초록 ▼

A vehicle wheel well assembly is provided and is adapted to engage a vehicle floor pan. The wheel well assembly includes a floor and an annular sidewall extending upwardly from the periphery of the floor. A post extends upwardly from the center of the floor for engaging the spare wheel assembly. A t

A vehicle wheel well assembly is provided and is adapted to engage a vehicle floor pan. The wheel well assembly includes a floor and an annular sidewall extending upwardly from the periphery of the floor. A post extends upwardly from the center of the floor for engaging the spare wheel assembly. A threaded connector extends upwardly from the post for threaded engagement with a receptacle on a top. The sidewall terminates in either a mounting flange or a deck. When connected to a deck, the deck includes a mounting flange. The floor and sidewalls are integrally formed preferably of a composite material. A storage space is created in the area of the post. A method of securing a vehicle wheel well assembly in a vehicle is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle wheel well assembly adapted for connection with a floor pan of a vehicle comprising:a floor;at least one sidewall extending upwardly from said floor, and wherein said floor and said sidewall define a wheel well therein;a post disposed in said wheel well wherein said floor, said sidewall

1. A vehicle wheel well assembly adapted for connection with a floor pan of a vehicle comprising:a floor;at least one sidewall extending upwardly from said floor, and wherein said floor and said sidewall define a wheel well therein;a post disposed in said wheel well wherein said floor, said sidewall and said post are integrally formed; andsaid post defines a storage space located in the area within said post. 2. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said post extends upwardly from said floor intermediate said sidewall. 3. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sidewall is annular. 4. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said floor, said sidewall and said post includes a stiffening member. 5. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stiffening member comprises a rib. 6. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said floor comprises a flat segment and a frustoconical segment. 7. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said floor and said post define a storage space. 8. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls, said floor, and said post include a sound abatement layer. 9. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sidewall, floor and said post are integrally formed of a composite material. 10. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said post includes a connector extending outwardly therefrom. 11. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said connector is a threaded connector that threadedly engages an opening defined in said post. 12. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein at least one of said sidewalls and said floor define a cavity. 13. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said floor and said sidewall includes a ledge for the integration of electrical equipment. 14. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls include a mounting flange adapted for engaging the vehicle floor pan. 15. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vehicle wheel well assembly includes a top. 16. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said top includes a fastener for mounting said top with a connector. 17. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said top includes a sound abatement layer. 18. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sidewall is connected to a deck. 19. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said floor, said sidewall, said post, and said deck are integrally formed. 20. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said deck includes a mounting flange adapted for engaging the vehicle floor plan. 21. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 18 including a lid integrally connected with said deck. 22. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said connection between said deck and said lid comprises a living hinge. 23. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said deck includes at least one receptacle. 24. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein said deck includes at least one compartment. 25. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said lid includes stiffening members. 26. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said lid includes a latch adapted to secure said lid with said deck. 27. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said floor, said sidewall, and said deck include a sound abatement layer. 28. A method of securing a vehicle wheel well assembly to a vehicle comprising:providing the vehicle having a floor pan defining an opening therein for receiving the vehicle wheel well assembly;providing an integral vehicle wheel well assembly including a floor, at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the floor and a post extending upwardly from the floor intermediate the sidewall, the post defining a storage space located in the area within the post, and a mounting flange;inserting the integral wheel well assembly into the opening in the vehicle; andadhesively securing the mounting flange with the vehicle floor pan. 29. A method as set forth in claim 28 further comprising integrally forming the floor, at least one side wall, post and mounting flange from a composite material. 30. A method as set forth in claim 29 further comprising adhesively securing the mounting flange with the floor pan using a low energy surface adhesive. 31. A method as set forth in claim 29 further comprising adhesively securing the mounting flange with the floor pan using a polyurethane adhesive. 32. A vehicle wheel well assembly adapted for connection with a floor pan of a vehicle comprising:a floor;at least one sidewall extending upwardly from said floor, and wherein said floor and said sidewall define a wheel well therein; anda post disposed in said wheel well wherein said post defines a storage space; andsaid storage space is defined under said post. 33. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said post includes an internal opening defining said storage space. 34. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said post extends upwardly from said floor intermediate said sidewall. 35. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 34 wherein at least one of said floor, said sidewall and said post includes a stiffening member. 36. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said storage space is defined under said floor and said post. 37. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said sidewalls, said floor, and said post include a sound abatement layer. 38. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said sidewall, floor and said post are integrally formed. 39. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said post includes a connector extending outwardly therefrom. 40. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein at least one of said sidewalls and said floor define a cavity. 41. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein one of said floor and said sidewall includes a ledge for the integration of at least one of electrical and electric equipment. 42. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said sidewalls include a mounting flange adapted for engaging a vehicle floor pan. 43. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said vehicle wheel well assembly includes a top. 44. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 43 wherein said top includes a sound abatement layer. 45. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 32 wherein said sidewall is connected to a deck. 46. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 45 wherein said deck includes a mounting flange adapted for engaging the vehicle floor plan. 47. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 45 wherein said deck includes at least one receptacle. 48. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 45 wherein said deck includes at least one compartment. 49. A vehicle wheel well assembly as set forth in claim 45 wherein said floor, said sidewall, and said deck include a sound abatement layer.