Abstract:
In one embodiment, the present disclosure is a modular construction of at least one partition panel combined with a structural footer rail, at least one close out wing, at least one header panel, optional gaskets to provide sound deadening between the cargo side and the cab side of the vehicle interior, and a structural reinforcing hoop to provide rigidity to the partition structure and create a “box” structure to the partition.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application No. 61/947,058 filed on Mar. 3, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Commercial vehicles and some passenger vehicles have been adapted to include an interior compartment partition to isolate the vehicle operator cab portion from a designated cargo or passenger portion. Generally, this was achieved by securing the partition to the vehicle B pillar and a structural roof bow of the vehicle so that a rigid partition can be created that protects the vehicle cab from, in the case of commercial vehicles, shifts in cargo that may cause loads to move from the cargo area to the cab area, and in the case of passenger vehicles, such as, for example police vehicles, isolates the passengers from the officers so that the passengers can be transported with minimal risk to the officers. 
     There is an increasing complexity in the design of commercial and passenger vehicles. For example, with new vehicle safety systems, the B pillar has been used to store side impact air bags. In addition, side impact crash sensors and the accompanying control modules for such systems may also be stored in the B pillar. In the case of Lane Detection Systems, the B pillar is often utilized to store radar or lidar systems, as well as the accompanying control modules to provide alerts to the vehicle operator as necessary. 
     The wiring for vehicles has also increased in complexity. The roof bows, which used to provide structural support, and now used as conduits wherein wiring is run to power the safety systems and for other systems within the vehicle. 
     The use of the B pillars and the roof bows for safety systems and wiring conduits has greatly reduced their ease of use as mounting structures for cargo partition systems. Indeed, mounting a cargo area partition to the roof bow may risk damaging the wiring that runs through the roof bows. Moreover, attaching a partition directly to the B pillar may damage the safety systems stored therein and further may interfere with the deployment of air bags stored in the B Pillar. 
     There is a need for a cargo or vehicle compartment partition that is rigidly mountable to a vehicle and does not interfere with the wiring in the roof bows or in the safety systems that are stored in the B pillar. 
     In one embodiment, the present disclosure is a modular construction of partition panels combined with a structural footer rail, at least one close out wing, at least one header panel, optional gaskets to provide sound deadening between the cargo area and the operator area of the vehicle interior, and a structural reinforcing hoop to provide rigidity to the partition structure and create a “box” structure to the partition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one construction of a modular partition of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the modular partition of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the modular partition of  FIG. 1  showing the orientation of the partition to a vehicle roof bow; 
         FIG. 4  is a cut away side view of a vehicle equipped with a modular portion system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings wherein like numbers refer to like structures, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 ,  FIG. 4  is a representation of vehicle  44  in cutaway view depicting a vehicle interior space  24  having a cargo partition system  10  separating the vehicle interior space  24  into a cargo side  22  and a cab side  20 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a schematic representation of the modular cargo partition system  10  comprised of individual bulkhead partition panels  12 ,  14  and  16  as shown or an optional single bulkhead partition panel to create partition  18 , mounted in a footer rail  37  to create the partition separating cab side  20  from cargo side  22  of a vehicle interior space  24 . 
     The panels are configured to fit within the contours of the vehicle interior space of, for example, a vehicle  44  within which it is mounted. In that regard, if individual panels are utilized, panel  14  may be pivotally joined as by hinges  13  relative to panel  12  so that it is possible to open panel  14  about the hinges to permit access from the cab side to the cargo side. A stop  11  is provided at an edge of the panel  16  to limit the swing movement of the panel  14  about the hinge and permit the panel to rest against the stop when it is in the closed position. In the embodiment shown, the panel  14  may be swingably opened toward the cargo side  20 . It follows that, in this configuration, stop  11  would have an orientation to accommodate that movement into the cargo area and stop movement of the panel into the cab section. However, it is also contemplated that panel  14  could be swingably opened into the cab side, depending upon the orientation of the hinge. A latch  17  is provided on the cab side of the panel  14  and on the cargo side of the panel. Any type of latch mechanism is contemplated as long as it can be opened to permit the panel to move about the hinge, and then latch the panel into place with the panel is closed. The panel  16  may be equipped with complimentary structure to engage the latch as may be well known to those skilled in the art. Note that the panel nearest the vehicle access door may further be equipped with a hand grip  33  to permit easier ingress and egress to the cargo space of the vehicle interior. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , the footer rail  37  is further adapted to accommodate the movement of the panel  14 . Flanges  19  and  21  are provided to cooperatively engage panels  12  and  16 , respectively. The flanges may be equipped with apertures  45  through which fasteners such as screws or bolts may be passed to affix panels  12  and  16  onto the footer rail  37 . The footer rail further may have a sill  23  extending the width  25  of the panel  14  to permit ingress and egress through the partition when the panel  14  is opened. 
     The panels as shown have windows  27 ,  29  and  31  to permit air to flow between the cab portion and the cargo portion of the vehicle interior space. The windows also permit viewing between the cab portion and the cargo portion of the vehicle interior space. 
     The partition system as depicted may include at least one wing close out panel  26  that may include an optional gasket  28 , and may further include attachment brackets  30 ,  32  to facilitate attachment of the structural rail  36  to the vehicle B pillar  48 . The attachment of the wing(s) to the vehicle B pillar is especially important as the B pillar often stores safety systems such as air bags, lane detection equipment etc. The attachment flanges may interact with complimentary structures on the B pillar to permit the wing to be secured into place without disturbing the B pillar stored safety systems. A gasket may be interposed between the wing flange and the B pillar to help control noise etc when the wing is attached to the B pillar. The attachment of the wing to the B pillar may be accomplished by passing a suitable number of screw, bolts or other attachments through the flange apertures and into cooperation with complimentary structures such as apertures, bolts etc., in the B pillar. 
     The system further includes header closeout panel  34  to facilitate attachment of the bulkhead partition panels to the header panel and to the structural rail  36  in a manner that does not disturb the vehicle headliner  38  or the wiring that may be routed through the vehicle roof bow  40 . The header close out panel is further equipped with flange  46  against which the panels  12  and  16  are secured, either by fasteners, screws, bolts etc., and against which panel  14  may rest if it is an openable partition or, if it is not openable, panel  14  may also be secured so that the entire partition is unitary and presents a boxlike structure when affixed to the B pillar. 
     The system is constructed in such a manner as to provide a box like structure for mounting in the vehicle. This is achieved by the cooperation of a footer rail and a structural reinforcing bow. The footer rail is attached to a vehicle floor by any suitable attachment such as screw or bolts. The bulkhead panels are mounted to a footer rail. The structural bow is secured to the attachment brackets. The attachment brackets are oriented along the structural bow so that attachment fasters such as screws, bolts etc passed through the attachment brackets engage complimentary structures in the vehicle roof bows, The cooperation of the footer rail, structural bracket and the panels creates a “box like” structure that may be mounted at any convenient space in the vehicle interior to separate the cab from the cargo area. The footer rail may be mounted to the floor where the risk of damaging safety systems is greatly reduced. The structural bow holds the panel system rigid such that the wing close out panels can be secured to the B Pillar and the header closeout can be secured to the structural rail  36  without disturbing the vehicle headliner or roof bow wiring routed therein. 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed cutaway view of a roof bow showing a no drill area  41  of the roof bow  40  and the vehicle headliner  38 . Similarly, the wings may have apertures to fasten the wings to the vehicle structure without damaging the vehicle safety systems in the B Pillar. 
     While one embodiment has been shown, the words used in the specification are words of description and not words of limitation. Those skilled in the art understand that many variations and modification can be made without departing from the scope and sprit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims