IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,932,407
Granted Patent B2
US 6,932,407 · App. 10/764,471 · Granted Aug 23, 2005

Vehicle child seat attachment structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,932,407
App. No.
10/764,471
Granted
Aug 23, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle child seat attachment structure basically comprises a vehicle body panel and a sheet metal structural member. The sheet metal structural member is fixedly coupled to the vehicle body panel to create a space between the vehicle body panel and a cabin facing portion of the sheet metal structural member. The cabin facing portion of the sheet metal structural member is configured and arranged to form at least a first bar portion of an integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to receive a child seat tether clip. The sheet metal structural member is reinforced by a reinforcement plate configured and arranged to form at least a second bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to overlie the first bar portion such that the child seat tether clip is fastened around the first and second bar portions.

Claims (72)

1. A vehicle child seat attachment structure comprising:

a vehicle body panel configured and arranged to conform to a contour of a portion of a vehicle cabin; and

a first sheet metal structural member fixedly coupled to the vehicle body panel to create a space between the vehicle body panel and a cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member;

the cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member being configured and arranged to form at least a first bar portion of an integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to receive a child seat tether clip.

2. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle body panel is a floor panel, and

the first sheet metal structural member is a side structural member extending in a front to aft vehicle direction of the floor panel.

3. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 2 , wherein

the first sheet metal structural member has a reinforcement plate located within the space and attached to the cabin facing portion, the reinforcement plate being configured and arranged to form at least a second bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to overlie the first bar portion such that the child seat tether clip is fastened around the first and second bar portions.

4. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 2 , wherein

the floor panel has a wheel well attached to a side portion of the floor panel, and

the first sheet metal structural member is attached to the wheel well.

5. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 4 , wherein

the floor panel, the wheel well and the first sheet metal structural member are configured and arranged to form the space between the vehicle body panel and the cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member.

6. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 4 , wherein

the first sheet metal structural member has a substantially L-shaped transverse cross section with a first lateral edge fixed to the floor panel and a second lateral edge fixed to the wheel well.

7. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 6 , wherein

the first sheet metal structural member has a reinforcement plate located within the space and attached to the cabin facing portion, the reinforcement plate being configured and arranged to form at least a second bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to overlie the first bar portion such that the child seat tether clip is fastened around the first and second bar portions.

8. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 7 , wherein

the reinforcement plate has a substantially L-shaped transverse cross section.

9. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 7 , wherein

the first bar portion of the first sheet metal structural member is defined by front and rear openings that are spaced in the front to aft vehicle direction, and

the second bar portion of the reinforcement plate is defined by front and rear openings that are spaced in the front to aft vehicle direction.

10. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 9 , wherein

the front openings are larger in the front to aft vehicle direction than the rear openings.

11. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 2 , wherein

the floor panel has a second additional sheet metal structural member that is a side structural member extending in the front to aft vehicle direction of the floor panel, and

the second sheet metal structural member is fixedly coupled to the vehicle floor panel to create a space between the vehicle body panel and a cabin facing portion of the second sheet metal structural member,

the cabin facing portion of the second sheet metal structural member being configured and arranged to form at least a first bar portion of an additional integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to receive an additional child seat tether clip.

12. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle body panel is a roof panel, and

the first sheet metal structural member is a cross structural member extending in a side to side vehicle direction of the roof panel.

13. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 12 , wherein

the integrated child seat tether anchor is located generally in an area of one side portion of the roof panel.

14. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 12 , wherein

the first sheet metal structural member has a reinforcement plate located within the space and attached to the cabin facing portion, the reinforcement plate being configured and arranged to form at least a second bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to overlie the first bar portion such that the child seat tether clip is fastened around the first and second bar portions.

15. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 14 , wherein

the first sheet metal structural member and the reinforcement plate include angled portions that are arranged in an overlapping relationship.

16. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 14 , wherein

the first bar portion of the first sheet metal structural member is defined by front and rear openings that are spaced in a front to aft vehicle direction, and

the second bar portion of the reinforcement plate is defined by front and rear openings that are spaced in the front to aft vehicle direction.

17. The vehicle child seat attachment structure according to claim 16 , wherein

the front openings are larger in the front to aft vehicle direction than the rear openings.

18. A method of manufacturing a vehicle child seat attachment structure on a vehicle comprising:

forming a vehicle body panel that conforms to a contour of a portion of a vehicle cabin; and

forming a first sheet metal structural member that is fixedly coupled to the vehicle body panel to create a space between the vehicle body panel and a cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member; and

forming an integrated child seat tether anchor in the cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member such that the cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member is configured and arranged to form at least a first bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to receive a child seat tether clip.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein

the integrated child seat tether anchor is formed in a side structural member extending in a front to aft vehicle direction of a floor panel.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising

attaching a reinforcement plate to the cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member within the space, the reinforcement plate being configured and arranged to form at least a second bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to overlie the first bar portion such that the child seat tether clip is fastened around the first and second bar portions.

21. The method according to claim 19 , wherein

the floor panel has a wheel well attached to a side portion of the floor panel, and

the first sheet metal structural member is attached to the wheel well.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein

the floor panel, the wheel well and the first sheet metal structural member are configured and arranged to form the space between the vehicle body panel and the cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member.

23. The method according to claim 21 , wherein

the first sheet metal structural member has a substantially L-shaped transverse cross section with a first lateral edge fixed to the floor panel and a second lateral edge fixed to the wheel well.

24. The method according to claim 19 , wherein

forming a second sheet metal structural member that is fixedly coupled to the vehicle body panel to create a space between the vehicle body panel and a cabin facing portion of the second sheet metal structural member; and

forming an additional integrated child seat tether anchor in the cabin facing portion of the second sheet metal structural member such that the cabin facing portion of the second sheet metal structural member is configured and arranged to form at least a first bar portion of the additional integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to receive an additional child seat tether clip.

25. The method according to claim 18 , wherein

the integrated child seat tether anchor is formed in a cross structural member extending in a side to side vehicle direction of a roof panel.

26. The method according to claim 25 , wherein

the integrated child seat tether anchor is located generally in an area of one side portion of the roof panel.

27. The method according to claim 25 , wherein

attaching a reinforcement plate to the cabin facing portion of the first sheet metal structural member within the space, the reinforcement plate being configured and arranged to form at least a second bar portion of the integrated child seat tether anchor that is arranged and dimensioned to overlie the first bar portion such that the child seat tether clip is fastened around the first and second bar portions.

28. The method according to claim 27 , wherein

the first sheet metal structural member and the reinforcement plate include angled portions that are arranged in an overlapping relationship.

29. The method according to claim 28 , wherein

the first bar portion of the first sheet metal structural member is defined by front and rear openings that are spaced in the front to aft vehicle direction, and

the second bar portion of the reinforcement plate is defined by front and rear openings that are spaced in a front to aft vehicle direction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2006
From: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018247/0939 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2004
From: CUERRIER, JASON; SMITH, MIKE; YAMAMOTO, YOUICHI
To: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMRICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 014935/0463 →