WO2011126426A1

WO2011126426A1 - Shelf configuration

Info

Publication number: WO2011126426A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/050281
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gunnar THORSÈN
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2010-04-08
Filing date: 2011-03-15
Publication date: 2011-10-13
Also published as: SE1050344A1; SE534753C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelf configuration (1; 2; 3) intended to constitute a storage space bounded by a shelf portion (20; 30; 40) and by a roof portion (10) and a wall portion (12), which shelf portion(20; 30; 40) is adapted to being fastened to at least said wall portion (12) and is adapted, in a concave configuration(A),to substantially connecting to said roof portion(10) and wall portion(12) and, in a convex configuration (B), to constituting a storage space, to which end the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) is capable of change of shape between said two configurations(A,B) by means of a buckling step. The invention relates also to a motor vehicle comprising a shelf configuration situated in its driving cab.

Description

SHELF CONFIGURATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a shelf configuration according to the preamble of claim 1 . The invention relates also to a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

In driving cabs of motor vehicles such as trucks in which the cab serves as the driver's workplace, there is a need for storage space. To meet this need, roof shelves are provided in the roof close to the driving seat. A problem is that such roof shelves occupy space in the cab and reduce the roof height, making it impossible to stand up straight under such shelves. A solution to this problem is to keep the passenger side free from such occupation of space. A disadvantage of freeing space on the passenger side is that storage facilities are reduced.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose for a driving cab of a motor vehicle a shelf configuration which is intended to constitute a storage space bounded by a shelf portion and by a roof portion and which results in increased flexibility. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects indicated by the description set out below are achieved by a shelf configuration and a motor vehicle of the kind indicated in the introduction which further exhibit the features indicated in the characterising parts of the attached independent claims 1 and 14. Preferred embodiments of the shelf configuration are defined in the attached dependent claims 2-13.

According to the invention, the objects are achieved with a shelf configuration intended to constitute a storage space bounded by a shelf portion and by a roof portion and a wall portion, such that the shelf portion is adapted to being fastened to at least said wall portion, said shelf portion is adapted, in a concave configuration, to substantially connecting to said roof portion and wall portion and, in a convex configuration, to constituting a storage space, and the shape of the shelf portion can be changed between said two configurations by means of a buckling step. The result is increased flexibility in that when extra movement space is required the shelf portion is put into its convex configuration and when extra storage space is required the shelf portion is put into in its concave configuration.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said shelf portion is adapted, in a substantially planar configuration, to constituting a larger storage space than in said convex configuration. The result is further increased flexibility in that expanded storage space is made possible by putting the shelf portion into its planar configuration.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, the shelf portion is fastened articulatedly to said wall portion at a distance from said roof portion. This makes it easy to switch between the various configurations of the shelf portion. According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, the shelf portion is fastened articulatedly to said roof portion at a distance from said wall portion. This makes it easy to switch between the various configurations of the shelf portion. According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, the shelf portion is detachably fastened articulatedly to said roof portion in order to achieve said planar configuration of the shelf portion. This makes it easy to switch the shelf portion to its planar configuration.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, the shelf portion comprises load bearing elements. This makes it possible, in said convex configuration and said planar configuration, to load the shelf configuration with desired items for storage.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said load bearing elements comprise a rib configuration. According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said rib configuration comprises at least two substantially mutually parallel flexible rib elements capable of change of shape between said concave and convex configurations in said buckling step. This makes it easy to change shape between said concave and said convex configurations. According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said rib configuration comprises a set of load bearing ribs adapted to running substantially transversely relative to said flexible rib elements. This results in greater load bearing capacity of the shelf configuration.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said load bearing elements comprise a flexible panel-like element capable of change of shape between said concave and convex configurations in said buckling step. This makes it easy to change shape between said concave and convex configurations.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said load bearing elements comprise frame elements forming an arrangement for helping to support the shelf portion in said planar configuration. This results in greater load bearing capacity of the shelf configuration.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said load bearing elements comprise at least one flexible protective element adapted to serving as a suspension means for helping to support the shelf portion in said planar configuration. This results both in greater load bearing capacity and in a retaining capacity to prevent items from falling out when the shelf portion is in said planar configuration.

According to an embodiment of the shelf configuration, said wall portion and roof portion form part of the interior layout of a motor vehicle cab. Said shelf configuration thus results in more flexibility in the cab.

According to an embodiment of it, the shelf configuration in said concave configuration is intended to help to provide a space with standing room in said cab. This makes it possible, for example, for a driver so wishing to stand up in the cab by putting the shelf portion into said concave configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description set out below in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which the same reference notations denote similar parts throughout the various views, and in which: Fig. 1 a is a schematic perspective view of a shelf configuration in a concave configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 1 b is a schematic perspective view of the shelf configuration in Fig.1 a in a convex configuration; Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the shelf configuration in Figs. 1 a-b situated adjacent to a roof portion and a wall portion;

Fig. 3 depicts schematically a roof shelf set incorporating a shelf configuration in concave configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 depicts schematically part of the roof shelf set in Fig. 3 with the shelf configuration in planar configuration;

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a shelf configuration in a planar configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of a shelf configuration according to a variant of the shelf configuration in Figs. 1 a-b and Fig. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Buckling step herein means a change of shape between concave and convex states, both of which are inherently stable. The characteristics of the material of elements for effecting said buckling step are such that it reverts to its shape. Such an element is flexible such that it is bendable and resilient but reverts to the stable concave or convex state when forces applied to it are less than the force required to effect said buckling step. The material of elements for effecting said buckling step may for example be some suitable metal material such as material for steel tape, or plastic or paper material as in cabin travelling bags.

Fig. 1 a is a schematic perspective view of a shelf configuration 1 in a concave configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 b is a schematic perspective view of the shelf configuration 1 in Fig .1 in a convex configuration. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the shelf configuration 1 in Figs. 1 a-b situated adjacent to a roof portion 10 and a wall portion 12. The shelf configuration 1 comprises a shelf portion 20. The shelf configuration 1 is intended to constitute a storage space bounded by said shelf portion 20 and by a roof portion and a wall portion as depicted in Fig. 2. The shelf portion 20 is fastened articulatedly to said wall portion 12 at an articulation 15 at a distance from said roof portion 10. The shelf portion 20 is also fastened articulatedly to said roof portion 10 at a distance from said wall portion 12 at an articulation 17.

Said shelf portion 20 is adapted, in a concave configuration A, to substantially connecting to said roof portion 10 and wall portion 12. The shelf portion 20 in the concave configuration A substantially follows the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10 and runs along the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10, bulging towards the transition between the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10 so that the shelf portion 20 and consequently the shell configuration 1 occupy substantially no space below the roof portion 10 and outwards from the wall portion 12. The shelf portion 20 in said concave configuration A thus curves towards the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10, forming a profile bending towards the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10. Said shelf portion 20 is adapted, in a convex configuration B, to constituting a storage space. The shelf portion 20 in the convex configuration B forms a configuration bulging out from the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10, i.e. bulging away from the transition between the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10 so that the shelf portion 20 and consequently the shelf configuration 1 constitute said storage space. Thus the shelf portion 20 in said convex configuration B curves out from the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10, forming a profile bending away from the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10. The shelf portion 20 is capable of change of shape between said concave configuration A and said convex configuration B by means of a buckling step, such that the concave configuration A represents a stable state and the convex configuration B a stable state. The shelf portion 20 is thus arcable.

The shelf configuration 1 comprises handles 14, 16 for effecting said change of shape of the shelf portion 20. According to the embodiment in Figs. 1 a and 1 b, the shelf configuration 1 comprises two handles 14, 16 situated at such a distance from one another that a user can use one hand on the respective handle 14, 16 to effect said change of shape.

Said shelf portion 20 is adapted, in a substantially planar configuration C, to constituting a larger storage space than said convex configuration B. The shelf portion 20 constitutes in the planar configuration C a configuration protruding substantially horizontally outwards from the wall portion 12. The storage space bounded by the shelf portion 20 and the roof portion 10 and the wall portion 12 thus becomes larger than in the convex configuration B. The shelf portion 20 is detachably fastened articulatedly to said roof portion 10 at the articulation 17 to make it possible to achieve said planar configuration C of the shelf portion 20. According to a variant, the shelf portion 20 is detachably fastened articulatedly by means of a hook device 18. The hook device 18 may take the form of one or more hooks, catches or the like.

According to an embodiment, a batten element 19 situated in the roof to which the shelf portion 20 is attached is arranged to be detachably articulated. According to an embodiment, the batten element 19 is connected to the roof portion 10 via a hinge.

The shelf portion 20 comprises load bearing elements. According to an embodiment, said load bearing elements comprise a flexible panel-like element 22 capable of change of shape between said concave configuration A and convex configuration B in said buckling step. According to an embodiment the panel-like element 22 both has load-absorbing functions and is capable of change of shape.

According to this embodiment, said load bearing elements comprise a frame element 24 forming an arrangement for helping to support the shelf portion 20 in said planar configuration C. Said panel-like element 22 is adapted, in said planar configuration C, to resting upon the frame element 24 so that the frame element 24 in said planar configuration C supports the panel-like element 22. The frame element 24 is intended to be permanently adjacent to sidewall portions close to said roof portion 10 and wall portion 12. Such a frame element 24 is also depicted in Figs. 3 and 4.

According to an embodiment, said panel-like element 22 is openable to simplify access to the storage space formed in the convex configuration B. According to an embodiment, the panel-like element 22 comprises an undepicted closable aperture which may take the form of a hatch or the like. Said load bearing elements comprise at least one flexible protective element 26 adapted to serving as a suspension means for helping to support the shelf portion 20 in said planar configuration C. Said flexible protective element 26 has its one end firmly connected adjacent to the roof portion 10, e.g. close to said batten element 19, and its opposite end firmly connected to a forward portion of the shelf portion 20. Said flexible protective element 26 is adapted, in said concave configuration A and convex configuration B of the shelf portion 20, to being folded between the roof portion 10 and the panel-like element 22.

Said flexible protective element 26 is adapted, in said planar configuration C, when the panel-like element 22 has its one end released so that it is substantially planar, to serving as a suspension means in that the connection adjacent to the roof portion 10 supports the panel-like element. According to a variant, said flexible protective element 26 may replace said frame element 24. According to a variant, said flexible protective element 26 is made of a flexible material such as cloth, fabric or the like.

Fig. 3 depicts schematically a roof shelf set 5 incorporating a shelf configuration 2 in concave configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 depicts schematically part of the roof shelf set 5 in Fig. 3 with the shelf configuration 2 in planar configuration. The roof shelf set 5 further comprises two roof shelves 50, 52 attached permanently to roof and wall, with respective openable hatches 50a, 52a provided with opening mechanisms, which roof shelves 50, 52 occupy space in the room.

According to a variant, the roof shelf set 5 is intended to be fitted in a cab of a motor vehicle such as a truck. The shelf configuration 2 may take the form of any suitable shelf configuration according to the present invention. The shelf configuration consequently comprises a shelf portion 30 fastened articulatedly to a wall portion 12 at an articulation 15 at a distance from a roof portion 10, and fastened articulatedly to said roof portion 10 at a distance from said wall portion 12 at an articulation 17. The concave configuration A of the shelf portion according to Fig. 3 makes it possible, for example, for a driver so wishing to stand up in the cab. When extra storage space is required, a shelf portion 30 of the shelf configuration 2 is put into said convex configuration B, and if further storage space is needed the shelf portion 30 is released from the articulated fastening to the roof portion 10 and is put into said planar configuration C as depicted in Fig. 4. According to a variant, the shelf configuration 2 is attached to the roof portion 10 and the wall portion 12 close to the passenger side in the cab. The shelf configuration 2 in this embodiment is consequently intended in said concave configuration A to help to provide a space of standing height in said cab.

The shelf portion 30 comprises load bearing elements comprising a flexible panel-like element 32 capable of change of shape between said concave and convex configurations in said buckling step.

The shelf configuration 2 comprises load bearing elements comprising a frame element 24 adapted to supporting the panel-like element 22. The frame element 24 is intended to be permanently attached to sidewall portions close to said roof portion 10 and wall portion 12, which side portions, in cases where the roof shelf set 5 is fitted in a vehicle cab, take the form here of a side portion of one of said roof shelves and a side portion of the vehicle cab. According to this embodiment, said load bearing elements comprise a flexible protective element 36 which incorporates strip portions 36a, 36b each connected to their respective side of the roof portion 10, and a protective netting portion 36c which is connected to the opposite end of each strip portion and to the forward portion of the panel-like element 22. The protective netting portion 36c is so configured that when the shelf portion 30 is in its planar configuration C the protective netting portion 36c serves as protection to prevent items placed in the shelf configuration 2 from falling out, e.g. during movement of a vehicle in cases where the shelf configuration 2 is fitted in a cab of a vehicle. As in the embodiment in Figs. 1 a and 1 b, the shelf configuration 2 comprises two handles 14, 16 for effecting said change of shape.

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a shelf configuration 3 in a planar configuration C according to an embodiment of the present invention. The shelf configuration comprises a shelf portion 40 fastened articulatedly to a wall portion 12 at articulations 15 at a distance from a roof portion 10, and articulately fastened to said roof portion 10 at a distance from said wall portion 12 at an articulation 17.

In this embodiment, load bearing elements of the shelf portion 40 comprise a rib configuration 42. Said rib configuration 42 comprises two mutually substantially parallel flexible rib elements 43, 44 capable of change of shape between said concave configuration A and convex configuration B in said buckling step. Said rib elements 43, 44 are arranged to run perpendicularly out from the wall portion 12. Said rib elements 43, 44 each have one end fastened articulatedly to the wall portion 12 and the other end detachably fastened articulatedly in the roof portion 10. According to this variant each rib element is fastened articulatedly via a respective articulation 15 and according to a variant said articulated fastening takes the form of a hinge.

Said rib elements 43, 44 according to a variant take the form of material similar to, for example, steel tape. In Fig. 5 the rib configuration 42 takes the form of two mutually substantially parallel rib elements 43, 44. The ribs configuration may alternatively take the form of one or three or more rib elements.

Said rib configuration 42 further comprises a set of carrier ribs 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d arranged to run substantially transversely relative to said flexible rib elements. Said carrier ribs 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d are arranged to run substantially parallel with the wall portion 12 and the roof portion 10. Said load bearing ribs take the form of rigid carrier ribs 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d. Said carrier ribs 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d are disposed at spacing from one another to allow said change of shape of the shelf portion 40 between said concave configuration A and convex configuration B in said buckling step. The shelf configuration 3 comprises an undepicted flexible shelf element adapted to filling the spaces formed between carrier ribs 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d and between rib elements 43, 44 in order to retain items which are placed in the storage space in the convex configuration B or planar configuration C, which shelf element according to a variant is made of flexible material such as cloth, fabric or the like. Said load bearing elements comprise in the embodiment in, for example, Figs. 3 and 4 frame elements 24 forming an arrangement for helping to support the shelf portion 40 in said configuration C. In this embodiment said planar carrier ribs 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d are arranged, in the planar configuration C depicted in Fig. 5, to rest upon said frame element 24. Said load bearing elements comprise at least one flexible protective element 46 serving as suspension means to help to support the shelf portion 40 in said planar configuration C, like the protective element described with reference to Fig. 2. The protective element 46 is here depicted transparently for greater clarity of features in Fig. 5. According to a variant the protective element 46 is openable, e.g. by pull chain or the like.

As in the embodiment in Figs. 1 a and 1 b, the shelf configuration 3 comprises two handles 14, 16 for effecting said change of shape.

In the above embodiments the shelf portion 20; 30; 40 is fastened articulatedly to said wall portion 12. According to an embodiment the shelf portion is not only detachably fastened articulatedly to said roof portion 10 but is also detachably fastened to said wall portion 12. This makes it possible for the shelf portion to be completely removed if need be. Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of a shelf configuration 1 ' according to a variant of the shelf configuration in Figs. 1 a-b and Fig. 2, attached to a roof portion 10 and a wall portion 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the shelf portion 20 detachably fastened articulatedly at the articulation 15 to the wall portion 12.

The shelf configuration comprises in this embodiment a flexible shelf element 56 situated adjacent to the wall portion and connected to the shelf portion 20 so that when the shelf portion 20 is detached from the articulation 15 at the wall portion, but is still fastened articulatedly at the articulation 17 to the roof portion the shelf portion constitutes a substantially vertical configuration D forming a larger storage space than in said convex configuration B. In the vertical configuration D, the shelf portion 20 forms a configuration protruding substantially vertically down from the roof portion 10. In the vertical configuration of the shelf portion 20 the shelf element 56 forms a substantially horizontal configuration. The storage space bounded by the shelf portion 20, the shelf element 56 and the roof portion 10 and the wall portion 12 thus becomes larger than in the convex configuration B. The shelf configuration in this embodiment may also, according to a variant, be configured to present the planar configuration C depicted in Fig. 2. The variant is here depicted with the panel-like element 22 as in Figs. 1 a-b and Figs. 2-4, but rib configurations 42 as in Fig. 5 are also applicable. According to a variant, in the vertical configuration D the shelf portion is openable or comprises an aperture for access to the storage space.

In the above embodiments, the shelf configuration comprises two handles for effecting said change of shape. Said handles may according to a variant be one or three or more in number and be of any suitable shape for effecting said change of shape. Said handles may be situated at any suitable locations on the shelf portion for effecting said change of shape. According to a variant, said change of shape may be effected without handles by taking hold of the shelf portion itself.

Fig. 6 depicts a side view of a vehicle 100. The exemplified vehicle 100 is a heavy vehicle in the form of a truck with a driving cab 1 10. The vehicle may alternatively be a bus or a passenger car.

The above description of preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive, nor to limit the invention to the variants described. Many modifications and variations will obviously suggest themselves to specialists. The embodiments have been selected and described to best explain the principles of the invention and practical applications thereof and thereby make it possible for a specialist to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications appropriate to the intended use.

Claims

1 . A shelf configuration (1 ; 2; 3; 1 ') intended to constitute a storage space bounded by a shelf portion (20; 30; 40) and by a roof portion (10) and a wall portion (12), which shelf portion is adapted to being fastened to at least said wall portion (12), characterised in that said shelf portion (20; 30; 40) is adapted, in a concave configuration (A), to substantially connecting to said roof portion (10) and wall portion (12) and, in a convex configuration (B), to constituting a storage space, to which end the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) is capable of change of shape between said two configurations (A, B) by means of a buckling step.

2. A shelf configuration according to claim 1 , in which the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) is fastened articulatedly to said wall portion (12) at a distance from said roof portion (10).

3. A shelf configuration according to claim 1 or 2, in which the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) is fastened articulatedly to said roof portion (10) at a distance from said wall portion (12).

4. A shelf configuration according to any one of claims 1 -3, in which said shelf portion (20; 30; 40) is adapted, in a substantially planar configuration (C), to constituting a larger storage space than in said convex configuration (B), to which end the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) is detachably fastened articulatedly to said roof portion (10) to achieve said planar configuration (C) of the shelf portion (20; 30; 40).

5. A shelf configuration according to any one of claims 1 -4, in which the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) comprises load bearing elements.

6. A shelf configuration according to claim 5, in which said load bearing elements comprise a rib configuration (42).

7. A shelf configuration according to claim 6, in which said rib configuration (42) comprises at least two mutually substantially parallel flexible rib elements (43, 44) capable of change of shape between said concave and convex configurations (A, B) in said buckling step.

8. A shelf configuration according to claim 7, in which said rib configuration (42) comprises a set of carrier ribs (45a, 45b, 45c, 45d) arranged to run substantially across said flexible elements (43, 44).

9. A shelf configuration according to claim 5, in which said load bearing elements comprise a flexible panel-like element (22) capable of change of shape between said concave and convex configurations (A, B) in said buckling step.

10. A shelf configuration according to claim 5, in which said load bearing elements comprise frame elements (24) forming an arrangement for helping to support the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) in said planar configuration (C).

1 1 . A shelf configuration according to claim 5, in which said load bearing elements comprise at least one flexible protective element (26; 36; 46) arranged as a suspension means to help to support the shelf portion (20; 30; 40) in said planar configuration (C).

12. A shelf configuration according to any one of the foregoing claims, in which said wall portion (12) and roof portion (10) form part of the interior layout of a cab (1 10) of a motor vehicle (100).

13. A shelf configuration according to claim 12, in which the shelf configuration (1 ; 2; 3) in said concave configuration (A) is intended to help to provide a space of standing height in said cab (1 10).

14. A motor vehicle comprising a shelf configuration (1; 2; 3) according to any one of claims 1-13 fitted in the driving cab (110) of the vehicle.