GB2498198A

GB2498198A - Vehicle liner

Info

Publication number: GB2498198A
Application number: GB1200123.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Farzad Fard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-05
Filing date: 2012-01-05
Publication date: 2013-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-05
Also published as: GB2498198B; GB201200123D0

Abstract

A vehicle liner 2 formed from a liquid-impermeable material, the liner including a floor portion 8, a roof portion 4, a pair of opposed side portions 6 secured along respective peripheral edge portions of the floor and roof portions, a rear end portion which closes the rear of the liner, and a front end portion 10 secured to the front peripheral edge portions of the floor, roof and opposed side portions, wherein the liner defines a closable opening which is spaced from the floor portion; and seams provided between adjacent liner portions are substantially impermeable to liquids.

Description

Vehicle Liner The present invention relates to vehicle liners and in particular to vehicle liners which provide a substantially impermeable barrier to aqueous liquids.

Vehicle liners are well known. Some vehicle liners simply provide protection to the floor of the boot space. Other liners have upstanding skirt portions which provide an element of protection for a lower portion of the boot walls.

More comprehensive vehicle liners are known, but these all have problems associated with them.

US 5,378,034 describes a liner for a truck bed which has a top portion hinged at one end (the rear end). Such a liner may work well for trucks, where the rear cargo space is open, but such a liner cannot be used in a vehicle such as an estate (station wagon) car or a hatchback, where it is not possible to open the top portion when the liner is located within the vehicle. Furthermore, the top of the truck bed liner is designed to prevent rain and other precipitation from entering the liner from the outside, it is not designed to prevent any aqueous fluids or other matter located within the liner from escaping.

US 2005/0218682 and US 4,877,281 both describe vehicle liners for use within a vehicle where the front portion of the liner (reference numeral 32 in US 4,877,281 and reference numeral 6 in US 2005/0218682) forms the opening. Thus, in these documents, the front portion is releasably coupled to the respective side wall portions and the opening extends from the roof to the floor of the liner. Accordingly, the liner described in both of these documents does not provide a liquid-tight seal between the front portion and the respective side wall portions. As such, any liquid contained within the liner would be able to leak from the coupling between the front portion and the side wall portions into the vehicle interior.

An alternative vehicle liner, which may be used to carry waste containing an aqueous liquid, wet waste or waste which contains very fine particulate matter is defined herein.

According to first aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle liner formed from a liquid-impermeable material, the liner including a floor portion, a roof portion, a pair of opposed side portions secured along respective peripheral edge portions of the floor and roof portions, a rear end portion which closes the rear of the liner, and a front end portion secured to the front peripheral edge portions of the floor, roof and opposed side portions, wherein the liner defines a closable opening which is spaced from the floor portion; and seams provided between adjacent liner portions are substantially impermeable to liquids.

The skilled person will appreciate that not all adjacent portions of the liner will need to be secured to each other; they may be defined by a continuous piece of material that is suitably shaped, e.g. folded or creased, to define the respective portions. However, where adjacent portions are joined one to the other, the join is such that it is substantially impermeable to aqueous liquids. This may be achieved by using a continuous bead of adhesive material between the adjacent portions or it may be achieved by continuously welding together the adjacent panels to provide a liquid-proof seal between them. Any other method for joining two adjacent portions of the liner to provide a liquid-impermeable seal between them may be used and is within the scope of the liner as defined herein.

By forming the liner from a liquid-impermeable material, by providing seams between the adjacent portions which are also liquid-impermeable and by spacing the opening from the floor portion, it is possible to transport waste which contains a significant amount of a liquid, such as very wet waste, or waste which contains a significant amount of very fine particulate matter without fear of the liquid or the fine particles leaking into the interior of the vehicle.

The liner suitably fills the entire cargo area of the vehicle. As such, the true volumetric capacity of the cargo area may be utilised.

The liner is adapted for use within a vehicle. Thus, it is adapted for use within a car or a van which includes an enclosed cargo area.

For the avoidance of doubt, reference to liquids herein is intended to mean aqueous liquids.

In order to provide for ease of use of the liner, securing straps may be provided. These may be used to secure the liner to the vehicle in use. The roof of the liner may be spaced from the floor of the liner by providing one or more securing straps secured to the roof portion. These may be provided at a peripheral edge portion and are suitably provided at the front and the rear of the roof portion. In an embodiment of the invention a strap is provided at each corner of the roof portion.

The roof straps may be coupled to the vehicle such that the roof portion of the liner is held adjacent to a roof of the vehicle in use.

The floor portion of the liner may also include securing straps. As with the roof portion straps, these may be located at respective peripheral edge portions of the floor portion, suitably at the front and the rear of the floor portion. Similar to the roof portion straps, the floor portion straps may be provided at each corner of the floor portion.

As well as acting to space the roof portion from the floor portion when filling the liner, in embodiments where the liner is not completely filled) the roof straps may be used to tie down the load. Thus, after the liner has been filled, the roof straps may be secured to the floor of the vehicle such that the roof portion of the liner is urged down onto the load therewithin to secure it. This has the added benefit of providing a clear line of sight from the front to the rear of the vehicle for the driver. Thus, the roof straps may have a length which is greater than the height of the liner (i.e. the maximum spacing between the floor and the roof portions).

In an embodiment of the invention, the liner further includes a flap secured to the front end portion. The flap may be secured to the bottom peripheral edge of the front portion or it may be secured to the top peripheral edge, depending upon the configuration of the liner and the type of vehicle in which it is adapted to fit. The flap is able to be deployed to protect the rear bodywork and/or rear bumper (fender) of the vehicle in which it is located. Additionally, the flap may be arranged to cover the opening when it is in a closed configuration, thus providing additional protection against leaks.

In view of the above, the flap may include one or more securing elements to secure a distal end of the flap to a portion of the liner, e.g. the front portion or roof portion, of the liner. In this way, the flap may be secured in a configuration is which it is located adjacent to a portion of the liner (e.g. the front portion or the roof portion), or a part thereof.

Where it is adapted to fit within an estate car (station wagon) or a hatchback, the opening of the liner may be defined in the front portion to allow easy access to the interior of the liner when located within the vehicle. Alternatively) when the liner is adapted to fit within the boot of a saloon car, the opening may be defined in the roof portion, suitably located towards the front of the roof portion.

The opening may be closed via a drawstring arrangement. In such an arrangement, the drawstring is suitably surrounded by an outwardly extending skirt element and the drawstring is located within a channel defined by the skirt element whereby a tensile force applied to the drawstring causes the peripheral edge of the opening to be urged into a closed configuration. In this arrangement, a user is able to close the opening by grasping a free section of the drawstring loop and pulling it. This causes the skirt to be drawn into a substantially planar configuration where the opening is effectively closed.

The liner is suitably flexible, yet resilient to damage by loads carried therein. As such, the liner may be formed from a polymeric material. The polymeric material may be a single polymer, a co-polymer or formed from a mixture of three or more polymers. Furthermore) the polymeric material may be reinforced with a reinforcing material or a plurality of reinforcing elements.

In certain vehicles, a driver has a line of sight from the front of the vehicle to the rear, where he or she is able to see through a rear window. A liner placed within the vehicle could interrupt this line of sight. As such, the liner may include one or more transparent window portions therein. These allow the driver of the vehicle to see through the liner when it is not completely full with a load. An extension of this principle provides a liner which is suitably formed from a transparent material.

In an embodiment of the invention, the liner includes one or more handles. These may be used to remove the liner from the vehicle, particularly when the liner still contains a load. This may make the removal of the load from the liner easier. The handles are suitably provided on the portion of the liner which defines the opening. Thus, where the opening is defined by the front portion) then the handles are suitably provided at the front of the liner, and where the opening is defined by the roof portion, the handles are suitably provided at the top of the liner.

The line may provide a second opening located opposite the first opening. In such cases) the first opening may be used to fill the liner and the second opening may be used to empty the liner.

The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspects of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a vehicle liner according to the invention; Figure 2 shows the vehicle liner of Figure 1 located within a vehicle and in an open configuration; Figure 3 shows the vehicle liner of Figure 1 located within a vehicle in a closed configuration; Figure 4 shows a method of filling the vehicle liner of Figure 1; FigureS shows the vehicle liner of Figure 1 which is partially filled and secured within the vehicle; Figure 6 shows the vehicle liner of Figure 1 being suspended by a lifting apparatus; Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention being emptied; Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of a vehicle liner according to the invention; and Figure 9 shows the third embodiment of FigureS located within a vehicle.

For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms "up", "down'1, "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "width", etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a vehicle liner 2. The vehicle liner 2 comprises a roof portion 4, a pair of opposed side portions 6, a floor portion 8, and a front portion 10. The liner further includes a rear end portion, but this is not shown in Figure 1.

The liner 2 is formed from a transparent polymeric material) of which many suitable materials are commercially available.

The roof portion 4 is secured to each side portion 6 via a welded seam 12a, 12b. Similarly, the roof portion 4 is secured to the rear end panel via a welded seam 14 and is secured to the front portion via a welded seam 16. Similarly, the side portions are welded to the rear portion via a seam 18, the side portions 6 are welded to the floor portion 8 via seams 20a, 20b, and the side portions 6 are welded to the front portion 10 via seams 22a, 22b.

A welded seam 24 joins the floor portion 8 to the front portion 10. It also secures to the front edge of the floor portion 8 a flap 26, which is able to project forwards as shown in Figure 1.

The front portion 10 defines an opening 28 therein. Around the opening 28, the front portion 10 includes a discontinuous channel 30 within which is contained a drawstring 32 in the form of a continuous loop. The drawstring 32 includes a free-hanging section 32a, which may be grasped by a user for the purpose of closing the opening.

Located at each corner of the liner 2 is a securing strap 34. These are used to secure the liner 2 within the vehicle and to space the roof portion 4 from the floor portion 8 in use.

Also located at the front of the roof and floor portions 4,8 are handles 36. These may be used to remove the liner 2 from the vehicle and to move the liner 2 when it is not located within a vehicle.

In addition to the straps 34 provided to secure the liner 2 within a vehicle, the liner 2 further provides two pairs of flap straps 38a, 38b. These are used to secure the flap in a closed configuration in which it lies adjacent to the front portion 10 (the flap is shown in an open configuration in Figure 1).

Figure 2 shows the liner 2 located within an estate vehicle (also known as a station wagon). As can be seen from Figure 2, the roof portion 4 of the liner 2 is spaced from the floor portion Sby the upper securing straps 34. The rear upper securing straps 34 (not shown in Figure 2) pass through the side windows and are secured to the respective roof rail of the vehicle. The front upper securing straps 34 pass through the tailgate and are secured to the roof rails of the vehicle. This arrangement of the upper securing straps 34 maintains the roof portion 4 adjacent to the roof of the vehicle cargo area. The floor portion 8 of the liner 2 covers the floor of the vehicle. The floor portion 8 is held in place by the rear lower securing straps 34 being secured to the locating rings provided in the vehicle floor and by the front lower securing straps which are either secured to the corresponding locating rings in the vehicle (not shown) or which extend around the vehicle's bumper to the vehicle tie-down eyes, as shown in Figure 2. The skilled person will appreciate that the securing straps 34 may be secured to any convenient part of the car or simply be trapped within the window or door seal as appropriate.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the flap 26 hangs down from the front edge of the liner 2 to protect the bumper of the vehicle during the filling of the liner.

Figure 3 shows the liner 2 of Figure 2, but in a closed configuration. In this configuration, the drawstring 32 has been pulled tight and the front portion 10 has been drawn together to form a substantially closed end of the liner 2. As can be seen from Figure 3, once the liner 2 has been filled and the opening 28 has been closed, it is not longer necessary for the upper securing straps to support the roof portion 4 of the liner. Figure 3 shows the upper securing straps 34 (the front upper strap on the right hand side of the liner 2 as shown in Figure 3 can be seen) now used to help secure the load within the liner 2. In this case, the upper securing straps may be secured to any convenient part of the vehicle such that the roof portion 4 is urged downwards against the load to help secure it against unwanted movement.

With the liner 2 in the closed configuration shown in Figure 3, the flap 26 can be rotated about its proximal hinge such that it covers the front portion 10. The flap 25 can then be secured in this position by the flap straps 38a, 38b. This helps to prevent any leakage of the load through the closed opening 28.

One benefit of a liner 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4.

The liner 2 can be arranged in an open configuration as shown in Figures 2 and 4 and can be loaded automatically or manually. Figure 4 shows a particularly messy job of loading shredded tree branches. By using the liner 2, all of the chippings from the chipper are contained within the liner 2 and the interior of the vehicle is maintained in its original condition. Once full, the liner 2 can simply be closed by pulling the drawstring 32 and raising the flap 26. The vehicle can then be driven to a suitable disposal location and the liner 2 removed from the cargo area with its load still safely inside. Once the liner 2 has been removed, the chippings can then be removed and the liner stored for re-use.

If the liner 2 is not completely full, then the driver's line of sight out of the rear and side windows of the vehicle can be maintained by the use of the upper securing straps 34. This is shown in Figure 5. As mentioned above, once the load is within the liner 2, the upper securing straps 34 are used to urge the roof portion 4 against the load within the liner 2. This has the effect of clearing a line of sight to the rear of the vehicle, indicated by arrow A and to the side of the vehicle, indicated by arrow B. As mentioned above, the liner 2 may be removed from the vehicle with its load still located inside it. This makes the task of emptying the liner much easier. The liner may be handled via the handles 36. The handles 36 are reinforced to be able to carry a relatively heavy weight, which may exceed what a user can safely carry. In this case, the handles may be joined by a lifting cable 40 and the liner manoeuvred via a lifting apparatus, such as a crane. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a liner 50 is provided which is essentially the same construction as the liner 2 described above, except that in place of a simple closed rear end portion (not shown), the liner 50 includes a second opening which may be closed. Thus, it has a first opening defined in a front portion 52, which is as described above for the opening 28 defined in the front portion 10, and a second opening defined in a rear portion 54, again exactly the same construction as the opening defined by the front portion 52. As shown in Figure 7, this allows the liner 50 to be filled via the first opening and emptied via the second opening.

Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of a liner 102 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the liner 102 is adapted to be used within the cargo area of a saloon car.

The skilled person will appreciate that many of the features of the liner 102 are the same as the corresponding features of the liner? described above. As such, the features of the liner 102 which correspond to the features of the liner 2 are given the same reference numbers, but with a "100" prefix. Thus, the side portions 6 of the liner 2 become the side portions 106 of the liner 102.

It will be appreciated that the liner 102 includes a roof portion 104, a floor portion 108 (not shown), a pair of opposed side portions 106, a front portion 110 and a rear end portion (also not shown). These portions are connected to their neighbouring portions via welded seams 112b, 116, 118, 120b, 124. A flap 126 is provided. However, instead of being located at the junction of the front portion 10 and the floor portion 8 as in the case of the liner 2, the flap 126 is secured to the front portion 110 where it joins the roof portion 104.

Again, the liner 102 includes securing straps 134 located at each corner thereof and flap straps 138 (only straps 138b are shown in figure 8; the corresponding straps are secured to the rear end portion where it meets the roof portion 110 and are not shown) for securing the flap in a closed configuration. The liner also includes handles 136 for ease of handling of the liner 102. However, in this third embodiment, the handles 136 are carried by each corner of the roof portion 104.

The opening 128, this time defined by the roof portion 104 is again closed via a drawstring arrangement including a drawstring 132 having a free-hanging section 132a which is located within a channel 130 formed around the periphery of the opening 128.

Figure 9 shows the liner 102 located within the cargo area of a saloon car. As can be seen, the opening 128 is arranged for ease of loading and the flap 126 protects the rear of the vehicle and the bumper.

In use, the liner 2, 102 is located within a vehicle and is secured therein via the securing straps 34, 134. This has the effect of spacing the roof portion 4, 104 from the floor portion 8. The flap 26, 126 protects the bodywork of the vehicle during the filling of the liner 2, 102.

Once filled with its load, the drawstring 32, 132 is pulled tight which draws in the peripheral edge of the opening 28, 128 and closes the opening, thus sealing the load within the liner. The upper securing straps 34, 134 may then be released from their anchors and used to urge the roof portion 4, 104 into contact with the load and to secure the roof portion 4, 104 in that position.

The vehicle is then driven to its destination with the load secure and leak-free. Once at its destination, the liner 2, 102 can either be emptied in situ by releasing the drawstring and urging open the opening 28, 128, or the liner 2, 102 can be removed from the vehicle with its load still inside via the handles 36, 136 and then emptied away from the vehicle.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A vehicle liner formed from a liquid-impermeable material, the liner including a floor portion, a roof portion, a pair of opposed side portions secured along respective peripheral edge portions of the floor and roof portions, a rear end portion which closes the rear of the liner, and a front end portion secured to the front peripheral edge portions of the floor, roof and opposed side portions, wherein the liner defines a closable opening which is spaced from the floor portion; and seams provided between adjacent liner portions are substantially impermeable to liquids.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A vehicle liner according to Claim 1, wherein the seams are continuously welded to provide a liquid-impermeable joint between the adjacent liner portions.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A vehicle liner according to claim i or Claim 2, wherein securing straps are provided at the rear and the front of the roof portion and at the rear and the front of the floor portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A vehicle liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the liner further includes a flap secured to the front peripheral edge of the floor portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A vehicle liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is defined by the front end portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A vehicle liner according to any of Claims ito 4, wherein the opening is defined by the roof portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A vehicle liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is closable via a drawstring, wherein the drawstring is adapted to pull together the peripheral edge of the opening when pulled by a user.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A vehicle liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the liner is formed from a polymeric material which is impermeable to liquids.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A vehicle liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the liner includes transparent window portions.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A vehicle liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the liner is formed from a transparent material.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A vehicle liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the liner further includes one or more handles.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A vehicle liner according to claim 11, wherein two or more handles are provided at the front of the liner. is</claim-text>