AU750532B2 - Improved cargo barrier - Google Patents

Description

47614 GEH:TA P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

.o Name of Applicant: TRIMAS CORPORATION PTY LTD Name of inventor(s): S. ROBERT SAUNDERS and GRADIMIR ZIVKOVIC Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000 Invention Title: IMPROVED CARGO BARRIER Details of Associated Provisional Applications: P07022 Dated 28 May 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: This invention relates to an improved cargo barrier to be positioned between the cargo carrying portion of a van or station wagon or similar vehicle and the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Cargo barriers are well known and have been installed in commercial and private vehicles to prevent the rapid forward movement of any cargo carried in the cargo area of the vehicle in the event of an accident or other rapid deceleration of the vehicle. If during extreme braking conditions the vehicle passes over large bumps or undulations the cargo can be thrown around in the cargo area and the screen prevents the forward movement of the cargo into the passenger area of the vehicle.

Thus the cargo barrier must be of robust construction in order to be effective, **and known cargo barriers comprise a rigid frame to which is secured a safety screen, which frame is securely attached to the body of the vehicle. This attachment has been a rigid attachment by straps extending from the frame to 1. 5 rigid mounting points on the body of the vehicle, either a structural member or the body of the vehicle. Due to this rigid interconnection, the sudden impact loading on the barrier is passed as shock loading to the attachment point on the vehicle. If this is the body shell, this impact loading may be sufficient to severely damage the body shell at this point, or even tear the attachment point 20 from the body shell, thus permitting the cargo barrier to move rapidly forward.

:.:*.Usually the cargo barriers comprise a strong steel mesh attached to the rigid metal frame. This mesh is usually rather dense, which is a visual obstruction to o. the driver, particularly through the central rear vision mirror.

Reference is now made to AU680381 which describes a safety screen constructed of poly carbonate, the screen being configured to deform on impact to lessen the loading on the vehicle structure or body shell. The screen thus on impact deforms and in so doing absorbs a proportion of the impact.

Application AU23498/97 which is a divisional application of AU680381 is particularly directed to the mounting of the poly carbonate screen in the vehicle, the mounting means incorporating a mounting strap which is provided with at least one corrugation which straightens and enables the strap to stretch when a load strikes the screen to thereby cushion the impact force. Thus there is a substantial increase in length of the strap, and this can result in the cargo barrier making contact with force with the rear of the passenger seat.

While the disclosures in the above two patent specifications overcome to a certain degree the problems associated with the prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved cargo barrier and mounting of the barrier in the vehicle to reduce the impact loading on the vehicle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mounting arrangement of a screen in a vehicle where by the impact reducing fitting is incorporated in the bracket on the barrier frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fitting or mounting for a cargo barrier having impact reduction without resultant substantial forward S. movement of the cargo barrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide impact reduction in a mounting strap by deformation of the strap at its attachment point.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a steel mesh cargo barrier having greater visibility there through.

Another object of the invention is to provide for easier and quicker fitting of the g* barrier in the vehicle.

Thus there is provided according to the invention an improved cargo barrier adapted to be mounted between the cargo area and the passenger area of a vehicle, said cargo barrier having a frame, mounting means to mount the cargo barrier to the body of the vehicle, the mounting means being so constructed to have a first portion adjacent the frame and a second portion adjacent the attachment point to the vehicle, each of said portions each being so constructed that on impact of cargo on the barrier each portion absorbs part of the impact loading.

In order to more fully describe the invention reference will now be made to the Saccompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 a is a side view of the cargo barrier and mounting straps, Figure 1 b is a view of the cargo barrier from an end thereof showing the mounting straps when positioned in a forward position in the vehicle,, Figure Ic shows a similar view showing the mounting straps when positioned in a rearward position of the vehicle, Figure 2a Figure 2b Figure 2c Figure 3a Figure 3b Figure 4a Figure 4b body of the Figure 4c Figure 4d Figure 4e Figure 5 illustrates the frame of the barrier and the mounting brackets, shows a mounting bracket as installed, shows the deformation of the mounting bracket, shows a portion of a mounting strap, shows the deformation of the mounting strap, shows the anchor plate is a partial cross-sectional view of the anchor plate inserted in the vehicle is a view similar to Figure 4b after assembly, is side view of the assembled anchor plate assembly, is a plan view of the assembled anchor plate assembly, and shows in front and side elevation the child restraint device.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a cargo barrier having a frame 2 and mesh 3. The mesh 3 is denser at the lower portion 4 where greater strength is required for this is the area most likely to be struck by a moving cargo. The upper portion 5 of the mesh is of lesser density so that improved visibility is available there through.

The cargo barrier is mounted in the vehicle by mounting straps 6 and 7 when the barrier is positioned in the forward position, and by mounting straps 6 and 8 when the barrier is mounted in a rear position in the vehicle. Each of the straps is attached to a bracket 9 on the frame 2 of the cargo barrier 1 and to an anchor plate assembly 10 attaching the strap 6 to the body shell 11.

Each of the mounting straps 6, 7 and 8 is provided at either or both ends with an arrangement whereby the impact loading on the vehicle body is lessened.

Thus each strap at one or both ends 12 is provided with a hole 13 through which a bolt or stud passes to attached the strap to either its respective bracket 9 or its respective anchor plate assembly 10. There is provided an .o opening into the hole 13 on the load side of the hole a small slit, slot or notch 14. The bolt or stud 15 is thus in contact with this slit 14, and when an impact load is applied to the strap and stud, the bolt or stud will deform the strap by moving into the slit thus deforming the strap during the last stages of the impact. Figure 3b shows the deformation by the strap deforming as by spreading the slit, slot or notch, the deformation absorbing a proportion of the impact force and so this proportion is not transferred to the body panel. In a preferred form of the invention the length of the slit is of the order of 10 to mm, preferably 20 mm, thus providing only minimal forward movement of the barrier in the event of maximum impact on the barrier.

shown in Figures 2a, 2b, and 2c a bracket 9 is attached to the frame, the bracket having a number of impression, corrugations or wave-like undulations 16 or the like formed in its U shape which is positioned over the frame. Thus on impact, the frame will deform the impressions corrugations, and in effect tend to reverse the impressions or corrugations. The maximum deformation would be in the order of 15mm. This deformation is in the bracket, and even when deformed the movement of the barrier forward due to this deformation will be less, for the deformation is at an angle to the line of action of the force causing the deformation. This deformation will absorb a proportion of the impact load, say 10-20% of the impact load.

Thus the initial absorption of the impact will be taken by the deformation of the bracket 9, and then the deformation of the strap will take place, that is at the last stages of the impact, and only of there is a maximum impact on the barrier.

SIn other words, there is a progressive or two stage absorption of the impact, first at the bracket on the frame of the barrier, and then at the strap.

Thus it is seen that up to 20-40% of the impact load can be reduced, so that a lesser proportion of the impact forces are transferred to the vehicle body shell.

Thus this will result in an increased cargo barrier capacity.

Figure 4 shows the anchor plate assembly which has an anchor plate 17 on one side of body shell 11 and a cover plate 18 on the other side. The anchor plate has a collar 20 around a hole 21, so that on assembly the collar is deformed as shown in Figure 4c whereby the collar helps to increase shear strength of the anchor plate as well as to provide more positive location of the bolt access hole. Preferably the collar has six 6 grooves which help easier 10 forming around the hole during the installation.

The anchor plate assembly also includes a cover plate 18 which has a sleeve *19, and a hole at the other end to receive the anchor stud.

The cargo barrier has provision for a child restraint strap to pass there through. As shown the barrier has an opening there through, the opening 15 being closed by a plate 22 hinged to a plate frame attached to the barrier.

Preferably the plate is of clear plastic so that vision there through is not impaired. As shown the plate can be opened to allow the child restraint strap 23 to pass there through.

Thus it will be seen that there is provided according to the invention an 20 improved barrier and also mountings therefor. The mountings are such that a proportion of the impact loading on the barrier is absorbed by the mountings, so that a lesser load is applied to the body of the vehicle. The loading absorption is provided by two mountings, which may be used independently or in combination with each other to provide, in the preferred form of the invention, a two stage or progressive absorption of the impact force. Even if the two absorption mountings are used, the forward movement of the barrier will only be minimal.

Although various forms of the invention have been described in some detail, the invention is not to be limited thereto, but is to include variations and modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. An improved cargo barrier adapted to be mounted between the cargo area and the passenger area of a vehicle, said cargo barrier having a frame, mounting means to mount the cargo barrier to the body of the vehicle, the mounting means being so constructed to have a first portion adjacent the frame and a second portion adjacent the attachment point to the vehicle, each of said portions each being so constructed that on impact of cargo on the barrier each portion absorbs part of the impact loading.

2. An improved cargo barrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the said first portion absorbs part of the impact load by deformation prior to the second portion absorbing a further part of the impact loading by deformation of the o second portion to provide a two stage absorption of the impact loading.

3. An improved cargo barrier as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first portion of said mounting means includes a mounting bracket attached to 1 5 the frame of the cargo barrier, said mounting bracket having a portion when assembled positioned against the frame, said portion being so constructed to absorb a portion of the impact forces applied to the cargo barrier.

4. An improved cargo barrier as defined in claim 3 wherein said portion of the bracket is provided with wave-like undulations or corrugations which 20 deform and reverse on the application of the impact force.

An improved cargo barrier as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second portion of the mounting means includes a strap extending between said first portion and an attachment point on the vehicle, said strap having holes to receive attachment bolts there through, said strap having a slit or slot extending from one of said holes in the direction of the applied load on the strap, whereby on impact loading the bolt will deform the strap at the slit or slot to permit limited movement of the strap around the bolt.

6. An improved cargo barrier as defined in any one of claims 3 to 5 when appended to claim 2, whereby the two stage reduction of the impact force is 30 provided by the mounting bracket deforming first and the strap deformation 8 occurs after the mounting bracket deformation to thus provide a progressive absorption of the impact force.

7. An improved cargo barrier as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cargo barrier is attached to an anchor plate assembly on the body of the vehicle, said anchor plate assembly comprising an anchor plate attached to the vehicle body at the required location, and a cover plate to cover the attachment point of the strap to an attachment bolt passing through body shell and the attachment plate.

8. An improved cargo barrier as defined in claim 7 wherein the anchor plate has an extending sleeve around a hole for the attachment bolt, said sleeve passing through a corresponding hole in the body shell and rivetted over to locate the attachment plate in position and provide easy access for the attachment bolt on installation of the cargo barrier. o *o

9. An improved cargo barrier as defined in any one of the preceding 5 claims wherein the cargo barrier has a metal mesh screen attached to the frame of the cargo barrier, said mesh screen having wider or more open mesh at an upper portion thereof to provide increased visibility there through.

An improved cargo barrier as defined in an claim 9 wherein the mesh screen at a required location is provided with a child restraint opening there through, a cover hinged to the mesh adjacent the opening to close the opening, said cover being opened to permit the passage of a child restraint strap there through

11. An improved cargo barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 8th day of May 2002 TRIMAS CORPORATION PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO