Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-24
2004-11-09
Patel, Kiran (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
C296S024430, C296S037150, C296S037600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06814398
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a partition structure for a vehicle wherein a partition panel is provided between a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment for opening and closing the passenger compartment with respect to the cargo compartment.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A so-called pick-up type vehicle contains a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment as an open space provided behind the passenger compartment. A partition panel separates the passenger compartment from the cargo compartment when the panel is closed. When the partition panel is turned down to open the passenger compartment to the cargo compartment, it is possible to carry longer cargo such as a surfboard.
The partition panel extends in a widthwise direction of the vehicle and is provided on a floor between the passenger compartment and the cargo compartment. Bottom parts of the panel are supported on the floor by hinges, so that the panel pivots from a vertically up-right position to a turned-down position in the passenger compartment. When the partition panel is moved downwardly toward the bottom of the passenger compartment, the passenger compartment is open to the cargo compartment. When the partition panel is raised up, the cargo compartment and the passenger compartment are partitioned, whereby the passenger compartment is closed. Moreover, a lock device composed of a striker and a latch is used for the partition structure. The striker is provided on the partition panel at an upper center part, and a latch is provided on a vehicle body. By engaging the striker with the latch the partition panel is maintained in a closed position.
As mentioned above, a vehicle having the partition panel is convenient and useful since two way use is possible.
However, when an impact load is suddenly applied from the front of the vehicle by collision or the like when the partition panel is closed, cargo carried in the cargo compartment is moved in the front direction by an inertial force. In such case, the cargo may apply an impact load to the partition panel to deform the partition panel, so that the panel is depressed or pushed into the passenger compartment side.
As a countermeasure, it has been considered to increase the rigidity of the partition panel, lock mechanism and hinge mechanism. For this purpose, the thickness of the constituent plate members is increased or the members are reinforced. By this measure, the weight of the partition panel is increased, so that the operational efficiency of the panel is decreased and the total weight of the vehicle is increased. Moreover, the cost for manufacturing such vehicle with the improved rigidity will be increased.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a partition structure for a vehicle having an improved safety wherein a partition panel is not easily protruded into a passenger compartment without increasing the weight of the partition panel or without increasing the manufacturing cost, even by the application of an impact load which may be applied by cargo, and a lock mechanism and hinge mechanisms are prevented from being deformed because the impact load is dispersedly transmitted to the entire body of the vehicle thereof, or the partition panel is not easily protruded into the passenger compartment even by the application of an excessively large impact load by the deformation of a less rigid part provided on the partition panel for effectively absorbing the impact energy.
The above object of the present invention is attained by a partition structure for a vehicle having an opening provided between a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment provided behind the passenger compartment, and a floor extending from the passenger compartment to the cargo compartment, comprising a partition panel in a rectangular shape extending in a widthwise direction of the vehicle for opening and do-sing the opening, a pair of hinge mechanisms provided fir connecting lower corners of the partition panel with the floor, the hinge mechanisms supporting the partition panel so as to open and close the opening by raising the partition panel to provide a closed state and by lowering the partition panel to provide an open state and a lock mechanism for supporting the partition panel in the closed state by engagement of an upper part of the partition panel with a vehicle body member, the partition panel having a low rigidity energy absorption part provided at a lower center part of the partition panel.
Another object of the present invention to provide a partition structure for a vehicle wherein an energy absorption part is easily prepared at the center of a partition panel.
The above object of the present invention is attained by the partition structure, wherein the partition panel comprises an outer panel approximately in a rectangular shape filling into the opening, and a lower inner panel extending along a lower edge of the outer panel by being welded to the outer panel, a center part of the lower inner panel with respect to a widthwise direction of the vehicle being omitted from welding.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a partition structure of a vehicle wherein the rigidity of the partition panel is further increased without increasing the weight thereof and an excessively large impact load applied to the partition panel is effectively absorbed by the deformation of the partition panel.
The above object of the present invention is attained by the partition structure, wherein the lower inner panel and the outer panel provide a configuration having a hollow cross section and extending in a widthwise direction.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a partition structure of a vehicle wherein a partition panel has an improved rigidity without weight increase, an impact load applied to the partition panel can be dispersedly transmitted to an entire body of the vehicle by way of hinge mechanisms and a lock mechanism, and an excessively large impact load applied to the partition panel is effectively absorbed by the deformation of the partition panel.
The above object of the present invention is attained by the partition structure, wherein the partition panel comprises an outer panel approximately in a rectangular shape fitting into the opening, an upper inner panel being connected to an upper edge of the outer panel, the upper inner panel and the outer panel providing a configuration having a hollow cross section and extending in a widthwise direction, a lower inner panel welded the a lower edge of the outer panel to provide a configuration having a hollow cross section and extending in a widthwise direction, the lower inner panel having an unwelded center part, a pair of side inner panels extending along lateral sides of the outer panel lower ends of the side inner panels being connected to the lower inner panel, upper ends of the side inner panels being connected to the upper inner panel, and a center inner panel vertically provided at a center of the outer panel, and an upper end and a lower end of the center inner panel being respectively connected to the upper inner panel and the lower inner panel.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a partition structure wherein an impact load applied to the partition panel is effectively transmitted to the floor.
The above object of the present invention is attained by the partition structure, wherein both ends of the lower inner panel are respectively connected to the hinge mechanisms.
A still father object of the present invention is to provide a partition structure wherein an impact load applied to the partition panel by cargo in the cargo compartment in the case of frontal collision, is dispersedly transmitted to a floor via hinge mechanisms, and to the vehicle body members via a lock mechanism, and an excessively large impact load applied to the partition panel in accordance with the forward movement of the partition panel causes a less rigid plate pin s
Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Smith Gambrell & Russell
LandOfFree
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