GB2306145A - Stowage system for a vehicle parcel shelf - Google Patents

Abstract

A parcel shelf 22 in use covers a substantial part of a vehicle cargo area which is partially defined by a backrest 12 of a seat 11 and opposed side liners 13. Integrated into the opposed side liners 13 are ridges 14 which form a stowage slot against the backrest 12 in the shape of channels, which stowage slot is complementary to the shape of the parcel shelf 22. When not in use, the parcel shelf 22 is inserted into the stowage slot and is stowed in that position parallel to the backrest 12.

Description

A Storage System This invention relates to storage systems and in particular to storage systems for motor vehicles.

It is known to provide a cargo area for a motor vehicle which can be accessed from within the passenger compartment. This cargo area is usually defined by a rear seat with a rear panel, opposed side liners and the inside panel of a rear tailgate. It is common in such vehicles to provide a panel to cover the access to that cargo area.

These panels are known in the art as a "parcel shelves".

They are often made detachable to provide for loads which are higher than the back of the rear seat. These panels are, for example, fitted to "hatchback" and "estate" passenger cars, "four wheel drive leisure vehicles" and "multi-purpose vehicles" (MPVs). Their purpose is to cover the cargo area, thereby improving the security of the vehicle by hiding objects stored therein from the view of potential thieves. Additionally such panels reduce the risk of injury from objects flying into the passenger compartment in the event of an accident and causing injury to the occupants. They can be further used to provide a storage space on their upper surface for items which may be called for during a journey without having to fully access the cargo area.

In the detached state, there is nowhere to stow the parcel shelf. In the event of an accident, a detached parcel shelf could be projected into the passenger compartment and cause injury.

It is an object of the present invention to address these problems.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a motor vehicle including a rear seat having a backrest with a cargo area behind the backrest, a parcel shelf for covering the cargo area in use and stowage means for stowing the parcel shelf in a stowed position substantially parallel to the backrest.

The invention may further comprise a fixed retaining means for retaining the parcel shelf in its stowed position.

The stowage means may be arranged to guide said parcel shelf into its stowed position.

The cargo area may be further defined by opposed side liners and the stowage means may be integrated with at least one of those side liners.

The stowage means may be integrated with said backrest.

The stowage means may be formed as part of at least one of said side liners.

The stowage means may be formed separately from said at least one side panel and may be attached thereto.

The parcel shelf may be detachable from the vehicle for stowage.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle cargo area according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the vehicle cargo area of Figure 1 covered by a parcel shelf and side covers in use; Figure 3 is a plan view of the vehicle cargo area of Figure 2 with a parcel shelf stowed in accordance with the invention; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of part of the vehicle cargo area of Figure 3 with a parcel shelf stowed in accordance with the invention.

With reference to Figure 1, a section of a hatchback vehicle 10 is shown in plan view having a cargo area 16 behind the backrest 12 of a seat 11. The side boundaries of the cargo area 16 are defined by opposed side liners 13, which have fixed guide means in the form of ridges 14 formed as part of their shape. The side liners 13 extend from the rim of the tailgate aperture, around the sides of the cargo area 16 and to the front of the cargo area 16 where they are formed into the ridges 14. The ridges 14 extend down the side liners 13 parallel to the backrest 12.

The gaps between the ridges 14 and the backrest 12 form parallel channels 18 on each side of the cargo area 16 and are the opposing ends of a storage slot formed therebetween. The side liners 13 have top edges substantially horizontal over most of their length. The top edges of the sections forming the ridges 14 are formed lower than the top edges of the side liners 13 and there are corresponding cut-outs 19 at the rear end of the side liners 13 either side of the tailgate aperture. The rear boundary of the cargo area 16 is defined by the inner panel 17 of a rear tail gate 15.

Figure 2 is the same perspective as Figure 1, with corresponding reference numerals. A parcel shelf 22 is shown in use covering part of the cargo area 16. The parcel shelf 22 is substantially rectangular with parallel sides and its width is slightly less than that of the stowage slot. The parcel shelf 22 in use sits on and is supported by the upper edges of ridges 14 and by the cutouts 19. The parcel shelf 22 is retained in this position by conventional catches known in the art, such as spring clips (not shown). Side covers 20 and 21 are fixed in position on the upper edges of side liners 13 to cover the sections of cargo area 16 not covered by the parcel shelf 22. The parcel shelf 22 fits between the side covers 20 and 21.

Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 2, except that parcel shelf 22 is shown in its stowed position. Side covers 20 and 21 remain in their fixed positions and a large central part of the cargo area 16 is uncovered. The stowage slot is arranged to be substantially complimentary to the shape of the parcel shelf 22. The parcel shelf 22 can be inserted into the stowage slot formed by the channels 18 and slid down the channels 18 into a stowed position where it is substantially parallel to the backrest 12.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of part of Figure 3. The parcel shelf 22 is shown in its stowed position and side covers 20 and 21 have been omitted for clarity. The advantage of making parcel shelf 22 removable has been retained, as storage of cargo (not shown) higher than the backrest 12 is thereby made possible. The parcel shelf 22 is retained in its stowed position which is both convenient and helps reduce the risk of it forming a flying object hazard to passengers in an accident.

It will be apparent to the man skilled in the art that the stowage means can be formed by more than one method of manufacture. For example, ridges could be moulded integrally with the opposed side liners (as in the embodiment described above), or channels could be moulded separately and fixed to the side liners or backrest with fasteners (such as rivets or bolts), or could be stuck on with adhesive means. The stowage means could further be pressed or rolled from metal sheet, either as part of the back rest or separately.

Further retaining means (not shown) could be provided to prevent the parcel shelf flying out of its stowage in the event of the vehicle rolling over. Such secondary retaining means could be in the form of a clamp attached to the top of the backrest or in the form of a pin or peg inserted into the backrest and sticking out above the top of a stowed parcel shelf.

The parcel shelf may be one piece or in foldable or detachable sections. It is not necessary for the shelf to be detached from the vehicle for guidance into the stowage; it would be an obvious development to make it pivotally slideable about the top of the stowage into the slots.

The invention herein described could be easily adapted for use in any class of vehicle where a parcel shelf is used, such as hatchback and estate cars, dual purpose vehicles, MPVs and four wheel drive leisure vehicles.

Claims (9)

1. A motor vehicle including a rear seat having a backrest with a cargo area behind the backrest, a parcel shelf for covering the cargo area in use and stowage means for stowing the parcel shelf in a stowed position substantially parallel to the backrest.

2. A motor vehicle according to Claim 1 wherein the stowage means comprises a fixed retaining means for retaining the parcel shelf in its stowed position.

3. A motor vehicle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the stowage means is arranged to guide said parcel shelf into its stowed position.

4. A motor vehicle according to Claims 1 to 3 wherein the cargo area is further defined by opposed side liners and the stowage means are integrated with at least one of those side liners.

5. A motor vehicle according to Claims 1 to 3, wherein the stowage means are integrated with said backrest.

6. A motor vehicle according to Claim 4 wherein the stowage means are formed as part of at least one of said side liners.

7. A motor vehicle according to Claim 4 or Claim 6 wherein the stowage means are formed separately from said at least one side panel and are attached thereto.

8. A motor vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the parcel shelf can be detached from the vehicle for stowage.

9. A motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.