SAFETY DEVICE

Abstract: Apparatus for securing a load in a storage area of a vehicle comprising a securing means (10) locatable around all or at least the forward part of the load and rearwardly securable to one or more anchoring means (14) attached to the vehicle, at least one anchoring means (14) being a quick-release catch means, is described. The securing means (10) may comprise one or more belts around a load restraining means such as a container (12) or a flexible elongate sheet. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use in hatchback cars.

Description: SAFETY DEVICE The present invention relates to apparatus for securing a load in a storage area of a vehicle. The danger of loose objects in the back of vans or cars in the event of sudden deceleration has been known for many years, and some vehicles have bulkheads or cages to protect the drivers and passengers. Loose objects include shopping baskets and bags, spare tyres, tools, suitcases etc., the sudden forward motion of which can cause serious damage. Damage may stem not only from the direct intrusion of objects from the rear of the vehicle, but also from the force of such objects against the backs of seats. This situation has been documented as a particularly acute problem in vehicles having moveable rear seats such as 'hatchback' cars. The rear seats of hatchback cars are designed to fold in one or more ways. Tests have shown that the sudden acceleration of loads from behind such seats can break the top seat catches and force the seat against any occupants, crushing them or forcing them against the front seats. Moreover, the danger is compounded with split rear seats as the centre mountings have also been shown to break, suddenly opening the rear seats like swing gates. It is the object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus fo^securing a load in a storage area of a-vehicle comprising a securing means locatable around all or at least the forward part of the load and rearwardly securable to the vehicle by one or more anchoring means, at least one anchoring means being a quick-release catch means. The apparatus of the present invention wholly or substantially prevents forward movement of the load upon deceleration, particularly sudden deceleration, of the vehicle. The use of at least one quick release catch means allows quick release all or a part of the securing means when necessary or desired, usually for relocation or removal of the apparatus and/or access to the load or the storage area. The securing means preferably comprises one or more belts around a load restraining means. Part or all of the or each belt is preferably integral with the load restraining means. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the securing means comprises one or more belts around a container. The load can then be Iocated in the container. The container can contain any load that fits therewithin. It is suitable for loads which are small and possibly not rigid, e.g. bags of shopping. The container may have fixed or solid walls, or be flexibly walled to help decelerate the load in a controlled manner. A suitable material for a flexible container is a heavy plastic, possibly with a reinforced interlining. The container may be of any size, shape or material as necessary to carry out the present invention. The container could be designed for insertion within a supermarket shopping trolley. If flexibly walled, the container may have a shape-support means, e.g. a frame or a series of splints, therein. The container preferably has a securable lid, open and closeable by any known means, e.g. zip. The zip need not extend around three complete sides of the container. Further belts, straps or clips could be Iocated transversally across the opening/closing means for added safety. The container could also act or be adapted to act as a generally portable 'bag' such as a hold-all when away from the vehicle. For this, the container may include one or more handles on its sides or top. This allows the container to be loaded where desired, directly transferred to and secured within the vehicle for travel, and rapidly removed and carried away when required. The handles could be one or more of the belts, or part(s) thereof. The belt(s) are preferably integral with the container so that they can be detached and removed together, although the container and belt(s) could be separable for separate removal. Part of each end ofthe belt(s) extending from the container to the anchoring means may be connected to webs outstanding from the container to reduce any strain between the belt(s) and the container where they diverge. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the securing means comprises one or more belts around a flexible elongate sheet. The load, whether large or small, rigid or flexible, singular or multiple, can be enclosed or enfolded by the sheet, with the belt(s) holding the sheet in position. Preferably, at least part ofthe or each belt is integral with the sheet, whilst part is moveable relative to the sheet to allow adjustment of the size of the sheet for different sized loads. The sheet is preferably fabric webbing, e.g. plastic coated nylon, having two belts therearound. Other or additional securing means include further belts, straps, ropes or netting to secure or to assist securing the load directly or indirectly to the anchoring means. Where a flexible container or sheet as described above is used, the forward face ofthe container or sheet in use could include one or more reinforcing elements, such as double thickness material, metal straps or splints, to increase strength and reduce distortion of the container or sheet when the load is forced thereagainst, (whilst the beit(s) are longitudinally inelastic). The or each part of the securing means connected to the anchoring means or the anchoring means itself is preferably length-adjustable to accommodate different sized loads or containers. The anchoring means may be any suitable form of secure attachment between the securing means and the vehicle (e.g. direct bolting to the subframe), as long as at least one anchoring means is a quick release catch means (or quick release and quick attachment means). The quick release catch means may comprise two parts, one secured to the end(s) of the securing means and the other secured to the vehicle, which parts can be linked together. This includes a biased tongue and corresponding catch or ring arrangement such as the connecting parts of a passenger vehicle safety belt, or a hook or other enclosure member with a biased gate. Use of one quick release catch means allows the or one end of the securing means to be quickly released, e.g. to store the securing means on one side ofthe storage area. Other anchoring means include buckles, slip catches, hooks, etc., some of which may be quick release and/or quick attachment. Preferably, the anchoring means are two quick-release catch means, one on each side or rear corner of the vehicle. Where the securing means includes one or more belts, preferably the belts have common or overlapping ends to allow common connection thereof to corresponding anchoring means. The anchoring means may be attached to the vehicle in any secure manner, e.g. bolted to a panel, the frame or the subframe of the vehicle, or any other secure part of the vehicle. This includes simple securement to the boot floor panel of a car, particularly where plates are used on either of the point of attachment to help spread load across the panel. Simple attachment ofthe anchoring means to the vehicle avoids the need for any additional and/or strengthening rails, tracks, bars etc. to be added to the vehicle, with attendant cost, inconvenience and possible unsightliness. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in a vehicle adapted to carry a load behind one or more moveable seats, e.g. estate and hatchback cars and vans. In such vehicles, the apparatus is most suitably Iocated in the boot. A gap can be left between the securing means and the relevant seat(s) to allow room for any distortion of the securing means upon sudden deceleration of the car or van. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of securing a load in a storage area of a vehicle wherein a securing means is Iocated around all or at least the forward part of the load and rearwardly secured to the vehicle by one or more anchoring means, at least one anchoring means being a quick-release catch means. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a part cross-sectional side view of apparatus for securing a load in the boot of a hatchback car according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c are rear, plan and side views of the securing apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2d is a perspective view of part of an anchoring means for use with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view of apparatus for securing a load according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a part cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of Fig. 3 in the boot of a car. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a rear portion of a hatchback car 2. The rear seat 4 is moveable between an upright position as shown, and a folded position. For this, the ends of the top of the rear seat 4 are releasably attached to a suitable location 6 on the side of the car 2. The main storage area of the car 2 is the boot 8. In the boot 8, there is a securing means comprising two belts 10 and a container 12 as a restraining means. The belts 10 extend around the sides and top/front face of the container 12. The belts 10 have common ends, which are rearwardly secured to the car 2 by two quick-release catch anchoring means 14, discussed below. The anchoring means 14 are attached to the floor of the boot panel of the car 2, also discussed below. The container 12 is made of a heavy, possibly reinforced, plastic such as plastic coated nylon mesh. The container 12 is therefore flexibly wailed, and substantially takes the shape of the load therein. In Figs.1 and 2 a-c, the container 12 is shown in its fullest regular shape. The container 12 includes a lid 20 which is securable but easily open and closeable by a zip fastener 22. The zip 22 extends across the rearward face of the container 12 and substantially but not wholly along both sides. Thus, should the zip 22 break or not be fastened, not all of the top face of the container 12 is openable, and the forward part 24 of the top face will still provide a barrier to the upward movement of load in the container 12 upon sudden deceleration of the car 2. Extra straps 26 can be added across the zip 22 for further safety. The straps 26 can extend across the top face of the container 12 to increase the protection around the container 12. The container 12 also includes flexible handles 27 on each side to help handling of the container 12 outside the car 2, especially when the container 12 is loaded. The apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 secures a load, e.g. bags of shopping, in the boot 8 of the car " 2 when the load is Iocated within the container 12, the front face and sides of which are surrounded by belts 10 which are themselves rearwardly secured to the car 2 through the two quick-release catch means 14. In use, following a sudden deceleration of the car 2, e.g. because of emergency braking, the load attempts to move forward relative to the car 2. However, it is restrained from acting on the rear seat 4 as described hereinbefore by being within the secured container 12. By being flexibly walled, the container 12 is able to absorb some ofthe kinetic energy ofthe load prior to the load being fully restrained. In Fig. 1 , a gap 28 has been left between the container 12 and the rear seat 4 to provide room for any distortion ofthe container 12. The belts 10 are inelastic. When not desired or necessary, the container 12 may be flattened (if possible), or released from the catch means 14 and stored either in the car 2 or elsewhere. The quick-release nature of the catch means 14 allows for quick installation and removal as desired. Figs.2a-d show the container 12, belts 10 and the two parts of the anchoring means 14 in more detail. The anchoring means 14 has two parts, a clip means 15 secured to the ends of the belts 10, and catch rings 16 (shown in Fig. 2d). The clip means 15 have a biased gate 15a across the gap of a generally "U" shaped member 15b. Operation of pressure on the gate 15a against the bias allows the catch ring 16 to enter and be released from the U- shaped member 15b. In Fig. 1, the catch rings 16 are Iocated within the rearmost corners of the boot 8. The catch rings 16 are attached to the car 2 by bolts 30 and plates 31. The plates 31 fit on either side ofthe floor panel ofthe boot 8, and help spread any force on the bolt 30 across the sandwiched floor panel. Attachment ofthe catch rings 16 to the car 2 only requires therefore two holes to be made in the floor panel of the boot 8 for the bolts 30. Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment ofthe present invention wherein the securing means is an elongate fabric webbing sheet 32 as the restraining means having two belts 34 therearound. The belts 34 are spaced from the side edges 36 of the sheet 32 so that the edges 36 can be cut away if desired or necessary to fit the shape of the boot or rear space of a car, e.g. around the wheel arches. The ends of the belts 34 have clip means 38 on them (only one shown), similar to those shown in Fig. 1. Whilst most of each belt 34 is securely attached to the sheet 32, a portion 40 of each belt 34 is not secured but interwoven with the sheet 32 to allow relative movement as shown in Fig.4. The part of the sheet intended to be forward facing in use 42 has a double thickness of material for reinforcement. Splints could also be added to this part 42 for added strength. Fig.4 shows the boot 44 of a car 46 wherein a load 48 of various items is surrounded and hence secured by the sheet 32. The ends of the belts 34 are rearwardly secured to the car 46 using anchoring means 47 similar to those shown in Fig. 1. Where the size of the load 48 is smaller than the length of the sheet 32, the excess length of sheet 32 can be accommodated by folds of material 50 whilst the interwoven portions of the belts 34 are still taut. The lengths of the belts 34 can be adjusted at or near the clip means 38 by any known arrangement, e.g. slip catches. In use, the sheet 32 is placed in the boot 44, the load 48 placed thereon, the sheet 32 wrapped or rolled around the load 48, and the ends of the belts 34 secured using the clip means 38. The length ofthe belts 34 can be tightened if necessary. Access to the load 48 simply requires unfastening of the clip means 38 for the top ends of the belts 34. The sheet 32 can remain flat in the boot 44 ready for subsequent use, or be quickly removed. Where the rear seat 52 ofthe car 46 can be flattened or removed to increase the boot space in the car 46, the increased load size can still be surrounded and secured in place using the whole length ofthe sheet 32 (i.e. with no folds 50 therein) as described above. Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for securing a load in a storage area of a vehicle comprising a securing means locatable around all or at least the forward part ofthe load and rearwardly securable to one or more anchoring means attached to the vehicle, at least one anchoring means being a quick-release catch means. 2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises one or more belts around a load restraining means. 3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the securing means comprises one or more belts around a container. 4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 , 2 or 3 wherein two or more belts are used and the belts have common ends. 5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the container is solid walled. 6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the container is flexibly walled. 7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the container has a shape- support means therein. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7 wherein the container has a securable lid. 9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8 wherein the container has one or more handles. 10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the securing means comprises one or more belts around a flexible elongate sheet. 11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the sheet is fabric webbing. 12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the length of the securing means is adjustable. 13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the forward facing part ofthe securing means in use is reinforced. 14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 13 wherein all the ends ofthe or each belt are secured in use to anchoring means, and all the anchoring means are quick-release catch means. 15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 14 wherein part or all of the or each belt is integral with the load restraining means. 16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims securable to two anchoring means, one at each rear corner of the storage area. 17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the or each anchoring means " to attached directly to a panel or the frame ofthe vehicle. 18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims for securing luggage in the boot of a hatchback or estate car or a van. 19. A method of securing a load in a storage area of a vehicle wherein a securing means is Iocated around all or at least the most forward part of the load and rearwardly secured to the vehicle by one or more anchoring means, at least one anchoring means being a quick-release catch means. 20. Apparatus for securing a load substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 a-d. 21. Apparatus for securing a load substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 a-d.

Inventors: BRACHI ROBIN ANTHONY, BRACHI, ROBIN, ANTHONY
Applicants: BRACHI ROBIN ANTHONY, BRACHI, ROBIN, ANTHONY
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60R7
IPC codes: B60R7