Rear vehicle storage system

• US 20060180623A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Stephen, Reynolds, Brian J., Higgins, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/056,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20060180623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/542
• 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 5/048 of accordion-type, i.e. collapsible by sliding and folding

Abstract

A vehicle storage assembly that is selectively engagable with an interior component of a vehicle cargo area to define a storage area includes a first panel and a second panel connected to the first panel by a hinge. At least one of the first panel and the second panel has an attachment member adapted to be selectively engaged with at least one attachment location on the interior component.

Claims

1. A vehicle storage assembly selectively engagable with an interior component of a vehicle cargo area to define a storage area, said vehicle storage assembly comprising:

a first panel; and

a second panel connected to said first panel by a hinge,

at least one of said first panel and said second panel having an attachment member adapted to be selectively engaged with at least one attachment location on the interior component.

2. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first panel, said second panel, and said hinge are integrally formed.

3. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first panel has an attachment member adapted to be selectively engaged with a plurality of attachment locations on the interior component and said second panel has an attachment member adapted to be selectively engaged with a plurality of attachment locations on the interior component.

4. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first panel has a first attachment member and a second attachment member extending outwardly, respectively, from opposed ends of said first panel.

5. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 4, wherein said first panel extends generally between a first interior component and a second interior component such that said first attachment member is adapted to selectively engage with at least one attachment location on said first interior component and said second attachment member is adapted to selectively engage with at least one attachment location on said second interior component.

6. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first panel is hingedly attached to an interior component of the vehicle cargo area.

7. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first panel and said second panel are adapted to be removably mounted within said vehicle cargo area.

8. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said storage assembly is movable to a deployed position in which said first storage panel and said second panel define a storage area that has a generally V-shaped cross-section.

9. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 8, whereinsaid storage assembly is movable to a stowed position in which a laterally extending surface of said first panel and a laterally extending surface of said second panel are disposed adjacent one another.

10. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 9, wherein said storage assembly is disposed adjacent a rear seat defining said vehicle cargo area when said storage assembly is in said stowed position.

11. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 8, wherein said storage assembly is further positionable to a shelf position in which said first panel and said second are generally parallel to one another and are spaced apart from and generally parallel to a load surface defining said vehicle cargo area.

12. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 8, wherein said storage assembly is further positionable to a seating position in which said first panel and said second panel extend outwardly from an axis of said hinge with an angle of at least 90°

therebetween and said second panel is generally parallel to a load surface defining said cargo area.

13. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said storage assembly extends across one of the length and the width of the vehicle cargo area to divide the vehicle cargo area.

14. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said first panel and said second panel is comprised of a flexible member.

15. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first panel and said second panel is rigid.

16. The vehicle storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said hinge is a mechanical hinge attached to said first panel and said second panel, such that said first panel and said second panel are pivotable relative to one another about said hinge.