Vehicular divider assembly

A vehicular divider assembly includes a member that is positionable on a ceiling of a vehicle cabin. A divider is coupled to the member such that the divider extends between a forward compartment of the vehicle cabin and a rear compartment of the vehicle cabin. The divider is comprised of a fluid impermeable material to inhibit the transfer of microbes between the forward compartment and the rear compartment. A flap is integrated into the divider to facilitate air to move between the forward compartment and the rear compartment of the vehicle cabin. A pair of first mating members and a pair of second mating members is each coupled to the divider which can be secured to structural features of the vehicle cabin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to divider devices and more particularly pertains to a new divider device for inhibiting the airborne transmission of infectious diseases in a vehicle.

The divider includes a flap that can be opened to accommodate air vents of an air conditioning system of the vehicle.

The prior art relates to divider devices including a variety of enclosures that can be positioned in a vehicle cabin for defining a pair of fluidly discrete areas in the vehicle cabin. The prior art also discloses a variety of dividers that can be positioned in a vehicle cabin for dividing the vehicle cabin. In no instance does the prior art disclose a divider that has a flap that can be opened and closed and which can be positioned in a vehicle cabin.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a member that is positionable on a ceiling of a vehicle cabin. A divider is coupled to the member such that the divider extending between a forward compartment of the vehicle cabin and a rear compartment of the vehicle cabin. The divider is comprised of a fluid impermeable material to inhibit the transfer of microbes between the forward compartment and the rear compartment. A flap is integrated into the divider to facilitate air to move between the forward compartment and the rear compartment of the vehicle cabin. A pair of first mating members and a pair of second mating members is each coupled the divider which can be secured to structural features of the vehicle cabin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 4, the vehicular divider assembly10generally comprises a member12that has a plurality of bends14each being strategically positioned along the member12. In this way the member12can conform to a ceiling16of a vehicle cabin18. The vehicle may be a passenger vehicle, such as a sedan or the like, and the vehicle cabin18may have a forward compartment20and a rear compartment22. The member12has a first end24, a second end26and an outer surface28extending therebetween, and the member12is elongated between the first end24and the second end26. Each of the bends14is spaced from a respective one of the first end24and the second end26such that the member12has a cradle shape. In this way a top side30of the outer surface28of the member12can abut the ceiling16of the vehicle cabin18having the member12extending laterally across the ceiling16and having a lower side32of the outer surface28of the member12being exposed. The member12may be structured to conform to the ceiling16of a variety of makes and models of vehicles.

A divider34is comprised of a flexible material such that the divider34can be positioned within a vehicle cabin18having the divider34extending between the forward compartment20of the vehicle cabin18and the rear compartment22of the vehicle cabin18. The divider34is comprised of a fluid impermeable material to inhibit the transfer of microbes between the forward compartment20and the rear compartment22. Additionally, the divider34is comprised of a translucent material to facilitate occupants of the vehicle cabin18to see through the divider34. In this way the divider34would be appropriate for use in a personal vehicle that is also operated as a vehicle for hire, such as is common with Uber or Lyft. A flap36is integrated into the divider34and the flap36is positionable in an open position to facilitate air to move between the forward compartment20and the rear compartment22of the vehicle cabin18. In this way the flap36can be aligned with air vents of the vehicle air conditioning system, for example, that are directed into the rear compartment22of the vehicle cabin18.

The divider34has a first surface38, a second surface40and a perimeter edge42extending therebetween, and the perimeter edge42has a top side44, a bottom side46, a first lateral side48and a second lateral side50. The top side44is integrated into the lower side of the outer surface28of the member12, and the top side44extends between the first end24and the second end26of the member12. The bottom side46has a pair of cuts52each extending toward the top side44, and the cuts52are spaced apart from each other to define the flap36between each of the cuts52. Each of the cuts52extends along a line that is oriented perpendicular to the bottom side46. Additionally, the flap36is centrally positioned between the first lateral side48and the second lateral side50of the perimeter edge42. The divider34may be manufactured in a variety of dimensions to accommodate a variety of makes and models of vehicles.

A pair of first mating members54is each coupled to and extends away from the divider34. Each of the first mating members54can be secured to structural features of the vehicle cabin18. In this way the divider34can be retained in a preferred orientation in the vehicle cabin18. Each of the first mating members54extends away from the first lateral side48of the perimeter edge42of the divider34, and each of the first mating members54has a distal end56with respect to the first lateral side48. Each of the first mating members54is stitched to the first surface38of the divider34. The first mating members54are spaced apart from each other and are distributed between the top side44and the bottom side46of the perimeter edge42of the divider34. Additionally, each of the first mating members54may be comprised of a resiliently stretchable material such as elastic or the like.

A pair of second mating members58is each coupled to and extends away from the divider34. Each of the second mating members58can be secured to structural features of the vehicle cabin18. In this way the divider34can be retained in the preferred orientation in the vehicle cabin18. Each of the second mating members58extends away from the second lateral side50of the perimeter edge42of the divider34, and each of the second mating members58has a distal end60with respect to the second lateral side50. Each of the second mating members58is stitched to the first surface38of the divider34. Additionally, the second mating members58are spaced apart from each other and are distributed between the top side44and the bottom side46of the perimeter edge42of the divider34. Each of the second mating members58may be comprised of a resiliently stretchable material such as elastic or the like.

A pair of patches62is provided and each of the patches62is stitched to the first surface38of the divider34. Each of the patches62is aligned with a terminal end64of a respective one of the cuts52defining the flap36. Moreover, each of the patches62is comprised of a rip resistant material, including but not being limited to, canvas or woven nylon. In this way each of the patches62inhibits the respective cut52from ripping further when the flap36is manipulated.

A pair of first mating units66is provided and each of the first mating units66is coupled to the divider34. Each of the first mating units66is oriented to extend along opposite sides of the flap36from each other. Moreover, each of the first mating units66is aligned with a respective one of the cuts52in the divider34, and each of the first mating units66is coextensive with the respective cut52. Each of the first mating units66may comprise a flexible magnetic strip.

A pair of second mating units68is provided and each of the second mating units68is coupled to the flap36. Each of the second mating units68is aligned with opposite sides of the flap36from each other. Additionally, each of second mating units68is releasably matable to a respective one of the first mating units66when the flap36is positioned in a closed position. In this way the flap36can be releasably retained in the closed position. Each of the second mating members58may comprise a flexible magnetic strip.

In use, the divider34is positioned in the vehicle cabin18in a preferred orientation, generally to sequester the forward compartment20from the rear compartment22. The divider34is positioned such that the member12abuts the ceiling16of the vehicle cabin18. Each of the first mating members54and each of the second mating members58is secured to structural features of the vehicle cabin18to retain the divider34in the preferred orientation. In this way the divider34inhibits the airborne transmission of infectious diseases between a driver of the vehicle and a passenger sitting in the rear compartment22. Moreover, the divider34can be installed and removed without requiring modifications to the vehicle cabin18.