Box body with enclosed loading platform
The box body integrates a pivoting tailgate and movable loading platform to ensure cargo protection and accessibility, addressing the limitations of existing platforms by providing secure, weather-protected transport and compliance with safety standards.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202025102214
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-26
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-04-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing solutions for vehicle loading platforms in special vehicles, such as motorhomes, either require the load to be removed during transport or provide inadequate weather protection, failing to integrate protection and accessibility seamlessly.
A box body with a housing projecting beyond the rear axle and a loading platform, featuring a tailgate that pivots upwards and backwards, allowing access to the platform when open and protection within the enclosure when closed, optionally with side doors or side walls, and incorporating a movable loading platform and underrun protection.
Enables secure, weather-protected transport of cargo without removal, with enhanced accessibility and compliance with safety regulations through integrated underrun protection and motorized operation.
Smart Images

Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
The present invention relates to a luggage case structure for a multi-axle vehicle, comprising a casing which projects beyond a rear axle of the vehicle and terminates with a substantially vertical rear wall, and a loading platform fastened to a rear of the vehicle.Such luggage structures are already readily known and customary from the prior art. A simple case with a loading platform is located on many transport trucks which are used for goods transport. However, solutions are also known in special vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, in which a loading platform is provided, which forms part of the floor of a garage box and can be moved downward out of a closed position. Such a garage box is usually mounted on the rear of such a vehicle on the outside and is not integrated.Such special vehicles have already been known for a long time from the camping and recreational sector. Thus, for example, a loading platform is described in European patent application EP 4 397 540 A1, in which loading takes place next to one another, wherein the loading platform is pivoted for travel such that, in the raised state, the load is mounted on top of one another in two planes. Such a loading platform is particularly suitable for loading motor cycles which, however, remain unprotected in the open air in this solution.EP 4 397 540 A1 likewise provides a loading platform which, however, is folded in after the lifting and is covered by a rear lid flap of the luggage case structure after the closing thereof. Here, the load has to be removed from the loading platform after lifting, but is then protected.However, it is considered helpful to realize a combination of the two solutions, i.e. a solution in which the cargo, such as a motorcycle, does not have to be removed from the loading platform during travel, but is nevertheless protected from weather and access in the interior of the luggage case structure.Against this background, the object of the present invention is to create such a luggage case structure. This is achieved by a case structure according to the features of independent claim 1.In this respect, a luggage case structure for a multi-axle vehicle is provided, comprising a casing which projects beyond a rear axle of the vehicle and terminates with a substantially vertical rear wall, and a loading platform fastened to a rear of the vehicle. Such a luggage case structure is characterized according to the invention in that the enclosure has a tailgate which comprises a back part, wherein in a closed state of the tailgate the back part is substantially perpendicular and wherein the back part of the tailgate is connected to the rear wall of the enclosure via a vertical pivot axis.The enclosure thus has a tailgate which, in a ready-to-drive, closed state, can be opened by pivoting the tailgate about the pivot axis. The tailgate then pivots back and then up against the direction of travel, wherein it can ideally be pivoted up until the back part, which in the closed state preferably extends the rear wall in a common plane, rests flat against the rear wall pivoted by 180°. If a base part is provided, which has engaged under the loading platform in the closed state, it now protrudes rearward away from the rear wall. This allows access to the loading platform and allows cargo to be stored thereon and stored within the enclosure. If necessary, the loading platform is located in an area separated in the interior of the enclosure, above and around which the rest of the luggage case structure can be used elsewhere. Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that the loading platform is located in a large interior space of the luggage case structure and the loading thereof takes place via the loading platform. It can likewise be provided that no base part is provided below the loading platform and the rear region is open downward in this respect.Finally, it is thus made possible for the loading platform to be arranged in an open state of the luggage case structure to be accessible from the outside, but in a closed state of the luggage case structure to be accommodated and protected inside the enclosure.In a first embodiment, it can additionally be provided here that the tailgate comprises side walls which respectively connect one side edge of the back part to an adjacent side edge of the base part. As a result, parts of the side wall of the enclosure also pivot rearward out of the region around the loading platform, thus permitting better access to the loading platform. An additional outlay is not associated therewith. In addition, a pleasing appearance is produced because only a narrow gap between the tailgate and the remainder of the enclosure is perceptible from the outside.An alternative configuration can provide that the enclosure comprises side doors which, in a closed state of the tailgate, abut in each case on a side edge of the rear part and an adjacent side edge of the base part and are articulated in each case on a side wall of the enclosure. These doors can be folded open to the side, ideally by at least 90°, but preferably by 180°, so that the same accessibility of the loading platform is achieved. In this embodiment, the tailgate does not comprise side walls, but only surfaces which extend transversely to the direction of travel.With some advantage, it can be provided that the tailgate can be locked to the housing in the closed state and / or in a state pivoted by 180°. Access can thus be effected in the closed state only by authorized persons, and the tailgate is also secured against unintentional opening during travel. Locking even in the open state ensures that the tailgate cannot be closed unintentionally and accordingly also does not have to be retained in order to store cargo.In particular, it can be expedient if the tailgate is adjustable by a drive, preferably an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive, or is movable manually and preferably sprung. Especially in the case of larger vehicles, the construction of the tailgate can be heavy, so that assistance or completely motorized actuation represents a great aid.The loading platform can also be movable in such a way that it can be moved vertically up to an upper stop position, and is surrounded by the housing at least in the upper stop position when the tailgate is closed. While the loading platform can be configured to be fixed without problems and can then be loaded with the aid of run-on rails or other lifting aids, it is particularly advantageous if it can be moved by motor, in particular electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically, and can thus be operated as a vertical lift.Particularly advantageously, the loading platform can be designed as underride protection, preferably movable within the enclosure into an underride protection position when the tailgate is closed. The legal regulations require that especially larger vehicles have underrun protection which prevents vehicles which are going onto in the event of an accident from being pushed under the vehicle driving ahead, so that serious or even fatal injuries can be prevented. The loading platform itself represents a metallic frame which can be constructed such that the loading platform itself can serve as underrun protection. It is precisely when no floor part is provided that the loading platform as such can represent the floor part and close off the cargo space downward.Alternatively, a horizontally movable underrun protection can be provided, which can be pulled in in the direction of the rear axle before lowering the loading platform. Such an underrun protection is extended and locked after the loading platform has been raised, provided it is height-adjustable. It constitutes a solid impact surface which can also prevent underrun. For this purpose, it is necessary for the underride guard to have a height of 450 to 500 mm above the ground up to a lower edge of the underride guard, depending on the base vehicle and equipment. Likewise, the distance from the vehicle end to a rear edge of the underride guard must not exceed 300 mm.Finally, it can be provided that the loading platform has lashing and receiving points for fastening cargo on the loading platform. These allow the transport of loose and / or permanently installed cargo on the loading platform without this being movable in an uncontrolled manner in the integrated garage / cargo space of the luggage case structure during travel.The invention described above is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment.They show FIG. 1 shows a vehicle, shown in simplified form without a driver's cab, with a closed luggage case structure and a loading platform enclosed by the luggage case structure in a side view, FIG. 2 shows the vehicle according to FIG. 1 with the side doors opened in a plan view, FIG. 3 shows a variant of the vehicle according to FIG. 1 with the tailgate open, with side walls and the accessible loading platform in a side view, and FIG. 4 shows a further variant of the vehicle according to FIG. 1 with the tailgate open and the loading platform lowered in a side view.FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1, in which the front axle and the driver's cab are not shown for the sake of simplicity, but which can alternatively also be designed as a towed trailer. Such vehicles are increasingly being used in the recreational sector, but also, for example, in the motor sport, where it is necessary to carry equipment and personnel along in a confined space as comfortably as possible. While most of the luggage case structure is provided as a residential area, an area in the floor of the rear can be used as a cargo space. In order to carry heavy loads, for example a motorcycle carried along, a loading platform 2 is expedient, which is provided in this cargo space or is located adjacent thereto. However, such a loading platform 2 should not influence the external image of the vehicle or should influence it only as little as possible.In FIG. 1, a tailgate 7 is provided, which is hinged to a rear wall 4 of a casing 3 of the luggage case structure. In a first embodiment, the tailgate 7 is a flat flap, initially comprising only a back part 8, the back part 8 just continues the rear wall 4 of the enclosure and ensures a uniform image in the closed state. In this case, the loading platform 2, which is not visible here, functions as the base part, closing off the loading space at the bottom. The loading platform 2 itself and possibly on this cargo that has been narrowed is therefore protected from access and weather in the closed state of the tailgate 7. This is also achieved by side doors 6 provided on both sides, which allow three-sided access to the loading platform 2, and can be pivoted away from the direction of travel by at least 90° about a pivot axis 14, as shown in the plan view according to FIG. 2. Ideally, the side doors 6 can be folded up to the side walls 13 and optionally locked there or held by a suspension.Below the loading platform 2, an underrun protection 11 is provided, which is intended to prevent a following vehicle from being pushed under the vehicle driving ahead in the event of a rear-end collision, and thereby causing serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicle driving on. Such an underrun protection 11 is prescribed and is used as a separate component in the present embodiment. The underride guard 11 shown can be retracted in the direction of a rear axle 12 of the vehicle 1, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the loading platform 2 can be lowered past the underride guard 11 as required.In the illustration of FIG. 3, the tailgate 7 does not provide side doors 6, but side walls 10 which connect the free edges of a base part 9 now attached to the tailgate 7 and the adjacent rear part 8 to one another. The base part 9 is one-piece and comprises a section running horizontally in the closed state and a section running obliquely over a bend. However, this is adaptable as required.In particular, it is also possible to design the tailgate 7 to be downwardly projecting and to reinforce the loading platform 2, which is now likewise illustrated in FIG. 2, and to configure it for its part as underrun protection 11. In such a case, the loading platform 2 is lowered in the closed state of the tailgate 7 to such an extent that it is at the legally prescribed position and is held there, optionally additionally mechanically secured. In this case, this is a covered underrun protection.FIG. 3 first shows a loading platform 2 which is held in an upper stop position. If it is a permanently installed loading platform 2, it can be loaded via lifting aids or ramps which are attached to the loading platform 2. However, the loading platform 2 can also be moved downwards by motor, i.e. electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the load can be placed comfortably on the lowered loading platform 2 and moved with the vertical lift realized in this respect. If the loading platform 2 is again in the upper stop position after loading, the tailgate 7 is closed again and locked as required and the underride guard 11 is extended, optionally the loading platform 2 is moved into an underride guard position, so that the vehicle 1 is ready for driving again.Thus, described above is a luggage case structure for a multi-axle vehicle in which the cargo, such as a motorcycle, does not need to be removed from the cargo platform during travel, but is nevertheless protected from weather and access inside the luggage case structure.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS1 Vehicle 2 Loading platform 3 Enclosure 4 Rear wall 5 Pivot axis 6 Side door 7 Tailgate 8 Rear part 9 Base part 10 Side wall 11 Underrun protection 12 Rear axle 13 Side wall 14 Pivot axisReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedEP 4 397 540 A1 [0003, 0004]
Claims
Luggage case structure for a multi-axle vehicle (1), comprising a casing (3) which projects beyond a rear axle (12) of the vehicle (1) and terminates with a substantially vertical rear wall, and a loading platform (2) which is fastened to a rear of the vehicle (1), characterized in that the casing (3) has a tailgate (7) which comprises a rear part (8), wherein, in a closed state of the tailgate (7), the rear part (8) is substantially vertical and wherein the rear part (8) of the tailgate (7) is connected to the rear wall (4) of the casing (3) via a vertical pivot axis (5).Luggage case structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the tailgate (7) can be pivoted about the pivot axis (5) up to a stop on the rear wall, preferably by up to 180°.Luggage case structure according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the tailgate (7) also comprises a base part (9), and the base part (9) engages under the loading platform (2).Luggage case structure according to claim 3, characterised in that the tailgate (7) comprises side walls (10), which each connect one side edge of the back part (8) to an adjacent side edge of the base part (9).Luggage case structure according to claim 3, characterised in that the enclosure (3) comprises side doors (6) which, in a closed state of the tailgate (7), abut in each case on a side edge of the rear part (8) and an adjacent side edge of the base part (9) and are articulated in each case on a side wall (13) of the enclosure (3).Luggage case structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tailgate (7) can be locked to the housing (3) in the closed state and / or in a state pivoted by up to 180°.Luggage case structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tailgate (7) is adjustable by means of a drive, preferably an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive, or is movable manually and preferably sprung.Luggage case structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading platform (2) can be moved vertically up to an upper stop position, and is surrounded by the enclosure (3) at least in the upper stop position when the tailgate (7) is closed.Luggage case structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading platform (2) is designed as underrun protection, preferably is movable within the enclosure (3) into an underrun protection position when the tailgate (7) is closed.Luggage case structure according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a horizontally movable underrun protection (11) is provided, which can be pulled in in the direction of the rear axle (12) before the loading platform (2) is lowered.Luggage case structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the loading platform (2) has lashing and receiving points for fastening cargo on the loading platform (2).Vehicle having a luggage case structure according to one of the preceding claims.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Device for loading loads
EP4397540A1