AU664136B2 - Cargo barrier bracket and strengthening bracing for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION S F Ref: 264222 FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

r r *te a s a Sa e o l a a Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Robert Frederick Upcroft 18 Carnegie Place Blacktown New South Wales 2148

AUSTRALIA

Robert Frederick Upcroft Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Cargo Barrier Bracket and Strengthening Bracing for Vehicles ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [31) Application No(s) [33] Country PL7140 AU PM1140 AU [32] Application Date 8 February 1993 13 September 1993 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- '5815/3j F, p'r 2 CARGO BARRIER BRACKET AND STRENGTHENING BRACING FOR VEHICLES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to cargo barriers for automobiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cargo barriers are employed in motor vehicles having a load carrying space. The barrier is placed between the cargo space and an area to be protected should the vehicle be involved in an accident and the cargo shift. For example, the cargo barrier would be placed between the load receiving space and the driver and/or passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Currently available cargo barriers have metal straps which extend from the barrier to be secured to the vehicle. The construction of these metal straps and the way they are installed rigidly fixes the barrier to the vehicle.

Known barriers flex considerably during an impact. Such flexing is a disadvantage particularly if the frame of the barrier moves forward into the passenger compartment.

Still further, where crash barriers are provided with a sheet material such as polycarbonate, flexing of the sheet during an impact will often result in the sheet becoming detached or passing through the frame. This in itself is a hazard as well as enabling cargo to penetrate and pass through the barrier.

ItOBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is firstly disclosed herein a cargo barrier for a motor vehicle, said barrier comprising: a frame of planar construction and being formed of metal rod bent so as to form a closed loop, said loop surrounding an area; a planar sheet member fixed to said frame and covering said area; and securing means to secure the frame to internal surfaces of a vehicle, said securing means including a plurality of metal straps, each strap having a first portion fixed to said frame and extending generally parallel to the plane thereof, and a further portion extending generally normal to said first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said first and second portions, said intermediate portion being of a "U" STA/1227t r 3 shaped configuration extending in the opposite direction to said second portion, said strap being bent about axes extending generally transverse of the strap and parallel to said plane so as to provide said first, second and intermediate portions.

There is secondly disclosed herein, a cargo barrier for a motorvehicle, said barrier comprising: a frame of planar configuration, the frame being formed of etal rod in the configuration of a metal loop so as to surround an/rea, said frame having a first length forming part of said loop; a planar sheet member fixed to the frame and cov ring said area; and a reinforcing portion for the frame leng said reinforcing portion including a reinforcing bar extendi g generally parallel to said length but spaced therefrom in a direct in generally normal to the plane of the frame.

There is thirdly disclose d/erein a cargo barrier for a motor vehicle, said barrier compri ng: a frame of planar nfiguration, the frame being formed of metal rod and having the c figuration of a closed loop so as to surround an area; a plana r/sheet member fixed to the frame and covering said area and extending ransversely outwardly of said frame; and ecuring means to secure said sheet member to said frame, said se ring means including a plurality of pad which extend inwardly from the frame with respect to said loop and generally parallel to said sheet BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of a cargo barrier; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the barrier of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view of the barrier of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic side elevation of a securing device for the barrier of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic front elevation of the securing device of Figure 4; and Ir I o ~o rroe ~ooo

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STA/1227t ii -4- Figure 6 is a schematic elevation of a modification of the barrier of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a cargo barrier 10 to be installed in a motor vehicle to separate the cargo area from the passenger and/or driver compartment of the motor vehicle. The barrier 10 has a frame 11 formed of metal rod (such as metal tubing) which is bent so as to pass around a closed loop. Braces 12 are also employed. The frame 11 encompasses an area which is closed by a generally planar sheet member 13. In this embodiment, the sheet member 13 is formed of mesh, such as metal mesh.

The frame 11 is generally planar.

The frame 11 has a top length 14 which is generally straight and is intended to be located above the roof of the cargo compartment of the vehicle. This length 14 is reinforced by a reinforcing rod 15 which has a base portion 16 and two end portions 17. End portions 17 are fixed to the frame 11 so as to be generally normal to the plane thereof. The base portion 16 is generally parallel to the length 14. The reinforcing bar 16 increases the first moment of inertia of the top of the frame 11 (including the length 14) so as to resist bending about a vertical axis extending generally normal to the length 14.

In Figures 4 and 5 there is schematically depicted a portion of the barrier 10. The portion 10 shows the frame 11 provided with a plurality of metal flanges 18. Each flange 18 is provided with an aperture through which a threaded fastener 19 will pass. The threaded fastener 19 secures to the frame 11 a securing strap 20 which is fixed to the vehicle wall 21 via threaded fasteners 22. The fasteners 22 would also engage a reinforcing washer 23.

The strap 20 is formed of metal strip and is bent about transverse axes so as to provide a first portion 24 which is secured to the flange 18. The portion 24 is generally parallel to the plane of the sheet member 13. A second portion 25 is provided which is engaged by the threaded fasteners 22. An intermediate portion 26 joins the first portion 24 to the second portion 25. The intermediate portion 26 is of a shaped configuration so as to resiliently couple the first portion 24 to the second portion 25. The intermediate portion 26 helps absorb shock should a piece of cargo impact against the barrier STA/1227t P -0 In Figure 6, a modified form of the barrier of Figure 1 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the barrier 10 has a sheet member 13 formed of plastics material such as polycarbonate. The sheet 13 extends transversely odtwardly from the frame 11 to the extremity 27. The sheet 13 is fixed to the frame 11 by means of flanges 28 extending inwardly from the frame 11 but generally coplanar with respect thereto. Each flange 28 has an aperture 29 through which the threaded fastener would pass. It should be appreciated that the flanges 28 extend inwardly from the frame 11 and therefore inhibit deflection of the sheet member 13 to a position at which it will pass through the frame I1.

As a still further modification, the sheet member 13 may be secured to the frame 11 (at points of contact) by means of an adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape.

It should be noted that the flanges 29 are spaced from the securing positions 30 where the frame 11 is provided with straps 20 which extend to the vehicle body.

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Claims (8)

1. A cargo barrier for a motor vehicle, said barrier comprising: a frame of planar construction and being formed of metal rod bent so as to form a closed loop, said loop surrounding an area; a planar sheet member fixed to said frame and covering said area; and securing means to secure the frame to internal surfaces of a vehicle, said securing means including a plurality of metal straps, each strap having a first portion fixed to said frame and extending generally parallel to the plane thereof, and a further portion extending generally normal to said first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said first and second portions, said intermediate portion being of a shaped configuration extending in the opposite direction to said second portion, said strap being bent about axes extending generally transverse of the strap and parallel to said plane so as to provide said first, second and intermediate portions.

2. The cargo barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet member is metal mesh.

3. The cargo barrier of claim 1, wherein the sheet member is formed of plastics material.

4. The cargo barrier of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said frame has a first length forming part of said loop, and said barrier further includes a reinforcing portion for the frame length, said reinforcing portion including a reinforcing bar extending generally 20 parallel to said length but spaced therefrom in a direction generally normal to the plane of the frame.

5. The cargo barrier of claim 4, wherein said length is a straight portion of the upper part of the frame.

6. The cargo barrier of any one of claims 1 to 5, said barrier comprising a 25 plurality of pads which extend inwardly from the frame with respect to said loop and generally parallel to said sheet member and being secured thereto.

7. The cargo barrier of claim 6, wherein said sheet member is forrmed of plastics material.

8. A cargo barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 30 Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 29 August, 1995 Robert Frederick Upcroft Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON J o o r I'' 0@t 000 0 00 00 0 01 00 rM JP TT]M705-T-A&Xd--- nM- I WWr M4 44J I i I, i<U CARGO RARRIER BRACKET AND STRENGTHENING BRACING FOR VEHICLES ABSTRACT A cargo barrier (10) having a frame (11) which is generally planar in construction and passes around a closed loop. The frame (11) encloses an area closed by a sheet member In one embodiment the sheet member (13) is formed of metal mesh. In another embodiment, the sheet member (13) is formed of plastics material. The upper length (14) of the frame (11) is provided with a reinforcing bar The barrier (10) is secured to the vehicle by means of metal straps The metal straps (20) having a shaped portion so as to provide a resilient mounting for the frame (11). Fig. o~oo D oooo o 0141 0( 00 I C O ()dQ L D000 ~11-11 ~010 CI O (L1 O UI ~*al O STA/1227t I-