Recreational vehicle passenger compartment cell having one wall with a seat belt anchor plate and vehicle having such a cell.

Abstract

The invention provides a passenger compartment (10) for a recreational vehicle comprising a floor (14) and a vertical partition or wall (12), and equipped with a multi-point seat belt (100), characterized in that a portion of the vertical partition or wall (12) is formed by a composite material panel delimited by an outer face (18) and an inner face (16) and by a support board (40) an outer face (42) of which is attached to the composite material panel, and in that said portion of the vertical partition or wall (12) is equipped with at least one first anchoring plate (26) attached to the outer face (42) of the support board (40) and carrying a first element (32) belonging to a screw-nut connection (32, 34) extending axially through the support board (40) and adapted to receive the second element (34) of the screw-nut connection (32,34) which is integral with a first component belonging to said safety belt (100) of the vehicle. Figure from the abstract: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Recreational vehicle passenger compartment cell having one wall comprising a seat belt anchor plate and vehicle comprising such a cell. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle passenger compartment cell, in particular a recreational vehicle, which includes at least one anchor plate for a component belonging to a vehicle seat belt.

[0002] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a recreational vehicle, comprising such a passenger compartment. Technical background of the invention

[0003] A safety belt is defined as an assembly of webbing with a buckle, adjustment devices and fastening parts that can be anchored inside a motor vehicle and designed to reduce the risk of injury to the user in the event of a collision or sudden deceleration of the vehicle, by limiting the possibilities of movement of the user's body.

[0004] The various manufacturers of motor vehicles aim to implement adjustable seat belts allowing each passenger to adapt them to their liking, so that they can in particular benefit from sufficient comfort.

[0005] Thus, according to a now widespread design, such as that illustrated in the attached figures 1 and 2, a safety belt 100 intended to prevent a strapped person from being thrown forward in the event of heavy braking or a collision is a so-called "three-point" belt whose design is such that the load is taken up at four anchor points to the chassis or body of the vehicle in the case of a monocoque structure.

[0006] A first anchor point 102 is a so-called "winding" mechanism, which is arranged, for example, in the lower part and from which the belt strap 103 extends. This winding mechanism 102 provides a pre-tensioning function for the strap 103.

[0007] A second anchor point 104 for the fixed free end of the strap is arranged in the lower or bottom part, generally near the winding mechanism 102.

[0008] A third upper anchor point 106, which is generally arranged above the winding mechanism 102 and the second anchor point 104, is an eyelet-shaped redirecting device through which the strap 103 passes.

[0009] The fourth anchor point 108 is a lower point which has a loop 110 adapted to receive, in a removable manner, a bolt 112 which is mounted to slide along of the strand 114 of the strap 103 which extends between the winding mechanism 102 and the upper guide eyelet 106.

[0010] In use, the safety belt includes a pectoral strand which extends obliquely from the upper guide eyelet 106 over the chest of the strapped person, and an abdominal strand which extends horizontally from the retractor mechanism 102 to the pelvis of the strapped person.

[0011] The design of the safety belt and its anchor points must comply with applicable standards and corresponding approval or conformity tests.

[0012] These requirements are easily met when it is possible to arrange and make each anchor point by fixing the corresponding component of the safety belt on a part or area opposite the chassis or metal body having sufficient intrinsic rigidity, these fixings being classically ensured by screw-nut type connections.

[0013] Thus, in a known manner, each anchor point is directly connected to the rolling chassis of the vehicle.

[0014] The invention aims to propose a new design for a vehicle passenger compartment, in particular a recreational vehicle, equipped with at least one safety belt whose anchor points are not structurally connected to the vehicle chassis, while meeting the applicable standards and tests. Summary of the invention

[0015] The invention proposes a passenger compartment cell for a motor vehicle, in particular a recreational vehicle, comprising at least a floor 14) and a vertical partition or wall and equipped with at least one multi-point seat belt, characterized in that at least a portion of the vertical partition or wall is made of: - by a composite material panel delimited by an external face and by an internal face; - and by a support board, one outer face of which is attached to the inner face of the composite material panel, said portion of the vertical partition or wall being equipped with at least one first anchor plate which is attached to the outer face of the support board and which carries a first element belonging to a screw-nut connection which extends axially through the support board and which is capable of receiving the second element of the screw-nut connection which is integral with a first component belonging to the vehicle's safety belt, and characterized in that at least a portion of the floor is made up of: - by a composite material panel delimited by a lower face and by an upper face; - and by at least one anchor plate, which carries a first element belonging to a screw-nut connection, the second element of which is integral with a component belonging to the vehicle's safety belt, and extends axially through the portion of the floor, from a face of the anchor plate which is in contact with the underside of the portion of the floor.

[0016] According to other characteristics of the passenger compartment cell: - the outer face of the support board is attached and fixed by gluing in an associated area of ​​the inner face of the composite material panel; - the associated area includes a recess into which the support board is inserted and fixed by gluing; - said at least one anchor plate is added in an additional housing formed in the outer face of the support board; - at least a portion of the vertical partition or vertical wall is equipped with at least one second anchor plate which is attached to the outer face of the support board and which carries a first element belonging to a screw-nut connection which extends axially through the support board and which is capable of receiving the second element of the screw-nut connection which is integral with a second component belonging to the vehicle's safety belt; - the safety belt is a safety belt with at least three fixing points, each of which is associated with a screw-nut connecting element which is suitable for being received in a first screw-nut connecting element carried by an anchor plate attached to the support board; - each anchor plate is a metal plate, specifically made of steel; - each first element belonging to a screw-nut connection is a threaded socket suitable for receiving a threaded rod belonging to a second element of the screw-nut connection; - each composite material panel has a sandwich structure; - each composite material panel has a sandwich structure comprising an outer skin, made of plywood, fiberglass or aluminum and an inner skin, made of fiberglass or aluminum which surround a core belonging to the category of materials comprising expanded or extruded polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, microcellular polypropylene; - the support board is a plywood board.

[0017] The invention also proposes a vehicle comprising a rolling chassis, characterized: - in that it is equipped with a passenger compartment according to the invention which is equipped with at least one multi-point anchorage safety belt; - and in that none of the multiple anchor points are directly connected to the rolling chassis.

[0018] According to another feature of the vehicle, the rolling chassis carries a battery of electric accumulators arranged below a seating area which is fitted inside the passenger cell and which is equipped with at least one multi-point anchorage safety belt. Brief description of the Figures

[0019] [Fig-1] - [Fig.1] is a perspective view illustrating part of a cell passenger compartment of a recreational vehicle comprising a four-point anchorage safety belt made according to the teachings of the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a detailed view illustrating in elevation the three anchor points arranged in a vertical side wall of the passenger cell of [Fig.1];

[0021] [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is a detail view of the area of ​​the side wall comprising the housing in which the support board for the anchor plates is received;

[0022] [Fig.4] - [Fig.4] is an exploded perspective view of the support board and its three associated anchor plates;

[0023] [Fig.5] - [Fig.5] is a view analogous to that of [Fig.4] from another perspective viewpoint;

[0024] [Fig.6] - [Fig.6] is a detailed cross-sectional view by a vertical and transverse plane of the upper part of the assembly illustrated in [Fig.5];

[0025] [Fig.7] - [Fig.7] is a detail view illustrating, in section by a vertical and transverse plane, the fourth lower anchorage point comprising a loop suitable for receiving the sliding bolt of the safety belt;

[0026] [Fig.8] - [Fig.8] is a detailed view from below and in exploded perspective illustrating the anchor plate and the associated portion of the floor. Detailed description of the figures

[0027] For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations will be adopted without limitation according to the reference frame V, L, T indicated in the figures, whose longitudinal axis L and transverse axis T extend in a horizontal plane.

[0028] By convention, the longitudinal axis L is oriented from rear to front according to the direction of travel of the vehicle in forward motion and the transverse axis is oriented from left to right considering the orientation of the driver in the seated driving position on the front seat provided for this purpose in the front part.

[0029] In the description that follows, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numerals.

[0030] In a known manner, a recreational vehicle comprises a motorized rolling chassis having a rear platform on which is mounted a passenger cell which is generally in the form of a "box" consisting in particular of several vertical walls and partitions as well as a floor and a roof or pavilion, these different components being generally made in the form of an assembly of panels in composite material(s).

[0031] Figure [1] shows a portion of a left-hand vertical and longitudinal side wall 12 of a cabin cell 10 and an adjacent portion of a floor 14.

[0032] The vertical wall 12 is a composite material panel delimited by an internal face 16 and by an external face 18, while the floor is a composite material panel delimited by an upper face 20 and by a lower face 22.

[0033] The area of ​​the passenger compartment 10 delimited by the wall 12 and the floor 14 is arranged in the form of a seating area comprising seating elements (not shown), such as for example individual seats or a bench seat.

[0034] To ensure the safety of the occupant(s) of the seating area when the vehicle is in motion, a safety belt is provided for each occupant.

[0035] Figure [1] shows a set of safety belts 100 that can be used by a person sitting adjacent to the vertical wall 12.

[0036] The 100 safety belt assembly is here a so-called "three-point" belt with four anchor points as described in the preamble.

[0037] The three anchor points 102, 104 and 106 are arranged laterally and are integrated into a portion of the vertical partition 12.

[0038] For this purpose, each anchoring point includes in particular a metallic anchoring “flange” 24 which here consists of an anchoring plate 26 delimited by an outer face 28 and by an inner face 30, and a threaded sleeve 32 which extends axially orthogonally to the plane of the anchoring plate 26, here on either side of each of its two inner face 30 and outer face 28.

[0039] For each anchor point, the threaded sleeve 32 constitutes the nut of a screw-nut connection, the other element of which is, for example, the threaded rod of a bolt or a complementary screw 34.

[0040] Each anchor plate 26 also has four holes 36 arranged around its periphery, each of which is suitable for receiving a fixing screw.

[0041] The design of each of the three anchoring flanges integrated into the portion of the vertical partition 12 is identical and they are designated by the same references.

[0042] To be attached and fixed to the vertical partition 12 and to ensure the strength and resistance of each anchor point, each anchor flange 24 is attached to a support board 40 which, by way of non-limitation, is here a support board common to the three anchor flanges 24.

[0043] The support board 40 is here generally rectangular in shape with vertical elongation and is delimited by an outer face 42 and an inner face 44.

[0044] For the positioning and mounting of each anchor flange 24, in its outer face 42, the support board 40 has a housing 46 of complementary shape and dimensions to those of the anchor plate 26.

[0045] The depth of the housing 46 is greater than the thickness of the anchor plate 26.

[0046] The bottom 48 of each housing 46 has a through hole 50 suitable for axially receiving the part 31 of the threaded sleeve 32 which extends axially beyond the inner face 30 of the anchor plate 26.

[0047] With the three anchoring flanges 24, the support board 40 constitutes a “module” 52 suitable for being attached and fixed in the vertical wall 12.

[0048] For this purpose, without limitation, it is possible to ensure that each anchor flange on the support board 40 is held in position by means of one or more fixing screws (not shown) received in one or more holes 36.

[0049] By way of non-limitation, the area of ​​the inner face 16 of the vertical wall 12 in which the module 52 is attached and fixed has a recess 54 in which the support board 40 is attached and fixed.

[0050] The bottom 56 of the recess 54 is a vertical flat surface in which three horizontal holes 58 are formed, each of which is suitable for receiving the part 33 of the threaded sleeve 32 which extends axially beyond the outer face 28 of the anchor plate 26.

[0051] The fixing of the support board 40, and therefore of the module 52, is achieved by gluing all or almost all of the area of ​​the surface of the outer face 42 onto the flat surface of the bottom 56 of the recess 54.

[0052] Thus, the restraint and resistance to forces possibly applied to the anchor points 102, 104, 106 is transmitted to the support board 40 which is itself attached and fixed to the vertical wall 12.

[0053] The fourth lower anchor point 108 which includes the loop 110 is integrated into the floor 14.

[0054] For this purpose, as for each of the first three anchor points which have just been described, the fourth anchor point 108 includes a metallic anchoring “flange” 224 which here consists of an anchoring plate 226 delimited by an upper face 228 and by an lower face 230, and a threaded sleeve 232 which extends axially orthogonally to the plane of the anchoring plate 226, here upwards from its upper face 228.

[0055] The threaded sleeve 232 constitutes the nut of a screw-nut connection the other element of which is for example the threaded rod of a bolt or a complementary screw 234.

[0056] The portion of the floor 14 on which the anchor plate 224 is fixed has a vertical through hole 250 suitable for axially receiving the threaded sleeve 232.

[0057] As illustrated in [Fig.7], in the mounted and fixed position of the anchor flange 224, the upper face 228 is axially supported upwards against an opposite portion of the lower face 22 of the floor 14.

[0058] In the example illustrated by way of non-limiting example, the bolt 234 screwed into the sleeve 232 retains a fixing plate.

[0059] By way of non-limitation, according to one embodiment of the invention, for its mechanical performance, the support board 40 is made of plywood.

[0060] By way of non-limiting, according to one embodiment of the invention, each composite material panel comprises a sandwich structure including an outer skin of fiberglass (with a thickness of between 1mm and 1.5mm) and an inner skin of fiberglass (with a thickness of between 1mm and 1.5mm) which surround an extruded polystyrene core (with a thickness of approximately 27mm).

[0061] Due to the creation of the recess 54 in the inner face 16 of the vertical wall 12, its bottom 56 is formed in the constituent material of the core and the bonding of the support board 40 is carried out between the outer face 42 of the plywood and the bottom 56 belonging to the extruded polystyrene core.

[0062] The concept according to the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the equipment of a seat adjacent to a vertical wall or partition in which the anchoring module 52 is attached.

[0063] In the event that this seat belongs to a two-seater bench, the other seat can be equipped in the same way with another safety belt, including another anchoring module attached and glued to a vertical post adjacent to the bench, this post being able, if necessary, to be reinforced for example by a reinforcement plate, for example metallic.

Claims

Demands

1. Passenger compartment (10) of a motor vehicle, in particular of a recreational vehicle, which includes at least one floor (14) and a vertical partition or wall (12) and which is equipped with at least one multi-point (102, 104, 106) safety belt (100), characterized in that at least a portion of the vertical partition or wall (12) is made up of: - a composite material panel delimited by an external face (18) and an internal face (16);- and by a support board (40) of which an outer face (42) is attached to said inner face (16) of the composite material panel, said portion of the vertical partition or vertical wall (12) being equipped with at least one first anchor plate (26) which is attached to the outer face (42) of the support board (40) and which carries a first element (32) belonging to a screw-nut connection (32, 34) which extends axially through the support board (40) and which is able to receive the second element (34) of the screw-nut connection (32, 34) which is integral with a first component belonging to said safety belt (100) of the vehicle, and characterized in that at least a portion of the floor (14) is constituted: - by a composite material panel delimited by a lower face (22) and by an upper face (20);- and by at least one anchor plate (226), which carries a first element (232) belonging to a screw-nut connection (232, 234) the second element (234) of which is integral with a component belonging to said safety belt (100) of the vehicle, and extends axially through said portion of the floor (14), from a face (228) of said anchor plate (226) which is in contact with the lower face (22) of said portion of the floor (14).;

2. Motor vehicle passenger cell (10), in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said outer face (42) of the support board (40) is attached and fixed by bonding in an associated area of ​​said inner face of the composite material panel.

3. Cabin cell (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said associated area comprises a recess in which the support board (40) is attached and fixed by gluing.

4. Motor vehicle passenger cell (10), in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one anchoring plate (26) is brought into a supplementary housing formed in said outer face of the support board.

5. Passenger compartment (10) of a motor vehicle, in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least a portion of the vertical partition or vertical wall (12) is equipped with at least one second anchor plate (26) which is attached to the outer face (42) of the support board (40) and which carries a first element (32) belonging to a screw-nut connection (32, 34) which extends axially through the support board (40) and which is suitable for receiving the second element (34) of the screw-nut connection (32, 34) which is integral with a second component belonging to said safety belt (100) of the vehicle.

6. Passenger compartment (10) of a motor vehicle, in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said safety belt (100) is a safety belt (100) with at least three attachment points (102, 104, 106) each of which is associated with a screw-nut connecting element (32, 34) which is able to be received in said first screw-nut connecting element (32, 34) carried by an anchor plate (26) attached to said support board (40).

7. Motor vehicle passenger cell (10), in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each anchor plate (26, 226) is a metal plate, in particular of steel.

8. Motor vehicle passenger cell (10), in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each said first element (32, 232) belonging to a screw-nut connection (32-34, 232-234) is a threaded sleeve suitable for receiving a threaded rod belonging to a said second element (34, 234) of the screw-nut connection.

9. Motor vehicle passenger cell (10), in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each composite material panel has a sandwich structure.

10. Motor vehicle passenger cell (10), in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each composite material panel has a sandwich structure comprising an outer skin, of plywood, fiberglass or aluminum and an inner skin, of fiberglass or aluminum which surround a core of expanded or extruded polystyrene, or polyurethane, or polyethylene terephthalate, or polyvinyl chloride, or microcellular polypropylene.

11. Motor vehicle passenger cell (10), in particular of a recreational vehicle, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support board (40) is a plywood board.

12. A motor vehicle comprising a rolling chassis, characterized: - in that it is equipped with a passenger cell (10) according to any one of the preceding claims which is equipped with said at least one multi-point (102, 104, 106, 108) safety belt (100); - and in that none of said multi-point anchorages is directly connected to said rolling chassis.

13. Motor vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said rolling chassis carries a battery of electric accumulators arranged below a seating area which is provided inside said passenger compartment cell (10) and which is equipped with said at least one multi-point anchorage safety belt (100).

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