Luggage rack for a land vehicle and associated vehicle
The retractable luggage rack system addresses the issue of space intrusion and passenger comfort by allowing the luggage rack to be retracted when not in use, optimizing space and enhancing passenger experience in land vehicles.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2021006257
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-06-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-06-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing luggage racks in land vehicles, such as rail vehicles and buses, occupy valuable space and can be intrusive, especially in vehicles with limited vertical space, compromising passenger comfort and capacity.
A retractable luggage rack system for land vehicles, where the support for luggage is mobile and can be positioned between a retracted state, incompatible with luggage reception, and a deployed state, allowing luggage storage, thereby optimizing space utilization.
The retractable luggage rack system maximizes passenger comfort and space by allowing the luggage rack to be retracted when not in use, improving ergonomics, accessibility, and the overall interior design of the vehicle.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Luggage rack for a land vehicle and associated vehicle
[0001] The present invention relates to a luggage rack for a land vehicle.
[0002] The invention further relates to a land vehicle comprising such a luggage rack.
[0003] Luggage racks arranged in land vehicles, such as railway vehicles or buses, are known. They are for example fixed to a wall, and above the passenger seats of the vehicle to form a support for luggage.
[0004] This allows the available space above the seats to be used for luggage storage.
[0005] However, whether or not they are used by passengers, these luggage racks remain present, bulky and sometimes intrusive in the overhead space. Particularly in vehicles with two superimposed levels, the available overhead space is very limited and the presence of a luggage rack sometimes proves inconvenient for passengers.
[0006] Another possibility, for example known from railway vehicles, is to store the luggage in a space provided for this purpose which is located at the same height as passenger seats. Such a vehicle comprises, for example, instead of a row of seats, a shelf fixed to a floor of the vehicle. This makes it possible to keep space available in height for the passengers, that is to say above the seats, but reduces the passenger capacity due to the missing row(s) of seats.
[0007] Thus, one aim of the invention is to obtain a luggage rack for a land vehicle making it possible to optimize the space available within the vehicle, while giving the vehicle a large passenger capacity.
[0008] For this purpose, the present description relates to a luggage rack for a land vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, the luggage rack comprising a support for receiving at least one item of luggage, the support being movable relative to a trim element configured to be positioned above passenger seats of the vehicle between a retracted position, incompatible with receiving luggage and in which the support fits the trim element, and a deployed position, in which the support defines a space for receiving luggage.
[0009] The luggage rack is then suitable for being positioned in the retracted position, when no luggage is to be transported, which makes it possible to increase the available volume in height and thus to improve passenger comfort. Also, the field of vision of passengers in surrounding seats is maximized.
[0010] Also, when the luggage rack is in the retracted position, ergonomics for passengers and accessibility to the seats are facilitated.
[0011] Finally, the interior design of the vehicle is more pleasant and airy thanks to the luggage rack in the retracted position.
[0012] According to particular embodiments, the luggage rack comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:
[0013] - the support comprises at least one plate having a single face configured for support the luggage in the deployed position;
[0014] - the luggage rack further comprises a return device configured to force the support in the retracted position when a gravitational force applied to the support is less than a predetermined threshold;
[0015] - the support is movable in rotation relative to the filling element between the deployed position and retracted position;
[0016] - the support is movable in translation relative to the filling element between the deployed position and retracted position;
[0017] - the support is configured to be retracted into a cavity of the element of trim in the retracted position;
[0018] - the support is movable in translation relative to the filling element between the retracted position and an intermediate position, and rotatable relative to the trim element between the intermediate position and the deployed position; and
[0019] - the support comprises a first plate and a second plate contained in the first plate, the second plate being adapted to be extracted from the first plate in the deployed position.
[0020] The present description also relates to a land vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising:
[0021] - a car body defining at least one passenger compartment,
[0022] - passenger seats arranged inside said passenger compartment,
[0023] - at least one trim element positioned above said seats of passengers, and
[0024] - at least one luggage rack arranged inside the passenger compartment and above said passenger seats.
[0025] According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle comprises one or more of the following characteristics:
[0026] the body defines at least two passenger compartments superimposed one above the other so as to define a lower level and an upper level, at least one of the passenger seats being arranged inside each of the passenger compartments, at least one luggage rack being arranged inside at least one passenger compartment and above said passenger seat arranged in this passenger compartment.
[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings which are:
[0028] [Fig.l] [Fig.l], a schematic sectional representation of a land vehicle comprising luggage racks according to a first embodiment;
[0029] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] a schematic cross-sectional representation of part of the vehicle terrestrial of [Fig.l] comprising a luggage rack according to a second embodiment;
[0030] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] a schematic cross-sectional representation of part of the vehicle land vehicle of [Fig.l] comprising a luggage rack according to a third embodiment in a retracted position;
[0031] [Fig.4] [Fig.4], a schematic representation similar to [Fig.3] comprising the luggage rack according to the third embodiment in an intermediate position and in a deployed position, and
[0032] [Fig.5] [Fig.5], a schematic representation similar to [Fig.4] comprising a variant of the luggage rack according to the third embodiment.
[0033] In [Fig.l] is shown a part of a land vehicle, such as a railway vehicle or a bus.
[0034] In the remainder of the description, the terms “on”, “under”, “above”, “below” are defined with respect to a vertical direction V which is a direction of elevation of the vehicle when the vehicle is arranged on horizontal rails or on a horizontal road.
[0035] A longitudinal direction L is defined by the direction of travel of the vehicle and a transverse direction T is the direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and to the vertical direction V.
[0036] The vehicle comprises a car body 2 defining, for receiving passengers, a first passenger compartment 4 and a second passenger compartment 6, superimposed one above the other so as to define a lower level and an upper level of the vehicle.
[0037] The vehicle further comprises passenger seats 8 arranged inside each of the passenger compartments 4, 6 and trim elements 10 positioned above said passenger seats 8, and fixed to the body 2.
[0038] The vehicle comprises at least one luggage rack 12 arranged inside at least one passenger compartment 4, 6 and above the passenger seats 8 arranged in this passenger compartment 4, 6.
[0039] Preferably, when the vehicle comprises several luggage racks 12 in the passenger compartment 4, 6, each luggage rack 12 has a length, in the longitudinal direction L, substantially equal to a length of a row of passenger seats 8.
[0040] In a variant not shown, the vehicle comprises a single level. In this case, the body 2 defines a single passenger compartment 4 or 6, in which the passenger seats 8 are located. The or each trim element 10 is positioned above the passenger seats 8, and the or each luggage rack 12 is arranged inside the single passenger compartment 4 or 6 and above the passenger seats 8.
[0041] The body 2 comprises walls 14, at least one floor 16 and a ceiling 18 together delimiting the passenger compartment(s) 4, 6.
[0042] According to the example of [Fig.l], the body 2 further comprises an intermediate floor 20 separating the passenger compartments 4 and 6 from each other.
[0043] The first passenger compartment 4 is for example delimited by the walls 14 in the transverse direction T and / or in the longitudinal direction L, and by the intermediate floor 20 and the ceiling 18 in the vertical direction V.
[0044] The second passenger compartment 6 is for example delimited by the walls 14 in the transverse direction T and / or in the longitudinal direction L, and by the floor 16 and the intermediate floor 20 in the vertical direction V. The intermediate floor 20 thus forms the ceiling of the second passenger compartment 6.
[0045] Each passenger compartment 4, 6 has a lower volume 22 which extends from the respective floor 16, 20 to a height H1 of approximately two-thirds of a total height of the passenger compartment 4, 6 in the vertical direction V, and an upper volume 24 superimposed on the lower volume 22 and having for example a height H2 of approximately one-third of the total height of the passenger compartment 4, 6. The separation of the lower volume 22 and the upper volume 24 is illustrated in [Fig.l] by broken lines S.
[0046] For example, the passenger seats 8 are arranged in the lower volume 22 while the trim element 10 and the luggage rack 12 are arranged in the upper volume 24.
[0047] The trim element 10 is positioned above passenger seats 8 in the same passenger compartment 4, 6. For example, the trim element 10 is securely attached to the body 2, for example by screws, gluing, welding or riveting. The trim element 10 forms a support for the luggage rack 12.
[0048] The trim element 10 comprises, for example, a structure having one or more beams, for example made of metal. The trim element 10 forms, for example, a hollow box.
[0049] In a variant not shown, the trim element 10 is formed by a part of the body 2, such as a part of the wall 14 or the ceiling 18.
[0050] The luggage rack 12 according to a first embodiment is now described with reference to the example of [Fig.l].
[0051] The luggage rack 12 comprises a support 26 for receiving at least one item of luggage (not shown), a hinge 28 and a return device, not shown in [Fig.l].
[0052] The support 26 is movable relative to the trim element 10 between a retracted position PI, incompatible with the reception of luggage and in which the support 26 fits the trim element 10, and a deployed position P2, in which the support 26 defines a space 31 for the reception of the luggage.
[0053] For example, at least a portion of the support 26, and preferably each portion of the support 26, is positioned in the retracted position PI at a position close to the trim element 10 compared to the deployed position P2. Preferably, at least a portion of the support 26 is in contact with the trim element 10 in the retracted position PL
[0054] For example, the support 26 is movable in rotation relative to the trim element 10 between the deployed position P2 and the retracted position PI, illustrated in [Fig.l] by arrows FL
[0055] For example, in the retracted position PI, the support 26 extends in a vertical plane. In the deployed position P2, the support 26 extends for example in a horizontal plane.
[0056] The support 26 comprises for example a plate having a single face 29 configured to support the luggage in the deployed position P2. The face 29 is preferably not visible from the passenger compartment 4, 6 in the retracted position PL.
[0057] The hinge 28 allows the rotation of the support 26 between the retracted position PI and the deployed position P2. The hinge 28 is preferably lubricated, so as not to generate any noise when the support 26 rotates.
[0058] The return device, such as a spring, is configured to force the support 26 into the retracted position PI when a gravity force applied to the support 26 is less than a predetermined threshold. For example, when a piece of luggage of a minimum weight is placed on the support 26, the support 26 remains in the deployed position, while in the absence of a piece of luggage, the support 26 is retracted.
[0059] According to one example, when a piece of luggage having a weight generating a gravity force lower than the predetermined threshold is placed on the support 26, the support 26 then tilts towards the retracted position PI, and remains in an intermediate position in which the luggage is held by a restoring force between the support 26 and the trim element 10. This also makes it possible to attach light luggage during operation of the vehicle relative to the luggage rack 12, for example against slipping of the light luggage during acceleration or braking of the vehicle.
[0060] For example, the luggage rack 12 is devoid of side panels arranged perpendicularly to the support 26 on one side and the other of the support 26.
[0061] A second embodiment of the luggage rack 12 is described with reference to [Fig. 2]. Only the differences from the first embodiment are described below.
[0062] The support 26 is movable in translation relative to the trim element 10 between the deployed position P2 and the retracted position PI, illustrated by the arrow F2 in [Fig.2]
[0063] The luggage rack 12 comprises a holding device 30 fixed to the trim element 10 and to the support 26. The holding device 30 is configured to allow translational movement of the support 26.
[0064] For example, the holding device 30 is a spring, visible in the example of [Fig.2]. In a variant not shown, the holding device 30 is a slide or an extendable arm.
[0065] According to one example, the holding device 30 further forms the return device. In this case, the holding device 30 is configured to force the support 26 into the retracted position PI when a gravity force applied to the support 26 is less than a predetermined threshold.
[0066] A third embodiment of the luggage rack 12 is described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. Only the differences from the first embodiment are described below.
[0067] The trim element 10 comprises a cavity 32 in which the support 26 is retracted into the retracted position PI, illustrated in [Fig. 3]. In particular, the support 26 is invisible from the passenger compartment 4, 6, in particular from the lower volume 22 (not visible in [Fig. 3]). This improves the visual appearance of the vehicle and thus increases passenger comfort.
[0068] With reference to [Fig. 4], the support 26 is movable in translation, illustrated by the arrow F3, relative to the trim element 10 between the retracted position PI and an intermediate position P3. For example, the luggage rack 12 comprises rails, not shown, by means of which the support 26 is movable between the retracted position PI and the intermediate position P3.
[0069] In the intermediate position P3, the support 26 is at least partially visible from the passenger compartment 4, 6.
[0070] The support 26 is furthermore movable in rotation between the intermediate position P3 and the deployed position P2, illustrated by the arrow F4 in [Fig. 4]. For example, the rails are connected to the trim element by means of a pivot, not shown, allowing rotation between the intermediate position P3 and the deployed position P2.
[0071] [Fig.5] shows a variant of the luggage rack 12 of [Fig.4] in the deployed position P2.
[0072] According to this variant, the support 26 comprises a first plate 34 and a second plate 36 contained in the first plate 34. In other words, the first plate 34 is hollow and thus defines a housing for receiving the second plate 36. The second plate 36 is suitable for being extracted from the first plate 34 in the deployed position P2. This is illustrated by arrow F5. In [Fig.5], the extracted position of the second plate 36 is shown.
[0073] For example, the support 26 comprises rails, not shown, connecting the second plate 36 to the first plate 34 so as to allow extraction of the second plate 36.
[0074] This variant makes it possible in particular to adapt the support 26 to the size of the luggage. Furthermore, even in the deployed position P2, the luggage rack 12 takes up little space when a small piece of luggage is placed on the support 26, because the second plate 36 is not extracted.
[0075] It is understood that the luggage rack has a large number of advantages.
[0076] The space available in the upper volume 24 is increased when the support 26 is in the retracted position PI, which improves passenger comfort.
[0077] Furthermore, when the vehicle comprises several luggage racks 12, only those in use occupy part of the space available in the upper volume 24, and the others, whose support 26 is in the retracted position PI, do not reduce the space available in the upper volume 24.
[0078] Of course, other embodiments can be envisaged.
Claims
Claims
1. Luggage rack (12) for a land vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, the luggage rack (12) comprising a support (26) for receiving at least one piece of luggage, the support (26) being movable relative to a trim element (10) configured to be positioned above passenger seats (8) of the vehicle between a retracted position (PI), incompatible with receiving luggage and in which the support (26) fits the trim element (10), and a deployed position (P2), in which the support (26) defines a space (31) for receiving luggage, the luggage rack (12) further comprising a return device (31) configured to force the support (26) into the retracted position (PI) when a gravity force applied to the support (26) is less than a predetermined threshold.
2. Luggage rack (12) according to claim 1, wherein the support (26) comprises at least one plate having a single face (29) configured to support the luggage in the deployed position (P2).
3. A luggage rack (12) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support (26) is rotatable relative to the trim element (10) between the deployed position (P2) and the retracted position (PD-
4. Luggage rack (12) according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support (26) is movable in translation relative to the trim element (10) between the deployed position (P2) and the retracted position (PD-
5. Luggage rack (12) according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support is movable in translation relative to the trim element (10) between the retracted position (PI) and an intermediate position (P3), and movable in rotation relative to the trim element (10) between the intermediate position (P3) and the deployed position (P2).
6. Luggage rack (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support (26) is configured to be retracted into a cavity (32) of the trim element (10) in the retracted position (PI).
7. A luggage rack (12) according to any preceding claim, wherein the support (26) comprises a first plate (34) and a second plate (36) contained in the first plate (34), the second plate (36) being able to be extracted from the first plate (34) in the deployed position (P2).
8. Land vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising: - a car body (2) defining at least one passenger compartment (4, 6), - passenger seats (8) arranged inside said passenger compartment (4, 6), - at least one trim element (10) positioned above said passenger seats (8), and - at least one luggage rack (12) arranged inside the passenger compartment (4, 6) and above said passenger seats (8), the luggage rack (12) being according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. Land vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the body (2) defines at least two passenger compartments (4, 6) superimposed one above the other so as to define a lower level and an upper level, at least one of the passenger seats (8) being arranged inside each of the passenger compartments (4, 6), at least one luggage rack (12) being arranged inside at least one passenger compartment (4, 6) and above said passenger seat (8) arranged in this passenger compartment (4, 6).