GB1588291A - Barrier for extending across a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

(54) A BARRIER FOR EXTENDING ACROSS A VEHICLE (71) We, ATHAG LIMITED, a British Company, of Carlyon Road, Atherstone Industrial Estate, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 1LQ, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a barrier in particular, but not exclusively, the barrier is for use in hatch-back type vehicles having an opening rear door or window which extends across the vehicle.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a barrier extending between opposite sides of a vehicle, the barrier comprising a panel held in place by fixing means which includes a pair of spaced apart friction engaging members arranged adjacent one edge of the panel in abutment with a floor or other section of the vehicle, and a pair of locators on the panel in abutment with a rear door or window surround of the vehicle, the fixing means holding the panel so that at least a portion of the panel slopes towards the rear door or window opening. Such an arrangement enables the barrier to follow the rake of a rear seat in the vehicle.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a barrier for extending between opposite sides of a vehicle, the barrier comprising a panel arranged to be held in place by fixing means which includes a pair of spaced apart friction engaging members adjacent one edge of the panel for abutment with a floor or other section of the vehicle, and a pair of locators spaced from the friction engaging members for abutment with a rear door or window surround of the vehicle, said panel including upper and lower portions which are arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other so that, in use, the lower portion of the panel will slope towards the door or window opening.

Preferably the fixing means includes two posts extending across the panel, one of the friction engaging members being carried by one end of each post and one of the locators being carried at the other end of each post. The posts may be straight and the lower portion of the panel may be parallel with first sections of the posts whilst the upper portion of the panel extends away from the remainder of the posts.

Alternatively, the posts may be bent to follow the obtuse upper and lower portions of the panel.

In order to prevent the locating members damaging paintwork on the door or window surround, each locating member may be provided with a protective material.

To enable the barrier to be used in vehicles of various sizes, the barrier may be in the form of two or more separate sections which are relatively movable and which enable the length or width of the barrier to be adjusted.

A barrier in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a vehicle showing a barrier, in situ, and Figure 2 is a side view of the barrier in situ in the vehicle.

A panel 1 comprises a metal grille within an outlet frame which supports two vertical tubes 2 (constituting the aforesaid posts). Each tube 2 has a rubber cap 3 fastened to an adjusting screw 4 at its lower end, and has a right-angled section 5 welded to or pivotally mounted on its upper end.

In use the barrier is positioned behind a rear seat 6 of a vehicle, for example a hatch back vehicle or other type of vehicle which will accept a barrier in accordance with the invention, with the caps 3 frictionally engaging the floor. The right angled sections 5 are then aligned with the door surround 7 and the caps unscrewed so as to wedge the barrier firmly in place with the sections 5 located on the door surround 7. In practice, the portion of the door surround which locates the sections 5 will be the normal guttering section.

Whilst in many cases the right angled sections 5 will form suitable locators, it may be necessary to form the sections 5 of different cross-sectional shape for certain vehicles. The sections 5 may be lined with protective material to prevent the sections sliding along the guttering when the panel is wedged in place, and to prevent damage to paintwork and roof linings.

As shown in Figure 2, the panel follows the angle of tilt of the rear seat 6 and slopes towards the door opening. However, the upper half of the panel could be bent into a vertical position as shown in broken lines so that it is obtuse with respect to the remainder of the panel, but leaving the tubes 2 extending between the floor and the door surround 7. In certain cases it may also be necessary to bend the tubes 2 so that they extend parallel with the upper half of the panel. This will be the case when the guttering or door surround lies directly above the top edge of the rear seat of the vehicle and where the lower halves of the panel and tubes follow the rake of the seat back.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A barrier extending between opposite sides of a vehicle, the barrier comprising a panel held in place by fixing means which includes a pair of spaced apart friction engaging members arranged adjacent one edge of the panel in abutment with a floor or other section of the vehicle, and a pair of locators on the panel in abutment with a rear door or window surround of the vehicle, the fixing means holding the panel so that at least a portion of the panel slopes towards the rear door or window opening.

2. A barrier for extending between opposite sides of a vehicle, the barrier comprising a panel arranged to be held in place by fixing means which includes a pair of spaced apart friction engaging members adjacent one edge of the panel for abutment with a floor or other section of the vehicle, and a pair of locators spaced from the friction engaging members for abutment with a rear door or window surround of the vehicle, said panel including upper and lower portions which are arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other so that, in use, the lower portion of the panel will slope towards the door or window opening.

3. A barrier according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the fixing means includes two posts extending across the panel, one of the friction engaging members being carried by one end of each post and one of the locators being carried at the other end of each post.

4. A barrier according to Claim 3 when appendant to Claim 2, in which the posts are straight and the lower portion of the panel is parallel with first sections of the posts and the upper portion of the panel extends away from the remainder of the posts.

5. A barrier according to Claim 3 when appendant to Claim 2 in which the posts are bent to follow the obtuse upper and lower portions of the panel.

6. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the posts are parallel.

7. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the locators have abutment surfaces which in use extend generally in the direction of the adjacent edge of the panel.

8. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the locators are provided with a protective material to prevent damage to paintwork on the door surround and to inhibit the locators sliding along the door surround.

9. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the locators are pivotally connected to the panel.

10. A barrier according to Claim 1 in which each locator has a cross-sectional shape which enables it to abut or receive the rear door surround.

11. A barrier according to any preceding claim, in which the locating members are mounted on adjustable screw means.

12. A barrier according to any preceding claim, in which the panel is in the form of two or more separate sections which are relatively movable and which enable the length or width of the panel to be adjusted.

13. A barrier according to Claim 12 in which each of the sections comprises a plurality of parallel bars, said sections being interconnected telescopically to enable the length or width of the panel to be adjusted.

14. A barrier for extending across a vehicle interior constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. position as shown in broken lines so that it is obtuse with respect to the remainder of the panel, but leaving the tubes 2 extending between the floor and the door surround 7. In certain cases it may also be necessary to bend the tubes 2 so that they extend parallel with the upper half of the panel. This will be the case when the guttering or door surround lies directly above the top edge of the rear seat of the vehicle and where the lower halves of the panel and tubes follow the rake of the seat back. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A barrier extending between opposite sides of a vehicle, the barrier comprising a panel held in place by fixing means which includes a pair of spaced apart friction engaging members arranged adjacent one edge of the panel in abutment with a floor or other section of the vehicle, and a pair of locators on the panel in abutment with a rear door or window surround of the vehicle, the fixing means holding the panel so that at least a portion of the panel slopes towards the rear door or window opening.

2. A barrier for extending between opposite sides of a vehicle, the barrier comprising a panel arranged to be held in place by fixing means which includes a pair of spaced apart friction engaging members adjacent one edge of the panel for abutment with a floor or other section of the vehicle, and a pair of locators spaced from the friction engaging members for abutment with a rear door or window surround of the vehicle, said panel including upper and lower portions which are arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other so that, in use, the lower portion of the panel will slope towards the door or window opening.

3. A barrier according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the fixing means includes two posts extending across the panel, one of the friction engaging members being carried by one end of each post and one of the locators being carried at the other end of each post.

4. A barrier according to Claim 3 when appendant to Claim 2, in which the posts are straight and the lower portion of the panel is parallel with first sections of the posts and the upper portion of the panel extends away from the remainder of the posts.

5. A barrier according to Claim 3 when appendant to Claim 2 in which the posts are bent to follow the obtuse upper and lower portions of the panel.

6. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the posts are parallel.

7. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the locators have abutment surfaces which in use extend generally in the direction of the adjacent edge of the panel.

8. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the locators are provided with a protective material to prevent damage to paintwork on the door surround and to inhibit the locators sliding along the door surround.

9. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the locators are pivotally connected to the panel.

10. A barrier according to Claim 1 in which each locator has a cross-sectional shape which enables it to abut or receive the rear door surround.

11. A barrier according to any preceding claim, in which the locating members are mounted on adjustable screw means.

12. A barrier according to any preceding claim, in which the panel is in the form of two or more separate sections which are relatively movable and which enable the length or width of the panel to be adjusted.

13. A barrier according to Claim 12 in which each of the sections comprises a plurality of parallel bars, said sections being interconnected telescopically to enable the length or width of the panel to be adjusted.

14. A barrier for extending across a vehicle interior constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.