Loading floor for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle equipped therewith

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1) with a luggage compartment (19) and a loading floor (13) for the luggage compartment (19) arranged in the rear (3) of the motor vehicle (1), which has an adjustment device (15) with which the loading floor (13) can be moved at least partially from a normal position in which it is horizontally aligned to an extended position, wherein the loading floor (13) in the extended position is at least partially either above or below its normal position, with at least one cover (23) shielding the adjustment device (15), which is attached to the loading floor (13) with a first section, characterized in that the cover (23) is attached with a section to a loading edge (17) of the rear (3) or to a luggage compartment floor (21).

Description

The present invention relates to a loading floor for a luggage compartment of a motor vehicle, which can be moved from a normal position to an extended position, and to a motor vehicle equipped with such a loading floor. From WO 2005 / 070725 A1, a loading floor for a motor vehicle is known that can be moved from a lower position to an upper position and back again. In the lower position, the loading floor is adjacent to the floor of the luggage compartment, i.e., the luggage compartment floor, and extends below a substantially horizontal plane defined by a loading edge of the motor vehicle. In its upper position, the loading floor forms a flat surface with the loading edge of the motor vehicle; in this case, it is relatively farther away from the luggage compartment floor compared to its lower position. The movement of the loading floor from the lower to the upper position and back again is effected by means of an adjustment device that is attached to the luggage compartment floor on one side and to the side of the loading floor on the other. The adjustment device known from this publication is freely accessible in the luggage compartment, which can lead to significant problems in practice.Firstly, it can be damaged and / or blocked by parts located in the cargo floor, especially during acceleration or braking of the vehicle. Secondly, there is a risk that people could cut, pinch, or otherwise injure themselves on the freely accessible adjustment mechanism. German patent application DE 10 2007 042 883 A1 discloses a cargo space for an electric or hybrid vehicle with an electrical energy storage device housed in a casing. The casing serves as a support surface for a loading floor in the area of ​​one of its upper edges, extending at least from this casing to a loading edge in the rear of the electric or hybrid vehicle. The design of an adjustment device for the rearward-facing portion of the loading floor is not described in this document. As is well known, loading floors are designed to bear sometimes heavy loads both when a vehicle is stationary and while in motion. This necessitates a certain robustness in the adjustment mechanisms used to move the loading floor, as can be seen, for example, in DE 10 2008 010 392 A1. The scissor-like adjustment mechanism shown there is an integral part of a module that can be inserted into the vehicle's cargo area. This module can move the loading floor from a lower position, i.e., adjacent to the cargo floor, to an upper position, i.e., flush with the loading edge, and beyond, i.e., a position extending above the loading edge. Due to its installation location within the vehicle, this adjustment mechanism is not freely accessible. However, the loading floor described in this publication is itself complex in design and therefore expensive. Other loading floors are known from the DE 20 2006 007 784 U1, the DE 10 2008 015 351 A1, the DE 20 2017 001 219 U1 and the US 8 870 257 B2. Finally, from EP 2 075 153 A1, a motor vehicle with a luggage compartment and a loading floor for the luggage compartment arranged in the rear of the motor vehicle is known, which has an adjustment device with which the loading floor can be moved at least partially from a normal position in which it is horizontally aligned into an extended position, wherein the loading floor in the extended position is at least partially either above or below its normal position. The object of the present invention is to create a motor vehicle with a loading floor located in its luggage compartment, which loading floor forms an alternative to the loading floors of the prior art, is easy to handle and increases the safety of the persons using or operating it. The aforementioned problem is solved by a motor vehicle that has the combination of features of claim 1. The loading floor in the motor vehicle according to the invention can be adjusted, either fully or partially, from a normal position, in which it is essentially horizontal, to at least one other position, namely either below or above the normal position, by means of an adjustment device. This means, firstly, that the loading floor according to the invention can be raised or lowered as a whole relative to the horizontal normal position, so that it is essentially parallel to the normal position. Furthermore, the loading floor according to the invention can be partially adjusted relative to the normal position, so that it is inclined or tilted relative to the normal position. Due to the inclination, in particular, a part of the loading floor according to the invention is in the normal position, while another part is located below or above the normal position.Furthermore, it is provided that the adjustment mechanism is shielded by a cover located at least on the loading floor. Specifically, the cover is attached to the loading floor by a first section. The cover prevents objects from entering the movement range of the adjustment mechanism or from colliding with it; thus, damage to or blockage of the mechanism is reliably prevented. Moreover, due to the shielding provided by the invention, persons can no longer cut, crush, or otherwise injure themselves on the adjustment mechanism when the loading floor according to the invention is used as intended. Advantageously, the loading floor is particularly easily accessible to an operator while providing the greatest possible safety against injuries that could be caused by the adjustment mechanism. According to the invention, the cover is attached with a first section to the loading floor and with a second section to a loading edge, in particular the rear or luggage compartment floor of the motor vehicle. This operator-friendly arrangement of the cover effectively and advantageously provides direct protection for the operator against incorrect operation of the adjustment mechanism or injuries caused by it. Preferably, the adjustment device is arranged below the loading floor. According to a further development, the load floor cover can be flexible and / or rigid. In particular, a flexible cover can be designed as a roller blind or in the form of a pleated fabric. A rigid cover can be designed, in particular, in the form of a panel. Thus, the load floor according to the invention is advantageously adaptable to any conceivable installation situation in automotive engineering. This adaptability is further enhanced in a further development of the invention: The cover of the loading floor extends at least partially across its width. Regardless of the design of the loading floor adjustment mechanism, this completely shields it, particularly from loose parts located in the rear area. This also applies if the adjustment mechanism consists of two components, for example, two pivot joints parallel in the transverse direction of the loading floor. It should be noted here that, within the scope of the invention, each component can also be individually shielded by its own cover. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cover can be provided at any point along the longitudinal direction of the loading floor. This also advantageously achieves a high degree of adaptability of the loading floor according to the invention to a desired installation situation in a motor vehicle. In particular, it can be advantageous if the shield is located at a point facing an operator of the loading floor, preferably at an end edge of the loading floor facing the operator, since the operator is directly protected against injury. The loading floor can be designed as a single piece. However, this is not mandatory; according to a further development, a two-part loading floor can be provided. A first plate element and a second plate element are connected to each other and pivoted relative to each other via a hinge axis. According to the invention, the cover can be located on one of the two plate elements, on both plate elements, and / or on the hinge axis. This advantageously further emphasizes the adaptability and flexibility of the loading floor according to the invention. It should be mentioned here that any other number of plate elements can also be provided according to the invention. Furthermore, these can be individually and / or collectively movable and / or pivotable and / or removable. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cover can be attached to the loading floor by means of at least one fastening element, allowing for detachable attachment, either partially or completely. This advantageously provides access to the otherwise shielded adjustment mechanism, facilitating easy inspection or repair work. The fastening element itself can be, in particular, a clip, a hook-and-loop fastener, or a zipper. It is understood that the cover is reattached to the loading floor after the work has been carried out. Therefore, the term "detachable" encompasses not only the separation of the cover from the loading floor according to the invention, but also its reattachment. Preferably, the second section of the cover is pivotably mounted. A hinge axis can be provided for this purpose, around which the cover rotates. More preferably, a guide track can be provided in which the second section of the cover can move, particularly at the loading edge. Finally, the second section can advantageously be attached to the luggage compartment floor of the vehicle. These features make it possible to equip the vehicle according to the invention with a flexible and secure loading floor. It is provided that the cover is detachably attached to the motor vehicle, in particular to the rear or the luggage compartment floor, by means of at least one fastening device. This advantageously allows access to the otherwise shielded adjustment mechanism, enabling easy inspection or repair work. The fastening device itself can be, in particular, a clip, a hook-and-loop fastener, or a zipper. It is understood that the cover is reattached to the motor vehicle after the work has been carried out. In this respect, the term "detachable" encompasses not only the separation of the cover from the motor vehicle according to the invention, but also its reattachment. The features of the present invention described above can be combined with one another as far as possible, even if not explicitly described above. Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description: Figures 1A and 1B are schematic side views of a luggage compartment with a loading floor according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a normal position and an extended position. Figures 2A to 2C are schematic side views of a luggage compartment with a loading floor according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a normal position, a first extended position, and a second extended position, respectively. Figures 3A to 3F show a schematic side view of the loading floor shown in Figure 2A with various cover options. Figures 4A and 3F show the following:Figures 4B are schematic side views of a luggage compartment with a loading floor according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a normal position and a first extended position. Figures 5A to 5D are schematic side views of the loading floor shown in Figure 4A with different cover variants. Below, with reference to Figs. 1 to 5D, a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is given. Figure 1A schematically depicts a motor vehicle 1, part of whose rear 3 is shown. In this case, the motor vehicle 1 is designed as a hybrid vehicle known per se, which has a fuel tank 5 containing, for example, gasoline or diesel fuel and an electrical energy storage device 7, for example, a battery or accumulator. Above the fuel tank 5 is a rear bench seat 9 extending parallel to the transverse axis z of the motor vehicle 1, so that passengers using it (not shown) can sit facing the direction of travel x, i.e., in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 1. Above the energy storage unit 7 is a first loading platform 11, known per se from the prior art, which in the example shown here consists of a rigid plate. This loading platform 11 can be designed to be removable in order to allow access to the energy storage unit or other components of the motor vehicle 1 not shown in Fig. 1A. A loading floor 13 is located behind the first loading floor 11, viewed in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. It is supported at its portion adjacent to the first loading floor 11 by an adjustment device 15. With its portion distal to the first loading floor 11, it rests on a loading edge 17 of the rear 3. The adjustment device 15 is a known kinematic mechanism with which the loading floor 13 can be pivoted and / or moved. As can be seen in Fig. 1A, the adjustment device 15 is located in a luggage compartment 19 formed in the rear 3, in the lower part of which a luggage compartment floor 21 is provided. The cover 23 is attached to both the loading edge 17 and the lower part of the loading floor 13. In the normal position of the loading floor 13 shown in Fig. 1A, in which it extends essentially horizontally (i.e., in the x / z plane), the cover 13 closes any gap (not shown) between the contact surface of the loading floor 13 and the loading edge 17. This ensures, in particular, that the luggage compartment 19 is closed and that no small objects can unintentionally enter it. The cover 23 thus shields the adjustment mechanism 15. In Fig. 1B, the loading floor 13, previously described in its normal position with reference to Fig. 1A, is now in its extended position. This is achieved by pivoting the loading floor 13 in the z-direction and about a pivot axis located there (not shown) using the adjustment device 15, thereby increasing the volume of the luggage compartment 19 under the loading floor 13. During the pivoting process, the cover 23, which will be described in detail later, opens in such a way that the adjustment device 15 is always shielded. Even when the loading floor 13 returns from the extended position to its normal position, the cover 23 shields the adjustment device 15. The loading floor 13 shown in Figures 1A and 1B is designed as a single-piece plate. However, the present invention also includes two-part loading floors 13, as will now be explained with reference to Figures 2A to 2C. In this embodiment, the loading floor 13 consists of a first plate element 13' and a second plate element 13'', which are connected to each other by means of a hinge axis 25 known per se. While the two plate elements 13', 13'' extend essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the hinge axis 25 is oriented essentially in the direction of the z-axis. The adjustment device 15 engages the underside of the second plate element 13''. The first and second plate elements 13' and 13'' shown in Fig. 2A are in their normal position, i.e., in the x / z plane. A cover 23 is provided on the section of the first plate element 13' adjacent to the loading edge 17, which – as already described for Fig. 1A – closes the luggage compartment 19 and thus shields the adjustment device 15. In Fig. 2B, the loading floor 13 is shown in a first extended position. Specifically, the first panel element 13' is shown pivoted upwards about the hinge axis 25, with the cover 23 being extended to shield the luggage compartment 19 and, in particular, the adjustment device 15 located therein. In Fig. 2C, the loading floor 13 is shown in a second extended position. By means of the adjustment device 15, the second panel element 13'', together with the hinge axis 25, is moved towards the luggage compartment floor 21 such that the first panel element 13' comes to rest on a ledge 27 of the luggage compartment floor 21 and parallel to it. The cover 23 remains connected to the loading edge 17 and the adjacent section of the first panel element 13' and shields the adjustment device 15. This reduces the luggage compartment 19, but advantageously provides more space above the loading floor 13, which is available for transported goods (not shown). Figures 3A to 3F below describe in detail various embodiments of covers 23 which can be used on loading floors 13 according to Figures 1A to 2C. The cover 23 shown in Fig. 3A has a first cover plate 23-1, which is attached to a section of the loading floor 13 adjacent to the loading edge 17 by means of a hinge 23-2. The cover also has a second cover plate 23-3, which is attached to the loading edge 17 by means of a hinge 23-4. The first cover plate 23-1 is connected to the second cover plate 23-3 by a hinge 23-5. The hinges 23-2, 23-3, and 23-5 can be hinges known per se, extending over the entire width of the two cover plates 23-1 and 23-3, respectively. These, in turn, extend over the entire width of the luggage compartment 19, so that the area spanned by the two cover plates 23-1 and 23-3 reliably prevents a user from reaching through or accessing the adjustment device 15. Advantageously, the joint 23-5 is located in an over-center position, thus preventing the cover 23 from locking or jamming. In the embodiment of the loading floor 13 or motor vehicle 1 shown in Fig. 3B, the cover 23 is designed as a pleated cover 23-6. This consists of a series of rigid, accordion-like elements connected to one another by means of joints 23-5. For further details regarding its design and function, reference is made to the description above. It should be noted that the pleated cover 23-6 can also be made of a flexible material. Its material must be inherently flexible enough to be stretched (when the loading floor 13 is extended) or folded (when the loading floor 13 is returned to its normal position) without damage. Thus, the pleated cover 23-6 can be made of a fabric or a film. In such a case, the joints 23-5 can be omitted. Another example of a flexible cover 23 is shown in Fig. 3C. This cover is attached to the underside of the loading floor 13 by a section and is made, in particular, of a fabric, cloth, or film. On the section of the cover 23 opposite this section, the fabric, cloth, or film can be unrolled from a housing 23-7 (when the loading floor 13 is extended) or rolled into it (when the loading floor 13 is returned to its normal position), as is known per se from shading systems, especially blinds for shading motor vehicles. In particular, it can be provided that a spring located in the housing 23-7 (not shown) keeps the cover under constant mechanical tension. This advantageously not only facilitates rolling the cover 23 into the housing 23-7 but also reliably prevents unsightly bulging or bulging of the cover. It is also possible to attach a fabric panel 23-8 to the loading floor 13 and the loading edge 17, as shown in Fig. 3D. In this case, the loading floor 13 is not yet fully extended, so the fabric panel 23-8 is not yet fully taut. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because the solution shown is comparatively inexpensive and easy to implement. The fabric panel can be made of a woven material, a non-woven material, or a film. Another embodiment of a loading floor 13 or of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention is shown in Fig. 3E. A cover plate 23-9 is attached with a section adjacent to the loading edge 17 to a spring 23-10, in particular a torsion spring, which pre-tensions the cover plate 23-9. The part of the cover plate 23-9 opposite this section has no hinge, but its free end rests continuously against the underside of the loading floor 13, even in its normal position, due to the spring force. When the loading floor 13 is extended from its normal position to the extended position, the free end of the cover plate 23-9 slides along the underside of the loading floor 13 under spring force until it comes to rest against a stop 23-11 at the end of the loading floor 13 distal to the adjustment device 15. In this position, the loading floor has reached its maximum extension. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 3F, the cover 23 is again rigid, for example in the form of a cover plate 23-12. The cover plate 23-12 has a hinge 23-13 on one section, which is attached to the underside of the loading floor 13. A guide rail 23-14 is provided in the area of ​​the luggage compartment 19 and at the loading edge 17, in which a sliding block 23-15, which is connected to the section of the cover plate 23-12 opposite the loading floor 13, is guided. It is understood that a corresponding cam guide can be provided on each side of the loading floor 13, i.e., left and right in the direction of travel, to ensure secure guidance of the cover plate 23-12 in the z-direction. In all previously shown embodiments of the loading floor 13 or motor vehicle 1, the cover 23 is attached to the loading edge 17 or the underside of the loading floor 13. However, this is not mandatory, as the following exemplary embodiments will show. Figure 4A shows a two-part loading floor 13, the first panel element 13' and second panel element 13'' of which are in their normal positions. A cover 23 is provided, comprising a first cover plate 23-1 and a second cover plate connected to each other by means of a hinge 23-5, as was already shown in principle in Figure 3A. In the embodiment shown here, however, the cover 23 is positioned approximately (viewed in the x-direction) in the center of the luggage compartment 19. Specifically, the section of the first panel element 23-1 facing the loading floor 13 is arranged with its hinge 23-2 on the hinge axis 25, while the lower section of the second panel element 23-3 is located in the center of the loading floor 13. Advantageously, 23-2 and the hinge axis 25 can be designed as a single component. The distal section of the second plate element, located from the hinge axis 25, is therefore attached to the luggage compartment floor 21.The fastening can be detachable, in particular by screws, or permanent, in particular by adhesive. It should be noted that the first plate element 13' can also be adjusted into the luggage compartment 19 with the device shown here (not shown). As can be seen in Fig. 4B, the first plate element 13' is rotatably mounted about the pivot axis 25 or the joint 23-2. This makes it possible – as also shown in Fig. 3B (to which explicit reference is made here) – to easily move it into an extended position in which the end of the first plate element 13' facing the rear 3 is located above the second plate element 13'' when viewed in the y-direction. This advantageously makes the luggage compartment 19 at least partially usable without compromising the protective effect of the cover 23. In particular, it ensures that the adjustment mechanism 15 is shielded by the cover 23. Further loading floors 13, which increase the usable luggage space, or motor vehicles 1 having such floors, are shown in the following Figs. 5A to 5D. Figure 5A shows a cover 23 that is already described in Figure 2C (to which explicit reference is made here). However, in this case, the lower part of the cover 23 is not located at the loading edge 17, but is attached approximately centrally (viewed in the y-direction) directly to the luggage compartment floor 21 via a hinge 23-16. The opposite part of the cover 23 is attached to the hinge axis 25. Here, too, it is ensured that reaching through or interfering with the adjustment mechanism 15 is impossible. Fig. 5B shows a two-part loading floor 13, the first panel element 13' and the second panel element 13'' of which are lowered into a raised position. The lowering is carried out in the manner described above. The cover 23 is attached to the hinge axis 25 on its section facing the loading floor 13. The section of the cover 23 adjacent to the luggage compartment floor 21 is mounted in a guide rail, the sliding block 23-15 of which is movably guided in a guide rail 23-14. Unlike in Fig. 3F, however, the guide rail 23-14 is now attached to the luggage compartment floor 21 approximately in the middle (viewed in the x-direction) of the luggage compartment 19. For further details, please refer to the descriptions in relation to Fig. 3F. Fig. 5C shows a loading floor 13, the first panel element 13' and second panel element 13'' of which are lowered into an extended position. In this embodiment, the cover element 23 is designed as described in Fig. 3B, except that it is now attached with one section to the hinge axis 25 and with another section to the luggage compartment floor 21. For further details, please refer to the description in Fig. 3B. Finally, Fig. 5D shows a particularly simple embodiment of the loading floor 13, which is already described in Fig. 3D, in which the cover 23, consisting of a cloth, a net or a film, is now attached to the hinge axis 25 or the center of the luggage floor 21. It should be noted that the cover 23 of the present invention does not necessarily have to be located in the center of the luggage compartment 19. Rather, it is also possible to provide any other position of the cover 23 in the x-direction, as long as it reliably shields the adjustment device 15. All previously shown covers 23 can extend over the entire width of the luggage compartment 19, thus reliably preventing any reach or access by a user towards the adjustment device 15. It is understood that the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention does not necessarily have to be designed as an electric or hybrid vehicle. Rather, the invention covers all types of motor vehicles. Reference symbol list 1 Motor vehicle 3 Rear 5 Fuel tank 7 Energy storage 9 Rear seat 11 Loading floor 13 Loading floor 13' First panel element 13'' Second panel element 15 Adjustment device 17 Loading edge 19 Luggage compartment 21 Luggage compartment floor 23 Cover 23-1 First cover plate 23-2 Joint 23-3 Second cover plate 23-4 Joint 23-5 Joint 23-6 Pleated cover 23-7 Housing 23-8 Fabric panel 23-9 Cover plate 23-10 Spring 23-11 Stop 23-12 Cover plate 23-13 Joint 23-14 Guide rail 23-15 Sliding block 23-16 Hinge 23-17 Rail 25 Hinge axis 27 Heel

Claims

Motor vehicle (1) with a luggage compartment (19) and a loading floor (13) for the luggage compartment (19) arranged in the rear (3) of the motor vehicle (1), which has an adjustment device (15) with which the loading floor (13) can be moved at least partially from a normal position in which it is horizontally aligned to an extended position, wherein the loading floor (13) in the extended position is at least partially either above or below its normal position, with at least one cover (23) shielding the adjustment device (15), which is attached to the loading floor (13) with a first section, characterized in that the cover (23) is attached with a section to a loading edge (17) of the rear (3) or to a luggage compartment floor (21). Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second section of the cover (23) is pivotable and / or guided on the loading edge (17) and / or the luggage compartment floor (21). Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the second section of the cover (23) is pivotable by means of a joint (23-13) and / or guided by means of a cam guide (23-14, 23-15) on the loading edge (17) and / or the luggage compartment floor (21). Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (23) is detachably attached to, in particular, the rear (3) or the luggage compartment floor (21) via at least one fastening means. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the cover (23) is flexible and / or rigid. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the flexible cover (23) is designed as a pleated cover (23-6) or fabric panel (23-8), and / the rigid cover is designed as at least a one-piece plate (23-1). Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the cover (23) extends at least partially over the width of the loading floor (13). Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (23) is located at any point in the longitudinal direction of the loading floor (13). Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover (23) is located in the longitudinal direction of the loading floor (13) on its section facing an operator. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a first plate element (13') and a second plate element (13'') connected thereto, wherein the first plate element (13') and the second plate element (13'') are designed to be pivotable relative to each other by means of a hinge axis (25), and wherein the cover (23) is attached to the first plate element (13') and / or the second plate element (13'') and / or to the hinge axis (25). Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (23) is attached to the loading floor (13) in a fully or partially detachable manner via at least one fastening means.

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