Automotive floor liner

• US 5,322,335 A
• Filed: 08/30/1993
• Issued: 06/21/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Penda Corporation (Kruger Family Industries, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Penda Corporation (Kruger Family Industries, LLC)
• Inventors: Niemi, Karl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/114,097
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.23, 296/39.1, 296/37.16
• US Class Current: 296/97.23
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6009 covering more than only the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/363 characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/35 Seat, bench or back-rests being split laterally in two or more parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/042 of carpets B60N3/046, B60N3/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/01 Liners for load platforms or load compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/04 arranged at rear of vehicle B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065

Abstract

Protection for the rear carpet areas of an automobile such as a sport utility vehicle is provided by a unitary sheet of heavy-gauge extruded, high-density polyethylene. The floor liner has a floor panel which covers the floor of the cargo area of a sports utility vehicle. The floor panel has sides which extend along and are tucked under the wheel well trim panels on either side of the cargo area. Integrally formed with, and attached to, the forward edge of the floor panel, are two cargo extension panels. The cargo extension panels form a continuation of the forward edge of the cargo floor panel and are separated from each other by a seat back accommodation slot. This slot divides the cargo extension panels so that each panel corresponds to the width of the seat back positioned forward of each panel. Continuing on from the cargo extension panels are recumbent panels which are integrally formed with and joined to the cargo panels. These in turn are joined to integrally formed seat back panels. The joints between the panels are of the type known as a "living hinge" and are cold-formed into the material of the liner itself. The double living hinges provide resilient, long-life hinges impervious to liquids and provide flat extended edges of improved appearance and safety. The spring-loaded extension panel of a vehicle urges the seat back panel against a seat back and hence retains the liner without additional fasteners.

Claims

1. A unitary protective plastic liner for protecting interior coverings in a cargo area of a vehicle having a floor and a foldable rear seat back, the liner comprising:

a) a first floor lining panel which is adapted to substantially cover the floor of a vehicle;

b) two cargo extension panels which extend forward of the first floor lining panel, wherein each panel is pivotally joined to the first floor lining panel by a double living hinge formed of two parallel closely-spaced living hinges; and

c) each cargo extension panel having a recumbent panel joined to a forward portion of said cargo extension panel by a double living hinge.

2. The liner of claim 1 further comprising a resilient clip mounted to the vehicle rear seat back which engages a recumbent panel to the seat back in an upright position.

3. The liner of claim 2 wherein the clips are releasably attached to a carpet lining on the seat back by means for fastening and wherein the clip has a resilient U-shaped portion for retaining the first panels and the recumbent panels.

4. The liner of claim 1 wherein each recumbent panel has a seat back panel connected to a forward edge thereof by a double living hinge formed of two parallel, closely-spaced living hinges.

5. The liner of claim 1 wherein the first floor lining panel has portions defining access holes for cargo hooks.

6. The liner of claim 1 wherein the liner is formed of extruded roll formed high density polyethylene.

7. A protective plastic liner for protecting interior coverings in a cargo area for a vehicle having two independently foldable seat backs adjacent to a rear cargo area having a floor, the liner comprising:

a) a first floor lining panel adapted to substantially cover the floor of a vehicle, the first panel having a forward end, a rearward end, and two sides;

b) portions of the first panel which form two opposed sidewardly extending ears adjacent to the rearward end and extending forward, wherein the ears are adapted to underlie two opposed wheel well trim panels;

c) two cargo extension panels integrally joined to the first floor lining panel forward end, the two panels being joined to the forward end by a double living hinge formed of two closely-spaced parallel living hinges;

d) each cargo extension panel having a recumbent panel extending forwardly from said cargo extension panel and pivotally joined to said cargo extension panel by a double living hinge formed of two parallel closely spaced living hinges.

8. The liner of claim 7 wherein each of the recumbent panels has a seat back panel connected to a forward edge thereof by a double living hinge formed of two parallel closely spaced living hinges.

9. The liner of claim 7 wherein the first floor lining panel has portions defining access holes for cargo hooks.

10. The liner of claim 7 wherein the liner is formed of extruded roll formed high density polyethylene.

11. In a vehicle having a rear cargo area with interior coverings and a floor, and a protective plastic liner for protecting the interior coverings of a cargo area, wherein the vehicle has two independently foldable seat backs adjacent to the cargo area, and opposed wheel well trim panels covering wheel wells disposed along the side of the cargo area wherein the improvement comprises a unitary plastic liner comprising:

a) a first floor lining panel which substantially covers the cargo floor of the vehicle, the first panel having a forward end, a rearward end, and two sides;

b) portions of the first floor lining panel sides which define two opposed, sidewardly-extending ears adjacent to the rearward end of the first floor lining panel, the sides extending forward and underlying the two opposed wheel well trim panels;

c) two second panels integrally joined to the forward end of the first panel, the two panels being joined to the first panel forward end by a living hinge;

d) each second panel having a third panel which extends frontwardly from said second panel and is joined to said second panel by a living hinge.

12. The liner of claim 11 where at least one of the living hinges between the panels is a double living hinge formed of two parallel, closely-spaced living hinges.

13. The liner of claim 11 wherein each third panel has a fourth panel which extends forwardly from said third panel, and wherein each fourth panel is joined to said third panel by a double living hinge formed of two parallel, closely-spaced living hinges, and said fourth panel is adapted to overlie a seat back.

14. The liner of claim 11 further comprising portions of the first floor lining panel which define access holes for cargo hooks.

15. The liner of claim 11 wherein the liner is formed of extruded roll formed high density polyethylene.

16. In a vehicle having a rear cargo area, a foldable seat with a back adjacent to the cargo area, and a spring-loaded extension flap extending from the cargo area, an improved protective plastic liner for protecting interior coverings comprising:

a) a first panel which substantially covers the rear cargo area of the vehicle, and which has a first forward end, a rearward end, and two sides;

b) at least one second panel integrally formed with and pivotally joined to the first panel forward end, wherein the second panel has a forward edge;

c) at least one third panel integrally formed with and pivotally joined to the forward end of the second panel, and having a forward end;

d) at least one fourth panel integrally formed with and pivotally joined to the forward end of the third panel, wherein the extension flap is engaged between the second panel and the third panel when the seat is in an upright position, and urges the fourth panel against the seat back, and wherein the second panel overlies the extension flap when the seat is in a collapsed, downwardly folded position.

17. The vehicle and liner of claim 16 wherein:

a) the second panel has a length in the forward direction;

b) the third panel has a length in the forward direction; and

c) the fourth panel has a length in the forward direction; and

wherein the length of the second panel plus the length of the fourth panel, less the length of the third panel is equal to approximately the height of the rear seat back so that when the seat is upright, the liner does not extend above the seat, and when the seat is in a recumbent position, the liner unfolds to cover the seat back.

18. The liner of claim 16 wherein the liner is formed of extruded roll formed high density polyethylene.

19. A protective plastic liner for protecting interior coverings in a cargo area for a vehicle having two independently foldable seat backs adjacent to a rear cargo area, the liner comprising:

a) a first floor lining panel adapted to substantially cover the cargo area of a vehicle, the first panel having a forward end, a rearward end, and two sides;

b) two cargo extension panels integrally joined to the first floor lining panel forward end, the two panels being joined to the forward end by a living hinge;

c) each extension panel having a recumbent panel extending forwardly from said cargo extension panel and pivotally joined to said cargo extension panel by a living hinge;

d) each cargo recumbent panel having a seat back panel extending forwardly therefrom and pivotally joined to said recumbent panel by a living hinge, wherein;

i) the cargo panel has a length in a forward direction;

ii) the recumbent panels have a length in the forward direction; and

iii) the seat back panel has a length in the forward direction; and

wherein the length of the cargo panel plus the length of the seat back panels, less the length of the recumbent panel is equal to approximately the height of the rear seat back so that when the seat is upright, the liner does not extend above the seat, and when the seat is in a recumbent position, the liner unfolds to cover the seat back.

20. The liner of claim 19 wherein the liner is formed of extruded roll formed high density polyethylene.