GB2436817A

GB2436817A - Movable floor for the load space of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2436817A
Application number: GB0609087A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Picton; Tom Rendell; Simon Mitchell; Bhavesh Champaneri; Steven Martin
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-07
Filing date: 2006-05-09
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Also published as: GB0609069D0; GB2436816A; GB0609082D0; GB2436825A; GB0609087D0; GB0609077D0; GB2436825B; GB0609074D0; GB0611573D0; GB0608864D0; GB2436816B; GB0607064D0

Abstract

A luggage space 5 for a vehicle 1 comprising: an upper storage space and a lower storage space, the upper and lower storage spaces being separated by at least one moveable floor panel 6, the at least one moveable floor panel being movable between an open position in which access to the lower storage space is permitted and a closed position in which access to the lower storage space is prevented, and; a closure member 9 for closing the rear of the upper storage space wherein the closure member has a closed position in which it provides a means for preventing opening of the at least one movable floor panel. The vehicle may comprise a pick-up vehicle, where the closure comprises a tailgate at the end of a load bed. The movable floor panel engages with the tailgate when the latter is closed (figures 4a, 4b) so as to prevent the panel from being opened. The lower storage space may include a recess for a spare wheel (21, figure 3b), and the walls of the luggage space may also have additional storage recesses (64, figure 8).

Description

1

2436817

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO VEHICLES AND VEHICLE FEATURES

5

The invention relates to an automotive vehicle and various features of the vehicle for improving vehicle versatility and security. In particular, this invention relates to a luggage or storage compartment in a vehicle.

10 Vehicle manufacturers are continually looking for ways to improve the versatility of vehicles for consumers. It is one object of the present invention to provide a vehicle that provides enhanced versatility to the user.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a luggage space for a 15 vehicle comprising: an upper storage space and a lower storage space, the upper and lower storage spaces being separated by at least one moveable floor panel, the at least one moveable floor panel being movable between an open position in which access to the lower storage space is permitted and a closed position in which access to the lower storage space is prevented, and; a closure member for closing the rear of the upper 20 storage space wherein the closure member has a closed position in which it provides a means for preventing opening of the at least one movable floor panel.

The invention provides a luggage compartment for a vehicle in which an under-floor storage space is separated from an upper storage space by one or more moveable floor 25 panels. In order to provide security for the under-floor storage space a closure member is provided that prevents opening of the floor panel.

Conveniently, a vehicle's tailgate may perform the function of the closure member.

30 Opening of the at least one floor panel may be prevented by appropriately shaping the closure member. For example, the closure member may be shaped such that motion of the at least one floor panel is prevented by an upper portion of the closure member. In

2

this embodiment the closure member would allow a small degree of lifting of the floor panel(s) but this lifting would be insufficient to allow access to the under-floor storage.

Alternatively, the closure member may comprise a recess that is of complementary 5 shape to part of the or each moveable floor panel. When the closure member is in its closed position the or each floor panel may then effectively be "clamped" in position by the recessed portion of the closure member.

In order to prevent unwanted vibration or motion of the floor panel(s), a magnetic 10 means may be provided to hold the floor panel(s) in position. The magnetic means may be buried within the floor panel(s) in order to be invisible during normal use. The magnetic means may also be positioned so that, when the floor panel(s) is lifted, the magnetic means is attracted to the vehicle body so as to allow the floor panel(s) to be securely retained in its(their) open position for loading/unloading purposes.

15

Conveniently, the luggage space may comprise a plurality of moveable floor panels. The plurality of floor panels may allow access into the same under-floor storage space or alternatively the under-floor storage space may be partitioned into a number of different sections such that each of the plurality of floor panels allows access to one or 20 a limited number of the available under-floor sections only.

Conveniently, the under-floor storage space may comprise an additional recess for storing the vehicle's spare wheel. Conveniently, the additional recess may be covered by a further moveable floor.

25

Conveniently, the luggage space is enclosed by side walls which are predominantly flat. Such an arrangement improves the ease of loading/unloading as there are no projecting parts of wall against which items can get stuck.

30 Conveniently, the flat side walls may provide additional storage space in the rear of the vehicle by forming recesses in the side walls which open into luggage pockets provided in the volume of the side wall itself.

3

The invention extends to a vehicle comprising a luggage space according to the first aspect of the present invention. Conveniently, in a vehicle comprising such a luggage space, the vehicle's tailgate acts as the closure member of the luggage space. Conveniently, the invention according to the first aspect of the invention may be 5 incorporated into a pick-up style vehicle such that a secure under-floor storage volume is provided even though the main (upper) luggage area is an open area.

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

10

Figure 1 is a general view of a pick-up vehicle of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rear end of the pick-up vehicle in Figure 1 showing the luggage storage space and tailgate;

15

Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views of the rear end of the pick-up vehicle in Figure 1 with a movable floor panel open,

Figure 4a is a side view of a part of the rear end of the pick-up vehicle in Figures 1 to 20 3, to illustrate the closure member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4b is an alternative embodiment of the closure member to Figure 4a;

25 Figure 5 is a view of a hinge for the vehicle's tailgate;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tailgate frame illustrated in Figure 2 when removed from the vehicle;

30 Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rear end of the pick-up vehicle in Figure 1 to illustrate moveable panels of a rear luggage storage section;

4

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a part of the rear end of the pick-up vehicle to illustrate a flat side wall of the luggage storage section;

Figure 9 is an end view of the side wall of the luggage storage section of Figure 8.

5

Figure 1 shows a vehicle 1 of the type that is typically referred to as a pick-up vehicle. The vehicle comprises a vehicle cabin 3, towards the front of the vehicle, for carrying passengers in a conventional manner. The vehicle further comprises an open luggage space 5 (or "load bay") towards the rear of the vehicle.

10

A dividing wall 7 separates the passenger cabin 3 from the luggage space 5. Often such vehicles are sold with a cover for the luggage space as an optional extra.

To enable loading and unloading of the luggage space 5, a tailgate 9 is provided that is 15 moveable between an open configuration (as shown in Figure 1) in which the tailgate 9 is approximately parallel to the floor 6 of the luggage space and a closed configuration in which the tailgate 9 forms a vertical wall to the rear of the luggage space 5.

Figure 2 shows a different view of the luggage space 5 and tailgate 9 of Figure 1. It is 20 noted that like numerals have been used to denote like features throughout the Figures.

Figure 2 shows that the tailgate 9 is mounted on a support frame 11. The support frame 11 is mounted to the vehicle body 13 by means of hinges 15. A rear bumper 17 is shown around the rear of the vehicle 1 at approximately the level of the floor of the 25 luggage space 5. It is noted that the hinges 15 are designed such that the tailgate 9 can open to a position parallel to the floor 6 without impacting the bumper 17.

30

Figures 3a and 3b show a variation of vehicle which incorporates an under-floor storage volume in the luggage space 5. Like features are denoted by like numerals in Figures 1, 2, 3a and 3b.

5

Figure 3a shows a vehicle in which the floor 6 of the luggage space 5 has been divided such that it comprises a fixed section 6a to the forward part of the luggage space 5 and a hinged floor panel 6b towards the rear of the luggage space 5.

5 Floor panel 6b is provided with a hinge on its forward edge so as to permit hinged movement of the panel 6b. As shown in Figure 3a, the floor panel 6b is raised. A further storage space 19 is provided under the floor 6 of the luggage space 5.

Figure 3b shows a variation of the under-floor storage space of Figure 3 a in which the 10 storage space 19 further comprises an additional moveable panel 20 below which is a recess 21 for a spare wheel (not shown).

Turning now to Figures 4a and 4b, the luggage space 5 is closed to the rear by means of the tailgate 9, i.e. the tailgate acts as a closure member to the luggage space 5. The 15 tailgate includes a front face which, when the tailgate is closed, defines a rear wall of the luggage space 5 and a rear face which is shaped so that, when the tailgate is closed, it provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the rear end of the vehicle. The tailgate is mounted so that, when open, it aligns in a parallel manner with the main floor area 6 of the luggage space 5 so as to assist unloading/loading of luggage.

20

In an embodiment of the present invention, the tailgate is shaped to provide a means for preventing unwanted opening of the floor panel 6b when the tailgate 9 is in its closed position.

25 Figures 4a and 4b show two variations of the tailgate in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In both Figures 4a and 4b the floor panel 6b rests on a shoulder 23 of the underlying vehicle body 13. Movement of the floor panel 6b when the tailgate is open is indicated by the arrows 24. In Figures 4a and 4b the under-floor storage volume 19 is not accessible.

30

In Figure 4a, the tailgate 9 is shaped so that when it is closed to define the rear wall of the luggage space 5, movement of the floor panel 6b about its hinge 25 is not permitted because the upper part 9a of the tailgate 9 blocks this movement. Only a small degree

6

of lifting of the floor panel 6b is permitted, but this is insufficient to allow access to the underfloor storage volume 19. This is particularly beneficial in vehicles of the pick-up type because when the user parks the pick-up vehicle the luggage space is often left uncovered. The arrangement of the tailgate to prevent opening of the movable floor 5 panel improves security in such circumstances.

Figure 4b shows an alternative configuration of the locking function of the tailgate 9. In Figure 4b, the tailgate comprises a recessed portion 27 which is of a complementary shape to the floor panel 6b. When the floor panel 6b rests on the shoulder 23 and the 10 tailgate 9 is closed, the floor panel 6b is held within the recess 27 and prevented from opening. In this variation, there is no degree of floor lifting when the tailgate is closed.

In both Figures 4a and 4b, a locking means 29 for engagement with a lock (not shown) on the vehicle body 13 is provided on the tailgate in order to lock the tailgate in its 15 closed position. The locking means of the tailgate 9 may be a manually operated lock or, alternatively, the locking means may form a part of the vehicle's central locking system.

The hinge 15 for the tailgate is designed so as to enable the tailgate to be moved into a 20 position in which it provides an adequate barrier for lifting movement of the floor panel 6b and to act as a closure device to the luggage area, whilst at the same time ensuring the tailgate is compatible for use with a vehicle having a rear bumper (as in Figure 2).The hinge 15 allows the tailgate to open without contacting the bumper 17 to finish in a position parallel to the loadbay floor 6.

25

It is advantageous for floor panel 6b to be provided with a magnetic means 31 along its free edge. The magnetic means 31 may take the form of a magnet which is buried within the floor panel body itself so as to be substantially invisible. When the floor panel 6b is raised, the magnet is attracted to the metal dividing wall 7 behind the 30 passenger cabin 3 so that the floor panel 6b remains held open securely for loading/unloading purposes. When the floor panel 6b is closed, the magnet 31 is attracted to the vehicle body 13 so that, during transport, undesirable vibration of the floor panel 6b is limited.

7

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 5, the hinge 15 for the tailgate 9 comprises first and second identical hinges, one mounted to the left of centre of the tailgate and one mounted to the right of centre of the tailgate. For simplicity only one of the hinges will 5 be described in detail here.

Each hinge includes a first hinge part 40 which is mounted to the vehicle body along a rear edge of the luggage storage space 5. The first hinge 40 part includes first 42 and second 44 (obscured by the perspective of the image) side plates joined by a cross plate 10 46 which locates towards the front of the vehicle. The first and second side plates are spaced apart to define a gap between them. The side plates 42, 44 are of triangular shape, each having a greater depth at the end which connects with the cross plate 46 and tapering to a shallower depth at the end remote from the cross plate to terminate in a finger 48. The cross plate mounts to the vehicle body and the fingers extend rearward 15 from the vehicle body. Each finger has a through hole 50 for receiving a respective end of a hinge pin (not shown) which extends along a pivot axis of the hinge.

The hinge further includes a second hinge plate 52 which is mounted to the tailgate 9. The second hinge plate 52 is in the form of T-shaped plate which is bent to define an 20 elbow 54. The bent portion 56 of the T-shaped plate (i.e. the portion remote from the T-bar) is received between the fingers 48 of the first hinge plates 42, 44. The bent portion is provided with a through hole which aligns with the through hole provided in each of the fingers of the first hinge plate so that the hinge pin passes through all three holes.

25

The T-shaped plate is attached to a frame of the tailgate in the manner illustrated in Figure 6, for example. When fully assembled to the frame 11 of the tailgate, the T-shaped plate may or may not be visible.

30 In pivoting the hinge plate about the hinge pin, the tailgate 9 moves back and forth between its open and closed positions. When the tailgate is closed, the bent portion of the second hinge plate is located between the fingers of the first hinge plate that so their upper surfaces are aligned flat (as in Figure 6), and with the T-bar of the plate

8

projecting upwards from the gap. When the tailgate is open, the second hinge plate pivots around the hinge pin (into the position shown in Figures 3 a and 3b) so that it extends from the gap in a rearward direction relative to the vehicle.

5 It is a particular benefit of the hinge described above that it permits the tailgate to be used in combination with the bumper on the vehicle body, whilst at the same time allowing the tailgate to move into a closed position in which the luggage space is closed to the rear. This is made possible by the provision of the elbow on the second hinge plate which ensures that the tailgate is far enough forward when closed so as to 10 properly close the luggage space. At the same time the elbowed hinge plate ensures that when the tailgate is open (i.e. and lying substantially horizontal) the rear face, which is moulded to provide an aesthetic match to the bodywork of the vehicle, clears the bumper and is parallel with the floor 6.

15 Figures 7 to 9 show further embodiments of the luggage space 5 of the vehicle 1.

In Figure 7, the main part 6a of the floor 6 of the luggage space has been split into two further sections, 6c and 6d. Further under-floor storage volumes are located beneath these further sections 6c, 6d, one of which 60 is shown. As for the hinged floor section 20 6b, each of sections 6c and 6d are provided with magnetic means to hold the sections closed. The magnetic means also allows the sections to be held open against the cab wall 7.

Figure 8 shows a side wall 62 of the luggage space 5. Storage pockets 64 have been 25 provided within the luggage wall 62 for extra storage space.

Figure 9 shows a section through the side wall 64 depicted in Figure 8.

Referring also to Figures 8 and 9, the luggage space 5 has a side wall 62 to either side, 30 each of which includes a predominantly flat, internal side panel to define a left or right side of the luggage space, respectively. The outer side panels of the luggage space side walls define the outer vehicle body. This arrangement differs from a conventional pick-up vehicle where the side walls are much narrower and, thus, are necessarily

9

shaped to project into the luggage space to define the wheel arch. As the side walls are of significant width, in the present invention it is possible for a passenger to use the upper surface of the side wall as a seat. The flat sides of the luggage space improve the ease of loading, as there are no projecting parts of the wall against which items can get 5 stuck.

Additional storage space is provided in the rear of the vehicle by forming recesses 64 in the side walls which open into luggage pockets provided within the volume of the side wall itself.

0

It will be appreciated that the floor area may be divided into a greater or lesser number of panels than those shown in the Figures. Other mountings are also envisaged as an alternative to hinge mountings. For example, the floor panels may be slidably mounted.

15

10

Claims

1. A luggage space for a vehicle comprising:

an upper storage space and a lower storage space, the upper and lower storage 5 spaces being separated by at least one moveable floor panel, the at least one moveable floor panel being movable between an open position in which access to the lower storage space is permitted and a closed position in which access to the lower storage space is prevented, and;

a closure member for closing the rear of the upper storage space 10 wherein the closure member has a closed position in which it provides a means for preventing opening of the at least one movable floor panel.

2. A luggage space for a vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a tailgate, the tailgate being arranged in use to act as the closure member of the

15 luggage space.

3. A luggage space for a vehicle as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the closure member comprises a recessed portion of complementary shape to part of the at least one moveable floor panel, the closure member being arranged such that when the

20 closure member is in the closed position the at least one moveable floor panel is retained in its closed position by the recessed portion.

4. A luggage space as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one moveable floor panel is provided with a magnetic means for securing the or each floor

25 panel so as to prevent unwanted vibration/movement of the floor panel.

5. A luggage space as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the luggage space comprises a plurality of moveable floor panels.

30

6. A luggage space as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the lower storage space is partitioned into a plurality of storage spaces, each of the plurality of storage spaces being separated from the upper storage space by one of the plurality of moveable floor panels.

11

7. A luggage space as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lower storage space comprises a recess for storing a vehicle wheel.

5

8. A luggage space as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the luggage space is enclosed, in part, by left and right side walls which are predominantly flat.

9. A luggage space as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the flat side walls are provided with recesses to access additional storage space located within the side walls.

10

10. A vehicle comprising a luggage space as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9.

11. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 10, the vehicle further comprising a tailgate, the tailgate forming the closure member of the luggage space.

15

12. A vehicle as claimed in either of Claims 10 or 11, wherein the vehicle comprises an open luggage space towards the rear of the vehicle.

13. A luggage space substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one 20 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the 25 accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

I a.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. A luggage space for a vehicle comprising:

5 an upper storage space and a lower storage space, the upper and lower storage spaces being separated by at least one moveable floor panel, the at least one moveable floor panel being movable between an open position in which access to the lower storage space is permitted and a closed position in which access to the lower storage space is prevented;

10

magnetic means for securing the or each floor panel so as to prevent unwanted vibration/movement of the floor panel, and;

a closure member for closing the rear of the upper storage space, wherein the 15 closure member has a closed position in which it provides a means for preventing opening of the at least one movable floor panel.

20 luggage space.

25 closure member is in the closed position the at least one moveable floor panel is retained in its closed position by the recessed portion.

4. A luggage space as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the luggage space comprises a plurality of moveable floor panels.

30

5. A luggage space as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the lower storage space is partitioned into a plurality of storage spaces, each of the plurality of storage spaces

/3

being separated from the upper storage space by one of the plurality of moveable floor panels.

6. A luggage space as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lower storage space 5 comprises a recess for storing a vehicle wheel.

7. A luggage space as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the luggage space is enclosed, in part, by left and right side walls which are predominantly flat.

10 8. A luggage space as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the flat side walls are provided with recesses to access additional storage space located within the side walls.

9. A vehicle comprising a luggage space as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8.

15 10. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 9, the vehicle further comprising a tailgate, the tailgate forming the closure member of the luggage space.

11. A vehicle as claimed in either of Claims 9 or 10, wherein the vehicle comprises an open luggage space towards the rear of the vehicle.

20

13. A luggage space substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.