GB2206548A

GB2206548A - Removable internal vehicle partition

Info

Publication number: GB2206548A
Application number: GB08814910A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Neville Allman
Original assignee: ASG
Current assignee: ASG
Priority date: 1987-06-27
Filing date: 1988-06-23
Publication date: 1989-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-23
Also published as: GB8715153D0; GB8814910D0; GB2206548B

Abstract

The partition, e.g. a dog guard, has mounting means, e.g. plates 120 to which partition legs 114 we fixed, which are secured to existing mountings in the sides of the vehicle, e.g. roller blind mounting holes. The mounting means may take many forms (Figs. 1, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 13). The top corners of the partition may have projections (30, 46, 72, Figs. 2, 4 and 6) which are sandwiched between the vehicle tailgate and the body seal to retain the partition or straps (100, Fig. 8) with hooks (102) which engage over gas-strut mountings (96). <IMAGE>

Description

Internal Partitions for Motor Vehicles This invention relates to internal partitions for motor vehicles and is particularly concerned with. partitions which can be removably located within 'hatchback' or estate vehicles to function as dog guards.

One present design of dog guard is a univeral design in the form of a grid of bars or mesh having adjustable legs whereby the guard is located between the floor at the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle roof, and is retained in position by clamping the adjustable legs against the floor and/or roof.

According to the present invention there is provided a partition arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the partition arrangement comprising a partition at least restricting access therethrough, and means adapted to locate in or on at least one pair of existing fitments on or towards respective interior sides of the vehicle, whereby to maintain the partition in a position in use partitioning the internal space of the vehicle.

Preferably the partition comprises a grid or mesh.

Preferably also the location means comprises pins protruding from respective sides of a lower part of the partition and adapted to locate in bores formed in existing fitments attached to a rear seat of the vehicle. The partition may have upper ends of upright parts adapted to abut an existing seal for a boot lid of the vehicle and be trapped between the seal and the boot lid when the latter is closed, whereby to be retained in position.

Alternatively a lower part of the partition may be provided with the location means in the form of extending brackets adapted to locate in upwardly open clips existing on the vehicle and attached to a rear seat of the vehicle.

The partition may have a top part having ends engaging with a boot seal of the vehicle, whereby to be trapped between the seal and a boot lid of the vehicle when the boot lid is in a closed condition.

In another arrangement, the partition may have upright parts formed with the location means in the form of laterally outwardly open channel components adapted to fit over side mouldings in the vehicle when a rear seat of the vehicle is moved from a normal in-use position, whereby the channel components are trapped between the mouldings and the rear seat when the latter is moved back to a normal in-use position.

In yet another arrangement the partition may have a lower part having the location means in the form of L-shaped lugs extending downwardly and laterally outwardly to locate in upwardly facing recesses on existing mouldings, and an upper part having retaining straps and hooks for engaging with respective gas strut mountings of the vehicle.

In a further arrangement, a lower part of the partition may be provided with the location means in the form of extending legs mounting respective brackets which are adapted to engage with respective latch fitments existing on a rear seat of the vehicle. Preferably an upper part of the partition has pins adapted to locate in existing holes on respective sides of the vehicle.

A further possible arrangement has the location means including legs projecting from a lower part of the partition, the legs being adapted to locate in brackets and the latter having means for engaging in existing holes on respective sides of the vehicle. The brackets may include means for mounting thereon a roller blind of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a lower part of a dog guard for a first vehicle and the location thereof on the vehicle; Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the location of a top part thereof; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but of a modified dog guard for a different vehicle; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the modification for use in the vehicle of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a lower part of a further embodiment of dog guard for another vehicle illustrating the location thereof in the vehicle; Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the location of a top part of the dog guard of Fig. 5 in the vehicle;; Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a lower part of another embodiment of dog guard for a further vehicle illustrating the location in the vehicle; Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the top part of the dog guard of Fig. 7 illustrating the location on the vehicle; Fig. 9 is a schematic view of part of yet a further embodiment of dog guard illustrating the location on a different vehicle; Fig. 10 is a front elevation of another embodiment of dog guard for a yet different vehicle; Fig. 11 is a section on A-A of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a front elevation of a further embodiment of dog guard for a further vehicle; and Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the guard of Fig. 12, Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a partition in the form of a dog guard comprises a plurality of frame members forming a grid or mesh (not shown) having an overall shape appropriate to the profile of the internal space of the vehicle in which the dog guard is to be used.

The frame members comprise a lower cross member 10 formed with at least recessed outer ends into each of which can locate an insert 12, preferably of moulded plastics material, presenting a laterally outwardly extending pin 14.

On a first hatchback vehicle a pair of existing mouldings 18 are present on the back of a rear seat 20 in a spaced apart location and present inwardly facing bores 22 for receiving components of a removable parcel shelf (not shown). The pins 14 are designed to be locatable within the bores 22.

The vehicle has an upwardly opening boot lid 24 and around the boot opening is provided a seal 26, that part of the seal 26 extending across the top of the boot opening where the boot lid is hinged being shown in Fig. 2. The dog guard also includes upright members 28 at respective sides of the guard. On the top of each of the members 28 there is mounted an angled flange 30 turned inwardly of the vehicle, the free end of which is covered with a strip 32 of a resilient materal such as rubber which is secured to the flange 30 for example by means of adhesive. When the dog guard is mounted in the mouldings 18 the strips 32 rest against the seal 26 such that when the boot lid 24 is moved to a closed position the strips 32 are trapped between the lid 24 and the seal 26 and this maintains the dog guard in position.

In a modification of the dog guard of Figs. 1 and 2 for use in a different model of hatchback vehicle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a lower cross member 34 of a dog guard again presents laterally outwardly extending pins 36 for locating in bores 38 of existing mouldings 40 on the back of a rear seat 42 of the vehicle. Upright members 44 of the dog guard have upstanding flanges 46 on their top ends covered with resilient strips 48 which are in use trapped between a boot lid seal 50 and a boot lid 52 of the vehicle.

In another hatchback vehicle, a parcel shelf is positioned by components of the shelf engaging in upwardly open clips 54 mounted at spaced apart locations on the back edge of a rear seat 56 of the vehicle as shown in Fig. 5. Each clip 54 has a first leg 58 mounted on the rear seat 56 and a bulbous base 62 to which is connected a second leg 60, the latter at its upper end being outwardly angled to facilitate insertion of a cooperating component. A dog guard for use in such a vehicle comprises a plurality of members defining a mesh or grid again suitably defined. A lower cross member 64 of the guard is formed with a pair of downwardly extending lugs 66 spaced longitudinally along the member 64 so as to be engageable in respective ones of the p-air of clips 54.

For this purpose each lug 66 is formed with a bulbous lower end 68 which, when entering the upper end of the respective clip 54, deflects the leg 60 until the part 68 locates in the base 62 to thereby retain the lug 66 in position.

A top cross member 70 of the dog guard (Fig. 6) has its outer ends covered by a strip 72 of a resilient material such as rubber, the ends resting in use on an existing seal 74 around the boot opening of the vehicle. Closure of the boot lid 76 traps the ends of the member 70 between the lid 76 and the seal 74 and retains the dog guard in position.

For use in another type of hatchback vehicle as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a dog guard, again formed of members defining a suitable profile of mesh or grid, has a lower cross member 78 formed with a pair of L-shaped lugs 80 spaced therealong. Each of the lugs 80 extends downwardly and laterally outwardly and has its free end covered by a strip 82 of a resilient material such as rubber. The end of each lug 80 is designed to rest in an upwardly open recess 84 of a respective side moulding 86 existing in the vehicle to receive components of a parcel shelf (not shown).

An upper cross member 88 of the dog guard has each end formed with a strip 90 of a resilient material such as rubber resting on a respective shoulder 92 of an existing interior moulding 94 of the vehicle. The moulding 94 provides a mounting 96 for a gas strut 98 for the boot lid.

The guard member 88 is provided with a pair of retaining straps 100 spaced therealong, each of the straps 100 being provided at its free end with a hook 102 adapted to engage over the mounting 96 to thereby retain the cross member 88 and thus the dog guard in position.

For use with yet another hatchback vehicle as shown in Fig. 9, a dog guard, formed of members defining a suitable profile of a mesh or grid, has upright side members 104, each mounting on its laterally outer side a bracket 106 in the form of a channel which is open laterally outwardly.

The bracket 106 is designed to fit over an existing respective side moulding 108 on the vehicle used to locate a parcel shelf (not shown).

To fit the dog guard a rear seat of the vehicle (not shown) is moved forward to allow the brackets 106 to fit over the respective mouldings 108. The rear seat is then returned to its upright locked position and traps the brackets 106 on the mouldings 108 thereby retaining the dog guard in position.

In a further hatchback vehicle as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a dog guard has the form of a weldmesh panel 110 within a frame surround 112, the latter having a profile suitable for the vehicle. AL each end of a lower part of the guard, the frame surround 112 has a downwardly extending leg 114 adapted to locate selectively in either of a pair of parallel spaced channels 116,118 formed on one side face of a respective mounting plate 120. The legs 114 are retained within the respective channels by means of bolts 122 passing through the legs 114 and the plates 120.

Each of the plates 120 is further provided with a pair of mounting holes 124 at a location intermediate the location of the channels 116,118 and a rectangular hole 126, provided for a purpose hereinafter described. A pair of spacers 128 extend from the other side face of the plate 120 and are positioned at the location of the mounting holes 124, again for a purpose hereinafter described.

The vehicle for which the dog guard is designed has existing holes on respective sides of the vehicle interior (not shown) within which are press-fitted plastics components which in turn provide mounting locations for respective ends of a roller blind arrangement. For location of the dog guard, the plastics components are removed and a threaded rivet 129 is secured into each of the holes. The plates 120 can then be fitted to respective sides of the vehicle by means of securing bolts 130 locating through the respective mounting holes 124 and into the threaded rivets 129. The dog guard legs 114 can then be positioned within the selected channel 116 or 118 and the ends of the roller blind arrangement can be mounted in the plate holes 126. The choice of position for the dog guard on the brackets 120 enables fitment to vehicles with or without headrests.

For use with yet another hatchback vehicle, a dog guard as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 comprises a weldmesh panel 132 within a frame surround 134, the latter having a suitable profile for the vehicle. A lower part of the frame surround 134 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending legs 136 spaced longitudinally therealong, each of the legs 136 mounting a profiled bracket 138 so that the latter presents a projecting part 140 which is formed with a D-shaped aperture (not shown). At respective upper corners, the frame surround 134 is provided with projecting pins 142 presenting enlarged heads 144.

To fit the dog guard, the pins 142 locate in existing holes on respective sides of the interior of the vehicle (not shown), while the brackets 138 co-operate with fitments existing on the tops of a rear seat of the vehicle, such fitments being utilised when the rear seat is folded down to latch the seat in such a position. The apertures in the protecting parts 140 of the respective brackets 138 locate over projections of the latch fitments. The dog guard is thereby retained in position.

It will be appreciated therefore that the invention provides dog guards which need no manual adjustment to be clamped into position, this often damaging the vehicle, and do not require modification of the vehicle so as to receive special mountings. As the dog guards are designed to cooperate with fittings already existing in the respective vehicles, the guards are very acceptable vehicle accessories presenting an aesthetic appearance in the vehicle, being designed to complement the existing vehicle design.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the configuration of the dog guard components may differ from those described and shown provided they are capable of co-operating with the existing vehicle fitments.

Claims

Claims:

1. A partition arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the partition arrangement comprising a partition at least restricting access therethrough, and means adapted to locate in or on at least one pair of existing fitments on or towards respective interior sides of the vehicle, whereby to maintain the partition in a position in use partitioning the internal space of the vehicle.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the means restricting access is in the form of a mesh having a frame surround.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the means restricting access is in the form of a grid.

4. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the location means comprises pins protruding from respective sides of a lower part of the partition and adapted to locate in bores formed in existing fitments attached to a rear seat of the vehicle.

5. An arrangement according to Claim 4, wherein the partition has upper ends of upright parts adapted to abut an existing seal for a boot lid of the vehicle and be trapped between the seal and the boot lid when the latter is closed, whereby to be retained in position.

6. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a lower part of the partition is provided with the location means in the form of extending brackets adapted to locate in upwardly open clips existing on the vehicle and attached to a rear seat of the vehicle.

7. An arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein each of the brackets is adapted to deflect a resilient leg of the respective clip when entering therein before passing into an enlarged part of the clip, whereby the resilience of the leg retains the bracket in position.

8. An arrangement according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the partition has a top part having ends engaging with a boot seal of the vehicle, whereby to be trapped between the seal and a boot lid of the vehicle when the boot lid is in a closed condition.

9. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the partition has upright parts formed with the location means in the form of laterally outwardly open channel components adapted to fit over side mouldings in the vehicle when a rear seat of the vehicle is moved from a normal in-use position, whereby the channel components are trapped between the mouldings and the rear seat when the latter is moved back to a normal in-use position.

10. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the partition has a lower part having the location means in the form of L-shaped lugs extending downwardly and laterally outwardly to locate in upwardly facing recesses on existing mouldings, -and an upper part having retaining straps and hooks for engaging with respective gas strut mountings of the vehicle.

11. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a lower part of the partition is provided with the -location means in the form of extending legs mounting resp ective brackets which are adapted to engage with respective latch fitments existing on a rear seat of the vehicle.

12. An arrangement according to Claim 11, wherein an upper -part of the partition has pins adapted to locate in existing holes on respective sides of the vehicle.

13. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the location means includes legs projecting from a lower part of the partition, the legs being adapted to locate in brackets and the latter having means for engaging in existing holes on respective sides of the vehicle.

14. An arrangement according to Claim 13, wherein the brackets include means for mounting thereon a roller blind of the vehicle.

15. A partition arrangement substantially as heFeinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 5 and 6, Figs 7 and 8, Fig. 9, Figs. 10 and 11, or Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.