GB2321626A

GB2321626A - Improvements relating to seat anchorages

Info

Publication number: GB2321626A
Application number: GB9723034A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cecil Norman Unwin
Original assignee: UNWIN C N LTDS
Current assignee: UNWIN C N LTDS
Priority date: 1996-11-05
Filing date: 1997-11-01
Publication date: 1998-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-01
Also published as: GB9723034D0; GB2321626B

Abstract

An anchorage system to hold a rail (7, 7', 13, 18) to ribbed sheet metal floors (1) such as those in vehicles has a bridge (4; 4'; 14, 15; 19) securable across adjacent ribs (2). The bridge (4, 4') may be separate from the rail (7, 7') (which runs parallel to the ribs) and their mutual engagement may be by an undercut tongue (6, 10) and a complementary groove (8, 9), such as an elongated dovetail joint. Alternatively, rail (13, 18) and bridge (14, 15; 19) may be a single extrusion, the bridge being hollow but spanned by one or more strengthening webs (16, 28).

Description

Improvements relatinq to Seat Anchorages This invention relates to seat anchorages, and is primarily concerned with those for road vehicles, where adjustment of the seating plan is necessary from time to time, or where wheelchairs have to be secured.

A common anchorage is a rail in the form of a channel with inwardly projecting flanges providing a narrow central entry slot. These flanges are cut away at regular intervals in arcuate "bites" opposite one another so that in plan view there is a series of circular openings joined by narrow slots. Attachment devices which co-operate with such rails have inverted mushroom studs and a locking pin which project downwards, the studs passing through the circular openings and then being moved longitudinally for their heads to engage under the flanges while their stems extend up through the narrow slots. Then the locking pin is entered into another aperture and prevents further longitudinal movement.

The device is thus trapped. Such a rail will be referred to as "of the kind described".

While this kind of rail has proved very robust in itself, it must be securely anchored to the vehicle floor, and not all floors provide a good base. In particular, it is common for van-type road vehicles to have swaged sheet metal flooring, with ribs and valleys generally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to give it some rigidity. However, a rail bolted directly on top of such a ridge, or along the base of such a valley, is not as firm as desirable. A sudden shock, as when a seat tries to pull clear in a collision for example, and the rail can distort the floor.

It is the aim of this invention to make such rails more secure.

According to the present invention there is provided an anchorage system for rails of the kind described to hold them to ribbed sheet metal floors, the system comprising a bridge secured across adjacent ribs and providing means holding a rail on the bridge, to run parallel with the ribs.

Preferably, the bridge extends the length of the rail and is adapted to be firmly bolted at intervals to the crests of adjacent floor ribs.

The holding means can be an undercut tongue and complementary groove engagement over the length of the rail, of dovetail cross-section for example. The rail will be slid into place and held captive by abutments at each end.

Screws or other fasteners could also be fitted at intervals down through the base of the channel and into the bridging plate.

Instead of a single bridge member extending the whole length of the rail, there could be a series of discrete elements, each securable across adjacent ribs.

But preferably, the holding means is the integration of the rail and bridge at manufacture, conveniently by making them as an extrusion.

In that case, the bridge may have a hollow portion spanned by at least one strengthening web.

The rail may be off-centre along the bridge, dividing the bridge into two wings of unequal width. This gives different options for fitting auxiliary rails, as described below.

Provision should preferably be made for the bolt heads to be countersunk or recessed below the upper surface of the bridge, and this may be achieved by the bridge having longitudinal channels in its upper surface for housing the heads of bolts which pass through the bases of the channels.

With an extrusion the channel bases can easily be centrally grooved to guide drillings for the bolt holes.

The cross-sectional profile of the rail at each side conveniently tapers in from the base and then extends outwardly in a lip, the edge of the lip being vertically above the bottom edge of the side. This is for secure fitting of floor boards as described below.

Such anchorages are not only suitable for use on a vehicle floor, they may be secured to the wall or ceiling of a vehicle to provide, for example, a seat belt anchorage location.

For a better understanding of the invention, some embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a rail support assembly in a vehicle, Figure 2 is an end view of another rail support assembly, Figure 3 is an end view of an integrated rail and support member, Figure 4 is an end view of a first combination of Figure 3 members, Figure 5 is an end view of a second combination of Figure 3 members, and Figure 6 is an end view of another integrated rail and support.

The vehicle in each case has a floor 1 of swaged sheet metal creating fore-and-aft flat ribs 2 and flat valleys 3, but these are shown only in Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 1 a plate 4 bridges two adjacent ribs 2 and is secured by bolts 5, which may take several forms as indicated. Along the top of the plate extends a central dovetail rib 6, and a rail 7 of the kind described is formed with a complementary dovetail groove 8 along its underside.

It is slid into engagement with the plate 4 and made captive by end caps, for example, and/or fasteners through the base of the rail.

In Figure 2 the arrangement is reversed in that the plate 4' has a dovetail groove 9 and the underside of the rail 7' has a matching rib 10.

It will be understood that shapes other than dovetail can be used provided the rib is undercut. For example, it could be of T-Section.

Figure 3 illustrates an integral anchorage 11 comprising an extrusion with hollow passages defining a base 12 and a rail 13. The rail 13 is intermediately located so that the base 12 is divided into wings 14, 15 which extend on either side of the rail 13, the wing 15 being wider than the wing 14. Each wing has a series of countersunk apertures for the bolt 5. The hollow base 12 and rail 13 have strengthening webs 16.

The wings 14, 15 can support known low profile rails 17 and, as shown in Figure 4 and 5, two anchorages 11 can be arranged side-by-side to carry a plurality of extra parallel rails 16. In Figure 4 the narrower wings 14 are together, permitting only one rail 17 between the rails 13, while in Figure 5 the wider wings 15 are together enabling two rails 17 to be fitted between the rails 13. It would also be possible to have wing 14 next to wing 15, and to have more than two anchorages 11 side-by-side. In any event, the anchorages 11 can form a neat and organised array on the vehicle floor with as many rails 13, 16 as required, the rails 16 being secured by bolts on their centrelines down through the wings 14 and 15. These could be arranged to replace the shorter bolts that would otherwise hold down the anchorages, thus serving a dual purpose.

These multiple anchorages are particularly useful when the vehicle layout prevents a wheelchair being located adjacent an original manufacturer's obstruction, for example when the wheelchair is forced into the centre of the vehicle by wheel arches.

Another integral extruded rail 18 and base 19 is shown in Figure 6. The base is generally rectangular in section with wings 20 and 21 projecting from its short vertical sides. The wing 20 is of T-section on its side, the cross bar 22 being vertical and of the same depth as the adjacent side of the base 19. Its stem 23 is horizontal and joins the centre of that side. The other wing 21 is Y-shaped, again on its side with the "top" half 24 of the Y actually a square U spanning the same depth as the adjacent side of the base 19. The stem 25 is horizontal and joins the centre of that side. The upper faces of the stems 23 and 25, which form the bases of U-shaped channels 26, each have a small central groove 27 formed by the extrusion process.

The upper side of the base 19 steps up centrally to merge into the rail 18, and a central vertical web 28 spans the base for extra support and strength. The sides 29 of the rail 18 slope in towards the top before meeting projecting lateral lips 30. The free edge of each lip is vertically above the bottom of the respective side 29. A floorboard 31, shown in outline, cut accurately to fit between adjacent rails, can be dropped into place between such rails with no tolerance to spare, and its lower edges will engage the bottom edges of the sides 29. The board is therefore located and prevented from shifting sideways. The thickness of the board is less than the depth of the rail below the lips 30, so that there is a gap through which a floor covering sheet 32 can be tucked. It will not have to be cut to exact measurements.

The rails of Figures 1 to 5 can be shaped likewise.

This rail/base member is secured by bolts through the bases 23 and 25 of the channels 26. These are drilled using the grooves 27 for guidance to correct centering. The bolt heads, which may be of standard hexagonal shape, are housed within the channels 26, which will be dimensioned to be just sufficient to take a socket spanner around the bolt head.

There is no requirement for countersinking, which is sometimes done to excess, leaving the aperture with a weakened periphery and increasing the risk of the bolt head pulling through.

As with Figures 4 and 5, such an anchorage can have a known low profile rail fitted beside the rail 18 over the wider wing 21, and one or more such anchorages can be fitted side-by-side to provide a platform for further low profile rails.

There are rail anchorage systems where the rails extend transversely of the vehicle. It will be understood that the system can apply equally to them.

It has been found that this construction is strong enough to provide roof or wall mounted locations for seat belt mountings.

Claims

1. An anchorage system for rails of the kind described to hold them to ribbed sheet metal floors the system comprising a bridge securable across adjacent ribs and providing means holding a rail on the bridge, to run parallel with the ribs.

2. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bridge extends the length of the rail and is adapted to be bolted at intervals along its length to crests of adjacent floor ribs.

3. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding means is an undercut tongue and complementary groove engagement over the length of the rail.

4. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the tongue and groove are of dovetail cross-section.

5. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bridge is composed of a plurality of discrete elements, each securable across adjacent ribs.

6. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding means is the integration of the rail and bridge at manufacture.

7. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the rail and bridge are an extrusion.

8. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the bridge has a hollow portion spanned by at least one strengthening web.

9. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the rail is off-centre along the bridge, dividing the bridge into two wings of unequal width.

10. An anchorage system as claimed in Claims 6 to 9, as appendant to Claim 2, wherein provision is made for the bolt heads to be countersunk or recessed below the upper surface of the bridge.

11. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the bridge has longitudinal channels in its upper surface for housing the heads of bolts which pass through the bases of the channels.

12. An anchorage system as claimed in Claim 11, as appendant to Claim 7, wherein the channel bases are centrally grooved to guide drillings for the bolt holes.

13. An anchorage system as claimed on any preceding claim, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the rail at each side tapers in from the base and then extends outwardly in a lip, the edge of the lip being vertically above the bottom edge of the side.

14. An anchorage system for rails of the kind described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, with or without Figures 4 and 5, or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.