Patent Grant
6983970
The present invention relates generally to vehicular barrier devices, and, more particularly, to such a barrier device which is relatively lightweight, while advantageously aiding in preventing the inadvertent passage of cargo from the trunk to the passenger compartment.
Manufacturers of passenger and cargo vehicles, such as automobiles (including SUVs and the like), trucks, trains, aircraft, marine craft, and the like, continuously strive to make the vehicles more fuel efficient while at the same time improving the safety for passengers and/or operators of the vehicles. One way in which fuel may be conserved is to make the vehicle weigh less. As such, particularly in automobiles, alternative materials such as polymeric materials have replaced metal in many areas of the vehicle.
Many years ago, manufacturers generally eliminated the heavy, metal bulkhead between the trunk and passenger compartments which had often been found in conventional sedan-type automobiles. Further, due to the desirability of having a means for transporting oversized cargo, manufacturers began to design and sell fold-down seats to accommodate pass-through cargo from the trunk to the passenger compartments. However, safety requirements relating to the restraint of cargo within the trunk under certain conditions sometimes necessitated finding a replacement for the metal bulkhead. Further, it was unfortunately discovered that in certain instances some latching mechanisms for fold-down seats at times were not strong enough to withstand forces experienced under some frontal crash conditions. Due to passengers being restrained from bending over due to the 3 point passenger passive restraint systems, such latching mechanism failures could possibly in some cases contribute to injury of passengers.
Although many lighter materials exist, these materials generally do not pass safety requirements since they often fail in restraining cargo in the trunk from inadvertently entering the passenger compartment. The suitable replacement materials which do exist are either cost prohibitive, or for strength they must be much wider than standard sheet metal used—as such, they therefore cannot fit within the space constraints of the automobile.
One such replacement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,231 issued in 1991. The automotive barrier net disclosed therein was a suitable metal bulkhead replacement; and in certain situations, may yet be a suitable replacement therefor. However, since the invention of that barrier net, more stringent safety standards have been proposed relating to the restraint of cargo within the trunk area.
An example of such a requirement is found in the United Nations “Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or be Used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Prescriptions,” Addendum 16: Regulation No. 17, Revision 3, Amendment 4, Feb. 11, 2000, which publication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Regulation No. 17 is entitled “Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Vehicles with regard to the Seats, their Anchorages and any Head Restraints.”
Annex 9 of Regulation No. 17 defines the test procedure for devices intended to protect the occupants against displacement of luggage. Paragraph 2 of Annex 9 of Reg. No. 17 specifies that two blocks each having a mass of 18 kg are to be placed in the trunk area. In a vehicle having an open area between the cargo and passenger space (e.g. in a stationwagon), a 10 kg block is placed in the cargo area, but upwardly so as to be directly adjacent an installed barrier device. Paragraph 2 of Annex 7 of Reg. No. 17 defines the conditions for the standardized vehicular crash test; and specifies that the speed on impact shall be between 48.3 km/h and 53.1 km/h. Paragraph 6.3.1 of Reg. No. 17 states that a longitudinal horizontal deceleration of not less than 20 g (1 g being approximately equal to 9.8 m/s2) shall be applied for 30 milliseconds in the forward direction to the whole shell of the vehicle in accordance with the requirements of Annex 7. Upon completion of such testing, the 18 kg blocks (and 10 kg block, if applicable) should not enter the passenger area.
This rather stringent requirement generally may not be met with many current automobiles. One alternative for meeting this requirement would be to reinforce the rearmost passenger seats with sheet metal. However, major drawbacks exist with this alternative, a few of which are that the sheet metal would add at least about 25 pounds to the weight of the automobile; it would be difficult and time consuming to design and test seat latch mechanisms which could withstand high enough loads under certain crash conditions; and retooling expenses would be very high.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a load restraining barrier device which would advantageously pass applicable safety requirements. Further, it would be desirable to provide such a device which is aesthetically pleasing without a bulky frame(s), thereby advantageously being more lightweight. It would further be desirable to provide such a device which may be incorporated into current automotive designs with minimal changes thereto as an OEM part. Yet further, it would be desirable to provide such a device which is lightweight and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Still further, it would be desirable to provide such a device which may be detached to advantageously provide pass-through cargo storage if desired. It is yet further desirable to provide such a device which, when detached, may fold easily and neatly into a small package for easy storage.
The present invention addresses and solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a frameless load restraining barrier device for use in a motor vehicle, the vehicle having a body with a passenger compartment/area and a cargo compartment/area rearward of the rear passenger seat(s), and an open space extending transversely between the cargo area and the passenger compartment above the seat back, the cargo compartment having a forward end, a bottom wall, and two opposed side walls extending substantially upwardly from the bottom wall. The barrier device comprises a barrier body having a predetermined geometric shape and disposed at the cargo forward end and suspended between the passenger compartment and the cargo compartment and across the open space, the barrier body having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, and two opposed sides, the front adapted to face the passenger compartment, the back adapted to face the cargo compartment, the top adapted to be adjacent the vehicle headliner, the bottom adapted to be adjacent the bottom wall, and the two opposed sides adapted to be adjacent the two opposed side walls and (adjacent the open space) the adjacent roof support pillar (such as, for example, the B pillar, the C pillar, etc.). Means are provided for attaching the top to the headliner, and means are also provided for releasably attaching the bottom to at least one of the bottom wall and the opposed side walls.
The barrier device of the present invention is intuitively engaged in the vehicle by the consumer. The device is installed at the cargo forward end and suspended between the passenger compartment and the cargo compartment and over the open space. Cargo of a predetermined mass in the cargo compartment may in some instances be substantially restrained from entering the passenger compartment under certain predetermined frontal crash conditions.
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for limiting movement of cargo between a passenger compartment and a cargo area of a vehicle wherein a seat back of the passenger compartment and an open space define a transition between the passenger compartment and the cargo area. The invention can include a flexible barrier body having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. The top, the bottom, the first side or the second side is defined by at least one flexible, substantially inelastic web strap. The barrier body is positionable at the transition between a seat back of a passenger compartment of a vehicle and a cargo area of the vehicle. The flexible barrier body can be positioned across an open space above the seat back. The invention also provides means for releasably attaching the top of the barrier body to the motor vehicle as well as means for releasably attaching the bottom of the barrier body to the motor vehicle. One of the attaching means engages the at least one web strap.
The barrier body can include two portions, a first portion having a number of layers and a second portion having a different number of layers. The portion having more layers can be adjacent the seat back or the open space. the barrier body can also include a window portion and a solid portion. The window portion can be adjacent the open space so a driver of the vehicle can see through the barrier body. The solid portion can be adjacent the seat back. The barrier body can also include a sleeve disposed on the top, bottom, first side or second side. The strap can pass through the sleeve.
The attaching means for the top of the barrier body or the bottom of the barrier body can include a member having at least one aperture that is vacant when the member is engaged with the vehicle. The aperture can reduce the weight of the invention. The member can include a pin and a key and be engageable with the barrier body. The pin can be inserted in an aperture defined in a pillar of the motor vehicle or a headliner of the motor vehicle, or both. The attaching means can also include a hook portion extending parallel or perpendicular to the web strap.
The invention can also include means for rendering the web strap taut. The rendering means can include a handle portion and first and second elastic portions. The first and second elastic portions can be individually disposed at opposite ends of the handle portion. At least one of the elastic portions can engage the web strap.
Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings, in which:
Referring now to
The barrier device 10 is positionable in the motor vehicle M having a passenger compartment 14 in communication with a cargo area 16, wherein a seat back 44 of the passenger compartment 14 and an open space 74 define a transition between the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo area 16. The open space 74 extends transversely between the cargo area 16 and the passenger compartment 14 above the seat back 44. The barrier device 10 extends across the open space 74 and behind the seat back 44 to substantially restrain stowage or cargo C (shown in phantom) within the cargo area 16 from entering the passenger compartment 14 and/or from striking the seat back 44.
“Frameless” within the context of the present invention is described as meaning that the barrier device is not surrounded by a rigid or substantially rigid frame composed of, for example, metals (eg. aluminum extrusions), plastic rods, wood, any other substantially rigid material, and the like.
The cargo compartment 16 has a forward end 18, a bottom wall 22, and two opposed side walls 24, 26 extending substantially upwardly from the bottom wall 22.
The barrier device 10 comprises a barrier body 28 having a predetermined shape and adapted to be disposed at the cargo forward end 18 and suspended between the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo compartment 16 and across the open space 74. Barrier body 28 may be of any size and/or shape, including but not limited to square, rectangular, trapezoidal, and/or any geometric shape as desired and/or necessitated by the particular vehicle into which barrier device 10 will be installed.
The barrier body 28 has a front 30, a back 32, a top 34, a bottom 36, and two opposed sides 38, 40. As best seen in
The barrier body 28 further comprises an upper 35, lower 37 and two opposed side sleeves 39, 41. Within sleeves 35, 37, 39 and 41 is fixed and/or slidably received flexible, substantially inelastic web strap 54. It is to be understood that this web strap 54 may be formed from any suitable material, such as for example from polyesters, polypropylenes, nylons, and mixtures thereof; however, in the preferred embodiment, the material of choice is a reinforced multi-filament polypropylene.
The barrier body 28 is positionable at the transition between the seat back 44 of the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo area 16, at the forward end 18 of the cargo area 16, and across the open space 74. The two opposed sides 38, 40 can also be adapted to be adjacent a roof support pillar P, such as, for example, the B-pillar or the C-pillar. In
Referring now to
In a preferred embodiment, the tensioning means may comprise an elastic member 62 attached to the web strap(s) 54d and a handle portion 63. Elastic member 62 may comprise any suitable material and be any suitable size, shape and/or configuration. Elastic member 62 may keep barrier body 28c taut when attached and during normal driving conditions; yet yields enough that a consumer may easily attach/detach device 10 in vehicle M. Elastic member 62 provides a predetermined amount of transverse and/or longitudinal elasticity, depending upon within which sleeve it is.
It is to be understood that the web strap 54 may be optional in that it is contemplated as being within the purview of the present invention to effectively attach the barrier body (without web strap) directly to the vehicle M.
The barrier device 10 further comprises means adapted to releasably attach the top 34 to the headliner 20; and means adapted to releasably attach the bottom 36 to the bottom wall 22 and/or the opposed side walls 24, 26 (for example, the shock tower walls).
When the barrier device 10 is installed at the cargo forward end 18 and suspended between the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo compartment 16 and across the open space 74, cargo C of a predetermined mass in the cargo compartment 16 may in certain circumstances be substantially restrained from entering the passenger compartment 14 under predetermined frontal crash conditions. The barrier device 10 of the present invention may advantageously meet the requirements of the U.N. Regulation No. 17 as described hereinabove, ie. device 10 may restrain cargo C comprising two blocks, each having a mass of 18 kg, and a third block having a mass of 10 kg, wherein the frontal crash conditions include the speed on impact being between about 48.3 km/h and about 53.1 km/h, and a longitudinal horizontal deceleration of not less than about 20 g being applied for 30 milliseconds in the forward direction to motor vehicle.
It is to be understood that barrier body 28d may be made of one or multiple layers of a desired material. For example, as can best be seen in
The barrier body 28d can also include a first portion 104 having a first predetermined number of layers of material and a second portion 106 having a second predetermined number of layers of material, wherein the first predetermined number is greater than the second predetermined number. For example, the portion 104 of the barrier body 28d can include more layers of material than a portion 106 of the barrier body 28d. The portion 104 is shown as generally double-ply and the portion 106 is shown as generally single-ply. However, the first and second predetermined numbers can be selected in response to the strength of the material selected for forming each layer and the desired strength of the barrier body 28d. For example, the barrier body 28d can be formed wherein the first portion 104 includes three or more layers and the second portion 106 includes two or more layers. The portion 104 of the barrier body 28d having more layers of material can be disposed adjacent a seat back 44a. The portion 106 of the barrier body 28d having relatively fewer layers of material can extend across, or be adjacent to, the open space 74a. Alternatively, the portion 104 of the barrier body 28d having more layers of material can be disposed across, or be adjacent to, the open space 74a and the portion 106 of the barrier body 28d having relatively fewer layers of material can be disposed adjacent the seat back 44a. Disposing the portion 104 adjacent the seat back 44a can be desirable where it is expected that cargo of greatest mass will be positioned adjacent the seat back 44a. Disposing the portion 104 across the open space 74a can be desirable where it is expected that cargo of significant mass will be positioned adjacent the open space 74a and the seat back 44a will cooperate with the portion 106to limit shifting of cargo toward the passenger compartment.
The barrier body 28 may be formed from a natural or synthetic cloth material, as shown in
In a more preferred embodiment, each of the web straps 54 is formed from a reinforced multi-filament polypropylene material, and the barrier body 28 is formed from a polypropylene cloth material. This embodiment additionally is advantageous in that, due to the various polypropylene materials used, it is more environmentally friendly.
Referring now to
The barrier body 28 can include the window 46 defined by a mesh. The mesh can be a screen so that a driver of the motor vehicle can see through the window 46. The window 46 of the barrier body 28 can be positionable across the open space 74. The window 46 is operable to withstand predetermined loads to prevent cargo from moving to the passenger compartment 14.
Barrier body 28 can include a substantially solid portion 102 adjacent the window portion 46. The substantially solid portion 102 can be positionable adjacent the seat back 44. The substantially solid portion 102 can be formed by at least one of woven, knitted, rochelle, and weft insertion processes. The substantially solid portion 102 can be operable to withstand predetermined loads to prevent cargo from striking the seat back 44.
It is to be understood that the top attaching means may comprise any suitable means. Referring now to
It is to be understood that rod 48 and key 50 may be of any suitable size, shape and/or configuration. However, rod 48 should be long enough to extend through the interior trim and insulation (if any) within vehicle M to reach the roof support pillar P. In a preferred embodiment, rod 48 is cylindrical, has a diameter of about 8 mm and a length of about 70 mm; and key 50 is a round, disk shape having a diameter of 18 mm. Key member 72 is formed from a suitable grade of steel, or any other suitably strong material.
It is to be understood that these dimensions are for illustrative purposes—predetermined dimensions, shapes, and/or angles may be any as desired and/or necessitated by the particular configuration of the motor vehicle into which the device 10 is to be installed.
As seen in
The headliner 20 can define a slot 56 adjacent to the slot 108 of the pillar P. The key 50 can be inserted with respect to the slots 56 and 108 to engage the pillar P.
Lower hook 78 is releasably attachable to at least one of the bottom wall 22 and the opposed side walls 24, 26 via any suitable means, such as loop member 60. If loop members 60 are on the side walls 24, 26 (as shown in
Any or all of hooks 78, 78a and key members 72, 72a (including any of the alternate embodiments described herein) may optionally be plated or the like; and/or molded plastic or rubber jackets 58 (shown in phantom) may be placed over the metal (see
An alternate embodiment of the lower hook 78 is designated 78c in
The hook 78c includes slots 80b, 80c for receiving straps 54e, 54f. Each web straps 54e, 54f can pass through slots 80b, 80c and can be fastened as desired, for example by stitching to itself (as shown). As with hook 78, hook 78c is formed from a suitable grade of steel, or from any other suitably strong material.
An alternate embodiment of the key member 72 is designated in
It is to be understood that one or multiple layers of web strap may be secured through slots 76, 76a, 80a, 80b, 80c, 82, 82a.
It is to be further understood that the upper and/or lower attachment means may be fixed, semi-fixed, or detachable (as shown), and that any other suitable upper and lower attachments means are contemplated as being within the purview of the present invention.
Yet further, it is to be understood that the embodiments shown, though preferred, are illustrative only. As such, it is to be understood that various features (including, but not limited to the absence or presence of various web straps, various attachment means, both upper and lower attachment, materials used, etc.) of all the embodiments shown may be mixed and/or matched to render yet other embodiments, which embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.
The entire disclosure of the prior provisional application, Ser. No. 60/337,588, filed Nov. 12, 2001, is considered part of the disclosure of this non-provisional application and is hereby incorporated by reference.
While preferred embodiments, forms and arrangements of parts of the invention have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of the provisional patent application No. 60/337,588 for a FRAMELESS LOAD RESTRAINING VEHICULAR BARRIER DEVICE, filed on Nov. 12, 2001. This claim is made under 35 U.S.C. §119(e); 37 C.F.R. §1.78; and 65 FR 50093.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 60337588 | Nov 2001 | US |
