Cargo-restraining apparatus for motor vehicle

In combination with a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment provided with a pair of passenger seats, and a luggage compartment behind the seats having a floor, the seats defining a gap communicating between the passenger and luggage compartments, a cargo-restraining apparatus comprising:

• support means defining a horizontal pivot axis at the floor in the luggage compartment immediately behind the seats;
• a rigid panel formed with a central throughgoing window, having an inner edge pivoted at the pivot axis on the support means and an outer edge, and having oppositely directed faces extending between the edges, the panel being movable between an erect position in which it is substantially vertical with its outer edge level with upper ends of the seats and a recumbent position lying on the floor with one of its faces directed upward and forming a cargo-support surface in the luggage compartment, the window being aligned with the gap for extension of the container through the gap into the passenger compartment;
• a flexible bag-like container having an open end secured to one of the faces around the window, whereby elongated objects can be pushed through the window into the bag for stowage in the erect position of the panel
• an elongated housing on the panel;
• and
• a flexible retaining sheet normally held in the elongated housing but extensible therefrom to restrain cargo in the luggage compartment.

In combination with a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment provided with a pair of passenger seats, and a luggage compartment behind the seats having a floor, the seats defining a gap communicating between the compartments, a cargo-restraining apparatus comprising:

• support means defining a horizontal pivot axis at the floor in the luggage compartment immediately behind the seats;
• a rigid panel formed with a window aligned with the gap, having an inner edge pivoted at the pivot axis on the support means and an outer edge, and having oppositely directed faces extending between the edges, the panel being movable between an erect position in which it is substantially vertical with its outer edge level with upper ends of the seats and a recumbent position lying on the floor with one of its faces directed upward and forming a cargo-support surface in the luggage compartment;
• a removable cover secured over the window in the recumbent position;
• a flexible bag-like container compactable into a space defined by the window between the one panel face and the floor in the recumbent position and having an open end secured to one of the faces around the window and a closed end fixed to the cover, whereby elongated objects can be pushed through the window into the bag for stowage in the erect position of the panel;
• an elongated housing on the panel;
• a flexible retaining sheet normally held in the elongated housing but extensible therefrom to restrain cargo in the luggage compartment;
• and
• means in the passenger compartment for holding the cover with the container extended back between the seats into the luggage compartment.