To flexible walls, in particular for vehicle bodywork

• US 6,068,042 A
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fair International
• Original Assignee: Fair International
• Inventors: Blond, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/101,756
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 160/327, 160/328, 160/329, 160/330, 160/332, 160/DIG. 7, 160/368.1, 160/354, 160/349.1, 160/349.2
• US Class Current: 160/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/065 with non-rigid elements, e.g. side curtains B60J7/062, B60J7/068 take precedence

Abstract

A flexible reinforced wall includes a plastified canvas and a trellis for reinforcing the plastified canvas. The trellis includes a plurality of ribbons with at least some of the plurality being arranged perpendicular to one another and wherein at least some of ribbons comprising a plastic material which is fixable to the plastified canvas. The ribbons have a continuous metal core for increasing their strength. The trellis is fixed to the plastified canvas by one of glueing or welding.

Claims

1. A flexible reinforced wall, comprising:

a plastified canvas; and

a trellis for reinforcing the plastified canvas comprising a plurality of ribbons, with at least some of the ribbons being arranged substantially perpendicularly to one another;

at least some of ribbons comprising a plastic material which is fixable to the plastified canvas and a continuous metal core for increasing the strength of the ribbons;

wherein the trellis is fixed to the plastified canvas by one of glueing or welding.

2. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 1, wherein the plastic material comprises PVC and wherein the metal core comprises steel.

3. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 1, wherein the trellis comprises a subassembly of substantially perpendicularly arranged ribbons, said ribbons being fixed to one another.

4. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 3, further comprising a heat-weldable film disposed between the trellis and the plastified canvas.

5. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 1, further comprising a first plurality of ribbons arranged parallel to another and a second plurality of ribbons arranged substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of ribbons,

wherein the first plurality of ribbons is spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 cm and wherein the second plurality of ribbons is spaced apart by a distance in the range of approximately 10 to 20 cm.

6. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 1, wherein each ribbon comprises a centrally disposed metal core, said metal core comprising one of a wire, a micro-cable, metal braid, and a tape.

7. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 6, wherein the metal core comprises an exterior surface which is smooth.

8. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 6, wherein the metal core comprises an exterior surface which is rough.

9. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforced flexible wall further comprises a polygon shape with at least four sides;

wherein a first side comprises a plurality of sliding devices, a second opposite side comprises a plurality of flexible attachment devices being regularly spaced, and third and fourth sides each comprising a longitudinal attachment device.

10. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 9, wherein each of the sliding devices, the flexible attachment devices, and the longitudinal attachment devices are fixable to a vehicle.

11. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 10, wherein each of the flexible attachment devices further comprise an elastic strap, said elastic strap including an anchoring bracket disposed on one end and a hook part on another end;

wherein the anchoring bracket fixes the elastic strap to the second side and the hook part is engageable with a floor edge of the vehicle.

12. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 11, wherein the strap is fixed to the second side using at least one bolt which extends between the anchoring bracket and a strengthening plate which is fixed to an opposite surface of the second side;

wherein the second side is disposed between the anchoring bracket and the strengthening plate.

13. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 12, wherein the strengthening plate comprises a metal plate covered with a PVC material.

14. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 11, wherein the hook part further comprises two hook elements.

15. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 14, wherein the two hook elements are oriented in opposing directions with one hook comprising a handle.

16. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 14, wherein the hook part further comprises one of a tube and ring for locking and fitting a seal thereto.

17. A flexible reinforced wall, comprising:

a flexible canvas; and

a trellis for reinforcing the canvas comprising a first plurality of ribbons arranged substantially parallel to one another and a second plurality of ribbons arranged substantially parallel to one another, said first plurality and said second plurality arranged in an overlapping relationship;

each ribbon of said first and said second plurality further comprising a metal core covered with a plastic material;

wherein the trellis is fixed to a surface of the canvas by one of glueing or welding.

18. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 17, wherein the plastic material comprises PVC and wherein the metal core comprises steel.

19. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 17, wherein the first plurality is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second plurality, and wherein the first plurality is spaced apart by a distance of approximately 10 cm and wherein the second plurality is spaced apart by a distance in the range of approximately 10 to 20 cm.

20. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 17, wherein the reinforced flexible wall further comprises a polygon shape with at least four sides;

wherein a first side comprises a plurality of sliding devices, a second opposite side comprising a plurality of flexible attachment devices being regularly spaced, and third and fourth sides each comprising a longitudinal attachment device, each of the sliding devices, the flexible attachment devices, and the longitudinal attachment devices being fixable to a vehicle.

21. The flexible reinforced wall of claim 20, wherein each of the flexible attachment devices further comprise an elastic strap, said elastic strap including an anchoring bracket disposed on one end and a hook part on another end and wherein the anchoring bracket fixes the elastic strap to the second side and the hook part is engageable with a floor edge of the vehicle.