Abstract:
A motor vehicle, especially a sedan or a coupe, with a rear trunk and a cover means for alternately closing or clearing a top trunk opening to increase the usability of the rear area of the motor vehicle, the trunk is provided with a cover that is formed of several cover parts which are movably supported on each side of the trunk opening and in the open position can be moved forward into a storage position to clear the trunk opening. According to another approach, it is provided that a cargo box is mountable over a rear cargo space of the vehicle to provide it with an increased cargo volume by movement of a movable bottom of the cargo box from a closed position in which the cargo box is separated toward the cargo space to an open position in which the cargo box is opened toward the cargo space.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a motor vehicle, especially a sedan or a coupe, with a rear trunk and a cover means for alternately closing or clearing a top trunk opening.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     DE 196 15 540 A1 discloses a passenger station wagon with an upper tailgate which pivots up and with a lower rear tailgate which pivots down. By pivoting one or both tailgates, conventionally the cargo space is accessible from the rear. A comparable passenger car is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,594 B1.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A primary object of the invention is to devise the initially specified motor vehicle with a rear area which can be used for diverse purposes due to great variability.  
         [0006]     This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a motor vehicle, especially a sedan or a coupe, with a rear trunk and a cover means for alternately closing or clearing a top trunk opening, in which the cover means has several cover parts which are movably supported on either side of the trunk opening and in the open position can be moved forward into a storage position to clear the trunk opening. It is advantageous that the cover parts can be moved into their front lowered storage position so that the cargo area can be used in the manner of a pickup. This greatly increases the utility. In particular, the use of the cargo area is improved with a rear hatch which can be adjusted in diverse ways.  
         [0007]     This object is also achieved in accordance with the present invention by a motor vehicle with a rear trunk or cargo space and a cover means for alternately closing or clearing a top trunk opening or cargo space opening, wherein an additional cargo volume is made available by means of a cargo box which is mounted over the trunk, and wherein the cargo box has a movable bottom that can be moved between a closed position in which the cargo box is separated toward the trunk, and an open position in which the cargo box is opened toward the trunk when the top trunk opening has been cleared. In this case, it is advantageous that, by means of the cargo box, an additional cargo volume can be provided, this assuming a motor vehicle which has a corresponding top clearable opening in the body. The cargo box can be adapted to different motor vehicles or can be easily adaptable by means of an adapter. The provision of an additional useful volume represents a major advantage. Possible uses are increased by the floor being movable.  
         [0008]     These and other features of the invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rear part of passenger car with the trunk cover partially opened;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1 , but with the trunk cover of the passenger car opened and with the rear hatch swung vertically down;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1 , but with the trunk cover opened and a rear hatch which has been swung out horizontally and which is bearing cargo;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 3 , but with the trunk cover opened and the swung-out rear hatch lowered;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of a the motor vehicle rear with a bearing means for the rear hatch in different positions of movement;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a rear part of passenger car with the trunk cover opened and having fold-down seats shown in their operating position with passengers;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7 a  view similar to that of  FIG. 6  but depicting conversion of the trunk;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective rear view of a passenger car with a liftback (station wagon) with a cargo box;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  the passenger car with a liftback (station wagon) of  FIG. 8  with the cargo box open;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective top view a cargo box for the motor vehicle of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  shows in a side view the rear of a motor vehicle with a cargo box which is attached to it, the movable bottom of the cargo box being closed; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 11 , but with the movable bottom of the cargo box open. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     A passenger car  1 , for example, in the manner of a sedan (see FIGS.  1  to  4 ), has a rear  2  with a cargo space or trunk  3  with a top trunk opening  4  which can be closed and at least partially cleared by a cover means  5 . A rear trunk opening  6  can be closed by means of a movable rear hatch  7  which extends roughly as far as the cargo area or the floor  8  of the trunk space  3  and in the closed position is oriented essentially vertically or relative to vertical. The rear hatch  7  is movably supported on the vehicle rear  2  by a bearing means  9  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) which is located on the side walls of the vehicle at each side of the rear trunk opening  6 , the bearing means  9  having a respective main bearing arm  10  at each side which is supported to pivot around a pivot axis  11  on the body and extends rearward from the pivot axis  11  in the closed position of the rear hatch  7 . On a rear section  12  of the main bearing arm  10  which is opposite the pivoting axis  11 , a first connecting rod  13  and a second connecting rod  14  of a four-bar mechanism are pivotally supported, the second connecting rod  14  being supported by means of a pivot axle  15  which is fixed on the main bearing arm  10  and the first connecting rod  13  is supported in an oblong hole  16  which is formed in the main bearing arm  10  and its pivot bearing or its pivoting axle  17  can execute an equalization movement in the pivoting motion which is described below. The opposite ends  18 ,  19  of the two connecting rods  13 ,  14  are coupled on the carrier part  20  of the rear hatch  7  in the pivot bearings  21 ,  22 .  
         [0022]     A first hydraulic cylinder  23  is, on the one hand, attached to the body around the pivot axle  24 , which is spaced apart from the pivoting axle  11  of the main bearing arm  10 , and on the other hand, on the carrier part  20  of the rear hatch  7 , coaxially relative to the pivot axle of the pivot bearing  21 . The control arm  25 , on the one hand, is pivotally supported on the body coaxially with respect to the pivot axle  24  of the first hydraulic cylinder  23 , and on the other hand, is held so as to be able to move and pivot with the bearing journal  26  in the oblong hole  16  of the main bearing arm  10 , the bearing journal  26  forming at the same time the pivot bearing of the first connecting rod  13  in the oblong hole  16  and being located coaxially relative to its pivoting axle  17 .  
         [0023]     A second hydraulic cylinder  27  is coupled to the body, on the one hand, to be able to pivot around a pivoting axle  28  which is located above the main bearing arm  10 , and on the other hand, to the bearing journal  26 .  
         [0024]     A special section pipe length  29  which is permanently attached to the rear hatch  7 , i.e., the end piece of a pipe which runs over the width of the rear hatch  7 , is permanently connected to the pivot arm  30  which is coupled by means of a pivot joint which has a pivoting axle  31  to the carrier part  20  of the rear hatch  7  so that the rear hatch  7  can be pivoted to the rear out of its upright position. In the pivoting position of the rear hatch  7  which is, for example, manually pivoted the special section pipe length  29  adjoins the special section pipe length  32  which is permanently attached to the carrier part  20  and which is, for example, the end piece of a carrier pipe which runs over the width of the rear hatch  7  and which connects the two lateral opposite carrier parts  20  to one another.  
         [0025]     Preferably, to pivot the rear hatch  7  out of its upright position into its horizontal position, there is a pivoting drive, for example, a hydraulic cylinder  33  which is coupled, on the one hand, to the carrier part  20  by a pivot axle  34  which is spaced apart from the pivoting axle  31 , and on the other hand, to the rear hatch  7  by means of a hinged joint  35  (shown schematically).  
         [0026]     To open the rear hatch out  7  of its closed position (see  FIGS. 1 and 5 ), first the first hydraulic cylinder  23  is actuated so that it is lengthened by extending its piston. In doing so, it pivots the two connecting rods  13 ,  14  of the four-bar mechanism to the rear so that the rear hatch is moved to the rear roughly in a parallel displacement (in  FIG. 5 , the intermediate positions of the rear hatch  7 ′ and the connecting rods  13 ′,  14 ′ are shown). From this intermediate position (rear hatch  7 ), by actuating the third hydraulic cylinder  33 , the rear hatch  7  can be moved to the rear into a horizontal position (position  7 ″) so that cargo  37  or baggage can be positioned on the inside  36  of the rear hatch  7 .  
         [0027]     The rear hatch  7  can be moved down out of its folded-out position  7 ″ as well as out of its folded-up position  7 ′ or an intermediate position by actuating the first and the second main cylinder  23 ,  27 . In doing so, in addition, the main bearing arm  10  is pivoted down by the extending second main cylinder  27  (position  10 ′″). The control arm  25  as a result of its pivoting axle  24  which is eccentric to the pivoting axle  11  of the main bearing arm  10  pivots such that its bearing journal  26  is displaced from the back end  38  of the oblong hole  16  to its front end  39 , by which the first connecting rod  13  of the four-bar mechanism is displaced to the front during its pivoting with its pivoting axle  17 . This control results in the rear hatch  7  can be displaced down in its roughly vertical position  7 ′ or the horizontal position  7 ″. The rear hatch  7  can be pivoted out into its horizontal position by actuating the third hydraulic cylinder  33  in each pivoting-out position of the four-bar mechanism.  
         [0028]     The trunk  3  can have a movably supported cargo bottom  40  ( FIG. 5 ) which, for example, can be extended over the rear hatch  7  when the rear hatch  7  has been pivoted and folded down (for example, position  7 ″). Furthermore, it can be provided that the cargo bottom  40  or at least the front separable part can be located on the inside  36  of the folded-out rear hatch  7 . To accommodate the cargo bottom  40 , the rear hatch  7  has guides or the like. Instead of the fixed, plate-shaped cargo bottom a peripheral support structure such as, for example, a conveyor belt  41  (see,  FIG. 3 ) can form the movable cargo bottom.  
         [0029]     The cover means  5  contains louvers which are movably supported on two guide rails  43  which are located on the side walls of the vehicle on either side of the upper trunk opening  4  and run down towards its front end in the area underneath the rear window  44  or the package tray, for example, behind the backs of the seats or the back seats of the vehicle. The louvers  42  are connected to one another with a pivoting capacity so that they can be moved as a flat unit between their closed position in which they border the top edge  45  of the closed rear hatch  7 , via any intermediate positions forward into their open position or storage position behind the back seats, in which they clear the upper trunk space opening  4 . The louvers  42  are built, for example, as described in the German patent application 103 20 538.1, and are connected to one another by means of a flexible structure such as, for example, a film which assumes the sealing function between the louvers  42 . A driving means for the cover means  5  and the louvers  42  on each guide rail  43  contains a drive cable  46  which is connected at least to the frontmost louver  42 , and a central drive motor  47 , by which the two drive cables  46  can be driven or moved. Between the front sections of the guide rails  43 , which sections run linearly or slightly curved downward, thus a holding space for the louvers  42  in their open position is defined. Since the guide rails  43  are only slightly curved, louvers which are wider in the lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle can be used which could not be used in this width in the storage position which is wound in the manner of a shade.  
         [0030]     According to one embodiment, in the trunk  3  of the motor vehicle, two seats  48  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) can be positioned next to one another in the position of use. The two seats  48  are, for example, arranged countersunk at least partially in or on the floor of the trunk and are extended or folded out if necessary, so that they can be used with the cover means  5  opened. To protect passengers on the seats, a roll-over protection means, for example, a roll bar  49 , can be fixed on the vehicle in a protective position which traverses or rises above the passengers. The roll-over protection means or the roll bar  49  is carried at the same time, for example, in the trunk of the vehicle, and if necessary, is attached to the rear side walls of the vehicle, for example, in tubular holders. In one alternative configuration, the roll bar  49  is pivotally supported on the vehicle and is pivoted out of the lowered rest position into the active protective position. The roll bar  49  can also be located in a rest position on the periphery of the rear window  44  and can be extended to the rear into its active position by means of a sliding guide. The trunk  3  can thus be used for carrying passengers when the cover means  5  is opened. Access is gained for, example, when the rear hatch  7  has been opened. The roll-over protection means offers the passengers the required safety.  
         [0031]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle or its rear can be converted so that it acquires the shape and functionality of a station wagon (see FIGS.  8  to  12 ). A cargo box  50  for rear attachment to the vehicle contains two opposite side walls  51  and a front wall  52 . The top cover  53  traverses the interior and is transparent, and is made, for example, from polycarbonate. It is possible for the top cover  53  to also be formed in one piece with the front wall  52 . The side walls can likewise be formed from transparent polycarbonate or from another plastic or from metal. The floor  54  of the cargo box  50  is formed to be movable and can be moved at least partially out of its closed position so that a corresponding floor opening  55  can be cleared. The floor  54  is, for example, a louvered sliding bottom  56  with individual louvers which are pivotally joined relative to one another on their lengthwise sides which border one another. Guides for the louvered sliding bottom  56  and the louvers are mounted on the side walls. Each guide runs along the entire lower edge of the side part  51 , after deflection along the front edge of the respective side part  51 , and after another deflection along the top edge of the side part  51 , finally back in the opposite direction. On the rear section the cargo box  50  has a cargo opening  57  which can be closed by an angled cargo box flap  58  which, for example, can be pivoted around a pivot axis on the top edge of the side walls, and thus, has both a back  59  and also a top  60  which is intended for closing the rear opening  61  behind the upper cover  53 . Spring-damper elements  62  support the operation of the cargo box flap.  
         [0032]     The cargo box  50  is matched in its dimensions to the holding position on the vehicle rear and can be fixed by holding means on the top edge of the body structures which border the trunk laterally. The front wall  52  is matched to the rear window and borders it so that an essentially flush transition between the vehicle body and the cargo box  50  is formed. When the cargo box  50  is mounted in the vehicle shown in FIGS.  1  to  7  or in the vehicle shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , after opening the cover  5  of the trunk  3  and after opening the louvered sliding bottom  56 , a station wagon-like rear space can be used. To open the louvered sliding bottom  56 , it is pushed forward by means of a rear handle  63  on the last louver. In doing so, the louvers slide along the inside of the front wall  52  and the bottom of the cover  53  into their open position (see  FIG. 12 ). When the louvered sliding bottom  56  is closed, the cargo box  50  can be used as an additional closed cargo or trunk space which is accessible from the outside via the cargo box flap  58 .  
         [0033]     The cargo box  50  is also suited for other types of trunk covers, such as, for example, for shades which can be rolled up, for a removable cover, or the like. The cargo box flap  58  can extend farther down beyond the louvered sliding bottom  56  so that, in a modification of a motor vehicle, in which a rear hatch as shown in the figures is not used, the cargo box flap  58  can also close the rear trunk opening  6 .  
         [0034]     Here, the floor of the trunk can also be made as a sliding cargo floor, for example, in the form of a peripheral flexible structure which can be pushed by sliding on a fixed floor surface in the lengthwise direction.  
         [0035]     Basically, in the vehicles shown, the rear hatch  7  in its lowered horizontal loading position can also be used as a load carrier, such as, for example, a bicycle carrier. For this purpose, additional holders can be attached to the rear hatch  7  and/or the rear body.  
         [0036]     When the cover means  5  or the louvered sliding bottom  56  is opened, the trunk  3  forms an open cargo surface in the manner of a pickup or a high cargo space in the manner of a station wagon. By pivoting the rear hatch  7  down at the height of the cargo surface, the latter can be lengthened accordingly.  
         [0037]     The cargo box can also be mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle, such as a station wagon or the like, and the rear roof section can be cleared, for example, by means of a cover which can be moved forward. Over this clearable opening, the cargo box  50  can be mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle and can be used in the described manner.