Abstract:
The package shelf ( 3 ) comprises sliders ( 47 ) which are moveable in relation to the frame ( 46 ) of the vehicle, a shelf ( 48 ) which can move along two tracks ( 46 ) which are fixed to the frame ( 45 ) and along the sliders ( 47 ), and driving means whereby a first part thereof is fixed to the shelf ( 48 ) and the second part thereof cooperates with the first part and is fixed to the sliders ( 47 ). The arrangement of the shelf ( 48 ), sliders ( 47 ), tracks ( 46 ), frame ( 45 ) and driving means, which are mounted independently from the frame ( 45 ), enable the shelf ( 48 ) to be displaced in relation to the latter.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention relates to a shelf assembly for a vehicle, notably for a vehicle comprising a movable rigid roof collapsible into the rear boot. 
   BACKGROUND 
   We know of a shelf assembly of the type comprising a shelf capable of being mounted, in a movable manner, onto two tracks between, on one hand, a deployed position in which it covers the area located between the front edge of the rear boot hood of the vehicle and the backrest of the seat delimiting the boot, and on the other hand, a retracted position in which it uncovers this area, each track being fixed to a support element of the vehicle and substantially extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, means for driving, which comprise a first part integral to the shelf and a second part co-operating with the first part, being capable of displacing the shelf from one of its positions to another. 
   Such a shelf is disclosed in the document FR 02 09215. In this document, the tracks and the second part of the means for driving are integral to the rear boot hood. In a known manner, the means for driving generate an actuating force on the shelf and the counter force on the hood, which allows to displace the shelf in relation to the hood. 
   However, the assembling of such a shelf assembly on a vehicle is not easy. Indeed, the first part of the means for driving need to be accurately arranged in relation to the second part in order to allow the shelf to be displaced, which is delicate due to the restricted access to these means for driving. 
   The problem in question is to make a shelf assembly in the form of an independent unit that can be delivered as a kit, whose assembly onto the vehicle does not require any work to the means for driving. 
   SUMMARY 
   One solution is a shelf assembly of the aforementioned type comprising means for support onto which the shelf is mounted in a movable manner, and which are capable of being mounted in a movable manner onto the support element, the second part of the means for driving being integral to the means for support, the displacement of the shelf in relation to the means for support compelling the displacement of the shelf from one of its positions to another and the displacement of the means for support in relation to the support element of the vehicle. 
   Thus, according to the invention, the shelf assembly comprises the shelf, the means for support and the means for driving which generate an actuating force on the shelf and the corresponding counter force on the means for support, the tracks only being used to guide the movement of the shelf. 
   Thus, the package of a shelf assembly, according to the invention, onto a vehicle is particularly simple: the means for support are mounted onto the support element, and the shelf is mounted along the tracks. The accurate positioning in respect to both of the two parts of the means for driving is done at the time of assembling the shelf assembly during which time there is easy access to the means for driving, the shelf assembly being easier to handle. 
   According to a first embodiment, the support element, to which the tracks are integral and onto which the means for support are mounted, is the rear boot hood. 
   According to an alternative of this first embodiment, the tracks and the means for support are configured so that the shelf is capable of being arranged under the hood when in its retracted position. 
   According to another alternative of this first embodiment, the means for support are made of two sliders which are capable of substantially extending along the longitudinal direction and on either side of the vehicle, and which are swivel mounted onto the hood, the shelf being slide mounted along the sliders and both swivel and slide mounted along the tracks. 
   According to a second embodiment, the support element, to which the tracks are integral and onto which the means for support are mounted, is the frame of the vehicle. 
   According to an alternative of this second embodiment, the tracks and the means for support are configured so that the shelf is capable of being arranged behind the backrest delimiting the rear boot when in its retracted position. 
   According to another alternative of this second embodiment, the means for support are made of two sliders which are capable of substantially extending along a direction sloping in relation to the horizontal, preferably the vertical direction and on either side of the vehicle, and which are swivel mounted onto the frame, the shelf being slide mounted along the sliders and both swivel and slide mounted along the tracks. 
   According to a particularly advantageous alternative of the second embodiment, the shelf comprises a substantially plane surface creating the actual shelf and torque arms which support the guiding elements ensuring the mechanical link of the shelf to the tracks and the means for support, and which are articulated to the substantially plane surface so that, when the shelf is in its deployed position, the substantially plane surface is in a substantially horizontal position and, when the shelf is in its retracted position, the substantially plane surface is in an inclined position in relation to the horizontal, preferably in a substantially vertical position. 
   This endows a gain in space and constitutes a mechanically simple and reliable solution. The shelf can be swivelled behind the backrest delimiting the rear boot, in order to allow way for the retractable roof, whilst limiting the encumbrance of the driving device of the shelf. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other advantages and features will come from the following detailed description of the embodiment given by way of illustration and non-restrictive and illustrated in the annexed drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a longitudinal cross section of the rear part of a vehicle fitted with a shelf assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the shelf being in the deployed position; 
       FIG. 2  is a similar view to that in  FIG. 1 , the shelf being in the retracted position; 
       FIG. 3  is a transversal cross section of the left end of the shelf assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a detail in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a longitudinal cross section of a shelf assembly in accordance with an alternative of the first embodiment of the invention, the shelf being in the deployed position; 
       FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross section of the rear part of a vehicle fitted with a shelf assembly in accordance with a preferred second embodiment of the invention, the shelf being in the deployed position; 
       FIG. 7  is a similar view to that in  FIG. 6 , the shelf being in the retracted position; and 
       FIG. 8  is a similar view to that in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the shelf being in an intermediate position between its deployed and retracted positions. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In these examples, as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vehicle comprises a rear boot  1  and a rigid fold-away roof  2 . 
   The roof  2  is movable between a deployed position in which it covers the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a retracted stored position in which it is folded away in the rear boot  1 . 
   The vehicle also comprises a shelf assembly  3  which comprises a shelf  4 ,  48 . The shelf  4 ,  48  is mounted in a movable manner along the two parallel tracks  5 ,  46  which are fixed to a support element  6 ,  45  of the vehicle and which substantially extend, on each side of this element, along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The shelf  4 ,  48  is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position. When it is in the deployed position, the shelf  4 ,  48  covers the area which lies between the front edge  6   a  of the hood  6  and the backrest  7   a  of the seat  7  delimiting the boot  1  ( FIG. 1 ), and when it is in the retracted position, the shelf  4 ,  48  uncovers this area ( FIG. 2 ). Means for driving  8  are capable of displacing the shelf  4 ,  48  from one of its positions to another. 
   According to the invention, the shelf assembly  3  also comprises means for support  9 ,  47  and means for driving  8 . 
   The shelf  4 ,  48  is mounted in a movable manner onto the means for support  9 ,  47  which are mounted in a movable manner onto the support element  6 ,  45  to which the tracks  5 ,  46  are attached. 
   The means for driving  8  comprise a first part  10  and a second part  11 . The first part  10  is fixed to the shelf  4 ,  48  and the second part  11  is fixed to the means for support  9 ,  47 . Thus, the means for driving  8  generate the displacement of the shelf  4 ,  48  in relation to the means for support  9 ,  47 . This relative movement, the assembly of the shelf  4 ,  48  in the tracks  5 ,  46  and the assembly of the means for support  9 ,  47  onto the support element  6 ,  45 , allow the shelf  4 ,  48  to be displaced from one of its positions to another. 
   The shape of the tracks  5 ,  46  in the longitudinal and vertical directions is adapted to the pre-set kinematics of the shelf  4 ,  48 . 
   In the first embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the hood  6  of the rear boot  1  is the support element to which are fixed the tracks  5  and onto which are mounted the means for support  9 , the shelf  4  being arranged under the hood  6  when it is in its retracted position. 
   In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , each track  5  mainly extend along the longitudinal direction and is substantially horizontal along the best part of its length, its front end  5   a  creating a curve which extends forwards and upwards, which allows the shelf  4  to slide under the hood  6  and, when close to its deployed position, i.e. when its rear edge  4   b  is close to the front edge  6   a  of the hood  6 , to be displaced upwards in order to practically meet up with the latter. 
   In this example the tracks  5  are made via cupping on the inside face  6   b  of the hood  6 . 
   In these examples, the means for support  9  are made of two parallel sliders  9  which are straight, substantially extending along the longitudinal direction on either side of the vehicle and are swivel mounted onto the hood  6  between a retracted position in which the shelf  4  is in its retracted position, and a deployed position in which the shelf  4  is in its deployed position. Each slider  9  is swivel mounted onto the hood  6  about a swivel pin  12  located at the rear end  9   b  of the slider  9 . Irrespective of their position, the sliders  9  mainly extend along the longitudinal direction. 
   The shelf  4  comprises two guiding elements  13 , each of them being fixed to a corresponding transversal edge  4   c  of the shelf  4  via a torque arm  14 . The substantially plane surface creating the actual shelf, the guiding elements  13  and the torque arm  14  create a substantially non-malleable shelf  4 . Each guiding element  13  is capable of ensuring the mechanical link between, on one hand, the shelf  4  and, on the other hand, the corresponding slider  9  and track  5 . 
   In the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each guiding element  13  comprises a roller  15  by which the shelf  4  is slide mounted along the corresponding slider  9 , and a cam pin  16  by which the shelf  4  is both swivel and slide mounted along the corresponding track  5 . 
   In this example, the first part  10  of the means for driving  8  is made of two worms  10  and the second part  11  of the means for driving  8  is made of two racks  11 . Each of the racks  11  is mounted along a corresponding slider  9  and substantially extends, for this reason, along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each worm  10  is housed in a cavity  17  made in the corresponding guiding element  13  and is rotary mounted in this cavity  17  about an axis of rotation  18  substantially extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so as to co-operate with the corresponding rack  11 . 
   Moreover, a motor  19  is fixed to the internal surface of the shelf  4  and means for transmitting  20 , for example flexible drive shafts, allow to transmit the movement of the motor shaft  19  to the two worms  10 . 
   On each side of the vehicle, the track  5 , the slider  9  and the guiding element  13  are fitted so that, when a guiding element  13  is close to the rear end  9   b  of the corresponding slider  9 , it is also close to the rear end  5   b  of the corresponding track  5 , the slider  9  being in its retracted position and the shelf  4  being in its retracted position ( FIG. 2 ). Now, when it is close to the front end  9   a  of the corresponding slider  9 , it is also close to the front end  5   a  of the corresponding track  5 , the slider  9  being in its deployed position and the shelf  4  being in its deployed position ( FIG. 1 ). 
   The movement of the shelf  4  from one of its positions to another, in relation to the hood  6 , is generated in the following manner: each worm  10  is rotary driven in either direction by the means for transmitting  20  and co-operates with the corresponding rack  11  so as to drive the translation of each roller  15  along the corresponding slider  9 . The sliders  9  being linked to the hood  6  via their swivel pin  12 , their translation in relation to the hood  6  is impossible and, for this reason, the two rollers  15  and the two cam pins  16  have the same movement of translation in relation to the hood  6 . Each cam pin  16  swivels and slides along the corresponding track  5  so as to impose its trajectory on the shelf  4 , each roller  15  sliding along the corresponding straight slider  9  which swivels in relation to the hood  6  so as to allow the displacement of the shelf  4  in relation to the hood  6 . 
   In the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each guiding element  13  has an inverted U-shaped structure and possesses a substantially horizontal base wall  21 , an external side wall  22  which extends downwards from the base wall  21  and which is placed on the side of the side rim  23  of the hood  6 , and an internal side wall  24  which extends downwards from the base wall  20  and which is placed on the side of the median wall of the hood  6 . 
   The cam pin  16  transversally projects outwards in relation to the external side wall  22  in the direction of the side rim  23  and penetrates into the corresponding track  5  which is made along this rim  23 . The roller  15  transversally projects outwards in relation to the internal side wall  24  into the housing  25  which is delimited by the U-shaped structure, and penetrates into the slider  9  which has a relative sliding movement in this housing  25 . This special sizing of the guiding element  13  renders the shelf assembly  3  particularly compact. 
   In the example illustrated in  FIG. 5 , each slider  9  is telescopic so as to take up as little space as possible in the retracted position. Each slider  9  comprises, for this purpose, a rear element  30 , a front element  31  and means for transmitting  32 . 
   The rear element  30  is swivel mounted onto the hood  6  about a swivel pin  12  which is located to the rear  30   b  of the rear element  30 . The front element  31  is slide mounted along the rear element  30 , the shelf  4  being slide mounted along the front element  31 . 
   In this example, the guiding element  13  comprises a support blade  33  by which the shelf  4  is slide mounted along the front element  31 . 
   On each side of the shelf assembly, the first part  10  of the means for driving  8  is made of a pinion  10  which is mounted on the support blade  33  via an axis of rotation  34  transversal to the vehicle and which is meshed with the rack  11  which extends along the front element  31 . Thus, the rotating of the pinion  10  drives the sliding of the shelf  4  along the front element  31 . 
   The means for transmitting  32  allow to generate the sliding of the rear element  30  in relation to the front element  31 . For this reason, the means for transmitting  32  comprise, for each slider  9 , two connecting cables  35  and two transmitter pulleys  36 . 
   Each connecting cable  35  is fixed, at its first end  37 , to the support blade  33  and at its second end  38  tot he rear element  30 . Each connecting cable  35  is wound around a corresponding transmitter pulley  36  which is mounted onto a corresponding end of the front element  31  via an axis of rotation  39  transversal to the vehicle. Furthermore, a drive pinion  40  which is mounted onto the front element  31  via an axis of rotation  41  transversal to the vehicle, is meshed with the drive rack  42  which extends along the rear element  30 . 
   Thus, the rotation of the pinion  10  in either direction directly drives the relative displacement of the shelf  4  in relation to the front element of the slider  31 . Due to this relative displacement, and the presence of the connecting cables  35 , the drive pinion  40  and the drive rack  42 , the front element  31  slides, in relation to the rear element  30 , in the same direction as that of the sliding of the support blade  33  in relation to the front element  31 . 
   By means of such a slider  9 , using sliding elements bearing, in the longitudinal direction, the same dimension as the shelf  4 , the unit created by the shelf  4  and the sliders  9  only takes up, in the longitudinal direction, the length of the shelf  4  when the latter is in its retracted position. 
   In the second preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the frame  45  of the vehicle is the supporting element to which the tracks  46  are fixed and onto which are mounted the means for support  47 , the shelf  48  being arranged behind the backrest  7   a  of the seat  7  delimiting the boot  1  when it is in its retracted position. 
   In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , each track  46  mainly extends along the vertical direction and is substantially vertical on the best part of its length, its upper end  46   a  creating a curve which extends backwards and upwards, which allows the shelf  48  to slide behind the backrest  7   a , when it is close to its deployed position, i.e. when its front edge  48   a  comes close to the upper rear end  7   b  of the backrest  7   a , to be displaced backwards in order to practically meet up with the latter. 
   In these examples, the means for support  47  are made of two parallel sliders  47  which are straight, substantially extending along the vertical direction on either side of the vehicle and are swivel mounted onto the frame  45  between a retracted position in which the shelf  48  is in its retracted position, and a deployed position in which the shelf  48  is in its deployed position. Each slider  47  is swivel mounted onto the frame  45  about a swivel pin  49  located at the internal end  9   b  of the slider  47 . Irrespective of their position, the sliders  47  mainly extend along the vertical direction. 
   The shelf  48  comprises two guiding elements (not represented) similar to those represented in  FIG. 3  and which then allow the displacement of the shelf  48  in relation to the frame  45 . Thus, each-guiding element is slide mounted along the corresponding slider  47 , by means of a roller (similar to the roller  15  in  FIG. 3 ) in a swivel and slide manner along the corresponding track  46 , by means of a cam pin  61  (similar to the cam pin  16  in  FIG. 3 ), so that, when it is close to the lower end  47   b  of the slider  47 , it is also close to the lower end  46   b  of the track  46 , and when it is close to the upper end  47   a  of the slider  47 , it is also close to the upper end  46   a  of the track  46 . 
   So that, in the second embodiment, the shelf  48  is in a substantially vertical position when it is in its retracted position, the torque arms  50  supporting the guiding elements of the shelf  48 , and the substantially plane surface  51  creating the actual shelf are articulated about each other. Thus, when the shelf  48  is in its deployed position, the substantially plane surface  51  is in a substantially horizontal position allowing to cover the area located between the front edge  6   a  of the hood  6  and the backrest  7   a  of the seat  7  delimiting the boor  1  and, when the shelf  48  is in its retracted position, the substantially plane surface  51  is in a substantially vertical position allowing it to be stored behind the backrest  7   a  of the seat  7  delimiting the boot  1 . 
   This articulation allows the shelf assembly  3  to be of reduced size. 
   In this example, the substantially plane surface  51  is linked, in a swivel manner, to the torque arm  50  via an axis of rotation  52  which is oriented along the transversal direction of the vehicle. 
   In this example, the articulating of the substantially plane surface  51  in relation to the torque arms  50  is controlled by the displacement of the torque arms  50  in relation to the frame  45 . The substantially plane surface  51  comprises, on each side, at the front end of its side walls, a stub  53  which is swivel and slide mounted along a corresponding ramp  54  which is integral to the frame  45  and which substantially extends along the vertical direction. 
   For this reason, the displacement of the torque arms  50  in relation to the frame  45 , the articulated connection of the substantially plane surface  51  to the torque arms  50 , and the assembly of the stubs  53  in the ramps  54  which are fixed to the frame  45 , allow the substantially plane surface  51  to be correctly oriented as the displacement of the torque arms  50  and the entire shelf  48  progresses. 
   The shape of the ramps  54  in the longitudinal and vertical directions is adapted to pre-set kinematics of the substantially plane surface  51 . In this example, each ramp  54  moves from its deployed position to its retracted position. 
   The ramps allow to tilt the substantially plane surface  51  towards the front of the vehicle when the shelf  48  moves from its deployed position to its retracted position. 
   Each ramp  54  is substantially vertical on the best part of its length, and its upper end  54   a  creates a curve which extends backwards and terminates substantially horizontally, which allows the substantially plane surface  51  to be in a substantially horizontal position when the shelf  48  is in its deployed position. 
   Furthermore, in this example, a means for retracting  55  (such as a spring) linked, on one hand, to a part of the substantially plane surface  51  and, on the other hand, to the corresponding torque arm  50  constantly solicits the substantially plane surface  51  in its substantially horizontal position. 
   The use of a means for retracting  55  and the fact that the displacement of the torque arms  50  in relation to the frame  45  drives the orientation of the substantially plane surface  51  allows to restrict the number of components and therefore to have a shelf assembly  3  of particularly reduced encumbrance. 
   Of course, the sliders can be telescopic, as in the case illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
   In the examples, the vehicle comprises means for controlling the synchronising (not represented) of the movements of the shelf  4 ,  48  and of the roof  2  so that, when the roof  2  is in its deployed or retracted stored positions, the shelf  4 ,  48  is respectively in its retracted or deployed positions. 
   The shelf assembly can comprise a second shelf (not illustrated) which will be mounted, in a movable manner, between a deployed position in which it covers the area located between the rear edge of the roof in the deployed position and the backrest of the seat delimiting the boot, and a retracted position in which it is placed along the rear window and uncovers this area. The means for controlling the synchronising of the movements are such that, when the roof is in its deployed position, the first shelf is in its retracted position and the second shelf is in its deployed position and, when the roof is in its retracted stored position, the first shelf is in its deployed position, and the second shelf is in its retracted position. 
   The shelf assembly in accordance with the invention creates an independent unit capable of being mounted onto a vehicle. 
   Of course, the shelf assembly is not restricted to the specific embodiment described in detail. 
   For example, the tracks  5  could be fixed to the internal face  6   b  of the hood  6 , via screwing or welding and, for this purpose, be a part of the shelf assembly unit. 
   For example, the means for displacing could be created by the actuators whose rod will be integral to the shelf  4 ,  48  and the cylinder will be integral to the means for support  9 ,  47 , or inversely. 
   For example, in the second embodiment, the tracks could be fixed to the seat (to the backrest) delimiting the rear boot, and not to the frame.