Vehicle cargo management apparatus having movable cargo support arm

• US 20040135390A1
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Original Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Inventors: Gammon, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 6,811,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• 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 7/02 in separate luggage compartment B60R7/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/08 Disposition of racks, clips , holders, containers or the like for supporting specific articles B60R7/005 takes precedence

Abstract

Cargo management apparatus include a housing, a movable load floor operably secured to the housing for movement between a closed position and one or more open positions, and a cargo support arm that is movably secured to the vehicle compartment and that is movable between stored and operative positions. The arm includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship. Each projection is configured to support one or more articles suspended therefrom. The arm may be operably connected with the load floor such that, when the arm is moved to an operative position, the load floor can be supported in an open position.

Claims

1. A cargo management apparatus for use within a vehicle compartment having a floor, the apparatus comprising:

a cargo support arm movably secured to the vehicle compartment and movable between a stored position and one or more operative positions, wherein the cargo support arm is positioned adjacent to the floor when in the stored position, and wherein the cargo support arm extends outwardly from the floor into the vehicle compartment for convenient use thereof by a user when the cargo support arm is in an operative position; and

at least one projection extending from the cargo support arm that is configured to support one or more loaded shopping bags by the handles thereof and to maintain the one or more loaded shopping bags in an upright position during operation of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cargo support arm is substantially flush with the floor when in the stored position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cargo support arm has a generally U-shaped configuration and comprises a pair of members, each member pivotally secured within the vehicle compartment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship.

5. A cargo management apparatus for use within a vehicle compartment having a floor, the apparatus comprising:

a housing disposed within the floor, wherein the housing comprises walls that define a storage compartment;

a load floor operably secured to the housing for movement between a closed position and one or more open positions, wherein the load floor overlies the storage compartment when in the closed position and permits user access to the storage compartment when in the one or more open positions;

a cargo support arm movably secured to the vehicle compartment and movable between a stored position and one or more operative positions, wherein the cargo support arm is positioned adjacent to the floor when in the stored position, and wherein the cargo support arm extends outwardly from the floor and above the load floor for convenient use thereof by a user when the cargo support arm is in an operative position; and

at least one projection extending from the cargo support arm that is configured to support one or more loaded shopping bags by the handles thereof and to maintain the one or more loaded shopping bags in an upright position during operation of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cargo support arm is substantially flush with the floor when in the stored position.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cargo support arm has a generally U-shaped configuration and comprises a pair of members, wherein each member is movably secured within the vehicle compartment.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the load floor comprises a pair of movable panels pivotally connected to each other such that when the load floor is moved to an open position, the panels move upwardly and toward each other, and such that when the load floor is moved to the closed position, the panels are substantially coplanar.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cargo support arm is configured to be operably connected with the load floor such that when the cargo support arm is moved to an operative position the load floor can be supported in an open position.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the load floor comprises one or more recessed portions formed therein for receiving and supporting objects.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to maintain the load floor in the closed position and to prevent unauthorized opening of the load floor.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a light disposed within the storage compartment that is configured to illuminate the storage compartment.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the storage compartment walls comprise thermal insulation material such that the storage compartment can serve as a food and beverage cooler.

15. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a cargo net disposed within the storage compartment for removably retaining items within the storage compartment.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising one or more partitions disposed within the storage compartment.

17. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a security shade operably associated with the storage compartment and movable between an open position exposing the storage compartment and a closed position covering one or more portions of the storage compartment.

18. A cargo management apparatus for use within a vehicle compartment having a floor, the apparatus comprising:

a housing disposed within the floor, wherein the housing comprises walls that define a storage compartment;

a load floor operably secured to the housing for movement between a closed position and one or more open positions, wherein the load floor overlies the storage compartment when in the closed position and permits user access to the storage compartment when in the one or more open positions, wherein the load floor comprises a pair of movable panels pivotally connected to each other such that when the load floor is moved to an open position, the panels move upwardly, and such that when the load floor is moved to the closed position, the panels are substantially coplanar;

a cargo support arm movably secured to the housing and movable between a stored position and one or more operative positions, wherein the cargo support arm is positioned adjacent to the housing when in the stored position, and wherein the cargo support arm extends outwardly from the housing and above the load floor for convenient use thereof by a user when the cargo support arm is in an operative position, and wherein the cargo support arm is operably connected with the load floor such that when the cargo support arm is moved to an operative position the load floor is moved automatically to an open position; and

at least one projection extending from the cargo support arm that is configured to support one or more loaded shopping bags by the handles thereof and to maintain the one or more loaded shopping bags in an upright position during operation of the vehicle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cargo support arm is substantially flush with the housing when in the stored position.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cargo support arm has a generally U-shaped configuration and comprises a pair of members, wherein each member is movably secured to the housing.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of projections in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cargo support arm is configured to maintain the load floor in an open position when the cargo support arm is in an operative position.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the load floor comprises one or more recessed portions formed therein for receiving and supporting objects.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to maintain the load floor in the closed position and to prevent unauthorized opening of the load floor.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a light disposed within the storage compartment that is configured to illuminate the storage compartment.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the storage compartment walls comprise thermal insulation material such that the storage compartment can serve as a food and beverage cooler.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a cargo net disposed within the storage compartment for removably retaining items within the storage compartment.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising one or more partitions disposed within the storage compartment.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a security shade operably associated with the storage compartment and movable between an open position exposing the storage compartment and a closed position covering one or more portions of the storage compartment.