AU2005200748A1 - Vehicle equipment rack - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

C Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 0 FOR A STANDARD PATENT 00

(ORIGINAL)

00 o Name of Applicant: MARK NEWTON CECIL RUSSELL Actual Inventor(s): MARK NEWTON CECIL RUSSELL Address for Service: SANDERCOCK COWIE SUITE 8C, 50-54 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 Invention Title: VEHICLE EQUIPMENT RACK Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. 2004900868 Filed: 20 t h February, 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- Fc2005-02-16,A:\S29russell. filc.wpd, I -la- 00 00 o

O

TITLE: VEHICLE EQUIPMENT RACK FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns a rack for installation in the cargo space of a passenger or commercial vehicle, such as a four wheel drive car.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When passenger vehicles are taken to campsites, the equipment they carry must be 2005-02-16,A:\526russll.cap.wpd, I o stowed in the cargo space at the rear of the passenger space. In any trip the equipment is taken out and put back repeatedly. In a known arrangement, lockers are secured to the vehicle floor and these occupy the lower third of the space. Luggage and loose 00 equipment is piled on top. This commonly prevents vision through the rear window of the vehicle and leaves the upper part of the cargo space unused.

00 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION t The apparatus aspect of this invention provides a shelf for the cargo space between the passenger seats and the cargo door of the vehicle characterised in that the shelf when installed utilises the upper half of the cargo space.

The shelf when installed may utilise the upper 15-30% of the space, preferably the part above the level of the internal rearview mirror.

The shelf may be partly supported by the cargo barrier which divides the space between the passenger seats and the cargo door of the vehicle, and partly by a leg or legs. The term "leg" is intended to include a single support and a frame, both of which may be contoured to fit the vehicle shape or substantially straight.

The shelf may be static and horizontal and the leg is a static floor supported frame which divides the cargo space beneath the shelf into a LH space and RH space. The division of the space in this way helps to organise the space and stabilises the contents if rough terrain is unavoidable.

In a variant, the leg or legs is or are gas strut(s) attached to mounting sites on the vehicle body interior.

The legs, frame or struts which support the shelf are capable of carriage through a door as components into the cargo space where they are assembled inside the vehicle.

The shelf may be a horizontal frame with legs intended for accommodation in the space between the passenger seats and the rear of the vehicle. The frame may be dimensioned 2005-02- 16,A:\526russell.cap.wpd,2 -3o to fit adjacent the roof, supported only by integral legs orjointly by the legs of the shelf together with an upright cargo barrier.

d 00 Such barriers are normally installed directly behind the passenger seats and divide the space described above from the passenger space. When no barrier is present, the frame 00 may be provided with front legs instead. Alternatively, the frame may be supported by a diagonal brace from the rear legs.

t The frame may support a tilting shelf which is accessible through the rear door of the vehicle. The shelf may tilt between a drop down position in which articles to be stowed, such as bedding, get replaced on the shelf at a raised position in which the lowermost part of the shelf is above the level of the rear vision mirror. The shelf may be a sub-frame which pivots on the frame to give the necessary access. The sub-frame has a captive end and a moveable end. The moveable end is supported by a pair of latches in the stowed position and when the latches release, a tie limits the drop down distance.

In practice, the shelf support must be installed in the vehicle and remain in the allotted position maintaining stability under forces imposed by cornering and breaking. It may be fixed to the vehicle floor. The shelf support may instead include a base for securing to the floor of the vehicle. The base may be a vehicle floor overlay with means to attach it to the vehicle floor. Plywood and sheet plastic, such as polyethylene, from 8-16mm are practical materials.

When the floor is present, the frame may also be accompanied by one or more storage compartments or lockers, each having a specific purpose. One compartment may accommodate a drawer for meal time utensils and requisites. Another compartment may contain a refrigerator. Another may house a collapsible table. There may be a water container which is attachable to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the drawings, in which: 2005-02-16,A:\26russel.cap.wpd,3 -4- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section of a vehicle showing the location of the device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device assembled outside the vehicle.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device inside the vehicle.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device with the shelf in drop down mode.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the components.

Figure 6 is an assembly showing how the components are connected.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic plan of an alternative geometry.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan of a variant of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a diagram of a further variant of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a latch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the space 2 between the rear seat 4 and the rear door 6 of the vehicle. Steel mesh cargo barrier 8 divides space 2 from the passenger area.

This enables a dog to travel in the cargo space and for the space to be lockable.

In Figures 2-6, base 10 is cut from 12mm exterior ply to suit the floor shape of the space 2. The vehicle floor (see Figure 2) is first removed and the locations of the securing bolts 12 are transferred to the base so that the securing bolts fix both the base and the vehicle floor 14 (see Figure 3) to the vehicle body.

Support tube 16 assists attachment of the base 10 to the floor 16. Legs 18 have feet which are bolted to the base. Legs 18 support a horizontal U-shaped frame 22, 24, 26 at 2005-02-16,A:\26russell.cap.wpd,4 a level just above the line of sight of the driver's rearview mirror 28 (see Figure The horizontal frame member 26 is connectable to the cargo barrier 8 by fasteners 30 which enter fishplates 32 behind the cargo barrier mesh. If the cargo barrier has stiles, it is 00 possible to pass bolts through them instead. Side tubes 22, 24 are joined to tube 26 by angle iron corner connectors 34 and bolts 36. The frame is braced by arcuate strut 38 00 which lies adjacent the vehicle roof. Arcuate strut 22 is connected to side tube 22, 24 by plate 40 and bolts 42. Rectangular sheet sub-frame 44 is connected to the frame 22, 24, 26 by hinges 46.

The frame is secured by latches 48 (see Figure 5) in the raised position and is free to tilt downwards to the drop-down position shown in Figure 4 where it is restrained by straps The latches are ganged together and cancelled by a pull-down cord 52. A net 54 (see Figure 5) made of nylon strands is stretched across the sub-frame 44 so that a shelf is created which utilises the space above the sight line of the mirror 28 in Figure 1. The shelf 44 is accessible by opening the vehicle rear door 6. The shelf is ideal for stowing bedding rolls which are transferred from the campsite to the vehicle before the tent is folded up. All the frame parts are made from 19mm hollow square section steel tube.

In Figure 7 vehicles with rear cargo door 6 and side cargo door 60 receive a frame 62 which supports shelf frame 44 which is accessible through rear door 6 and shelf frame 64 which is accessible through door In Figure 8 the vehicle has additional side door 66. Support frame 62 is modified to provide hinge mounts for a shelf 68 accessible through one side door 60 and shelf accessible from the opposite side door 66.

In Figure 9 the frame 62 is modified to support single shelf44. Shelf44 is supported in frame 62 by latches 48 and an extra pair of latches 72. Access through door 60 requires release of latches 48. Access through the opposite door 66 requires the release of latches 72.

Referring to Figure 10, the latches are able to function as described because they consist.

of pins 74 which project through the latch box 76 bolted to shelf frame 44 in order to 2005-02-16,A:\526russell.cap.wpd,5 -6- O overlie support tube 22. They are urged into the projecting position by coil spring 78.

SShelf44 is allowed to drop down by a downward pull on tie 52. In a variant, the latches Sare ganged by linkage to a common handle.

00 The optional fittings which are fixed to the floor, side by side across the width of the 00 space 2 are a cabinet and drawer 32, a refrigerator 34 on drawer slides and a hollow compartment 36 for accommodating a folding table. These are not described in detail Sbecause they are available in the prior art as fittings which are secured to the vehicle floor t as a cluster or individually. The provision of plywood base 10 simplifies the installation of the optional fittings and allows customers to specify their requirements if the device is to be purchased from a specialist supplier or alternatively hired. The provision of the base is optional because it is possible to use the vehicle floor in some installations. If the vehicle floor has been removed, it is still possible to attach the device to the sites of the body including the roof, floor and pillars.

This embodiment is designed for a Nissan GU Patrol. Other vehicles which take the device are Toyota Land Cruiser 100 series; Toyota Prado 2003 and Landcruiser Discovery. In addition, utes with fibreglass canopy space and other commercial vehicles with a rear cargo area will accommodate the device.

We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be:- 1. Improved utilisation of cargo space.

2. The driver can still use the vehicle's internal rearview mirror.

3. The provision of a base which will take screw fasteners facilitates the location of ancillary storage fittings.

4. The device is applicable to courier vans with side entry cargo doors and utes with canopies.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is 2005-02-16,A:\26russell.cap.wpd,6 n -7o to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

00 SIt is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications 00 and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

1O

(N

2005-02-16,A:\526rssll.cap.wpd,7

Claims (14)

1. A shelf for the cargo space between the passenger seats and the cargo door of the 00 vehicle characterised in that the shelf when installed utilises the upper half of the cargo space. 00

2. A shelf as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the shelf when installed utilises the upper S15-30% of the space.

3. A shelf as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the shelf is partly supported by the cargo barrier which divides the space between the passenger seats and the cargo door of the vehicle, and partly by a leg or legs.

4. A shelf as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the shelf is static and horizontal and the leg is a static floor supported frame which divides the cargo space beneath the shelf into a LH space and RH space.

A shelf as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the leg or legs is or are gas strut(s) attached to mounting sites on the vehicle body interior.

6. A shelf as claimed in Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the legs, frame or struts which support the shelf are capable of carriage through a door as components into the cargo space where they are assembled inside the vehicle.

7. A floor supported shelf for the space between the passenger seats and the rear of the vehicle characterised in that the shelfutilises the upper part of the space lying above the sight line of the vehicles internal rear view mirror.

8. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the shelf is a horizontal frame spanned by mesh with legs intended for accommodation in the space between the passenger seats and the rear of the vehicle.

9. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the shelf is supported by

2005-02-! 6,AA526russell.cap.wpd,8 -9- a pair of legs and has connectors capable ofjoining the front side of the frame to an adjacent upright cargo barrier. <d 00

10. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the shelf is supported by a pair of legs and a pair of diagonal braces extending between the legs and the 00 side of the frame.

11. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the shelf is supported by two pairs of legs.

12. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claim 1-5, wherein an arcuate strut joins the sides of the frame.

13. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claims 1-6, wherein the shelf is a sub frame spanned by mesh which pivots on the frame to create a tilting shelf which is accessible through the vehicle's cargo door.

14. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claims 1-7, wherein the sub frame has a captive end and a movable end and the movable end is supported by a pair of latches and when the latches release, a tie limits the drop down distance. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claims 1-8, wherein the legs are fixed to a base which in turn is fixed to the vehicle floor. 16. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claims 1-9, wherein the base is plywood or sheet plastic. 17. A floor supported shelf as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the shelf is a sub frame spanned by mesh which has two pairs of latches, each pair being capable of engaging the support frame and creating a pivot axis, the pairs being selectively operable to allow drop down accessibility from either one direction or the opposite direction. 2005-02-16,A:\26nrusscll.cap.wpd,9 O O 18. A floor supported shelf substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1-7 or as modified by Figures 8 or 9. 00 Dated this 18 th day of February, 2005. 00 SANDERCOCK COWIE 1 PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR SMARK NEWTON CECIL RUSSELL iO o,, 2005-02-16,A:\526russell.cap.wpd,