GB2210000A - Cover for a vehicle loading hatch - Google Patents

Abstract

A cover 2 for a loading hatch in the rear panel 1 of the passenger cell of a motor car consists of two brackets 3 which can be attached to lugs 11 on the rear panel to form a pivot connection, a central arm rest pivotably mounted on the brackets and a plastics flap 5 forming the cover itself formed in one piece with the brackets. The brackets 3 are each formed of two connected walls (6, 7, Figs. 3 and 4) and the flap 5 is formed of two cup-shaped parts, one (12) covered with upholstery material (15) being mounted in the other. <IMAGE>

Description

COVER FOR A VEHICLE LOADING HATCH The invention relates to a cover for a loading hatch in the rear panel of the passenger cell of a motor car, consisting of two brackets which can be attached to the rear panel to form the pivot connection, a central arm rest pivotably mounted on the brackets, and a flap forming the cover itself and rigidly connected to the brackets.

In a known cover of this kind, on the metal rear panel of the passenger cell, bearing brackets for the cover are arranged and the rear panel has an opening which substantially corresponds to the contour of the cover. In this construction, the rear panel may be formed as a single piece and may extend over the entire width of the vehicle, but it can also be eccentrically divided in order to provide for pivoting of one rear panel portion whilst the other rear panel portion remains stationary.

In this arrangement, brackets are pivotally mounted on the bearing bracket interconnected by a web, which brackets in addition provide for the mounting of the central arm rest attachable to the cover. The brackets and the connecting web are made of metal. The flap forming the cover itself consists of a synthetic plastic material and is connected with the aid of appropriate connecting means, for example rivets or screws, with the web interconnecting the bearing brackets.

This construction is unsatisfactory in several respects, since, on the one hand, the manufacturing expenditure (resulting from production from at least two parts) is relatively high and, on the other hand, the torsional stability of the flap is insufficient. Moreover, no provision is made for the fastening of the upholstery covering material to the flap, so that, for want of a proper solution, it is proposed to let the covering material extend as a loose flap over the cover itself.

The invention provides a cover of the kind defined which, whilst reducing the number of individual parts, has a greater rigidity and, in addition, in which the attachment of the upholstery covering material can be carried out very simply and in accordance with the internal furnishings of the particular vehicle.

The invention proposes to form the brackets in one piece with the flap from a synthetic palastics material.

Because the brackets are formed in one piece with the flap from a synthetic plastics material, manufacture is considerably simplified, since only a single piece has to be formed in a corresponding plastics converting machine.

Consequently the connection of individual parts is also dispensed with.

It is then merely necessary to to connect the brackets, which also comprise the points of attachment for the central arm rest, with the bearing lugs formed on the rear panel. The central arm rest is fitted with its corresponding journal pins into the corresponding bearing recesses of the brackets, whereafter the cover becomes fully operational.

In order to ensure that the cover has sufficient rigidity, it is proposed that the brackets have a double-walled contruction, wherein the. mutually opposing walls of each bracket are spaced by integral webs and the bearing lugs of the brackets each have an engagement slot for the bearing lugs on the frame.

Due to the double-walled, web-linked construction of the brackets, on the one hand, a saving in material is achieved, while on the other hand the brackets have a considerably higher torsional stability that in the case where the brackets are formed of solid material.

The brackets form an engagement slot for the bearing lugs on the frame of the metal back panel only in the region of the bearing lugs. In this manner, the fastening is also simplified, since the cover, together with the engagement slot of the brackets, can be pushed over the corresponding frame-borne bearing lugs, whereby a clamping pre-positioning is achieved. Following this, the bearing pins in the form of rivets or the like can be fitted, thus fixing the unit in position.

Furthermore, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the flap has a half-shell structure and comprises two half-shells of opposite aperture-orientation, fitted together, one of which is lined with upholstery covering material on the side facing away from the flap.

Owing to the half-shell constructional form, there is achieved, on the one hand, a higher inherent stability and, on the other hand, space is created for fitting one half-shell with opposite aperture-orientation into the other half-shell, where this other half-shell can be fitted or lined with upholstery material.

Thus, given the same basic structure, a separate half-shell adapted to the upholstery covering material needs to be added only during the assembly, which half-shell can be brought into use simultaneously with the upholstery fitting.

In order to further increase the torsional stability of the flap, it is proposed to form on the base surface of the flap, hollow fastening bosses and, on the inner face of the half-shell, pins insertable into said fastening bosses.

Due to the fact that on the base surface of the flap as well as on the counter-surface of the half-shell, an anchoring arrangernent is formed by means of the fastening bosses and pins, the entire surfaces of the flap is stiffened, thereby achieving a considerably better torsional stability.

The fastening of the parts to each other can be carried out using adhesives or the like in the fastening bosses so that after the insertion of the corresponding pins, a permanent adhesive bonding is achieved.

In order to particularly facilitate the fastening of the upholstery covering on the half-shell, it is proposed to tension the upholstery covering around the rim edges of the half-shell and to fasten it on the inner face of the wall of the half-shell by ultrasonic welding.

In order to achieve an additional rigidity of the assembly unit as a whole, it is proposed to make the brackets fast via a web formed on the rim edge of the flap and via the rim edge portions of the flap contiguous with the web, whereby the brackets in the zone of the lateral rim portions are formed to extend obliquely in the direction of the latter and approximately over half their longitudinal dimension.

In this manner, by means of the double-walled webs, the torsional stability in the zone of the lateral edge portions of the flap is also improved, so that a greater functional safety is achieved.

Finally, provision may also be made to effect, on the transverse edge of the flap facing away from the brackets, a lock recess with a handle and locking bolt formed therein.

In this manner, the locking machanism is arranged within the half-shell shaped flap, covered by the other half-shell, so that it is arranged, on the one hand, functionally safe, and on the hand, freely accessibly and easily operable by means of the handle.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the rear panel of a motor vehicle with the attached cover for a loading hatch in elevation; Figure 2 is a section taken along the lines II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a detail in elevation; and Figure 4 shows the detail in Figure 3, partly in section and partly fragmented.

A loading hatch is provided in the rear panel 1 of the passenger cell of a motor vehicle which can be covered by a cover 2.

The cover essentially consist of two brackets 3 attachable to the rear panel by a pivotal connection, a central arm rest 4 pivotably mounted on the bracket which, in the drawing, are indicated only by schematical contours, and a flap 5 rididly connected to the brackets 3. The brackets 3 are formed integrally with the flap 5 from a synthetic plastics material. In addition, the brackets 3 are of double-walled construction, as is particularly apparent from Figure 3.

The mutually opposing walls, 6, 7 of each bracket 3 are spaced by means of formed-on webs 8. The bearing lugs 9 of the brackets 3 each form an engagement slot 10 for the bearing lugs 11 on the frame 1.

The flap 5 is of a half-shell construction, that is to say, with a recessed base portion and protruding circumferential lateral wall portions. Into this half-shell shaped flap 5 a further half-shell 12 of oppositely oriented aperture is fitted. On the base surface of the flap 5 are arranged hollow fastening bosses 13 in an appropriate distribution pattern. The inner face of half-shell 12 carries corresponding pins 14 for engagement with bosses 13.

The outer surface of the half-shell 12 is covered by upholstery covering 15, which is tensioned around the rim edges of the half-shell 12 and is made fast on the inner wall of the half-shell 12 by ultrasonic welding.

It is also possible to merely tension the covering material 15 between the shells 5, 12 or to cement it to the half-shell 12.

The brackets 3 have in addition a web 16 formed on the rim edge of flap 5 and are formed in one piece not only with this web 16, but also with those lateral edge portions of flap 5 which are contiguous to said web. In the region of the lateral edge portions of flap 5, the brackets 3 extend obliquely in the direction of the lateral end portions, that is to say, their height decreases, which is clearly apparent from Figure 4 in particular.

The brackets also extend over approximately half the longitudinal dimension of the lateral edge portions of flap 5. In addition, on the edge portion of the flap 5 which faces away from the brackets 3, there may be formed a lock recess 17 with a handle 18 and a locking bolt 19.

The invention is not limited to the examples described, but is variable in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A cover for a loading hatch in the rear panel of the passenger cell of a motor car comprising two brackets adapted to be attached to the rear panel and forming a pivot connection, a central arm rest pivotably mounted on the brackets, and a flap forming the cover itself rigidily connected to the brackets, the brackets being formed in one piece with the flap from a synthetic plastics material.

2. A cover according to Claim 1, wherein the brackets are of a double-walled construction, and the mutually opposite walls of each bracket are spaced by formed-on webs, and bearing lugs of the brackets each form an engagement slot for frame-borne bearing lugs.

3. A cover according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, wherein the flap is of a half-shell constructional form into which a further half-shell can be fitted with opposite aperture-orientation, said half-shell being lined with upholstery covering on that side which faces away from the flap.

4. A cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein one the base face of the flap, hollow fastening bosses are provided and pins are formed on the inner face of the half-shell which pins can be engaged with said bosses.

5. A cover'according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the upholstery covering is tensioned about the rim edges of the half-shell and is made fast with the wall of the half-shell on the inside by ultrasonic welding.

6. A cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the brackets are bonded via a web formed on the rim edge of the flap and via lateral rim portions of the flap contiguous with said web, the brackets in the region of the lateral rim portions extending obliquely thereto and over approximately half their longitudinal dimension.

7. A cover according to any on of Claims 1 to 6, wherein a lock recess is formed in the transverse edge of the flap facing away from the brackets, said recess accommodating a handle and locking bolt.

8. A cover for a loading hatch in the rear panel of a vehicle: substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.