Abstract
A load cover arrangement for an interior luggage compartment of a vehicle. The load cover arrangement comprises a load cover having a fixed end attached to a tailgate of the vehicle, and a front portion having fastening members for releasably attaching to a front side of the luggage compartment. When attached, the load cover extends a distance D.sub.closed in a closed tailgate position, and a distance D.sub.open in an open tailgate position, measured from an opening in the tailgate and across the luggage compartment. The fixed end of the load cover is arranged inside of the tailgate and the load cover extends an internal distance D.sub.internal and projects out through the opening in the tailgate, wherein at least a portion of the load cover is resiliently elastic so that it is stretchable between a retracted position with a length of D.sub.retracted, the closed tailgate position and the open tailgate position.
Claims
1. A load cover arrangement for an interior luggage compartment of a vehicle, the load cover arrangement comprising: a tailgate of the vehicle, a load cover having a fixed end attached to the tailgate, and a front portion having fastening members for releasably attaching a front end of the load cover to a front side of the luggage compartment, and when attached, the load cover extends a distance D.sub.closed in a closed tailgate position, and a distance D.sub.open in an open tailgate position, as measured from an opening in the tailgate and along the load cover in a longitudinal direction of the luggage compartment to the front end of the load cover, wherein the fixed end of the load cover is arranged inside of the tailgate where the load cover extends an internal distance D.sub.internal, and the load cover projects out through the opening in the tailgate, wherein at least a portion of the load cover is resiliently elastic so that it is stretchable between a retracted position with a first length of D.sub.retracted, the closed tailgate position with a second length D.sub.closed and the open tailgate position with a third length D.sub.open.
2. The load cover arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the load cover has an extension ratio of (D.sub.internal+D.sub.open)/(D.sub.internal+D.sub.retracted).
3. The load cover arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the load cover comprises an opaque portion, being abutted to the front portion, wherein the opaque portion in combination with the front portion have an extension of at least a length D.sub.closed from the front end towards the fixed end, when in the closed tailgate position.
4. The load cover arrangement according to claim 3 wherein at least the opaque portion of the load cover has a lateral extension covering at least 90% of a lateral extension of the luggage compartment.
5. The load cover arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the load cover comprises a first cover portion arranged adjacent to the front portion, and a second cover portion arranged adjacent to the fixed end, wherein the second cover portion has an extension ratio .sub.2nd that is greater than an extension ratio of the first cover portion.
6. The load cover arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the first cover portion is an opaque portion.
7. The load cover arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the load cover further comprises a third cover portion arranged between the first and the second cover portions, wherein the third cover portion has an extension ratio .sub.3rd that is greater than .sub.2nd.
8. The load cover arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the second cover portion has a final length that is less than D.sub.internal.
9. The load cover arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the third cover portion has a final length that is less than or equal to the difference between D.sub.open and D.sub.closed.
10. The load cover arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the second cover portion comprises one or more elastic straps.
11. The load cover arrangement according to claim 1 wherein D.sub.internal is larger than D.sub.closed.
12. The load cover arrangement according to claim 1 further comprising an elongated routing member arranged further from the opening in the tailgate than the fixed end of the load cover, so that the load cover extends the distance D.sub.internal from the fixed end via the elongated routing member to the opening and subsequently extends to project out through the opening in the tailgate.
13. The load cover arrangement according to claim 1 wherein D.sub.open is 15%+/10% greater than D.sub.closed.
14. The load cover arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the front portion comprises a planar structure that is larger than the opening in the tailgate.
15. The load cover arrangement according to claim 14 wherein the planar structure has a length that covers at least 20% of a longitudinal extension of the luggage compartment.
16. A load cover for use with a vehicle having an interior luggage compartment and a tailgate, the load cover comprising: a front portion having a front end; a rear end configured to be fixedly attached to the tailgate such that the rear end is arranged inside the tailgate; and a fastening member for releasably attaching the front portion to the luggage compartment such that, when attached, the load cover extends a distance D.sub.closed in a closed tailgate position, and a distance D.sub.open in an open tailgate position, as measured from an opening in the tailgate and along the load cover in a longitudinal direction of the luggage compartment to the front end; wherein at least a portion of the load cover is resiliently elastic so that the load cover is stretchable when the load cover moves between the closed tailgate position and the open tailgate position.
17. A vehicle comprising: an interior luggage compartment; a tailgate having an opening; and a load cover including: a front portion having a front end; a rear end fixedly attached to the tailgate such that the rear end is arranged inside the tailgate; and a fastening member for releasably attaching the front portion to the luggage compartment such that, when attached, the load cover extends a distance D.sub.closed in a closed tailgate position, and a distance D.sub.open in an open tailgate position, as measured from the opening in the tailgate and along the load cover in a longitudinal direction of the luggage compartment to the front end; wherein at least a portion of the load cover is resiliently elastic so that the load cover is stretchable when the load cover moves between the closed tailgate position and the open tailgate position.
18. The load cover arrangement of claim 14 wherein the planar structure firms a flat rectangular piece that is configured to have a horizontal orientation when the front portion is attached to the luggage compartment, and to assume an upright position against the tailgate when the load cover is in the retracted position.
19. The load cover according to claim 16 further comprising a first cover portion arranged adjacent to the front portion, and a second cover portion arranged adjacent to the rear end, wherein the second cover portion has an extension ratio .sub.2nd that is greater than an extension ratio of the first cover portion.
20. The vehicle according to claim 17 wherein the load cover comprises a first cover portion arranged adjacent to the front portion, and a second cover portion arranged adjacent to the rear end, wherein the second cover portion has an extension ratio .sub.2nd that is greater than an extension ratio of the first cover portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) These and other aspects of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, which show exemplary embodiments.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle with a cutaway detail of a load cover arrangement;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a partial cross section of a tailgate with a load cover arrangement;
(4) FIGS. 3A-C show schematic top views of exemplary embodiments of load covers; and
(5) FIGS. 4A-C show cross sections of load cover arrangements in different positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(6) As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and that various and alternative forms may be employed. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art.
(7) The definitions of the distances D.sub.closed, D.sub.open, D.sub.internal and D.sub.retracted will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C.
(8) FIG. 4A shows the load cover arrangement in the closed tailgate position; D.sub.closed is defined as the distance along the load cover between the front of the opening A in the tailgate and the front end of the cover B attached at the front of the luggage compartment.
(9) FIG. 4B shows the load cover arrangement in the open tailgate position; D.sub.open is defined as the distance along the load cover between like reference points A and B, via E which is where the fastening members of the front portion engage with corresponding holding elements arranged at the front in the luggage compartment.
(10) FIG. 4C shows the load cover arrangement in the retracted position; D.sub.retracted is defined as the distance the load cover extends from the front of the opening A in the tailgate, i.e., between A and B, when the load cover is not in use.
(11) D.sub.internal is defined as the distance the load cover extends from the fixed end C to the front of the opening A in the tailgate, as illustrated in some exemplary embodiments via an elongated routing member D.
(12) In the following detailed description, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description. It may also be noted that, for the sake of clarity, the dimensions of certain components illustrated in the drawings may differ from the corresponding dimensions in real-life implementations of the disclosure, for instance, and are not considered as limiting. The exemplary embodiment is mainly described with reference to a vehicle with a luggage compartment open to the passenger compartment, whereby the figures may be considered schematic in terms of proportions as vehicles may vary in size and configuration of luggage compartment and tailgate depending on model.
(13) For purposes of description hereunder, the terms upper, lower, right, left, vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, lateral, inside, outside, interior, exterior, top, bottom, front, rear or back and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure when mounted in a vehicle which is placed on a horizontal plane, unless otherwise stated.
(14) FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of an exemplary vehicle 1 of station wagon type or similar. The vehicle 1, as shown in FIG. 1, is oriented so that the back as well as a left side is shown in FIG. 1. The vehicle 1 has a tailgate 2 for allowing loading and unloading of a luggage compartment 16 from the rear of the vehicle 1, which luggage compartment 16 is comprised in the interior of the vehicle 1 and which is shown in FIG. 1 through a partial cross section cutaway of the tailgate 2 along a vertical axis. The tailgate 2 is upward-swinging, and illustrated as closed in which position it covers almost full width and full height of the vehicle's rear side of the body. The tailgate 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a one piece door with an integrated window covering a majority of the upper part of the tailgate. An enclosure 8 or cavity is formed in the tailgate 2, which enclosure 8 covers a majority of the width and height of the lower part of the tailgate. The enclosure 8 may be formed for example in a hollow profile of the tailgate's lower part or by arranging an interior panel to the tailgate, where the tailgate and the interior panel are shaped so that an enclosure 8 is formed, for example by arranging concave cross sectional shapes facing each other.
(15) FIG. 1 shows an elongated bar 5 arranged within the enclosure 8 extending along the width of the tailgate 2. The elongated bar 5 is fixedly arranged to a bottom portion of the tailgate 2 and is parallel with the lateral axis of the vehicle. Along the elongated bar 5 an end of a load cover 4 is fastened by fastening means such as seams, glue, rivets, welding, etc. This provides a straight fixation along a first lateral or short side of the load cover 4, in other words the fixed end 19. In FIG. 1 the load cover 4 comprises a one-piece rectangular elastic weave for covering the luggage compartment. The weave may comprise one or more of fabric, elastic polymer, elastomer, latex, rubber, etc., and the term weave should not be interpreted as excluding non-weaved sheets such as for example molded latex. The load cover 4 forms a movable part of a load cover arrangement 3 which is illustrated in a closed tailgate position in FIG. 1. In the closed tailgate position the load cover 4 extends from the elongated bar 5 at the lower part of the enclosure 8, vertically through the enclosure 8 inside the tailgate 2 to an opening (not shown in FIG. 1) through which the load cover 4 extends longitudinally to the front of the luggage compartment 16 where a front portion 10 is releasably attached. The load cover 4 extends horizontally across the luggage compartment 16, below a bottom line of the vehicle's windows, and covers almost full width of the luggage compartment 16. In the retracted position, the closed tailgate position and the open tailgate position the fixed end 19 and a front end 18 of the load cover, are normally parallel and laterally aligned and have substantially the same lateral extension. Furthermore, the long edges of the load cover 4 are essentially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the short edges.
(16) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a cross section of a tailgate 2 from the inside of a vehicle, with another embodiment of a load cover arrangement 3 in a closed tailgate position. The load cover extends from the elongated bar 5 through the enclosure 8, out of the opening 9 in the tailgate and forwards. The fastening members 13 of the front portion 10 comprise an elongated bar which has a longer lateral extension than the planar structure 11. The ends of the fastening members 13 engage with holding elements 12 in the form of hooks that are fixedly arranged to the interior of the vehicle 1 and which support and hold the load cover 4. The load cover 4 differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 in that it comprises a first portion 6 which protrudes from the enclosure 8 and a second portion 7 which is contained inside the enclosure 8. The first portion 6 is opaque and may be formed by for example a dense weave of fabric or multi-layered fabric or a molded sheet of polymers or a composite or a combination thereof, the list is non-exhaustive. The second portion 7 may comprise a plurality of parallel elastic straps distributed along the elongated bar 5, such as for example rubber bands. When the front portion 10 is released and the load cover 4 is retracted to the retracted position, the second portion 7 may be elastically retracted so that more than 95% of the first portion 6 is contained in the enclosure 8 and the planar structure 11 may be folded down to lie flat against the tailgate. The tailgate further comprises a rounded bar or elongated member with a rounded surface arranged in the enclosure 8 at the inside of the opening 9, this provides a surface which may reduce wear on the load cover 4 at a point where the load cover 4 transitions from an extension inside the tailgate to a substantially perpendicular extension through the opening 9.
(17) FIG. 2 further shows the tailgate 2 comprising a storage space or indenture 20 on a side of the tailgate 2 facing the interior. The indenture 20 may be rectangular in shape and be arranged to receive one or more items to be stored and accessible from the rear of the vehicle. In this embodiment the item 21 is a warning triangle. The tailgate 2 further comprises engaging elements 15 which engage with corresponding engaging elements 15 arranged on the planar structure 11 of the front portion 10. The engaging elements 15 may for example comprise magnets, ferrous elements, Velcro, etc., this is a non-exhaustive list.
(18) The load cover 4 will be functionally described with reference to FIG. 3B. When the load cover arrangement is in the retracted position only the front portion 10 of the load cover 4 protrudes from the tailgate and is visible. When the load cover 4 is moved from the retracted position to the open tailgate position or to the closed tailgate position, the load cover 4 is stretched out from the tailgate 2 through the opening 9 so that an increasing length of the first portion 4 protrudes and becomes visible, until the load cover is stretched to a length protruding from the tailgate 2 which covers the distance D.sub.open or the distance D.sub.closed, at which stretched lengths the load cover 4 may be fastened at the front of the luggage compartment. The second portion 7 of the load cover 4 may during this movement be maintained contained in the tailgate 2, so that it is hidden from view. The second cover portion 7 may be significantly more elastic than the first cover portion 6. The percentage of elastic increase in length of the second cover portion 7 may be more than two times the percentage of elastic increase in length of the first cover portion 6, or more than 5 times or more than 10 times.
(19) Furthermore, another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A comprises a further portion, the third portion 17, arranged between the first portion 6 and the second portion 7. The third cover portion 17 stretches out to protrude and be visible from the tailgate when the load cover arrangement moves to and from the open tailgate position so that the first cover portion 6 may be less elastic and have a shorter longitudinal extension compared to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B.
(20) Furthermore, a third exemplary embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 3C. The load cover 4 comprises a single elastic portion, the first portion 6, which is hidden in the enclosure 8 of the tailgate 2 in the retracted position and which itself is stretched to partially protrude from the tailgate and partially be contained in the tailgate in the open tailgate position and the closed tailgate position.
(21) FIG. 3A shows a schematic top view of a load cover 4 according to one exemplary embodiment. The load cover 4 is illustrated separated from the vehicle 1 and further components of the load cover arrangement such as the enclosure 8 and opening 9 of the tailgate 2. The load cover 4 as illustrated in FIG. 3A is arranged of a horizontal surface with no external forces acting on it. With reference to the view in FIG. 3A the load cover 4 extends from right to left with a substantially rectangular shape and a longitudinal total initial length equal to D.sub.total,L1 measured from the fixed end 19 to the front end 18. The load cover may be described from the fixed end 19 to the front end 18, the fixed end 19 forms an edge on the second portion 7 which comprises a sheet of a highly elastic material, such as rubber, having a plurality of longitudinal cutouts that are distributed along the lateral extension of the load cover.
(22) The second portion 7 is attached to a third portion 17 which is abutting the end opposite to the fixed end of the second portion 7. The third portion 17 forms a rectangular piece, which in the state of rest has a smaller longitudinal extension than its lateral extension. The third portion 17 comprises an elastic planar and flat piece or sheet of material such as for example a latex sheet or fabric weave reinforced with a rubber weave, the list is non-exhaustive. The third portion 17 extends to the first portion 6, which forms a rectangular piece flat piece with a continuous and opaque surface, i.e., in this embodiment the first portion 6 forms an opaque portion 6. The first portion comprises a more dense weave than either of the second 7 and third 17 portions or it may comprise a material such as vinyl that allows no more than 10% of the visible light to transmit through the first portion 6, or no more than 5% or no more than 3% or no more than 1%. The first portion 6 extends to the front portion 10 which comprises a planar structure 11 forming a flat rectangular piece. The shape of the planar structure may advantageously be adapted so that the front end 18 fits the layout of the front of the luggage compartment. For example, concave or convex shapes may also be possible. Adjacent to the first portion 6, on either lateral side, the front portion 10 comprises fastening members 13 that protrude laterally so that they are engageable with corresponding holding elements (not shown) arranged in the luggage compartment. Adjacent to the front portion 10 and laterally centered the first portion 6 is provided with a cutout 14 which may be reinforced around the edges to avoid expansion of the cutout. The fastening members 13 form lateral ends of a rigid elongated member (not shown) arranged laterally on the front portion adjacent to the cutout 14 so that a user may hold and/or push the elongated member through the cutout 14. Furthermore, the planar structure 10 may be formed to have a longitudinal extension greater than 200 mm without a handle in the planar structure 10.
(23) Furthermore, the front portion 10 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A comprises engaging elements 15 in the form of for example magnets, Velcro or snap in buttons. The engaging elements 15 are arranged adjacent to each corner adjacent to the front end 18, which engaging elements may be adapted to releasably attach to corresponding engaging elements (not shown) on the tailgate (not shown) and/or at the front of the luggage compartment (not shown) so that unintended movements, vibrations or noises of the front portion 10 may be reduced.
(24) The second portion 7 and the third portion are attached to each other along a common lateral edge 22. The attachment may be formed by sewing, gluing, riveting, welding, clamping, etc., the list is non-exhausting.
(25) The third portion 17 and the first portion 6 are similarly attached to each other along a common lateral edge 23 and the first portion may be similarly attached to the front portion 10. Furthermore, the common lateral edge 22 between the third portion 17 and the second portion 7 may comprise lateral protrusions that may engage with the opening (not shown) of the tailgate (not shown) so that the second portion 7 may be prevented from protruding through the opening (not shown).
(26) While FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of this embodiment it may be noted that the total length of the load cover 4 from the fixed end 19 to the front end 18 is equal to a distance D.sub.Total,L1 in this illustrated state of rest. D.sub.Total,L1 may preferably be shorter than D.sub.retracted so that in the retracted position there is a pretension force due to the elastic properties of the load cover, since the pretension may reduce unwanted movement, vibrations or noise. Furthermore, the first portion 6 of this embodiment may in this illustrated state of rest have a longitudinal extension which is less than 10% shorter than its longitudinal extension in the open tailgate position. The second portion 7 may preferably be adapted to elastically expand to a longitudinal extension equal to or greater than the longitudinal extension of the first portion 6 in this illustrated state of rest.
(27) FIG. 3B shows a schematic top view of a load cover 4 according to a different exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3A. Describing the load cover 4 from the fixed end 19, the load cover 4 extends from a second portion 7 to a first portion 6 to a front portion 10 to the front end 18. The fixed end 19 forms an edge on the second portion 7 which comprises a plurality of equidistant parallel straps that are separated from each other. Compared to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A, the front portion 10 comprises fastening members 13 arranged adjacent to the front end 18 rather than adjacent to the first portion 6.
(28) While FIG. 3B is a schematic illustration of this embodiment it may be noted that the total length of the load cover 4 from the fixed end 19 to the front end 18 is equal to a distance D.sub.Total,L2 in this illustrated state of rest. D.sub.Total,L2 in is not necessarily equal to D.sub.Total,L1, either for adaptation to a different model of vehicle (not shown) or due to different elastic properties of the load cover 4 illustrated in FIG. 3B compared to the load cover 4 illustrated in FIG. 3A. However, D.sub.Total,L2 may similarly to D.sub.Total,L1 be shorter than D.sub.retracted so that in the retracted position there is advantageously a pretension force due to the elastic properties of the load cover, since the pretension may reduce unwanted movement, vibrations or noise. Furthermore, the first portion 6 of this embodiment may comprise for example vinyl and may in this illustrated state of rest have a longitudinal extension which is less than 5% shorter than its longitudinal extension in the open tailgate position. The illustrated longitudinal length of the first 6 and second 7 portion of the load cover 4 may preferably be equal to or smaller than the length D.sub.internal. The second portion 7 may preferably be adapted to elastically expand to a longitudinal extension equal to or greater than the longitudinal extension of the first portion 6 in this illustrated state of rest.
(29) FIG. 3C shows a schematic top view of a load cover 4 according to a different exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. Describing the load cover 4 from the fixed end 19, the load cover 4 extends from a first portion 6 to a front portion 10 to the front end 18. Furthermore, compared to the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the front portion 10 comprises an elongated bar, the lateral ends of which form fastening members 13. A handle 14 in the form of a lip or protrusion is arranged centrally on the elongated bar of the front portion 10.
(30) While FIG. 3C is a schematic illustration of this embodiment it may be noted that the total length of the load cover 4 from the fixed end 19 to the front end 18 is equal to a distance D.sub.Total,L3 in this illustrated state of rest. D.sub.Total,L3 in is not necessarily equal to D.sub.Total,L1 or D.sub.Total,L2, either for adaptation to a different model of vehicle (not shown) or due to different elastic properties of the load cover 4 illustrated in FIG. 3B compared to the load cover 4 illustrated in FIG. 3A or compared to the load cover 4 illustrated in FIG. 3B. D.sub.Total,L3 may be smaller than or equal to D.sub.internal so that in the retracted position there is advantageously a pretension force due to the elastic properties of the load cover, since the pretension may reduce unwanted movement, vibrations or noise. Furthermore, the first portion 6 of this embodiment may be elastically expandable to a longitudinal extension equal to or greater than the sum of the distances D.sub.internal and D.sub.open in the open tailgate position.
(31) FIG. 4A illustrates a cross section of a rear part of the vehicle 1, including the tailgate 2, the luggage compartment 16 and the load cover arrangement 3. The tailgate 2 is closed and the load cover arrangement 3 is in the closed tailgate position with the front portion 10 attached at the front of the luggage compartment 16. The front end 18 is arranged abutting the rear seats of the vehicle 1, the front end 18 is provided with a reference B illustrated with a line to clarify reference points for measuring extension of the load cover 4. The holding elements 12, here illustrated as hooks, support and hold the fastening members 13 of the front portion 10 adjacent to a common connecting edge between the front portion and the first portion 6 of the load cover 4. The first portion 6 is stretched to extend between the front portion 10 and the fixed end 19 arranged in the tailgate 2. The opening in the tailgate 9 has a front side facing the interior illustrated with a reference A marked with a line to clarify reference points for measuring extension of the load cover 4. Inside the tailgate 2 the load cover 4 is attached with the fixed end 19 at the lower portion of the tailgate 2 and a rounded elongated member 24 supports the load cover 4 adjacent to the opening 9. The load cover 4 may run freely over the rounded elongated member 24 as the first portion 6 of the load cover 4 stretches and retracts. A reference C is marked with a line drawn at the fixed end 19 to clarify reference points for measuring extension of the load cover 4 inside the tailgate 2.
(32) Two alternative embodiments of the load cover arrangement 3 inside the tailgate are illustrated in the cross sectional details FIG. 4A and FIG. 4A below FIG. 4A. A first alternative embodiment comprises the elongated member 5, in the form of an elongated round bar 5, arranged at a vertical center of the enclosure 8 of the tailgate 2. A rounded routing member 25 is arranged lower than the elongated bar 5 and a further rounded member 24 is arranged higher than the elongated bar 5. The load cover 4 may be arranged to extend from reference C at the fixed end 19 attached to the elongated bar 5, downwards to a reference D at the rounded routing member 25 around which it is routed to run freely upwards toward the rounded member 24 around which it is freely routed towards reference line A at the front of the opening 9. Thus, the load cover arrangement 3 may be arranged so that the load cover 4 extends from C to A, via D such that the distance D.sub.internal may be longer than a height of the enclosure 8 of the tailgate 2. The elongated bar 5 may be arranged to extend laterally adjacent to the interior side of the tailgate 2. The rounded member 24 and the rounded routing member 25 may be arranged to extend laterally adjacent to the exterior side of the tailgate 2. The longitudinal separation of the elongated bar and the rounded elongated members 24, 25 may allow the load cover to extend with a reduced risk of entanglement.
(33) A second alternative embodiment comprises the fixed end 19 of the load cover 4 attached to a lower side of the tailgate 2 by means of fastening means such as buttons, nails, glue, welding, press fit fixation, etc. A rounded elongated edge 24 in the enclosure 8 may be arranged adjacent to the opening 9. The load cover 4 may be arranged to extend from reference C at the fixed end 19 toward the rounded edge 24 around which it is freely routed towards reference line A at the front of the opening 9.
(34) FIG. 4B illustrates the cross section of a rear part of the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4A. However, the tailgate 2 is open and the load cover arrangement 3 is in the open tailgate position with the front portion 10 attached at the front of the luggage compartment 16. The front end 18 is arranged in the same way as in FIG. 4A, but additionally the fastening members 13 are illustrated with a reference E marked with a line to clarify reference points for measuring extension of the load cover 4. The planar structure 11 of the front portion 10 extends horizontally between E and B. The first portion 6 is stretched to extend inclined between the front portion 10 at E and the reference A at the front of the opening 9 in the opened tailgate. The tailgate 2 and enclosed components may be similar to FIG. 4A. It may be noted that the fastening members 13 may be arranged at the front end 18 in which case B and E may coincide or the extension of the load cover 4 between B and E may be inclined relative to the horizontal plane on which the vehicle is placed.
(35) FIG. 4C illustrates the cross section of a rear part of the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 4A. However, the load cover arrangement 3 is in the retracted position with the first portion 6 retracted into the tailgate 2 and the front portion 10 folded down flat against the interior facing side of the tailgate 2. The front end 18 is arranged downwards facing the floor of the luggage compartment 16 and a reference F illustrated with a line to clarify reference points for measuring extension of the load cover 4. A minor protruding extension of the first portion 6 and the planar structure 11 of the front portion 10 extend vertically between A and F.
(36) Specific embodiments of the disclosure have now been described. However, several alternatives are possible as well as combinations, as would be apparent for someone skilled in the art. For example, the position and form of the handle in FIG. 4A may be the used on any of the other embodiments such as the ones illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3B and 3C. Further examples include that the load cover may comprise one, two, three or more portions that are fabric like. At least one of the portions of the load cover may be elastic. The second portion may be more elastic than the third portion or the third portion may be more elastic than the second portion. Someone skilled in the art will realize that depending on the model of the vehicle the dimensions and the relative proportions of the luggage compartment and the tailgate may vary and consequently the dimensions and proportions of the portions of the load cover arrangement may vary, as well as the appropriate materials for the load cover arrangement.
(37) Furthermore, the third portion may comprise straps that may be connected to a single point inside the tailgate.
(38) Such and other obvious modifications must be considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure, as it is defined by the appended claims. It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the disclosure, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
