FILET D'ARRIMAGE

LOAD RESTRAINT NET

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The disclosure herein describes a load
restraint net for mounting in the trunk of a vehicle in
order to hold down or restrain loads such as luggage,
baggage, bags or the like. The net comprises a meshed
fabric with an elastic cord engaging the peripheral
open spaces of the fabric; hooks are provided at
corners of the fabric in order to engage mounting
points provided in the trunk of the vehicle. The
mounting points are so disposed as to define a load
receiving area when the net is attached to the mounting
points. The elasticity of the cord allows this area to
be extended to receive loads and to cause retraction of
the net on the loads to restrain them in the trunk.

Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined
as follows:
1. In combination with the rear portion of a
vehicle having mounting points therein, a load
restraint net adapted to be attached to said mounting
points to engage and restrain load placed in said rear
portion, said net comprising:
- a meshed fabric;
- a cord engaging the peripheral open spaces of said
meshed fabric; and
- attachment means at predetermined locations along the
periphery of said meshed fabric for securing said net
to said mounting points in said rear portion, the
location of said mounting points in said rear portion
being such as to define a load receiving area when
said net is attached in said rear portion;
said net displaying resiliency so that said area may be
extended to receive loads therewithin and to retract
thereon to restrain said loads in position in said
area.
2. A net as defined in claim 1, wherein said
cord is elastic and provides the resiliency in said
net.
3. A net as defined in claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein said cord is continuous along the periphery of
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said meshed fabric; said attachment means being defined
by loops formed in said cord at said predetermined
locations.
4. A net as defined in claim 1, wherein said
cord and said fabric are colour-fast.
5. A net as defined in claim 1, wherein said
cord and said fabric are flame resistant.
6. A net as defined in claim 1, wherein said
meshed fabric has a rectangular contour, the area of
said fabric being greater than the area defined by said
contour.
7. A net as defined in claim 1, wherein said
rear portion consists of a trunk; said meshed fabric
having a trapezoidal contour, the longer side thereof
extending along the floor of said trunk.
8. A net as defined in claim 7, wherein said
mounting points comprise two anchor points provided in
a rear lamp panel of said trunk and two anchor points
provided on said floor.
9. A net as defined in claim 6 or claim 7,
wherein said mounting points comprise two anchor points
provided in a rear lamp panel of said rear portion and
two anchor points respectively provided on wheel wells
in said rear portion.
10. A net as defined in claim 6, wherein said
mounting points consist of four anchor points on the
floor of said rear portion.
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11. In combination with the trunk of a vehicle
including a rear lamp panel, wheel wells and a floor,
and mounting points in said trunk, a load restraint net
comprising:
- a substantially rectangular meshed fabric;
- an elastic cord engaging the peripheral open spaces
of said meshed fabric; and
- attachment means at the four corners of said meshed
fabric adapted to be secured to said mounting points
in said trunk, the location of said mounting points
being such as to provide a load receiving area when
said net is attached to said mounting points;
- said cord providing resiliency so that said area may
be extended to receive loads therein and said fabric
retracted thereon to hold said loads in position in
said area.
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Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a load
restraint net particularly intended to be mounted in
the trunk of a car vehicle or rear of a station wagon
vehicle to restrain loads such as luggage, baggage,
bags, groceries etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Loads, especially shopping bags, which are
placed in the trunk of a vehicle are not restrained
from moving and tipping during displacement of the
vehicle. One present method of holding down these bags
is to rest them against adjacent heavier loads. Often,
however such other loads are not always available
resulting in the contents of the bags falling out
whenever a sharp turn or stop is effected.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to
provide in the trunk of a vehicle a means for holding
the loads in place during the displacement of the
vehicle.
This is achieved by providing in the trunk of
the vehicle mounting points to which a load restraint
net may be attached. The net is formed of a meshed
fabric with a cord extending preferably in the open
spaces of the fabric. Attachment means are provided a-t
predetermined locations along the periphery of the
fabric so that -the net may be secured to these mounting

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points. The disposition of the mounting points in the
trunk is such as to define a load receiving area which,
due to the resiliency provided in the net, may be
extended to receive loads. The net is subsequently
retracted in order to maintain the loads in place in
the trunk area.
In one preferred form of the invention, the
cord is elastic and is the element which provides the
resiliency to the net.
In another form of the invention, the fabric
has a rectangular contour with the area of the fabric
being greater than the area defined by the contour. In
one alternative, the mounting points are located on the
floor of the trunk so that the net will have a hold
down effect on the loads. In another alternative, the
mounting points are located on the rear lamp panel of
the vehicle and on wheel wells in the trunk.
In another form of the invention, the fabric
has a trapezoidal configuration, with its lower shorter
side resting on the floor of the trunk.
Other objects and further scope of
applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that
this detailed description, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the invention, is given by way of
illustration only, since various changes and
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modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the
rear portion of a station wagon vehicle and a load
restraint net made in accordance with the present
invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view
showing the attachment means of the net secured to a
mounting point;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the
trunk of a car vehicle and a net made in accordance
with the present inven-tion;
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing
another embodiment of a load restraint net made in
accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the trunk
of a vehicle showing ~he location of mounting points
therein.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to figs 1 and 2, there is shown a
first embodiment of the present invention wherein the
trunk section of a vehicle, such as that of a station
wagon, has a floor 10 to which are secured four
mounting points ~three of which are shown as) 12, 14,
16.

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A net 20 made in accordance with the present
invention is shown extending over the floor resting on
a series of loads 21 (represented here as shopping
bags). The net comprises a meshed fabric 22 having a
rectangular contour 24, the contour area being smaller
than the total surface area of the fabric so as to
adopt the configuration shown. In this embodiment, the
contour 24 is defined by a cord which is continuous
passing through the open peripheral spaces of the
fabric. The free ends of the cord are sewn together in
one of the two opposite fold over band portions 25 of
the net. The corners of the peripheral cord 24
displays loops 26 which are formed by sewings 28. A
snap hook 30 is attached to each loop 26 and is
engageable with the crossbar portion 32 of the anchor
element 12 representing the mounting point on the floor
of the trunk.
Referring to figure 3, a net 21 similar to
net 20 but without fold over side portions is shown in
the trunk of another vehicle. In this embodiment, two
mounting points 32 and 34 are provided on the inside
surface of the rear lamp panel 36 of the vehicle to
which the two rear hooks 30 of the net are to be
mounted. Two other mounting points 37 are provided on
the wheel wells (one of which is shown as 38) for
connection with the front two hooks 30 of the net. The
mounting points on wheel wells 38 may consist of holes

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provided on the seam extension 39 of the wheel wells
and located at a certain distance from the floor of the
trunk. With the arrangement of figure 3, the net has a
hold-down effect on the baggages in a manner similar to
the net 20 of figure 1.
Referring to figs 4 and 5, another embodiment
of a net in accordance with the present invention is
illustrated. The net 40 has a trapezoidal shape with
the shorter side thereof extending along the floor of
the trunk. Mounting points 42 are provided on -the
inside wall of the rear lamp panel 43 in a manner
similar to that illustrated in figure 3. In this
embodiment, the net has a side restraining effect on
the bags 44 securing the bags to rest against the rear
panel. This is achieved by locating the lower mounting
points 50 closer to the floor 46 of the trunk 48 (see
fig 5)on the seam extension 52 of the wheel wells 54.
The fabric of the net of the present
invention as well as the fold-over portions 25 are
preferably made of a black colour fast synthetic
material (i.e. NYLON ) to ensure no leaching of dyed
ions.
In one form of the invention, the cord should
have a core of polyester yarn and a cover of black
colour-fas-t multi-filament polypropylene or NYLONt'm-
material. This material should also be capable of
meeting a given pulling strength and of resisting to
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low temperatures.
Although the invention has been described
with reference to specific forms, it will be evident to
the person skilled in the art that it may be refined
and modified in various ways. For example, the
resiliency of the net could be obtained from the meshed
fabric instead of the cord as described above. The
present invention may also be used for similar
applications: for example, the net assembly may be
installed across the rear inside of mini-vans where it
prevents the contents from falling out when -the rear
door is opened. The assembly may also be installed in
the cargo box of light body trucks where it is mounted
on the inside of the box as pocket restraint nets. It
is therefore wished that the present invention should
not be limited in interpretation except by the terms of
the following claims.
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