WO2021160250A1

WO2021160250A1 - Vehicle compartment

Info

Publication number: WO2021160250A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/053388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giancarlo CACCIA DOMINIONI
Original assignee: Toyota Motor Europe
Priority date: 2020-02-11
Filing date: 2020-02-11
Publication date: 2021-08-19

Abstract

A vehicle compartment (10) defining a cavity, the vehicle compartment comprising a platform (20) arranged in the cavity, the cavity having an opening (12) for loading or unloading a load (22) onto/from the platform (20), wherein the platform (20) is movable within the cavity between a first level, which is recessed with respect to the opening (12), and a second level closer to an edge (14) of the opening (12).

Description

VEHICLE COMPARTMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle compartment, and more particularly to an improvement for facilitating loading or unloading of a load from/to a vehicle compartment. This improvement may be applied to a wide range of vehicles, including cars, buses, trains, etc., irrespective of their propulsion type or their level of automated or autonomous driving.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] Some solutions allowing users to make fewer efforts to load or unload luggage from/to a vehicle compartment are known in the art. For instance, patent application publication JP 2018-144773 A1 discloses a vehicle compartment (trunk) having a foldaway lower border. Specifically, the lower border comprises a plurality of articulated panels that can be unfolded outwards to form a slope from the ground to the trunk, for loads to be slid or rolled on.

[0003] Apart from the fact that the border must be manually unfolded and refolded, this type of solution, although satisfactory, is only applicable to vehicles having a trunk big enough to accommodate the slope panels.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a new type of vehicle compartment.

SUMMARY

[0005] In this respect, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle compartment defining a cavity, the vehicle compartment comprising a platform arranged in the cavity, the cavity having an opening for loading or unloading a load onto/from the platform, wherein the platform is movable within the cavity between a first level, which is recessed with respect to the opening, and a second level closer to an edge of the opening. [0006] The vehicle compartment is a compartment inside a vehicle, e.g. a back compartment (trunk), a front compartment or a side compartment. The vehicle compartment may be used to transport any load. Although luggage will be used in the following as an example, the load may encompass anything that can be transported on the platform, including luggage, materials, objects, manufactured or unmanufactured goods, animals, plants, smaller vehicles (e.g. bikes, pushchairs, wheelchairs), etc. The above-described vehicle compartment may be particularly useful when the load is to be carried from or to the vehicle compartment by a user.

[0007] The platform may form a floor of the vehicle compartment, that is, a lowermost surface of the accessible portion of the cavity. The platform may be substantially planar. The platform may extend along most of a cross-section of the cavity, e.g. occupy at least 80% of the cross-section, preferably 85%, preferably 90%, preferably 95%, preferably all the cross-section, at the first level and/or the second level. For instance, along the stroke of the platform between the first level and the second level, the platform may take a plurality of positions corresponding to cross-sections of the cavity; the platform may be sized to extend along virtually all of at least one of these cross-sections, in particular the smallest one.

[0008] The first level and the second level define two positions that can be taken by the platform, within the cavity. The first level is recessed with respect to the opening, that is, the first level is offset from the edge of the opening, away from the opening. For instance, there may be a wall extending from the first level to the edge of the opening.

[0009] The second level is closer to an edge of the opening than the first level is to said edge. In other words, the second level is less recessed with respect to the opening than the first level. Thus, when the platform moves from the first level to the second level, the platform gets closer to the opening. Therefore, at the second level, the platform is more accessible to the user and thus facilitates loading or unloading of the load onto/from the platform. Conversely, at the first level, the platform is more recessed within the cavity, thus offering maximum space to store luggage and the like.

[0010] In some embodiments, the opening is closable by a door and the platform is configured to move between the first level and the second level upon movement of the door between a closed position, in which the door restricts access through the opening, and an open position, in which the door allows access through the opening. Movement of the platform may be synchronized with movement of the door, e.g. mechanically or electrically. However, the door may be a separate part from the platform. Movement of the platform between the first and second level may therefore be automated. For instance, the platform may move from the first level to the second level upon opening of the door and/or vice versa. [0011] In some embodiments, the vehicle compartment comprises at least one cable mechanically connecting the door and the platform. The cable may be substantially undeformable under efforts exerted by the door during its opening or closing. The cable may allow the door to drive the platform in movement, thus mechanically synchronizing movement of the platform with movement of the door.

[0012] In some embodiments, the platform is movable in translation. Therefore, the orientation of the load is maintained through movement of the platform, which is helpful in particular with fragile luggage.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second level is flush with said edge of the opening, that is, with the edge to which the second level is closer than the first level. Said edge may be part of the contour of the opening. Thanks to these provisions, a user can lift a load up to the edge level and put it onto the edge (e.g. onto the above-mentioned wall), and then push or slide it to the platform, without needing to controllably let it down to the bottom of the cavity (e.g. corresponding to the first level), as the platform, at the second level, would be at the same level as the edge. Loading or unloading is further facilitated.

[0014] In some embodiments, the vehicle compartment comprises at least one guide rail arranged in the cavity, the platform engaging the guide rail. The rail may be formed by a groove or rib. The platform may be configured to slide along the rail when moving between the first level and the second level. Thanks to the guide rail, reliable operation of the platform and stability of the platform during movement thereof are ensured, and damage on fragile luggage can be avoided.

[0015] In some embodiments, an actuation mechanism of the platform is configured to prevent movement of the platform when an exerted load on the platform exceeds a predetermined threshold. The actuation mechanism may be the mechanism configured to actuate the platform between the first level and the second level. In some embodiments, the actuation mechanism may comprise the above- mentioned cable.

[0016] The exerted load is the load (force) exerted by the load (luggage) on the platform. The load may include the weight of the load that is supported by the platform and/or the additional force exerted by the load on the platform in cases movement of the load is impeded: when the load is prevented to move, e.g. due to abutment against another part of the vehicle compartment, that other part exerts a resistance force on the load, which may be at least partly transmitted to the platform.

[0017] Since the actuation mechanism is configured to prevent movement of the platform when an exerted load on the platform exceeds a predetermined threshold, damage to the load can be avoided and, in case movement of the platform is normally synchronized with movement of the door, preventing the movement of the platform enables to desynchronize movement of the platform from movement of the door. Therefore, the door can be opened even though the platform is loaded with a bulky or heavy load.

[0018] In some embodiments, at least one biasing member is configured to hold the platform engaged with the actuation mechanism, a biasing force of the biasing member being set such that when the exerted load is greater than the predetermined threshold, actuation of the actuation mechanism sufficiently overcomes the biasing force to disengage the platform from the actuation mechanism. The biasing member may be an elastic element such as a spring, a rubber or the like, or a magnetic element such as a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, etc. In these embodiments, the platform can be automatically disengaged from the actuation mechanism in a simple and reliable manner.

[0019] In some embodiments, the platform comprises a plurality of panels and the biasing member is arranged between two or more of the panels. The biasing member may be embedded inside the platforms, e.g. hidden by one or more platform covers.

[0020] Each panel may engage at least one of the above-mentioned guide rails, whereby coplanarity of the panels with one another, and thus planarity of the platform as a whole, is maintained.

[0021] A damper may be provided to prevent an object loaded onto the platform, e.g. when the platform is at the second level, from falling abruptly down to the cavity bottom in case that object is heavy enough to disengage the platform from the actuation mechanism. Alternatively or in addition, it may be useful to allow the user to manually disengage the platform from the actuation mechanism, e.g. before loading an object, for instance to increase the compartment capacity. In other words, in an example, the platform may be configured to be held at the first level. To this end, an actuator may be provided, the actuator enabling the user to actuate the biasing member. [0022] The present disclose further relates to a vehicle comprising the vehicle compartment as previously described. The vehicle may be an automotive vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0023] The invention and advantages thereof will be better understood upon reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments given as non-limiting examples. This description refers to the appended drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment;

- Fig. 2A is a diagrammatic side view of a vehicle compartment according to an embodiment, with a platform at a first level;

- Fig. 2B is a diagrammatic side view of a vehicle compartment according to the embodiment of Fig. 2A, with a platform at a second level;

- Fig. 3A is a diagrammatic rear view of a vehicle compartment according to another embodiment, in a first state;

- Fig. 3B is a diagrammatic rear view of a vehicle compartment according to another embodiment, in a second state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0024] A vehicle 100 according to a first embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the vehicle is depicted as a car, but other vehicles are encompassed. Hereafter, reference to directions (front-rear, top-bottom, etc.) relate to conventional directions of the vehicle 100. [0025] The vehicle 100 comprises a vehicle compartment 10. Without loss of generality, the vehicle compartment 10 may be a rear compartment (e.g. a trunk), but other types of vehicle compartments are encompassed.

[0026] The vehicle compartment 10 defines a cavity, i.e. a space in which a load can be received. The cavity has an opening 12 through which load can be loaded into or unloaded from the cavity. The cavity and the opening are conventional and can be modified as desired by the skilled person.

[0027] The opening 12 is defined by a contour including one or more edges. In particular, the opening 12 has an edge 14, here the lower edge. As will be detailed hereafter, the edge 14 may be shifted (e.g. upwards) from the bottom 18 of the cavity. For instance, the (rear) bumper portion 16 of the vehicle 100, or another part, may form a wall extending from the bottom 18 of the cavity to the edge 14.

[0028] A platform 20 is arranged in the cavity. In this embodiment, the platform 20 is to serve as a floor portion of the vehicle compartment 10. As shown, the platform 20 may extend throughout part of the cavity cross-section, preferably most of the cavity cross-section, yet preferably as much as possible insofar as it does not impede its movement.

[0029] Indeed, the platform 20 is mounted to be movable within the cavity, notably movable between a first level, shown in Fig. 2A, and a second level, shown in Fig. 2B. In Fig. 1, the platform is shown at the second level, and the dashed lines conventionally represent invisible lines, such as those delimiting the bottom 18 of the cavity. That is, when the platform is at the second level, the platform may be at a distance from the bottom 18 of the cavity.

[0030] The first level may correspond to a position in which the platform 20 is in contact with the bottom 18 of the cavity, or at a distance therefrom; in the latter case, the distance between the first level and the bottom 18 of the cavity may be less than a distance between the second level and the bottom 18 of the cavity.

[0031] More generally, the first level is recessed with respect to the opening 12, e.g. lower than the opening 12. For instance, the first level may be offset downward with respect to the edge 14 of the opening 12. [0032] In any case, the second level is closer to the edge 14 than the first level. In other words, the platform 20 at the second level is closer to the edge 14 than the platform 20 at the first level. Yet in other words, when moving from the first level to the second level (e.g. when going upwards, as illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 1), the platform 20 gets closer to the edge 14, hence to the opening 12. [0033] For instance, the platform 20 may be movable in translation between the first level and the second level.

[0034] In Fig. 1, a piece of luggage 22 is diagrammatically represented on the platform 20. Flowever, as mentioned earlier, the platform 20 may be configured to receive any suitable load. [0035] The platform may be designed and sized according to the skilled person's abilities in order to withstand a specified load, e.g. in a manner similar to the design of a known luggage cover.

[0036] For instance, the vehicle compartment 10 may comprise at least one guide rail 24 arranged in the cavity. In this example, the vehicle compartment 10 comprises at least one pair of guide rails 24 symmetrically arranged within the cavity, e.g. two pairs of guide rails 24, namely one pair at the front of the cavity and one pair at the rear of the cavity. Flowever, different arrangements are possible.

[0037] The platform 20 engages the guide rails 24. That is, the platform 20 is mechanically linked with the guide rails 24 and, in this case, slidable along the guide rails 24 when moving between the first level and the second level. The guide rails 24 may be rectilinear and/or parallel to one another.

[0038] The opening 12 is closable by a door 26. That is, the vehicle 100 may comprise a door 26. In this embodiment, the door 26 is a tailgate that is articulated to the vehicle 100 in a conventional manner. In particular, the door 26 may open outside the cavity. Flowever, the skilled person could consider any door 26 movable between a closed position, in which the door 26 restricts access through the opening 12, and an open position, in which the door 26 allows access through the opening 12. In Fig. 1, the door 26 is represented in the open position.

[0039] As indicated previously, the platform 20 may be configured to move between the first level and the second level upon movement of the door 26 between the closed position and the open position. Devices for synchronizing movement of the platform 20 with movement of the door 26 can be appropriately selected by the skilled person.

[0040] However, in an example, the vehicle compartment 10 may comprise at least one cable 28 mechanically connecting the door 26 and the platform 20. Specifically, the vehicle compartment 10 may comprise at least one pair of cables 28, each cable being attached at one side to the door 26 and at another side to the platform 20. Thus, the cables 28 transmit a force due to the movement of the door 26 to the platform 20, thereby driving the platform 20, notably upwards when the door 26 is opened. Conversely, closing the door 26 loosens the cables 28 and enables the platform 20 to move downwards under the effect of gravity; alternatively, the cables 28 or another suitable system may be configured to positively push the platform 20 back to the first level.

[0041] Part or all of the cables 28 may be integrated and/or guided along a wall of the vehicle and/or the vehicle compartment. For instance, the cables 28 may extend through loops 30 which are secured to a wall of the vehicle compartment, as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, additional systems such as a cable winder may be provided to control the movement of the cables 28.

[0042] The opening and closing of the door 26 may be conventionally assisted, e.g. through gas springs. However, the gas springs or other suitable system may be reinforced or resized to enable lifting the weight of the loads that may be supported by the platform 20. [0043] Operation of the vehicle compartment 10 can be best understood in relation to Figs. 2A-2B. In Fig. 2A, the door 26 is in the closed position; besides, the platform 20 is at the first level, here in contact with the bottom 18 of the cavity. As can be seen clearly, the first level is recessed, e.g. vertically, with respect to the edge 14. At the first level, the platform 20 does not face the (here closed) opening 12. [0044] When a user opens the door 26, he may proceed conventionally to bring the door 26 in the open position, illustrated in Fig. 2B. This moves (e.g. raises) the attaching point of the cables 28 to the door 26, thus pulling the cables 28, which in turn drive the platform 20 in movement, here upwards. This brings the platform 20 at the second level, as shown in Fig. 2B. As can be seen, the second level is closer to the edge 14 than the first level. In this embodiment, for instance, the second level may be flush with the edge 14 of the opening 12. Thus, the piece of luggage 22 can be easily seized by the user without bending into the vehicle compartment 10. [0045] When a user shuts the door 26, he may proceed conventionally to bring the door 26 to the closed position, illustrated in

Fig. 2A. The cables 28 being thus loosened, the platform 20 can move back to the first level, e.g. under its own weight and/or the weight of the piece of luggage 22 that it supports. [0046] An optional refinement is detailed with reference to Figs. 3A and 3B, which are diagrammatic rear views of the vehicle compartment 10. In the example of Figs. 3A-3B, the piece of luggage 22 is so big that when the platform 20 is at the first level, the piece of luggage 22 comes into contact or is close to an opposite wall (e.g. a ceiling portion) 32 of the vehicle compartment 10. Thus, upward movement of the piece of luggage 22, and therefore of the platform 20, is prevented by abutment of the piece of luggage 22 against the platform 20 and the opposite wall 32. In such situation, the cables 28 could be prevented from moving, and therefore, opening of the door 26 could be impeded. [0047] In order to avoid such troubles, an actuation mechanism of the platform 20, namely the cables 28, may be configured to prevent movement of the platform 20 when a load (force) on the platform 20 exceeds a predetermined threshold. More specifically, at least one biasing member 21 may be configured to hold the platform 20 engaged with the actuation mechanism, e.g. the cables 28. A biasing force of the biasing member 21 may be set such that when the load is greater than the predetermined threshold, actuation of the actuation mechanism, i.e. movement of the cables 28 due to tension thereof, sufficiently overcomes the biasing force to disengage the platform 20 from the actuation mechanism, i.e. from the cables 28.

[0048] In this embodiment, for instance, the biasing member 21 may be a spring, e.g. arranged between two or more panels 20a, 20b of the platform. The biasing member 21 tends to push the panels 20a, 20b away from each other, thus holding the platform 20 engaged with the actuation mechanism, more specifically with ribs 28a moving integrally with the respective cables 28. In normal operation, the ribs 28a protrude beneath the platform 20 to support the platform 20.

[0049] Starting from the situation depicted in Fig. 3A, in abnormal operation, e.g. in a case of oversized or overweight load, such as the piece of luggage 22 of Fig. 3A, when the door 26 is opened, the door 26 exerts tension on the cables 28, which tend to drive the platform 20 towards the second level and make the piece of luggage 22 abut the opposite wall 32. The opposite wall 32 thus exerts a resistance onto the piece of luggage 22, and this resistance is transmitted as a load onto the platform 20. When this load exceeds the predetermined threshold, the ribs 28a overcome the stiffness of the spring, i.e. the biasing force of the biasing member 21, and bias the panels 20a, 20b against each other, thus contracting the spring. The retracted panels 20a, 20b therefore leave the way to the ribs 28a and cables 28, which results in disengaging the platform 20 from the actuation mechanism, i.e. from the cables 28. Therefore, the door 26 can be opened while the platform 20 does not reach the second level, e.g. stays at the first level as illustrated in Fig. 3B. [0050] The system may be configured to re-engage the platform 20 with the actuation mechanism automatically, e.g. when the door 26 is closed again: for instance, closing of the door 26 releases the tension on the cables 28 and enables the platform 20 to slide downwards, under the effect of its own weight and, as the case may be, the weight of the load loaded thereon. When the platform 20 reaches the ribs 28a, the platform 20 keeps moving downwards, e.g. thanks to a shape of the ribs 28a (e.g. beveled) configured to make reengagement easier, against the force of the biasing member 21. Once the platform has passed the ribs 28a, the biasing member 21 will ensure the reengagement by pushing back outside the panels 20a and 20b.

[0051] Although the present disclosure refers to specific exemplary embodiments, modifications may be provided to these examples without the departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0052] For instance, instead of the described panels 20a, 20b and spring, the platform 20 may be formed of one or more panels integrally moving with one another, the platform 20 being connected to the cables 28 or any other suitable actuation mechanism by magnets. When the load on the platform 20 exceeds the biasing force of the magnets, the platform disengages from the actuation mechanism.

[0053] Instead of being a trunk, the vehicle compartment may be located elsewhere, e.g. be a front compartment, especially but not exclusively for vehicles devoid of internal combustion engines, such as electric vehicles.

[0054] Other variations of individually described features may be possible with or without changing other features. [0055] More generally, individual characteristics of the different illustrated/mentioned embodiments may be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

Claims

1. A vehicle compartment (10) defining a cavity, the vehicle compartment comprising a platform (20) arranged in the cavity, the cavity having an opening (12) for loading or unloading a load (22) onto/from the platform (20), wherein the platform (20) is movable within the cavity between a first level, which is recessed with respect to the opening (12), and a second level closer to an edge (14) of the opening (12).

2. The vehicle compartment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening (12) is closable by a door (26) and the platform (20) is configured to move between the first level and the second level upon movement of the door (26) between a closed position, in which the door (26) restricts access through the opening (12), and an open position, in which the door (26) allows access through the opening (12).

3. The vehicle compartment as claimed in claim 2, comprising at least one cable (28) mechanically connecting the door (26) and the platform (20).

4. The vehicle compartment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the platform (20) is movable in translation.

5. The vehicle compartment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second level is flush with said edge (14) of the opening.

6. The vehicle compartment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising at least one guide rail (24) arranged in the cavity, the platform (20) engaging the guide rail (24).

7. The vehicle compartment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an actuation mechanism of the platform (20) is configured to prevent movement of the platform (20) when a load on the platform exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. The vehicle compartment as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one biasing member (21) is configured to hold the platform (20) engaged with the actuation mechanism, a biasing force of the biasing member (21) being set such that when the load is greater than the predetermined threshold, actuation of the actuation mechanism sufficiently overcomes the biasing force to disengage the platform (20) from the actuation mechanism.

9. The vehicle compartment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the platform (20) comprises a plurality of panels (20a, 20b) and the biasing member (21) is arranged between two or more of the panels (20a, 20b).

10. A vehicle (100) comprising the vehicle compartment (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.