Variable partition device for the trunk of a vehicle

Abstract

A variable partition device for the trunk of a vehicle, comprising: a luggage panel (10) which has a guide rail (12) and is arranged on a lower surface of a trunk, and an actuating unit (20) which is arranged to move forward, backward, left and right along the guide rail which extends forward, backward, left and right at an upper end of the luggage plate (10), wherein the dividing device further comprises a plate fixing unit (30) which is coupled to an upper section of the actuating unit (20) and in which a dividing plate (40) is fixedly mounted, whereby it is erected, wherein the partition plate (40) is arranged such that it moves with the actuating unit (20) on the luggage plate (10), characterized in that the plate fixing unit (30) is rotatably coupled to the actuating unit (20) and the dividing plate (40) thus rotates in relation to the actuating unit (20) in order to variably divide the trunk.

Description

Background of the invention; Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a variable partition device that can be mounted on the trunk or the like of a vehicle. In particular, it relates to a variable partition device for a vehicle trunk, by which the trunk can be efficiently divided and used as needed. Description of the related technology

[0002] A vehicle's trunk is a storage space for items and is usually located at the rear of a passenger compartment where occupants sit. The trunk is designed to have a predetermined size according to the vehicle type, and various items are stored in it as needed.

[0003] Because the trunk of a vehicle generally has a single compartment, the storage efficiency is reduced, and items with dimensions small compared to the trunk are moved from side to side or become entangled with each other while the vehicle is in motion, causing noise.

[0004] Thus, according to the technique described, a trunk can be divided by applying a storage structure to the trunk or by installing a divider bar designed to move forward and backward along a rail, so that items can be secured to prevent them from moving left and right or becoming entangled with each other while the vehicle is in motion.

[0005] However, when the storage structure is used, the height of the trunk is reduced, so that only small items can be stored and thus the loading performance is reduced, and when the divider bar is installed, the divider bar can only be moved in one direction along the rail and thus the in-use efficiency is reduced.

[0006] From KR 10 2008 0 098 362 A, a variable partition device for a vehicle trunk is known, in which partition elements can be variably positioned along a rail in the trunk. From US 5 715 978 A, a variable partition device for a vehicle trunk is known, in which partition elements can be variably positioned along a rail in the trunk, wherein the partition elements can be folded up and down relative to the trunk floor. From US 4 358 035 A, a variable partition device for a vehicle trunk is known, in which partition elements can be placed along mutually orthogonal and diagonal rails. From JP 2001 63 450 A, a variable partition device for a vehicle trunk according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. Another variable partition device for a vehicle trunk is known from US 6 514 021 B2.The information disclosed in this background section is provided solely for the purpose of better understanding the general background of the invention and should not be regarded as an admission or any indication that this information is part of the prior art as already known to the person skilled in the art. Explanation of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a variable partitioning device for the trunk of a vehicle, which can divide the trunk in different ways as needed in order to use the trunk efficiently. This object is achieved by a variable partitioning device for the trunk of a vehicle according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the present invention, a variable partitioning device for a vehicle trunk comprises a luggage panel having a guide rail and arranged on a lower surface of a trunk, an actuating unit configured to move forwards, backwards, left and right along the guide rail, a panel fixing unit coupled to an upper section of the actuating unit in which a partitioning panel is fixedly mounted and erected, and a partitioning panel configured to move and rotate on the luggage panel by means of the actuating unit in order to variably partition the trunk.

[0009] The actuating unit can comprise a housing having a plurality of ball holes on an upper section thereof, an actuating bearing arranged such that balls thereof are rotatably mounted in the ball holes, a bearing clamping body arranged on an upper side of an inner surface of the housing to clamp the actuating bearing to the guide rail, and a support spring arranged on a lower surface of an inner surface of the housing to elastically support a lower surface of the bearing clamping body.

[0010] The bearing clamping body is rotatably mounted on the support spring, and a coupling part, with which a handling handle forming the plate fixing unit is press-fitted, protrudes from one upper end of it.

[0011] The housing may have guide ribs that support the actuating bearing at the circumferences of the ball holes.

[0012] The plate fixing unit may include a plate holding part that is placed on the actuating unit and a handling handle that passes through one side of the plate holding part to be coupled to the actuating unit.

[0013] The plate holding part is arranged such that grip grooves are formed on opposite sides of the fixing groove, into which a lower end of the dividing plate is firmly inserted, and the handling handle, being arranged floating on the grip groove, is press-fitted to a coupling part which is formed at an upper end of the bearing clamping body forming the actuating unit.

[0014] The partition plate can have a middle plate and a first side plate, as well as a second side plate mounted on the left and right sides of the middle plate to enter the middle plate in a sliding manner.

[0015] A guide hole is formed at an upper end of the middle plate, and spring force guides, which are moved linearly along the guide hole, protrude from the first and second side plates, and spring force springs are installed in the spring force guide, such that opposite ends of them are fixed to the spring force guide and a curved middle section of them exerts a spring force, contacting wall surfaces of the guide holes.

[0016] The luggage panel may have a stepped section on one of its circumferences that is higher than a lower surface of the luggage panel; the partition panel may have a first side panel and a second side panel mounted on the left and right sides of a middle panel to enter the middle panel in a slidable manner, so that the first and second side panels automatically penetrate an inside of the middle panel when an external force is applied through the stepped section, rotating the partition panel on the luggage panel.

[0017] The partition plate can have a first plate part and a second plate unit that are adjacent to each other in order to be mounted in the plate fixing unit, being erected, and the first plate part and the second plate part are extendable on the plate fixing unit in a plate form.

[0018] The variable partition panel for a vehicle trunk according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can vary the divided shape of the trunk in various ways by moving a panel used as a partition (partition panel), which improves the in-use efficiency of the trunk and increases the comfort of the trunk.

[0019] The device of the present invention has other features and advantages which are evident from the accompanying drawings included herein and the following detailed description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention, or which are set out in more detail therein. Explanation of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a variable partitioning device for a trunk of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a partial view showing the variable partitioning device for a trunk of a vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which a partitioning plate is omitted. Fig. Figure 3 is a view showing an actuating unit mounted in a guide rail of the partition device for a trunk of a vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 is a partial exploded view showing the variable partitioning device for a vehicle trunk according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the actuating unit and a plate fixing unit are omitted. Fig. Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a coupling structure of the actuating unit and the plate fixing unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing a method for disassembling an actuating bearing forming the actuating unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7A and Fig. Figure 7B shows a folding structure of a partition plate according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing an automatic folding method of the partition plate according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 9 is a view showing a state in which the partition plate of the variable partitioning device is unfolded according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing an automatic folding method for erecting the partition plate and fixing the partition plate to a plate fixing unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale and present a somewhat simplified representation of various features that illustrate the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention, as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and operating environment.

[0021] In the figures, the reference signs in the various figures of the drawing consistently refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present revelation. Detailed description

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) is / are described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended that the invention(s) cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, variations, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of protection of the invention(s), as defined in the attached claims.

[0023] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] The present invention relates to a variable partitioning device that is installed in the trunk of a vehicle and is adapted to improve the in-use efficiency of a trunk by dividing the trunk in various ways as desired by the user.

[0025] Referring to the Fig. 1 to 3 the variable partitioning device mainly comprises a luggage plate 10, an actuating unit 20, a plate fixing unit 30 and a partitioning plate 40.

[0026] The luggage panel 10 corresponds to a rectangular plate body that can be installed on a lower surface of a trunk, and a cross-shaped rail groove 11 for installing a guide rail 12 is formed at an upper end of the luggage panel 10.

[0027] The guide rail 12 guides the forward, backward, left and right linear movement of the actuating unit 20 on the luggage plate 10.

[0028] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the actuating unit 20 comprises a housing 21, a bearing assembly 23, an actuating bearing 25 and a support spring 27.

[0029] The housing 21 has an upper housing 21a and a lower housing 21b and has a hollow disc shape that forms an internal structure of the guide rail 12, which has a ,[]'-shaped Cross-section has, corresponds.

[0030] The upper housing 21a has a plurality of ball holes 21aa in which balls of the actuating bearing 25 are mounted, and the support spring 27 is attached to a lower surface of an inner side of the lower housing 21b to be compressed upwards and downwards and reset.

[0031] To prevent the balls of the actuating bearing 25 from being pulled out of the ball holes 21aa due to their own weight, guide ribs 21ab are also provided on the circumferences of the ball holes 21aa for rotatable support of the balls of the actuating bearing 25.

[0032] The lower surface of the bearing clamping body 23 is elastically supported by the support spring, so that the bearing clamping body 23 is arranged at a predetermined height in the housing 21 and is located on an upper side of the housing 21.

[0033] Because the lower surface of the bearing clamping body 23 is simply held on the support spring 27 in the housing 21, the bearing clamping body 23 can be freely rotated by an external force, and thus an insertion groove 23a, into which one end of the support spring 27 is inserted, can be provided on the lower surface of the bearing clamping body 23.

[0034] The bearing clamping body 23 is essentially disc-shaped and is attached to one side of the actuating bearing 25 mounted in the ball holes 21aa of the upper housing 21a in order to restrict actuation of the actuating bearing 25, and thus it is preferred that a circumference (adjacent to the actuating bearing 25 within the upper housing 21a) of the bearing clamping body 23 is inclined in the form of an inclined surface.

[0035] If - as in Fig. 6 can be seen - the bearing clamping body 23 is attached to one side of the actuating bearing 25, the actuating bearing 25 is fixed between the bearing clamping body 23 and the guide rail 12, with an opposite side of the actuating bearing 25 being attached to an inner surface of the guide rail 12 to prevent unintentional movement of the actuating unit 20.

[0036] A coupling part 24 for coupling with an operating handle 33, which is explained below, protrudes from an upper end of the bearing clamping body 23.

[0037] The actuating unit 20 moves smoothly along the guide rail 12, with the housing 21 being positioned on the lower surface of the rail groove 11 of the luggage plate 10 when the bearing clamping body 23 is lowered, compressing the support spring 27 so that the clamping of the actuating bearing 25 is released, and the bearing clamping body 23 within the actuating unit 20 is rotated as required together with the handling handle 33.

[0038] Meanwhile, the plate fixing unit 30, which is mounted on an upper section of the actuating unit 20, is adapted to fix the dividing plate 40 in an upright position and has - as shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows a plate-holding part 31 that is placed on the actuating unit 20 and a handling handle 33 that passes through one side of the plate-holding part 31 to be coupled to the coupling part 24 of the bearing clamping body 23.

[0039] Grip grooves 31b, in which the handling handle 33 is located, are formed on the left and right sides of the plate holding unit 31 in relation to a fixing groove 31a, into which a lower end of the erected partition plate 40 is firmly inserted, and a mounting hole 31c, through which a coupling pin of the handling handle 33 passes, is formed between the fixing groove 31a and the grip groove 31b in order to have a predetermined length for the stable support of a partition plate 40.

[0040] Furthermore, the fixing groove 31a has a predetermined depth to maintain a stable upright state of the partition plate 40.

[0041] The handling handle 33 is attached to the left and right sides of the mounting hole 31c when the coupling pin 33a, which protrudes from one side of the lower surface of the handling handle 33, passes through the mounting hole 31c of the plate holding part 31, and the coupling pin 33a, which passes through the mounting hole 31c, is press-fitted and coupled to an inner side of the coupling part 24 of the bearing clamping body 23.

[0042] Then the coupling pin 33a is press-fitted to the coupling part 24 of the bearing clamping body 23, whereby the handling handle 33 is slightly raised from the lower surface of the handle groove 31b of the plate holding part 31 (is arranged to float).

[0043] If, accordingly, the user intends to move the plate fixing unit 30 while holding the handling handle 33, he or she presses the handling handle 33 to – as in Fig. 6 can be seen - to attach the handling handle 33 to the lower surface of the handle groove 31b, and thus the bearing clamping body 23 is lowered to release the clamping of the actuating bearing 25, compressing the support spring 27 so that the actuating unit 20 can be moved linearly in a smooth manner.

[0044] The partition plate 40, which is mounted in the plate fixing unit 30 in order to be moved integrally with the plate fixing unit 30, moves on the luggage plate 10 by means of the actuating unit 20, and the plate fixing unit 30 for variably dividing a space on the luggage plate 10, i.e. a trunk, and a sliding structure can be adapted to set a left and right length of the space.

[0045] Referring to the Fig. 1, Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B the partition plate 40 has a middle plate 41, a first side plate 43 and a second side plate 45 which are mounted on the left and right sides of the middle plate 41 in order to be able to slide into the middle plate 41.

[0046] A linear guide hole 41a is formed at an upper end of the middle plate 41, and spring force guides 44 and 46, which can be moved linearly along the guide hole 41a, protrude from the upper ends of the first and second side plates 43 and 45.

[0047] Furthermore, the spring force guides 44 and 46 serve to prevent the separation of the first and second side plates 43 and 45, which are mounted in the middle plate 41.

[0048] Spring force springs 44a and 46a are installed in the spring force guides 44 and 46 to limit the movement of the side plates 43 and 45.

[0049] The spring force springs 44a and 46a have a leaf spring shape, such that middle sections of them are bent in an arc shape, and opposite ends of the spring force springs 44a and 46a are fixed to inner sides (opposite ends) of the spring force guides 44 and 46, and a bent middle section of them passes through side holes 44b and 46b of the spring force guides 44 and 46 to exert a spring force, contacting a wall surface of the guide hole 41b of the middle plate 41.

[0050] Accordingly, the spring-loaded springs 44a and 46a exert a spring force on the wall surface of the guide hole 41a to limit the movement of the side plates 43 and 45 when the side plates 43 and 45 are moved, thus fixing the side plates 43 and 45 at predetermined positions and preventing them from being moved unintentionally.

[0051] Accordingly, the first and second side plates 43 and 45 limit displacements of the side plates 43 and 45 entering the middle plate 41 due to the spring force springs 44a and 46a.

[0052] The partition plate 40, which uses the spring-force springs 44a and 46a, is arranged such that, only when an external force is applied to the partition plate 40, the first and second side plates 43 and 45 are moved towards an inner side of the middle plate 41 in order to contact the middle plate 41. In this case, because the partition plate 40 has a length corresponding to a left / right width that is longer than a forward / backward width of the luggage plate 10, the first and second side plates 43 and 45 are automatically folded to enter an inner side of the middle plate 41 simultaneously with the rotation of the partition plate 40. This occurs when an external force is applied to the partition plate 40 by means of a stepped section 13 formed on a circumference of the luggage plate 10 (which is higher than the lower surface of the inner side of the luggage plate 10). The first and second side plates 43 and 45 are applied,i.e. a load is applied by means of the stepped section 13 after the dividing plate 40 has been extended to a maximum length (see , ). Fig. 8).

[0053] The side plates 43 and 45, which are inserted into the middle plate 41, can be manually pulled out and removed to the outside of the middle plate 41.

[0054] As in Fig. 9 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 10, the partition plate 40 can essentially be divided into a first plate part 40 and a second plate part 40b.

[0055] This means that the partition plate 40 can be arranged so that a left / right length can be set in a sliding manner and can have the first plate part 40a and the second plate part 40b, which can be subdivided in a forward / backward direction at the same time.

[0056] Furthermore, the first plate part 40a and the second plate part 40b are subdivided in such a way that they are simply adjacent to each other in a contacting manner or in a simple separate manner.

[0057] The partition plate 40 can be unfolded, with the ends (upper or lower end) of the first plate part 40a and the second plate part 40b facing each other on the plate fixing unit 30, and can be folded, with the side surfaces of the first plate part 40a and the second plate part 40b facing each other.

[0058] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 9, the trunk can be used as a single space when the first panel section 40a and the second panel section 40b are separated, so that the partition panel 40 is unfolded to be loaded on the panel fixing unit, and as shown in Fig.As can be seen in Figure 10, the trunk can be divided into two compartments if the first panel part 40a and the second panel part 40b are arranged close together, so that a lower end of the partition panel 40 is inserted into the fixing groove 31a of the panel holder 31 after the partition panel 40 has been folded in half.

[0059] For the sake of simplicity in description and precise definition in the attached claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner" and "outer" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as shown in the figures.

[0060] The preceding descriptions of the specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention serve the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exact form disclosed, and it is obvious that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teaching above. The exemplary embodiments were selected and described to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, and thereby to enable the person skilled in the art to manufacture and use the various embodiments of the present invention, as well as their numerous alternatives and modifications. It is intended that the scope of protection of the invention is defined by the stated claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] A variable partition device for the trunk of a vehicle, comprising: a luggage panel (10) which has a guide rail (12) and is arranged on a lower surface of a trunk, and an actuating unit (20) which is arranged to move forward, backward, left and right along the guide rail which extends forward, backward, left and right at an upper end of the luggage plate (10), wherein the dividing device further comprises a plate fixing unit (30) which is coupled to an upper section of the actuating unit (20) and in which a dividing plate (40) is fixedly mounted, whereby it is erected, wherein the partition plate (40) is arranged so that it moves with the actuating unit (20) on the luggage plate (10), characterized by , that the plate fixing unit (30) is rotatably coupled to the actuating unit (20) and the dividing plate (40) thus rotates in relation to the actuating unit (20) in order to variably divide the trunk. [2] The variable division device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating unit (20) comprises: a housing (21) having a plurality of ball holes (21aa) on an upper section thereof, an actuating bearing (25) which is arranged such that balls thereof are rotatably mounted in the ball holes (21a), a bearing clamping body (23) which is arranged on an upper side of an inner side of the housing (21) in order to clamp the actuating bearing (25) to the guide rail (21), and a support spring (27) which is arranged on a lower surface of an inner surface of the housing (21) to elastically support a lower surface of the bearing clamping body (23). [3] The variable partitioning device according to claim 2, wherein the bearing clamping body (23) is rotatably mounted on the support spring (27) and a coupling part (24), with which a handling handle (33) forming the plate fixing unit (30) is press-fitted, protrudes from an upper end thereof. [4] The variable division device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the housing (21) has guide ribs (21ab) which support the actuating bearing (25) on circumferences of the ball holes (21aa). [5] The variable partitioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plate fixing unit (30) has a plate holding part (31) which is placed on the actuating unit (20) and a handling handle (33) which passes through one side of the plate holding part (31) in order to be coupled to the actuating unit (20). [6] The variable partitioning device according to claim 5, wherein the plate holding part (31) is arranged such that grip grooves (31b) are formed on opposite sides of the fixing groove (31a), into which a lower end of the partitioning plate (40) is firmly inserted, and the handling handle (33), wherein it is arranged to float on the grip groove (31b), is press-fitted to a coupling part (24) which is formed at an upper end of the bearing clamping body (23) forming the actuating unit (20). [7] The variable partitioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the partitioning plate (40) has a middle plate (41) and a first side plate (43) and a second side plate (45) which are mounted on the left and right sides of the middle plate (41) to enter the middle plate (41) in a slidable manner. [8] The variable partitioning device according to claim 7, wherein a guide hole (41a) is formed at an upper end of the middle plate (41) and spring force guides (44, 46) which are moved linearly along the guide hole (41a) project from the first and the second side plate, and spring force springs (44a, 46a) are installed in the spring force guide (44, 46) such that opposite ends thereof are fixed to the spring force guide (44, 46) and a curved middle section thereof exerts a spring force, contacting wall surfaces of the guide holes (41b). [9] The variable partitioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the luggage panel (10) has a stepped section (13) on a circumference thereof which is higher than a lower surface of the luggage panel (10), the partitioning panel (40) has a first side panel (43) and a second side panel (45) which are mounted on the left and right sides of a middle panel (41) in order to enter the middle panel (41) in a slidably manner, such that the first and the second side panel automatically penetrate an inside of the middle panel (41) when an external force is applied through the stepped section (13), wherein the partitioning panel (40) is rotated on the luggage panel (10). [10] The variable partitioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the partitioning plate (40) has a first plate part (40a) and a second plate unit (40b) which are adjacent to each other in order to be mounted in the plate fixing unit (30), wherein they are erected, and the first plate part (40a) and the second plate part (40b) are extendable on the plate fixing unit (30) in a plate form.

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