GB2466447A

GB2466447A - Load space covering device

Info

Publication number: GB2466447A
Application number: GB0823103A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lasse Aro
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2008-12-18
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2010-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-18
Also published as: GB0823103D0; GB2466447B

Abstract

Covering device for covering the trunk of a motor vehicle, comprising a flexible covering element 10 mounted at the backseats of the vehicle and being convertible from an unused position to an in-use position, whereas in the unused position the covering element is furled on a roll 12 and in the in-use position the covering element is unwindable of the roll for fixing as safety element for separating the boot from the passengers' area of the vehicle, or in the in-use position the covering element is unwindable of the roll for fixing as cargo covering element for covering the cargo deposited in the boot of the vehicle.

Description

Covering device

Description

The invention relates to a covering device for covering the trunk of a motor vehicle, especially a trunk of an estate car.

Estate cars usually provide a cargo covering element for covering the cargo deposited in the trunk of the vehicle. Additionally, estate cars usually provide a safety net for separating the space of the trunk from the passenger area for protecting the passengers inside of the vehicle from the cargo deposited in the trunk when flying around in the trunk in case of a strong brake or a crash. Thus, two separate parts are needed for covering and protecting the cargo deposited in the trunk of a vehicle. The safety net is mounted between the backseats and the roof of the vehicle, whereas the attachment of the safety net to the roof of the vehicle is usually very tricky. Because of the tricky mounting and detaching of the safety net many vehicle owners choose to drive around with the safety net mounted even when they do not need to.

It is the object of the invention to provide a covering device for covering the trunk of a motor vehicle which is very functional and easy to use.

The solution of the object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given by the dependent claims.

The covering device according to the invention for covering the trunk of a motor vehicle comprises a flexible covering element mounted at the backseats of the vehicle and being convertible in an unused position and in an used position, whereas in the unused position the covering element is furled on a roll and in the used position the covering element is unwindable of the roll for fixing as safety element for separating the trunk from the passenger area of the vehicle or in the used position the covering element is unwindable of the roll for fixing as cargo covering element for covering the cargo deposited in the trunk of the vehicle.

With the inventive covering device it is possible to use only one component as safety element, especially as safety net, and as cargo covering element.

Thus, one component less in the vehicle is needed which reduces costs and weight. In the unused position the covering element is furled on a roll, whereas the roll is positioned between two side walls of the trunk next to the backseats of the vehicle. From this position the covering element can be unwind from the roll in two directions for separating the trunk from the passenger's area as safety element or for covering the cargo deposited in the trunk of the vehicle as cargo covering element. If there is only a few cargo in the trunk, the covering element can be used as cargo covering element for covering the cargo and additionally protecting the cargo in case of a crash situation. If the trunk is highly loaded with cargo, the covering element can be used as safety element by protecting the passenger's area from flying cargo in the trunk in case of a crash. Since there is only one component which is easily be adoptable to the actual need, the inventive covering device provides a high functionality.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the covering element is made of a translucent, fine-meshed material. This material is translucent to such en extent that the covering element covers the cargo and prevents from seeing into the trunk but also allows a driver to see through it, if it is used as safety element.

Preferably, by fixing as safety element the covering element is unwinded of the roll in a direction vertical to the driving direction between the backseats and a roof of the vehicle, whereas the covering element is mounted at one of its front end on fixing elements attached to the roof of the vehicle. The covering element preferably extends over the entire width of the trunk in that the covering element completely covers the space between the backseats and the roof of the vehicle. The covering element preferably provides at its front end, the end of the covering element which is not directly mounted to the roll, hook elements, which can be easily hooked in fixing elements attached to the roof of the vehicle. Thus, the covering element can be fast and easily mounted as safety element.

If the covering element is not used as safety element the covering element can be preferably used as cargo covering element in that the covering element is unwinded of the roll in a direction parallel to the driving direction, whereas the covering element is mounted at one of its front end on fixing elements attached to an area of the trunk near to a tail gate of the vehicle. In this position the covering element preferably covers the trunk about its entire length between the backseats and the tail gate of the vehicle and about its entire width between the side walls of the trunk. The covering element preferably provides at its front end, the end of the covering element which is not directly mounted to the roll, hook elements, which can be easily hooked in fixing elements attached to an area of the trunk near to the tail gate of the vehicle. Thus, the covering element can be fast and easily mounted as cargo covering element.

According to another embodiment of the invention the covering element is movable in guide elements by converting the covering element from the unused position to the used position. The guide elements, especially guide rails, may be positioned along the side walls of the trunk from the backseats to the tail gate of the vehicle or from the backseats to the roof of the vehicle. The covering element can provide hook elements positioned at the longitudinal sides of the covering element, whereas these hook elements may be hooked in the guide elements for providing a defined guidance of the covering element.

Moreover, according to a further embodiment of the invention the roll where the covering element is furled on in the unused position is positioned in a housing with an opening for the covering element, whereas the opening is moveable around the roll. By positioning the roll in a housing the roll and the covering element can be protected and shielded from damage. The housing preferably provides an elongated opening, whereas this opening at least has the same width as the covering element. By unwinding the covering element from the roll the covering element is guided along the opening of the housing. The opening is moveable around the roll in that the position of the opening can be adjusted according to the using of the covering element as safety element or as cargo covering element.

For an easy handling the covering element preferably provides a handle. The handle may be positioned at the front end of the covering element, the end of the covering element, which is not directly mounted to the roll. The handle makes it easy for a user to unwind the covering element from the roll. Moreover, the user can handle the covering element with only one hand especially when using as safety element.

Further, the invention relates to vehicle comprising a covering device as previously described.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to a preferred embodiment described hereinafter.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 a schematic view of an inventive covering device shown in a first used position; and Fig.2 a schematic view of an inventive covering device shown in a second used position.

Fig. 1 shows a covering device for covering the trunk of a motor vehicle. The covering device comprises a flexible covering element 10 which is furled on a roll 12 in an unused position. In Fig. 1 the covering element is shown in an used position, whereas the covering element 10 is at least partly unwinded of the roll 12 for fixing as safety element for separating the trunk from the passengers area of the vehicle. The covering element 10 is unwinded of the roll 12 in a direction vertical to the driving direction (shown as an arrow) between the backseats and the roof of the vehicle. The covering element 10 can be mounted at one of its front end 14, an end of the covering element 10 which is not directly mounted to the roll 12, on fixing elements attached to the roof of the vehicle. For mounting at the fixing element the covering elements may provide hook elements 16 which can be hooked in the fixing elements.

In Fig. 2 the covering element is shown in another used position, whereas the covering element 10 is at least partly unwinded of the roll 12 for fixing as cargo covering element for covering the cargo deposited in the trunk of the vehicle. The covering element 10 is unwinded of the roll 12 in a direction parallel to the driving direction (shown as an arrow) between the backseats and an area of the trunk near the tail gate of the vehicle. The covering element 10 can be mounted at one of its front end 14, which is not directly mounted to the roll 12, on fixing elements attached to the area of the trunk near the tail gate of the vehicle. For mounting at the fixing elements the covering element may provide hook elements 16 which can be hooked in the fixing elements.

By converting the covering element 10 from the unused position to the used position the covering element 10 is moveable in guide elements (not shown). The guide elements, especially guide rails, may be positioned along the side walls of the trunk from the backseats to the tail gate of the vehicle or from the backseats to the roof of the vehicle. The covering element 10 can provide hook elements (not shown) positioned at the longitudinal sides of the covering element 10, whereas these hook elements may be hooked in the guide elements for providing a defined guidance of the covering element 10.

Further, the roll 12 where the covering element 10 is furled on in the unused position is positioned in a housing 18 with an opening 20 for the covering element 10, whereas the opening 20 is moveable around the roll 12. By positioning the roll 12 in a housing the roll 12 and the covering element 10 can be protected and shielded from damage. The housing 18 preferably provides an elongated opening 20, whereas this opening 20 at least has the same width as the covering element 10. By unwinding the covering element 10 from the roll 12 the covering element 10 is guided along the opening 20 of the housing 18. The opening 20 is moveable around the roll 12 in that the position of the opening 20 can be adjusted according to the using of the covering element 10 as safety element or as cargo covering element.

Moreover, for an easy handling the covering element 10 preferably provides a handle 22. The handle 22 may be positioned at the front end 14 of the covering element 10, the end of the covering element 10, which is not directly mounted to the roll 12. The handle 22 makes it easy for a user to unwind the covering element 10 from the roll 12. Moreover, the user can handle the covering element 10 with only one hand especially when using as safety element.

The covering 10 element may be made of a translucent, fine-meshed material, whereas this material is translucent to such en extent that the covering element 10 covers the cargo and prevents from seeing into the trunk but also allows a driver to see through it.

Reference signs 10 Covering element 12 Roll 14 Front end of the covering element 16 Hook elements 18 Housing 20 Opening 22 Handle

Claims

Claims 1. Covering device for covering the trunk of a motor vehicle, comprising a flexible covering element (10) mounted at the backseats of the vehicle and being convertible in a unused position and in a used position, whereas in the unused position the covering element (10) is furled on a roll (12) and in the used position the covering element is unwindable of the roll (12) for fixing as safety element for separating the trunk from the passenger's area of the vehicle or in the used position the covering element (10) is unwindable of the roll (12) for fixing as cargo covering element for covering the cargo deposited in the trunk of the vehicle.
2. Covering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering element (10) is made of a translucent, fine-meshed material.
3. Covering device according to anyone of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that by fixing as safety element the covering element (10) is unwinded of the roll (12) in a direction vertical to the driving direction between the backseats and a roof of the vehicle, whereas the covering element (10) is mounted at one of its front end (14) on fixing elements attached to the roof of the vehicle.
4. Covering device according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that by fixing as cargo covering element the covering element (10) is unwinded of the roll (12) in a direction parallel to the driving direction, whereas the covering element (10) is mounted at one of its front end (14) on fixing elements attached to an area of the trunk near to a tail gate of the vehicle.
5. Covering device according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the covering element (10) is movable in guide elements by converting the covering element (10) from the unused position to the used position.
6. Covering device according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the roll (12) is positioned in a housing (18) with an opening (20) for the covering element (10), whereas the opening (20) is moveable around the roll (12).
7. Covering device according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the covering element (10) provides a handle (22).
8. Motor vehicle, comprising a covering device according to anyone of claims 1 to 7.