Abstract:
A motor vehicle has a loading compartment and a driver&#39;s compartment which is separated from the loading compartment via a partition. In order to permit great variability by making good use of the space, the partition is of two-part design, with the two parts being connected to each other via a hinge. The hinge makes it possible for the second part to be able to be pivoted in relation to the fixed, lower part toward the loading compartment or toward the driver&#39;s compartment. A latching device secures the partition in various pivoting angles.

Description:
This application claims the priority of German application 10 2004 051 015.6, filed Oct. 20, 2004, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a motor vehicle with a closed loading compartment and a driver&#39;s compartment which is separated from the loading compartment via a partition, which has an adjustable vehicle seat, in which the partition includes at least first and second surfaces which are connected pivotably to each other, and in which a hinge runs parallel to a vehicle floor and pivotally connects the surfaces to each other. 
     German document DE 19751671 A1 discloses a partition for minibuses or trucksters. The partition runs transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and separates a driver&#39;s compartment from a useable space. In order to enlarge the useable space available, this partition is designed in such a manner that it has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section extending into the driver&#39;s compartment under the seats thereof. As a result, an additional useable space is provided at the expense of the driver&#39;s compartment. 
     One object of the present invention is the object of providing a vehicle which provides great loading compartment and driver&#39;s compartment variability by making good use of the space and at the same time which has a high degree of safety. 
     This object is achieved according to the invention by a motor vehicle having a latching device arranged in a region of a vehicle roof, with the first surface arranged in a lower region of the vehicle and connected fixedly both to the vehicle floor and also, on both sides, to vehicle walls, and with the second surface arranged in an upper region of the vehicle and secured fixedly in an adjustable manner in various pivoting angles via the hinge. 
     The partition of the motor vehicle according to the invention has two surfaces which are connected to each other via a hinge running transversely with respect to the vehicle floor. A first surface is arranged in the lower region of the vehicle and is connected fixedly both to the vehicle floor and also, on both sides, to the vehicle wall. As a result, this surface forms a stable termination of the loading compartment and increases the strength of the vehicle structure. The second surface of the partition is arranged in the upper region of the vehicle and can be pivoted by means of the hinge. The second surface is secured fixedly in various pivoting angles via a latching device arranged in the region of the vehicle roof. 
     The pivoting of the upper part of the partition therefore enables either the driver&#39;s compartment to be enlarged, by the partition being pivoted in the direction of the loading compartment, or it enables the loading compartment to be enlarged by the partition being pivoted in the direction of the driver&#39;s compartment. As a result, it is possible for even very large drivers, with a predetermined size of the driver&#39;s compartment, to be able to push the vehicle seat back a long way or to be able to incline the backrest rearward a long way in order to take up a comfortable and ergonomic sitting position. For this purpose, the partition is pivoted toward the loading compartment, so that the necessary space is created for the driver. 
     In the case of smaller drivers or in the case of very large freight items, the partition can be pivoted forward toward the driver&#39;s compartment, so that an enlarged loading compartment is obtained. A stable connection of the upper, second surface of the partition to the vehicle body is produced via the fixed, lower segment of the partition and the hinge. A latching device is provided at the upper end of the second surface and connects the latter fixedly to the vehicle roof. As a result, the necessary safety is ensured even in the event of a crash by items of luggage being securely retained in the loading compartment by the partition during sharp braking maneuvers or a crash. 
     In one embodiment, provision is made for the latching device to have two intermeshing racks. The first rack is connected fixedly to the vehicle body, preferably the structure of the vehicle roof. The second rack is connected in an articulated manner to the second surface of the partition. The two racks engage in one another and therefore define a certain set angle of the second surface. The articulated suspension of the second rack makes it possible for a relatively large angular region to be able to be covered while the two racks remain constantly stably connected. 
     In particular, provision can be made for the latching device to have a prestressed spring which pressurizes the second rack in the direction of the first rack. As a result, the mechanical connection of the two racks is further improved and the retaining force of the latching device is increased. 
     One embodiment makes provision for the setting of the teeth of the two racks to be designed in such a manner that a movement of the second rack forward in the direction of travel is blocked and a movement of the second rack rearward counter to the direction of travel is made possible in the event of it being pressed over the latching. As a result, a simple possibility of adjusting the upper partition section in the direction of the loading compartment is obtained and at the same time a particularly good support of the partition is obtained should items of luggage impact against the partition in the direction of the driver&#39;s compartment. 
     For a particularly stable support, provision may be made for a plurality of latching devices or pairs of racks to be arranged next to one another on the second surface of the partition. 
     A roof lining which covers the latching device can be arranged below the vehicle roof. The latching device is therefore fitted in a visually advantageous manner between the roof lining and vehicle roof and cannot be seen from the driver&#39;s compartment. 
     In order to permit an ergonomically favorable possibility of adjusting the vehicle seat, provision may be made for the hinge to be arranged at such a height above the vehicle floor that the resulting pivot point of the second surface is arranged approximately at the same height as the pivot point of a pivotable backrest of the driver&#39;s seat. The effect achieved by this solution is that the second surface of the partition can be pivoted parallel to a backrest of a driver&#39;s seat. 
     In order to achieve good stability at low weight, provision is made for the second surface to have a mechanically stiff frame of profiled material which encircles the second surface in a closed manner and in which an extensive filling composed of a mechanically stiff material is accommodated. This filling may be formed from sheet metal or a fiber composite material. Furthermore, in order to increase the rigidity, the filling has a curvature directed toward the loading compartment or a profiling. 
     The invention can be used in particular for lightweight commercial vehicles, such as van-type trucks or vans. However, it may also be used for motor homes or coaches in order firstly to provide a comfortable driver&#39;s compartment or interior and secondly to provide as large a loading compartment as possible by making correspondingly good use of the space. 
     Further features of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and described in more detail below in the associated description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a longitudinal section through a motor vehicle with a partition according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective plan view of a partition designed according to the invention, 
         FIG. 3  shows a longitudinal section through a latching device, with the partition illustrated pivoted toward the loading compartment, and 
         FIG. 4  shows the latching device with the partition illustrated pivoted toward the driver&#39;s compartment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a motor vehicle  1  with a loading compartment  11  and a driver&#39;s compartment  12 . The loading compartment  11  is terminated downward by a motor vehicle floor  13  and upward by a motor vehicle roof  15  and laterally by side walls  14 . A vehicle seat  2  is arranged in the driver&#39;s compartment  12  which is arranged in front of the loading compartment in the direction of travel, said vehicle seat  2  having a seat cushion  22  and a backrest  21  connected pivotably to the latter via a rotary fitting  24 . A height-adjustable head restraint  25  is arranged at the upper end of the back rest  21 . The vehicle seat  2  is connected to the motor vehicle floor  13  via a seat box  23  and can be displaced on the seat box  23  in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, that is to say forward or rearward, via guide rails in order to set a desired sitting position. Furthermore, the backrest  21  can be adjusted in inclination via the rotary fitting  24 , so that a driver can set the sitting position which is optimum for him. 
     An instrument panel  18  and a steering wheel  17  are arranged in front of the driver&#39;s seat  2  in the direction of travel in order to clarify the cockpit. 
     Situated between the driver&#39;s compartment  12  and the loading compartment  11  is a partition  4  which separates the driver&#39;s compartment  12  and the loading compartment  11  from each other, as is also illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The partition  4  has a first surface  41  and a second surface  42 . The two surfaces  41 ,  42  are connected pivotably to each other via a hinge  45  running transversely with respect to the vehicle floor  13 . The first surface  41  is arranged in the lower region of the partition  4 , close to the vehicle floor  13 , and is connected fixedly, in particular, is welded, adhesively bonded or riveted, both to the vehicle floor  13  and to the two side walls  14 . The second surface  42 , which is arranged above the first surface  41 , runs from the hinge  45  upward as far as the vehicle roof  15 . The second surface is mounted pivotably at its lower end via the hinge  45  on the lower part of the partition  41  and at its upper end has a latching device  3  which connects the second surface  42  fixedly to the vehicle roof. 
     It is made clear in  FIG. 2 , via the dashed central line of the partition  4 , that the upper part  42  is pivoted rearward in relation to the vertically running, lower part  41  into the loading compartment. In order to reinforce the stability, the upper part  42  of the partition  4  has an encircling frame  43  which is formed from a profiled frame, in particular an aluminum profiled frame or a steel profiled frame. The profiled frame  43  has a filling  44  which can consist, for example, of aluminum sheet or steel sheet or of a synthetic fiber composite material. In addition, transparent surfaces may be provided in the filling, permitting a view from the driver&#39;s compartment into the loading compartment. As a result, the driver can check the items of luggage in the loading compartment even during the journey. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  provide enlarged illustrations of the upper region between the partition  4  and the vehicle roof  15 . The latching device  3  in particular can be seen in detail there. The latching device  3  has a first rack  31  and a second rack  32 , the first rack  31  being connected fixedly to the vehicle roof  15  and the second rack  32  being mounted in an articulated manner on the partition  4 . The second rack  32  is arranged below the first rack  31  and meshing therewith.  FIG. 3  shows the latching device in a position in which it is pivoted rearward toward the loading compartment  11  while  FIG. 4  shows the latching device  3  in a position pivoted toward the driver&#39;s compartment. 
     The latching device  3  is arranged above the driver&#39;s compartment  12  in the region of the vehicle roof  15  and is covered by a roof lining  16  extending below the vehicle roof  15 , so that the latching device  3  cannot be seen from the driver&#39;s compartment. The lower rack  32  is connected to an articulated arm  33  via a first rotary joint  34 . The articulated arm  33  is coupled at its other end to the upper end of the partition  4  via a spring joint  35 . The spring joint  35  has a spring which pressurizes the second rack  32  toward the first rack  31  in order to improve the connection of the two racks with each other. The toothing of the two racks is designed in such a manner that the racks  31  and  32  are set counter to a movement in the direction of travel, with the result that the partition  4  cannot move forward in the direction of travel but rather only a movement of the partition  4  counter to the direction of travel, i.e. toward the loading compartment  11 , is permitted. 
     A handle  46  fitted fixedly on the partition  4  permits easy operation or pivoting of the partition  4  about the pivot axis formed by the hinge  45 . The partition  4  can be pivoted via the handle  46  into the loading compartment simply by pressing it toward the loading compartment. As an alternative, the pivoting of the partition  4  toward the loading compartment may also take place by adjustment of the backrest  21  by the backrest during the pivoting to the rear coming into contact with the partition  4  and pivoting the latter rearward toward the loading compartment. 
     In order to pivot the loading-compartment partition  4  forward in the direction of travel, it is necessary to actuate the handle  46 . The handle is connected to the rotary joints  34  and  35  via a Bowden cable  47 . By actuation of the handle, the latter acts on the rotary joints via the Bowden cable and releases the connection of the two racks  31 ,  32 . Therefore, when the handle is actuated, the second rack  32  is disengaged from the first rack  31 . Via the actuation of the handle  46 , the latching device  3  is released and it is made possible for the driver to pivot the partition  4  in a simple manner forward in the direction of travel toward the driver&#39;s compartment. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the latching device  3  with the partition  4  being illustrated in a position in which it is situated at the front in the direction of travel, i.e. with the maximum possible loading-compartment volume. 
     The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.