Multi-configurable cargo panel system

• US 10,207,648 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Loew, Pattrick, White, Kendra, Szymczak, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Romain, Pinel E
• Application Number:
  US15/404,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20180194293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 296 244, 296 243
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/04 arranged at rear of vehicle B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/045 collapsible or transformable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/02 in separate luggage compartment B60R7/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle having a cargo area includes a first cargo panel having a first recess extending into the first cargo panel, and a second cargo panel having a second recess extending into the second cargo panel. The vehicle includes a cargo floor for supporting the first and second cargo panels in an interlocked configuration in contact with the cargo floor. In the interlocked configuration, the first and second cargo panels are disposed in upright orientations and the second cargo panel is disposed orthogonally to the first cargo panel such that the first recess interfaces the second recess. The vehicle further includes a trim panel for supporting the first and second cargo panels in a coplanar configuration such that first and second cargo panels are spaced from the cargo floor.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a cargo area comprising:

a first cargo panel having a first recess extending into the first cargo panel;

a second cargo panel having a second recess extending into the second cargo panel;

a cargo floor for supporting the first and second cargo panels in an interlocked configuration in contact with the cargo floor, wherein in the interlocked configuration, the first and second cargo panels are disposed in upright orientations and the second cargo panel is disposed orthogonally to the first cargo panel such that the first recess interfaces the second recess;

a trim panel for supporting the first and second cargo panels in a coplanar configuration such that first and second cargo panels are spaced from the cargo floor; and

a plug having four discrete and spaced apart protrusions extending from a planar face of the plug, wherein in the interlocked configuration, inner surfaces the protrusions engage the first and second cargo panels to inhibit rotation of the second cargo panel relative to the first cargo panel, and wherein in the coplanar configuration, the plug is disposed substantially flush with upper faces of the first and second cargo panels and outer surfaces of the protrusions engage the first and second recess.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first recess includes a first abutment surface and the second recess includes a second abutment surface, and wherein the first abutment surface abuts the second abutment surface in the interlocked configuration.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first recess extends from an engagement edge of the first cargo panel and extends approximately half a height of the first cargo panel, and wherein the second recess extends from an engagement edge of the second cargo panel and extends approximately half the height of the second cargo panel.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein in the interlocked configuration, the first cargo panel and the second cargo panel define four discrete compartments within the cargo area of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first recess has a first notch region having a first width adjacent an engagement edge and a second notch region having a second width narrower than the first width of the first notch region.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second cargo panel further includes a hinge rotatably connecting a primary panel portion of the second cargo panel to a secondary panel portion of the second cargo panel.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second cargo panels are configurable in a coplanar configuration, and wherein in the coplanar configuration, side edges of the first and second cargo panels engage trim panels of the cargo area of the vehicle to support the first and second cargo panels in a spaced relation from a floor of the cargo area.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second recess are each T-shaped recesses having a wide region and a narrow region extending from the first region and narrower than the first region.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein in the coplanar configuration, the outer surfaces of the protrusions engage the wide regions of first and second recess in an interference fit engagement.

8. An interlocking cargo panel system for a cargo area of a vehicle, comprising:

a first cargo panel having a T-shaped first recess having a first region wider than a second region; and

a second cargo panel having a T-shaped second recess;

wherein in an interlocked configuration, the first and second cargo panels intersect orthogonally such that the second region interfaces the second cargo panel and the first region is spaced from the second cargo panel.

9. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 8, wherein the first recess extends from an engagement edge of the first cargo panel and extends approximately half a height of the first cargo panel, and wherein the second recess extends from an engagement edge of the second cargo panel and extends approximately half the height of the second cargo panel.

10. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 8, wherein in the interlocked configuration, the first cargo panel and the second cargo panel define four discrete compartments within the cargo area of the vehicle.

11. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 8, further comprising a plug having four spaced apart protrusions extending from a planar face of the plug.

12. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 11, further wherein in the interlocked configuration, the four protrusions engage the first and second cargo panels to inhibit rotation of the second cargo panel relative to the first cargo panel.

13. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 8, wherein the first and second cargo panels are configurable in a coplanar configuration, and wherein side edges of the first and second cargo panels engage trim panels of the cargo area of the vehicle to support the first and second cargo panels in a spaced relation from a floor of the cargo area.

14. An interlocking cargo panel system for a cargo area, comprising:

a first cargo panel having

a panel body having a T-shaped first recess, and

a plurality of arms extending from the panel body and including reduced-thickness inner ledges extending therebetween; and

a second cargo panel having a T-shaped second recess and reduced-thickness extensions, the second cargo panel receivable in the receiving region such that the reduced-thickness extensions are disposed on the reduced-thickness inner ledges.

15. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 14, wherein the second cargo panel has a length that corresponds to a length of the arms of the first cargo panel, and a width corresponding to a width of a receiving region defined the arms of the first cargo panel.

18. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 14, wherein the reduced-thickness inner ledges and the reduced-thickness extensions have a combined thickness that corresponds to a thickness of the arms.

19. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 14, wherein a width of the second cargo panel is less than a width of the first cargo panel.

20. The interlocking cargo panel system of claim 14, wherein the T-shaped second recess interfaces the T-shaped first recess when the reduced-thickness extensions are disposed on the reduced-thickness inner ledges.