GB2311500A - Securing means - Google Patents

Description

RESTRAINING/SECURING MEANS This invention relates to restraining and securing means for use in a vehicle, particularly but not exclusively private motor cars.

It is well known that when a vehicle is in motion, any articles such as shopping, boxes, briefcases and the like in the boot of a vehicle have a tendency to and in fact move about the boot through natural inertia forces when speed and/or direction are changed. This can result in damage to the goods themselves and in extreme cases damage to the vehicle. In addition, this movement of the goods is a distraction to the driver if articles can be heard to be moving about freely within the boot.

It is felt therefore that there is a need for means which will easily adhere to the surface of the boot of the vehicle, which is infinitely variable in form, and which will contain and restrain any object that may reasonably be placed into the boot compartment. In addition, the means should be easily removable in order to release the goods, be compact to store, and do no damage to the vehicle when in use. The most common needs are to restrain shopping, cardboard boxes, briefcases, portable electronic equipment e.g. lap top computers, which of necessity need to be securely locked in the boot out of sight.

According to the present invention there is provided restraining/securing means for use in a vehicle comprising a member consisting of a body having a regular shape and a regular cross-section and having at least one loop nylon pad secured to an underside surface of said body to removably secure said member to a surface of said vehicle or to a covering of said surface.

Said member will preferably be of varying height, length and thickness, as well as in cross-section. A preferred cross-section of the member will be generally square.

Said member will preferably be hollow and composed of plastics material, the colour of the plastics material being variable.

The loop nylon pad(s) will preferably be those sold under the name of VELCRO (RTM) and will preferably be at least two in number arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the underside of said member and secured thereto by adhesive.

The member may be provided with means such that it may be connected to a like member. Such means may be VELCRO (RTM) or other connection means.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of restraining/securing means in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the means of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation on Figure 2; Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of the means of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is an elevation showing restraining/securing means in accordance with the invention in position in a boot compartment of a vehicle; and Figure 6 is a plan view on Figure 5.

Referring.to the drawings and firstly to Figures 1 to 3, the restraining and securing means, indicated generally by reference numeral 2, comprises a body 4 which is of a regular shape in that it is generally square in crosssection and which is composed of synthetic plastics material. The body 4 is formed by injection moulding and is hollow.

The body 4 of indeterminate length, but preferably of a length between 150mm and 300mm, as indicated in Figure 2 by the reference numerals 4A and 4B, and will vary in cross-section between 45mm and 60 mm square as indicated by reference numeral 4C. As will be seen from Figre 2, and as previously mentioned, the body 4 is hollow and will preferably have a wall thickness of 3mm.

Attached to the underside of the body 4 is a plurality of pads 6 of loop nylon hooks which, as will best be seen from Figure 4, are arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the body, the pads being secured to said body by means of adhesive. The pads are each 30mm square and located at 30mm intervals. The pads 6 of loop nylon hooks will preferably be of the form sold under the name VELCRO (RTM).

The colour of the plastics material of the body 4 may vary to suit particular needs.

In use, referring now to Figues 5 and 6, a boot compartment of a motor vehicle is indicated by reference numeral 8, and it will be seen that a box 10 is shown resting on the bottom 8A of the boot compartment, a member 2 being located in juxtaposition to said box so as to restrain the box from sideways movement away from the side wall of the boot compartment. The member 2 is retained in position by means of the pads 6 engaging the material lining the boot compartment. Other members 2 may be similarly located relative to the box 10 - or a plurality of boxes 10 as shown in Figure 6 - from which it will be seen that the boxes 10 are virtually 'surrounded' by the members 2.

Figure 6 also shows a plurality of shopping bags 12 again 'surrounded' by members 2 to prevent movement of the bags within and relative to the boot compartment.

A selection of members - maybe of varying sizes - will contain and restrain virtually any load carried. Large boxes are held securely because the main force when they move is a shear force across the surface of the boot compartment floor and this is countered by an opposite shear force of the pads 6 in the mode in which they are strongest. Provided the box or other item is fully secured before the vehicle moves, a very lightweight member or members will hold an article or articles many times its own weight and bulk in a desired position.

The members 2 may be provided with means (not shown) to interconnect and join together adjacent members. Such means may be one or more loop nylon pads secured to the ends of said members, or alternatively the ends of said members may be provided with moulded interlocking means.

Thus the invention provides simple yet very effective means to prevent movement of articles within the boot compartment of a vehicle, such means being relatively inexpensive to produce.

A stronger version of the member 2 will be composed of solid plastics material.

Finally, it will be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described as being for use in a motor vehicle, the invention may find useful application in other situations.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. Restraining/securing means for use in a vehicle comprising as member consisting of a body having a regular shape and a regular cross-section and having at least one loop nylon pad secured to an underside surface of said body to removably secure said member to a surface of said vehicle or to a covering of said surface.

2. Restraining/securing means in accordance with Claim 1, wherein said member is of varying height, length and thickness, as well as in cross-section.

3. Restraining/securing means in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said body is generally square.

4. Restraining/securing means in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said body is hollow and is composed of plastics material.

5. Restraining/securing means in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein there is a plurality of loop nylon pads arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the underside of said member and secured to said member by adhesive.

6. Restraining/securing means in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, wherein said member is provided with means to enable the member to be connected to a like member.

7. Restraining/securing means for use in a vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

7. Restraining/securing means for use in a vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Restraining/securing means for use in a vehicle comprising a member consisting of a rigid hollow body having a regular shape and a regular cross-section and having at least one loop nylon pad secured to an underside surface of said body to removably secure said member to a surface of said vehicle or to. a covering of said surface 2. Restraining/securing means in accordance with Claim 1, wherein said member is of varying height, length and thickness, as well as in cross-section.

3. Restraining/securing means in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said body is generally square.

4. Restraining/securing means in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said body is composed of plastics material.

5. Restraining/securing means in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein there is a plurality of loop nylon pads arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the underside of said member and secured to said member by adhesive.

6. : Restraining/securing means in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, wherein said member is provided with means to enable the member to be connected to a like member.