EP2139724A1

EP2139724A1 - A movable load surface

Info

Publication number: EP2139724A1
Application number: EP08718663A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Harvey; Andrew Neil Craddock
Original assignee: Accuride International Ltd
Current assignee: Accuride International Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-12
Filing date: 2008-03-10
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Also published as: GB0704736D0; WO2008110773A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to movable load surfaces for the interior of a vehicle and particularly variable height load surfaces in the boot or trunk of a vehicle which can be moved by a user using just one hand and can be locked in a plurality of locking positions at different heights.

Description

A MOVABLE LOAD SURFACE

The present invention relates to movable load surfaces for the interior of a vehicle and particularly variable height load surfaces in the boot or trunk of a vehicle.

Variable height load surfaces are known. In particular, the Volkswagen Golf Plus® has a boot floor which can be positioned at two different heights so that when the floor is in the lower position, the volume of usable boot space is increased and when the floor is in the upper position, the floor is substantially level with the back seats when they are folded down. The floor is not permanently connected to the vehicle and is moved between its positions by picking up the whole boot floor and putting it down in its other position. In the upper position, the floor rests on supports which are positioned at the required height.

There is a need for a variable height load surface which can be moved between and locked in set positions by a user using just one hand. Preferably it should be instinctive to the user how to interact with the load floor to move the load floor either up or down. Furthermore, there is a need for a variable height load surface which can be moved without the user having to subject their back to significant pressure by lifting the weight of the load floor.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a movable load surface for the interior of a vehicle comprising: a pair of spaced apart tracks; a pair of slidable members each supported by one of the tracks; a locking mechanism for locking at least one of the slidable members in a plurality of locking positions relative to the tracks; and a load floor connected to the slidable members.

Accordingly, the height of the load floor can be changed by actuating the locking mechanism and sliding the load floor up or down the tracks. Preferably, the load floor is pivotally connected to the slidable members and rotatable relative to the slidable members from a first substantially horizontal position to a second position, wherein: when the load floor is in the first position, the locking mechanism locks at least one of the slidable members relative to the tracks, and rotation of the load floor from the first position to the second position unlocks the slidable members relative to the tracks so that each of the slidable members can slide along its respective track. In this embodiment, the height of the load floor can be changed by rotating the load floor and either pushing it downwards so that it slides down the tracks until it reaches a lower position, or pulling it upwards so that it slides up the tracks until it reaches a higher position. There is no need to activate another mechanism to unlock the load floor from its initial position; the action of rotating the load floor from its first position to its second position unlocks the slidable members and allows the user to move the load floor using just one hand.

The locking mechanism may comprise a locking cam fixed relative to the load floor; and a locking arm pivotally connected to the slidable member and engageable with at least one notch formed in one of the pair of tracks, wherein when the load floor is in the first position, the locking arm engages the at least one notch, and rotation of the load floor from the first position to the second position causes the locking cam to rotate which, in turn, causes the locking arm to become disengaged from the at least one notch.

The at least one notch formed in one of the pair of tracks may be provided in the web of the track or in one or both of the flanges of the track.

A spring may also be provided for biasing the locking arm into engagement with the at least one notch so that the slidable member remains locked in place during vibration or sudden movement of the vehicle in which the load surface is installed. The spring would also prevent rattling of the locking arm in the notches and will ensure that the load floor automatically locks in place if the load floor is dropped.

If a plurality of notches are formed in each of the tracks, the load floor can be locked in place at more than one height. Preferably the tracks are provided with three notches to provide three separate locking positions and three alternative levels for the load floor.

Alternatively, the load floor may be fixed relative to the slidable members and the locking mechanism may be actuated by means of a cable acting upon a locking arm arranged to engage a plurality of notches in the track. The cable may be actuated by means of a handle mounted close to the front of the load floor so that the user can actuate the locking mechanism and move the load floor with only one hand.

The load surface may further be provided with a constant force spring acting between one of the pair of tracks and its corresponding slidable member for providing a force to counteract the weight of the load floor acting on the slidable member. Such a constant force spring assists the user in moving the load floor to a higher level without having to pull with a force equal to the whole weight of the load floor. Moreover, the constant force spring prevents the load floor from falling rapidly to a lower level when the locking mechanism is disengaged; the constant force spring counteracts the weight of the load floor so that the user applies a small force downwards to cause downward motion of the load floor. The constant force spring may also ensure a consistent effort is required to move the load floor up and down the tracks.

Each track may be channel shaped and the at least one slidable member may comprise a body portion contacting flanges of the channel, and a roller mounted in the body portion and bearing against a web of the channel. Such an arrangement prevents lateral play of the slidable member within the track and thus prevents jamming. The slidable members may alternatively comprise ball bearing slides which run within channel shaped tracks.

The movable load surface of the present invention may further comprise a mechanism for synchronising movement of the slidable members with one another. This mechanism would prevent the slidable members from jamming in their tracks.

The load floor may be pivotally connected to the slidable members via a bar which is rotatable relative to the load floor. The bar may be used to ensure the movement of the two slidable members is synchronised. The bar may have a square cross section. At least one bush may be mounted between the bar and the load floor so that the load floor can be rotated relative to the bar from its first position to its second position. The bar may further be mounted within a torsion tube and the load floor may be pivotally mounted on the torsion tube. The torsion tube may be used to avoid excessive loading of the bar so that the slidable members can slide freely in the tracks.

A pinion may be mounted at each end of the bar; and a pair of racks may be provided, wherein each of the pair of racks is mounted parallel to one of the pair of tracks with one of the pinions meshing with each of the pair of racks, such that movement of the slidable members within the tracks causes each pinion to move along its respective rack. This arrangement ensures movement of the two slidable members is synchronised and no jamming of the members due to misalignment of the slidable members within the tracks will occur.

The load surface may further comprise an intuitive self positioning system for providing feedback to a user that one of the slidable members has reached one of the plurality of positions in which it can be locked. Such a system informs the user when to rotate the load floor from its second position to its first position in order to lock the load floor in place. The feedback may comprise a tactile or force feedback such as a sudden small movement of the load floor in a particular direction or a sudden change of direction of movement of the load floor. The tactile or force feedback may be accompanied by auditory feedback such as a click.

The load floor may be both pivotally and slidably mounted relative to the slidable members. The intuitive self positioning system may comprise a protrusion formed on the load floor and a guide surface positioned parallel to one of the pair of tracks such that the protrusion runs along the guide surface when the slidable members slide along the tracks, wherein the guide surface comprises a smooth surface with a plurality of discontinuities, each of the plurality of discontinuities corresponding to one of the plurality of locking positions. In this embodiment, as the protrusion reaches a discontinuity in the guide surface, the user may feel a sudden change in direction or change in speed of the movement of the load floor. Each of the discontinuities may comprise a ledge upon which the protrusion bears when the load floor is in the first position.

The load floor may be spring loaded against the torsion tube such that the spring biases the protrusion against the guide surface. Such spring loading ensures consistent feedback to the user. Such spring loading also ensures that, when the load floor is in its first position, the protrusion always remains engaged with the guide surface even in the event of a sudden change in vehicle inertia such as is experienced in, for example, braking or an accident.

The intuitive self positioning system guide surface may also act as a load bearing surface so that the majority of the weight of the load floor is removed from the locking mechanism. Such an arrangement reduces the risk of the locking mechanism unlocking in the event of a sudden change in vehicle inertia such as is experience in, for example, braking or an accident.

The angle through which the load floor pivots in order to disengage the slidable members from the tracks is preferably between 20° and 28°. The load floor may be pivotable beyond the angle at which the locking mechanism disengages to allow improved access to any space under the load floor.

By way of example, an embodiment of a sliding support assembly according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side view of a movable load surface according to an embodiment of the invention when installed in the boot of a vehicle;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the movable load surface shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cut-away perspective view of a part of the movable load surface shown in figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a cut-away perspective view of the part of the movable load surface shown in figure 3 from another direction;

Figure 5 is a side view of part of the movable load surface of figure 1 with a number of components missing;

Figures 6a to 6c show perspective views of part of the movable load surface of figure 1 in three separate configurations with a number of components missing;

Figure 7 is a side view of part of a movable load surface according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of the movable load surface of figure 7.

Figure 1 shows a movable load surface according to the present invention when installed in a boot of a vehicle.

As can be seen from figure 2, the movable load surface includes a pair of tracks 10. Each track 10 houses a slidable member 12. Each track 10 is channel shaped, defining a web and two flanges. Each slidable member 12 comprises a body portion which contacts the flanges of the channel shaped track 10, and two rollers 14 mounted in the body portion which bear against the web of the channel shaped track 10.

A load floor 20 is pivotally connected to the slidable members 12 and is rotatable relative to the slide members 12 from a first substantially horizontal position as shown in figure 6a to a second position shown in figure 6b.

The movable load surface further includes a locking mechanism for locking the slidable members 12 in a plurality of locking positions relative to the tracks 10. As best shown in figure 5, the locking mechanism comprises a locking cam 30 fixed relative to the load floor 20. The locking mechanism further comprises a locking arm 32 pivotally connected to the slidable member 12 and engageable with a plurality of notches 34 formed in the web of one of the tracks 10.

The locking mechanism also includes a spring (not shown) which biases the locking arm 32 into engagement with the notches 34 in the web of the track 10.

An alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism is shown in figures 7 and 8. The locking mechanism shown in figures 7 and 8 comprises a locking cam 30' fixed relative to the load floor 20. The locking mechanism further comprises a locking arm 32' pivotally connected to the slidable member 12 and engageable with a plurality of notches 34' formed in the flanges of one of the tracks 10. The locking mechanism also includes a spring 36 which biases the locking arm 32' into engagement with the notches 34' in the flanges of the track 10.

The load floor 20 is pivotally connected to the slidable members 12 via a bar 40 which is rotatable relative to the load floor 20. The bar 40 has a square cross section. A bush 42 is mounted between the bar 40 and the load floor 20 close to each side of the load floor 20 so that the load floor 20 can be rotated relative to the bar 40 from its first substantially horizontal position to its second position. The bar 40 is further mounted within a torsion tube 44 and the load floor 20 is pivotally mounted on the torsion tube 44. The torsion tube 44 is provided to avoid excessive loading of the bar 40.

A pinion 46 is mounted at each end of the bar 40, and a pair of racks 48 are provided. Each rack 48 is mounted parallel to one of the tracks 10 with one of the pinions 46 meshing with each of the racks 48.

The load surface further includes a constant force spring 50 which acts between each track 10 and its corresponding slidable member 20.

As is best seen in figures 6a to 6c, the load floor 20 is both pivotally and slidably mounted relative to the slidable members 12. A protrusion 60 is formed on the load floor 20 and a guide surface 62 is arranged parallel to the tracks 10. The protrusion 60 is arranged to run along the guide surface 62. The guide surface 62 comprises a smooth surface with a plurality of discontinuities 64. Each of the discontinuities 64 is positioned adjacent a ledge 66 upon which the protrusion 60 bears when the load floor 20 is in its first position. Each of the discontinuities 64 corresponds to one of the locking positions. The load floor 20 is also spring loaded against the torsion tube 22 so that the spring (not shown) biases the protrusion 60 against the guide surface 62.

When the load floor 20 is in the first substantially horizontal position as shown in figure 6a, the locking arm 32 or 32' is engaged with a notch 34 or 34' in the track 10. The slidable member 12 is locked relative to the track 10 and consequently prevented from sliding along the track 10.

In order to change the height of the load floor from a first height to a second height, the user grips a first end of the load floor 20 and rotates the load floor 20 upwards through an angle of at least 20°. Rotation of the load floor 20 causes the locking ^" cam 30 or 30' to rotate which, in turn, disengages the locking arm 32 or 32' from the notch 34 or 34' in the track 10. Consequently, the slidable member 12 is no longer locked relative to the track 10 but is free to slide along the track 10. The load floor is then in the configuration shown in figure 6b.

In order to raise the floor to a higher level, the user pulls the floor upwards. The pinion 46 runs along the rack 48 ensuring the two sides of the load floor remain at the same height. The constant force spring 50 assists the user to raise the weight of the load floor 20. As the load floor is raised, the protrusion 60 rides along the guide surface 62 until it reaches the discontinuity 64, at which point the user feels a jerk as the protrusion rides over the discontinuity 64 onto the ledge of the guide surface. The jerk prompts the user to rotate the load floor 20 downwards to be substantially horizontal so that the locking cam 30 or 30' rotates, consequently allowing the locking arm 32 or 32' to be biased towards the track 20 and into engagement with a notch 34 or 34' correspondingly positioned relative to the ledge 66 on the guide surface 62.

In order to move the floor to a lower level, the user pushes the floor downwards. The load floor 20 moves linearly relative to the bar 40 thus allowing the protrusion 60 to ride over the ledge 66 and discontinuity 64 as shown in figure 6c. The pinion 46 runs down the rack 48 ensuring the two sides of the load floor remain at the same height. The constant force spring 50 prevents the user from having to support the weight of the load floor 20 as it descends. Consequently, only minimal force is required to lower the load floor. As the load floor is lowered, the protrusion 60 rides along the guide surface 62 until it reaches the ledge 66, at which point the user feels an increased resistance to continued movement. The increased resistance prompts the user to rotate the load floor 20 downwards to be substantially horizontal so that the locking cam 30 or 30' rotates, consequently allowing the locking arm 32 or 32' to be biased towards the track 20 and into engagement with a notch 34 or 34' correspondingly positioned relative to the ledge 66 on the guide surface 62.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, each track 10 is provided with three notches 34 thus allowing the load floor 20 to be positioned at three alternative heights as shown in figure 1. The front end of the load floor is supported by the floor of the boot in the lowest level, by a surface at the rear of the boot in the central level, and by supports formed into the side of the car boot in the uppermost level.

It can be seen that the movable load surface of the present invention allows a user to raise or lower a load floor merely by rotating the load floor with one hand. Consequently, the load floor of the present invention is simple and intuitive to move without requiring a significant amount of exertion by the user.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment described is by way of example only, and that alterations or modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A movable load surface for the interior of a vehicle comprising: a pair of spaced apart tracks; a pair of slidable members each supported by one of the tracks; a locking mechanism for locking at least one of the slidable members in a plurality of locking positions relative to the tracks; and a load floor connected to the slidable members.

2. The movable load surface of claim 1, wherein the load floor is pivotally connected to the slidable members and rotatable relative to the slidable members from a first substantially horizontal position to a second position, wherein: when the load floor is in the first position, the locking mechanism locks at least one of the slidable members relative to the tracks, and rotation of the load floor from the first position to the second position unlocks the slidable members relative to the tracks so that each of the slidable members can slide along its respective track.

3. The load surface of claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a locking cam fixed relative to the load floor; and a locking arm pivotally connected to the slidable member and engageable with at least one notch formed in one of the pair of tracks, wherein when the load floor is in the first position, the locking arm engages the at least one notch, and rotation of the load floor from the first position to the second position causes the locking cam to rotate which, in turn, causes the locking arm to become disengaged from the at least one notch.

4. The load surface of claim 3, further comprising a spring for biasing the locking arm into engagement with the at least one notch.

5. The load surface of any preceding claim, further comprising a constant force spring acting between one of the pair of tracks and its corresponding slidable member for providing a force to counteract the weight of the load floor acting on the slidable member.

6. The movable load surface of any preceding claim, wherein each track is channel shaped and the at least one slidable member comprises: a body portion contacting flanges of the channel; and a roller mounted in the body portion and bearing against a web of the channel.

7. The movable load surface of any preceding claim further comprising a mechanism for synchronising movement of the slidable members with one another.

8. The movable load surface of any preceding claim wherein the load floor is pivotally connected to the slidable members via a bar which is rotatable relative to the load floor.

9. The movable load surface of claim 8 wherein the bar has a square cross section.

10. The movable load surface of claim 8 or claim 9 further comprising at least one bush mounted between the bar and the load floor.

11. The movable load surface of claim 10 wherein the bar is mounted within a torsion tube and the load floor is pivotally mounted on the torsion tube.

12. The movable load surface of any of claims 8 to 11 further comprising: a pinion mounted at each end of the bar; and a pair of racks, each of the pair of racks meshing with one of the pinions, wherein each of the pair of racks is mounted parallel to one of the pair of tracks such that movement of the slidable members within the tracks causes each pinion to move along its respective rack.

13. A load surface of any preceding claim, further comprising an intuitive self positioning system for providing feedback to a user that one of the slidable members has reached one of the plurality of positions in which it can be locked.

14. The movable load surface of claim 13 wherein the load floor is both pivotally and slidably mounted relative to the slidable members.

15. The movable load surface of claim 14 wherein the intuitive self positioning system comprises a protrusion formed on the load floor and a guide surface positioned parallel to one of the pair of tracks such that the protrusion runs along the guide surface when the slidable members slide along the tracks, wherein the guide surface comprises a smooth surface with a plurality of discontinuities, each of the plurality of discontinuities corresponding to one of the plurality of locking positions.

16. The movable load surface of claim 15 wherein each of the discontinuities comprises a ledge upon which the protrusion bears when the load floor is in the first position.

17. The movable load surface of claim 15 or claim 16 further comprising a spring positioned to bias the load floor so that the protrusion is biased toward the guide surface.

18. The movable load surface of any of claims 13 to 17 wherein when the load surface is in a first substantially horizontal position, at least the majority of the weight of the load floor acts through the intuitive self positioning system rather than through the locking mechanism.

19. The movable load surface of any preceding claim wherein the angle between the plane of the load floor in the first and second positions is between 20° and 28°.

20. A movable load surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying figures.