Living storage structure for a vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle, comprising:
- a mounting surface within an interior of the vehicle; and
a storage structure affixed to the mounting surface, the storage structure comprising;
a sheet of material secured to the mounting surface and forming a pocket for the mounting surface;
a rigid arch component having inner ends pivotally connected at pivot points to the mounting surface at respective opposing sides of the pocket and the rigid arch component extending radially outward from an axis of the pivot points to an outer end to which the sheet of material is secured; and
an actuator assembly comprising an adjustable length actuator coupled to the outer end of the rigid arch component and configured to cause pivoting movement of the rigid arch component, wherein the rigid arch component pivots about the pivot points between a closed position where the outer end of the rigid arch component is adjacent to the mounting surface to close the pocket and an open position that opens the pocket.
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Abstract
A storage structure for mounting on an interior mounting surface of a vehicle is described. The storage structure includes a sheet of flexible fabric that forms a pocket on the interior mounting surface. The fabric pocket can be opened and closed with one or more shape memory alloy actuators. The interior mounting surface can be a seatback, door trim, a wall of a cargo area, etc.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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a mounting surface within an interior of the vehicle; and a storage structure affixed to the mounting surface, the storage structure comprising; a sheet of material secured to the mounting surface and forming a pocket for the mounting surface; a rigid arch component having inner ends pivotally connected at pivot points to the mounting surface at respective opposing sides of the pocket and the rigid arch component extending radially outward from an axis of the pivot points to an outer end to which the sheet of material is secured; and an actuator assembly comprising an adjustable length actuator coupled to the outer end of the rigid arch component and configured to cause pivoting movement of the rigid arch component, wherein the rigid arch component pivots about the pivot points between a closed position where the outer end of the rigid arch component is adjacent to the mounting surface to close the pocket and an open position that opens the pocket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle component forming a mounting surface within an interior of the vehicle; and a storage structure affixed to the mounting surface, the storage structure comprising; a sheet of material secured to the mounting surface along three sides of the sheet of material and having an aperture along a fourth side of the sheet of material; a closure device having a first inner end and a second inner end pivotally supported on the mounting surface for rotation about a pivot axis, the closure device secured to the sheet of material and having a first outer end and a second outer end radially outward of the pivot axis, and the closure device extending horizontally in a direction along the aperture; and an actuator assembly comprising an actuator formed of a shape memory material that extends from at least one of the first outer end or the second outer end of the closure device to a bottom of the sheet of material where the sheet of material is secured to the mounting surface, the shape memory material contracting responsive to application of an energy source to pull the closure device from a first position that closes the aperture to a second position that allows access through the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification