Removable seat frame for engine installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018057084-A1
Application number	US-201615246862-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2016
Priority date	Aug 25, 2016
Publication date	Mar 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a frame body defining a cabin area and an engine area. The engine area is primarily accessible from the cabin area during installation of the engine assembly. A seat frame is removably attached to the frame body in the cabin area, and a seat assembly is removably attached to the seat frame. A method of installing the engine assembly during the assembly of the motor vehicle includes the steps of lowering the engine assembly into the cabin area of the frame body, moving the engine assembly along a longitudinal axis into the engine area of the frame body, lowering the engine assembly onto an engine mount in the engine area of the frame body, attaching the seat frame to the frame body in the cabin area, and attaching the seat assembly to the seat frame.

First claim

1 . A frame for a motor vehicle having an engine assembly, comprising:
a frame body defining a cabin area and an engine area, the engine area being primarily accessible from the cabin area during installation of the engine assembly; a seat frame removably attached to the frame body in the cabin area, wherein the seat frame is removed to access the engine area during installation and removal of the engine assembly; and a seat assembly removably attached to the seat frame, wherein the seat assembly is removed to remove the seat frame to access the engine area.

2 . The frame of claim 1 wherein the seat frame is removably attached to the frame body by nut and bolt fasteners.

3 . The frame of claim 2 wherein the seat assembly is removably attached to the seat frame by nut and bolt fasteners.

4 . The frame of claim 3 wherein the seat assembly comprises:
a driver seat removably attached to the seat frame; and
a passenger seat removably attached to the seat frame.

5 . The frame of claim 3 wherein the seat assembly comprises:
a bench seat for accommodating multiple passengers, the bench seat removably attached to the seat frame.

6 . The frame of claim 1 wherein the seat assembly is also separately and removably attached to the frame body in addition to the seat frame.

7 . The frame of claim 6 wherein the seat frame is removably attached to the frame body by nut and bolt fasteners.

8 . The frame of claim 7 wherein the seat assembly is removably attached to the seat frame and to the frame body by nut and bolt fasteners.

9 . The frame of claim 8 wherein the seat assembly comprises:
a driver seat removably and separately attached to both the seat frame and to the frame body; and
a passenger seat removably and separately attached to both the seat frame and to the frame body.

10 . A method of installing an engine assembly in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising a frame body defining a cabin area and an engine area, the engine area being primarily accessible from the cabin area during installation of the engine assembly, a seat frame removably attached to the frame body in the cabin area, and a seat assembly removably attached to the seat frame, comprising the steps of:
lowering the engine assembly into the cabin area of the frame body; moving the engine assembly along a longitudinal axis into the engine area of the frame body; lowering the engine assembly onto an engine mount in the engine area of the frame body; attaching the seat frame to the frame body in the cabin area; and attaching the seat assembly to the seat frame.

11 . The method of claim 10 , after the step of moving the engine assembly along a longitudinal axis into the engine area of the frame body, further comprising the step of:
moving the engine assembly along a lateral axis in the engine area of the frame body.

12 . The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:
attaching the seat assembly to the frame body.

13 . The frame of claim 9 further comprising:
a shift selector fixedly attached to the seat frame between the driver seat and the passenger seat.

14 . The frame of claim 13 further comprising:
an electrical harness integrally connected to the shift selector.

15 . A frame for a motor vehicle having an engine assembly, comprising:
a frame body defining a cabin area and an engine area, the engine area being primarily accessible from the cabin area during installation of the engine assembly; a seat frame removably attached to the frame body in the cabin area, wherein the seat frame is removed to access the engine area during installation and removal of the engine assembly; a driver seat removably and separately attached to both the seat frame and the to the frame body; and a passenger seat removably and separately attached to both the seat frame and to the frame body.

16 . The frame of claim 15 further comprising:
a shift selector fixedly attached to the seat frame between the driver seat and the passenger seat.

17 . The frame of claim 16 further comprising:
an electrical harness integrally connected to the shift selector.

18 . The frame of claim 17 wherein the seat frame is removably attached to the frame body by nut and bolt fasteners.

19 . The frame of claim 18 wherein the driver seat and passenger seat are removably attached to the seat frame and to the frame body by nut and bolt fasteners.

20 . The frame of claim 19 wherein the shift selector is welded to the seat frame.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kirtland Dakota D
• Owens Jason M
• Hinders Dustin L
• Sellars Daniel T
• Barkey Travis

Classifications

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B60N2/005

  Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles {, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats}(B60N2/02 takes precedence {; for railway vehicles B61D1/04}) · CPC title

• B62D65/14

  the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels · CPC title

• B62D65/10 Primary

  the sub-units or components being engines, clutches or transmissions · CPC title

• B62D21/183

  specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005) · CPC title