GB2111439A - Device for the transverse partitioning of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A for the transverse partitioning of the rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle having a fifth rear door comprises an extensible four-cornered net (1). Its perimeter is defined in its upper part by an extensible flexible cord (2) and on its three other sides by a non-extensible cord (9). It also comprises extensible fastening members in its lower part (12, 13). The elastically extensible upper flexible cord (2) comprises means (17, 18, 24, 25) for fastening to the seal of the fifth door of the vehicle, at each of its ends and between its ends. The length of the non-extensible cord (9) can be adjusted by means of a tensioning member (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An arrangement for the transverse partitioning of a motor vehicle compartment The invention relates to an arrangement particularly intended for the transverse partitioning of a motor vehicle.

More particularly, the invention relates to motor vehicles equipped with a fifth door, i.e. a tailgate allowing access to the rear boot of the vehicle and hinged substantially at the level of the vehicle roof.

Rigid arrangements currently exist for the transverse partitioning of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, which arrangements are constituted for example by a grill or by members of the shape of trombone slides. These rigid arrangements are connected to the passenger compartment of the vehicle either by uprights which bear against the roof and floor of the passenger compartment, or by means of an expanding cross-member which bears against the side walls of the passenger compartment.

However, this type of partitioning arrangement has the drawback of being rigid and thus is more bulky when stored, even if it can be partially folded.

Other currently existing arrangements are constituted by a flexible, four-cornered net, the mesh of which are deformable in the direction of its two median lines. This type of net also comprises means for adapting the surface which it defines mainly to the width of the vehicle and means for fastening its four corners to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. A net of this type has been described in patent number 73 39.451.

However, even if it obviates certain drawbacks inherent in rigid arrangements, in particular owing to the fact that it is not bulky when stored and that it is easy to fit and dismantle, this type of net also has drawbacks.

In fact, flexible arrangements of this type are connected to fastening points of the vehicle on which they exert traction. On the contrary, the uprights or cross-members of rigid arrangements are connected to the vehicle at points where they exert thrust.

Certain flexible arrangements constituted for example by a net make it necessary to drill the passenger compartment of the vehicle, in order to screw or rivet therein devices such as catches on which fastening means will be anchored.

Patent No. 73 39.451 in turn describes an advantageous solution and proposes upper fastening means constituted by straps which pass through the opening of the door and by hooks which are able to be anchored in the vehicle gutters. However, this solution cannot be used on all vehicles, mainly on vehicles which do not have tailgates or possibly opening rear windows.

Furthermore, these fastening means have the drawback of passing between the door and its seal and may thus cause the penetration of water in the case of heavy rain.

Finally, since the upper part of the net is retained solely in the vicinity of its two ends, an animal carried in the vehicle behind this net may exert traction on the net by its paws or head, lower the net and jump over the obstacle constituted thereby.

The present invention intends to propose a flexible arrangement for the transverse partitioning of a motor vehicle, more particularly suited for vehciles equipped with a fifth door, which remedies the above mentioned drawbacks.

Other aims and disadvantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, which is nevertheless given by way of example and which is not intended to limit the latter.

The arrangement particularly intended for the transverse partitioning of the rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle having a fifth door is characterised by the fact that the elastically extensible, upper flexible cord, which retains the net, comprises removable means for fastening to the seal of the fifth door of the vehicle at each of its ends and in its part comprised between its ends.

The invention will be better understood on referring to the ensuing description and to the accompanying drawings which form an integral part thereof.

Figure 1 shows the partitioning arrangement according to the present invention in a nonlimiting embodiment.

Figure 2 relates to the fitting of the present arrangement to a vehicle equipped with a fifth door.

Figure 1 shows an example of a net 1 of substantially rectangular shape and comprising diamond-shaped mesh whereof the two median lines are substantially vertical and horizontal.

The material constituting this mesh is a flexible material and the diamonds are deformable, which makes it possible to adapt the net to the width of the vehicle.

The resulting variation of height does not constitute a drawback as regards the protective function fulfilled by the net, provided that the lower side of the latter is located in the immediate vicinity of the floor or the back of the seats.

The outline of the shape of the net is defined in its upper part by an elastically extensible cord 2 whereof the length is substantially equal to the width of the net and thus to the width of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The minimum length of this elastically extensible cord, when slack, is at least less than the minimum width of vehicles to which arrangements of this type are intended to be fitted.

The elastically extensible cord is engaged in the upper mesh of the net of which it connects the upper corners 3 and 4. This connection may be achieved by snap-hooks 5 and 6, each end of the elastically extensible cord being fixed to these snap-hooks by means of a loop and a sleeve 7 and 8 respectively.

The three other sides of the net are defined by a substantially non-extensible cord 9, which is threaded through the various mesh bordering the edge of the net, in order to define the contour of the latter.

At the two lower corners of the arrangement, the substantially non-extensible cord 9 passes through the slides freely for example in two rings respectively 10 and 11 , to which the net is also fixed at each of its lower corners.

Extending from these rings are two elastically extensible members respectively 12 and 1 3, which ensure fastening of the net in its lower part to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

These members are for example elastically yielding straps and may be fixed for example to the lower hinges of the rear seat of the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment, at one of its ends, the substantially non-extensible tie comprises means making it possible to adjust its length and to tension it, once the arrangement has been fitted to the vehicle. These means consist of a plate 14, in which holes 1 5 are drilled. The end of the tie 9, in the vicinity of which the tensioning member 14 is located, is fixed to this tensioning member.The cord is also threaded through at least two of the holes of the tensioning member, in order to describe a loop 1 6 at the upper corner of the net This tensioning member on the one hand therefore makes it possible to adjust the length of the cord 9, in order to adapt the latter in a better manner to the configuration of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and on the other hand in order to tension this cord and thus to ensure satisfactory attachment of the latter.

Located at the two upper ends of the net are two fastening devices respectively 1 7 and 18. As shown diagrammatically in figure 2, these two devices are of the type able to engage on the seal 1 9 of the fifth rear door 20 of a vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment, these devices are constituted by flat hooks comprising a rounded part 21 and a flat part 22. When fitting the device in the vehicle, the rounded part 21 will overlap the seal 1 9 of the fifth door and engage on the latter.

A hole 23 is drilled in the centre of the flat part 22.

Located in this hole are both the snap-hook 5 which ensures the connection between the hook and the extensible cord, an upper corner of the net and one end of the non-extensible cord 9. The hook 17 and more particularly the hole 23 thus defines an upper corner of the net. Naturally the hook 1 8 is identical to the hook 17, except that the cord 9 is not fixed directly therein. In effect, it is the loop 1 6 in this cord which passes through the hole provided by the flat part of the hook 1 8.

Also located on the extensible cord are other fastening devices. The number of these devices may vary and may be greater than or equal to one.

Figure 1 shows two devices, respectively 24 and 25, however this number is in no way limiting.

Like the devices 1 7 and 28, these two devices are of the type able to engage on the seal of the fifth door of a vehicle. As shown in figure 2, the two devices 24 and 25 divert the elastically extensible cord towards the upper end of the opening of the fifth door. They thus ensure better retention of the extensible cord 2 and prevent an animal from being able to jump over the obstacle constituted by this net, by pulling on the net. In view of the flexibility of the material constituting the mesh of the net, the latter follows the deformations which the attachment of the two devices 24 and 25 causes for the outer contour of the latter.

In a preferred embodiment, the two devices 24 and 25 are constituted respectively by S-shaped hooks made for example from a thread-like material. One of the loops of the S-shape is closed around the extensible cord 2 and the hooks may thus slide freeiy along this cord. The other loop is open and by overlapping the seal of the fifth door of the vehicle, engages on the latter.

The upper part of the arrangement thus approximately follows the shape of the passenger compartment of the vehicle in the vicinity of its opening for the fifth door. It is retained laterally by the two hooks 17 and 18 and vertically by the hooks 24 and 25.

Its lower part is fixed for example to the lower hinges of the rear seat of the vehicle by means of elastic straps 1 2 and 1 3.

Moreover, the net is stretched owing to the elastically extensible cord 2, to the two elastic straps 12 and 1 3 and to the tensioning member 14 which makes it possible to adjust the length of the cord 9.

The lower part of the net is preferably placed against the upper part of the back of the rear seat.

It is clear that the rear shelf of the vehicle, which is generally removable, could be retracted when installing the arrangement in the vehicle.

The apparatus according to the present invention is easily fitted and dismantled, owing to the fact that the various hooks overlap the seal of the fifth door and that all the hooks are removable.

Fitting of the arrangement does not require any holes in the bodywork 1 9 of the vehicle. All the hooks 17 and 18 as well as 24 and 25 are locked upon closing the fifth door, which ensures that the suspension and net arrangement forms an impassable obstacle for an animal located in the boot.

Naturally the arrangement which has been described is given solely by way of example and one could adopt other embodiments of the present invention without diverging from the scope of the latter.

Claims (9)

1. Arrangement intended in particular for the transverse partitioning of the rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, having a fifth rear door comprising a four-cornered net, whereof the mesh are deformable in the direction of its two median lines, the perimeter of which is defined in its upper part by an elastically extensible flexible cord, the three other sides being defined by a substantially non-extensible flexible cord, comprising in its lower part elastically extensible fastening members, characterised by the fact that the elastically extensible upper flexible cord comprises removable means for fastening to the seal of the fifth door of the vehicle at each of its ends and in its part comprised between its ends.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said removable fastening means are of the type able to engage on the seal of the fifth rear door of the vehicle.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that said means are hooks comprising at one of their ends rounded parts which overlap the seal transversely and are connected to said flexible cord at their other end.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the part of the end hooks connected to the flexible cord is also connected to the net.

5. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that said non-extensible cord is connected at each of its ends to the part of the end hooks connected to the flexible cord.

6. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the intermediate hook or hooks are S-shaped, one loop of which is closed around the elastically extensible cord and slides along the latter.

7. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises means making it possible to adjust the length of the substantially non-extensible cord and to tension the latter when the net is fitted.

8. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterised by the fact that said means for adjusting the length and tensioning means consist of a tensioning member constituted by a plate in which at least three holes are drilled, in which the said non-extensible cord is threaded in at least two of the holes, then fixed in order to describe a loop whereof the end is connected to an end hook.

9. An arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.