WO2000050269A1

WO2000050269A1 - Partition for the interior of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2000050269A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/000185
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jerry Moscovitch; Ian C. Hall; Son Chung
Original assignee: Jerry Moscovitch; Hall Ian C; Son Chung
Priority date: 1999-02-22
Filing date: 2000-02-18
Publication date: 2000-08-31

Abstract

A partition (14) for a full size van or minivan which separates the interior of the vehicle into a front compartment (24) and a rear compartment (26). In certain preferred embodiments the partition (14) includes a glass partition (116) which substantially soundproofs the front compartment from the rear compartment. In other embodiments an opening is provided in the partition through which an occupant in the front compartment may gain access to the rear compartment. The partition includes an integrally formed cabinet (208) for supporting a television (210) and/or video cassette player or recorder, or a DVD player, as well as an integrally formed control panel (115) for controlling the television and associated devices, as well as an auxiliary AM/FM stereo system. The partition further includes integrally formed speaker enclosures (37) and optionally one or more trays (40) which may be used to support food, drinks, books or other articles.

Description

PARTITION FOR THE INTERIOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a PCT application claiming priority to a U.S. provisional application filed February 22, 1999, and assigned U.S. Serial 60/121 ,107.

Technical Field

This invention relates to devices for dividing the interior space of a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a partition adapted to be secured directly behind the two front seats of a vehicle such as a minivan or a full size van, and which serves to divide the interior of the vehicle into two distinct compartments.

Discussion

Motor vehicles such as full size vans and minivans have become increasingly popular in recent years. Such vehicles are particularly well adapted to transport families having several children to and from school, sporting events, on vacations, etc. These vehicles provide greater interior space than sport utility vehicles, station wagons, sedans, etc, and are especially well suited for transporting families having one or more children. More recently, minivans and full size vans are being equipped with televisions, video cassette players and/or recorders, a second stereo system for the rear area of the vehicle, and other entertainment items. Such items can serve to provide entertainment to the occupants in the rear area of the vehicle (i.e., those occupants seated in the back most two rows of seats). While such entertainment equipment can provide significant enjoyment for the passengers seated in the rear two most rows of seats, the sound from a television or supplemental stereo system can often prevent the individuals in the two front most seats of the vehicle from comfortably carrying on a conversation. Also, the sound from a television or second stereo system for use by the rear occupants can prevent or interfere with the occupants of the front two seats of the vehicle listening to the vehicle's primary radio or stereo system.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a partition for dividing the interior of a minivan or full size van into two distinct compartments: a first compartment which includes the front two most seats of the vehicle, and 2) a second compartment which includes the remaining interior area of the vehicle including the intermediate and rear rows of seats.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a partition for dividing the interior of a motor vehicle into two distinct compartments, where the partition includes an integrally formed support for holding a television and/or VCR player, as well as a control panel for allowing the user to easily control the television and/or VCR player without having to stand up within the vehicle to do so.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a partition for dividing the interior of a minivan or full size van, where the partition includes a transparent portion which enables the two front seat occupants of the vehicle to easily look through into the rear compartment of the vehicle interior, as well as to be able to see out the rear window of the vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a partition for dividing the interior of a minivan or full size van into two distinct compartments, where the partition includes a door which can be opened to permit the occupants in the front two seats of the vehicle to pass items to occupants in the rear compartment of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other objects are provided by a partition in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The partition is adapted to be disposed within the interior of a minivan or a full size van immediately behind the two front seats of the van to form two distinct passenger compartments within the van. The first compartment comprises the two front most seats of the van and the rear compartment comprises the intermediate and rear seating rows of the van. The partition may be secured within the interior of the vehicle during assembly of the vehicle or even after the vehicle is assembled. The partition serves to form two distinct compartments within the vehicle.

In one preferred embodiment the partition includes a base portion which supports a glass partition. The base portion includes an integrally formed compartment adapted for supporting a television and video cassette player or recorder adjacent the roof of the vehicle. The base portion also preferably includes a control center at which the television, VCR recorder/player, as well as other entertainment items can be controlled easily by an occupant seated in the intermediate seat row. Optionally, but preferably, the base includes one or more fold out trays or a storage area.

In the preferred embodiment the partition also includes a pair of speakers for use with either the primary sound system of the vehicle or an auxiliary sound system which may be housed within the base of the partition or at another location in the rear compartment of the vehicle. The speakers can be used to provide stereo sound from a radio, cassette player, compact disc player, etc. Alternatively, the speakers can be associated with the television as a means for providing the audio output of the television to the occupants in the rear compartment of the vehicle.

In the preferred embodiment the control center includes various other controls such as an independent climate control for controlling the temperature in the rear compartment of the vehicle.

In an alternative preferred embodiment the partition is provided without the glass portion and with an opening in the base which allows an occupant seated in the front compartment to enter the rear compartment. In yet another alternative preferred embodiment a door is provided in the base which allows an occupant seated in the front compartment to pass small objects such as a box of tissue paper, soft drink, etc. to the occupants in the rear compartment.

All of the preferred embodiments provide a means for providing entertainment to the rear occupants of a vehicle such as a minivan or full size van. Various ones of the preferred embodiments also provide a means for substantially soundproofing the rear compartment formed by the partition from the front compartment so that the front compartment occupants can enjoy discussion, listening to a primary radio of the vehicle, etc. without interference from sound emanating from the television or a sound system associated with the partition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and subjoined claims and by referencing the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an interior of a vehicle such as a minivan or full size van illustrating a partition in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention disposed within the interior of the van to form a distinct front compartment and rear compartment within the van;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of yet another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the glass portion of the partition has been omitted and a passageway included in the base portion to enable an occupant in the front compartment of the vehicle to enter the rear compartment through the partition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown an interior area 12 of a motor vehicle such as a minivan or a full size van 10 (hereinafter "van" 10). Within the interior area 12 is a partition 14 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The partition 14 may be formed in two or more sections to enable the partition 14 to be installed easily within the interior area 12 of the van 10. Alternatively, the partition 14 could be formed as a single piece unit. It is anticipated that for purposes of easing installation, the partition 14 will be most preferably provided in two or more distinct sections to ease positioning and securing of the partition 14 within the vehicle interior 12. The partition 14 may be installed after assembly of the vehicle is completed or during the assembly process while the vehicle is on an assembly line at a factory. In either event, the partition is preferably secured near or at the "B" pillars 16 of the vehicle. The partition 14 includes a base 18 having a frame portion 20. To ease assembly, the frame portion 20 may be separable from the base 18, such as at dashed line 22 on opposite ends of the base 18. This can ease handling and installation of the partition 14, especially if the partition 14 is installed after assembly of the vehicle is completed. The partition 14, when installed, divides the interior 12 into two distinct compartments: a front compartment 24 and a rear compartment 26. The front compartment 24 includes the two front seats 28 of the vehicle 10 and the rear compartment 26 includes the intermediate seat row 30 and the rear seat row 32. It will be appreciated that the seats in intermediate seat row 30 could be captain's chairs and therefore need not be in the form of a bench seat.

The partition 14 includes a control center 34 integrally formed in the base 18. The control center 34 includes a plurality of controls 34a for controlling operation of a television 36 and a video cassette player or recorder 38 supported within an integrally formed enclosure 39 in the frame portion 20. It will be appreciated immediately that video cassette player or recorder 38 could instead comprise a laser disc player or a digital video disc (DVD) player. The control panel 34 also preferably includes controls for enabling the occupants in the rear compartment 26 to control the temperature (i.e., air conditioning and heat) if the vehicle is provided with auxiliary air conditioning and heating systems. The controls 34a also preferably include an auxiliary

AM/FM stereo system 35, and optionally a compact disc player or a cassette player, for providing music for the occupants of the rear compartment 26. Advantageously, the control center 34 is disposed on the base 18 in a position which allows an occupant seated in the intermediate seating row 30 to adjust the controls without having to unbuckle a seat belt or like restraint and stand up from his/her seat.

While not being illustrated, it will be appreciated that the side of the partition 14 facing the two front seats 28 of the van 10 could include a DVD player, supplemented speakers, or even a projector for projecting dashboard information (speedometer/odometer, fuel line, etc.) onto a portion of the windshield. Still further, a second AM/FM stereo and/or CD or cassette player could also be included.

Referring further to Figure 1 , the partition 14 also preferably includes a pair of integrally formed speaker enclosures 37 in which are disposed a pair of speakers 37a. Suitable electrical cabling (not shown) couples the speakers to the AM/FM radio and/or television 36 and its associated video cassette player/recorder 38, and also to the control center 34 such that the speakers

37a can be used to provide the audio portion from the television 36 or the auxiliary stereo system 35.

The base 18 optionally includes one or more fold out trays 40 which may be used for holding food, reading or writing materials or other objects temporarily. The tray may be supported in its upright position shown in Figure

1 by any conventional form of folding linkage which can be temporarily locked in place. The tray 40, when in the closed position, rests within a recess 42 such that the tray 40 sits flush with the outer surface of the base 18. In place of a tray, a retractable footrest may be positioned in the recess. The footrest could function as an extension of the seat immediately in front of it. If the seat is fully reclinable, then the footrest portion and the seat can form a bed when the seat is fully reclined and the footrest extension is in the extended position, thereby allowing the occupant of the seat to lie down with his/her legs supported. Optionally, but preferably, one or more heating/cooling vents 44 can be included in the event the van 10 is provided with a supplemental air conditioning/heating unit having ducting which can be coupled to the partition by suitable duct work.

The base 18 and frame portion 20 of the partition 14 combine to support a glass partition 46. The glass partition 46 may be made from tempered glass or from a translucent polycarbonate material or translucent ABS. The glass partition 46 permits the occupants in the front compartment 24 to easily see into the rear compartment 26 and also out through the wear window (not shown) of the van 10.

The partition 14 thus forms a relatively lightweight assembly that can be easily used in a wide variety of full size vans or minivans to create two distinct compartments within the van. The occupants in the front compartment 24 can thus carry on casual conversation or listen to the vehicle's primary stereo without being distracted by audio from the television 36 or the auxiliary stereo system 35.

It will also be appreciated that the specific shape of the base 18 and frame portion 20 could be formed with a specific vehicle in mind such that the entire partition 14, when installed in the vehicle, has the appearance of an original equipment manufacture (OEM) component. To this end, the base 18 and frame portion 20 could be formed from colored plastics designed to match the interior schemes of various vehicles. Alternatively, the partition 14 could be formed so as to have dimensions just slightly smaller than the interior of the smallest of a variety of vehicles that it is contemplated the partition 14 will be used with. Separate strips of molding material could then be used around the perimeter of the base and frame portions 20 to close off any gaps or spacing that may be present between the base and frame portion 20 and the roof or side walls of the vehicle interior such that the partition 14 takes the appearance of a component that was supplied by the vehicle manufacturer.

Referring now to Figure 2, a partition 100 in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment is shown. The partition 100 is similar to partition 14 of Figure 1 in that it includes a base portion 102 and a frame portion 104. However, the frame portion 104 includes a housing 106 for a LCD (liquid crystal display) television 108 which is mounted off to one side of the frame portion 104. The frame portion 104 also includes one or more lights 110 which may be controlled by switches 112.

The base portion 102 includes integrally formed speaker enclosures 112 which house speakers 114 and a control center 115. A glass partition 116 is also supported by the frame portion 104 and base 102. The base 102 also includes a door 118 which may be slidably mounted to permit occupants of the front compartment of the vehicle to pass items through to occupants in the rear compartment. It will be appreciated that the door 118 could also be hingedly mounted if so desired. It will also be appreciated that the glass partition 116 could be omitted to allow occupants in the front of the van 10 to reach through or even enter the rear compartment via door 118. With further reference to Figure 2, the control center 115 includes a collection of controls 120 for controlling operation of the television 108, an AM/FM stereo, and climate controls, just as with the partition 14 described in connection with Figure 1. The partition 100 is also manufactured from tempered glass or a suitable plastic as mentioned hereinbefore. The partition 100 can be manufactured in two or more components to facilitate assembly within the vehicle if desired. The partition 100 is secured within the vehicle in the same manner as partition 14.

Referring to Figure 3, a partition 200 in accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The partition in this embodiment includes a base portion 202 and a frame portion

204. However, no glass partition is included. Thus, occupants seated in the front compartment 24 of the van 10 may reach through the opening 206 in the partition 200, or even climb through the partition 200 if needed. The frame portion 204 includes an integrally formed cabinet 208 for holding a television 210. Optionally, a video cassette player, a cassette recorder or a DVD player could be accommodated within the cabinet 208. A pair of integrally formed speaker enclosures 210 are included for enclosing two or more speakers 212. Although no control console is included in this embodiment, it will be appreciated that such a control console as shown in Figures 1 and 2 could just as readily be incorporated into partition 200 if desired.

Referring now to Figure 4, a partition 300 in accordance with another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The partition 300 includes a base portion 302 and a frame portion 304. The frame portion 304 includes an integrally formed compartment 306 for holding a television 308 therein. The base portion 302 includes a control console 310 having a plurality of controls 312. A pair of speaker enclosures 314 are used to house a pair of speakers 316. The partition 300 also does not include a glass partition. Accordingly, an opening 318 is formed between the frame portion 304 and the base portion 302. Also, the base portion 302 includes an opening 320 which enables an occupant in the front compartment 24 of the van 10 to easily gain access to the rear compartment 26. As with the partitions 14 and 100 of Figures 1 and

2, respectively, various other items such as a compact disc player or a DVD player could also easily be included with the partition 300 if desired.

The various embodiments of the partition of the present invention thus provide a means by which various devices such as a television, a video cassette player, a DVD player, an AM/FM stereo or climate controls can all be controlled easily and conveniently by occupants in a rear portion of the vehicle. In certain of the embodiments, the partition also forms a means for forming two substantially soundproof compartments within a full size van or a minivan so that occupants in the front two seats of the van are able to converse or listen to the primary stereo of the vehicle without interference from the audio provided by a television or an auxiliary AM/FM stereo being used by the occupants of the rear compartment of the vehicle. The partition is relatively lightweight and can be designed to fit the interior dimensions of specific vehicles or can be constructed so as to fit within a variety of vehicles. The partition can be easily secured to the floor, sidewalls and headliner of a vehicle interior and can also be adapted to control an auxiliary air conditioning/heating unit if the vehicle is so equipped.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.

Claims

IN THE CLAIMS:

1. A partition for an interior of a motor vehicle such as a van, comprising: a base portion; a frame portion extending from said base portion to form an opening therebetween; and a transluscent member disposed in said opening; wherein said partition functions to divide said interior of said van into two compartments.