GB2285606A

GB2285606A - Vehicle luggage barrier mounted on seat belt guide and around trim panel

Info

Publication number: GB2285606A
Application number: GB9326040A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Raymond Sharpe; Nicholas Simon Sharpe
Original assignee: ATHAG Ltd
Current assignee: ATHAG Ltd
Priority date: 1993-12-21
Filing date: 1993-12-21
Publication date: 1995-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-21
Also published as: GB9326040D0; GB2285606B

Abstract

A barrier 10 for use in a vehicle comprises mountings 14 by which the barrier can be connected to the vehicle. Each mounting comprises brackets 26, 28 which connect the barrier to a bolt 20 which also mounts a seat belt guide to the side of the vehicle. Each mounting further comprises a curved plate 29 which embraces a trim panel 18 of the vehicle to inhibit tipping of the barrier about the bolt 20. <IMAGE>

Description

A BARRIER FOR USE IN A VEHICLE The invention relates to a barrier, particularly but not exclusively, for use in a hatch-back, estate-type or commercial vehicle to separate the passenger compartment from an animal or cargo carrying compartment.

In our Patent No. GB-A-1580454, there is described a panel which extends transversely of the vehicle and which is held in place by friction location means. The design of many modern vehicles makes it difficult to find suitable mounting points on the vehicle for such barriers. Owners of vehicles are often reiuctant to drill holes in the vehicle panelling for attachment of such barriers or to use friction locators of the kind described in our earlier patent for engagement against, for example, fabric covered ceiling panels.

An object of the present invention is to provide a barrier which reduces the forgoing problem whilst, at the same time, is relatively simple to install and sturdy in use.

According to the invention there is provided a barrier for use in a vehicle, the barrier comprising mounting means to one side thereof by which the barrier can be connected to the vehicle, the mounting means including a first section to be connected to an existing fixture in the vehicle and a second section adjacent the first section which, in use, at least partially embraces a surface of the vehicle to inhibit tipping of the barrier about the existing fixture.

The existing fixture is preferably a fastener, for example a bolt, used to fasten a seat belt guide to the side of the vehicle. The provision of the second section inhibits tipping of the barrier about the bolt whilst the bolt itself provides a secure fixing for the barrier.

The first section of the fixing means may inciude a bracket having a portion which is attachable to the seat belt guide fastener and a further portion which is arranged to project through an opening in the surface cf the vehicle through which the seat beit normaiiy passes.

The bracket may be suitably attached to the barrier, for example by using a further bracket secured thereto, which further bracket is itself attached to the barrier.

The second section of the fixing means may be in the form of a member contoured so that it can at least partially embrace the said surface of the vehicle. The second section preferably extends, in use, to positions each side of, eg above and below, the existing fixture so as to inhibit tipping of the barrier clockwise or anti- clockwise about the existing fixture.

The second section of the mounting means may be in the form of a contoured plate, eg of curved cross-section.

The second section of the mounting means is preferably arranged for engagement with a side pillar of the vehicle or part of a detachable trim panel thereon which defines the said surface.

Preferably, the barrier has mounting means at opposed sides thereof for connection to existing fixtures on opposite sides of the vehicle.

A barrier in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a diagrammatic view looking into the rear of a vehicle and showing a rear seat backrest and a barrier in accordance with the invention positioned in the vehicle between the top of the backrest and the roof of the vehicle, Fig 2 is a perspective view of part of the interior of the vehicle shown in Fig 1 illustrating part of the mounting means for the barrier (the barrier being omitted for clarity), Fig 3 is a perspective view to a larger scale of part of the mounting means and the barrier, Fig 4 is a view of part of the interior of the vehicle looking from one side and showing a barrier in accordance with the invention in position, Fig 5 is a cross-section through part of the barrier shown in Fig 4 on the line V-V in Fig 4, and Fig 6 is a perspective view of part of an alternative barrier mounting means.

In Fig 1, a vehicle has a barrier 10 positioned so as to extend transversely across the interior of the vehicle between the upper edge of a seat back rest 12 and the interior of a roof panel 13 of the vehicle. The barrier 10 is attached by mountings 14 to existing fixtures in the vehicle as shown in Fig 2 and 4.

In Fig 2, a side pillar 15 of the vehicle divides a rear side window 16 from a rear opening door 17 in kncwn manner and is covered by a removable trim panel 18. The trim panel 18 is suitably secured to the pillar 15, or example by means of snap-fit attachments (not shown'. A plate 19 is secured to the pillar 15 by means of a bolt 20 and is formed with a slot 22 forming a guide for an inertia reel seatbelt 23. The seatbelt 23 normally passes through an aperture 24 in the trim panel 18.

In order to secure the barrier 10 to the vehicle, the trim panel 18 and the bolt 20 are first removed and an angle bracket 26 is then secured to the pillar 15 using the bolt 20 which passes through one wing 26a of the angle bracket 26 and also through the plate 19. The trim panel 18 is then replaced so that a second wing 26b of the angle bracket 26 and the seat belt 23 project through the aperture 24.

The second wing 26b is formed with an opening 27 which enables a further bracket 28 to be secured thereto. The second bracket 28 can be seen in Figs 2 and 3 and has a first wing 28a suitably attached, eg by welding, to a curved plate 29 and a second wing 28b which is formed with an opening 30. As shown in Fig 3, the first wing 28a of the bracket 28 is welded to an outline frame 32 forming an edge of the barrier 10, the outline frame supporting a mesh panel 33.

The two second wings 26b, 28b of the brackets 26, 28 respectively are brought together as shown in Fig 4 and a suitable fastening arrangement such as a nut and bolt are used to join the brackets together through the openings 27,30. The plate 29 partially embraces the trim panel 18, the latter extending to positions above and below the bolt 20 as shown in Fig 4. The plate 29 then prevents any appreciable tipping movement of the barrier about the bolt 20 thereby ensuring that the barrier 10 is held firmly in position. The way in which the plate 29 embraces the trim 18 can be seen from Fig 5.

Instead of using a plate 29, an I-shaped member 40 could be used as shown in Fig 6 where the upper and lower transverse arms 41, 42 embrace the trim panel 18 and a connecting centre stem 43 is secured to the bracket 28.

The brackets 26, 28 form the aforesaid first section of the barrier mounting means and the plate 29 or member 40 forms the said section.

Instead of the barrier 10 extending between the upper edge of the backrest 12 and the roof panel 13, it could extend between a fioor panel 50 of a luggage carrying compartment and the roof of the vehicle as indicated in dotted lines in Fig 4.

As will be appreciated from Fig 1, mountings 14 are provided at each side of the barrier loaned so the mounting as shown in detail in Figs 2 to 5 is duplicated on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS GSS

1. A barrier for use in a vehicle, the barrier comprising mounting means to one side thereof by which the barrier can be connected to the vehicle, the mounting means including a first section to be connected to an existing fixture in the vehicle and a second section adjacent the first section which, in use, at least partially embraces a surface of the vehicle to inhibit tipping of the barrier about the existing fixture.

2. The barrier according to Claim 1 in which the existing fixture is a fastener.

3. A barrier according to Claim 2 in which the fastener is used to fasten a seat belt guide to the side of the vehicle.

4. A barrier according to Claim 3 in which the first section of the fixing means includes a bracket having a portion which is attachable to the seat belt guide fastener and a further portion which is arranged to project through an opening in the surface of the vehicle through which the seat belt normally passes.

5. A barrier according to Claim 4 in which the bracket is attached to the barrier by means of a further bracket secured thereto, which further bracket is itself attached to the barrier.

6. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the second section of the fixing means is in the form of a member contoured so that it can at least partially embrace the said surface of the vehicle.

7. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the second section extends, in use, to positions each side of the existing fixture so as to inhibit tipping of the barrier clockwise or anticlockwise about the existing fixture.

8. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the second section of the mounting means is in the form of a contoured plate.

9. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the second section of the mounting means is arranged for engagement with a side pillar of the vehicle or part of a detachable trim panel thereon which defines the said surface.

10. A barrier according to any preceding claim in which the barrier has mounting means at opposed sides thereof for connection to existing fixtures on opposite sides of the vehicle.

11. A barrier constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.