Cargo barrier for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9751467-B2
Application number	US-201514798976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2015
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A barrier for separating a cargo area from a passenger area of a vehicle includes a support structure that is fixedly attached to a frame of a rear seat, adjacent a seatback of the seat. A gate is attached to and supported by the support structure, and is rotatably moveable relative to the support structure between a stowed position and a deployed position. A latch mechanism automatically secures the gate relative to the support structure when the gate is in the deployed position. A release system is coupled to the latch mechanism for moving the latch mechanism into a release position to allow the gate to rotate back into the stowed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a seat having a frame and presenting a seatback having a top vertical edge; and
a barrier including:
a support structure attached to the frame of the seat; and
a gate disposed adjacent the seatback and supported by the support structure, the gate having an upper portion and being moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a detent system releasably securing the gate to the support structure in the stowed position;
wherein the upper portion of the gate is disposed vertically no higher than the top vertical edge of the seatback when the gate is disposed in the stowed position; and
wherein the upper portion of the gate at least partially extends vertically above the top vertical edge of the seatback when the gate is disposed in the deployed position.

2. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein the support structure rotatably supports the gate, such that the gate is rotatable relative to the support structure between the stowed position and the deployed position.

3. The vehicle set forth in claim 2 wherein the barrier includes a pin rotatably interconnecting the support structure and the gate.

4. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein the barrier includes a latch mechanism moveable between a lock position operable to secure the gate in the deployed position, relative to the support structure, and a release position operable to allow the gate to move relative to the support structure.

5. The vehicle set forth in claim 4 wherein the barrier includes a release system coupled to the latch mechanism and operable to move the latch mechanism from the lock position into the release position.

6. The vehicle set forth in claim 5 wherein the latch mechanism includes a pin supported by the support structure and automatically moveable into the lock position for interlocking engagement with an aperture of the gate when the gate is disposed in the deployed position.

7. The vehicle set forth in claim 6 wherein the latch mechanism includes a biasing device biasing the pin into the lock position.

8. The vehicle set forth in claim 7 wherein the pin includes a rounded end for engaging the gate, wherein movement of the gate into the deployed position brings the gate into contact with the rounded end of the pin, thereby creating an axial force component directed along a longitudinal axis of the pin that urges the pin into the release position.

9. The vehicle set forth in claim 6 wherein the release system includes a lever coupled to the pin of the latch mechanism, and rotatable relative to the support structure about a lever axis, wherein rotation of the lever moves the pin along a longitudinal axis of the pin, from the lock position into the release position.

10. The vehicle set forth in claim 9 wherein the release system includes a cable connecting the pin and the lever, wherein the cable is attached to the lever a distance from the lever axis.

11. The vehicle set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one fastener attaching the support structure to the frame of the seat.

12. The vehicle set forth in claim 11 wherein the at least one fastener includes a threaded fastener in threaded engagement with the frame of the seat.

13. A vehicle comprising:
a body having a roof, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a floor cooperating together to define an interior space;
a seat having a frame and presenting a seatback having a top vertical edge; and
a barrier that is not attached to or supported by the roof, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the floor, the barrier including:
a support structure attached to the frame of the seat; and
a gate disposed adjacent the seatback and supported by the support structure, the gate having an upper portion and being moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
wherein the upper portion of the gate is disposed vertically no higher than the top vertical edge of the seatback when the gate is disposed in the stowed position; and
wherein the upper portion of the gate at least partially extends vertically above the top vertical edge of the seatback when the gate is disposed in the deployed position.

14. A cargo barrier for a vehicle, the cargo barrier comprising:
a support structure configured for attachment to a frame of a seat of the vehicle;
a pin attached to the support structure and defining a rotation axis;
a gate supported by the pin and rotatable about the rotation axis of the pin, wherein the gate is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a latch mechanism having a pin moveable between a lock position operable to secure the gate in the deployed position, relative to the support structure, and a release position operable to allow the gate to move relative to the support structure;
a release system coupled to the latch mechanism and operable to move the pin of the latch mechanism along a longitudinal axis of the pin, from the lock position into the release position;
wherein the release system includes a lever coupled to the pin of the latch mechanism, and rotatable relative to the support structure about a lever axis, wherein rotation of the lever moves the pin along the longitudinal axis of the pin, from the lock position into the release position; and
wherein the release system includes a cable connecting the pin and the lever, wherein the cable is attached to the lever a distance from the lever axis.

15. The cargo barrier set forth in claim 14 wherein the latch mechanism includes a biasing device biasing the pin into the lock position.

16. The cargo barrier set forth in claim 14 further comprising a detent system releasably securing the gate to the support structure in the stowed position, wherein the detent system includes a ridge defined by the support structure and operable to engage the gate in frictional engagement when the gate is disposed in the stowed position.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Dyle Taryn

Classifications

• B60R21/026 Primary

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

• B60R5/04 Primary

  arranged at rear of vehicle {(B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065)} · CPC title

• B60R7/02 Primary

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