GB2352434A - Collapsible screen - Google Patents

Abstract

The screen is suitable for covering a vehicle boot space, however, further applications include a photographic reflector or diffuser screen. The screen comprises a sheet of flexible material (1) having a shape corresponding to the space to be covered. The screen is supported in tension by a flexible resilient continuous hoop (10). The screen can be collapsed by relative twisting of opposite sides of the hoop (10) and folding. The screen now being substantially reduced in size can be stored in a bag or compartment. Other embodiments include the screen being constructed as a bag/envelope into which the resilient hoop is inserted.

Description

2352434 Last1224.gb.wpd Title - Collgpsible Member

This invention relates to a collapsible member useful as a component of a motor vehicle to screen, for instance, the interior of a boot space, and also as a collapsible screen or reflector for use in photography and related fields.

It is standard practice in motor cars, particularly those of the hatchback or estate type, for the boot space be covered by a generally flat member which is supported at the back upper edge of the rear seats and at the internal sides of the rear part of the car. Such components are generally formed in moulded plastics materials and are relatively weighty and substantial. Such a component is generally referred to as the parcel shelf, although in practice it rarely serves to carry items other than perhaps a road atlas or coat or the like.

When a bulky load is to be carried in the boot space it is generally necessary to remove the parcelshelf. This usually means that the parcel shelf must be left behind and when the load is removed the boot space is therefore exposed. Where items are left in the boot they are therefore visible and this represents a security risk which persists until the parcel shelf is replaced. An example of a situation in which the parcel shelf may remain absent for a protracted period is where the vehicle is loaded with luggage for a holiday and unloaded when the destination is reached. For the duration of the holiday the bootspace is then exposed.

There has now been devised a collapsible member, of particular utility as a parcel shelf for a motor vehicle, which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above- mentioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a collapsible member suitable for use as a screen for the bootspace of a motor car, which member comprises a sheet of flexible material having a shape corresponding to the space to be screened and being supported in tension by a flexible resilient continuous hoop.

Last1224.gb.wpd 2 The member according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it can be collapsed simply by relative twisting of opposite sides of the hoop and folding. In this way, the member can be reduced to much lesser effective size and can be stowed in a compartment or bag provided for the purpose. Because it can readily be reduced to a compact shape, the 5 member can therefore be retained within the vehicle when a bulky load is carried in the bootspace and then replaced as soon as that load is removed. In addition, the collapsible member according to the invention is light in weight and is very easy to remove and replace.

The hoop may be inserted in a continuous peripheral pocket attached to or formed in the flexible material. However, it is preferred that the flexible material take the form of a bag having a shape and dimensions corresponding the desired shape and dimensions of the collapsible member, and that the hoop be inserted within the bag.

The method of construction just described offers advantages of simplicity for many applications, not only cases in which the collapsible member is to be used as a screen for a motor vehicle bootspace. Thus, according to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible member comprising an envelope of flexible material, said envelope being supported in tension by a flexible resilient continuous hoop contained within said envelope.

A collapsible member according to the second aspect of the invention may be useful as, for instance, a photographic reflector or diffusing screen. Such articles comprising a single sheet of material supported by a resilient hoop held in a peripheral pocket are widely used. The construction described here, in which two sheets of flexible material form an enclosed envelope, greatly facilitates the manufacture of such articles.

The flexible material is preferably a knitted fabric, most preferably of synthetic material.

The collapsible member according to the invention will have a shape determined by its intended use. In general, for use in a motor vehicle as described above, the shape will be non-circular, most commonly being generally rectangular or trapezoidal. A photographic Last1224.gb.wpd 3 reflector or the like will most commonly be circular, though it may also be square or oblong with rounded comers.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle having a bootspace screened by a collapsible member as defined above.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a screen according to the invention in the form of a parcel shelf for a car; Figure 2 is a detailed view of one comer of the screen of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified embodiment of a screen according to the invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of a screen according to the invention in the form of a photographic reflector; and Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V in Figure 4.

Referring first to Figure 1, a screen in the form of a parcel shelf for a motor car of the hatchback or estate type comprises a bag 1 of knitted synthetic fabric with a shape and dimensions corresponding to the space in the motor car into which the screen is intended to be fitted. The parts of the car between which the screen fits are shown in broken lines. In particular, the bag 1 has one essentially straight major edge 2 which abuts, in use, the top rear edge of the car's rear seat 21. Curved comers at each end of that straight edge 2 fit corresponding plastics mouldings 22,23 provided in the vehicle, the side edges 3,4 of the bag follow the internal walls 24, 25 of the bootspace, and the other major edge 5 abuts the rear door 26 of the vehicle when the door is closed.

Last1224.gb.wpd 4 The screen is manufactured by first stitching together two layers of knitted synthetic fabric to define the bag 1 of the desired shape. An opening, typically approximately 20cm in length, is left in the seam so that a carbon spring steel hoop 10 with a circumference matching that of the assembled screen can be introduced into the bag 1. The hoop 10 expands within the bag 1 and is constrained by the bag I so as to support the bag I in tension with the desired shape. Once the hoop 10 has been inserted into the bag I the opening through which it is introduced is stitched up.

The screen is used by simply positioning it on suitable ledges or similar supports provided within the bootspace. In addition, suitable fastenings such as press studs or touch-and-close (VELCRO-type) fasteners may be provided to secure the screen in position. Particularly in a hatchback car, the screen may be connected by cords or the like to the rear door so that when the door is opened the screen pivots upwards to allow freer access to the bootspace.

Figure 2 shows a more detailed view of one of the comers of the screen, at the left hand (as viewed in Figure 1) of the straight edge 2. The steel hoop 10 is shown as hidden detail, and it can be seen that it expands against the edges of the bag 1 and adopts the shape of the bag 1. The hoop 10 may be of carbon spring steel with a width of approximately I Omm and a thickness of approximately I mm. The hoop 10 is formed by fastening together the ends of a steel strip of appropriate length, eg by welding or riveting. Alternatively, the hoop 10 may be of other resilient material such as suitable plastics material.

A modified embodiment of a screen according to the invention is shown in Figure 3. In this case, the screen is intended for use in a bootspace in which there are no mouldings corresponding to the mouldings 22,23 of Figure 1. In this case, an appropriately shaped component 3 1, which will generally be a plastics moulding, is fitted into the respective comers of the bag I to confer an appropriate shape on the comer of the screen, the hoop 10 being constrained by the edges of the bag I and the components 3 1.

In use, the screen is positioned like a conventional parcel shelf behind the rear seats of the car. Although not rigid, the screen will support items such as a road atlas, coat etc. If it is Last1224.gb.wpd 5 desired to remove the screen, for instance to load the bootspace with more material than can be accommodated beneath the screen, it is simply lifted out (any fasteners which are provided first being released). The screen can then be collapsed by grasping opposite sides of the hoop and twisting the screen to form loops which can then be folded over. In this way the effective size of the screen can be reduced to about one-third or onequarter of its normal size. The folded screen can then be stowed in a pouch or other receptacle until the bootspace has been emptied, whereupon the screen is allowed to expand back to its normal condition and repositioned.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, a circular screen according to the invention is generally designated 50. Such a screen is suitable for use, for example, as a photographic reflector.

The screen 50 comprises an envelope comprising two sheets of flexible knitted fabric 51,52 which are stitched together around their periphery. A fabric tape 53 is stitched around the periphery of the envelope, to strengthen the seam at which the two sheets 51,52 are joined. A steel hoop 60 is received within the envelope and holds the sheets 51,52 in tension. As for the embodiment described above, during manufacture an opening is left in the peripheral seam of the envelope, this opening being used for insertion of the hoop 60 and subsequently closed. Where the screen 50 is used as a photographic reflector or the like, one or both sheets 51,52 may have a reflective or coloured surface. The screen 50 can be reduced in size for stowage in a similar manner to the parcel shelf embodiment described above.

Last]224.gb.wpd 6

Claims (10)

1. Claims

   I. A collapsible member suitable for use as a screen for the bootspace of a motor car, which member comprises a sheet of flexible material having a shape corresponding to the space to be screened and being supported in tension by a flexible resilient continuous hoop.
2. 2. A collapsible member as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the hoop is inserted in a continuous peripheral pocket attached to or formed in the flexible material.
3. 3. A collapsible member as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the flexible material takes the form of a bag having a shape and dimensions corresponding to the desired shape and dimensions of the collapsible member, and the hoop is inserted within the bag.
4. 4. A collapsible member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible material is a knitted fabric.
5. 5. A collapsible member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the collapsible member is generally rectangular or trapezoidal.
6. 6. A collapsible member comprising an envelope of flexible material, said envelope being supported in tension by a flexible resilient continuous hoop contained %vithill said envelope.
7. 7. A collapsible member as claimed in Claim 6, which is a photographic reflector or diffusing screen.
8. 8. A collapsible member as claimed in Claim 7, which is generally circular.
9. 9. A collapsible member substantially as hereiribefore described and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 hereof Lastl224.gb.wpd 7
10. 10. A collapsible member substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 hereof