[0001] The present disclosure described herein, in general, relates to hiding of a cut-out slot provided on a part. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a cover insert for covering the cut-out slot which holds a latch for connecting to a parcel tray in a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Generally, a vehicle is provided with parcel tray or parcel shelf or rear shelf to place things on it or to cover the boot space area of the vehicle. In order to place a parcel tray, a cut-out slot is made in plastic part of the quarter lower region at the rear end of the vehicle. The cut-out slot is used to hold a latch which is connected to the parcel tray. However, in order to reduce vehicle cost, many vehicle manufacturers avoid installing a parcel tray in certain varient of their vehicle and in that case, there is no requirement of any latch and the cut-out slot which holds the latch. In such a scenario, the cut-out slot made is of no use and further affects the aesthetics of the vehicle because the body panel of the vehicle is left exposed. Further, since it is economical to manufacture common plastic part, the cut-out slots are provided in every vehicle whether a parcel tray is to be installed or not. Therefore, in order to hide the cut-out slot, covers are placed on them. However, the existing covers available for the cut-out slot are difficult to open and generally leaves a mark in the plastic part of the cover, which further deteriorates aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0004] In view of the above, there is a need to design a cover which resolves the above-mentioned drawbacks with the existing covers. The cover, in addition, should be simple in construction and inexpensive.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0006] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a cover insert for covering the cut-out slot which is easy to open or remove and doesn't leave a mark in the plastic part of the slot.
[0007] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cover insert for covering the cut-out slot in order to maintain the aesthetics of the vehicle.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cover insert for covering the cut-out slot which is simple and inexpensive.
[0009] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a cover insert for covering the cut-out slot which holds a latch for connecting to a parcel tray in a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0011] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a cover insert for covering a cut-out slot which is used to hold a latch for connecting to a parcel tray in a vehicle. The cover insert comprises a top flat surface having a first region

which is shorter than a second region and a bottom surface identical to the top surface. The bottom surface has two snaps mounted at two longitudinal ends of the two regions respectively and has a hinged portion which separates the first region from the second region so as to form a rotating mechanism between the two regions while the two snaps of the cover insert are locked into and unlocked from the cut-out slot.
[0012] In an aspect, the cut-out slot is covered by the bottom surface of the cover in a way that the first region inserts in the cut-out slot while the other region rests on a top surface of the cut-out slot and the snaps form a snap fit with the cut¬out slot. When the first region is pushed downwards in the cut-out slot, the snaps gets unlocked and the rotating mechanism rotates to unlock the cover insert.
[0013] In an aspect, the cut-out slot is provided in plastic part of a quarter lower region at rear end of a vehicle.
[0014] In an aspect, the cut-out slot is used to hold a latch for connecting to a parcel tray in a vehicle.
[0015] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0016] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the

accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0018] FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate the scenario wherein a parcel tray is to be installed in a vehicle;
[0019] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the way a cover insert is to cover a cut-out slot, in accordance with the present disclosure; and
[0020] FIGS. 3 A and 3B illustrate the unlock position of the cover insert with respect to the cut-out slot.
[0021] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0023] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of

the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0024] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular 5 embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, 10 steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0025] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, 15 two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of 20 ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
25 [0027] FIG. 1A shows the scenario wherein a parcel tray 100 is to be installed in a vehicle. As it is visible from FIG. 1A a cut-out slot 102 is provided in plastic part at the rear end of the vehicle and particularly at the quarter lower region of the vehicle. The cut-out slot 102 holds a latch (as shown in FIG.1A) which is used to establish a connection with the parcel tray 100. However, many often vehicle
30 manufacturers avoid installing the parcel tray 100 in certain varients of their
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vehicle and in that case, there is no requirement of any latch and the cut-out slot 102 which holds the latch. In such a scenario, the cut-out slot 102 made is of no use and further affects the aesthetics of the vehicle because the body panel of the vehicle is left exposed. In order to hide the cut-out slot 102, covers are placed on 5 them. However, the existing covers available for the cut-out slot 102 are difficult to open and generally leaves a mark in the plastic part of the cover. In view of the above, there is a need to design a cover which resolves the above-mentioned drawbacks with the existing covers.
[0028] FIG. 1B shows the top close view of the cut-out slot 102 in plastic part 10 which is to be covered by a cover in accordance with the present disclosure. In an aspect of the present invention, the cut-out slot 102 in the plastic part comprises of grooves 104 on both of its lateral sides.
[0029] FIGS. 2A-2C, in general, illustrates as to how a cover insert is used to cover a cut-out slot 102 which is made in plastic part of the quarter lower region
15 at the rear of a vehicle. FIG.2A shows the top view of the cover insert 200 which covers the cut-out slot 102. The cover insert 200 has a top flat surface 202 having a first region 202a and a second region 202b. The first region 202a is shorter than the second region 202b. In particular, the first region 202a has less width and length as compared with the second region 202b. FIG. 2B shows bottom surface
20 204 of the cover insert 200. The bottom surface 204 is identical to the top surface 202. The bottom surface 204 comprises two snaps 206 which are mounted at two longitudinal ends of the two regions 202a and 202b respectively. The bottom surface 204 further comprises a hinged portion 208 which separates the first region 202a from the second region 202b and forms a rotating mechanism
25 between the two regions 202a and 202b. The hinge portion 208 extends along the width of the cover insert 200.
[0030] FIG. 2C shows the locked position of the cover insert 200 with the cut¬out slot 102. The cut-out slot 102 is covered by the bottom surface 204 of the cover insert 200 in a way that the first region 202a inserts in the cut-out slot 102 30 while the second region 202b rests on a top surface of the cut-out slot 102 and the
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snaps 206 form a snap fit with the cut-out slot 102. The two snaps 206 of the cover insert 200 gets locked into the cut-out slot 102. The grooves 104 of the cut¬out slot 102 are used to support the hinged portion 208 of the cover insert 200. In an aspect, the cover insert 200 is made up of plastic.
5 [0031] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the unlock position of the cover insert 200 with respect to the cut-out slot 102. In order to unlock the cover insert 200, the first region 202a is pushed downwards in the cut-out slot 102 which rotates the rotating mechanism formed by the hinged portion 208 and unlocks the snaps 206 from the cut-out slot 102. The cover insert 200 is then easily removed from the
10 cut-out slot 102.
[0032] Although, the present invention is described with respect to cut-out slot provided in plastic part of the quarter lower region at the rear of a vehicle, the present invention can be applied to cover any cut-out slot provided on any part or location without any limitation.
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TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0033] The present disclosure provides a cover insert for covering a cut-out slot that is easy to open or remove and doesn’t leave a mark in the plastic part.
[0034] The present disclosure provides a cover insert for covering a cut-out 20 slot and helps in maintaining the aesthetics of the vehicle.
[0035] The present disclosure provides a cover insert for covering a cut-out slot that is simple in construction and inexpensive.
[0036] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be 25 devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present
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disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:

A cover insert (200) for covering a cut-out slot (102), the cover insert (200)
comprising:
a top flat surface (202) having a first region (202a) and a second
region (202b), wherein the first region (202a) is shorter than the second
region (202b); and
a bottom surface (204) identical to the top surface (202) having two
snaps (206) mounted at two longitudinal ends of the regions (202a, 202b)
respectively and having a hinged portion (208) separating the first region
(202a) from the second region (202b) so as to form a rotating mechanism
between the two regions (202a, 202b) while the two snaps (206) of the
cover insert (200) are locked into and unlocked from the cut-out slot (102). . The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cut-out slot (102)
is covered by the bottom surface (204) of the cover insert (200) in a way
that the first region (202a) inserts in the cut-out slot (102) while the second
region (202b) rests on a top surface of the cut-out slot (102) and the snaps
(206) form a snap fit with the cut-out slot (102). . The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the first region
(202a) is pushed downwards in the cut-out slot (102), the rotating
mechanism rotates to unlock the cover insert (200). . The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cut-out slot (102)
has grooves (104) on both lateral sides to support the hinged portion (208)
of the cover insert (200). . The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover insert (200)
is made of plastic. . The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first region (202a)
has less width and length as compared with the second region (202b). . The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinged portion
(208) extends along the width of the cover insert (200). . The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cut-out slot (102)
is provided in plastic part of a quarter lower region at rear end of a vehicle.

The cover insert (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cut-out slot (102) is used to hold a latch for connecting to a parcel tray (100) in a vehicle.