The present invention relates to a covering for a gap behind a rear seatback in a vehicle, which is provided between this seatback and a baggage compartment covering in the vehicle transverse direction, and a baggage compartment covering having such a covering.
Vehicles of the station wagon construction type in particular frequently have movable and/or foldable rear seats, in order to be able to enlarge the baggage compartment. In addition, these vehicles normally have a baggage compartment covering which, in the rearmost position of the rear seat in the vehicle lengthwise direction—viewed in the direction of travel—adjoins the back of the rear seatback. At the same time, there is a gap between this seatback and the front edge of the baggage compartment covering, which is narrower or wider as a function of the position of the rear seatback in the vehicle lengthwise direction.
A covering for a gap between a rear seatback and a baggage apartment covering in a vehicle is known from DE 101 09 651 A1. The covering has a projection, positioned on the rear seatback, which is implemented so it may slide past the front edge of the baggage compartment covering and thus covers the gap in any position of the rear seatback. The projection is disadvantageously permanently connected to the rear seatback, even when the baggage compartment covering is removed from the vehicle.
One object of the present invention is to provide a covering for a gap between a rear seatback and a baggage compartment covering which has no components that are permanently connected to the rear seatback.
This object is achieved by a covering for a gap behind a seatback in a vehicle, the covering provided between the seatback and a baggage compartment located behind the seatback covering.
According to the present invention, a covering for a gap behind a rear seatback in a vehicle, which is provided between this seatback and a baggage compartment covering in the vehicle transverse direction, has a covering flap and a restoring device. The covering flap is linked—viewed in the driving direction—to the front edge of the baggage compartment covering or to a hinge support attached to the baggage compartment covering using a hinge. The restoring device produces an opposing force which must be overcome to pivot the covering flap out of the at least approximately horizontal base position, which projects toward the rear seatback. The covering flap is designed so that it may be pivoted upward or downward through the effect of force in order to expose the gap between the rear seatback and the baggage compartment covering. This is necessary in order to introduce a baggage compartment partitioning net between the rear seatback and the baggage compartment covering, for example.
The covering flap may also be designed so that, in all positions of the rear seatback, it presses against it in a more or less pivoted position. In this way, the gap is always covered with the covering flap. The restoring device always presses the covering flap against the rear seatback in this case. No part of the covering is attached to the rear seatback itself, so that the covering may be removed completely from the vehicle together with the baggage compartment covering.
The hinge is advantageously a film hinge. This is an especially simple and therefore cost-effective embodiment of a hinge. In addition, the hinge may be coated with the same material as the covering flap, so that it is practically not visually detectable.
The restoring device ideally includes a device which is attached to the covering flap and to the baggage compartment covering or to the film hinge at least essentially over its entire width. When the covering flap is pivoted out of the base position, the device is elastically deformed over its entire width, so that a pre-tension is built up as the covering flap is pivoted. The simplest conceivable achievement of the object is represented in this case by a kind of rubber band, which holds the covering flap in the base position like a type of suspenders and is stretched when the covering flap is pivoted. It is decisive for the functioning of this device that the elasticity be designed properly for the load. The special advantage of such a device is that no metallic springs are necessary.
The device advantageously includes a tension band, which is connected to the covering flap and to the baggage compartment covering or to the film hinge, an elastic intermediate element, which is elastically deformed when the covering flap is pivoted, being positioned between the tension band and the covering flap and baggage compartment covering in the region of the hinge. In this case, the elasticity of the device is primarily determined by the elastic intermediate element. The tension band itself may be made of an elastic material, but does not have to be.
Overall, the covering according to the present invention represents a cost-effective achievement of the object for gap covering which only requires a few individual parts. As an accompaniment to this, there are few sources of undesired disturbing noises. The simple construction is also insensitive to mechanical influences. The covering is visually appealing, since the design-relevant areas may be designed simply. The covering may be removed completely from the vehicle together with the baggage compartment covering, without a part remaining in the vehicle and/or on the rear seatback.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, at least two covering flaps may also be connected in series, which are each connected to one another using a hinge and a restoring device.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.