U.S. patent application number 11/712734 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-06 for holding device for cargo.
This patent application is currently assigned to BOS GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Hartmut Bohlke, Dirk Gass, Axel Hubner, Jurgen Salewski, Wolfgang Sitzler.
Application Number | 20070207000 11/712734 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38055664 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070207000 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bohlke; Hartmut ; et
al. |
September 6, 2007 |
Holding device for cargo
Abstract
A holding device for cargo in the trunk or storage compartment
of passenger cars. The holding device includes a base part that can
be selectively positioned and retained in a tie-down rail mounted
in the storage compartment. Securing means in the form of a
pivotable flap is provided which is spring-biased such that stored
cargo can be pressed by the flap against a side wall of the trunk
or the rear back seat and cannot be slung back or forth due to
forces occurring during driving.
Inventors: |
Bohlke; Hartmut; (Wuppertal,
DE) ; Gass; Dirk; (Cleebronn, DE) ; Salewski;
Jurgen; (Dusseldorf, DE) ; Sitzler; Wolfgang;
(Wuppertal, DE) ; Hubner; Axel; (Mettmann,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, SUITE 4900
180 NORTH STETSON AVENUE
CHICAGO
IL
60601-6731
US
|
Assignee: |
BOS GmbH & Co. KG
Ostfildern
DE
|
Family ID: |
38055664 |
Appl. No.: |
11/712734 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
410/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 5/04 20130101; B60R
7/08 20130101; B60R 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
410/094 |
International
Class: |
B63B 25/00 20060101
B63B025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 3, 2006 |
DE |
102006010377.7 |
Claims
1. A holding device (15) for cargo (16) in a trunk or storage space
(1) of a motor vehicle comprising: at least one tie-down rail (14)
fixed in the trunk or storage space of the vehicle having an
anchoring area (29), a base part (17) having a supporting surface
(32), a profiled piece (39) projecting from the supporting surface
(32) having a cross section that is complementary to the cross
section of the anchoring area (29) of the tie-down rail (14), and a
holding part (18, 46) mounted on the base part (17) and having a
contact surface for contacting and retaining cargo (16) in the
trunk or storage space.
2. The holding device of claim 1 in which said tie-down rail
anchoring area (29) is a receptacle groove having a groove chamber
(26) and a groove slot (25) leading to the chamber (26).
3. The holding device of claim 2 in which said groove chamber (26)
has a rectangular cross section.
4. The holding device of claim 1 in which said tie-down rail (14)
has a smooth surfaced outer side adjacent to the groove slot
(25).
5. The holding device of claim 1 in which said supporting surface
(32) of the base part (17) is smooth surfaced.
6. The holding device of claim 1 in which said base part (17) has a
locking device (32, 41; 28, 51) for locking the base part (17) at a
desired longitudinal position on the tie-down rail.
7. The holding device of claim 6 in which said locking device (32,
41) frictionally holds the base part in a locked position.
8. The holding device of claim 6 in which said locking device (32,
41; 28, 51) includes a releasable clamping device.
9. The holding device of claim 6 in which the locking device (32,
41; 28, 51) is positively engageable with said tie down rail for
locking the base part in a desired position.
10. The holding device of claim 1 in which the locking device (32,
41; 28, 51) includes a selectively releasable latch device for
locking the base part.
11. The holding device of claim 1 in which in a direction parallel
to the longitudinal length of the tie-down rail (14), the profiled
piece (39) has a greater dimension than in a direction
perpendicular thereto.
12. The holding device of claim 11 in which said profiled piece
(39) comprises two longitudinally separated enlarged projecting
heads (41) which each have a connecting bar (42), and each said
connecting bar (41) is dimensioned such that it fits through a
guide slot (25) of the tie-down rail (14).
13. The holding device of claim 12 including a locking element (51)
between said projecting heads which is movably supported on the
base part (17) for locking the base part at a desired location on
the tie-down rail.
14. The holding device of claim 13, including a biasing element for
biasing said locking element (51) toward a locking position.
15. The holding device of claim 1 in which said holding part (18,
46) is formed by a leaf spring (46) connected to said base part
(17).
16. The holding device of claim 1 in which said holding part (18,
46) is connected to said base part by means of a hinge (19, 37;
47).
17. The holding device of claim 16 in which said hinge (19, 37; 47)
has an axis that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
tie-down rail (14).
18. The holding device of claim 16 in which said hinge (19, 37; 47)
has an axis that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the tie-down rail (14).
19. The holding device of claim 16, including a spring (43) for
biasing the holding part 18 in a pivoted position relative to an
axis of said hinge.
20. The holding device of claim 19 in which said spring (43) is a
flat spiral spring.
21. The holding device of claim 1 in which said holding part (18)
has a flap-like construction.
22. The holding device of claim 1 in which said holding part (18)
has a frame (19) on which a net (21) is mounted.
23. The holding device of claim 16 in which said holding part has a
frame (19), a section of which forms an axis of the hinge (19, 37;
47).
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to devices for holding cargo
in the trunk or storage space of motor vehicles, and more
particularly, to a hold-down device for relatively small cargo
items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In current car-body shapes, design engineers take great care
in creating a trunk or storage compartment that is bounded by
essentially smooth walls. This shape is advantageous when the goal
is to accommodate large cargo, such as luggage, in the trunk.
[0003] In contrast, if small cargo is to be stowed, pockets and
niches that used to be available now are missing. There are no
spaces in which such cargo can be stored without slipping due to
forces resulting from curves, braking, and accelerating during
normal driving.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention is to provide a
holding device for cargo in a motor vehicle trunk, especially for
small cargo, in order to prevent such cargo from being flung around
the trunk due to the dynamic forces during driving.
[0005] The novel holding device is designed to utilize an existing
feature of trunk or luggage compartments that include tie-down
rails, which are normally used to tie down larger cargo so that it
does not slip with the help of adjustable loops. The novel holding
device has a base part with a supporting surface designed for
mounting on such holding rails. A profiled piece, whose cross
section is adapted to the cross section of the tie-down rail,
projects from the supporting surface of the base part. Today,
trunks in modern vehicles typically have T-grooves, wherein the
profiled piece accordingly has a T or mushroom shape viewed in
cross section. A holding part that carries a contact surface for
the cargo is fixed to this base part.
[0006] In a simple way, with the help of the contact surface it is
possible to clamp the cargo to be held tightly between the holding
device and a wall of the trunk or storage compartment. Walls
suitable for this purpose are the side wall or the boundary wall
that separates the storage compartment or trunk from the passenger
compartment or the back of the rear seat in station wagons.
[0007] The holding device need merely be designed to prevent cargo
from breaking free in the storage compartment or trunk from forces
incurred in sharp braking of the vehicle. The holding device need
not be dimensioned to guarantee that the cargo remains anchored
even in the event of a crash. For securing bags in the case of a
crash, there typically still exists a separating screen or safety
net.
[0008] In the case of a tie-down rail with a receptacle groove, the
cross section of the groove includes an approximately rectangular
groove chamber and a groove slot of rectangular cross section.
Favorable floor or wall relationships result when the tie-down rail
is essentially smooth adjacent the groove slot. This also allows
the use of a base part with a smooth supporting surface, whereby
good static-friction relationships are produced. It is well-known
that the static-friction force, in contrast to the sliding-friction
force, is approximately proportional to the size of the contact
surface. If large static-friction forces can be achieved, a special
locking device is not needed for the base part. It is kept at the
relevant location of the tie-down rail by the static-friction and
the reaction forces produced by pressing the cargo against the
corresponding luggage or storage compartment wall.
[0009] Holding the base part only by the reaction force occurring
during stowing, together with the static friction of the base part
on the top side of the rail or by a force fit groove slot, has the
advantage of simplicity in both design and useage. Nothing need be
unlocked in order to enable adjustment of the base part along the
tie-down rail. Nevertheless, an additional locking device could be
used. Such locking device can have a positive or frictional
engaging effect for affecting additional holding force.
[0010] Both for the positively engaged locking and also for the
frictionally engaged locking, it is advantageous if the profiled
piece on the supporting surface of the base part is divided into
two sections, between which a moving latch element is inserted.
This moving latch element can generate the additional frictional
force or can engage positively in teeth next to the groove slot as
a latch tab.
[0011] As a holding part that interacts with the cargo or baggage
to be secured, several embodiments may be utilized. In the simplest
case, the holding part is merely a leaf spring, which is connected
to the base part such that the neutral axis of the leaf spring runs
parallel to the longitudinal extent of the guide rail while in use.
Thus, flat cargo can be held in tightly pressed relation against
the side wall of the storage compartment or trunk if the tie-down
rails ran longitudinally.
[0012] Another alternative is to use a leaf spring whose neutral
axis lies at a right angle to the axis of the tie-down rail. This
leaf spring would be capable of holding a piece of baggage in
tightly pressed relation against the front wall of the trunk for
longitudinally running tie-down rails.
[0013] The handling of such a leaf spring is especially convenient
if it can pivot about an axis running parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the tie-down rail. The reaction force exerted by the leaf
spring is transmitted to the tie-down rail, with the base part
tilting in the groove slot or in the grooves. In this way, for
corresponding dimensioning of the tilt angle and corresponding
selection of the coefficient of friction, self-locking is
simultaneously achieved, which makes the use of additional locking
elements unnecessary.
[0014] Another alternative for the holding part consists of a
pivoting flap connected to the base part via a hinge. The axis of
the hinge advantageously lies parallel to the longitudinal extent
of the rail and can be used in the same way as the previously
mentioned leaf spring in order to hold the cargo tightly pressed
against the side wall of the trunk.
[0015] With a hinge axis alternatively lying perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the rail, the corresponding tilting in the
groove slot also insures that the base part automatically locks due
to a clamping effect. The alignment of the hinge axis parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the rail is somewhat more tolerant of
errors, because the holding forces in each case are received with a
positive fit and cannot contribute in any case to the base part
sliding away.
[0016] If the cargo is pressed with sufficient force against the
side wall of the trunk, a resulting frictional force in the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle is created that is sufficient
for holding the cargo tightly and securely in place even in case of
full braking of the vehicle. Hence, a frictional force in the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle is generated that is always
sufficient for holding the cargo securely.
[0017] A particularly favorable construction of a flap also can be
achieved when it is formed from a wire-like frame, on which a net,
canvas cover, or a pocket is mounted.
[0018] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon
reference to the drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a broken-away, perspective of the rear part of a
passenger car showing a cargo hold-down device in accordance with
the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the base part of
the illustrated hold-down device;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top view of the base part;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective of an alternative embodiment with a
holding device that utilizes a leaf spring;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective of a holding device having a pivotal
leaf spring; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective of a holding device base
part having a positive locking device.
[0025] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments
thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed,
but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the
spirit and scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is
shown a passenger car having a cargo or trunk 1 with a cargo
holding device in accordance with the invention. The trunk 1
includes a trunk floor 2, which is bounded on the sides by side
walls 3. The side walls 3 of the trunk extend upwardly to a bottom
edges 4 of a rear side windows 5, only one of which is shown, which
each extends to a respective D-column 6 in the longitudinal
direction. Toward the front, the trunk 1 is bounded by a rear wall
7 of a rear-seat back 8 which has headrests 9.
[0027] Toward the vehicle rear, the trunk 1 is bounded by a storage
space opening 11, which is bounded on the sides by the D-columns 6
and a bottom edge 12 of the storage space. The rear edge of the
roof, which is not visible due to the broken-away view, forms the
top border. The floor 2 extends from the cargo flange edge 12, in
which a locking piece 13 is inserted up to the rear wall 7 in the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and in the transverse
direction between the side walls 3 of the trunk.
[0028] Two parallel tie-down rails 14, running directly adjacent
the side walls 3 of the trunk, are countersunk in the cargo floor
2. The tie-down rails 14 each have a channel shaped cross sectional
profile, as depicted in FIG. 2.
[0029] In accordance with the invention, a holding device 15 is
provided that is selectively mountable on one of the tie-down rails
for securing small cargo items to be stowed, such as, for example,
a shopping bag 16 as illustrated. The illustrated holding device 15
includes base part 17, which runs in the tie-down rail 14, and a
flap 18 pivotably hinged in the base part 17. The flap 18 in this
case includes a frame 19 on which a net 21 is mounted. The frame 19
is formed from an appropriately bent, cylindrical wire of
sufficient cross section to have the necessary strength.
[0030] The tie-down rail 14, as depicted in FIG. 2, comprises two
C-shaped profiled rails 22, 23 inserted one into the other. The
outer profiled rail 22 preferably is made of an anodized aluminum
material in order to form a corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant
exterior, while the inner profiled rail 23 is a steel profile for
strength reasons.
[0031] The outer profiled rail 22 forms supporting surfaces 24
running flush with the top side of the floor 2 on both sides of a
groove slot 25. As can be seen, the groove slot 25 opens into a
groove chamber 26 that has a rectangular cross section. Both the
groove slot 25 and the groove chamber 26 run over the length of the
guide rail 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the groove slot is widened at 27
only in the vicinity of the cargo flange edge 12 in order to be
able to insert the base part 17 of the holding device 15.
[0032] The inner profiled rail 23 is provided with teeth 28 on both
sides of the groove slot 25. The teeth 28 produce teeth gaps, which
have equidistant spacing and with which it is possible to lock the
base part 17 having corresponding shaping. A base part that is
suitable for this purpose is described below in detail.
[0033] Together with the groove chamber 26 and slot 25 forms a
T-groove 29 that extends over the entire length of the tie-down
rail 14 with a constant cross section, except in the widened area
27. Because of the shape of the T-groove, it forms an undercut
groove.
[0034] The base part 17 has an essentially parallelepiped-shaped
base body 31, which is bounded on the bottom by an essentially flat
supporting surface 32, a top side 33 running at an angle to the
supporting surface, and also a total of four paired narrow sides
34, 35, and 36. The narrow side parallel to the narrow side 35
cannot be seen in the representation of FIG. 2, because it lies
behind the plane of the drawing.
[0035] In the area of the inner corner where the top side 33 comes
together with the narrow side 34, there is a passage bore 37, which
forms a bearing eye, through which a corresponding section of the
frame 19 is supported. Together with the passage bore 37, this area
of the frame 19 forms a hinge 38, whose hinge axis runs parallel to
the longitudinal length of the tie-down rail 14 as can be seen.
[0036] For holding the base part 17 in the T-groove 29, a profiled
piece 39 is provided on the supporting surface 32. The profiled
piece 39 runs parallel to the bore 37 approximately in the middle
over the supporting surface 32 from the narrow side 35 to the
opposite narrow side, which is approximately parallel to the narrow
side 35. It comprises a flange 41 and a connecting bar 42. The
cross section of the flange 41 is designed so that it fits in the
groove chamber 26, but cannot escape outward through the groove
slot 25. In contrast, the connecting bar 42, which connects the
flange 41 to the supporting surface 32, is guided through the
groove slot 25.
[0037] For pressing the flap 18 against the side wall 3, there is a
flat spiral spring 43, as depicted in FIG. 3. The flat spiral
spring 43 surrounds the cylindrical section of the frame 19
coaxially in the area of a pocket 44, which is provided in the base
body 31 in the area of the passage bore. The pocket 44 passes
through both a part of the top side 33 and also a part of the
narrow side 34, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The pocket 44 is located
approximately in the center between the two narrow sides 35. One
end of the flat spiral spring 43 is connected at 45 to the frame
19, while the other end of the flat spiral spring 43 is fixed in
the pocket 44 at a position that cannot be seen in FIG. 3.
[0038] The function and handling of the holding device 15 described
so far is as follows:
[0039] The holding device 15 is inserted into the storage
compartment or trunk 1 by first inserting part 17 with the profiled
piece 39 at the opening 27 in the tie-down rail 14. Then the
holding device 15 is pushed with the base part 17 along the
tie-down rail 14 to the desired position in front of the side wall
3. For this purpose, the flap 18 is held at a distance from the
wall 3 against the effect of the spring 43.
[0040] By pivoting the flap 18 outwardly, the shopping bag 16 can
be set in the V-shaped gap that is opened up between the flap 18
and sidewall 3. After releasing the flap 18, the flap 18 is pressed
by the action of the flat spiral spring 43 against the shopping bag
16, which is then held in contact with the side wall 3.
[0041] The frictional engagement between the net 21 and the bag 16
on one hand and between the bag 16 and the side wall 3 on the other
is sufficient to prevent the holding device 15 and the bag 16 from
being set in motion in the longitudinal direction of the tie-down
rail 14 during braking or accelerating of the vehicle. The flat
spiral spring 43 further is sufficiently dimensioned so that a
reasonably loaded bag 16 (ca. 3 kg heavy) does not pivot the flap
18 to the side under the typical acceleration about a curve.
[0042] Another anchoring force for the base part 17 is produced by
the frictional engagement between the supporting surface 32 and the
supporting surface 24 on the tie-down rail 14, and also the
interacting surfaces of the flange 41 with the corresponding
surface of the inner profile rail 23. These surfaces are selected
to be sufficiently large that the static friction therebetween
secures the base part 17 from slipping along the tie-down rail
14.
[0043] Another embodiment of the holding device 15 is illustrated,
in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the base part 17 has a rather
precise parallelepiped-shaped form, again with a top side 33, a
bottom side pointing away from the viewer, two narrow sides 35, and
also opposite narrow sides 36 only one of which can be seen. In
contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, however, the
longitudinal axis of the parallelepiped-shaped structure lies
perpendicular to the tie-down rail 14. The tie-down rail 14 has the
form as described previously in connection with FIG. 2, and the
base part 17 is provided on its bottom support side with a similar
structure to that previously explained. There is a difference,
however, insofar as the profiled piece of the base part, such as
the profiled piece 39, is now arranged eccentrically. Relative to
the tie-down rail 14, the base part 17 points away from the side
wall 3 of the trunk. The narrow side 36 thus has a greater distance
from the tie-down rail 14 than the opposite narrow side, which is
turned toward the side wall 3 of the trunk. A leaf spring 46, which
in this case has a tongue-like shape and which projects upwardly,
emerges from the top side 33. A bag can be clamped between this
tongue-shaped leaf spring 46 and the side wall 3, as explained
previously.
[0044] While the neutral axis of the leaf spring 46 lies parallel
to the longitudinal length of the guide rail 14 in FIG. 4, FIG. 5
shows an embodiment in which the neutral axis is aligned
perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the guide rail 14. In
the embodiment of FIG. 5, the base part 17 carries two brackets 47,
which project upward and between which the leaf spring 46 is
appropriately supported on an axle bolt that cannot be seen. The
axle bolt lies parallel to the longitudinal length of the guide
rail 17, the spring tongue 46 being pivotable about an axis
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle according to an
arrow 47. Thus it can be brought from a position in which it points
vertically upward into a pivoted position in which it lies nearly
parallel to the cargo floor 2.
[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates the function of the holding device in
connection with a small hand bag 48. The hand bag 48 in this case
is pushed against the back side 7 of the rear seat adjacent the
side wall 3. Then the holding device 15 is inserted, as described,
into the tie-down rail 14 and pushed in the direction of the
straight arrow toward the back side 7 of the rear-seat back 8 until
it stands in the vicinity of the adjacent side wall of the hand bag
48. Then the leaf spring 46 is folded down according to the curved
arrow until it contacts the bag 48 and presses the bag against the
back side 7 of the rear seat. The resulting reaction force tilts
the base part 17 in the tie-down rail 14 and produces self-locking,
but only after the base part 17 has been brought the correct
distance from the bag. The holding effect of the spring tongue 46
can be improved if it is provided with a friction-increasing
coating 49 in the area with which it contacts the luggage 48.
[0046] FIG. 6 shows a construction of a base part 17 that allows
positive-fit locking in the teeth gaps 28 of the inner profiled
rail 23. The base part 17, which has a construction according to
the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4, is provided with a gap 50 in the area
of the profiled piece 39. The gap 50 is located approximately in
the middle relative to the longitudinal length of the profiled
piece 39. In the gap 50, there is a stepped bore that passes
through the basic body 31 and that cannot be seen in the drawing. A
latch element 51 is guided perpendicular to the supporting surface
32 in this stepped bore.
[0047] The latch element 51 comprises a rectangular shaped latch
body 52 and a cylindrical shaft 53. The latch body 52 has a width
corresponding to the gap 49 and a thickness corresponding to the
thickness of the flange 41. The shaft 53 is stepped with the part
with a greater diameter being adjacent the latch body 52. The
section with the smaller diameter projects further through the base
body bore and is surrounded by a helical compression spring 54 in
the vicinity of the top side 33 that is not visible. Finally, on
the free end of the shaft 53 there is an activation plate 55, which
lies in a corresponding pocket-shaped recess in the top side 33. By
means of a continuous countersunk screw 56 guided through a bore
57, the latch element 51 is screwed to the plate 55. The bore 57
extends coaxially through the shaft 53 and the latch body 52. The
shoulder in the profile of the shaft 53 is intended to prevent the
rectangular-shaped latch body 52 from being moved up to direct
contact on the supporting surface 32 by the spring 54 if the base
part 17 is removed.
[0048] The handling of the base part 17 according to FIG. 6 is as
follows: the base part 17 is inserted into the expanded opening 27
of the tie-down rail 14 as previously explained. Without activating
the actuation plate 55, the gap between the latch body 52 and the
supporting surface 32 becomes smaller than that corresponding to
the total thickness of the tie-down rail 14 in the area next to the
groove slot 25. Only by pressing down the actuation plate 55
against the effect of the spring 54 is the latch element 51 with
the latch body 52 pressed so far that the gap between the
supporting surface 32 and the latch body 52 becomes larger than
that corresponding to the thickness of the tie-down rail 14 in the
surroundings of the groove slot 25. Here, the thickness is measured
over the thickness of the outer profiled rail 22 including the
inner profiled rail 23 carrying the teeth.
[0049] As soon as the base part 17 is pushed into the desired
position along the tie-down rail 14, the actuation plate 55 is
released. Slight displacement of the base part 17 along the
tie-down rail 14 brings the base part 17 into a position in which
the latch body 52 is flush with a tooth gap 28. The compression
spring 54 can now pull the latch body 52 upward in the direction
toward the supporting surface 32, which allows the latch body 52 to
engage in the teeth 28. Thus, the base part is fixed with a
positive fit along the guide rail 14. It is understood that the
tooth gap 28 is appropriately shaped to allow engagement of the
latch body 52 with sufficiently small play, but one that is large
enough for its function.
[0050] Because flat teeth are adequate, it is sufficient if the
latch body 52, measured in the direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal length of the profiled body 39, is somewhat smaller
than the width of the flange 41. It is sufficient if the latch body
52 projects slightly past the connecting bar 42. The described base
part 17 with positive-fit locking can be used with any of the
described types of holding means in the form of flaps or leaf
springs.
[0051] From the foregoing, it can be seen that a holding device for
cargo in trunks or storage spaces of passenger cars is provided
that includes a base part, which is movably retained in a tie-down
rail. A securing means in the form of a pivoting flap or a spiral
spring is fixed to the base part. With the help of the
spring-biased flap or the spiral spring, cargo to be stowed can
press against a side wall of the trunk or the back side of the
rear-seat, so that it cannot be flung back and forth due to forces
occurring during driving.
* * * * *