Cargo-space cover for motor vehicle

• US 6,003,920 A
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter Butz GmbH & Co. Verwaltungs-KG
• Original Assignee: Peter Butz GmbH & Co. Verwaltungs-KG
• Inventors: Crisp, Terence Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLE, PATRICIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/098,301
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/37.16, 296/98, 160/23.1, 160/265, 160/310
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/047 collapsible by rolling-up
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/048 of accordion-type, i.e. collapsible by sliding and folding
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 5/46 for speed regulation of two or more dynamo-electric motors in relation to one another

Abstract

A cover for a motor-vehicle storage space has a winder fixed at an inner end of the space and a cover sheet secured in the winder, having an outer edge, and displaceable between a position wound up at the winder and a position extending from the winder above the space with its free edge at an opposite outer end of the space. A pair of like spaced apart guides flank the space and each extend from the inner end to the outer end. Respective entrainment elements are displaceable along the guides between the inner and outer ends and are each connected to the outer edge. Respective drive motors are connected to the entrainment elements for displacing the entrainment elements outward from the inner end to the outer end and inward from the outer end to the inner end. At least one of the motors is of variable speed. Respective speed sensors associated with the drives produce outputs corresponding to the displacement speeds of the respective entrainment elements and a controller connected to the sensors and to the one variable-speed motor compares the outputs of the sensors and varies an output speed of the one variable-speed motor so the entrainment elements move synchronously.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle having a storage space, a cover comprising:

a winder fixed at an inner end of the space;

a cover sheet secured in the winder, having an outer edge, and displaceable between a position wound up at the winder and a position extending from the winder above the space with its free edge at an opposite outer end of the space;

a pair of like spaced apart guides flanking the space and each extending from the inner end to the outer end;

respective entrainment elements displaceable along the guides between the inner and outer ends and each connected to the cover-sheet outer edge;

respective drive means including respective drive motors connected to the entrainment elements for displacing the entrainment elements outward from the inner end to the outer end and inward from the outer end to the inner end, at least one of the motors being of variable speed;

respective speed sensors associated with the drive means for producing outputs corresponding to the displacement speeds of the respective entrainment elements; and

control means connected to the sensors and to the one variable-speed motor for comparing the outputs of the sensors and varying an output speed of the one variable-speed motor so the entrainment elements move synchronously.

2. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 1 wherein both drive motors are of variable speed.

3. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 2 wherein the control means varies the output speeds of both of the drive motors.

4. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 1 wherein the control means includes

a processing unit, and

flexible conductors extending between the processing unit, the motors, and the sensors, whereby the unit can be mounted remotely from the guides and motors.

5. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 1 wherein the guides are not attached to each other.

6. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 1 wherein the motors are fluid-powered.

7. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 1 wherein the motors are electrical.

8. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 1 wherein each drive means includes

an endless conveyor element having a stretch extending along the guide, and

a gear drive connected between the respective motor and the respective conveyor element.

9. The motor-vehicle storage-space cover defined in claim 1 wherein the cover-sheet outer edge is provided with a stiffening rod having ends releasably secured in the entrainment elements.