Abstract:
A removable, bag-like protective liner is provided for the interior of a motor vehicle with a rear opening. The liner defines an internal compartment for storage of cargo in the rear of the vehicle while protecting the interior of the vehicle from damage by the cargo. The liner is supported by a plurality of attachments which secure the liner to the interior of the motor vehicle. In addition, a sidewall portion and the forward end portion are configured such that the height of the liner can be selectively adjusted based upon the interior height of the vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to protective coverings and more specifically to a multi-purpose liner for a vehicle compartment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The interior of a motor vehicle having a rear hatch or a rear opening, such as a van, minivan, SUV or station wagon, has been designed to allow users to carry a variety of things in the rear portion of the vehicle, similar to the functional purposes of a flat bed truck. In addition to providing a means for transporting objects, the interior of a van, minivan, SUV or station wagon is designed to provide a clean and comfortable environment to the people, pets or objects which are being carried. The ability to carry a variety of things in the rear part of a motor vehicle is one of the key features in designing a motor vehicle with a rear hatch or opening. 
     In order to maintain a clean environment within a motor vehicle when transporting utility cargo such as lumber, logs, sand, gravel or small shrubs, a temporary liner must be put in place to protect the upholstered environment of the motor vehicle. If utility cargo is placed within the motor vehicle without using some sort of protective covering, the interior of the motor vehicle has the potential of becoming damaged due to dirt or other debris left from the cargo being carried. In addition to potentially damaging the upholstery of the interior of the motor vehicle, any mechanical devices located on the floor of motor vehicle, such as seat floor anchors, could become damaged or nonfunctional due to debris being trapped within these devices. 
     Protective liner arrangements have been proposed. However, because the rear portion of a vehicle can typically have various configurations, e.g., the rear portion of the vehicle can have variable floor heights depending on whether the seats are folded flat or if the seats are removed, a need exists for a multi-purpose liner that is adjustable based upon the configuration of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a variable size bag-like protective liner for the interior of a motor vehicle with a rear opening. The liner includes a main body having a floor portion, a sidewall portion and a ceiling portion assembled together to reflect the size and shape of the rear interior cavity of the vehicle. The main body of the liner defines an internal compartment. The liner is supported by a plurality of attachments which secure the liner to the interior of the motor vehicle. In addition, each of the sidewall and the forward end portions are configured such that at least the sidewall portions can be folded upon themselves according to the height of the vehicle. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle having a multi-purpose liner in the vehicle compartment according to the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 along line  2 — 2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multi-purpose liner for a vehicle compartment according to the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along line  4 — 4  of the liner of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the multi-purpose liner of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The present invention is generally related to a liner for a vehicle compartment. In this regard, the liner will be described in the context of a liner for use in a rear compartment of a minivan having a rear opening with a rear tailgate. However, it is to be understood that the principles embodied herein are equally applicable to other types of vehicles and vehicle compartments. 
     Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle  10  is shown having a compartment  12 . A multi-purpose liner  14  is disposed within the compartment  12 . The compartment  12  includes a first sidewall  16 , a second sidewall  18 , a top  20 , a bottom  22  and a tailgate  24 . The compartment  12  is assembled as known in the art. 
     The bottom  22  of the compartment  12  is determined by the configuration of the vehicle  10 . FIG. 2 shows two possible locations for the bottom  22  of the compartment  12 . If the vehicle  10  has seats which fold flat, the bottom  22  of the compartment  12  is considered to be at a first level  26 . If the vehicle  10  has seats which can be extracted from the compartment  12 , then the bottom  22  of the compartment  12  is considered to be at a second level  28 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the bottom  22  has a pair of floor anchors  30  for securing the liner  14  to the compartment  12 . In this embodiment, the floor anchors  30  are eyehooks which attach to a seat belt anchor  32 . 
     The first sidewall  16  and the second sidewall  18  of the compartment  12  suspend the liner  14  in the compartment  12 . The first and second sidewalls  16 ,  18  of the compartment  12  each have a pair of eyehooks  34  and a pair of coat hooks  36 . The eyehooks  34  are used in combination with the coat hooks  36  to secure the liner  14  to the first and second sidewalls  16 , 18 . The eyehooks  34  and coat hooks  36  are generally made of plastic and a relocated along the top edge of the first and second sidewalls  16 ,  18 . Further, a plurality of adhesive strips  38  line the rear opening of compartment  12 . The adhesive strips  38  can be of any type such as, for example, Velcro™. The adhesive strips  38  also assist in securing the liner  14  to the compartment  12 . 
     The liner  14  is configured to mate with the compartment  12  of the vehicle  10 . Specifically, the liner  14  is placed adjacent to the walls  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  of the compartment  12  to maximize the area protected by the liner  14  and hence the amount of protected cargo space in the compartment  12 . As shown for illustrative purposes only, the liner  14  can be generally rectangular having a top  40 , bottom  42 , a side portion formed from a side  44  and  46 , and a back  48 . The top  40 , bottom  42 , and sides  44  and  46  define an interior  49  and exterior  50  of the liner  14 . In addition, the liner  14  can include a tailgate portion  52  configured to mate with the corresponding tailgate  24  of the compartment  12 . The liner  14  can be made from any material that allows the liner  14  to be flexible and durable throughout its use, such as, for example, Dacron™, canvas, a strong plastic film or a combination of both plastic and fabric. In general, the liner  14  is made from one cut sheet of material and sewn into the configuration necessary for the vehicle  10 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2, attached to the back  48  of the liner  14  is a pull system  54 . The pull system  54  has at least one patch  56  which is affixed to the back  48 . The patch  56  can be attached, for example, through sewing or the use of an adhesive. The patch  56  can be made from any desirable material known in the art such as, for example, Dacron™, canvas or a strong plastic film. A rope  58  is attached to the patch  56  such that the rope  58  extends into the interior of the liner  14 . The rope  58  is used to reverse the liner  14  for cleaning outside of the compartment  12 . 
     One or more of the sides  44  and  46 , and/or back  48  of the liner  14  can be provided with a window  60 . The window  60  can be of the plastic type used in convertible top applications. The windows  60  are sewn into the liner  14 . The window  60  is generally clear for increased visibility. The location of the window  60  corresponds to the location of the windows in the compartment  12  of the vehicle  10 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, each of sides  44  and  46 , and back  48  of the liner  14  also include a first fastener system  62  located on the interior  49  of the liner  14 . The first fastener system  62  is any system capable of enabling the liner  14  to fold over onto itself to form a liner  14  with an adjustable height. The first fastener system  62  can include, for example, adhesive strips, snaps, buttons, zippers or the like. In the liner  14  shown in FIG. 4, the first fastener system  62  is a zipper having mating teeth positioned at  64  and  66 . The first fastener system  62  enables the liner  14  to be raised or lowered depending upon the level of the bottom  22  of the compartment  12  of the vehicle  10 . In particular, when the first fastener system  62  is disengaged, the liner  14  has a bottom  42 a at a level L 2  which corresponds with the second level  28  of the bottom  22  of the compartment  12  as shown in FIG.  2 . If the first fastener system  62  is engaged, the liner  14  has a bottom  42   b  with a level L 1  corresponding to the first level  26  of the bottom  22  of the compartment  12 . With the first fastener system  62  engaged, the first and second sidewalls  44 ,  46  have a section of excess material  68  as shown in FIG.  3 . The excess material  68  is secured to the liner  14  by an adhesive strip  70  and folded between the compartment  12  and the liner  14  as shown in FIG.  3 . The capability to vary the height of the liner  14  enables the owner to use the liner  14  in multiple configurations of the compartment  12 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 4, the liner  14  is suspended in the compartment  12  of the vehicle  10  by a plurality of hooks  72  which attach to the eyehooks  34  and coat hooks  36  on the first and second sides  16 ,  18  of the compartment  12 . In the example of FIG. 4, there are four hooks  72  located on the exterior  50  of the liner  14  along the mating edge between side  44  and top  40 . The attachment points on the liner  14  for the hooks  72  are reinforced with fabric. Four hooks  72  are also located on the exterior  50  of the liner  14  along the mating edge between side  46  and top  40 . The liner  14  is secured to the bottom  22  of the compartment  12  by two bottom hooks  74 . The bottom hooks  74  are attached to an elastic rope (not shown) secured in the liner  14  at the mating edge between the bottom  42  and the back  48 . The elastic rope is secured to the liner  14 , for example, by sewing. By having the bottom hooks  74  attached to the elastic rope, the bottom  42  of the liner  14  is held taut which maintains the general shape of the liner  14 . The bottom hooks  74  attach to the floor anchors  30  in the compartment  12 . The hooks  72  and bottom hooks  74  may be of any type of releasable clamps. 
     The tailgate portion  52  of the liner  14  is generally rectangular, however, the tailgate portion  52  is configured to mate with the corresponding tailgate  24  of the compartment  12 . A fastener strip  76  is located along the edge of the tailgate portion  52 . In this embodiment, the fastener strip  76  is made from Velcro™, however, other devices such as snaps or buttons may be used. The tailgate portion  52  also has a plurality of tabs  78  extending therefrom which are lined with a fastening mechanism  80 . The fastening mechanism  80  may include Velcro™, snaps or the like. The tabs  78 , along with the fastening strip  76 , are used to secure the liner  14  to the tailgate  24 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the top  40  of the liner  14  is shown. In this embodiment, the top  40  has a tongue-like section  84  having a pair of edges  86 . The top  40  could, however, be continuous throughout. The top  40  also has a pair of mating portions  88  which mate with the pair of edges  86 . The edges  86  and mating portions  88  are lined with a fastener system  90 . The fastener system  90  enables the tongue-like section  84  to be stored in a rolled up position (shown in phantom). The fastener system  90  may include, for example, adhesive strips, snaps, buttons, zippers or the like. The fastener system  90  also retains the section  84  in an unrolled position. The fastener system  90  for the top  40  of the liner  14  can be identical to the fastener system  62  for sides  44 ,  46  and back  48  of the liner  14 , depending upon the vehicle  10 . In this application, the fastener system  90  is a zipper having mating teeth along the edges  86  and mating portions  88 . When the teeth of the zipper are engaged, the top  40  is flat. When the teeth of the zipper disengage, the tongue-like section  84  is free to roll up to provide easier access to the compartment  12 . The tongue-like section  84  has a second fastener system  92  to secure the tongue-like section  84  in a rolled state. 
     The second fastener system  92  includes a first strip  96 , a second strip  98 , a first strap  100 , a second strap.  102  and a third strap.  104 . The first and second straps  100 ,  102  are located in the exterior  50  of the liner  14  and are attached at a back edge  106  of the tongue-like section  84 . The third strap  104  is located on the interior  49  of the liner  14  and is attached at a center  108  of the tongue-like section  84 . The first, second and third straps  100 ,  102 ,  104  have fastening mechanism  110  as shown. The first, second and third straps  100 ,  102 ,  104  are designed to mate with the first and second strips  96 ,  98  to retain the. tongue-like section  84  in a rolled state. The first strip  96  is positioned on the exterior  50  of the liner  14 , along the back edge  106 . The second strip  98  is located on the interior  49  of the liner  14 , along the back edge  106 . The first and second strips  96 ,  98  are comprised of a fastening mechanism configured to mate with the fastening mechanisms  110  of the first, second and third straps  100 ,  102 ,  104 . The fastening mechanisms  110  on both the straps  100 ,  102 ,  104  and the strips  96 ,  98  may include, for example, adhesive strips, snaps, buttons, zippers or the like. When the tongue-like section  84  is rolled up, the first and second straps  102  wrap around the rolled up section and fasten to the second strip  98 , while the third strap  104  wraps around the rolled up section and fastens to the first strip  96 . 
     To detach the liner  14  from the vehicle  10 , the liner  14  is first released from the second fastener system  96 . Then, the liner  14  is released from the fastener strip  76  and the tabs  78 . Next, the hooks  72  and the bottom hooks  74  are unclasped from the compartment  12 . The liner  14 , once detached from the vehicle  10 , can be folded and rolled into an elongated cylinder. The liner  14  can be placed into a drawstring bag (not shown). The liner  14  is set-up in the compartment  12  by following the reverse of the above described steps. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.