GB2102388A

GB2102388A - A container for a load space of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2102388A
Application number: GB08220176A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Manfred Kehry; Horst Holzhauer; Joachim Mack
Original assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Current assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Priority date: 1981-07-13
Filing date: 1982-07-12
Publication date: 1983-02-02
Also published as: IT8248768A0; FR2509247A1; DE3127632A1; IT1148352B; GB2102388B; SE8204290L; FR2509247B1; SE445322B; IT8248806A0; SE8204290D0; DE3127632C2

Abstract

A container (1) for location in the load space of a motor vehicle is made from a substantially non-crushable or non-compressible material, such as wood and has a bottom panel (4) and side walls (5) which are divided into two portions by a division or cut (8, 9) which may be perpendicular to or inclined at an angle with respect to the surface of the panel (4) or walls (5), the cut edges being abutted together or arranged in an overlapping or stepped relation. A lid may be divided into two relatively hinged parts. In the event of an impact on one end wall (6) of the container, the divisions (8, 9) allow the respective joints to collapse and allow the part of the container closest to the impact to be displaced relatively to the remaining part. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container which is received by a loading area of a motor vehicle The invention relates to a container which in use is placed in a loading space of a motor vehicle and is made of a substantially non-crushable or non-compressible material, such as wood, and which, in the event of a collision, is subjected to an impact load by an obstacle.

In motor vehicles, for example estate cars, it is known practice to provide a container which is received by the rear load space and is supported in the area of the end wall on the rear space side and which can also be designed to be removable and multisectional. If a container of this type is made of a plastics material or of metal, the container is liable to be crushed in the event of a rear collision if the obstacle acts upon the container and if the latter is not filled completely with a nondeformable load, which hardly ever occurs. The crushing action prevents the container from penetrating beyond the rear space and endangering any passengers sitting in front of it.

If, however, the container is now made of wood because the manufacture of costly drawing dies or moulds is not worthwhile, for example on account of small unit numbers, this container has the disadvantage that, owing to lack of crushability of the wooden container, the latter is displaced forwardly, bodily in the event of a rear collision, destroying its support on the rear space side, which can be formed for example by a rear-seat back, and can cause serious injury to the passengers sitting there.

German Utility Model No. 78 32 906 has already disclosed a container which is made of non-crushable material and the effective length of which can be reduced, after releasing two interlock devices, by the telescoping of the two halves of the container, but the selected effective length if maintained in the event of a collision so that this container is also displaced as a whole towards the rear space.

It is the object of the invention to provide a container made of non-crushable material, at lower expense and without noticeable reduction of its capacity, in such a manner that, when a penetrating obstacle exerts a force on the container, the latter undergoes a reduction in length so that it cannot be displaced in the direction of the rear space.

According to the invention there is provided a container which is installed in a loading space of a motor vehicle and is made of a substantially noncrushable or non-compressible material, and which in the event of a collision, is subjected to an impact load, said container having a bottom panel which is divided in the transverse direction of the container and side walls, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the container and are divided in a vertical direction, the container being held together by detachable connections in the area of each division, wherein the connection is designed in such a manner that it is automatically released when a predetermined impact load is reached and the sections of the container near td the impact, together with an associated front wall of the container, are displaced relative to the sections of the container which are more remote from the impact, thereby reducing the overall length of the container.

In one embodiment of the invention the division formed in the respective panels or walls is formed by a cut which is at an angle of 450 and the sheared edges are butt-jointed together.

In order that the container may be given the required strength, it can be useful to attach a bead or cover strip preferably on the outside in the area of the division.

In another aspect of the invention, in the case of a container having a staggered or overlapping displaced section in the area of the division, the cohesive force created in the area of the connection or joint by sheared edges is eliminated in the event of a collision.

If the container is equipped with a hinged lid, a bending or folding action which is predetermined in the event of an impact is achieved in that the lid is pivotally connected to the rear wall remote from the direction of impact and is provided with a division extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the lid parts thus formed are pivotally connected to one another on the underside and form an obtuse angle.

An embodiment of the invention, having two possible methods of connection in the area of the division, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a container which has no lid, and which is provided with divisions in accordance with the invention, the container being divided into two compartments, Fig. 2 shows a side view, from the right of the drawing, of the container shown in Fig. 1, provided with a lid, and Fig. 3 and 4 show, on an enlarged scale, possible forms for the area of the divisions.

As shown in Fig. 1 a container 1, which in use is received by a load space of a motor vehicle in a manner not shown, consists of two compartments 2 and 3 in juxtaposition, the container being fabricated from a substantially non-crushable or non-compressible material, such as wood. Each compartment has a bottom panel 4, side walls 5, a front wall 6 and a rear wall 7. The bottom 4 is provided with a division 8 extending in the transverse direction of the container and each side wall 5 is provided with a division 9 which extends vertically and which, contrary to the division as illustrated, could also extend at an inclined angle.

In view of the anticipated direction of the impact, which is identified by the arrow "A", compartment regions 10 nearer to the impact and regions 11 more remote from the impact (Fig. 2), which are supported on parts rigidly connected to the vehicle in a manner not shown, are created by the divisions 8 and 9.

Figs. 1 to 3 show how the divisions 8 and 9 are formed by cuts which are inclined at an angle of approximately 450, the sheared edges 12 (Fig. 3) being butt-jointed together. If required, the sheared edges 1 2 can be covered on one side by a bead or cover strip 13. The previously described method of connection in the area of the sheared edges 12 results in a predetermined cohesive force between the sheared edges 12, which force can be varied within broad limits, for example by using different joints and fastenings such as glue, wire or nails, and can be adapted to different requirements.

If the container 1 is equipped with a hinged lid 14, as shown in Fig. 2, the lid is pivotally connected to the rear wall 7, which is more remote from the anticipated impact, and is provided with a transverse division 15, the lid parts 1 6 and 1 7 which are thus formed being pivotally connected to one another on the underside. It is important in this connection that the lid 14 be roof-shaped as a result of appropriate mounting of the lid parts 16 and 1 7 or designing of the division 1 5.

As shown in Fig. 4, the division 9 (9) can also be formed by a staggered or offset displaced section 18, it being possible in this case also for the cohesive force created in the area of the connection to be established to a predeterminable degree.

If the container 1 is subjected to an impact load exerted in the direction "A" (Figs. 1 and 2), the connection at the divisions 8 and 9 is released if the impact load reaches a predetermined value.

After that, the sections 10 nearer to the impact and each front wall 6 are displaced relative to the supported sections 11 which are more remote from the impact, resulting in a reduction in the overall length of the container 1. This prevents the container 1 from being displaced as a whole, which could thus endanger the driver and passengers. This may be achieved on almost every occasion since it is highly unlikely that the container 1 is completely filled with a nondeformable load.

Claims

1. A container which is installed in a load space of a motor vehicle and is made of a substantially non-crushable or non-compressible material, and which, in the event of a collision, is subjected to an impact load, said container having a bottom panel which is divided in the transverse direction of the container and side walls, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the container and are divided in a vertical direction, the container being held together by detachable connections in the area of each division, wherein the connection is designed in such a manner that it is automatically released when a predetermined impact load is reached and the sections of the container near to the impact, together with an associated front wall of the container, are displaced relative to the sections of the container which are most remote from the impact, thereby reducing the overall length of the container.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the division formed in a respective panel or wall is inclined with respect to the face of the panel or wall, the cut edges being abutted to one another.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the region of a division is provided at least on our side by a bead or cover strip.

4. A container according to claim 1, having a staggered or offset displaced section in the area of the division, wherein, in the event of a collision, the cohesive force created in the area of the connection by sheared edges is eliminated.

5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container is provided with a hinged lid pivotally connected to the wall of the container furthest from an anticipated impact, the lid having a transversely extending division and the parts of the lid being pivotally connected together at said division to form an obtuse angle.

6. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.