GB2500624A

GB2500624A - Transportation rack mounted to a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2500624A
Application number: GB1205355.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gian Luca Baccelli
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2012-03-27
Filing date: 2012-03-27
Publication date: 2013-10-02
Also published as: GB201205355D0

Abstract

A passenger car, preferably a micro city car, with at least one transport lever 10, 20 with at least one end connected to a mounting lever 11, 12, 21, 22 movably fixed to a car body. The transport lever 10, 20 is transferable from an upright storing position (Figure 1) into an upright transport position (Figure 2) where the at least one end of said transport lever 10, 20 is displaced further away from a rear end of the vehicle. Alternatively the vehicle may comprise a movable rear sheet, in particular a movable rear window 1, for closing a rear opening of the car, and a rear roof part 2. The rear roof part 2 may be pivotable around a pivot axis which extends in parallel to lateral axis of said car between a closed position (Figure 1) in which said a rear edge of said rear roof part 2 contacts an upper edge of the closed rear sheet 1 and an open position (Figure 5) in which said rear edge is lifted upward.

Description

Passenger car

Description

The present invention refers to a passenger car, in particular a micro city car.

In particular with small passenger cars it can become difficult to transport load, in particular bulky load ike bicycles or the like.

DE 19943 716 Al discloses a passenger car with a rear roof part which can be rotated downwardly into a rear compartment so that large loads can be stored within said rear load compartment protruding thereof. Such downward rotation may conflict with loads or persons in the compartment.

EP 1104 718 Al discloses a rack member which is movable between a position overlaying a roof and a position overlaying a rear end of a car.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an advanced passenger car capable to transport load, in particular bulky goods.

Said object is solved by a passenger car according to claim 1 or 13 respectively. Depending claims refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a passenger car, in particular a micro city car. A micro city car according to the present invention may in one embodiment comprise one, two or more rear seats adjacent to a rear end of said car, in particular directly adjacent to a rear end without a further trunk in between. Said rear end may in one embodiment define a hatchback. The rear seats may be orientated reversely with respect to a driver's seat. A micro city car may in particular have up to four or five seats in total.

According to one aspect of the present invention said passenger car comprises one, two or more transport levers which in one embodiment may be parallel to one another.

The transport lever or transport levers are transferable from an upright storing position into an upright transport position in which one or both ends of said transport levers are displaced further away from the rear end of said passenger car than in the storing position. According to one embodiment in an upright position a longitudinal axis of the transport lever may define an angle to a vertical or yaw axis of the car which is smaller than 45°. Additionally or alternatively in an upright position a transport lever may be inclined less than 30° with respect to the rear end. The upright transport position may be parallel to the upright storing position or deviate thereof, in particular less than 15°. According to one embodiment the car comprises a rear door and the transport levers are positioned besides said rear door in the storing and/or in the transport position. In particular the transport levers may move from the storing position into the transport position at least essentially in a plane perpendicular to a lateral axis of the car.

By displacing one or both ends of the transport lever(s) further away from the rear end in the transport position then in the storing position, the fixation of load, in particular bulky goods, to the transport lever(s) may be improved. In particular, additional space may be provided between the transport lever(s) and the rear end so as to fix load extending into said additional space and/or to avoid contact between load and rear end. On the other hand the upright storing position may provide an improved storage of the transport ever(s).

In order to displace an upper end of a transport lever, according to one embodiment it may be connected to a mounting lever called top lever in the following which is movably fixed to a car body, in particular to a roof of said passenger car.

Additionally or alternatively, in order to displace a lower end of a transport lever, according to one embodiment it may be connected to a mounting lever called basic lever in the following which is movably fixed to the car body, in particular to its rear end. A top and/or a basic lever may be one-piece levers or may comprise two or more lever members pivotally and/or slidably connected to one another.

Thus, according to one embodiment both ends of a transport lever, i.e. an upper and a lower end, are connected to a mounting lever, i.e. a top and basic lever respectively, allowing to displace said both ends further away from the rear end. According to another embodiment only one end of a transport lever may be connected to a mounting lever while the opposite end may be movably fixed to the car body. Alternatively said other end also tray be a free end, abuting against the car body in the transport position. In particular, the upper end of a transport lever may be connected to a top lever white the lower end itself is movably fixed to the car body or is a free end abuting against the car body in the transport position, or the lower end of a transport lever may be connected to a basic lever while the upper end itself is movably fixed to the car body or is a free end abuting against the car body in the transport position.

According to one embodiment an element, in particular a top or basic lever! is movably fixed to another element, in particular the car body, by one or more joints. In particular the element may be rotatably fixed to the other element by one or more hinges providing one, two or three rotational degrees of freedom. Additionally or alternatively, the element may be slidably fixed to the other element by the same or additional hinges providing one, two or three translational or linear degrees of freedom.

For example one or two opposite pins of one element with a circular section engaging one or two opposite grooves or slots open or closed at one or both ends in the other element may provide -by rotating the pin(s) within the groove(s) or slot(s) -one rotational degree of freedom and -by sliding the pin(s) along the groove(s) or slot(s) -one translational degree of freedom. Thus, the pin(s) and the groove(s) or slot(s) define a hinge providing one rotational degree of freedom and one translational or linear degree of freedom which rotatably and slidably fix the one element to the other. On the other hand, one or two opposite pins with a rectangular section engaging corresponding groove(s) or slot(s) allow to only slide along said groove(s) or slot(s), thus defining a hinge providing just one translational or linear degree of freedom which slidably fix the one element to the other.

Also a rail protruding form one element or one element itself sliding within a groove in the other element may defining a hinge providing just one translational or linear degree of freedom. Vice versa one or two opposite pins with a circular section engaging one or two opposite blind or through-holes with corresponding circular section allow to only rotate around the pin-hole-axis, thus defining a hinge providing just one rotational degree of freedom which rotatably fixes the one element to the other.

As mentioned above one element may be a lever, in particular a top or basic lever while the other element may be the car body. Thus, according to one embodiment, a top lever may be pivotally connected to a transport lever and may be movably fixed to the car body, in particular its roof. In particular it may be just slidably fixed to the roof, i.e. providing only one translational or linear degree of freedom, for example by sliding within a groove or along a raH or the roof. The lower end of said transport lever may be a free end, abuting against the rear end of the car in the transport position by rotating the transport lever by the top-transport lever pivot. The lower end also may be pivotally connected to the car body while the top lever slides along a circular around said body-transport pivot. According to one embodiment the lower end of said transport lever is pivotally connected to the basic ever which may be movably fixed to the car body, in particular its rear end. In particular it may be slidably and rotatably fixed to the rear end, i.e. providing one translational or linear degree of freedom and one rotational degree of freedom. Thus, slidingly retracting the top lever out of the roof also slides and rotates the basic lever hinged to the rear end via the transport lever pivotally connected to both the top and basic lever.

According to one embodiment one, two or more transverse lever may connect two or more transport levers at least in the transport position. Two or more transverse levers may be parallel to one another and/or a lateral axis of the car in the transport position. Loads, in particular bulky goods, may be fixed to one or more upright transport levers and/or one or more transverse levers connecting the transport levers.

According to one embodiment fixing means for fixing a load may be connected to one or more of said transverse levers and/or to one or more transport levers, for example straps, belts, clamps or the like. Said fixing means may be connected rigidly, in particular permanently, or displaceably, in particular detachably to the transverse and/or transport lever(s).

An element, in particular a fixing means ora transverse lever, may according to one embodiment be displaceably connected to another element, in particular a transverse lever or a transport lever respectively, by being slidably and/or rotatably fixed to the other element. In particular a transverse lever may be slidably fixed to at least one of said transport levers. It may additionally also be rotatably fixed to said transport lever so as to rotate it into a storage position aligned with the transport lever and into a transport position, preferably perpendicular to said transport lever. Additionally or alternatively a fixing means may be slidably and/or rotatably fixed to a transport lever.

According to another embodiment an element, in particular a fixing means or a transverse lever, may be displaceably connected to another element, in particular a transverse lever or a transport lever respectively, by detachably connecting the element to the other element at different distinct or arbitrary positions. Thus, according to one embodiment at least one transverse lever, when connecting said transport levers in the transport position, is displaceable along said transport levers, in particular detachably connected thereto.

In particular such transverse levers when detached from or r.otated against the transport lever may be stored by a transport or mounting lever in the storing position. In particular a transverse lever detached from the transport levers may be housed within a transport or top lever or within a space between said lever and the car body.

According to one embodiment one or more levers, in particular one or more transport levers, top levers, basic levers and/or transverse levers are stored fully or partially within an outer wall of said car in the storing position. To this purpose the car body may comprise corresponding grooves in which the respective levers can be fixed. This can provide an partially or fully integrated position of the levers in the sorting position, in particular in that outer sides of the stored lever(s) do not protrude significantly out of the car body's silhouette or surface respectively.

According to one embodiment one or more levers are fixable in the storing position, the transport position and/or one or more distinct or arbitrary positions in between.

A lever may in particular be fixed in a position by locking ajoint, in particular a hinge or pivot, connecting said lever to another lever or a car body, in particular by positive fit. For example a bolt may be inserted against which the lever abuts so that its rotational and/or sliding movement is blocked. According to another embodiment a lever may be fixed in a position by friction with a joint, in particular a hinge or pivot, connecting said lever to another lever or a car body. Thus, one or more levers may be fixable in the storing position, the transport position and/or one or more distinct or arbitrary positions by friction and/or by positive fit, in particular to secure a frictional fixation.

According to one embodiment one or more top levers comprise fixing means for fixing a roof load. This allows to transport load above the roof additionally or alternatively to load fixed to the upright transport levers at the rear end.

The movement of the transport levers, top levers and/or basic levers may be actuated manually or automatically. In particular hydraulic, pneumatic or electric movement means may slide and/or rotate said top levers, basic levers and/or transport levers, in particular actuate joints or hinges thereof. According to one embodiment, movement of a transport lever may be mechanically coupled to the movement of a top and/or basic lever so that movement of one of these levers provides a corresponding movement of the other(s).

According to a further aspect of the present invention, which may be combined with the aspects disclosed above, a passenger car, in particular a micro city car, comprises a movable rear sheet, in particular a movable rear window, for closing a rear opening in the rear end of said car, and a rear roof part which can rotate around a pivot axis extending in parallel to lateral axis of said car between a closed position in which said rear edge of said rear roof part contacts an upper edge of the closed rear sheet and an open position in which said rear edge is lifted away upwardly thereof. Said rear roof part may be disposed between two top levers as described above.

By lifting said rear roof part upwardly away from said rear opening, preferably in combination with lowering the rear sheet so as to open the rear opening at least partially, large loads may be transported by the car, protruding out of the rear opening and/or the part of the roof from which the rear roof part is lifted away. Lifting said rear roof part upwardly does not effect passengers or load in a rear compartment and at the same time the lifted rear roof part can protect the protruding load at least partially against the environment.

According to one embodiment there are provided one or more transverse levers displaceable in moving direction of said rear sheet. Load protruding out of the rear opening then can rest upon said transverse lever(s) instead of the rear sheet, in particular window, by lowering its upper edge below the transverse lever(s) and/or raising the transverse lever(s) above the rear sheet's upper edge. Said transverse levers may in particular be connecting transport levers as described above.

According to one embodiment lifting means are provided for lifting and/or fixing said rear roof part, in particular when lifted upwardly. Said lifting means may be actuated hydraulically, pneumatically andlor by at least one electromotor as it is known for example from actuated trunk lids.

Further aspects of the present invention may be derived from the depending claims and the following description of preferred embodiments. Thereto Fig. I shows a micra city car according to one embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view with levers in a storing position and a closed rear roof part; Fig. 2 shows the micro city car of Fig. 1 with the levers in a transport position; Fig. 3 shows the micro city car of Fig, 2 with transverse levers connecting transport levers: Fig. 4 shows the micro city car of Fig. 3 with a bicycle fixed to the transverse levers and a roof load fixed to top levers; Fig. 5 shows the micro city car of Fig. 3 with the rear roof part lifted upwardly; Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of said micro city car of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of said micro city car of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 and S show in perspective view and cross-section along a longitudinal and vertical car axis respectively micro city car according to one embodiment of the present invention. Said micro city car comprises two front seats and two rear or back seats orientated reversely thereto. A hatchback rear end of the car comprises a rear door with a rear window 1.

Two transport levers 10, 20 are positioned parallel to one another besides said rear door. An upper end of said transport levers 10, 20 is pivotally connected to a top (mounting) lever 11, 21, while a lower end of said transport levers 10, 20 is pivotally connected to a basic (mounting) lever 12, 22. Said levers may be connected by a hinge providing one rotational degree of freedom, for example defined by one ore two opposite pins protruding from one lever and engaging one or two blind or through-holes within the other lever. This is indicated symbolically by circles in Fig. 6 denoting such joints allowing to rotate one lever with respect to the other within the plane of Fig. 6.

The top levers 11, 21 are movably fixed to the car body's roof with only one translational or linear degree of freedom, for example by sliding within a groove or along a rail or the roof. This is indicated symbolicafly by a triangle in Fig. 6 denoting such joints allowing to retract the top levers 11, 21 essentially horizontally in Fig. 6.

The basic levers 12,22 are movably fixed to the car body's rear end with one translational or linear degree of freedom and one rotational degree of freedom, for example by two opposite pins respectively protruding from the basic levers 12, 22 with a circular section engaging two opposite grooves or slots in the rear end. This accordingly is indicated symbolically by a triangle and a circle in Fig. 6 denoting such joints allowing to slide the basic levers 12, 22 essentially vertically in Fig. Band to rotate them within the plane of Fig. 6. As the transport levers 10, 20, also the top levers 11, 21 and the basic levers 12, 22 are parallel to one another.

Retraction of the top levers 11, 21 from a position foremost towards the front of the car as shown in Fig. 6 to a position furthest away from the front of the car as shown in Fig. 7 and sliding of the basic levers 12,22 from a lowest position shown in Fig. 6 to a highest position shown in Fig. 7 together with a clockwise rotation of said basic levers 12, 22 allows to transfer the transport levers 10, 20 from an upright storing position (Figs. 1, 6) into an upright transport position (Figs. 2-5, 7) in which both ends of said transport levers 10, are displaced further away (to the right in Figs. 6, 7) from the rear end of the car than in the storing position.

As can be seen best in Figs. 6, 7, the transport levers 10, 20 remain in an upright position in the storing position (Fig. 6) and in the transport position (Fig. 7), i.e. define an angle to a vertical axis of the car (vertically in Figs. 6, 7) which is about 15°.

The transfer between storing position and transport position may be actuated manually, for example by retracting the transport levers 10, 20 away from the rear end or pushing them back respectively. The transfer also can be actuated automatically, for example by one or more electric motors, hydraulic or pneumatic elements, for example sliding the top levers 11, 21 inwardly and outwardly respectively and/or sliding the basic levers 12, 22 upwardly and downwardly respectively. The levers 10, 11 and 12 as well as the levers 20, 21 and 22 are mechanically coupled so that movement of one of these levers yields a corresponding movement of the other levers according to their degrees of freedom.

The levers 11, 12, 21 and 22 are fixable in the storing position and the transport position by friction, positive fit and/or locking of these movement means.

Transverse levers 31, 32 are stored by the top levers 11, 21 in the storing position, for example within grooves in said top levers 11, 21. After removing the transverse levers 31 32 from the top levers 11 21 they may be detachably attached to the transport levers 10, 20 connecting them as shown in Fig. 3. Fixation means such as claws, belts, straps 33 or the like can be used to fix load like for example a bicycle to the transverse levers 31, 32 as shown in Fig. 4. Other fixation means 33 may be used to fix a roof load to the top levers 11, 21. To re-establish the storing position the transverse levers 31, 32 are detached from the transport levers 10, 20 and stored by the top levers 11, 21 again.

Fixing means 33 may be detachably attached to the top levers 11, 21 and/or transverse levers 31, 32 at different distinct or arbitrary positions. Accordingly transverse levers 31, 32 may be detachably attached to the transport levers 10, 20 at different distinct or arbitrary positions.

The levers 10, 11, 12, and 20, 21, 22 are stored fully within an outer wall of the car in the storing position. To this purpose the car body comprises corresponding grooves which can house the respective levers.

The car comprises a rear roof part 2 disposed between the two top levers 11, 21, which can rotate around a pivot axis extending in parallel to lateral axis of said car which can be seen best by comparing Figs. 1 and 5.

In a closed position (Figs. 1 -4) a rear edge of said rear roof part 2 contacts an upper edge of the rear window 1 if said rear window 1 is fully closed. From said closed position the rear roof part 2 can be rotated or pivot around said pivot axis into an open position (Fig. 5) in which said rear edge is lifted away upwardly thereof, manually andtor by lifting means 3 which may be actuated for example hydraulically, pneumatically and/or by at least one electromotor.

In particular in combination with lowering the rear window 1, large loads may be transported by the car, protruding out of the rear opening of the rear window 1 and the part 01 the roof from which the rear roof part 2 is lifted away.

The transverse levers 31, 32 are displaced above the rear window's upper edge so that load protruding out of the rear opening can rest upon the upper transverse lever 31 instead of the rear window 1.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

List of references rear window 2 rear roof part 3 lifting means 10, 20 transport lever 11,21 toplever 12, 22 basic lever 31, 32 transverse lever 33 fixing means

Claims

Claims 1. A passenger car, in particular a micro city car, with at least one transport lever (101 20) with at least one end connected to a mounting lever (11, 12, 21, 22) movably fixed to a car body, wherein said transport lever (10, 20) is transferable from an upright storing position (Figs. 1, 6) into an upright transport position (Figs. 2-5, 7) in which said at least one end of said transport lever (10, 20) is displaced further away from a rear end of said passenger car.
2. A passenger car according to claim 1, wherein at least one mounting lever (11, 12, 21, 22) is pivotally or rigidly connected to the transport lever (10, 20).
3. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one mounting lever (12, 22) is rotatably fixed to said car body.
4. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one mounting lever (11, 12, 21, 22) is slidably fixed to said car body.
5. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one mounting lever (11, 21) is movably fixed to a roof of said passenger car.
6. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one mounting lever (12, 22) is movably fixed to the rear end of said passenger car.
7. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one transverse lever (31, 32) connecting at least two transport levers (10, 20) in the transport position.
8. A passenger car according to claim 7, wherein at least one transverse lever (31, 32) connecting said transport levers (10, 20) in the transport position is displaceable along said transport levers (10, 20).
9. A passenger car according claim 8, wherein at least one transverse lever (31, 32) is storable by an transport or mounting lever (11, 21) in the storing position.
1 ft A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one lever (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32) is stored at least partially within an outer wall of said car in the storing position.
11. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one lever (11, 12, 21, 22) is fixable at least in the storing position and/or transport position.
12. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one lever (11, 21, 31, 32) comprises fixing means (33) for fixing a load.
13. A passenger car, in particular according to one of the preceding claims and/or a micro city car, comprising a movable rear sheet, in particular a movable rear window (1), for closing a rear opening of said car, and a rear roof part (2) pivotable around a pivot axis which extends in parallel to lateral axis of said car between a closed position in which said rear edge of said rear roof part (2) contacts an upper edge of the closed rear sheet (1) and an open position in which said rear edge is lifted away upwardly thereof.
14. A passenger car according to claim 13, comprising at least one transverse lever (31, 32) displaceable in moving direction of said rear sheet.
15. A passenger car according to one of the preceding claims 13 through 14, comprising lifting means (3) for lifting and/or fixing said rear roof part (2), said lifting means being actuated hydraulically, pneumatically and/or by at least one electromotor.