GB2298171A

GB2298171A - Luggage holder

Info

Publication number: GB2298171A
Application number: GB9503477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Bury; Mark Anthony Adams
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co Ltd; Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co Ltd; Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1995-02-22
Filing date: 1995-02-22
Publication date: 1996-08-28
Also published as: GB9503477D0

Abstract

A device for holding luggage in a vehicle comprises a frame 6 which is provided with a first jaw 2 and a second jaw 4 which are moveable relative to each other. The device has means for mounting the frame 6 under the seat 10 of a motor vehicle, with the jaws 2, 4 disposed substantially forwardly of the seat 10. In use, the jaws 2, 4 are made to grip luggage, for example a briefcase 8, by means of a ratchet mechanims or a spring.

Description

LUGGAGE HOLDER The present invention relates to a device for holding or stowing luggage, particularly a briefcase, in a motor vehicle.

Conventional means for holding or stowing luggage in a vehicle comprise the boot and the glove compartment.

However these means are of limited storage capacity, and it is desirable to provide further means for storing luggage, and particularly a brief case, inside the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for holding luggage in a vehicle, which device comprises a frame which is provided with a first jaw and a second jaw which are moveable relative to each other, and means for mounting the frame under a seat of the motor vehicle with the jaws disposed substantially forwardly of the seat, wherein the jaws may be made to releasably grip luggage placed therebetween.

The word "grip" is used herein to refer to holding of luggage sufficiently securely so as not to allow it to move substantially with respect to the seat.

By mounting the device under the front of a vehicle seat it is possible to hold a piece of luggage secure in front of the seat. For convenience the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the holding of a briefcase.

For simplicity, it is preferred that the first jaw is fixed, and the second jaw is moveable, with respect to the frame. It would however be possible for both jaws to be moveable relative to the frame.

In a preferred embodiment, the first jaw is integrally formed with the frame.

The jaws may comprise a G-clamp or F-clamp arrangement, in which the first jaw is fixed with respect to a beam member, and the second jaw is slidably mounted with respect to the beam member.

Any suitable means may be used to make the jaws grip the luggage. For example a ratchet mechanism may be used, which prevents the jaws from moving apart until the mechanism is over-ridden by the user. Alternatively, the jaws may be connected by spring means. In use, the jaws are pulled apart against the force of the spring means, and a briefcase is located between the jaws. On release of the jaws the spring means urge the jaws together so as to grip the briefcase securely.

One or both jaws are preferably provided with cushioning means, for example inward facing rubber pads, to reduce the chance of their scratching or otherwise damaging the briefcase. In order to spread out the pressure which is needed for the jaws to grip a briefcase, it is preferred that each jaw is of a width sufficient to grip a briefcase along substantially the whole of its length.

The device may be mounted under the seat by any suitable means. In a preferred embodiment the device is provided with means for securing it to one or more anchorage points on the seat, for example ISOFIX points, which are proposed standard fixing points for children's seating. By making the fixing means suitable for use with standard fixing points, the device may be readily used with a number of different vehicles without substantial modification.

The invention also provides a motor vehicle in which is mounted a device for holding luggage, which device comprises a frame which is provided with a first jaw and a second jaw which are moveable relative to each other, and means for mounting the frame under a seat of the motor vehicle with the jaws disposed substantially forwardly of the seat, wherein the jaws may be made to releasably grip luggage placed therebetween.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a device in accordance with the invention, mounted under a vehicle seat; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of a device in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.

The device shown in Figure 1 comprises a first jaw 2 which is fixed to a frame in the form of a beam 6, and a second jaw 4 which is slideably mounted on the beam 6. The device is mounted in the vehicle by means of a nut 16 and bolt 14 which secure the beam 6 to the frame 18 of the vehicle. In use the beam 6 is disposed substantially underneath the seat 10, and the jaws 2, 4 are disposed substantially forwardly of the seat 10. Each jaw 2, 4 is provided with a compliant rubber pad 12 for securely gripping the briefcase 8.

The second jaw 4 has a ratchet mechanism which retains the jaw 4 in a given position, but which is over-ridden by a user pulling the jaw 4 upwards a short distance. Thus the jaw 4 may be pushed up against a briefcase 8 or other piece of luggage so that the jaws 2, 4 grip the briefcase 8 securely, and the grip may be released when the user wishes to remove the briefcase 8.

Figure 2 shows how the jaw 2 is sufficiently wide to grip substantially the whole of the length of a the briefcase 8. The jaw 4 has a similar width, and the jaws 2, 4 therefore need to apply less pressure in any given area of surface of the briefcase than would narrow jaws, and they are consequently less likely to scratch or otherwise damage the surface.

The device shown in Figure 3 is similar to that of Figure 1, but a spring 20 is provided between the jaws 2, 4 so as to urge them toward each other and grip the briefcase 8.

The second jaw 4 may be freely slidable along the beam 6, or it may be provided with ratchet, latch, or other mechanism which allows the second jaw 4 to be releasably secured to a location on the bar remote from the first jaw 2 for removal of the briefcase 8.

The invention therefore provides a device to allow luggage to be conveniently held or stowed in front of a vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A device for holding luggage in a vehicle, which device comprises a frame which is provided with a first jaw and a second jaw which are moveable relative to each other, and means for mounting the frame under a seat of the motor vehicle with the jaws disposed substantially forwardly of the seat, wherein the jaws may be made to releasably grip luggage placed therebetween.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, which is provided with a ratchet mechanism to prevent the jaws from moving apart until the mechanism is over-ridden by the user.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jaws are made to grip the luggage by spring means.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each jaw is of a width sufficient to grip a briefcase along substantially its whole length.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means are adapted for fixture to one or more standard ISOFIX points under the vehicle seat.

6. A vehicle which has a seat under which is mounted a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

7. A device substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the drawings.