Abstract:
A device for holding and articulating a removable rear shelf of a motor vehicle. The device has a support which is secured to the vehicle. The shelf is able to pivot relative to the support about an axis of rotation. The shelf is held relative to the support by a first portion arranged on the support and a second portion arranged on the shelf, which engage one another. The shelf can be detached by resilient deformation of the first and second portions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for holding and articulating a removable rear shelf of a motor vehicle. 
     It is often useful, in particular in the case of vehicles having a rear door, on the one hand to cause the rear shelf to pivot in order to facilitate access to the trunk and, on the other hand, to remove the rear shelf in order to increase the loading capacity of the trunk. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to do that, the invention proposes that the device comprise: 
     a support which is to be secured to the vehicle, 
     articulation means for causing the shelf to pivot relative to the support about an axis of rotation, 
     holding means comprising a first portion arranged on the support and a second portion arranged on the shelf, those holding means engaging in one another in order to hold the shelf relative to the support and disengaging in order to free the shelf, by resilient deformation. 
     The resilient deformation of the holding means enables the shelf to be held or freed readily, by exerting a slight force on the shelf in order to engage or disengage the holding means. Owing to the fact that it is not necessary to operate the holding means, as is the case when holding hooks are used, the invention facilitates the use of the shelf. 
     A complementary feature of the invention consists in the fact that the shelf (consisting of a single piece) comprises a main portion, at least one substantially flat tongue belonging to the second portion of the holding means, and a hinge interposed between the main portion and each tongue. 
     That solution enables a reduced number of parts to be used, which facilitates its manufacture and its use, and reduces its cost. 
     Advantageously, the tongue(s) and the first portion of the holding means incorporate, in a unitary manner, in the case of the one, at least one recess and, in the case of the other, at least one boss, so that the boss(es) is(are) inserted resiliently into the recess(es) and hold(s) the shelf relative to the support. 
     In a complementary manner, the invention also proposes that the first portion of the holding means comprise at least one slot, in a form complementing that of the tongue(s), into which each tongue is to be inserted in order to be retained there relative to the support, and a bearing surface extending each slot in order to facilitate the insertion of the tongue(s) into the slot(s). 
     Owing to the fact that the bearing surface guides the tongue in the vicinity of the slot, its insertion is relatively easy. That solution is consequently practical to use and also simple and therefore relatively strong. 
     By way of variation, the invention proposes that the tongue have at least one recess and the first portion of the holding means comprise a bearing surface and at least one flexible plate which is to be inserted into the recess of the tongue in order to hold the tongue and apply it against the bearing surface. 
     Another embodiment according to the invention, likewise permitting easy use, consists in the fact that the tongue has at least one recess and the first portion of the holding means comprises at least one pin which is to be inserted into the recess of the tongue under the action of a resilient member. 
     In order also to permit an even more satisfactory use of the shelf, the invention proposes that: 
     the shelf be rotatable between a lower position, in which it is substantially horizontal, and an inclined upper position, and 
     the device comprise a spring aiding the handling of the shelf, the force of which spring opposed to that exerted by the weight of the shelf is greater than the latter force between an unstable intermediate position and the upper position and is lesser than that latter force between the unstable intermediate position and the lower position. 
     Thus, the upper and lower positions constitute two stable positions of the shelf. In order to raise the shelf, the user is aided by the spring, as far as the intermediate position. Beyond that intermediate position, the shelf rises by itself. In order to lower the shelf, it is necessary only to press on it as far as the intermediate position, and beyond that position the spring ensures that the shelf is not dropped suddenly. 
     An advantageous embodiment of that solution consists in the fact that the spring, which is of the spiral type, acts on an intermediate member pivoting in a bore of the support and having a slot for receiving the shelf. 
     An advantageous feature of the invention, permitting easy release of the shelf, consists in that: 
     the first portion of the holding means comprises a shaft, 
     the second portion of the holding means comprises an elongate bore, the shape of which complements the shaft and which has an opening along its direction of elongation in order to permit the engagement/disengagement of the shaft, 
     the shelf is rotatable between a lower position and an upper position and comprises a region forming a lever which rests on the support when the shelf is in the upper position, in order to free the shaft. 
     Owing to the lever, the user has a lesser force to exert in order to free the shelf. 
     According to a further feature of the invention, the device also comprises means for arranging the shelf in a substantially vertical position in the trunk of the vehicle, along the seat, when it is freed from the support. 
     Thus, the shelf can be kept in the vehicle without constituting an obstacle once detached. 
     By way of variation, the invention proposes that the device also comprise means for arranging the shelf in a substantially vertical position, within the trunk of the vehicle, in order to form a separating partition when it is freed from the support. 
     Thus, the user can reduce the movement of the load in the trunk when the load does not completely fill the trunk, or can separate the load into two when it contains products which should preferably not be placed in contact with one another. 
     In addition, the invention proposes that the device comprise catch means for locking the shelf in rotation in a plurality of positions, in order to maintain the shelf in at least one inclined position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings which accompany this description: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1, along the plane marked I—I in FIG. 1, the shelf not being held relative to the support, 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a first variant of the device according to the invention, the shelf being held relative to the support, 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a second variant of the device according to the invention, 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a third variant of the device according to the invention, 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a fourth variant of the device according to the invention, 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the device of FIG. 6, the shelf being placed in two arrangements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a device  1  basically comprising a rear shelf  4  of a vehicle, which is generally based on felt and/or plastics material, and a support  2  which is generally based on plastics material and which is to receive the shelf. 
     The shelf  4  comprises a structured main portion  4   a  that is to constitute a means of separation between the trunk and the passenger space of the vehicle, and two tongues  10   a ,  10   b  arranged in two front corners of the shelf  4 . The tongues  10   a ,  10   b  are substantially flat and are each connected to the main portion  4   a  of the shelf by a hinge  12   a ,  12   b  having a common axis of articulation  12 . In this particular case, the hinges  12   a ,  12   b  consist in a local reduction in thickness. 
     The support  2  comprises two lateral members  2   a ,  2   b . Those support members  2   a ,  2   b  each have a bearing surface  14   a ,  14   b  and a slot  8   a ,  8   b  substantially in the longitudinal extension of the corresponding bearing surface. 
     The slots  8   a ,  8   b  have shapes complementing those of the tongues  10   a ,  10   b  in order to hold them in position relative to each of the support members  2   a ,  2   b . In particular, the slots  8   a ,  8   b  each integrally incorporate recesses  9   a ,  9   b  which receive corresponding bosses  11   a ,  12   a  integral with each of the tongues  10   a ,  10   b.    
     Furthermore, the bearing surfaces  14   a ,  14   b  each have transverse grooves  16  opposite the hinges  12   a ,  12   b  in order to avoid jamming problems during the rotation of the shelf  4 . 
     In order to put the shelf in place, the user inserts the tongues  10   a ,  10   b  opposite the slots  8   a ,  8   b . In order to do that, the user can place the tongues  10   a ,  10   b  of the shelf  4  on the bearing surfaces  14   a ,  14   b  guiding the tongues as far as the slots  8   a ,  8   b.    
     The user then pushes on the shelf in order to insert the bosses  11   a ,  11   b  into the recesses  9   a ,  9   b  by resilient deformation. The assembly of the recesses and bosses ensures that the shelf is held, maintaining the tongues  10   a ,  10   b  inside the slots  8   a ,  8   b.    
     By way of variation, the two tongues could be joined in such a manner as to constitute a single tongue extending over the entire width of the shelf. 
     It would also be possible to replace the recesses by bosses and vice versa. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a variant  21  of the device, still comprising a shelf  24  and a support  22  composed of two side members. The single-piece shelf  24  integrally incorporates, by moulding, a main portion  24   a , a substantially flat tongue  30  extending over the entire width of the shelf  24 , and a hinge  32 . The hinge is interposed between the tongue  30  and the main portion  24   a  of the shelf. It is here constituted by two grooves  32   a ,  32   b.    
     The device  21  is basically distinguished from the previous device  1  in that the tongue  30  has two holes  29  instead of the bosses  11   a ,  11   b , into which are inserted two pins  31  forming bosses instead of the recesses  9   a ,  9   b.    
     The pins  31  are kept in the holes  29  under the pressure of a resilient member, in this case a rubber finger  33 , and bear on the tongue  30  in order to apply it to the surfaces  34  of the support  22 . Each pin  31  is guided in a cage  35  secured to the support  22 , in the vicinity of the rear seat  38  of the vehicle. The shelf  24  is consequently held by its front portion. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the shelf  24  with a dot-dash (phantom) line in the upper position, raised by rotation about the hinge  32 , and with a solid line in the lower position resting on the bearing surfaces  34  of the support members  22 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a device  41  which is basically distinguished from the device  21  of FIG. 3 in that each of the two pins  31  and each of the two resilient members  33  has been replaced by a single component, a flexible plate  56 , which is here produced in a unitary manner with each of the support members  42 . The shelf  44  is substantially identical to the shelf  24 . 
     Advantageously, those two plates  56  extend transversely over a length of approximately from 10 to 20 millimetres and have substantially conical bosses  51  which are inserted into holes  49  formed in the tongue  50  of the shelf  44 . Owing to their short length, those plates, which are integral with the support members  42 , exhibit a resilience enabling them to hold the tongue  50  and to apply it against the bearing surfaces  54  of the support  42 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a device  61  comprising a support  62  composed of two side members, a non-articulated shelf  64  and two substantially cylindrical intermediate members  63 , which are substantially U-shaped in cross-section. Here, the shelf  64  has two slightly tapered tongues  70  rigidly extending a main portion  64   a.    
     Each intermediate member  63  has an oblong internal cavity  68  similar to the slots  8   a ,  8   b  of the device  1  and a substantially cylindrical outer surface  67 . Each tongue  70  has bosses  69  which are inserted resiliently into recesses  71  of the intermediate member  63  in order to ensure that the shelf is held relative to the support  62 . 
     Each support member  62  has an elongate bore  65  in which the intermediate member  63  is inserted in order to pivot there. The bore  65  has a radial opening of less that 180 degrees, extending along its direction of elongation and traversed by the tongue  70 . In addition, a spiral spring  77  is connected at one of its ends to the intermediate member and at its other end to the support  62 . 
     The assembly formed by the intermediate member  63  and the spiral spring  77  constitutes an aid to handling the shelf  64 , by exerting a couple opposing that exerted by the weight of the shelf. 
     The couple exerted by the spiral spring is slightly smaller than that exerted by the weight of the shelf, when the shelf is in the substantially horizontal lower position resting on the bearing surface  74  of the support, represented by a solid line in this Figure. On the other hand, when the shelf is in the upper position represented by a dot-dash line (phantom line) in FIG. 5, the couple exerted by the spiral spring is slightly larger than that exerted by the weight of the shelf. 
     In other words, in the absence of external action, below an intermediate position constituting an unstable equilibrium, the shelf tends to go down in order to rest on the bearing surface  74  and, above that intermediate position, it tends to rise until it reaches the upper position. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a device  81  comprising a support  82  and a rigid shelf  84 . The support  82  comprises a shaft  88  having a circular cross-section which is inserted in a bore  90  of complementary shape formed in the shelf  84  in order to cause it to pivot. 
     The bore  90 , which is resiliently deformable, has a direction of elongation and a radial opening  92  which extends along its direction of elongation and which is slightly less than 180 degrees, so that it is substantially “Ω”-shaped in cross-section, in order to enable the shaft  88  and the bore  90  to be engaged or disengaged resiliently. 
     The shelf  84  extends on each side of the bore  90 . It has a main portion  84   a  arranged on one side of the bore and a portion forming a lever  84   b  extending the main portion beyond the bore  90 . 
     When the shelf  84  is in the upper position, illustrated by a solid line in FIG. 6, the lever  84   b  rests on the support  82 . If the user continues his movement of lifting the main portion of the shelf, it brings about the separation of the bore  90  and the shaft  88 , by resilient deformation and, more precisely, the widening of the opening  92 , as illustrated by a dot-dash line (phantom line). 
     Furthermore, the shaft  88  comprises bosses  89  which are inserted resiliently into recesses  91  of the bore in order to maintain the shelf in given inclined positions. Those bosses and those recesses constitute catch means for locking the rotation of the shelf. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 7, the device  81  also comprises first retaining members  102  which are arranged on the side walls of a trunk  100 , in the lower portion thereof, in the vicinity of the seat  98 . Owing to the fact that a space  106  is also formed between the support  82  and the rear seat  98  of the vehicle, the shelf  84  can be arranged in the trunk  100 , substantially vertically, along the rear seat  98 . It is then retained in the lower portion in the retaining members  102  and in the upper portion by the seat  98  and the support  82 . 
     In addition, the bearing surface  94  on which the shelf rests in the articulated lower position has, substantially at its centre, a hole  108  permitting the passage of the shelf  84  through it, substantially vertically. 
     The device also has second retaining means  104  arranged on the side walls of the trunk  100 , substantially plumb with the hole  108 . The shelf  84  can then also be arranged substantially vertically within the trunk  100 . It is retained there in the lower portion by the retaining members  104  and in the upper portion by the bearing surface  94  of the support  92 , on each side of the hole  108 . 
     The shelf then forms a transverse partition in the trunk.