The present invention relates to an arrangement in automotive vehicles which is intended to prevent the dis¬ placement of a vehicle load in the direction of the longi¬ tudinal axis of the vehicle and to convert a vehicle seat into a horizontal bed surface.

With certain types of vehicle it is desirable to be able to arrange the vehicle furniture in a manner which enables the vehicle to be used as a transport vehicle, passenger vehicle and a so-called dormer vehicle, by which is meant a vehicle which also incorporates sleeping places. The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which enables these desiderata to be ful¬ filled. The arrangement is mainly characterized by a transverse support mounted in the flooring of the vehicle body and a sheet-like element which is pivotably mounted adjacent the support and which is intended to take firstly a substantially vertical position, in which the free end of the sheet-like element is attached, for example, to the roof of the vehicle and in which the said sheet-like elemen forms a shield against displacement of the load carried in the vehicle and also a back support and a neck support of a seat plate which is also pivotally mounted adjacent the transverse support, and secondly a substantially horizontal position in which support means are located between the free end of the sheet-like element and the vehicle floor, said sheet-like element forming one part of a bed, a furthe part of which has the form of an additional sheet-like ele¬ ment which is pivotally mounted adjacent the transfer sup¬ port and which in its horizontal position is provided with support means located between the free end of the sheet¬ like element and the floor of the vehicle.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a part of an automotive vehicle in which the arrangement is mounted in the rearward

part of said vehicle. Figure 1 showing the arrangement adjusted to a position in which it forms a combined seat and protective shield against longitudinal displacement of a load, and Figure 2 showing the arrangement adjusted to its bed-forming position.

Figure 3 illustrates the arrangement when mounted in the forward part of the vehicle rearwardly adjacent to the driving seat and operative as a load-displacement shield. Figure 4 illustrates the various positions to which the arrangement can be adjusted, and

Figure 5 illustrates the arrangement fitted with cushions and forming firstly a seat and secondly a bed.

Figure 6 illustrates some of the structural compo- nents of the arrangement.

Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the transverse support.

Fig. 1 illustrates the rearward part of an automo¬ tive vehicle, such as a delivery van for example. Mounted on the floor of the vehicle with the aid of attachment means 2 is a transverse support 1. When the vehicle is to function as a so-called dormer vehicle, the support may incorporate, for example, a tank for drinking water. Hinged to the support by means of hinges 4 is a sheet-like element 3 which can be move to an upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 1 , or a horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When occupying its upright position, the free end of the sheet-like elementis secured to a transverse support 5, for example a rod, mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle. The sheet-like element 3 is provided with collapsible sup¬ ports 12, which can be extended outwardly so as to rest against the floor of the vehicle, in accordance with Fig. 2 when the element 3 is moved to its bed-forming position. When in its upstanding position, the sheet-like element 3 forms a backrest of a vehicle seat structure, this structur also incorporating a seat plate 6 which is pivotally mounte to the transverse support 1 on hinges 8. These hinges are

located in a plane which is somewhat lower than the hinges of the sheet-like element 3. The seat plate 6 is provided with collapsible supports 7 so arranged that when the plate is moved to a position in which it forms part of the seat structure said plate will be inclined slightly in a rearward direction, as illustrated in more detail in Fig. 1 When the sheet-like element 3 is swung to a horizontal posi tion, the supports 7 are rotated in an opposite direction, so that the seat plate 6 lies fully beneath the sheet-like element 3. Also hinged to the transverse support 1 on hinges 10 is a pivotable auxiliary sheet-like member 9 ^~ provided with legs 11 which support the auxiliary sheet¬ like element 9 in a horizontal position, in which it forms part of the bed structure. Fig. 1 also illustrates the sheet-like element 3 when provided with a cushion 13 and th seat plate 6 when provided with a cushion 14, the forwardly located part 15 of which incorporates a raised or folded part 28, to impart to the seat cushion a transverse promon¬ tory at the forward edge thereof, so as to impart a more comfortable seating structure to the cushion. When the arrangement is to be folded down to form a bed structure, the cushions 13 and 14 are removed and the sheet-like ele¬ ment 3 dropped to its horizontal position, with the support 12 swung down to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The cushions are then replaced on the sheet-like element 3, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereafter the bed is prepared. Fig. 1a also illustrates how the space beneath the seat plate 6 forwardly of the supports 7 can be used to house a storage bag 27. Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the transver support 1 is made firm to the vehicle floor immediately behind the driving seat. The illustrated sheet-like element 3 is in its upwardly swung position and attached to a rod¬ like member 5 provided on the ceiling of the vehicle. The supports 12 have been folded in against the element 3. In this position of the arrangement, the element 3 and the support 1 form a protective shield against axial movement

of the load, Since in this instance the vehicle is to be used solely as a goods-carrying vehicle, the seat plate 6 and the auxiliary sheet-like element 9 have been removed.

The part Figures a-f of Fig, 4 illustrate the variou positions to which the arrangement can be adjusted. Fig. 4a illustrates the same position as that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4b illustrates the position of the arrangement when the auxiliary sheet-like element 9 is lifted up against the element 3, to increase the available loading space; while Fig. 4c illustrates an adjusted position of the arrange¬ ment in which the seat plate 6 and the auxiliary element 9 are removed, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4d the sheet¬ like element 3 has taken the place of the auxiliary sheet¬ like element 9 and the seat plate 6 is located in the place formerly occupied by the sheet-like element 3, both sheet¬ like elements being shown in their respective outwardly swung positions. Similar to Fig. 2, Fig. 4e shows the sheet-like element 3 and the auxiliary sheet-like element 9 in their respective horizontal positions, these two sheet- like elements forming a bed in the vehicle. In the adjusted position of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4f, the seat plate 6 occupies a horizontal position and is located in the place of the element 3, which in turn has been moved to the place formerly occupied by the auxiliary sheet-like element 9. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 4e and 4f, the sheet-like element

3 is arranged so that the bed can be given different lengths The back support is also extendable, so as to enable it to be adapted to different vehicle ceiling heights.

Fig. 5a illustrates the sheet-like element 3 in its upwardly swung position, with the free end of said element attached to the rod 5. The element 3 is provided with cushio and neck pads. The seat plate 6 and the auxiliary sheet-like element 9 are located in their horizontal positions, and are also provided with cushions. Fig, 5d illustrates the arrangement adjusted to form a bed structure provided with cushions. The auxiliary sheet-like element 9 is located in an unchanged position. The sheet-like element 3 is located i a horizontal position, similar to Fig. 4e.

Fig, 6 illustrates an embodiment which enables the sheet-like element to be adjusted to different vehicle ceiling heights and to different bed lengths. In this embodiment, the sheet-like element comprises two parts. The first of these parts comprises a sheet 19 pivotally mounted to the transverse support 1. The other of said parts comprises a sheet 25 provided with a frame structure 17. The frame structure incorporates a profiled section 18 in which the vertical side edges of the sheet 19 can be displaced. The upper edge of the frame structure is inten¬ ded to be screwed to the rod or bar 5 mounted on the cei¬ ling of the vehicle body, with the aid of fastener means 22. Spring means 20 are provided in the vertical sections of the frame structure 17 and in the vertical side edges of the sheet 19 to facilitate lifting of the frame structure against the rod or bar 5. In this way, only a small force is needed to lift the sheet. _. s illustrated in the figure, the sheet may be provided with a transparent part 25, for example a net structure, to facilitate a rearward view. The space between the frame structure and the wall of the car body can be filled out with the aid of flanking boards 23 mounted to the vertical parts of the frame structure by means of fastener means 24.

Fig. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of the support 1. This support comprises two vertical supporting elements each comprising two mutually telescopic parts 32 and 33, th part 33 being firmly attached to a horizontal base member 34 provided with holes 37 for attachment of the base member to the floor of the vehicle. The base 34 incorporates a slidable part 35, which enables the base member to be lengthened. This part 35 is fully inserted into the base member 34 when the support element is placed immediately behind the driving seat, in accordance with Figs. 3 and 4c. The vertical supports are mutually connected by a cross member 31 which is slidably arranged in the parts 32. This arrangement enables the support to be adjusted to different widths and heights in the vehicle body. It also affords the

possibility of placing the support in desired positions in the veήicle body.

As beforementioned. Fig, 6 describes.anembodi¬ ment of the arrangement. It will be understood, however, that various modi ications can be made within the scope of the invention. The aforedescribed invention provides an arrangement which enables the vehicle to be converted quickly and in a simple fashion from, for example, a passenger vehicle to a dormer vehicle or goods-carrying vehicle, the arrangement functioning as a shield against axial movement of the load, a seat structure or a bed structure, depending upon the purpose for which the vehicle is used.