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US 2011/0031776 A1Published application
Vehicle floor assembly with insert
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorDavid Edwards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insert that can be used support a vehicle floor if a cross member fails either mechanically or through corrosion. The insert may also be used to protect a fastener used in a vehicle floor assembly.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one ground engaging wheel supported to the frame;
- a vehicle storage assembly that is supported to the frame, the vehicle storage assembly including a floor assembly comprising:
- (1) at least one floorboard member that has:
- (a) a cargo side with a cargo receiving surface for use in receiving associated cargo;
- and, (b) a support side;
- (2) at least one cross member that has:
- (a) an opening;
- (b) a cargo side with a floorboard supporting surface that supports at least a portion of the support side of the floorboard member;
- and, (c) a support side;
- (3) at least one body support member that:
- (a) is supported to the frame;
- (b) has an opening;
- (c) has a cargo side;
- and, (d) has a support side;
- (4) at least one mechanical fastener that:
- (a) is received within the opening in the body support member and the opening in the cross member;
- (b) that is used to attach the body support member to the cross member;
- (c) that has a cargo end that is spaced from the support side of the floorboard member when the mechanical fastener is attached to the body support member and the cross member;
- and, (d) that has a support end;
- and,
- (5) an insert that:
- (a) substantially encloses the cargo side of the mechanical fastener;
- and, (b) is positioned between the cargo side of the cross member and the support side of the floorboard member.
21 more elements
A vehicle floor assembly comprising:
- (1) at least one floorboard member that has:
- (a) a cargo side with a cargo receiving surface for use in receiving associated cargo;
- and, (b) a support side;
- (2) at least one cross member that has:
- (a) an opening;
- (b) a cargo side with a floorboard supporting surface that supports at least a portion of the support side of the floorboard member;
- and, (c) a support side;
- (3) at least one body support member that:
- (a) is supportable to an associated vehicle frame;
- (b) has an opening;
- (c) has a cargo side;
- and, (d) has a support side;
- (4) at least one mechanical fastener that:
- (a) is received within the opening in the body support member and the opening in the cross member;
- (b) that is used to attach the body support member to the cross member;
- (c) that has a cargo end that is spaced from the support side of the floorboard member when the mechanical fastener is attached to the body support member and the cross member;
- and, (d) that has a support end;
- and,
- (5) an insert that:
- (a) substantially encloses the cargo side of the mechanical fastener;
- and, (b) is positioned between the cargo side of the cross member and the support side of the floorboard.
18 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing a vehicle comprising:
- (1) a frame;
- and, (2) at least one ground engaging wheel supported to the frame;
- (B) providing a floor assembly comprising at least one body support member that:
- (1) is supported to the frame;
- (2) has an opening;
- (3) has a cargo side;
- and, (4) has a support side;
- (C) providing a cross member that has:
- (1) an opening;
- (2) a cargo side with a floorboard supporting surface;
- and, (3) a support side;
- (D) positioning the cross member so that the opening in the cross member is substantially collinear with the opening in the body support member;
- (E) inserting at least one mechanical fastener within the opening in the cross member and the opening in the body support member;
- (F) fastening the mechanical fastener to attach the cross member to the body support member;
- (G) substantially enclosing the cargo side of the mechanical fastener with an insert;
- (H) providing at least one floorboard member that has:
- (1) a cargo side with a cargo receiving surface for use in receiving associated cargo;
- and, (2) a support side;
- and,
- (I) positioning the floorboard member so that:
- (1) the support side of the floorboard member contacts the floorboard supporting surface of the cross member;
- and, (2) the insert is positioned substantially between the support side of the floorboard member and the cargo side of the cross member.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.