Luggage-Retention Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019047479-A1
Application number	US-201715672412-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 9, 2017
Priority date	Aug 9, 2017
Publication date	Feb 14, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle compartment includes a first track and a second track spaced from each other, a first beam elongated transverse to and slidable along the first track, a second beam elongated transverse to and slidable along the second track, and a net extending from the first beam to the second beam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle compartment comprising:
a first track and a second track spaced from each other; a first beam elongated transverse to and slidable along the first track; a second beam elongated transverse to and slidable along the second track; and a net extending from the first beam to the second beam.

2 . The vehicle compartment of claim 1 , wherein the first beam is cantilevered from the first track, and the second beam is cantilevered from the second track.

3 . The vehicle compartment of claim 1 , wherein the first beam and the second beam are parallel.

4 . The vehicle compartment of claim 1 , wherein the first and second beams each extend from a slidable end slidable along the corresponding track to a free end spaced from the corresponding track; the vehicle compartment further comprising a third beam rotatably coupled to the free end of the first beam, and a fourth beam rotatably coupled to the free end of the second beam.

5 . The vehicle compartment of claim 4 , wherein the net is a first net, the vehicle compartment further comprising a second net extending from the third beam to the fourth beam.

6 . The vehicle compartment of claim 4 , wherein the third and fourth beams are rotatable between a retracted position and an extended position.

7 . The vehicle compartment of claim 6 , wherein the third beam in the retracted position extends from the free end of the first beam parallel to the first beam toward the first track, and the fourth beam in the retracted position extends from the free end of the second beam parallel to the second beam toward the second track.

8 . The vehicle compartment of claim 6 , wherein the third beam in the extended position extends from the free end of the first beam transverse to the first beam away from the first track, and the fourth beam in the extended position extends from the free end of the second beam transverse to the second beam away from the second track.

9 . The vehicle compartment of claim 4 , further comprising a first rotary actuator coupling the first beam and the third beam, and a second rotary actuator coupling the second beam and the fourth beam.

10 . The vehicle compartment of claim 9 , further comprising a controller in communication with the rotary actuators and programmed to instruct the rotary actuators to move the third and fourth beams from a retracted position to an extended position in response to the first and second beams descending relative to the first and second tracks.

11 . The vehicle compartment of claim 9 , further comprising a controller in communication with the rotary actuators and programmed to instruct the rotary actuators to move the third and fourth beams from an extended position to a retracted position in response to the first and second beams ascending above a height threshold relative to the first and second tracks.

12 . The vehicle compartment of claim 1 , further comprising a motor fixed to one of the first track and the first beam and movably coupled to the other of the first track and the first beam.

13 . The vehicle compartment of claim 12 , further comprising a worm gear rotatably coupled to the motor, extending parallel to the first track, and engaged with the first beam.

14 . The vehicle compartment of claim 12 , further comprising a first pulley wheel rotatably coupled to the motor, and a first belt extending around the first pulley wheel, the first beam fixed to the first belt.

15 . The vehicle compartment of claim 14 , further comprising a second pulley wheel coupled to the motor; and a second belt extending around the second pulley wheel, the second beam fixed to the second belt.

16 . The vehicle compartment of claim 14 , wherein the motor is a first motor, the vehicle compartment further comprising a second motor fixed relative to the second track, a second pulley wheel coupled to the second motor, and a second belt extending around the second pulley wheel, the second beam fixed to the second belt.

17 . The vehicle compartment of claim 12 , further comprising a pressure switch coupled to the motor, the pressure switch positioned to deactivate the motor in response to the pressure exceeding a pressure threshold.

18 . The vehicle compartment of claim 12 , further comprising an input switch having first, second, and third positions and in communication with the motor, the input switch being configured to instruct the motor to raise the first beam when the input switch is in the first position, to remain stationary when the input switch is in the second position, and to lower the first beam when the input switch is in the third position.

19 . The vehicle compartment of claim 12 , wherein the motor is a first motor, the vehicle compartment further comprising a second motor fixed relative to the second track and movably coupled to the second beam.

20 . The vehicle compartment of claim 1 , further comprising a door positioned between the tracks.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Faruque Mohammad Omar
• Farooq S M Iskander
• Jaradi Dean M

Classifications

• B60P7/04

  by tarpaulins or like flexible members · CPC title

• B60R21/026

  Rigid partitions inside vehicles, e.g. between passengers and load compartments (B60R21/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60P7/0876

  using restraining net or tarpaulin in contact with the load · CPC title

• B60R7/02 Primary

  in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R21/06 Primary

  Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass ({B60R21/026} , B60R21/11, B60R21/12, B60R21/16 take precedence) · CPC title