reference) Figure 2 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-out seat mounting component may further include a side panel 700, which is configured to be spaced apart from the upper end of the transverse member 200, and may further include a pair of first brackets 400 connecting the transverse member 200 and the rear roof side panel 700.

[0050] Figure 2A horizontal opening 5000 in a rear roof side panel for the tailgate is also shown. The rear roof side panel 700 may be formed such that the inner surface of the tailgate contacts the rear roof side panel 700 when the tailgate is closed. The rear roof side panel 700 may be a frame that, when the tailgate is open, is located on the opposite side of the opening in the rear surface of the vehicle body. A first bracket 400 may be configured such that one surface of it is oriented toward the front surface of the vehicle and engages with an end of the rear roof side panel 700.

[0051] The vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a pair of second brackets 500, each of which contacts an end of a first bracket 400 and the upper surface of the transverse member 200, and connects the transverse member 200 and the rear roof side panel 700. When the tailgate is open, the pair of second brackets 500 may be located on opposite sides of an opening in the rear surface of the vehicle body. Each of the pair of second brackets 500 may be connected to a side surface of a corresponding bracket of the pair of first brackets 400 and may cover at least a portion of the upper surface of the transverse member 200.

[0052] The second bracket 500 may be configured such that one surface of it is oriented toward the side surface of the vehicle and engages with the end of the side panel 700. Preferably, the second bracket 500 may be formed with a curvature such that its height gradually decreases from the end that engages with the rear roof side panel 700 to the other end. The second bracket 500 may be formed such that one side surface of it is oriented toward the inner surface of the vehicle and its lower surface is surface-engaged with the transverse member 200, thereby increasing the rigidity of the vehicle body.

[0053] Figure 3 This is a view showing the back panel and intermediate reinforcement of the vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-out seat mounting component according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 It is based on Figure 1A The image shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in the vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-out seat mounting component, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the back panel 300 for reinforcing the vehicle body structure of the pop-out seat mounting component may include an upper back panel 310 and a lower back panel 320 arranged in the height direction. The upper back panel 310 may be joined with the transverse member 200 to form a closed cross section. Furthermore, at least one of the upper back panel 310 or the lower back panel 320 may be implemented as a welded blank.

[0055] The upper back panel 310 can have higher strength than the lower back panel 320. Furthermore, the upper back panel 310 can extend in the width direction of the vehicle and can engage with the transverse member 200. The transverse member 200 and the upper back panel 310 can form a closed section when engaged with each other.

[0056] TWB (Tail-Walled) blanks are individual blanks made by cutting steel plates with different thicknesses, strengths, or material properties into suitable sizes and then welding them together, for example, by laser welding. These TWB blanks are primarily used to reinforce vehicle body components.

[0057] The upper rear panel 310 or lower rear panel 320 of this embodiment can be processed by the TWB processing method, thus eliminating the need for reinforcing members to connect the metal plates, thereby reducing the weight of the vehicle body. The upper rear panel 310 and lower rear panel 320 can be made by welding sheets of different thicknesses (i.e., relatively thin sheets and relatively thick sheets).

[0058] refer to Figure 4 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle body structure for reinforcing the pop-out seat mounting component may further include an intermediate reinforcement 600, which is disposed in the middle of the back panel and is used to cause bending deformation of the vehicle's seat belt anchors.

[0059] Preferably, the intermediate reinforcing member 600 can be formed in the middle of the upper back panel 310. With the transverse member 200 and the upper back panel 310 engaged, the intermediate cross-sectional reinforcing member 600 can be located within the closed cross-section formed by the transverse member 200 and the upper back panel 310. The cross-section of the intermediate reinforcing member 600, taken along line AA, can have a shape corresponding to the shape of the upper back panel 310.

[0060] It is evident from the above description that the embodiments of the present invention provide the following effects through the above embodiments, configurations, combinations, and usage relationships.

[0061] Because the lateral and rear components are directly joined to each other and the back panel is manufactured using welded blanks, the strength of the anchors for the seat belts used in pop-out seats can be increased.

[0062] Furthermore, because the rear component has a U-shaped cross-section that rotates 90° and opens outward in the vehicle's direction, additional space can be ensured for the lower shaft section.

[0063] The above description illustrates embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, the above disclosure is intended to illustrate and explain preferred embodiments of the invention, and the invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. In other words, the invention can be changed or modified within the scope of the concept disclosed herein, within the equivalent scope of this disclosure, and / or within the scope of technology and knowledge in the art. The described embodiments illustrate the best state of the prior art for implementing the technical ideas of the invention, and various changes can be made to the invention as needed for a particular application and use according to the invention. Therefore, the above description is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments. Furthermore, the appended claims should be interpreted to include such other embodiments.

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component, the vehicle body structure comprising: A pair of rear side members, which engage with the bottom panel of the vehicle body, are spaced apart from each other by a distance; A transverse member having a length corresponding to the spacing between the pair of rear members, the transverse member being connected at its opposite ends to the ends of the upper surfaces of the pair of rear members; The back panel contacts one surface of the transverse member; as well as An intermediate reinforcing member is disposed in the center of the back panel. The back panel includes an upper back panel and a lower back panel arranged in the height direction; The upper back panel is joined to the transverse member to form a closed cross-section; and The intermediate reinforcing member is located within the closed cross-section formed by the transverse member and the upper back panel.

2. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the pair of rear side members has a U-shaped cross-section that opens outward in the vehicle body.

3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the upper back panel and the lower back panel is a welded blank.

4. A vehicle body structure for reinforcing a pop-out seat mounting component, the vehicle body structure comprising: A pair of rear side members, which engage with the bottom panel of the vehicle body, are spaced apart from each other by a distance; A transverse member having a length corresponding to the spacing between the pair of rear members, the transverse member being connected at its opposite ends to the ends of the upper surfaces of the pair of rear members; The back panel contacts one surface of the transverse member; The rear top cover side panel is located at the upper end of the transverse member; A pair of first brackets connect the transverse member and the rear top cover side panel; as well as An intermediate reinforcing member is disposed in the center of the back panel. The back panel includes an upper back panel and a lower back panel arranged in the height direction; The upper back panel is joined to the transverse member to form a closed cross-section; and The intermediate reinforcing member is located within the closed cross-section formed by the transverse member and the upper back panel.

5. The vehicle body structure according to claim 4, further comprising: A pair of second brackets, each of which contacts one end of a corresponding one of the pair of first brackets and the upper surface of the transverse member, and connects the transverse member and the rear top cover side panel.

6. The vehicle body structure according to claim 5, wherein, Each of the pair of second supports has a curvature such that its height gradually decreases from the first end of the second support that engages with the rear top cover side panel to the second end of the second support.

7. The vehicle body structure according to claim 4, wherein, Each of the pair of rear side members has a U-shaped cross-section that opens outward in the vehicle body.

8. A vehicle comprising: The vehicle body, including the floor panel and tailgate; A pair of rear-side members engage with the bottom panel, the pair of rear-side members being spaced apart from each other by a distance; A transverse member having a length corresponding to the spacing between the pair of rear members, the transverse member being connected at its opposite ends to the ends of the upper surfaces of the pair of rear members; The back panel contacts one surface of the transverse member; Pop-out seats are installed into the vehicle body; as well as An intermediate reinforcing member is disposed in the center of the back panel. The back panel includes an upper back panel and a lower back panel arranged in the height direction; The upper back panel is joined to the transverse member to form a closed cross-section; and The intermediate reinforcing member is located within the closed cross-section formed by the transverse member and the upper back panel.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein, Each of the pair of rear side members has a U-shaped cross-section that opens outward in the vehicle body.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein, At least one of the upper back panel and the lower back panel is a welded blank.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising: A rear top cover side panel is disposed at the upper end of the transverse member, wherein the inner surface of the tailgate contacts the rear top cover side panel when the tailgate is in the closed state; and A pair of first brackets connect the transverse member and the rear top cover side panel.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising: A pair of second brackets, each of which contacts one end of a corresponding one of the pair of first brackets and the upper surface of the transverse member, and connects the transverse member and the rear top cover side panel.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein, Each of the pair of second brackets has a curvature such that its height gradually decreases from the first end of the second bracket that engages with the rear top cover side panel to the second end of the second bracket.

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