Sheet Metal Seatbelt Fixing Device for Third Row Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles, particularly large minivans, often lack the structural design to accommodate a third row of seats and the necessary seat belt attachments, requiring significant modifications to the wheel arches and fender linings to meet impact constraints when adding additional seating.
Innovation Solution
A seat belt fixing device comprising a pressed sheet metal crosspiece and a sheet metal support that can be welded directly to the vehicle's floor, featuring a U-shaped cross section and a second part extending under the crosspiece to distribute forces effectively, ensuring the connection between the seat belt clip, retractor, and the vehicle body can withstand impact forces without requiring extensive structural modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If wheel arches or fender linings are resized to meet impact constraints for third row seat installation, then impact resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and tool modification requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is segmented into a crosspiece and a separate support structure. The crosspiece can be independently installed on the floor, and the support is attached to the crosspiece, allowing modular installation without modifying the vehicle's wheel arches or fender linings. This segmentation enables impact resistance to be achieved through the fixing device itself rather than through complex structural modifications of existing components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a third row of seats is added to vehicles not originally designed for it, then seating capacity is improved, but structural modifications to withstand impact forces are required
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device acts as an intermediary structure between the vehicle floor and the third row seats. Instead of modifying the vehicle's original structure (wheel arches or fender linings) to support third row seats, the crosspiece and support assembly provides the necessary structural interface. This intermediary approach allows seating capacity to be increased without requiring extensive structural modifications to the vehicle body.
3Strength
If the fixing device uses a U-shaped crosspiece with folded edges welded to the floor, then connection strength is improved, but welding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crosspiece structure merges the support function with the welding interface. The U-shaped crosspiece with folded-outward edges combines the structural support function with the welding attachment function in a single integrated component. This merging reduces the need for separate reinforcement structures and simplifies the overall welding process compared to attaching separate support brackets to existing structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a robust and lightweight connection that resists seat belt forces during impacts, distributing forces over a large contact surface and serving as a support for the third row of seats, reducing the need for extensive structural modifications and enhancing safety.
Implementation Method 1
a crosspiece in pressed sheet metal whose two longitudinal edges are adapted to be able to be welded directly to the floor of the vehicle and a sheet metal support welded to one of the ends of the cross member
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The device has a pressed sheet metal crossbar (20) whose two longitudinal edges (20a) directly soldered on a floor pan (1) of a vehicle, and a sheet metal support (10) soldered to an end (21) of the crossbar. The support includes a part (11) located in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the crossbar and including fixation units for fixing a latch (3) and a winder (4) of a safety belt. The support includes another part (12) folded at right angle with respect to the former part and extended under the end of the crossbar, where an edge of the latter part is soldered on the floor pan. An independent claim is also included for a floor pan of a body shell of a motor vehicle, comprising fixation units.