Automobile rear compartment cover

Claim 1

A motor vehicle compartment cover device for use in covering and thereby concealing the contents of a compartment in a motor vehicle comprising in combination: a. an elongated hollow cylindrical roller having first and second open ends, an elongated central axis, and an anchor groove formed in said roller substantially parallel to said central axis; said groove having a necked slotted opening formed the length of said roller and a walled portion forming an enlarged cross-sectioned enclosure and extending substantially the length of said roller but short of said second end; b. A substantially rectangular flexible sheet member having a width substantially co-extensive with said walled portion and a length at least of sufficient extent to cover said compartment, said sheet member being formed, near one edge portion, or material thin enough to fit through said necked opening and having said edge portion formed of predetermined thickness to fit into said walled portion and be unable to pass through said necked opening, whereby said sheet member may be anchored in said groove; said sheet member also including a means near a second edge portion operable to attach said sheet to said vehicle; and c. pivot means including first and second pivot devices disposed within said first and second ends, respectively, of said roller and being operable to rotatably connect said roller to the vehicle to allow the roller to rotate substantially about said central axis. said first pivot device comprising a first casing and a first shaft, said first shaft being supported in said first casing disposed co-extensively with said axis; said second pivot device comprising a second casing having a perpheral opening, a second shaft, and a spring, and wherein said casing rotatably supports said second shaft co-extensively with said axis, said spring being mounted within said second casing and having inner and outer ends and being loosely coiled about said second shaft with its inner end anchored to said second shaft; said peripheral opening being aligned with said necked slotted opening; the outer end of said coil spring being bent in a hooked-like configuration and extending through said peripheral opening to engage an edge of said necked slotted opening whereby said coil spring is connected between said second shaft and said roller; said second shaft being operable to be non-rotatably secured to said vehicle whereby, when said cover device is mounted on said vehicle, rotation of said roller about its said axis with respect to said vehicle will tighten said coil spring and cause said spring to generate rotational forces in a counter rotational direction.