Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for dividing ( 41, 42 ) the storage space behind a seat, comprising a storage floor ( 21 ) having a horizontal hinge ( 22 ). The storage floor ( 21 ) can be unfolded ( 46 ) or folded up in relation to the vehicle floor. Said hinge ( 22 ) enables the storage floor ( 21 ) to alternate between being in a storage position and a non-storage position. The invention aims to facilitate structure and handling. In order to achieve this, the storage floor ( 21 ) is fixed to the rear ( 19 ) of the seat by means of the hinge ( 22 ), forming a unit comprising the storage floor ( 21 ) and seat, which can be pre-assembled. In the non-storage position, the storage floor ( 21 ) folds onto the rear side ( 19 ) of the back of the seat ( 12 ) and is fixed thereto by a retaining means ( 30 ). In the storage position ( 21.2 ), the storage floor ( 21 ) juts out of the back of the seat ( 12 ) and is held in position by means of supporting surfaces ( 28 ). Said storage floor forms an upper storage floor ( 25 ) located above the vehicle floor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a device for dividing the storage space behind a seat in a vehicle. The interior space of a vehicle is defined both by its volume and also by the extent to which that volume can actually be used. The volume itself results from the configuration of the interior space, which is determined by the various interior components such as the seats. The storage space behind the backrests of the seats is what primarily determines the usefulness of that volume. 
     In the known device of the type in question, the floor of the storage space consists of a cover panel, which normally seals off a recessed well in the floor of the vehicle (company brochure: Daimler-Benz AG, VP/KW 6701·1403·00-00/00897, “The Mercedes-Benz A Class”, pp. 36 and 37). The visible side of this cover panel is lined with carpeting, which continues forward along the floor of the vehicle underneath the seat. As a result, a so-called “film hinge” is created by the carpet at the transition point underneath the seat between the cover panel and the floor of the vehicle. When the cover panel is flipped up while the seat is in its normal position, the cover panel strikes the backrest of the seat. Although it is then possible to use the lower storage space in the well underneath the cover panel to hold cargo, the panel is not secured in its flipped-up position. It is therefore necessary to tie the flipped-up cover panel in position with a cord, for example. To obtain a large storage space, both the seat part and the backrest must be repositioned twice from their normal positions. It is impossible to move the cover panel into a position beyond its flipped-up position, however, because this would put too much stress on the hinge formed by the carpet. In any case, the interior of the vehicle becomes highly unattractive when the cover panel is flipped up, for which reason the flipped-up position is used only when necessary, never under normal conditions. Under normal conditions, therefore, one makes do with the partial space above the cover panel covering the recessed well. The well is usually used only to store important tools for the vehicle such as tools for changing flat tires, which are gladly kept out of sight by the cover panel over the well. 
     In a modified device, in which the various sub-spaces are not combined into a single, large storage space when the cover panel is in its non-storage position (DE 198 02 077 A1), an insert is used to move the cover panel from its low, normal level to a higher level. The idea of this insert is to bring the floor of the storage space up to a level which matches the loading edge of the trunk opening of the vehicle. This device is expensive and occupies too much space. The insert is a product which must be manufactured separately, and it also occupies a great deal of space in the vehicle when not being used. If it is stored outside the vehicle, it is not always available when needed. The work involved in adjusting the cover panel is also awkward, because the cover panel must first be removed from its normal position; then the insert must be put in place; and finally the cover panel must then be laid on top of the insert. Disassembly is equally cumbersome. 
     It is known that the floor of the trunk space of a motor vehicle can be covered by a protective mat (DE 198 20 517 A1). The protective mat consists of several folding sections and side parts, which means that the mat can be folded onto itself several times when not in use and stored in this folded-up state behind the backrest. The folded-up mat is secured in its storage location by a retaining device attached to the mat. That is, the protective mat has a folding retaining part, by means of which the mat can be buttoned to and unbuttoned from the rear surface of the backrest of the vehicle. The protective mat cannot be used to divide the storage space into sub-spaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is based on the task of developing a reliable device for dividing the storage space behind a seat, which is attractive when in its storage position and also in its non-storage position, which can be moved conveniently between these two positions, and which can be held reliably in place in both. This is achieved by the features of the present invention, to which the following special meaning attaches: 
     In the invention, the seat and the cover panel form a structural unit. This structural unit is produced as a complete system by a supplier. The buyer is required merely to perform the work required to install the seat in the interior of the vehicle. In the flipped-up position, the cover panel lies against the backrest, where it is held in place by retaining means. The cover panel serves in this case, first, as a safety component in the event of a crash: it reinforces the backrest. Especially when damping means are integrated into the cover panel, the cover panel also acts as an acoustic component when in the flipped-up position, which considerably reduces the amount of unpleasant noise in the interior of the vehicle when it is operating. The cover panel can be upholstered on the side opposite that which supports the cargo; when the panel is in the flipped-up position, this upholstered side thus completes the upholstery of the backrest. This improves the damping effect and also increases the degree to which the danger of injury in a crash is reduced. The backrest supports the cover panel after it has been flipped up, and the cover panel forms the rear surface of the backrest of the seat. Regardless of whether the cover panel is in this up position or in its down position, in which it supports the cargo, the object according to the invention always presents a good optical appearance. When the cover panel is moved between the up and the down position, only the panel itself is moved, whereas the seat can usually remain stationary. 
    
    
     Additional measures and advantages of the invention can be derived from the subclaims, from the following description, and from the drawings. The drawings present the invention in the form of schematic diagrams, which illustrate several exemplary embodiments and positions: 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle with the seat according to the invention, the seat being designed to form a single structural unit with the cover panel, shown in a first position; 
     FIGS. 2,  3 , and  4  show views of the structural unit shown in FIG. 1 after the cover panel and the backrest of the seat have been moved into three other positions; 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view, partially cut away, of a cover panel belonging to the structural unit of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross section, enlarged in comparison with FIG.  5  and partially cut away, through the cover panel along line VI—VI of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a second embodiment of the structural unit according to the invention in a first position; and 
     FIG. 8 shows the structural unit according to FIG. 7 after the components have been moved into a second position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A vehicle floor  15  has a seat  10  in a defined position; the seat is divided into a flat seat part  11  and a backrest  12 . These parts  11 ,  12  are provided with an upholstered, resilient seating surface  13  on the seat part and an upholstered support surface  14  on the backrest  12 . A well  16  can be integrated into the floor of the vehicle, which can be closed off when desired by a cover  17 . For this purpose, shoulders  18  are provided around the inside of the well. 
     A cover panel  21  is attached by a hinge  22  to the rear of the seat  10 . In this case, the cover panel  21  is hinged by the hinge  22  to the backrest  12 . The hinge  22  determines an essentially horizontal folding axis  23 , as illustrated by the broken line in FIG.  5 . In this way, the flat seating part  11 , the backrest  12 , and the cover panel  21  connected to the backrest form a single structural unit  20 , which can be preassembled as a complete unit. The hinge  22  is located in the lower area of the backrest  12 . 
     The cover panel  21  usually occupies the position shown in FIG. 1, in which its utility surface  25 , shown in FIG. 2, rests flush against the rear surface  19  of the backrest  12 . This folded-up position is characterized by the auxiliary line  21 . 1  in FIG.  1  and is to be referred to as the “up” position of the cover panel  21 . Retaining means  30  are provided in the upper area of the folded-together components  12 ,  21 . Opposite the utility surface  25 , the cover panel  21  has a decorative surface  24 , which is visible in the up position of FIG.  1 . This decorative surface  24  is adapted in terms of shape and structure to the spaces and surfaces present in the area of the seat, i.e., to the body of the car in the storage area  40 . In addition, the backrest  12  also has the sound-damping and sound-suppressing function already indicated. 
     By disconnecting the retaining means  30 , the cover panel  21  can be swung on the hinge  22  around an angle  46  into the down position shown in FIG. 2, which is illustrated by the corresponding auxiliary line  21 . 2 . The storage spade  40  extending as far as the upper edge of the backrest  12  is thus divided into two sub-spaces  41 ,  42 . With respect to the cover  17 , functioning as the lower cover panel, the cover panel  21  assumes a superior position and thus becomes the “upper cover panel” with respect to  17 . In its outward-projecting position shown in FIG. 2, the upper cover panel  21  is supported at its free edge by a shoulder  28  in the interior of the car body. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 3, there is a joint fitting  31  between the flat seating part  11  and the backrest  12 . This defines a joint axis  32 . The backrest  12  can be tilted into various positions by means of a gear mechanism (not shown) included in the joint fitting  31 . To actuate this mechanism, a handle  33 , for example, which can be seen in FIG. 3, is used. It is obvious that motorized actuating means could also be used for this purpose. By means of this handle  33 , the assembly consisting of the backrest  21  and the cover panel  21 , currently in the up position, can be swung around an angle  39  into a horizontal position, shown in FIG. 3, where the support surface  14  of  12  on the one hand and the seating surface  13  of  11  on the other are in contact with each other. This assembly  21 ,  12  can here assume an essentially horizontal position. 
     In FIG. 3, furthermore, the cover  17  on the well  16  has been removed. As a result, a single large storage space, the size of which has been increased by the depth  43  of the well, is obtained. At least the height  44  of FIG. 3 is available to receive cargo. The cargo can even extend into the space above the flat decorative surface  24  of the cover panel  21 . 
     Proceeding from FIG. 3, it is possible to move the structural unit  20  according to the invention into its additional position, shown in FIG.  4 . For this purpose, the cover panel  21  is swung on its hinge  22  away from the backrest  12  around an angle  47  which is twice that shown in FIG.  2 . The storage space  40  is again divided into two sub-spaces  41 ,  42 , already seen in FIG. 2, provided that the cover  17  is still in the position shown in FIG.  2 . Otherwise, the lower level of the storage space is increased by the depth  43  of the well. The utility surface  25  of the cover panel  21  is essentially on the same plane as the rear surface  19  of the backrest  12 . Thus a single, large, continuous cargo surface  45  is obtained. This “down” storage position  21 . 2  of the upper cover panel  21  can, as in FIG. 2, be held in place by latches  35  (not shown) in the interior of the vehicle. These latches  35  and the complementary latching means are located, for example, at the rear edge of the cover panel  21  and on the shoulder  28 , which is a permanent part of the vehicle. 
     The hinge  22  in the first exemplary embodiment is located in the transition area between the backrest  12  and the seat part  11 . This also applies to the second exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8, which, however, is modified in the following way. In this structural unit  20 ′, the upper cover panel  21 ′ is divided into two sub-panels  26 ,  27 , which are connected to each other by an auxiliary hinge  29 . FIG. 7 again shows the down position  21 . 2 ′. Here the two sub-panels  26 ,  27  are stretched out. In this case, too, the backrest  12  is folded down, as also in FIG. 4, for which reason its rear surface  19  again forms a single, large, continuous cargo surface  45  in the area of the upper level  41  of the storage space. Underneath the upper cover panel, the corresponding lower storage level  42  is also available, where again, by installing or removing the cover  17  present there, the cargo space can be increased if desired by the depth  43  of the well. 
     FIG. 8 shows the same structural unit  20 ′ with the backrest  12  in the normal upright position. In addition, the two-part upper cover panel  21 ′ is in this case moved into its special up position  21 . 1 ′. In this position, the utility surface of the forward sub-panel  26  shown in FIG. 7 is in contact with the rear surface  19  of the backrest  12 , and the rear sub-panel  27  is in contact with the forward sub-panel  26 . The bottom surfaces  36 ,  37  of these two sub-panels  26 ,  27 , i.e., the parts which are facing downward in FIG. 7, are resting against each other in FIG.  8 . The auxiliary hinge  29  has been moved from its stretched-out 180° position of FIG. 7 into the folded, 0° position of FIG. 8. A accordion-like fold is therefore present. A compact panel package  34  behind the rear surface  19  of the backrest  12  is thus obtained in the “up” position of FIG.  8 . 
     It is obvious that the upper cover panel  21 ′ could also be divided into more than two sub-panels  26 ,  27 . Instead of the division of the upper cover panel  21 ′ in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, it would also be possible to divide it in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Each panel section could be designed to fold with respect to the backrest  12  independently of the others. Insofar as, in this case, the seat  10 ′ to which upper cover panel  21 ′ is attached is already divided longitudinally into sections, the upper cover panel will also be divided longitudinally in a manner corresponding to the division of the seat. It would also be possible for the upper cover panel  21  or  21 ′ not to extend over the entire height of the backrest  12  but rather over only a part of it, so that several auxiliary panels could be arranged one above each other. Each of these could then consist in turn of several sub-parts, which could be moved in their entirety or in stages from the up position  20 . 1 ′ to the down position  20 . 2 ′. In this way, the single large storage space  40  can be divided into more than two sub-spaces. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show an advantageous design for this type of upper cover panel  21 . First, in correspondence with the difference in their functions, the utility surface  25  will be designed differently from the other, decorative surface  24 , i.e., the surface which is visible when the panel is in the up position  20 . 1 . The utility surface  25  will be made especially strong to withstand the mechanical stresses exerted on it by the cargo. The decorative surface  24 , however, will be designed to match the style of its surroundings. For the previously mentioned good damping function of the upper cover panel  21 , it is recommended that a multi-layer design be used, which is illustrated with particular clarity in FIG. 6. A laminate  50  made up of several layers  51 - 54  is present here. The uppermost layer  51  represents the utility surface  25  and consists of, for example, a scratch-resistant material. Then comes a support layer  52 , which is designed to provide dimensional stability. This is followed by an upholstery layer  53  of foam, etc., which is followed finally by a decorative layer  54 . This decorative layer  54  can advantageously be wrapped around the edges to conceal the lateral edges  38  of the upper cover panel  21  and extend all the way to the uppermost layer  51  forming the utility surface  25 . 
     To increase the effectiveness of the damping, both the upholstery layer  53  and also the support layer  52  can themselves be divided into several sub-layers. Knowledge of the principles by which acoustic elements are designed will be helpful here. Various functional parts which must be accessible from the utility surface  25  can be integrated into the uppermost layer  51 . Such functional parts could include friction strips for holding the cargo, tie-down rings for securing the cargo, and handles for folding the upper cover panel up and down. In the latter case, the folding is done by hand. It is obvious that motors could also take over the job of swinging the upper cover panel  21  around the small angle  46  of FIG. 2 or the large angle  47  of FIG.  4 . In a similar manner, as previously mentioned, it would also be possible to motorize the job of adjusting the angle of the backrest  12  or of the assembly consisting of the backrest  12  and the upper cover panel  21  according to FIG. 3 around the tilt angle  38 , which can be seen in FIG.  3 . 
     For the sake of reducing weight and increasing the dimensional stability, it is recommended that the support layer  52  be provided with a honeycomb structure  48 , for example, as can be derived from FIG.  6 . In the present case, it is assumed that the intermediate layer  49  is corrugated and is sandwiched between two flat panels  55 ,  56 . The upper panel  55  carries the uppermost layer on which the cargo rests, whereas the lower panel  56  is used to support the layer of upholstery  53 . 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 List of Reference Numbers 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 seat (FIGS. 1-4) 
               
               
                   
                 10′ 
                 seat (FIGS. 7, 8) 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 flat seat part of 10, 10′ 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 backrest of 10, 10′ 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 seating surface of 11 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 support surface of 12 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 floor of vehicle 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 well 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 cover of 16 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 interior shoulder in 16 for 17 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 rear surface of 12 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 structural unit consisting of 10, 21 (FIGS. 1-4) 
               
               
                   
                 20′ 
                 structural unit consisting of 10′, 21′ (FIGS. 7, 8) 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 upper cover panel (FIGS. 1-4) 
               
               
                   
                 21′ 
                 upper cover panel (FIGS. 7, 8) 
               
               
                   
                 21.1 
                 up position of 21 on 12 (FIGS. 1, 3) 
               
               
                   
                 21.2 
                 down position of 21 with respect to 12 (FIGS. 2, 4) 
               
               
                   
                 21.1′ 
                 down position of 21′ with respect to 12 (FIG. 7) 
               
               
                   
                 21.2′ 
                 down position of 21′ with respect to 12 (FIG. 7) 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 hinge between 12 and 21, and between 12 and 21′ 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 horizontal fold axis of 22 for 21 (FIG. 5) 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 decorative surface of 21 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 utility surface of 21 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 forward sub-panel of 21′ (FIG. 7) 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 rear sub-panel of 21′ (FIG. 7) 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 support shoulder for 21 (FIG. 2) 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 auxiliary hinge between 26 and 27 (FIGS. 7, 8) 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 retaining means for 21 on 12 (FIG. 1) 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 joint fitting between 12, 11 (FIG. 3) 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 joint axis of 31 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 handle for 31 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 panel package consisting of 26, 27 in the folded 
               
               
                   
                   
                 position (FIG. 8) 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 latching means between 21 and 28 (FIG. 4) 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 bottom surface of 26 (FIG. 7) 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 bottom surface of 27 (FIG. 7) 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 side area of 21 (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                 tilt angle of 12 or of 12, 21 (FIG. 3) 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 single large storage space 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 upper level of 40 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 lower level of 40 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 depth of well 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 maximum load height 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 single large cargo surface (FIG. 4) 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 small fold angle of 21 (FIG. 2) 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 large fold angle of 21 (FIG. 4) 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 honeycomb structure of 52 (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 49 
                 corrugated intermediate layer of 51 (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 laminate for 21 (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 uppermost layer of 25 (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 support layer (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 upholstery layer (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 decorative layer (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 upper panel of 51 (FIG. 6) 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 lower panel of 51 (FIG. 6)