GB2033849A

GB2033849A - A device for transversely partitioning a vehicle, e.g. a motor car

Info

Publication number: GB2033849A
Application number: GB7934844A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: VANDAMME ETS GEORGES
Current assignee: VANDAMME ETS GEORGES
Priority date: 1978-10-10
Filing date: 1979-10-08
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: FR2438562B2; FR2438562A2; BE886070A; GB2033849B; DE7928501U1

Abstract

The device comprises a four-sided net (1), the mesh of which can be deformed in the direction of its two median lines (2,3). Means (19,20,24, 25) for securing the upper corners (7,8) of the net and means (5) for bringing about said deformation depending on the transverse dimensions of the vehicle are provided. The deformation means (5) comprise an elastically extensible tie which connects the two upper corners (7,8) of the net and which engages in the mesh of the upper edge (6) of the net (1). The length of this tie (5), when slack, is at the most equal to the minimum possible inside width of the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for transversely partitioning a vehicle The present invention relates to a device for the transverse partitioning of a motor car.

Devices of this type comprise a four-sided net, the mesh of which can be deformed in the direction of its two median lines, means for attaching the net in the vicinity of each of its four corners and means for bringing about its deformation in the direction of its two median lines in order to adapt its diemensions to the transverse dimensions of the vehicle to be equipped with the latter.

In one embodiment, the means for the deformation of the net comprise a cord connecting the two upper corners of the net and engaged in the mesh of its upper edge and a slide for varying the useful length of the small cord.

The two upper corners of the net are also interconnected by a second cord which is engaged in succession in the mesh of the three edges of the net other than the upper edge of the latter. Mounted to slide onthis cord are the two lower devices for securing the net and its apparent length can also be adjusted by means of a slide in order to ensure the tension of the net in a shape and arrangement in which it occupies the cross-section of the vehicle in the best way, at least above the upper edge of the back of the seats in the vehicle, which backs ensure transverse partitioning of the vehicle in the lower part, thus complementing the net.

The abovedescribed device is completely satisfactory to the extent that it effectively makes it possible to adapt the shape and dimensions of the net to very varied cross-sectional shapes and dimensions of vehicles.

Nevertheless, it is advantageous to replace the adjusting slide by a device which is technically simpler and both quicker and easier to use. To this end, the present invention proposes to replace all or part of the cords whose length can be adjusted by the slide, by elastically extensible ties, which have the advantage of adapting themselves as regards their apparent length, to the dimensions required by the structure of the vehicle.

In the particular case where the upper devices for anchoring the net consist of hooks engaging in the edges of the roof of the vehicle and respectively connected to each of the upper corners of the net by flexible ties engaging in the door or window recess, the replacement of the upper cord by an elastically extensible tie makes it possible to obtain instantaneously, as soon as it is fitted, attachment to the roof and a definitive length of the upper edge of the net.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for the transverse partitioning of a vehicle, comprising a quadrangular net, the mesh of which can be deformed in the direction of its two median lines, means for securing the upper corners of the net and means for bringing about deformation of the net dependant on the transverse dimensions of the vehicle to which the device is to be fitted, which deformation means comprise an elastically extensible tie connecting the two upper corners of the net and engaged in the mesh of the upper edge of the latter, the length of this tie, when slack, being at the most equal to the minimum possible interior width of the vehicle.

Preferably, the device further comprises two lower securing members for the net, connected respectively to each of the lower corners of the net by elastically extensible ties.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa perspective view of the general arrangement of a device according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a part of the device shown in Figure 1 which serves to attach a lower corner of the net to the floor or to an anchorage point for a safety belt.

Figure 1 shows the example of a rectangular net 1 formed by diamond-shaped mesh of flexible material,the diagonals of which coincide with the direction ofthe two median lines of the net, in order to facilitate a deformation of the latter in these two directions 2 and 3. Naturally, any other shape of mesh giving the net this property could be adopted: for example, a hexagonal shape would also be suitable.

Thus, when one wishes to place the net inside a car, generally vertically, it is easy to adapt its width to that of the vehicle, the resulting variation in height not presenting any inconvenience provided that the lower edge 4 of the net is always retained in the immediate vicinity of the floor or back of the seats.

Means are provided for bringing about this deformation.

As shown in Figure 1, the aforesaid means comprise an elastically extensible tie 5, which is preferably flexible, slidably engaged in the mesh of the upper edge 6 of the net 1, of which it connects the two upper corners 7 and 8. For this purpose, each end of the tie 5 comprises a clip hook 24 and 25 respectively which is engaged in a ring 19 and 20, respectively connected to the mesh of the net located at the upper corner 7 of the latter and the mesh of this net located at its upper corner 8.

The maximum overall length of the tie 5, when slack, corresponds substantially to the length of the upper edge 6 of the net 1 and is at the most equal to the minimum possible inside width of a vehicle, so that the device is able to fit a wide range of vehicles, from a minimum size to a size which may be much greater, the tie 5 always being stretched when the device is in position in the vehicle.

The tie 5 is tensioned between the upper members 11 and 12 for securing the net, located in the vicinity of each of the upper corners 7 and 8 of the latter.

In order not to hinder the opening of the vehicle doors, hooks 13, 14 are connected to corresponding corners 7,8 of the net by means of a member engaging between the top of the door and the body work. This member is preferably made from a flexible material so as not to damage the paint or sealing gaskets. The latter may be a braid of flexible fibres, or even a strip of plastics material. Figure 1 shows straps 17 and 18 respectively, engaged at one end on the corresponding hook 13 and 14 respectively and at the other end on a ring 19 or a ring 20 respectively to which there are also secured, on the one hand, one of the clip-hooks connected to one end of the elastically extensible tie 5 and, on the other hand, the mesh of the net corresponding to the upper corner 7 or to the upper corner 8 of the net.

Each of the rings 19 and 20, or the corresponding mesh of the net, receives a second tie 21 ensuring the tension of the net when in position in the vehicle.

This tie 21 is flexible and fixed by one of its ends at the level of the upper corner 8 of the net, for example to the ring 20, then is slidably engaged successively in the mesh forming the corresponding side edge 22 of the latter, in the mesh forming its lower edge 4 and in the mesh forming its second side edge 23 and is fixed by its second end at the level of the upper corner 7 of the net, for example by being knotted to the ring 19. It is flexible and preferably has a length at least equal to the sum of the respective length of the sides 22,4 and 23 of the net, whatever the envisaged configuration of the latter, i.e. whatever the internal transverse shapes and dimensions of the vehicle equipped with the device.

The mesh of the net corresponding respectively to one or other of the lower corners 26 and 27 of the latter supports a ring 38 and 39 respectively, in which the region of the net 21 bordering the lower edge 4 of the net is firstly engaged to slide freely and the region of this tie respectively bordering the edge 23 or the edge 22 of this net is seconddly engaged, so that in the region of each of the lower corners 26 and 27 of the net, the tie 21 defines a deformable loop 40 or 41, which supports a lower member for fastening the net, which is engaged to slide freely on the tie 21 in order to facilitate adaptation to any shape of vehicle.

In the example illustrated, these lower securing members are constituted by clip hooks 28 and 29 respectively.

Each of these clip hooks is connected to the lower end of an elastically extensible tie, which is generally flexible, 42 or 43 respectively, the other end of which is connected to a ring 44 of 45 respectively, which is in turn mounted to slide on the tie 21 respectively in the region of its loop 40 or its loop 41.

It is thus possible to secure the clip-hook 28 or the clip-hook 29 respectively to a lower point of the vehicle, whatever the height and width of the latter, without any adjustment being necessary.

It should be noted that it is also possible to envisage other methods of connecting the lower securing device such as the clip-hooks 28 and 29 to the tie 21. in fact, the embodiment illustrated corresponds more particularly to the case where the tie 21 is itself non-extensible. However, the tie 21 could be made in an extensible form like the tie 6, in which case the clip-hooks 28 and 29 could be fitted directly to slide freely on the loops 40 and 41 respectively.

The lower securing members in this case constituted by the clip-hooks 28 and 29 may be anchored to any complementary device fixed at a lower point of the vehicle and in particular to any ring fixed art a lower point of this type, in the particular case of the cliphooks provided on the device illustrated.

Figure 2 shows an example of a standardised part intended to fulfil the function of a counterpart to the clip-hook 28 or clip-hook 29 at a lower point of the vehicle, this part being able to be fitted to all types of vehicles, mostly without drilling.

This part, formed for example from a metal strip bent transversely, comprises a first rectangular section 30 connected to one of its sides to a second section 31 which is at right-angles and, on the opposite side, to a securing section 32 which is at an obtuse angle, which projects with respect to the same side of the first section 30 as the second section 31.

Each of the two sections 30 and 31 is provided with a first hole 33 and 34 respectively, enabling the latter to be secured on the same bolt as the safety belts, which generally makes it possible to eliminate any drilling operations. These two sections 30 and 31 may also comprise a set of holes 35 and 36 respectively, facilitating attachment of the part by screwing when the vehicle is not provided with safety belts or when the attachment points of the latter are inaccessible. These holes have a smaller diameter than that of the holes 33 and 34, the latter having a large diameter owing to the dimensions of the bolts serving for securing the safety belts, these dimensions being required for reasons of strength.

The securing section 32 in turn comprises a slot 37 intended for the attachment of the clip-hook.

This slot is in this case orientated in the general direction of the part and extends into the section 30, which makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the entire part without making the latter less easy to use.

Various modifications can be made to the device, for example, the type and shape of the securing means and means for the deformation of the net may vary from those which have been described. In particular, hooks 13,14 have been shown, which are each formed bytwo hooks 13a, 13b and 14a, 14b respectively, located on either side of the corresponding strap. Each of the hooks 13 and 14 may equaliy well be in one piece and arranged along the axis of the strap. These hooks may be made from a rigid material and possibly provided with means for gripping the vehicle's roof, but they may also be made from a semi-rigid material allowing this gripping without requiring additional arrangements.

Claims

1. A device for the transverse partitioning of a vehicle, comprising a quadrangular net, the mesh of which can be deformed in the direction of its two median lines, means for securing the upper corners of the net and means for bringing about deformation of the net dependant on the transverse dimensions of the vehicle to which the device is to be fitted, which deformation means comprise an elastically extensible tie connecting the two upper corners of the net and engaged in the mesh of the upper edge of the latter, the length of this tie, when slack, being at the most equal to the minimum possible interior width of the vehicle.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the tie is flexible.

3. A device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, which further comprises two lower securing members for the net, connected respectively to each of the lower corners of the net by elastically extensible ties.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which the said elastically extensible ties respectively connecting each lower securing member two a lower corner of the net are constituted by the same elastically extensible and flexible tie connecting the two upper corners of the net and engaged successively in the mesh of the three edges of the latter other than the upper edge.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which deformation means comprise a flexible substantially non-extensible tie connecting the two upper corners of the net and engaged successively in the mesh of the three edges of the latter other than the upper edge and in which each elastically extensible tie connects a lower securing member of the net to said flexible tie, respectively in the immediate vicinity of the two lower corners of the net and is able to slide along this flexible tie.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the length of the tie connecting the two upper corners of the net and engaged successively in the mesh of the three edges of the latter other than the upper edge is at least equal to the combined length of these three edges whatever the shape imparted to the net.

7. A device for the transverse partitioning of a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.