GB2292548A

GB2292548A - Vehicle boot storage device

Info

Publication number: GB2292548A
Application number: GB9417080A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Lewis Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-24
Filing date: 1994-08-24
Publication date: 1996-02-28
Also published as: GB9417080D0

Abstract

A vehicle boot storage device 1 comprises at least one partition 3 having releasable fastening means 4 disposed at ends. A plurality of attachment means 5 can be located on surfaces of a boot 2 and can engage the fastening means 4 on the ends of the partition 3 to hold the partition 3 in place in the boot 2. Therefore, the partition 3 can be arranged to divide the boot 2 into a plurality of storage regions 6. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE BOOT STORAGE DEVICE This invention relates to a vehicle boot storage device of the type used to facilitate packing items in a boot of a vehicle, especially a motor car. The device of the invention can be used for segregating and storing loose articles.

Virtually all motor vehicles have some form of walled storage area (referred to as the boot) in which articles can be conveniently transported. Cars are frequently used to store and transport, for example, articles of shopping from supermarkets or other stores. This is particularly the case as more and more supermarket and hypermarket shopping stores are built on outlying regions of towns and cities. In many circumstances the entire space available in the boot of a vehicle is rarely used. It is usual for shopping or provisions to be carried from the store to the car in thin plastic carrier bags. During transportation of shopping in the car the bags have a tendency to spill their contents around the boot.This is very difficult to avoid as the bags do not offer any resistance to the movement of the goods and the smooth slippery surface of the bag allows the bag to slide around the boot.

Consequently fragile items are often broken or damaged and other items or articles, for example, clothing can become soiled on coming into contact with surfaces of the boot. This is undesirable as the soiled items must be cleaned and broken or damaged articles replaced.

The vehicle boot storage device of the invention seeks to overcome the problems associated with transporting articles in vehicle boots by dividing the volume of a boot into a plurality of small storage regions.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle boot storage device which comprises: at least one partition having a first and second end, releasable fastening means disposed at each of the first and second ends of the partition, and a plurality of attachment means which can be located on surfaces of a boot and can engage the fastening means on the ends of the partition to hold the partition in place in the boot, so that the partition divides the boot into a plurality of storage regions.

The vehicle boot storage device of the invention reduces the space in which articles placed in the boot can move during transportation. This reduces the distance that an article can move and thereby reduces the risk of damaging fragile articles.

Furthermore, the invention has the advantage that the boot can be divided into separate regions which permits articles to be separated during transportation. This can be useful, for example, where it is desirable to keep dirty items such as boots or sporting articles from clean items. The vehicle boot storage device of the invention has the further advantage that it can be detached from the attachment means via the releasable fasteners and conveniently folded or packed away in the boot.

This is useful when large articles are being transported in the vehicle or, for example, when travelling on holiday and full use of the space in the boot is required.

Preferably, the partition (or at least one of the partitions when there is more than one) is hinged. A hinge in the partition enables it to be positioned so as to define an enclosed region at a corner of the boot, or to allow a plurality of partition sections to extend from the hinge to define a plurality of storage regions.

The hinge may comprise a fold or line of weakening in the partition.

The height of the partition is preferably at least about 15 cm, more preferably at least about 20 cm, for example at least about 25 cm. The height of the partition will generally be less than about 60 cm, preferably less than about 50 cm, for example less than about 45 cm.

The device can include partitions in which the fastening means are arranged so that connections can be made between the partitions. For example, the partitions can be connected to one another end to end to form a long partition such as might be required to extend across a boot from one surface thereof to another surface. The partitions might also be connected with the end of one partition connected to another partition at a point between its ends.

The releasable fastening means and attachment means may comprise a hook and pile fastener. Hook and pile fasteners provide a simple and quick means for fixing the partitions to the surfaces of the boot. Conveniently, the attachment means can be provided by upholstery in the boot of the vehicle, and the releasable fastening means comprises a hook fastener. This avoids the need to fix additional attachment means to the boot and has the added advantage that the hook fastener can be placed at any position on the upholstered walls of the boot.

Other fastening and attachment means that might be used include, for example, press stud type fasteners (which are closed by pressing them together against the force exerted by a resilient member), sliding keyhole type fasteners (in which a headed stud is received in a wide part of tapered opening, and slid towards a narrow part of the opening in which the stud is retained).

Attachment means can be provided in the boot of the vehicle in addition to or instead of relying on upholstery that is in place. Attachment means might be attached to the walls of the boot by means of, for example, adhesive material, threaded fasteners (such as screws or bolts), or rivets. Attachment means that might be attached in this way might include for example components of hook and pile fasteners, press stud type fasteners, slidable keyhole type fasteners and so on.

Attachment means provided as an alternative to use of the upholstery in the boot makes it possible to use the device of the invention in boots whose surfaces are provided by a range of different materials, including for example painted surfaces, rubber, plastic and board surfaces.

Preferably, the partition comprises a plastic material. In a preferred embodiment the partition comprises cardboard laminated with a plastic layer. The cardboard is a cheap material and the plastic laminate surface has the advantage that it is easy to clean.

In another aspect, the invention provides a vehicle which comprises: a walled boot for the storage and transportation of articles, at least one partition having a first and second end, releasable fastening means disposed at each of the first and second ends of the partition, and a plurality of attachment means located on surfaces of a boot, which engage the fastening means on the ends of the partition to hold the partition in place in the boot, so that the partition divides the boot into a plurality of storage regions.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of dividing a boot into a plurality of storage regions which comprises: connecting at least one partition having first and second ends to attachment means located on internal surfaces of the boot, using releasable fasteners disposed at each of the ends of the partition so that the partition divides the boot into a plurality of storage regions.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a car boot and storage device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an isometric view of attachment means and releasable fastener, Figure 3 is an isometric view of a further embodiment of attachment means and releasable fastener, Figure 4 is a plan view of the fastener shown in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is an isometric view of a car boot with the car storage device of the invention folded against the side of the boot.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a storage device according to the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 1 in place in a boot 2 of a car. The vehicle boot storage device comprises a plurality of partitions 3 with releasable fasteners 4 disposed at the ends of the partitions 3. Attachment members 5 are fixed to the surface of the boot 2 and adapted to accept said releasable fasteners. The attachment members 5 may be fixed to the surfaces of the boot by, for example, double sided adhesive tape or an adhesive.

The releasable fastener is a hook and pile fastener with one of said hook or pile part of said fastener being secured to the attachment means and the other to the partition 3. This conveniently divides the car boot into a plurality of separate storage regions 6 to separate articles or items to be transported in the car.

Hinges 7 are provided in the partitions 3 to enable the car boot to be divided conveniently into cuboid regions. The hinges can be formed in the partitions by fold lines or lines of weakening. The partitions comprise cardboard laminated with a hard wearing plastic material.

Figure 2 shows detail of a partition 3 and releasable fastener comprising a hook and pile fastener. A flap 8 may be formed at the end of the partition 3 to which is secured one of the hook or pile portions of the hook and pile fastener.

Figure 3 shows an alternative type of fastener which comprises a slot 30 provided in the attachment member 33 into which an edge 31 of the partition 32 is adapted to be engaged and retained. This fastening means is stronger and is more suitable for use in transporting heavier items or articles, or in larger car boots where the capacity of the boot is larger.

Figure 4 shows detail of the slot 30 and edge 31.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a car boot with the car storage device of the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 50, detached from the attachment means 5 and folded adjacent to a side wall of the boot 2. This allows the full capacity of the boot to be used, for example, to transport bulky items.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle boot storage device which comprises: at least one partition having a first and second end, releasable fastening means disposed at each of the first and second ends of the partition, and a plurality of attachment means which can be located on surfaces of a boot and can engage the fastening means on the ends of the partition to hold the partition in place in the boot, so that the partition divides the boot into a plurality of storage regions.

2. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in claim 1, in which the partition (or at least one of the partitions when there is more than one) is hinged.

3. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in claim 2, in which the hinge comprises a fold or line of weakening in the partition.

4. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the height of the partition is at least about 15 cm.

5. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the height of the partition is at least about 20 cm.

6. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the height of the partition is at least about 25 cm.

7. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the height of the partition is less than about 60 cm.

8. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the height of the partition is less than about 50 cm.

9. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the height of the partition is less than about 45 cm.

10. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the device includes partitions in which the fastening means are arranged so that connections can be made between partitions.

11. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in claim 10, in which the partitions are connected to one another end to end to form a long partition such as might be required to extend across a boot from one surface thereof to another surface.

12. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the partitions can be connected with the end of one partition connected to another partition at a point between its ends.

13. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the releasable fastening means and attachment means comprises a hook and pile fastener.

14. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, in which the attachment means is provided by upholstery in the boot of the vehicle, and the releasable fastening means comprises a hook fastener.

15. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, in which the fastening and attachment means are press stud type fasteners.

16. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, in which the fastening and attachment means comprises sliding keyhole type fasteners in which a headed stud is received in a wide part of tapered opening, and slid towards a narrow part of the opening in which the stud is retained.

17. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which attachment means is provided in the boot of the vehicle in addition to or instead of relying on upholstery that is in place.

18. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in claim 17, in which attachment means are secured to the walls of the boot.

19. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the partition comprises a plastic material.

20. A vehicle boot storage device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18, in which the partition comprises cardboard laminated with a plastic layer.

21. A vehicle which comprises: a walled boot for the storage and transportation of articles, at least one partition having a first and second end, releasable fastening means disposed at each of the first and second ends of the partition, and a plurality of attachment means located on surfaces of a boot, which engage the fastening means on the ends of the partition to hold the partition in place in the boot, so that the partition divides the boot into a plurality of storage regions.

22. A method of dividing a boot into a plurality of storage regions which comprises: connecting at least one partition having first and second ends to attachment means located on internal surfaces of the boot, using releasable fasteners disposed at each of the ends of the partition so that the partition divides the boot into a plurality of storage regions.

23. A vehicle boot storage device as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A vehicle including a boot storage device as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.