GB2341369A

GB2341369A - Vehicle storage arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2341369A
Application number: GB9819808A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Downing; James Edward Jessamine
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-12
Filing date: 1998-09-12
Publication date: 2000-03-15
Also published as: GB9819808D0

Abstract

A vehicle storage arrangement comprises a slidable cover 6 or 7, deployable between a seat 2 or 3 and a vehicle facia 1 to define a stowage space beneath it. The cover (27, fig 2) may be located in guide rails 21, 22 with captured rollers 23, 24, to prevent lifting and removal of the cover so as to gain unauthorised access to the stowage space. The cover may be locked in position and may enclose the vehicle pedals. A panel may extend downwardly from the seat to provide full enclosure of the stowage space.

Description

2341369 - 1 A VEHICLE STORAGE ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to

a vehicle storage arrangement and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to such an arrangement used within open-topped motor vehicles.

Storage or stowage space within a motor vehicle is clearly of importance 5 in order to allow owners of the vehicle to store articles and equipment. Unfortunately, within a motor vehicle, space is generally of a premium and thus provision of storage space is typically limited to a glovebox, door bins and a rear luggage space. With regard to open-topped vehicles, that available stowage space which is of a secure nature is limited to the rear boot space and the glovebox. Thus, it is desirable to increase the available stowage or storage space within a motor vehicle and that is the objective of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a vehicle stowage arrangement comprising a slide cover deployable from about a seat towards a vehicle facia in order to define a stowage space therebeneath.

Typically, the slideable cover will be of a roller shutter nature. Furthermore, a panel will be configured to extend downwardly from the base of the seat in order to completely enclose the stowage space for security purposes. Thus, the slide cover is typically deployed from the front edge of a base of the seat. Alternatively, the slide cover could extend over a well depression adjacent to the seat.

In order to enhance security typically, the slide cover will be guided through guide rails or runners. Furthermore these guide rails or runner will be of a captured type to inhibit withdrawal therefrom. Normally, the slide cover will be lockable and extending between the seat and the vehicle facia.

In order to enhance vehicle security, normally with regard to a vehicle storage arrangement associated with a driver's seat of a motor vehicle, the slide cover will be arranged to be lockable above the vehicle operating pedals, le. accelerator, clutch and brake in order to prevent use of these pedals whilst the slide cover is deployed between the seat and the vehicle facia.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a pictorial front perspective of respective vehicle storage in the passenger and the driver's side of a motor vehicle; and Figure 2 is a part cross-section of a vehicle storage arrangement.

Within a motor vehicle, article or equipment stowage and storage for convenient access, whilst maintaining the necessary degree of security, is clearly advantageous. It will also be noted that typically, a motor vehicle may be driven with a driver only and so the foot well of the passenger compartment to the side of the driver and with regard to the rear seats are not utilised by respective occupants thereof In accordance with the present invention and as depicted in Figure 1, a vehicle 1 includes a driver's seat 2, a passenger's seat 3, generally opposed by a vehicle facia 5, and a centre console 4. Between each seat 2, 3 and the facia 5 there is located a respective slide cover 6, 7. Normally, these slide covers 6, 7 will be of a roller shutter nature deployable between the seat 2, 3 and the bottom of the facia 5. in order to define a stowage space therebeneath. It will be appreciated that normally there is a gap between the seat base and the floor of the motor vehicle 1 and in such circumstances a panel will be secured from that seat base to the floor in order to fully enclose the stowage space beneath the respective slide cover 6, 7 for security purposes.

With regard to the passenger seat 3, it will be understood that the footwell is covered by the passenger shde cover 7 below a vehicle door 8.

Thus, a substantial- well is provided by the central console 4, the footwell below the door 8 and associated bottom part of the vehicle facia 5 and, normally, a panel extending down from the base of the seat 3. In such circumstances, a driver sitting in the driver's seat 2 can have access to the passenger vehicle stowage arrangement and subsequently deploy the slide cover between the seat 3 and the vehicle facia 5 for security purposes, ie. to 5 avoid snatch thieves at traffic lights, etc.

Clearly, when the vehicle 1 is in motion, the driver's vehicle storage arrangement cannot have the drivers slide cover 6 deployed between the seat 2 and the bottom of the facia 5. However, upon parking of the vehicle 5, it will be appreciated that the slide cover can be deployed between the seat 2 and the facia 5 to again define a stowage space beneath that cover 6 along with enclosing or at least preventing operation of the vehicle driving pedals, ie. brake, accelerator and clutch. In such circumstances, it will be appreciated that a car thief attempting to drive away the vehicle 1 will be inhibited through lack of ac cess to these pedals.

It will be appreciated that normally the respective slide covers 6, 7 Will be lockable in their deployed configuration between the respective seat 2, 3 and the bottom of the facia 5. They may also be at least latched in their stowed position to prevent release due to vibration or jolting when the vehicle is in motion and more particularly during a vehicle traffic accident.

In order to facilitate ease of motion and location within the vehicle 1, typically the respective slide covers 6, 7 will be guided between the respective seats 2, 3 and the bottom of the facia 5 using guide rails or runners. Furthermore, in order to enhance security, these guide rails will typically capture runners or rollers to prevent lifting of the respective slide covers 6, 7 from the guide rails in order to gain access to the stowage space beneath. Thus, in Figure 2 a partial cross-section of a vehicle stowage arrangement in accordance with the present invention is depicted. A slide cover 27 is located between respective guide rails 21, 22 and secured therein using rollers 23, 24. These rollers 23, 24 are captured within respective guide rails 21, 22 such that the slide cover 27 cannot be lifted upwards in order to gain access to a stowage space 25 therebeneath.

It will be appreciated that the slide cover 27 generally moves in the direction into and out of the plane of the drawing. Thus, the stowage space 25 is defined between the slide cover 27 and a floor surface 28 of the vehicle along with the bottom of the vehicle facia at one end and a seat at the other. Although not shown, it will be understood that the floor could be dished in order to increase the volume of the stowage space 25.

Typically, the slide cover 6, 7; 27 is of a roller shutter type. Thus, the slide cover when not deployed between the seat and the vehicle facia is retained as a spiral about a suitable mounting in either the seat or the front facia. Deployment is by pulling to slide the respective cover 6, 7; 27 along the guide rails 21, 22 in order to secure it at the opposed seat 2, 3 or facia 5. For convenient, it will be appreciated that normally the slide cover is stowed in the seat below that seat base as it will be less intrusive with regard to aesthetic appeal if located at that position. In order to facilitate deployment between the seat and the vehicle facia, normally the slide cover 6, 7; 27 will include a handle.

As an alternative to a roller shutter, it will be appreciated that flat battens could be pulled from a pile stored either beneath the seat 2, 3 or at the bottom of the facia 5 towards the opposed seat 2, 3 or facia 5 dependent upon orientation.

As indicated above, a principal concern with regard to a vehicle 1 when storing articles is security. Thus, normally the respective slide covers 6, 7; 27 will have a robust and normally rigid deployed state between the seat 2, 3 and the facia 5 to prevent easy puncture or lift access to the storage space 25 therebeneath. However, where desired, it will be appreciated that a simple opaque material barrier with limited structural strength will at least provide obscuration protection for any articles beneath a slide cover made from such material. Furthermore, a chain mail or similar high strength fabric or sheet plastic may be used as the slide cover presented through guide rails 21, 22 in order to define and protect the stowage space therebeneath.

Where fitted, it will also be understood that tampering with the respective slide covers 6,7; 27 may activate the vehicle alarm.

Although described with regard to the front seats of a motor vehicle 1, it will be appreciated that the present vehicle storage arrangement could be adapted for use with regard to rear seats. In such circumstances, respective slide covers will be arranged to be deployed between that rear seat and a vehicle facia constituted by the back side of the front seat. A stowage space would therefore be defined below each slide cover. However, it will be appreciated that for greater security, it will be necessary to incorporate within these front seats appropriate plating to prevent access through these front seats to the vehicle storage arrangement between that front seat and the rear seat. Furthermore, as described Dreviously, normally a panel between the base of the front seat and the floor will be necessary to provide overall enclosure of a storage space defined with regard to rear seats.

As the front seats 2, 3 in inost motor vehicles are now adjustable in a lateral direction, it will be appreciated that the slide covers 6, 7 in such circumstances should be able to accommodate the full range of seat 2, 3 position within the vehicle 1 in order t6 define a stowage space therebeneath. Furthermore, it will be necessary for any downwardly projected panel to provide a complete enclosure for that stowage space to be similarly either movable with the seat 2, 3 or independently bolted to the floor such that it overlaps with the seat 2, 3 base irrespective of that seat's 5 lateral position within the vehicle 1.

Where appropriate, and in order to provide an optical illusion, normally the respective slide cover 6, 7; 27 will be arranged to have a presented and viewed surface consistent with the vehicle 1 interior. In such circumstances, it will be appreciated that the slide cover 6, 7; 27 when deployed between the seat 2, 3 and the facia 5 will give the impression of being a false floor and therefore less attractive to an opportunist thief.

Claims

-9CIAIMS

1. A vehicle storage arrangement comprising a slide cover deployable between a seat and a vehicle facia in order to define a stowage space therebeneath.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the slide cover is deployed from the seat towards a vehicle facia.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the slide cover is deployable from the vehicle facia to the seat.

4. A vehicle storage arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the vehicle facia is a vehicle dashboard.

5. A vehicle arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the vehicle facia is the back side of a front seat whilst the seat is a rear seat of the vehicle.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arrangement includes a panel which extends downwardly from the seat in order to provide full enclosure of the stowage space.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slide cover is deployable from or presented to a seat base.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slide cover is deployed between the seat and the vehicle facia along guide. rails.

9. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the guide rails capture reciprocal rollers secured to the slide cover in order to inhibit decoupling of the slide cover from the guide rails.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slide cover includes lock means to secure the slide cover between the seat and the vehicle facia when required.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, when the arrangement is associated with a driver's seat of a motor vehicle, the slide cover is arranged to ensure the functional pedals of that vehicle are located within the storage space therebeneath when deployed between the seat and the vehicle facia.

12. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slide cover comprises a roller shutter or a plurality of flat battens appropriately secured together or includes a sheet of a material such as chain mail or fabric or plastics.

13. A vehicle storage arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A motor vehicle including a vehicle storage arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim.