GB2633088A

GB2633088A - A load panel assembly for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2633088A
Application number: GB2313330.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wylie Alexandra
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Current assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Priority date: 2023-09-01
Filing date: 2023-09-01
Publication date: 2025-03-05
Also published as: GB202313330D0

Abstract

A load panel assembly for a vehicle, comprises at least one load panel 12a, 12b, each comprising a first coupling 14 for coupling the at least one load panel to a seat 20 within the vehicle, the at least one load panel being slidable relative to a part of the vehicle. The at least one load panel is configured such that, when coupled to the seat, movement of the seat within the vehicle causes the at least one load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle. A pair of guide rails 30a, 30b may be provided for each panel, where pairs of pins 46 provided on the panels may be guided therein. The couplings may comprise a hook and bar (40, figure 3) provided on the seat. The load panels may be rigid and may comprise a load floor or a parcel shelf of the vehicle. A vehicle may comprise at least two seats, where each of the two seats has a load panel assembly such that movement of the respective seat within the vehicle causes the respective load panel to slide relative to a part of the vehicle.

Description

A LOAD PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a load panel assembly for a vehicle. Aspects of the invention relate to a load panel assembly for a vehicle, a vehicle sub-assembly, and to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide vehicle seats that are moveable within the vehicle. In doing so, a gap may be provided between a load space rearward of the seat and the seat itself. The presence of a gap may affect the usefulness or convenience of the load space.

It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a load panel assembly for a vehicle, a vehicle subassembly, and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a load panel assembly for a vehicle, comprising at least one load panel each comprising a first coupling for coupling the at least one load panel to a seat within the vehicle, the at least one load panel being moveable relative to a part of the vehicle, the at least one load panel being configured such that, when coupled to the seat, movement of the seat within the vehicle causes the at least one load panel to move relative to the part of the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a load panel assembly for a vehicle, comprising at least one load panel each comprising a first coupling for coupling the at least one load panel to a seat within the vehicle, the at least one load panel being slidable relative to a part of the vehicle, the at least one load panel being configured such that, when coupled to the seat, movement of the seat within the vehicle causes the at least one load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.

Movement of the load panel in response to movement of the seat may allow the load panel to cover any gap that may otherwise be created by movement of the seat. The moved load panel may therefore provide a flat and continuous load surface despite movement of the seat.

In certain embodiments, the at least one load panel may comprise a first load panel and a second load panel, wherein at least one of the first load panel and second load panel is couplable to a respective seat within the vehicle, and wherein the at least one of the first and second load panel may be slidable relative to the part of the vehicle independently of the other.

The provision of multiple load panels provides a flexible arrangement in which individual seats may cause movement of individual load panels so that certain load panels may move relative to others.

The load panel assembly may comprise a guide along which the at least one load panel is slidable, at least part of the guide being fixable to the vehicle.

The guide may dictate the direction of movement of the respective load panel and permit smooth movement thereof.

The load panel assembly may comprise at least one pin provided on the at least one load panel wherein the guide engages the at least one pin to enable sliding of the at least one load panel relative to the part of the vehicle. The guide may comprise a first pair of guide rails for receiving one or more pins of one of the first load panel and the second load panel and a second pair of guide rails for receiving one or more pins of the other of the first load panel and the second load panel.

The use of a pin that is engageable with the guide provides a particularly effective sliding interface between the load panels and guides.

The load panel assembly may comprise a central rail, wherein the central rail comprises one guide rail of the first pair of guide rails and one guide rail of the second pair of guide rails.

The central rail may serve to delimit and/or provide support to the multiple load panels.

In certain embodiments, the at least one load panel may be rigid. The load panel may therefore provide a useful loading surface.

In certain embodiments, the at least one load panel may comprise a load floor or a parcel shelf of the vehicle. The ability to extend the load floor or parcel shelf area in response to movement of the seat provides a useful stowage provision and avoids loss of this provision to any gap created by movement of the seat.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle sub-assembly comprising the load panel assembly described above and at least one seat, the seat having a second coupling that is couplable to the first coupling so that movement of the seat within the vehicle causes the at least one load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.

One of the first coupling and the second coupling means may comprise at least one hook and the other of the first coupling and the second coupling comprises at least one bar, wherein the first coupling is couplable to the second coupling by engagement of the at least one hook on a respective one of the at least one bar.

The hook and bar arrangement provides a particularly effective coupling mechanism.

The at least one seat may comprise a seat base and a seat back, where the seat back may have the second coupling.

In certain embodiments, the seat back may be pivotable relative to the seat base, wherein pivoting of the seat back relative to the seat base causes the load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful in which the seat back is pivotable relative to the seat base and in which the second coupling is disposed on the seat back since, in such arrangements, the pivot axis of the seat is below the plane of the load panel. Movement of the load panel in response to pivoting of the seat may therefore cover what would otherwise be a large and deep gap, thereby providing a useful loading surface that would otherwise not be present.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a load panel assembly as described above or comprising a vehicle sub-assembly as described above.

The vehicle may comprise an underfloor, wherein the load panel overlies the underfloor in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

The underfloor may provide a useful loading surface in any gap created by movement of the load panel.

In certain embodiments, the vehicle comprise at least two seats, each of the at least two seats having a respective second coupling that is couplable to a respective first coupling so that movement of the respective seat within the vehicle causes the respective load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a vehicle sub-assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration; FIG. 2 shows the vehicle sub-assembly of FIG. 1 in a second configuration; FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a part of the vehicle sub-assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 shows an alternative view of the vehicle sub-assembly of FIG. 1 in the second configuration; and FIG. 5 shows a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle sub-assembly 18 of a vehicle 28 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle sub-assembly 18 is shown in FIG. 1 in a first configuration. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle sub-assembly 18 comprises two seats 20 and a load panel assembly 10 that comprises a first load panel 12a and a second load panel 12b. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b comprises two first couplings 14. Each of the first couplings 14 couples the respective one of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b to one of the seats 20. In alternative embodiments, the vehicle sub-assembly 18 may include any number of load panels 12 (i.e. One or more).

Each of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b is slidable relative to a part of the vehicle 28 and since each of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b is coupled to a respective one of the seats 20, movement of the respective seat 20 within the vehicle 28 causes the respective one of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b to slide relative to the part of the vehicle 28. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the pad of the vehicle 28 that the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b are slidable relative to is one or more interior walls 38 of the vehicle 28.

Rearward of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b, the vehicle sub-assembly 18 comprises a first rear panel 34a and a second rear panel 34b, respectively, such that the first load panel 12a is disposed between the first rear panel 34a and a respective one of the seats 20, and the second load panel 12b is disposed between the second rear panel 34b and another one of the respective seats 20. In alternative embodiments, the vehicle sub-assembly 18 may include any number of rear panels 34 (i.e. One or more). The rear panels 34 may provide an additional stowage area that may be substantially contiguous with the load panels 12 in the first configuration.

FIG. 2 shows the vehicle sub-assembly 18 in a second configuration. In particular, one of the seats 20 has moved to a different configuration in comparison to the configuration shown in FIG. 1. In doing so, the second load panel 12b has slidably moved relative to the interior wall 38. In doing so, the second load panel 12b covers a gap that would otherwise exist between the moved seat 20 and a static second load panel. The second load panel 12b therefore also provides a load surface over the gap, thereby making the space useful for stowage of items when the vehicle sub-assembly 18 is in the second configuration. In certain embodiments, some gap between the load panel 12 and the seat 20 may still remain when in the second configuration.

The first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b are each individually and independently slidable in the vehicle 28. Therefore, in the second configuration, either or both of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b have been moved relative to their positions in the first configuration. That is, in the second configuration, at least one load panel 12 is in a different position (by virtue of sliding in the vehicle 28) relative to its position in the first configuration. In certain embodiments, the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b may be collectively slidable in the vehicle 28.

In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures, the load panels 12 are each slidable relative to a guide that is fixable in the vehicle 28. In the particular embodiment shown in the Figures, the guide 30 comprises a first pair of guide rails 30a along which the first load panel 12a is slidable and a second first pair of guide rails 30a along which the second load panel 12b is slidable. In the particular embodiment shown in the Figures, the vehicle sub-assembly 18 comprises a central rail 16 that is supported in the vehicle 28 and that includes one guide rail of the first pair of guide rails 30a on a first side and one guide rail of the second pair of guide rails 30b on a second, opposite, side. The central rail 16 extends longitudinally in a direction parallel to the direction along which the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b are slidable within the vehicle 28.

The guide rails of the first pair of guide rails 30a and the second pair of guide rails 30b comprise a groove 50 along which part of the load panels 12 are slidable. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures, each of the load panels 12 are provided with at least two pairs of pins 46 that engage in and are slidable along the grooves 50 to permit sliding of the guide rails along the grooves 50.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, each of the grooves 50 may comprise a recess 52 into which a respective pin 46 may drop when the load panel 12 is in a predetermined position relative to guide rails. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 this predetermined position corresponds to the first configuration. When the pins 46 reside in the recesses 52 the respective load panel 12 cannot simply be slid along the grooves 50. Rather, the respective load panel 12 must first be lifted relative to the guide rails before the pins 46 (and hence load panel 12) can travel along the guide rails.

In certain embodiments, the pins 46 may be integrally formed with the load panels 12. In other embodiments, such as the one depicted in the Figures, the pins 46 may each comprise a separate component that is affixed to each load panel 12.

In other embodiments, edges of the load panels 12 may reside in and travel along the grooves 50.

In certain embodiments, the grooves 50 may be formed in interior walls 38 of the vehicle 28 rather than in separate guide rails that are attached to the interior wall 38 (or other parts of the vehicle 28).

In the non-limiting depicted embodiment, the central rail 16 underlies the interface between the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b. In certain embodiments, the central rail 16 may (at least partially) be disposed between the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b. In certain embodiments, the central rail 16 may be collectively slidable with one of the first load panel 12a and the second load panel 12b relative to the part of the vehicle 28 (e.g. The internal wall 38).

In the non-limiting depicted embodiment, the seat 20 comprises a seat base 22 and a seat back 24 that is pivotable relative to the seat base 22. Pivoting of the seat back 24 relative to the seat base 22 may permit the seat 20 to be moved to a folded configuration in which more stowage space is available in the vehicle 28 and/or pivoting of the seat back 24 relative to the seat base 22 may facilitate adjustment of the seat 20 to a user's preference. In certain embodiments, the movement of the seat 20 that causes the vehicle sub-assembly 18 to move between the first configuration and the second configuration is pivoting of the seat back 24 relative to the seat base 22. In the depicted embodiment, the pivot axis of the seat 20 is lower than the plane in which the load panels 12 extend. Consequently, pivoting of the seat 20 in the absence of embodiments of the present invention would result in a large and/or deep gap being created rearward of the seat 20. Such a gap may not be useful for the stowage of items. Embodiments of the present invention therefore provide an extension of the loading surface across this gap, thereby providing greater stowage capability when the seat 20 has been moved.

The height of the position of the load panels 12 relative to the pivot axis of the seats 20 may be determined (at least to some extent) by the presence of other features of the vehicle. For example, in an electric vehicle 28, an electric drive unit of the vehicle 28 may be disposed beneath the load panels 12 and therefore limit how low the load panels 12 may be relative to the pivot axes of the seats 20.

In other embodiments, other movements of the seat 20 may cause the vehicle sub-assembly 18 to move between the first configuration and the second configuration. For example, sliding, rotating or translating of the whole seat 20 (in any direction) may be the movement that causes the vehicle sub-assembly 18 to move between the first configuration and the second configuration.

The vehicle sub-assembly 18 may comprise any number of seats 20. The one or more seats 20 may form part of any suitable row of seats within the vehicle 28.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a part of the vehicle sub-assembly 18 of FIGs. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 3 the seat 20 has a second coupling 40 that is couplable to a respective first coupling 14 so that movement of the seat 20 within the vehicle 28 causes the respective load panel 12 (which is the first load panel 12a in FIG. 3) to slide relative to the above-mentioned part of the vehicle 28. In the specific non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first coupling 14 comprises a hook and the second coupling 40 comprises a bar. The hook engages the bar to couple the first coupling 14 to the second coupling 40 and thereby couple the load panel 12 to the seat 20. In alternative embodiments, the first coupling 14 may comprise a bar and the second coupling 40 may comprise a hook. In such an embodiment, the hook may be rotatable relative to the bar (about a longitudinal axis of the bar), thereby enabling mutual rotation of the hook relative to the bar. Such an arrangement (and indeed any mutually rotatable first coupling 14 and second coupling 40) permits a smooth transition between the first configuration and the second configuration whilst avoiding contortion of the first coupling 14 and the second coupling 40.

In further alternative embodiments, the first coupling 14 and/or the second coupling 40 may comprise other suitable engagement components.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative view of the vehicle sub-assembly 18 of FIG. 1 in the second configuration in which it can be seen that an underfloor 48 that underlies the load panel 12 in the first configuration is exposed when the vehicle sub-assembly 18 is moved to the second configuration. That is, in the second configuration, the underfloor 48 is exposed between the respective rear panel 34 and the respective load panel 12.

In certain embodiments, the underfloor 48 may provide a supporting surface for the stowage of items when the vehicle sub-assembly 18 is in the second configuration. In certain embodiments, at least part of the underfloor 48 is less than 30 cm beneath the load panel 12 when the vehicle sub-assembly 18 is in the first configuration. In such embodiments, there is relatively little difference in the position of the supporting surface provided by the load panel 12 (when the vehicle sub-assembly 18 is in the first configuration) compared with the position of the supporting surface provided by the underfloor 48 (when the vehicle sub-assembly 18 is in the second configuration).

FIG. 5 shows a vehicle 28 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 28 may comprise the load panel assembly 10 or the vehicle sub-assembly 18 described above.

In certain embodiments, the one or more load panels 12 may each be rigid. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more load panels 12 may each be a load floor of the vehicle 28. In other embodiments, each of the one or more load panels 12 may comprise any other surface for stowing items, including but not limited to a parcel shelf.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A load panel assembly for a vehicle, comprising: at least one load panel each comprising a first coupling for coupling the at least one load panel to a seat within the vehicle, the at least one load panel being slidable relative to a part of the vehicle; the at least one load panel being configured such that, when coupled to the seat, movement of the seat within the vehicle causes the at least one load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.
2. A load panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one load panel comprises a first load panel and a second load panel, wherein at least one of the first load panel and second load panel is couplable to a respective seat within the vehicle, and wherein the at least one of the first load panel and second load panel is slidable relative to the part of the vehicle independently of the other.
3. A load panel assembly according to any claim 1 or 2, comprising a guide along which the at least one load panel is slidable, at least part of the guide being fixable to the vehicle.
4. A load panel assembly according to claim 3, comprising at least one pin provided on the at least one load panel wherein the guide engages the at least one pin to enable sliding of the at least one load panel relative to the part of the vehicle.
5. A load panel assembly according to claim 4, wherein the guide comprises a first pair of guide rails for receiving one or more of the at least one pin of one of the first load panel and the second load panel and a second pair of guide rails for receiving one or more of the at least one pin of the other of the first load panel and the second load panel.
6. A load panel assembly according to claim 5, comprising a central rail, wherein the central rail comprises one guide rail of the first pair of guide rails and one guide rail of the second pair of guide rails.
7. A load panel assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one load panel is rigid.
8. A load panel assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one load panel comprises a load floor or a parcel shelf of the vehicle.
9. A vehicle sub-assembly comprising the load panel assembly of any preceding claim and at least one seat, the seat having a second coupling that is couplable to the first coupling so that movement of the seat within the vehicle causes the at least one load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.
10. A vehicle sub-assembly according to claim 9, wherein one of the first coupling and the second coupling comprises at least one hook and the other of the first coupling and the second coupling comprises at least one bar, wherein the first coupling is couplable to the second coupling by engagement of the at least one hook on a respective one of the at least one bar.
11. A vehicle sub-assembly according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the at least one seat comprises a seat base and a seat back, the seat back having the second coupling.
12. A vehicle sub-assembly according to claim 11, wherein the seat back is pivotable relative to the seat base, wherein pivoting of the seat back relative to the seat base causes the load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.
13. A vehicle comprising a load panel assembly according to any of any one of claims 1 to 8 or comprising a vehicle sub-assembly according to any one of claims 9 to 12.
14. A vehicle according to claim 13, comprising an underfloor, wherein the load panel overlies the underfloor in at least one of the first configuration and the second configuration.
15. A vehicle according to claim 13 or 14, comprising at least two seats, each of the at least two seats having a respective second coupling that is couplable to a respective first coupling so that movement of the respective seat within the vehicle causes the respective load panel to slide relative to the part of the vehicle.