EP0765255A1

EP0765255A1 - Cargo support

Info

Publication number: EP0765255A1
Application number: EP94925063A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlo Castro
Original assignee: Klippan Safety AB
Current assignee: CASTRO, CARLO
Priority date: 1993-08-20
Filing date: 1994-08-18
Publication date: 1997-04-02
Also published as: SE500873C2; SE9302685L; SE9302685D0; WO1995005956A1

Abstract

Luggage support for estate and hatchback cars constituted by an angled part with an approximately 1 dm broad horizontal part and a vertical part approximately 3 dm high, the vertical part in its ends being provided with holes into which hooks (5) can grip. The hooks (5) are adjustably fixable to rubber strings (6). The rubber strings run when used from the holes (4) down between back rest and floor (7). In this way the luggage support is pulled obliquely forward, downwards and furthermore the luggage support is held in place by the horizontal part (1) that is pushed in under the goods. At loading and unloading the support is released from the hooks in one or the other end and is pulled backwards, is swung away or tilted backwards without the release of any hook. Loading is carried out in an opposed manner.

Description

Cargo Support

Λ usua L problem at cars is that when the luggage compartment is not fully loaded, tne objects that are there too easily unrestrictedly are thrown around as the car is driven. This is in particular the case at hatchbacks and combi-coupes were the f oor normally is entirely flat and even. As a result one must always when more cargo is to be entered, reorganize the load. Furthermore the boot or luggage compartment may quite unnecessarily look messy, although cardboard boxes can be used lies-³ will instead move around.

In view of the above problems there exist a need for a device that can keep the load or luggage tidy in particular in the luggage compartment in hatch back cars or combi coupes. The object of the invention is to solve this problem and achieve • an efficient but simple load or luggage support. This is in accordance with the invention achieved by the load support being constituted by an essentially angled profile with a horizontally narrow flange and a vertical broader flange. A distance up on the vertical flange fastening points are 0 arranged to pull or tension the load support downward, forwards towards the back rest of the rear seat. Preferably the pulling means can be constituted by hook provided rubber ^• strings running in under the back rest and around its hinges or fastened in some other way. Preferably the tensioning or pulling means even if they are elastic or resilient are adjustable to allow adaption to different loads.

When the invented device is to be used to hold a number of objects in a luggage compartment, these are placed on the 0 horizontal part of the load support and in front of this ror,pectively, thereafter the load support is tensioned against thp back rest and the goods are pressed against the back rest and arc held sturdily fixed even at driving on very bumpy roa s . e.

If Tor instance a flat and long object is to be transported the load support is instead turned 90 degrees so that the πlioi 1 r-i 1e will βo vertical and the longer horizontal. In ! his way also objects of this type are held steadily against; t l.e» back roπL and are prevented from sliding around in the lυqq.iqf compartment. 5

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention are apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the enclosed drawings. Fig i shows a load support in accordance with the invention in a 0 first working position installed in a car and fig 2 the same load support in other fields of use and fig 3 the load support: in accordance with the invention in a perspective view.

As is apparent from fig 1 the load support includes a 5 horizontal foot part 1 and a vertical part 2. In the ends there are angle shaped gables 3 strengthening the load support . In the gables 3 approximately in the middle of the v^prticα] part ?. a hol 4 is arranged. In this hole a hook 5 is hooked, that in turn is adjustably fastened to a rubber string 0 6. The rubber string 6 extends forwards, downwards from the load support down between the floor 7 of the luggage compartment 7 and the back rest 8 of the rear seat. In the shown embodiment the string runs around the hinges of the back rest and back up to the other end of the load support where it 5 also is fastened to the load support with an adjustable hook.

The shown goods 9 rests not only on the floor of the luggage compartment but also on the horizontal part 1 of the load support and thus contributes to the fixing of the load 30 support .

JII f iq ?. has been shown how the load support has been applied to a long and fl t object. Here the load support has been I in n r] <) n doqreeπ so that the short leg now is vertical and . I he long l >σ horizontal . Since the tenεioning means in the sl.ap of a string with hooks in the ends still runs forwards downwards from h<-> load support, that is towards the floor an angle directed downwards is always obtained giving a component downwards for the force exerted by the load support on the object^", that is to be held. In this way the load support will even if the vehicle, is shaken be held on the load.

Tf the luggage support is not to be used it can easily be stowed away, for instance at the front end of the luggage compartment and if desired of course pockets can be arranged on the rear side of the load support to enable a stowing away of smaller objects.

Λs is apparent from fig 3 a grip is arranged in the middle of the load support in the shape of an opening 10, so that one easily and with one hand can pull the load support backwards when the load is to be taken out from the car. Preferably at first however at least one of the pulling connections is opened by unhooking the corresponding hook.

Loading can also take place by the load support being tilted somewhat backwards to allow the insertion and placing of the load on the horizontal part between the vertical part and the back rest. The load support is then released and returns to its intended position pressing the load against the back rest.

Preferably the load support is made from plastic. If desired this plastic can be transparent. Within the scope of the invention one can also consider to use other types of fastening for instance bands that are fastened to suitable aces in the car and that the resilient function is achieved by means of an elastic connection for instance with a thick rubber string between the bands on the back side of the load support . The load support can either in its entirety be pulled backwards on loading or simply be turned or tilted.

Within the scope of the invention one can also contemplat the load support being divided in two or several pieces laterally so that for instance goods can be held with a load support in accordance with the invention over half of the back rest, while onger objects not requiring load support may be located over the rest of the width. Alternatively the back rest at this half can be lowered and even longer goods can be placed in the luggage compartment or boot.

A suitable length for the load support has shown itself to be 00 cm but one can also consider other lengths adapted to the vehicles in question. As a preferred module length for a shorter load support for use when for instance half of the back rest is to be lowered should be 40 cm.

The load support can also be used to secure goods against other luggage compartment walls than the front one that does not have to be a back rest.

Claims

Patent claims

1. load support intended for the holding of goods in the luggage compartment of hatch back cars or combi coupes, characterized in that it is constituted by an angle profile with a first narrow leg (1) and a second broad leg (2.) in the ends of which tension means are applicable for the holding against for instance a back rest.

2. Load support according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening points of the tension means are arranged at approximately half the width of the broad leg.

3. Load support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tension means is resilient.

4. Load support according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the tension means ends in a hook that can be unhooked from the load support to get this out of the way on loading and unloading.

5. Load support according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the tension means is adjustable.

6. Load support according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the tension means is made of plastic.

7. Load support according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the broad leg of the load support has a width corresponding approximately to that with which an average back rest in a hatch back car extends up from the load floor or approximately 30 cm.

8. Load support according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the narrow leg of the load support has a width of about 1 dm to secure that the load support is held under the goods.

9. Load support according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that it has a grip in the middle of the broad leg or flange, for instance in the shape of an elongate through hole.