Vehicle cargo space with a height-adjustable loading floor

Abstract

Vehicle loading space with a height-adjustable loading floor, with at least one guide element (13) attached laterally to the loading floor (5), which engages in a vehicle-side guide rail (12) and can be deposited during an adjustment process (V1, V2) at least in a first guide rail (K1) defining a lower loading floor storage position (I) or in a second guide rail (K2) of the guide rail (12) defining an upper loading floor storage position (II), wherein, in order to carry out the adjustment process (V1, V2), the guide element (13) can be raised from its storage position (I, II) into an upper deflection position (III), from which the guide element (13) can be deflected into the first or second guide track (K1, K2), characterized by that the link guide (12) has an upper link stop (23) against which the guide element (13) strikes during the adjustment process (V1, V2) upon reaching the upper deflection position (III) with a stop element (24) formed on the guide element (13), and that the stop element (24) extends over part of the width of the guide element (13), and that the corresponding link stop (23) extends over a corresponding partial area of the guide track (14) of the link guide (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle loading space with a height-adjustable loading floor according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Height-adjustable loading floors are well known and have the advantage of allowing the loading or luggage compartment of a motor vehicle, such as a station wagon, to be adapted to different requirements. If the loading floor is in the upper position, the loading space can be divided into a lower compartment and an upper compartment above it, for example. However, if the loading floor is moved to its lower position, the entire loading space is available without any subdivision.

[0003] A height-adjustable loading floor of this type is known from WO 2011 / 006577 A1. Guide elements are attached to the front side of this loading floor, each engaging a guide rail mounted on the vehicle in the side area of the loading space. During an adjustment process, the guide elements can be deposited at least in a first guide rail defining a lower loading floor storage position or in a second guide rail of the guide rail defining an upper loading floor storage position.

[0004] To start the adjustment process, according to WO 2011 / 006577 A1, the guide elements of the loading floor must first be raised from their current storage position to an upper deflection position. Starting from this upper deflection position, the guide elements can then be redirected in a reversing movement into either the first or second guide track of the respective guide track.

[0005] FR 2 891 232 A1 discloses a retractable trunk floor system. DE 10 2009 025 987 A1 discloses a movement mechanism for a cover plate. JP 2007-091 105 A discloses a device for moving luggage floors up and down in motor vehicles.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a vehicle loading space with a height-adjustable loading floor, which can be adjusted in height in an even more user-friendly manner.

[0007] The object is solved by the features of patent claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

[0008] According to patent claim 1, a guide rail is proposed for a height-adjustable loading floor, which has an upper guide rail stop against which the guide element attached to the loading floor strikes with a stop element formed on the guide element during the adjustment process upon reaching the upper deflection position. During the adjustment process, the operator receives haptic feedback from the guide element striking the guide rail stop and can thus recognize that the loading floor is now in its upper deflection position, starting from which the guide element can be deflected in a reverse movement into the first or second guide rail of the guide rail in order to determine the lower or upper storage position. This prevents the guide elements from being accidentally pulled out of the upwardly open guide rail, resulting in even easier operation overall.

[0009] The stop element provided on the guide element is preferably formed in the region of a guide surface running along the underside of the guide element. The stop element then does not protrude laterally or in any other way from the guide element, but can be described as an integrated stop element, which does not have any disturbing outwardly projecting protrusions.

[0010] The stop element of the respective guide element can have a stop surface and / or a stop shoulder and is preferably arranged between a front and a rear guide surface on the underside of the guide element. This allows the guide element to be guided with the front and rear guide surfaces on guideways in the slotted guide, thereby achieving optimal guidance properties in the slotted guide for the adjustment process. A guide curve runs from one of the two guide surfaces of the guide element to the stop element in such a way that the guide curve and stop element form an approximately V-shaped notch running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the guide element. A guide element designed in this way can be easily manufactured as a single piece as a plastic or metal part and with the required mechanical stability.

[0011] The guide curve formed on the guide element, which leads to the stop element, only comes into contact with the guide rail when the guide element is located in the guide rail in the area just before or at the upper deflection position. The upper deflection position is defined by the guide rail stop. The guide curve therefore serves the sole purpose of guiding the guide element and its stop element in a suitable manner to the guide rail stop. The guide curve can thus ensure a suitable "smooth" transition from the guide surface of the guide element to the stop element.

[0012] According to the invention, the stop element formed on the guide element extends over part, preferably over half the width of the guide element on its underside, so that the corresponding link stop extends over a corresponding partial area of the guide track of the link guide. The guide track of the link guide is thus divided in the area of the link stop into a remaining guide track strip and a stop area adjacent to this, which is lowered compared to the guide strip. On the one hand, this ensures the best possible guidance for the guide element in the area of the link stop, without any lateral stop elements protruding from the link guide in a disruptive manner. The link stop forms a stop integrated into the link guide or into a guide track.

[0013] Preferably, the guide elements mounted on the sides of the loading floor are located in the front side area of the loading floor and each engage with a guide slot. Such a two-sided guide and holding function optimally fulfills the requirements for easy adjustability and a secure holding function for the loading floor. Integrating the guide slots into the vehicle's side trim panels also prevents parts from protruding into the loading area.

[0014] To secure the lower storage position, each guide rail can have a locking element mounted in this area. This locking element can be overridden and engages the guide element located in the lower storage position, ensuring that the guide element is securely held in position even in the event of vibrations during operation. This prevents annoying rattling noises during operation.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawing.

[0016] They show: Fig. 1 a view obliquely from above of a partially shown loading compartment of a passenger car with a side wall and a height-adjustable loading floor, the loading floor being in the upper position, Fig. 2 the view according to Fig. 1 with the loading floor in the lower position, Fig. 3 a scenery tour in spatial representation, Fig. 4 into the scenery of Fig. 3 insertable guide element with attached angle piece in spatial representation, Fig. 5 a spatial partial view of the scenery guide of Fig. 3 in the area of a backdrop stop, Fig. 6 another illustration of the guide element of Fig. 4 with a view of the front side of the guide element, Fig. 7 a spatial representation of the guide element of Fig. 4, which shows the underside of the guide element with the formed stop element, Fig. 8 the side view of another embodiment of a link guide with a guide element striking the upper link stop and Fig. 9 a perspective view of a loading floor with lateral guide rails.

[0017] In Fig. 1, the cargo space arranged in the rear area of a passenger vehicle is essentially delimited by a lower floor panel 1, two side walls 2, of which only one side wall 2 is shown for the sake of clarity, a rear end wall 3 with an upper loading edge 4, a tailgate (not shown) adjoining the end wall 3, and backrests of rear seats located at the front, which are also not shown. The luggage compartment can be covered at the top by a pivoting flap or be open to the vehicle roof. In the exemplary embodiment, the side walls 2 are formed, for example, by side panels made of foamed plastic, which are attached to the body components below.

[0018] A symmetrically designed, flat loading floor 5 is arranged in the loading space, which, in plan view, is approximately rectangular in shape, with two transverse sides 6, 7 and two longitudinal sides 8, 9. A handle 10 for lifting the loading floor 5 is integrated into the rear area of the loading floor 5.

[0019] The loading floor 5 is pivotably guided on its front transverse side 6 in brackets 11, each with a guide rail 12, and rests on its rear transverse side 7 either on a support strip arranged on the end wall 3 or directly or indirectly on the floor panel 1 of the loading space.

[0020] In Fig. 1, the loading floor 5 in its upper storage position II is flush with the loading edge 4 of the end wall 3. In contrast, Fig. 2 the loading floor 5 in a lower storage position I in which the loading floor 5 rests on the floor panel 1.

[0021] The height adjustment of the loading floor 5 is carried out via lateral guide rails 12, into which protruding guide elements 13 project on both sides of the loading floor 5. The guide rails 12 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and the associated guide elements 13 are in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is only shown in outline. Specific possible designs of the guide rails and guide elements are shown in the following drawings.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows the spatial representation of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 only indicated backdrop guide 12. The viewing angle corresponds approximately to that of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The slotted guide 12 is arranged in the console 11 and has guideways 14, 15. Along the guideways 14, 15, the Fig. 4 during an adjustment process. The adjustment process is understood to be a manually performed height adjustment of the loading floor 5 between its lower storage position I and its upper storage position II. Fig. 8, the arrows V1, V2 illustrate an example of such an adjustment process, in which the loading floor 5 is adjusted from the upper storage position II to the lower storage position I, as will be described later.

[0023] As from the Fig. As further shown in Figure 8, indentations projecting forward are formed in the front guide track 15, arranged one above the other in the vehicle's longitudinal direction x. These form guide tracks K1 and K2, in which the associated guide elements 13 can be deposited. The lower first guide track K1 defines the lower loading floor storage position I, while the upper, second guide track K2 defines the upper loading floor storage position II.

[0024] If the loading floor 5 is in its lower storage position I, the guide element 13, which projects laterally from the loading floor 5, lies on a lower support surface 16 of the lower first guide track K1. The guide element 13 engages with its front side 18 in a groove 17 ( Fig. 3) of the lower guide rail K1. If, however, the loading floor 5 is in its upper storage position II, the guide element 13 rests on a support shoulder 19 of the upper guide rail K2 and engages with its front side 18 in the groove 20 ( Fig. 3) one.

[0025] During the adjustment process from the upper to the lower storage position, or vice versa, the guide element 13 in the upper open area must be partially moved out of the slotted guide 12 into an upper deflection position III ( Fig. 8) so that the guide element 13 can be guided through a slot 22 along the guide track 14. To prevent the guide element 13 from slipping out of the guide rail 12, a guide stop 23 is located at the upper end 21 of the guide track 14, against which the guide element 13 comes into contact with a stop element 24 formed thereon. The stop element 24 is in Fig. 4 is drawn with dashed lines, since it is actually concealed by an angle element 25 connected to the guide element 13. The angle element 25 forms a possible connecting part to the loading floor 5, but completely differently constructed parts can be used as connecting elements to the loading floor 5.

[0026] Fig. 5 shows the link stop 23 from a different perspective, from which it can be seen in particular that the guide track 14 is divided in the area of the link stop 23, namely into a lowered section 26, which runs to the link stop 23, and into a remaining section 27 of the guide track 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the link stop 23 extends approximately over half the width of the guide track 14, so that the guide track 14 in section 27 is only approximately half as wide as in the remaining section.

[0027] The guide element 13 of Fig. 4 is in Fig. 6 is shown in a spatial representation, with a view obliquely from above onto the end face 28 of the guide element 13. The angle piece 25 encompasses with side walls 29, 30 the loading floor 5, not shown here, which rests with a corner area on the floor 31 of the angle piece 25.

[0028] Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the guide element 13 without the angle piece 25 for the sake of simplicity. A front guide surface 33 extends from the front side 18 of the guide element 13 on the underside to the stop element 24, which has a rearward-facing stop surface 34. Furthermore, a guide curve 39 leads from the rear end 35 of the guide element 13 from a rear guide surface 36 to the stop element 24. The guide curve 39 and the stop element 24 form an approximately V-shaped notch 40 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the guide element 13.

[0029] Fig. 8 shows, by way of example, an adjustment process illustrated by the arrows V1, V2, in which the loading floor 5 is adjusted from the upper storage position II to the lower storage position I. In this case, the guide element 13 shown, which has the function of a sliding block, is first raised with its rear end 35 in a first adjustment movement V1 and displaced rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction x into an upper deflection position III. In the upper deflection position III, the guide element 13 is in contact with the sliding stop 23 of the sliding guide 12 with its stop element 24. Starting from its deflection position III, the guide element 13 is displaced with a counter movement V2 into the lower, first sliding track K1, which defines the lower storage position I of the loading floor 5.

[0030] In the lower storage position I ( Fig. 2) the guide element 13 rests on the bearing surface 16 of the slotted guide 12 and is held in place by means of an indicated locking element 38 ( Fig. 8) is releasably fixed in this position. The locking element 38 is overpressed during the adjustment process, so that the guide element 13 is raised with its rear end 35 and can be guided together with the loading floor 5 initially upwards to the upper deflection position III, i.e., to the guide stop 23. From there, it can be brought into the upper storage position II in a countermovement (not shown).

[0031] The Fig. 8 shown guide rail 12 can be mounted in this form, for example, on a bracket 11 according to Fig. 9. The loading floor 5 is located in Fig.9 in the upper storage position. The guide elements 13 attached to the loading floor 5 are attached to the side thereof and can be designed as one-piece plastic or metal parts. The guide rail 12 can be arranged in a console 11, as shown here; however, it is also possible to integrate the guide rail 12 into a side panel of a loading area or into a side panel part of a loading area.

Claims

[1] Vehicle loading space with a height-adjustable loading floor, with at least one guide element (13) attached laterally to the loading floor (5), which engages in a vehicle-side guide rail (12) and can be deposited during an adjustment process (V1, V2) at least in a first guide rail (K1) defining a lower loading floor storage position (I) or in a second guide rail (K2) of the guide rail (12) defining an upper loading floor storage position (II), wherein, in order to carry out the adjustment process (V1, V2), the guide element (13) can be raised from its storage position (I, II) into an upper deflection position (III), from which the guide element (13) can be deflected into the first or second guide track (K1, K2), characterized by , that the link guide (12) has an upper link stop (23) against which the guide element (13) strikes during the adjustment process (V1, V2) upon reaching the upper deflection position (III) with a stop element (24) formed on the guide element (13), and that the stop element (24) extends over part of the width of the guide element (13), and that the corresponding link stop (23) extends over a corresponding partial area of the guide track (14) of the link guide (12). [2] Vehicle loading space according to claim 1, characterized by that the guide element (13) has at least one guide surface (33, 36) on its underside (32), with which the guide element (13) slides against a guide track (14) of the slotted guide (12) during the adjustment process (V1, V2), and that the stop element (24) is formed on the guide element (13) in the region of the guide surface (33, 36). [3] Vehicle loading space according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the stop element (24) has a stop surface (34) and / or a stop shoulder. [4] Vehicle loading space according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a guide curve (39) on the underside (32) of the guide element (13) leads to the stop element (24), so that the guide curve (39) and the stop element (24) form a V-shaped incision (40) running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the guide element (13). [5] Vehicle loading space according to claim 4, characterized by that the guide element (13), when it is located in the link guide (12) in the area shortly before or at the upper deflection position (III), rests with the guide curve (39) on the link guide (12). [6] Vehicle loading space according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized bythat the guide curve (39) extends between a front and a rear guide surface (33, 36) on the underside (32) of the guide element (13). [7] Vehicle loading space according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the guide element (13) is arranged in the front side area of the loading floor (5). [8] Vehicle loading space according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that on both sides of a loading space of a vehicle there is formed a respective slotted guide (12) into which a respective guide element (13) attached laterally to the loading floor (5) engages in a displaceable manner and can be fixed in the lower and upper storage positions (I, II). [9] Vehicle loading space according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the link guide (12) has, in the region of the first link path (K1) defining the lower storage position (I), a detent element (38) which can be overridden and which can be brought into a releasable locking connection with the guide element (13) located in the lower storage position (II).

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