Device for variably covering the cargo area of ​​a vehicle

Abstract

A device (7) for variably covering a cargo space (6) of a vehicle (2) is described, comprising a fixed cover unit (9) and a flexible cover element (10) that is movable between a storage position and a working position. In the storage position, the flexible cover element (10) is stowed in a storage compartment (14) of the cover unit (9) and exposes the cargo space (6) from above. Furthermore, the flexible cover element (10) can be moved into the working position against a restoring force and, in the working position, covers the cargo space (6) from above, extending from a pull-out opening (23) of the cover unit (9) for the flexible cover element (10) in the longitudinal direction (X) and in the transverse direction (Y), together with the cover unit (9). Starting from the pull-out opening (23), the cover unit (9) has a first cover section (39) and a second cover section (42) extending longitudinally (X) to the first cover section (39).The outer surfaces (40, 41) of the second cover section (42), facing outwards in the transverse direction (Y), are offset inwards relative to the outer surfaces (37, 38) of the first cover section (39). The second cover section (42) has a narrower width in the transverse direction (Y) than the first cover section (39).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for variably covering a cargo space of a vehicle according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 296 19 210 U1, an extendable and automatically retractable roller blind is known, which is assigned to a structural or trim element of a vehicle, such as a parcel shelf, a door panel, or a roof section. The roller blind comprises a housing, a fabric that can be retracted at least partially into the interior of the housing, and means for elastically retracting the fabric. One of the means is designed as a retraction rod that extends transversely to the retraction direction of the fabric, is connected to the fabric, and is slidably arranged inside the housing. The retraction rod, together with the fabric, is moved between an extended operating state of the fabric and a retracted operating state. Furthermore, an elastic retraction element is provided, which is connected to the fabric and the retraction rod and applies a restoring force to them in the direction of the retracted operating state.The retraction mechanism is designed as an elastic or stretchable cord connected to a guide element firmly attached to the housing. Additionally, the roller blind has at least one guide roller for the fabric, mounted in the housing parallel to and spaced apart from the retraction rod.

[0003] In a further embodiment of the roller blind, the fabric is guided by a second roller, which is positioned parallel to the guide roller at a distance and is rotatable. As the fabric is extended, the cords lengthen against their inherent elasticity, and the retraction rod runs over the second roller to reach its other side and approach the guide roller. The cords also run over the second roller during this process. Conversely, when the retraction rod is released, the cords contract due to their inherent elasticity, pulling the rod first towards the second roller and, after passing it, further back. This arrangement allows for a further increase in the length of fabric that can be retracted into the housing.

[0004] In another embodiment of the roller blind, the free end of the fabric is firmly connected to a mounting rod, which is fixed inside the housing parallel to the guide roller. Inside the housing, parallel to the mounting rod and the guide roller, a retraction rod is mounted, which is slidable in a sliding guide formed in the housing in both the extension and retraction directions of the fabric.

[0005] The retraction rod is subjected to a restoring force by elastic retraction elements and held in contact with the fabric to cause it to fold inside the housing. To prevent any friction between the retraction rod and the fabric, the rod is mounted so that it can rotate freely around its axis inside the sliding guide.

[0006] Additionally, it is proposed to use a fabric with inherent elasticity, allowing it to stretch or contract. This would increase the extended length of the fabric without increasing the length of the fabric retracted into the housing.

[0007] Furthermore, a gap cover for a motor vehicle is known from DE 10 2008 015 351 A1. The gap cover serves to cover gaps between vehicle parts whose distance to each other is variable. Such gaps occur, for example, between a vehicle rear seat with an adjustable backrest and a fixed parcel shelf.

[0008] The gap cover features a flexible cover element, designed as a fabric sheet. This cover element is housed in a receptacle on one vehicle component and attached to another. Depending on the gap size, the cover element can be extended from and retracted into the receptacle. The gap cover also incorporates a tensioning device in the receptacle area to hold the cover element under tension. This tensioning device can be a spring element, such as a linear coil spring.

[0009] A storage compartment for vehicles, preferably a parcel shelf, is known from DE 10 2004 018 431 A1.

[0010] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a device for variably covering a cargo space of a vehicle, by means of which a cargo space is released in a space-saving manner in a storage position from above by the device in a structurally simple way and can be covered from above essentially without gaps in the operating position.

[0011] According to the invention, this problem is solved with a device having the features of claim 1.

[0012] The device according to the invention for variably covering a vehicle's cargo space comprises a fixed cover unit and a flexible cover element. The flexible cover element is movable between a storage position and an operating position. In the storage position, the flexible cover element is stowed in a compartment of the cover unit, leaving the cargo space exposed from above. Furthermore, the flexible cover element can be moved into the operating position against a restoring force, which preferably returns the cover element automatically to the storage position. In the operating position, the flexible cover element, together with the cover unit, covers the cargo space from above, extending from a pull-out opening in the cover unit for the flexible cover element in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0013] Starting from the pull-out opening, the cover unit has a first cover section and a second cover section extending longitudinally to the first. The outer sides of the second cover section, facing outwards in the transverse direction, are offset inwards relative to the outer sides of the first cover section, resulting in a narrower transverse width for the second cover section than for the first.

[0014] This design of the cover unit offers, in a structurally simple way, the possibility of covering a cargo space, which preferably has different widths on the upper side in the area of ​​a vehicle sill in the transverse direction of the vehicle, in the desired way without gaps by means of the cover unit designed with a waist in the area between the first cover section and the second cover section.

[0015] In its installed position, the storage compartment end of the flexible cover element, located at the front of the vehicle, extends longitudinally, at least partially, into the second cover section. This storage compartment end of the flexible cover element has a width adapted to the width of the second cover section over a defined length, and subsequently a width that essentially corresponds to the width of the first cover section. This allows the storage space available within the fixed cover unit to be used in a structurally simple manner, extending into the second cover section and maximizing the extension length of the flexible cover element.

[0016] The flexible cover element can be guided around at least two guide rollers, each with a wrap angle of approximately 180°, within the storage space between the end of the storage compartment and a pull-out section extending from the storage compartment through the pull-out opening. This allows for a desired extension length of the flexible cover element while simultaneously requiring minimal storage space when the cover element is in its stowed position. This is possible because, in its stowed position, the flexible cover element comprises at least three sections folded vertically, each with a defined folded length.This allows the flexible cover element, in its operating position, to cover a cargo space with a length three times the defined folding length, requiring little installation space in the vertical direction compared to roller-like rolled-up cover elements.

[0017] The guide rollers can be arranged transversely within the storage space and mounted on pivots. Alternatively, a first guide roller can be positioned in the storage space in the recessed position of the flexible cover element, in an area of ​​the storage space facing the drawer opening. Furthermore, the axis of rotation of the second guide roller can be spaced longitudinally and vertically from the axis of rotation of the first guide roller and located in an area of ​​the storage space facing the second cover section.

[0018] The distance between the axes of rotation of the deflection pulleys in the vertical direction can be chosen such that a section of the flexible cover element, which extends between the end of the wrap angle range of the first deflection pulley towards the beginning of the wrap angle range of the second deflection pulley, forms an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane and is guided slightly downwards towards the second deflection pulley.

[0019] In other words, the beginning of the wrap angle range of the second deflection pulley lies below the end of the wrap angle range of the first deflection pulley in the vertical direction. This ensures that the device requires minimal installation space in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the vertical distance between the axes of rotation of the deflection pulleys is chosen such that the folded sections of the flexible storage element or the cover element do not touch each other in the storage space.

[0020] Furthermore, the storage end of the flexible cover element can be permanently connected to the second cover section. One of the guide rollers can be designed to be longitudinally displaceable within the storage space relative to the other guide roller against a return unit, such that the longitudinal distance between the guide rollers decreases during an extension movement of the flexible cover element from the storage space towards its operating position.

[0021] In such an embodiment of the device according to the invention, sections of the flexible cover element, folded one above the other in the vertical direction and spaced apart from each other, are stored in the stowed position, requiring little installation space in the longitudinal direction. These sections of the flexible cover element can be arranged in the operating position in a horizontal plane above the cargo area with a desired long extension length by means of the positioning movement of at least one deflection roller within the storage space, to cover the cargo area without gaps.

[0022] Alternatively, the storage end of the flexible storage element can be arranged to slide longitudinally within the storage space and be connected to it by at least one rope. In the storage position of the flexible cover element, the rope can be wound onto a spring-loaded winding reel. Furthermore, in the operating position of the flexible cover element, where the storage end of the flexible cover element is adjusted towards the pull-out opening, the rope can be at least partially unwound from the winding reel.

[0023] Then, in turn, a desired large extension length of the flexible cover element can be provided while simultaneously requiring little storage space in the storage position of the flexible storage element.

[0024] If at least one of the deflection rollers is additionally designed to be displaceable in the storage space in relation to the other deflection roller in such a way that the distance between the deflection rollers in the longitudinal direction decreases during an extension movement of the flexible cover element from the storage space towards the operating position, the extension length of the flexible cover element in the operating position can be further increased compared to the latter embodiment of the device, while simultaneously requiring less installation space in the storage position.

[0025] The storage end of the flexible cover element and the associated rope can be guided through a tensioning area within the storage compartment during an extension movement of the flexible cover element from its storage position towards its operating position. This tensioning area is defined by a guide element and a rotating tension roller. The flexible cover element can then be positioned in its operating position with the necessary tension for a high-quality visual appearance.

[0026] Furthermore, it is possible for the contact area of ​​the guide element and the contact area of ​​the tension roller to be arranged offset from each other in the vertical direction. In addition, the flexible cover element in the storage compartment can be operatively connected with its underside to the contact area of ​​the guide element and with its upper side to the contact area of ​​the tension roller, in order to hold the flexible cover element in a tensioned state by the tension roller.

[0027] In a structurally simple embodiment of the device according to the invention, the guide area and the tension roller can extend in the storage space in a transverse direction and be connected to the fixed cover unit.

[0028] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vehicle equipped with a device described in more detail above.

[0029] In an easy-to-handle embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the fixed cover unit above the cargo area is detachably connected to a vehicle panel. This ensures that, on the one hand, the cargo area can be covered without gaps in both the longitudinal and transverse directions by the fixed cover unit, and, on the other hand, a storage area is available above the cargo area in the area of ​​the upper surface of the fixed cover unit. Furthermore, the device can be easily detached and removed from the vehicle panel if items are to be carried in the cargo area whose height exceeds the cargo area height below the fixed cover unit.

[0030] In another embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, which is also characterized by simple handling, the flexible cover element can be fixed to a further vehicle panel in the operating position by means of a holding mechanism. Such a holding mechanism can, for example, comprise a combination of a nipple and a loop that can be attached to it, a pin and a screw, or the like.

[0031] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The foregoing description of the features and combinations of features, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone, are not only usable in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own.

[0032] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the drawing.

[0033] It shows: Fig. 1 a highly simplified side view of an area of ​​a vehicle in which a cargo space and a device for variably covering the cargo space are arranged; Fig. 2 one Fig. 1. A corresponding representation of the vehicle area with the tailgate open, wherein a flexible cover element of the device is arranged in its storage position and exposes the top of the cargo area; Fig. 3 a simplified longitudinal section view of a first embodiment of the device for variably covering the cargo space; Fig. 4 a view of the device according to Fig. 3 from the bottom; Fig. 5 one in Fig. 4 more precisely marked area V of the device from below; Fig. 6 a longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of the device, wherein the flexible cover element is shown in its storage position and is guided around two deflection rollers with a wrap angle of at least approximately 180°; and Fig. 7 the device according to Fig. 6 in an operating state in which the flexible cover element is arranged in the extended operating position.

[0034] Fig. Figure 1 shows a rear section 1 of a vehicle 2, which is bounded vertically Z by a vehicle roof 3 and horizontally by a loading floor 4, and longitudinally by a tailgate 5. The rear section 1 comprises a cargo space 6 located above the loading floor 4, which can be covered by a device 7 as described in more detail below. In the longitudinal direction X, the cargo space 6 extends between the closed tailgate 5 and the rear wall 8 of a rear seat.

[0035] The device 7 is designed for variably covering the cargo space 6 with a fixed cover unit 9 and a flexible cover element 10. The flexible cover element 10 can be designed as a tarpaulin and is in Fig. Figure 1 shows the device in its operating position. In this position, the flexible cover element 10 is extended from the cover unit 9, and the device 7 prevents the view through a rear window 11 of the load on the loading floor 4 and the loading floor 4 of the cargo space 6. A top surface 12 of the fixed cover unit 9 forms a storage area for items 13 carried in the vehicle 2. The cover unit 9 extends only a small area in the longitudinal direction X in order to keep the loading opening 53 of the cargo space 6 as large as possible.

[0036] Fig. Figure 2 shows the rear area 1 and the tailgate 5 in the open position. Additionally, the device 7 provides upward access to the cargo space 6, as the flexible cover element 10 is located in its retracted storage position within a storage compartment 14 of the fixed cover unit 9, which forms a hollow storage floor.

[0037] In the storage position of the flexible cover element 10, the device 7, when the tailgate 5 is open, provides an operator 15 with a view into the interior of the cargo space 6 in accordance with the two sight lines S1 and S2 and, in addition, the possibility to easily load the cargo space 6 or to remove items from the cargo space 6.

[0038] Fig. Figure 3 shows a highly simplified longitudinal section view of a first embodiment of the device 7. The flexible cover element 10 is arranged in the storage position and extends in the longitudinal direction X from a storage compartment end 21 located in the storage compartment 14 through a clamping area 16. Furthermore, the flexible cover element 10 is guided or folded on the side of the clamping area 16 facing away from the storage compartment end 21 in the longitudinal direction X and in the vertical direction Z around four deflection rollers 17 to 20 and then extends to an extension area 22, which can be extended from the storage compartment 14 into its operating position through an extension opening 23 above the loading compartment 6.

[0039] The clamping area 16 is limited by a guide element 24 and a tension roller 25. A contact area 26 of the guide element 24 and a contact area 27 of the tension roller 25 are arranged offset from each other in the vertical direction Z. Furthermore, the flexible cover element 10 in the storage space 14 is operatively connected with its underside 10A to the contact area 26 of the guide element 24 and with its upper side 10B to the contact area 27 of the tension roller 25 in order to hold the flexible cover element 10 in a tensioned state. For this purpose, the tension roller 25 can, for example, be subjected to a downward holding force in the vertical direction Z, such as from a spring or the like, to tension the flexible cover element 10 as desired.

[0040] A wrapping angle α of the flexible cover element 10 around the deflection rollers 17 to 20, which all have essentially the same diameter, corresponds at least approximately to 180°. The wrap angle α varies depending on the diameters of the deflection pulleys 17 to 20 and the distances in the vertical direction Z between the axes of rotation 17A and 18A of the tension pulleys 17 and 18, between the axes of rotation 18A and 19A of the deflection pulleys 18 and 19, and between the axes of rotation 19A and 20A of the deflection pulleys 19 and 20. The distances between the axes of rotation 17A and 18A, 18A and 19A, and 19A and 20A are selected such that the wrap angles α of the deflection pulleys 17, 18, 19, and 20 are each slightly greater than 180°. This has the advantage that the device 7 requires as little installation space as possible in the vertical direction Z.Furthermore, the distances between the axes of rotation 17A to 20A are each chosen so that the web sections 28 to 32 of the flexible cover element 10 running in the longitudinal direction X between the deflection rollers 17 to 20 do not touch each other.

[0041] Fig. Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional interior view of the device 7 from below. Additionally, in Fig. 5 in Fig. 4. Area V, which is more precisely marked, is shown in a view from below. The illustrations of the Fig. It can be seen from Figures 3 to 5 that the storage end 21 of the flexible cover element 10 is connected externally to ropes 34, which, in the storage position of the flexible cover element 10, are wound up in the area of ​​spring-loaded winding rollers 35, 36. In the operating position of the flexible cover element 10, in which the storage end 21 of the flexible cover element is adjusted towards the pull-out opening 23, the ropes 34 are at least partially unwound from the winding rollers 35, 36, thus enabling the flexible cover element 10 to be pulled out into its operating position.

[0042] The deflection rollers 17 to 20 extend in the transverse direction Y between outer sides 37, 38 of a first cover section 39 of the fixed cover unit 9. Furthermore, the tension roller 25 extends in the transverse direction Y between outer sides 40, 41 of a second cover section 42 of the fixed cover unit 9. The outer sides 40, 41 of the second cover section 42 are offset inwards in the transverse direction Y relative to the outer sides 37, 38 of the first cover section 39. Thus, the second cover section 42 has a narrower width in the transverse direction Y than the first cover section 39. This design of the fixed cover unit 9 allows the device 7 to be adapted in a structurally simple manner to an inner contour of a two-level vehicle interior paneling (not shown), each level representing a parapet wall.This allows the cargo space 6 to be covered from above via the device 7 essentially without gaps, particularly in the area between the outer surfaces 37, 38 and 40, 41 of the fixed cover unit 9 and the inner surfaces of the vehicle interior trim.

[0043] The flexible cover element 10 is adapted to the outer contour of the fixed cover unit 10 in an area facing the storage compartment end 21 and is designed with a recess in the transverse direction Y that corresponds to the recess of the cover unit 9. The recess makes it possible to position the flexible cover element 10 in the storage position with its storage compartment end 21 in the longitudinal direction X in the storage area bounded by the second cover section 42 and to provide the greatest possible extended length of the flexible cover element 10 in the operating position.

[0044] In an area 43 adjacent to the transition between the two cover sections 39 and 42, the flexible cover element 10 has a width corresponding to the width of the first cover section 39 between its outer sides 37, 38. Thus, in the operating position of the flexible storage element 10, the cargo space 6 can be covered without gaps both longitudinally between the fixed cover unit 9 and the tailgate 5 and transversely Y between the sides of the vehicle.

[0045] One Fig. Figure 3 shows a corresponding representation of a further embodiment of the device 76. Fig. 6, wherein the cover sections 39 and 42 of the fixed cover unit 9 of the device 76 are essentially designed in the manner described above as the cover sections 39 and 42 of the cover unit 9 of the device 7. In the device 76, the storage compartment end 21 in the storage compartment 14 is fixedly connected to an end 44 of the first cover section 39, in the area of ​​which the pull-out opening 23 is provided. The flexible cover element 10 extends from the storage compartment end 21 in longitudinal direction X towards the second cover section 42 and engages a deflection roller 45. The deflection roller 45 is arranged in the storage position of the flexible cover element 10 at the transition between the first cover section 39 and the second cover section 42.

[0046] The flexible cover element 10 extends from the deflection roller 45 towards a further deflection roller 46, which is spaced longitudinally X from the deflection roller 45 and is fixedly connected to the first cover section 39 in the area of ​​the extension opening 23. From the further deflection roller 46, the flexible cover element 10 extends longitudinally X back towards an additional deflection roller 47, which, in the storage position of the flexible cover element 10, is arranged vertically Z above the deflection roller 45. From the end of the wrapping area of ​​the additional deflection roller 47, the flexible cover element 10 extends towards the extension opening 23.

[0047] Fig. Figure 7 shows the flexible cover element 10 of the device 76 in its operating position, in which the flexible cover element 10 covers the cargo space 6 from above without gaps. The extension length of the flexible cover element 10, which is required for the gap-free covering of the cargo space 6, is provided by the adjustability of the deflection rollers 45 and 47 in the longitudinal direction X. Both the deflection roller 45 and the additional deflection roller 47 are made of the material in the longitudinal direction X. Fig. 6 positions shown in the direction of the Fig. The position shown in Figure 7 is adjustable. By adjusting the deflection rollers 45 and 47 relative to the further deflection roller 46, the folding length FL of folding sections 48 to 51 of the flexible cover element is reduced to a minimum compared to the storage position of the flexible cover element. At the same time, the extension length GL of the flexible cover element 10 increases to a maximum. The extension length GL of the extended tarpaulin or the flexible cover element 10 in the operating position corresponds essentially to four times the folding length FL of folding sections 48 to 51 of the storage element 10 in the storage position.

[0048] In order to easily return the flexible cover element 10 to its storage position as needed, the deflection rollers 45 and 47 are subjected to a restoring force on the housing side via a return unit 52, which returns the two deflection rollers 45 and 47 to their position. Fig.transferred to the 6 storage positions shown.

[0049] Alternatively, the storage compartment end 21 can also be connected to the cover unit 9 in the manner described above via ropes that can be wound up and unwound, and can be adjusted in the storage compartment 14 in the longitudinal direction X. Reference symbol list 1 Rear area 2 vehicles 3 Vehicle roof 4 Loading floor 5 Tailgate 6 cargo space 7, 76 Device 8 Back panel 9 fixed cover unit 10 flexible cover elements 10A Underside of the cover element 10B Top of the cover element 11 Rear window 12 Top 13. Item 14 storage spaces 15 operator 16 clamping range 17 to 20 pulley 17A to 20A Pivot axes of the deflection pulleys 17 to 20 21 Storage compartment end of the flexible cover element 22 Extraction area 23 Extraction opening 24 guide element 25 Tension roller 26 Installation area of ​​the guide element 27. Contact area of ​​the tension roller Section 28 to 32 of the flexible cover element 34 rope 35, 36 winding roll 37 Outside of the first cover section 38 Outside of the first cover section 39 first cover section 40, 41 Outer side of the second cover section 42 second cover section 43 Area of ​​the cover element Page 44 of the first cover section 45 Pulley 46 more pulleys 47 additional deflection pulleys 48 to 51 Folding section of the flexible cover element 52 Reset device 53 Loading opening FL folding length GL extension length S1, S2 line of sight X axial direction Y transverse direction Z Upward direction α Wrap angle

Claims

[1] Device (7; 76) for variably covering a cargo space (6) of a vehicle (2) with a fixed cover unit (9) and a flexible cover element (10) which is movable between a storage position and a use position, wherein the flexible cover element (10) is stored in a storage compartment (14) of the cover unit (9) in the storage position and opens the cargo space (6) from above, and wherein the flexible cover element (10) can be moved into the operating position against a restoring force and, in the operating position, covers the loading space (6) from above, starting from an extension opening (23) of the cover unit (9) for the flexible cover element (10) in the longitudinal direction (X) and in the transverse direction (Y) together with the cover unit (9), The cover unit (9) has, starting from the pull-out opening (23), a first cover section (39) and a second cover section (42) extending longitudinally (X) to the first cover section (39), wherein the outer sides (40, 41) of the second cover section (42) facing outwards in the transverse direction (Y) are offset inwards relative to the outer sides (37, 38) of the first cover section (39) and the second cover section (42) has a narrower width in the transverse direction (Y) than the first cover section (39). characterized by , that a storage compartment end (21) of the flexible cover element (10) in the installation position in the storage compartment (14) is arranged at least partially in the second cover section (42) in the storage position of the flexible cover element (10) in the longitudinal direction (X) and is designed over a defined length with a width adapted to the width of the second cover section (42) and subsequently has a width adapted to the width of the first cover section (39). [2] Device (7; 76) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the flexible cover element (10) in the storage space (14) is guided around at least two deflection rollers (17 to 20; 45 to 47) with a wrap angle (α) that corresponds at least approximately to 180° between the storage space end (21) arranged in the storage space (14) and a pull-out area (22) that can be guided from the storage space (14) through the pull-out opening (23). [3] Device (7; 76) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the deflection rollers (17 to 20) are arranged in the storage space (14) running in the transverse direction (Y) and are rotatably mounted, wherein a first deflection roller (17) is arranged in the storage position of the flexible cover element (10) in an area of ​​the storage space (14) facing the extension opening (23) and the axis of rotation (18A) of the second deflection roller (18) is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (X) and in the vertical direction (Y) from the axis of rotation (17A) of the first deflection roller (17) and is arranged in an area of ​​the storage space (14) that faces the second cover section (42). [4] Device (7; 76) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by, that the storage compartment end (21) of the flexible cover element (10) is firmly connected to the second cover section (42) and at least one of the deflection rollers (45, 47) is designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction (X) in the storage compartment (14) relative to the other deflection roller (45) against a return unit (52) such that the distance between the deflection rollers (45 and 46 or 46 and 47) in the longitudinal direction (X) decreases during an extension movement of the flexible cover element (10) from the storage compartment (14) in the direction of the operating position. [5] Device (7; 76) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by, that the storage end (21) of the flexible storage element (10) is arranged to be displaceable in the storage space (14) in the longitudinal direction (X) and is connected to at least one rope (34) which is wound up in the storage position of the flexible cover element (10) in the area of ​​a spring-loaded winding roller (35, 36) and is at least partially unwound from the winding roller (35, 36) in the operating position of the flexible cover element (10), in which the storage end (21) of the flexible cover element (10) is adjusted in the direction of the pull-out opening (23). [6] Device (7; 76) according to claim 5, characterized by , that at least one of the deflection rollers (45, 47) is designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction (X) in the storage space (14) with respect to the other deflection roller (46) such that the distance between the deflection rollers (45 to 47) in the longitudinal direction (X) decreases during an extension movement of the flexible cover element (10) from the storage space (14) in the direction of the operating position. [7] Device (7; 76) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the storage compartment end (21) of the flexible cover element (10) and the associated rope (34) are guided during an extension movement of the flexible cover element (10) from the storage position towards the operating position through a tensioning area (16) of the storage compartment (14) which is limited by a guide element (24) and a rotatable tension roller (25). [8] Device (7; 76) according to claim 7, characterized by, that a contact area (26) of the guide element (24) and a contact area (27) of the tension roller (25) are arranged offset from each other in the vertical direction (Y) such that the flexible cover element (10) is in operative contact with its underside (10A) with the contact area (26) of the guide element (24) and with its top side (10B) with the contact area (27) of the tension roller (25) such that the flexible cover element (10) is held in a tensioned state by the tension roller (25). [9] Device (7; 76) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that the guide area (24) and the tension roller (25) extend in the storage space (14) in the transverse direction (Y) and are connected to the fixed cover unit (9). [10] Vehicle (2) equipped with a device (7; 76) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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