Abstract:
Motor vehicle accessory ( 1 ) for protecting boot lip ( 14 ) and adjacent fender ( 15 ) of vehicle from damage comprises sheet ( 2 ) of flexible material for positionning inside boot ( 10 ) of vehicle. Sheet ( 2 ) is moveable between stowed position when received within boot ( 10 ) and operative position when extended over boot lip ( 14 ) and adjacent fender ( 15 ) for protection against dents and scratches when loading or unloading. Accessory ( 1 ) includes attachment means on sheet ( 2 ) for attachment to floor ( 12 ) or sidewalls ( 13 ) of boot ( 10 ). Sheet ( 2 ) comprises tough layer which rests on and protect boot lip ( 14 ) and smooth layer overlaying tough layer to assist with sliding of articles across boot lip ( 14 ). Typically sheet ( 2 ) comprises first ( 3 ), second ( 4 ) and third ( 5 ) panels interconnected by hinge joints.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a motor vehicle accessory that protects a boot lip and adjacent fender of a motor vehicle, eg. a sedan or a hatch, from damage when goods are loaded into the boot or else unloaded from the boot. It also extends to a motor vehicle incorporating the accessory. 
   DEFINITIONS 
   In this specification the term “boot” shall be used interchangeably with the term “trunk”. In the USA the term “trunk” is used to describe the motor vehicle component that in Australia is commonly referred to as the boot. This invention applies equally to the trunk lip of a vehicle as that term is understood in the USA. 
   In this specification the term “fender” shall be used interchangeably with the term “bumper”. In the USA the term fender is used to describe the motor vehicle component that in Australia is commonly referred to as the bumper. 
   In the specification the term “comprising” shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term “including” and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Typically sedan vehicles have a rear trunk or boot. Such a boot is used to stow articles of baggage such as bags and suitcases for travel from one location to another. Each time baggage is loaded onto or unloaded from the boot it has to be lifted up over a boot lip formed by a lower edge of a boot opening and an adjacent bumper or fender. These days bumpers or fenders are generally painted the same colour as the motor vehicle and are highly aesthetic features of the vehicle. Any damage to the fender or bumper such as a scratch, dent or the like would detrimentally affect the aesthetics of the vehicle and also the resale value of the vehicle. 
   Applicant has identified that the fender is extremely prone to damage during loading and unloading of the boot. The damage is usually in the form of scratches or chipped paint. 
   Clearly it would be advantageous if a means for at least reducing this problem could be devised. 
   Another problem often encountered with the stowing of baggage or articles in a boot is stabilising or anchoring the position of the article during motor vehicle travel. Articles with smooth bottom surfaces have a tendency to slide around in the boot particularly when the car turns around corners. Clearly it would be advantageous if a simple contrivance could be devised to help overcome this problem. 
   The current application is focussed on providing at least a partial solution to one or more of these problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a motor vehicle accessory comprising:
         a sheet of flexible material for positioning inside a boot of a vehicle, the boot having a floor and side walls and a boot lip and an adjacent fender, the sheet being interchangeable between a stowed position in which it is received within the boot and an operative position in which it extends over the boot lip and adjacent fender to protect the boot lip and fender when articles are loaded into or unloaded from the boot.       

   The accessory may include attachment means mounted on the sheet for attaching the sheet to the floor or sidewalls of the boot. 
   The sheet may comprise a tough layer which in the operative position rests on the boot lip and adjacent fender, and a smooth layer overlaying the tough layer to assist with the sliding of articles across the boot lip when they are being loaded into or unloaded from the boot. 
   The tough layer may be made of a thick rubberised material and the smooth layer may comprise any smooth plastics material, eg. a plastics or nylon material. 
   The tough layer may have a high co-efficient of friction to resist sliding movement thereof across the boot lip. In addition the tough layer may have formations on its surface for enhancing its frictional grip of the surface on which it is resting, eg. dimples, ridges or the like. 
   The sheet may comprise first and second sheet portions interconnecting with each other along one edge of the second sheet and being pivotal relative to each other, the sheet portions being folded on top of each other in the stowed position and opened up in linearly extending fashion in the operative position. 
   The sheet may further include a third anchor portion interconnected with the second sheet portion along an edge opposed to said one edge and pivotal relative thereto. 
   Each of the first and second portions may be in the form of substantially rectangular panels and the first and second panels may be superimposed on each other in the stowed position. Further the third portion may be in the form of a substantially thinner rectangular third panel and the third panel may be positioned adjacent the second panel and beneath the first panel in the stowed position. 
   The sheet may have lines of decreased thickness between adjacent panels so as to permit pivoting of respectively the first and second panels and the second and third panels relative to each other. Alternatively other means of forming a hinge joint may be used. 
   The attachment means may include a hook and loop fastener wherein one of the hook and loop parts is mounted on the sheet and the other of the hook and loop parts is mounted on a floor surface of the boot. Conveniently the hook part may be on the attachment means and the loop part may be formed by the carpet typically found on the floor of the boot. 
   The accessory may further include means to assist its manual interchange between the stowed and operative positions. 
   The interchange means may comprise a handle formation on the first panel that is remote from the anchor panel, eg. in the form of a finger opening or a stiffening rib extending along the free end of the first panel. 
   According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a motor vehicle accessory comprising:
         a sheet of flexible material for positioning inside a boot of a vehicle, the boot having a floor and side walls and a boot lip and adjacent fender, the sheet being interchangeable between an internal operative position in which it extends across the floor of the boot and an external operative position in which it extends over the boot lip and adjacent fender to protect the boot lip when articles are loaded into or unloaded from the boot.       

   Thus the sheet may be flipped between an internal operative position for anchoring or stabilising an article and an external operative position for shielding the boot lip and fender without necessarily having an intermediate stowed position that the previous aspect of the invention had. 
   The sheet may comprise a tough layer having a high coefficient of friction and a smooth layer in superimposed relationship with the tough layer, and the tough layer may overlay the smooth layer and face upwardly in the internal operative position, and the smooth layer may overlay the tough layer and face upwardly in the external operative position. 
   The accessory may further include attachment means for attaching the sheet to the floor or walls of the boot, eg. as described above for the first aspect of the invention. 
   The sheet may be interchangeable between said internal and external operative positions and also an internal stowed position within the boot. 
   According to a third aspect of this invention there is provided a motor vehicle accessory comprising:
         a sheet of flexible material for positioning inside a boot of a vehicle, the boot having a floor and side walls and a boot lip and an adjacent fender, wherein said sheet is interchangeable between a stowed position in which it is received in the boot and an operative position in which it is received within the boot and extends across the floor of the boot to assist in stabilising the position of articles being stowed within the boot.       

   Conveniently the sheet may comprise a tough layer having a high coefficient of friction facing upwardly in the operative position to assist in stabilising the position of an article placed on the sheet. 
   The sheet may be further interchangeable between said stowed and operative positions within the boot, and also a further operative position in which it extends across the boot lip and fender outside the boot. 
   The accessory may further include a smooth layer in superimposed relationship with the tough layer with the smooth layer facing upwardly in said further operative position. 
   According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising:
         a car body having a boot having a floor and side walls and a boot lip and a rear fender adjacent the boot lip; and   means for protecting the rear fender against damage when articles are loaded into the boot or removed from the boot.       

   The protecting means may comprise a sheet of flexible material moveable between a stowed position within the boot and an operative position in which it extends across the boot lip and rear fender to protect the boot lip and fender when articles are loaded into or unloaded from the boot. The sheet may include any one or more of the preferred features described above with reference to the previous aspects of the invention. 
   The vehicle may further include means for stabilising the position of an article within the boot during travel of the vehicle, eg in the form of a sheet of flexible material arranged on the boot floor. 
   According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising:
         a car body having a boot having a floor and side walls and a boot lip and a rear fender adjacent the boot lip; and   an accessory as defined in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention described above.       

   A motor vehicle accessory m accordance with the invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe in detail at least two embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing the detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. It is to be clearly understood however that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a three dimensional view of a vehicle accessory in use on a car; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional side view of the vehicle accessory of  FIG. 1  in a stowed position; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the accessory intermediate stowed and operative positions and showing some detail of the components of the sheet; 
       FIGS. 4-6  are three dimensional views of the accessory being moved from the stowed to the operative positions; 
       FIG. 7  is a three dimensional view of the accessory of  FIG. 1  in a further operative position; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional side view of an accessory in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the accessory of  FIG. 7  in a stowed inoperative position; 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the accessory of  FIG. 7  in an operative position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIGS. 1  to  7  reference numeral  1  refers generally to a motor vehicle accessory in accordance with the invention. 
   The accessory  1  comprises broadly a sheet  2  having first and second portions  3  and  4  which serve a protective function and a thinner third portion  5  which serves an anchoring function. The accessory  1  is movable between a stowed inoperative position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  an intermediate position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , and an operative position shown in FIG.  6 . 
   Each of the portions  3 ,  4  is formed by a panel of said sheet material having a broadly rectangular configuration. The panels  3 ,  4  are interconnected along one side thereof by means of a hinged joint  6 . The portion  5 is also a panel of rectangular sheet material. The panel  5  is attached to the panel  4  along a side thereof that is opposed to its attachment to the panel  3  by means of a hinged joint  7 . The panel  5  is much thinner than the other panels  3  and  4 . 
   A vehicle on which accessory  1  is mounted, and particularly the boot or trunk area thereof, is indicated generally by reference  10 . It comprises vehicle body structure  11  defining a floor  12  and side walls  13  and a boot lip  14 . A bumper or fender  15  projects rearwardly from the structure  11  below the boot lip  14 . The bumper or fender  15  is typically painted the same colour as the vehicle  10 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3  the lower layer  20  of the sheet is made of a tough resilient rubberised material of a thickness of about 6-10 mm. This provides the ability to absorb an impact from articles without damaging the fender  15 . In addition the underside of the layer  20  has a texture that enhances its ability to grip the surface of the fender  15  when it is placed across it. 
   The upper layer  21  has a smooth finish to enable articles to be easily slid thereacross. Typically this might be formed by a synthetic plastics type material, eg. polyethylene or nylon. However it will be appreciated that many other materials could be used. 
   The hinged joints  6  and  7  between respectively panels  3  and  4  and panels  4  and  5  may be formed by a zone of reduced thickness, particularly of the rubberised layer  20 , at the point of interconnection of the panel. It is important that the hinged joints  6 ,  7  can easily bend up to 180°. 
   The panel  5  is releasably attached to the boot structure  11  and particularly the floor  12  of the boot by means of a hook and loop fastener, eg VELCRO type attachment  16 . Hooks on the panel  5  attach readily to loops on the floor of the boot, eg. provided by the usual carpet lining of the floor of the boot. The fastener might comprise patches positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the panel  5 . 
   The accessory  1  also includes a handle in a form of a finger grip  18  on the panel  3 . 
   In use, when articles need to be stowed in a boot or trunk  10  or removed from a boot or trunk  10 , the accessory  1  is moved, eg manually by a user, from the inoperative to the operative positions. This is accomplished by simply lifting the sheet  2  and placing it over the fender  15  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 4  to  6 . This places the rubber layer  20  adjacent to fender  15  with the smooth upper layer  21  over which articles can be slid facing upwardly. This movement is simple and will literally take a couple of seconds to effect. 
   Articles can then be lifted out of the boot  10 . If, as often happens, they bump the fender  15 , the accessory  1  protects the fender  15  against dents and paint damage. In some instances it may be convenient to simply lift heavy objects onto the accessory  1  and then slide them over the layer  21  of the panels  3  and  4 . That is no attempt is made to lift them over the fender  15  and they are simply slid across the sheet  2 . This could considerably reduce the strain on a user&#39;s back when lifting articles out of a car boot. 
   After use the accessory  1  is moved quickly and simply back to the stored inoperative position by folding the panel  3  on top of the panels  4  and  5  which are side by side. Again this can be accomplished simply and effectively. If goods interfere with the return of the sheet to the stowed position the sheet can simply be folded up against the side of the goods or rested on the top of the goods. When the goods are removed from the boot the sheet can then be returned to the original stowed position. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the accessory  1  can also be used to stabilise objects being stowed in a car boot during a journey. To do this the portions  3  and  4  are folded out in a direction inwardly into the boot. This places the layer  20  with a frictional gripping surface facing upwardly and the smooth layer  21  facing downwardly against the floor  12  of the boot  11 . That is the orientation of the accessory  1  is inverted compared to that when it is used to straddle the fender  15 . An article, eg an ESKY, box or container  29 , can then be placed on the accessory and the grip afforded by the layer  20  will resist movement of the article around the boot  11  during travel. Thus it effectively assists in anchoring the article. 
     FIGS. 8  to  10  illustrate an accessory in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
   This embodiment has similarities with the embodiment described above with reference to  FIGS. 1  to  7 . Accordingly unless otherwise indicated the same reference numerals will be used to the same components. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the accessory  1  comprises a rectangular sheet having only one panel  30  rather than the three panels  3 ,  4 ,  5  of the first embodiment. 
   The panel  30  is broadly rectangular and is attached to the floor of the boot along the edge adjacent the boot opening. This may be accomplished by an attachment strip that is a hook and loop fastener extending along one edge  31  of the panel  30 . 
   A handle formation in the form of a flipping rib  32  may run along the opposite edge  33  of the panel  30  to assist in manually moving the panel  30  from the stowed to the operative positions and back again. 
     FIG. 9  shows the accessory in the stowed position and  FIG. 10  shows the accessory in the operative position. In the stowed position the panel  30  lies on the floor of the boot. To move the accessory to the operative position it is simply a case of flipping the panel  30  through 180°. The panel  30  is capable of pivoting about a point adjacent to the attachment strip. 
   An advantage of the accessory described above is that it is relatively simple and easy to use. It also performs two important functions, namely protecting the fender against damage when loading/unloading articles from the boot and also providing a stable anchoring means for assisting in stabilising articles in the boot during travel. Further the accessory can easily be fitted to the overwhelming majority of existing motor vehicles without any modification being required. In addition one size of the accessory would fit most vehicles. 
   It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all modifications and variations thereto that would be apparent to person skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit to the invention herein set forth.