GB2436816A

GB2436816A - A vehicle with a covered load recess

Info

Publication number: GB2436816A
Application number: GB0608864A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Mitchell; Simon Bickers
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-07
Filing date: 2006-05-05
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-05
Also published as: GB0611573D0; GB2436817A; GB0609082D0; GB0609087D0; GB2436825B; GB0609077D0; GB0609069D0; GB0607064D0; GB0608864D0; GB0609074D0; GB2436825A; GB2436816B

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage system for use in a vehicle. The system includes a means for covering a recess (70) in said vehicle (10) comprising a cover (45) movable between a first position in which access to the recess (70) is prevented and a second position in which access to the recess (70) is unobstructed; and magnetic attachments means (80) that anchors the cover (45) to the vehicle (10) to maintain the cover in each of the first and second positions. The recess may be provided in the floor of the vehicle, and the cover attached by means of pivots (90). The vehicle may be of the flatbed pick up type.

Description

2436816

COVER FOR A STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN A VEtllULb

The invention relates to a storage compartment in a vehicle, and more specifically to a means for covering such a compartment.

5

It is known to provide one or more compartments in a vehicle for the storage and/or carriage of cargo, luggage, personal effects and other items. It is desirable to provide a cover for such a compartment, so that the contents may be stowed out of sight for reasons of tidiness and security, and also so that the cargo may be closed 10 securely in the compartment while the vehicle is in motion.

Ideally, the cover for such a compartment is provided with a catch or other means for securing the cover when the compartment is closed. It is problematic to provide a catch without significantly altering the size, cost, complexity or aesthetics of the 15 cover. Safely stowing the cover when the compartment is open is also problematic.

According to the invention, there is provided a means for covering a recess in a vehicle comprising a moveable cover, wherein the cover is movable between open and closed positions with respect to the recess; and at least one magnetic 20 attachment means; wherein in the closed position the cover contacts a supporting member of the vehicle body such that access to the recess is prevented, and the magnetic attachment means anchors the cover to the supporting member; and wherein in the open position the cover contacts a metallic portion of the vehicle body such that access to the recess is unobstructed, and the magnetic attachment 25 means anchors the cover to the body and maintains the cover in the open position.

Suitably, the recess is disposed in a floor of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the cover and the recess together form a storage compartment.

30 In one embodiment of the invention, the cover is attached to the body of the vehicle at one or more places via a pivotal attachment means provided at or near an

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edge of the cover. Suitably, the pivotal attachment means is a hinge attachment. Ideally, when the cover is attached to the body of the vehicle via a pivotal attachment means, the magnetic attachment means is disposed at or near an edge of the cover distal from the pivotal attachment means.

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In an alternative embodiment, the cover is detachable from the body of the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one magnetic attachment means is integral with the housing of the cover, such that the presence of the magnetic attachment 10 means cannot be discerned from a visual inspection of the cover.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

15 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a rear load space and storage compartment having recesses and covers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through a storage compartment of Figure 1 in 20 accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 3a and 3b are enlarged sections through the cover of a storage compartment of Figure 1, showing possible positions of the magnetic attachment means in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

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Figure 1 shows a vehicle 10 of the flatbed pick up type, having a storage compartment in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle 10 has a rear open load space 20 and a passenger compartment 30. The 30 load space is defined by a floor 40 and sides 50, and a divide 60 that separates the load space 20 from the passenger compartment 30 of the vehicle.

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The floor 40 overlies one or more recesses 70 set into the body of the vehicle. Each recess 70 is defined by a base 73 and by side walls that form supporting members 75 for the floor 40. The floor 40 is divided up into a number of panels, and each 5 panel forms a moveable cover 45 for at least one recess 70. Together, the cover 45 and at least one recess 70 form one or more storage compartments in which cargo can be stowed.

The cover 45 is pivotally mounted on the supporting member 75 via a hinge 10 attachment 90 at one edge 453 of the cover 45, such that the cover 45 forms a lid over recess 70 moveable between open and closed positions.

As shown in Figure 2, the cover 45 further comprises a magnet 80 disposed at or near an opposing edge 455 of cover 45 that is furthest from the hinge attachment 15 90. In the closed position, cover 45 is disposed such that the edge 455 comprising the magnet 80 contacts a supporting member 75 and access to the space defined by recess 70 is obstructed. In the open position, cover 45 is disposed such that the edge 455 comprising the magnet 80 is away from a supporting member 75 and access to the space defined by recess 70 is substantially unobstructed.

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In the open position the cover 45 is disposed such that the edge 455 comprising the magnet 80 contacts a metallic surface 65 on the body of the vehicle. The metallic surface 65 may be the exterior surface of, for example, side 50 of the load space or divide 60 that separates the load space 20 from the passenger compartment 30. 25 Alternatively, the metallic surface 65 may comprise a metallic plate or sheet, or a magnet, attached to the exterior surface of, for example, side 50 or divide 60.

In the closed position, the magnet 80 acts as a catch, anchoring the cover 45 to supporting member 75. The force exerted by the magnet is sufficient to hold cover 30 45 in the closed position while the vehicle is both stationary and in motion, but is less than the servo force required to separate the edge 455 of cover 45 from

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supporting member 75 and is, thus, small enough to allow the storage compartment to be opened by the user.

In the open position, the magnet 80 anchors the cover 45 to the body of the vehicle.

5 The magnetic force is sufficient to hold cover 45 in the open position while the vehicle is both stationery and in motion, but is less than the servo force required to separate the edge 455 of cover 45 from the body of the vehicle and is, thus, small enough to allow the storage compartment to be closed by the user.

10 A number of variations within the inventive concept are possible. For example, the magnet 80 may be disposed at or near any appropriate edge of cover 45. As shown in Figure 3a, the magnet 80 may be integral with the housing of the cover 45, such that the presence of the magnet 80 can not be discerned from a visual inspection of the exterior surfaces of the cover 45. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3b, the 15 magnet 80 may be disposed on the exterior surface of the cover 45. The magnet 80 may be a rod, bar, strip, disc or any other appropriate shape. The magnet 80 may be composed of any suitable ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, or may be an electromagnet that is powered by the car battery or is activated by the user. The cover 45 may comprise a plurality 20 of magnets. The magnet 80 or the plurality of magnets may be disposed at or near any edge of the cover 45 as appropriate, or may be disposed away from the edge, nearer to the centre of the cover 45.

The cover 45 may be attached to a supporting member 75, or to a portion of floor 25 40, or to a side 50 of the load space 20, or to a divide 60 that separates the load space 20 from a passenger compartment 30, or to any other appropriate part of the body of the vehicle.

The cover 45 may be pivotally attached via a hinge attachment or via any other 30 appropriate means such that the cover 45 can be pivoted, slid or rotated with respect to the recess between open and closed positions.

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In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cover 45 may be detachable from the body of the vehicle, such that in transition between the closed position and the open position it is detached from the storage compartment. Suitably, the 5 magnet 80 may be disposed with regard to the cover 45 such that the cover 45 whilst in the open position can be temporarily anchored to a metallic surface of the vehicle.

The cover 45 may be provided with, for example, a handle, groove or grip so that 10 the user can easily remove it from the closed position.

The space defined by the recess 70 may be divided by one or more partitioning members (not shown). Recess 70 may be adapted, for example, to house a spare tyre for the vehicle.

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The storage compartment may be located in any appropriate part of the vehicle, for example in a load space designed for the storage or carriage of cargo, or in a passenger compartment. The load space of the vehicle in which the storage compartment is disposed may not be an open load space, but may comprise a boot, 20 trunk, or a larger storage compartment that has one or more sides that is openable.

Having described particular embodiments of the present invention, it is to be appreciated that the embodiments in question are exemplary only and that variations and modifications such as will occur to those possessed of the 25 appropriate knowledge and skills may be made without departure from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A means for covering a recess (70) in a vehicle (10) comprising:

a moveable cover (45), wherein the cover (45) is movable between open and 5 closed positions with respect to the recess (70); and at least one magnetic attachment means (80);

wherein in the closed position the cover (45) contacts a supporting member (75) of the body of the vehicle (10) such that access to the recess (70) is prevented, and the magnetic attachment means (80) anchors the cover (45) to 10 the supporting member (75); and wherein in the open position the cover (45) contacts a metallic portion (65) of the body of the vehicle (10) such that access to the recess (70) is unobstructed, and the magnetic attachment means (80) anchors the cover (45) to the body and maintains the cover in the open position.

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2. A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess (70) is disposed in a floor (40) of the vehicle.

3. A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein 20 the cover (45) and the recess (70) together form a storage compartment.

4. A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover (45) is attached to the body of the vehicle (10) at one or more places via a pivotal attachment means (90) provided at or near an edge (453) of the

25 cover (45).

5. A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivotal attachment means (90) is a hinge attachment.

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6. A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the at least one magnetic attachment means (80) is disposed at or near an edge (455) of the cover distal from the pivotal attachment means (90).

5 7. A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover (45) is detachable from the body of the vehicle (10).

8. A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one magnetic attachment means (80) is integral with the housing of 10 the cover (45), such that the presence of the magnetic attachment means (80)

cannot be discerned from a visual inspection of the cover (45).

7

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

A system for covering a recess (70) in a vehicle (10), the system comprising: a cover (45) movable between a first position in which access to the recess (70) is prevented and a second position in which access to the recess (70) is unobstructed; and magnetic attachments means (80) configured to anchor the cover (45) to the vehicle (10) to maintain the cover in each of the first and second positions.

A system for covering a recess (70) in a vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the first position, access to the recess (70) is prevented by the cover (45) being anchored to a supporting member (75).

A system for covering a recess (70) in a vehicle (10) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in the second position, access to the recess (70) is unobstructed by the cover (45) being anchored to a body portion of the vehicle.

A system for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recess (70) is disposed in a floor (40) of the vehicle.

A system for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover (45) and the recess (70) together form a storage compartment.

A system for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover (45) is attached to the body of the vehicle (10) at one or more places via a pivotal attachment means (90) provided at or near an edge (453) of the cover (45).

8.

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9.

10.

A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pivotal attachment means (90) is a hinge attachment.

A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the at least one magnetic attachment means (80) is disposed at or near an edge (455) of the cover distal from the pivotal attachment means (90).

A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover (45) is detachable from the body of the vehicle (10).

A means for covering a recess (70) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one magnetic attachment means (80) is integral with the housing of the cover (45), such that the presence of the magnetic attachment means (80) cannot be discerned from a visual inspection of the cover (45).

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