Patent Document

This Application claims benefit to Prov. No. 60/093,548 filed Jul. 21, 1998. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to a cargo retention system for an interior compartment of a vehicle and, more particularly, to an overhead bar module that is removably attached to a surface of the interior compartment and that provides retention devices to retain cargo. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Providing convenient storage for items that may have a considerable length in comparison to the interior compartment of a vehicle has been a long-standing challenge for automotive suppliers and manufacturers. While some flexible seating arrangements in current vehicles can be removed or folded to store long items in the occupant compartment, these seating arrangements reduce or eliminate the ability to carry occupants concurrently with the long items. The present invention is intended to provide a system allowing for long items and occupants to both be carried in the interior compartment of a vehicle. 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is provided a removably attached overhead bar module having retention devices attached thereto. The retention devices allow for items to be carried within the interior compartment while still allowing occupants to be seated in the traditional seating positions. Further provided is an overhead net module extending between the bars of the overhead bar module. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the following specification and by reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cargo retention system made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial front view of one of the bars of the overhead bar module; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial front view of an alternative embodiment of the bar shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a mounting element made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is cross-sectional view of the mounting element taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4 with a partial view of one of the bars of the overhead bar module; and 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an overhead net module connectable between the bars of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, or its application, or uses. 
     With reference to the figures, there is shown a cargo retention system  10  that is mounted within the interior compartment of a vehicle. System  10  generally includes one or more overhead bar modules  16 , and mounting elements  18  which are secured to an interior surface of the roof structure or an upper body side portion of the vehicle and coordinate with the opposing ends of bar module  16 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     While not specifically shown, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide mounting elements  18  as integrated formations in an interior trim component of a vehicle. Specifically, the formation of mounting element  18  can be integrally formed in a coat hook; grab handle; interior light bezel or housing; B, C, or D pillar trim panels; body side quarter trim panels; or any other component within the interior of the vehicle that will provide sufficient structural support for the overhead bar modules  16  and the cargo reasonably expected to be secured thereto. 
     Bar module  16  generally includes an elongated bar  20 , which in the preferred embodiment is an extruded aluminum tube. Bar  20  may be made by a variety of methods and of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, resin, wood, or a composite including any or all of the above. Bar  20  may also be made from separate elongated members that are telescopically connected to each other, or that are separately connected to a common third bar, allowing bar  20  to span differing widths. Secured to bar are retention devices  24 . 
     Retention devices  24 , in the preferred embodiment, are strap members  26  having a first end secured to bar  20  by a retainer  28  and a second end which freely passes through a loop  30  distally displaced along bar  20 , as shown in FIG.  2 . Free end  32  of strap member  26  is laid back upon a middle section  34  of strap member  26  and provides an interlocking fastening means  36  therebetween. Interlocking fastening means  36  may be any of a wide variety of fastening means known in the industry including, but not limited to, VELCRO®, snaps, DUAL-LOCK®, and the like. Further, it is within the scope of the present invention to incorporate a dual ring synching system (similar to that used with automobile and motor cycle helmets) at or near loop  30 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, retention devices  24  are clamping arms  38 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Clamping arms  38  include a first end pivotally secured to bar  20 , and a second end  39  selectively attachable to bar  20 . In use, the second end is detached from bar  20  and is pivoted to an open position. The item of cargo is placed between arm  38  and bar  20 . Arm  38  is then pivoted to a closed position and second end  39  is attached to bar  20  to secure the cargo. In farther alternative embodiments of the present invention, retention devices  24  are hook members or eyelet members (both not shown) or any other useful device suitable for retaining cargo such as sport equipment, car accessories, or grocery bags. 
     Near each opposing end  40  of bar  20  there is located a connector element  42  adapted to engage mounting element  18 , as shown best in FIG.  2 . Connector element  42  need not be symmetrical at each opposing end of bar  20  as will become apparent below. Connector element  42  provides a hook portion  46  that is axially biased inward toward bar  20  by a spring. The inward bias of the hook portion  46  aids In retaining bar  20  in mounting element  18 , as shown In FIGS. 4 and 5. While a spring bias element can be Incoorpated in each opposing end of bar  20 , it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a spring bias element only on one of the two opposing ends of bar  20  and provide a fixed hook portion (not showh) a the other end, or to provide a fixed portion on both opposing ends of bar  20 . Mounting element  18  provides attachment locations for securing mounting element  18  to an interior surface of the roof or body side structure of the vehicle. Further included is a retention aperture  19  coordinated with hook portions  46 . 
     In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, connector element  42  provides a pin portion  48  that is axially biased outward from bar  20  by a spring. The outward bias of the pin portion  48  aids in retaining bar  20  against mounting element  18 , Again, while a spring bias element can be incorporated in each opposing end of bar  20 , it Is within the scope of the present invention to provide a spring bias element only on one of the two opposing ends of bar  20  and to provide a fixed pin portion (not shown) at the other end, or to provide a fixed pin portion on both opposing ends of bar  20 . 
     An overhead net module  50  can be incorporated with cargo retention system  10 , as shown in FIG.  6 . Net module  50  spans between and is removably connected to attachment locations  52  (shown in FIG.  1 ). Net module  50  of the preferred embodiment includes an elastic net portion  54 , attached to elastic end chords  56  that are secured to side panel members  58 . In alternative embodiments, net portion  54  may be made from a non-elastic material, or end chords  56  may be made from a non-elastic material, or both net portion  54  and end chords  56  may be made from a non-elastic material. At each opposing end of side panel members  58  there is provided a hook means  60  intended to engage attachment locations  52  thereby securing the net module  50  between bars  20 . Net module  50  is intended to secure items that do not lend themselves to being retained by retention devices  24 . 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings, that various changes, modifications, and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention.

Technology Category: b