GB2469682A

GB2469682A - Vehicle luggage compartment system

Info

Publication number: GB2469682A
Application number: GB0907046A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Alan Rook
Original assignee: Bentley Motors Ltd
Current assignee: Bentley Motors Ltd
Priority date: 2009-04-24
Filing date: 2009-04-24
Publication date: 2010-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-24
Also published as: FR2944751B1; DE102010018953A1; FR2944751A1; GB0907046D0; GB2469682B

Abstract

A vehicle luggage compartment system includes a cassette 12 containing a retractable flexible screen 14. The cassette has two or more mounting members 16 for engagement with corresponding mounting units 18 in the vehicle to releasably secure the cassette in position. The system includes two or more sets of mounting units 18 to enable the cassette to be mounted in a range of different locations and/or orientations within a vehicle luggage compartment. A free end 20 of the screen 14 may also have mounting members 16 configured for engagement with the mounting units 18 in any of the sets to secure the free end of the screen in an extended condition. The system can be used in a variety of different configurations so that the screen acts as a divider for the luggage compartment, as a luggage retention net, or as a cover to protect the rear bumper of the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle Luggage Compartment System

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems for vehicle luggage compartments.

Background to the Invention

It is known to provide luggage nets for use in the luggage compartment of a vehicle to restrain items of luggage from moving about the compartment.

Typically, such nets are arranged to be attached to fastenings, such as hooks, in the vehicle compartment so as to extend generally parallel to and in close proximity with the floor of the compartment so as to hold any items of luggage placed under the net in position. It is also known for luggage nets to be mounted so as to extend generally vertically (i.e. in direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the floor) to restrain luggage from movement in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This arrangement may be used particularly in estate vehicles to prevent luggage from entering the passenger compartment from the luggage compartment.

It is also known for luggage nets to be retractably mounted on a roller in a cassette. The cassette is mounted in the luggage compartment so that the net can be drawn out of the cassette and the free end attached to suitable fastenings when required. When not in use, the net is released from the fastenings and retracted into the cassette for storage.

Luggage compartments are sometimes provided with flexible privacy screens or covers that can be extended to prevent items in the compartment from being seen for security purposes. Such covers are most common in estate cars or hatchbacks where the luggage compartment is visible through the rear windows of the vehicle in normal use. In some cases, the covers are provided in the form of a retractable roller blind in a cassette. The cassette is located in the vehicle and the cover is drawn out of the cassette and the free end secured by means of hooks to hold the cover in position. Often the blinds will be arranged to extend generally horizontally, i.e. generally parallel to the floor of the compartment, but vertically extending blinds are also known.

Whilst the known luggage net and screen arrangements work well, each offers only a limited range of functionality and adjustment. Where the nets or screens are provided in a cassette, the cassette is often permanently located in the vehicle taking up valuable luggage space when not in use.

There is a need, therefore, for an improved vehicle luggage system which is more flexible and easier to use than the known arrangements.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle luggage compartment system comprising a cassette containing a retractable flexible screen member, the cassette having two or more mounting members for engagement with corresponding mounting units on the vehicle to releasably secure the cassette in position, in which a number of sets of mounting units are provided to enable the cassette to be mounted in a range of different locations and/or orientations.

A free end of the screen member may also provided with a corresponding number of the mounting members configured for engagement with the mounting units in any of the sets to secure the free end of the screen in an extended condition.

Each of the mounting units may comprise a releasable latch mechanism and each of the mounting members may comprise a latch member that can be inserted into one of the mounting units for engagement with the latch mechanism.

Where a free end of the screen member is also provided with a corresponding number of the mounting members, the system may have at least two sets of mounting units, a first set being located in or adjacent a floor of the luggage compartment, the units in the first set being spaced apart in a lateral direction of the compartment, a second set of mounting units being located substantially above the first set, such that the screen member can be configured to divide the compartment in a generally vertical direction by attaching one of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the first set of mounting units and attaching the other of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the second set of mounting units.

The system may include at least one further set of mounting units offset from the first set in a longitudinal direction of the compartment, the further set of mounting units being located in or close to the floor of the compartment, the arrangement being such that screen member can be configured to extend in longitudinal direction of the vehicle generally parallel to the floor of the compartment by attaching one of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the first set of mounting units and attaching the other of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the further set of mounting units.

At least one set of mounting units may be located adjacent a lower edge of an opening of the compartment, the arrangement being such that with the cassette mounted to the vehicle using the further set of mounting units, the screen member can be extended over the lower edge of the opening.

The luggage compartment may be a boot, in which case, the further set of mounting units may be located on the boot sill.

The screen member may be a blind.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle having a vehicle luggage compartment system in accordance with the first aspect.

Detailed Description of the Invention

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a luggage compartment of a vehicle illustrating a vehicle luggage compartment system in accordance with invention arranged in a first configuration; Figures 2 to 4 are views similar to that of Figure 1, illustrating the vehicle luggage compartment system in second, third and fourth configurations respectively; Figures 5a and 5b, are perspective views of the interior of a vehicle luggage compartment vehicle illustrating a vehicle luggage compartment system arranged in the first configuration, with the screen member in a retracted position and an extended position respectively; Figures 6a and 6b, are perspective views of the interior of a vehicle luggage compartment vehicle illustrating a vehicle luggage compartment system arranged in the third configuration, with the screen member in a retracted position and an extended position respectively; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an end region of the free end of a screen member forming part of a vehicle luggage compartment system in accordance with the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle luggage compartment vehicle showing a screen member cassette forming part of a vehicle luggage compartment system in accordance with the invention disconnected from the vehicle; Figure 9a is a perspective view of a mounting unit and mounting member forming part of a vehicle luggage system in accordance with the invention, illustrating how the mounting member is inserted into and secured to the unit; and Figure 9b is a perspective view of part of the mounting unit of Figure 9a, illustrating how the mounting member is released from the mounting unit.

A vehicle luggage compartment system 10, comprises a cassette 12 housing a retractable, flexible screen member 14 in a known manner. The detailed arrangement of screen mounting arrangement in the cassette does not form part of the present invention and so will not be described in detail.

However, in brief the screen member is mounted on a roller (not shown) which is housed in the cassette. The roller is sprung loaded so as to wind the screen member on to the roller to retract the screen member if the free end of the screen is not secured.

The cassette 12 is mounted in vehicle by means of two mounting members 16, one at either end, which can be releasably engaged with corresponding mounting units 18 integrated into the luggage compartment 19.

To enable the cassette 12 to be selectively attached to the vehicle in a variety of locations and orientations, a number of suitable mounting units 18 are provided in the compartment. The mounting units 18 are arranged in sets of two, the units in each set being suitably spaced apart and oriented to receive the mounting members 16 on the ends of the cassette.

In the present embodiment, there are three sets of mounting units 1 Sa, 1 8b, 1 8c so that the cassette can be attached to the vehicle in three positions. A first set 18a is located in the floor of the compartment 19 partway along its length. The two mounting units in this set are spaced apart in a lateral direction of the vehicle. A second set of mounting units 1 8b is located substantially above and in alignment with the first set. The second set 1 8b may be located in or close to an upper surface of the compartment, which may be formed by a parcel shelf. A third set of mounting units 1 8c are attached to a sill 22 just below a lower edge of the compartment opening 24. The mounting units 1 8c in the third set are laterally spaced apart in alignment with the units 1 8a, 1 8b in the other two sets.

The free end 20 of the screen member 14 comprises a rod 26 which is held in a ioop of the screen material. Two further mounting members 16 are mounted to the rod, one at either end. Each of the further mounting members 16 is configured so that it can be releasably engaged with the mounting units 18. The two further mounting members 16 are spaced apart by the same distance as the mounting members 16 on the cassette 12 so that the free end of the screen can be releasably secured to the vehicle using the same sets of mounting units 18a, 18b, 18c as are used to secure the cassette 12. The mounting members 16 may be rotatably mounted to the rod 26 and/or the rod may be rotatable within the loop of material so that the orientation of the mounting members can be adjusted for engagement in the mounting units 18.

Using the same attachment points for the cassette 12 and the free end 20 of the screen member 14 increases the flexibility of the system enabling the screen member to be located at different positions within the compartment and in a number of different configurations. Figures 1 to 4 illustrate schematically four different configurations that are achievable using the three sets of mounting units 18a, 18b, 18c.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate schematically the volume of a luggage compartment 19 which is in the form of a boot or trunk at the rear of a vehicle.

For clarity, only the volume of the boot is illustrated but it will be appreciated that the boot 19 will typically be located behind the rearmost seats of the vehicle. At least a forward part of the boot space may be located below a parcel shelf whose upper surface is accessible from within the passenger space of the vehicle.

Figure 1 illustrates a first configuration in which the cassette 12 is mounted to the second, upper set of mounting units 1 8b and the free end 20 of the screen is attached to the first set of mounting units 1 8a in the floor. In this configuration, the screen 14 extends in a generally vertical direction across the compartment, dividing it into front and rear sections 1 9a, 1 9b and can be used as a privacy screen to prevent items placed in the front section (i.e. the section closet to the front of the vehicle) from being seen through the compartment opening 24, as is illustrated in Figures 5a and Sb. The screen can also be used to shorten the load space for smaller items placed in either of the front or rear sections 19a, 19b.

References to "generally vertical" in this context refer to the screen member 14 extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the floor of the compartment, which will be substantially horizontal when the vehicle is on a flat surface. It will be appreciated, however, that the screen member 14 need not extend strictly perpendicularly to the floor but could be angled to either side of the perpendicular and the term "generally vertical" should be understood accordingly.

An advantage of attaching the cassette to the second, upper set of mounting units 1 8b is that the whole of the floor of the load space is available when the screen member 14 is retracted, as shown in Figure 5a. This enables heavy items to be slid to the front end 19a of the compartment without having to be lifted over the cassette. However, in some circumstances it may be preferable to reverse the arrangement and attach the cassette 12 to the floor using the first set of mounting units 1 8a and secure the free end of the screen member 14 to the upper set 18b as illustrated in Figure 2. In this second configuration the screen again acts to divide the compartment 19 in two and can be used as a privacy screen. However, in this configuration the cassette 12 can also function as a low level divider to prevent items sliding between the front and rear sections of the compartment 19, even when the screen member l4isretracted.

In a third configuration, the cassette 12 is attached to the floor of the compartment using the first set of mounting units 1 8a and the free end of the screen member 14 is attached to the third set of mounting units 18c in the sill below the opening 24 of the compartment. In this configuration, the screen member 14 extends generally horizontally, substantially parallel to the floor of the compartment, and can be used as a luggage net to restrain items of luggage placed between it and the floor as illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b. The screen member 14 is tensioned by the mechanism which winds the screen member on the roller in the cassette 12 so as hold items of luggage placed underneath it in close contact with the floor.

In a fourth configuration as illustrated in Figure 4, the cassette 12 is attached to the third set of mounting units 1 8c in a boot sill below the opening 24 to the compartment. The opening in the cassette 12 from which the screen member is withdrawn faces upwardly so that the screen member 14 can be extended out of the compartment opening 24 over the sill and the rear bumper of the vehicle. In this position, the screen member 14 acts as a cover for the sill and bumper to protect them from damage when items are being loaded into the luggage compartment. The screen member 14 also serves to protect the clothes of a user loading items into the compartment from becoming soiled if the sill and/or bumper are dirty. A manually actuated lock mechanism (not shown) is provided on the cassette 12 which can be selectively actuated by the user to prevent the screen member 14 from being retracted into the cassette.

As can be seen from the above, the provision of a luggage compartment system in which the cassette 12 and the free end of the screen member 14 can be interchangeably connected with any one of a number of sets of mounting units 1 8a, 1 8b, 1 8c provides a flexible system in which the screen can be arranged in different configurations to cany out different functions. The system also enables the cassette 12 to be disconnected from the vehicle as illustrated in Figure 8 when not in use. The cassette 12 can be removed from the luggage compartment for storage if desired.

Any suitable mounting units 18 and mounting members 16 can be used to secure the cassette 12 and the free end of the screen member 14 to the vehicle. However, in an advantageous embodiment the mounting units 18 are latch units and the mounting members 16 are latch members or clips configured so that they can be inserted into the latch units and locked in place automatically. This enables the cassette 12 and the free end of the screen 14 to be connected to the vehicle simply using only one hand.

Figures 9a and 9b illustrate how a latch member 16 is secured to and released from a latch unit 18 in accordance with one embodiment. The latch unit 18 is an assembly comprising a latch (not shown) slidably mounted in a housing 30 secured to the vehicle. The latch is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position and is biased towards the locked position. An upper surface of the housing 30 has a latch socket 32 into which a tongue 34 of the latch member 16 is inserted. The tongue 34 has a latch opening 36 in which the latch engages to lock the latch member to the latch unit 18 when in the locked position. The latch has a cam surface (not shown) which is contacted by the end of the tongue 34 when the latch member 16 is inserted into the latch unit. Pressure exerted on the cam surface by the latch member 16 moves the latch from its biased locked position to an unlocked position enabling the lug 34 to pass further into the latch unit. Once the latch member 16 has been fully inserted, the latch aligns with the latch opening 36 and the biasing force moves the latch back to the locked position so that the latch enters the latch opening 36 to lock the latch member 16 to the latch unit.

A release button or lever 38 is operatively attached to the latch or may be an integral part of the latch. The release button 38 can be moved by a user, as indicated in Figure 9b, to move the latch from the locked position to the released position to enable the latch member 16 to be withdrawn from the latch unit.

The above described latching arrangement enables the cassette 12 and the free end 20 of the screen member to be quickly and easily attached by simply pushing the latch members 16 into the latch units 18. Removal of the cassette and the free end of the screen member can also be effected easily by use of the release buttons 38. Typically, the cassette can be held in one had whilst the buttons are operated with the other.

Whilst any suitable latch units 18 and members 16 can be used, the latch units may incorporate a magnetic sliding latch configuration as described in the applicant's co-pending patent application Ref: SJC/P/39370.GB/B, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In the latch units described in the co-pending application, a permanent magnet is mounted in the housing and a steel plate is attached to part of the latch. The magnet attracts the plate to move the latch to the latched position and hold it there in normal use.

Advantageously, the latch units 18, or other mounting units, are arranged so as to be substantially flush with surfaces in which they are mounted.

The luggage compartment 19 can be any type of luggage compartment including a boot or trunk.

The screen member 14 may take the form of a net but is advantageously in the form of a blind so that it can be used as a privacy screen.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the above described arrangements without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. For example, whilst the present embodiment includes three sets of mounting units 18 it will be appreciated that more than three sets can be provided for additional flexibility. It will also be appreciated that many of the advantages of the system can be derived through the use of only two sets of mounting units. Indeed, many advantages can be obtained by use of a system having only one set of latching units 18 to enable the cassette 12 to be quickly and simply mounted in and released from the vehicle.

Claims

Claims 1. A vehicle luggage compartment system comprising a cassette containing a retractable flexible screen member, the cassette having two or more mounting members for engagement with corresponding mounting units on the vehicle to releasably secure the cassette in position, in which a number of sets of mounting units are provided to enable the cassette to be mounted in a range of different locations and/or orientations.
2. A vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed in claim I, in which a free end of the screen member is also provided with a corresponding number of the mounting members configured for engagement with the mounting units in any of the sets to secure the free end of the screen in an extended condition.
3. A vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each of the mounting units comprises a releasable latch mechanism and each of the mounting members comprises a latch member that can be inserted into one of the mounting units for engagement with the latch mechanism.
4. A vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed claim 2 or claim 3, in which the system comprises at least two sets of mounting units, a first set being located in or adjacent a floor of the luggage compartment, the units in the first set being spaced apart in a lateral direction of the compartment, a second set of mounting units being located substantially above the first set, such that the screen member can be configured to divide the compartment in a generally vertical direction by attaching one of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the first set of mounting units and attaching the other of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the second set of mounting units.
5. A vehicle luggage compartnient system as claimed in claim 4, in which the system comprises at least one further set of mounting units offset from the first set in a longitudinal direction of the compartment, the further set of mounting units being located in or close to the floor of the compartment, the arrangement being such that screen member can be configured to extend in longitudinal direction of the vehicle generally parallel to the floor of the compartment by attaching one of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the first set of mounting units and attaching the other of the cassette and the free end of the screen member to the vehicle using the further set of mounting units.
6. A vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed in any one of the previous claims in which at least one set of mounting units is located adjacent a lower edge of an opening of the compartment, the arrangement being such that with the cassette mounted to the vehicle using the further set of mounting units, the screen member can be extended over the lower edge of the opening.
7. A vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed in any one of the previous claims in which the luggage compartment is a boot.
8. A vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed in claim 7 when dependent on claim 6, in which the further set of mounting units are located on the boot sill.
9. A vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the screen member is a blind.
10. A vehicle luggage compartment system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11. A vehicle comprising a vehicle luggage compartment system as claimed in any one of the previous claims.
12. A vehicle luggage compartment system substantially as hereinbefore described, with referee to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.