# US 2018/0022283 A1 · Under-seat vehicle compartment having a clamp assembly for engaging a tube support and for absorbing tolerances and movement related noise > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022283 A1 - Document ID: US20180022283A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/700,326 - Filed: 2017-09-11 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-12 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: José Alfredo Peregrina Loera; Omar Antonio Ramirez Pavón; Francisco Ronquillo Meléndez; Mario Garcia Lannoy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022283A1 ## CPC - B60R 7/043: {mounted on or under a seat} - B60N 2/90: Details or parts not otherwise provided for - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A storage container for a vehicular seat includes a cushion pan for supporting a cushion. A lateral support bar extends between opposing side members and is positioned below the cushion pan. A container housing is disposed between the opposing side members and is fixedly attached to an underside of the cushion pan. A rear clamp of the container housing defines a containment region within which the lateral support bar is disposed. The rear clamp defines a surface engagement with the lateral support bar and is slidably engaged with the lateral support bar. Generally vertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateral support bar biases the lateral support bar against the rear clamp to define an absorbing state of the rear clamp that receives at least a portion of the generally vertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateral support bar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a cushion pan for supporting a seat cushion; a lateral support bar positioned below the cushion pan; a container housing fixed to the cushion pan; and a rear clamp slidably engaged with the lateral support bar, wherein generally vertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateral support bar biases the lateral support bar against the rear clamp to define an absorbing state of the rear clamp. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear clamp includes at least one top flange and at least one bottom flange, wherein the at least one top flange slidably engages a top lateral portion of the lateral support bar, and wherein the at least one bottom flange slidably engages a bottom lateral portion of the lateral support bar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one top flange and the at least one bottom flange are positioned in a vertically offset configuration along the top and bottom lateral portions, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one top flange includes first and second top flanges, and wherein the at least one bottom flange includes a single bottom flange. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear clamp in the absorbing state defines a range of flexibility, wherein the range of flexibility defines a range within which the rear clamp operates to receive at least a portion of the generally vertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateral support bar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lateral support bar is a generally tubular member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lateral support bar is a generally cylindrical member. ### Claim 8 An under-seat vehicular storage bin comprising: a seat frame having a lateral support bar; a housing fixedly attached to the seat frame; and a clamp of the housing slidably attached to the lateral support bar, wherein the clamp includes a top flange and a bottom flange laterally spaced from the top flange. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 8, wherein the top and bottom flanges define a displacement absorbing region within which the lateral support bar is slidably engaged by the top and bottom flanges. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 9, wherein the displacement absorbing region defines a static state, wherein the housing is free of displacement relative to the lateral support bar, and an absorbing state, wherein the housing is displaced relative to the lateral support bar, wherein the absorbing state is further defined by at least one of the top and bottom flanges being vertically biased by the lateral support bar to receive at least a portion of the displacement of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 10, wherein the lateral support bar includes an arcuate cross section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 8, wherein the top and bottom flanges and the housing are free of engagement with front and rear lateral portions of the lateral support bar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 10, wherein the bottom flange includes a first bottom flange and a second bottom flange, wherein the first bottom flange is spaced apart from the second bottom flange. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 13, wherein the top flange is positioned between the first and second bottom flanges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 10, wherein the top flange includes first and second top flanges, wherein the first top flange is spaced apart from the second top flange, and wherein the bottom flange is positioned between the first and second top flanges. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 10, wherein the top and bottom flanges in the absorbing state define a range of flexibility, wherein the range of flexibility defines a range within which the housing moves relative to the lateral support bar. ### Claim 17 A vehicular under-seat storage bin comprising: a seat frame having a lateral support extending between opposing side members; a housing disposed between the opposing side members and fixedly attached to a cushion pan of the seat frame; and a clamp of the housing engaged with the lateral support, wherein generally vertical displacement of the housing relative to the lateral support defines an absorbing state of the clamp that maintains sliding engagement with the lateral support. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicular under-seat storage bin of claim 17, wherein the clamp defines a displacement absorbing region that at least partially contains the lateral support, wherein the displacement absorbing region defines a static state, wherein the housing is free of displacement relative to the lateral support, and the absorbing state, wherein the housing is displaced relative to the lateral support, wherein the absorbing state is further defined by at least a portion of the clamp being vertically biased by the lateral support to receive at least a portion of the displacement of the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicular under-seat storage bin of claim 18, wherein the clamp includes at least one flange, wherein the at least one flange engages top and bottom lateral portions of the lateral support. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicular under-seat storage bin of claim 19, wherein the clamp is free of engagement with front and rear lateral portions of the lateral support.