Storage divider shelf

• US 6,050,202 A
• Filed: 07/22/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US09/120,907
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 224/542, 224/549, 224/553, 224/311, 224/282, 224/200, 108/145, 108/147, 108/144.11, 108/44, 108/138, 414/462, 414/465, 296/37.16, 296/37.14
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/001 of tables or trays
• 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 storage divider includes a first frame which has one edge pivotally mounted to the floor of the vehicle and a second frame pivotally mounted to the first frame member remote from its connection to the vehicle floor. Together the frames move from a co-planar collapsed stored position to a raised position elevating a storage platform positioned on the second frame above the floor area of the vehicle while leaving the floor area of the vehicle open for additional storage. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second frame includes one edge with extensions which hook into sockets mounted to the sidewalls of the vehicle for holding the storage divider in an extended use position. In one embodiment also, the platform mounted to the second frame can be a collapsible, segregated storage divider for providing additional horizontally divided storage spaces elevated above the vehicle floor when the divider is in an extended use position or at the floor level of the vehicle when the divider is in its collapsed position.

Claims

1. A storage divider shelf for a vehicle comprising:

a first generally rectangular frame having a longitudinal axis and first and second generally parallel spaced-apart edges extending along said longitudinal axis;

a bracket for mounting said first edge of said first frame in pivotal relationship to a vehicle floor and extending transversely to the vehicle;

a second generally rectangular frame having a longitudinal axis and first and second generally parallel spaced-apart edges extending along said longitudinal axis, said second edge of said second frame pivotally mounted to said second edge of said first frame such that said first and second frames can collapse to a substantially horizontal stored position and pivotally extend to a raised position with said first edge of said second frame spaced from said first edge of said first frame when in a raised use position; and

a storage structure mounted to said second frame member for supporting objects to be stored thereon when in said stored position and when in said use position, said second frame defining an open space between said first edge of said first frame and said second frame when in said use position for storing objects between said frames.

2. A storage divider shelf for a vehicle comprising:

a first frame having first and second generally parallel spaced-apart edges;

a bracket for mounting said first edge of said first frame in pivotal relationship to a vehicle floor;

a second frame having first and second generally parallel spaced-apart edges, said second edge of said second frame pivotally mounted to said second edge of said first frame such that said first and second frames can collapse to a substantially horizontal stored position and pivotally extend to a raised position with said first edge of said second frame spaced from said first edge of said first frame when in a raised use position, wherein said first edge of said second frame includes at least one extension thereof and further including a socket adapted to be mounted to a vehicle support member in orthogonal relationship to said bracket, said socket receiving said extension of said first end of said second frame for locking said divider shelf in a raised use position; and

a storage structure mounted to said second frame member for supporting objects to be stored thereon.

3. The divider shelf as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second frames are made of tubular material.

4. The divider shelf as defined in claim 3 wherein said first frame comprises a generally U-shaped frame having a cross leg defining said first edge and a pair of ends remote from said first leg defining said second edge.

5. The divider shelf as defined in claim 4 wherein said second frame member comprises a generally rectangular frame made of tubular members.

6. The divider shelf as defined in claim 5 wherein said first edge of said second frame is defined by a tubular member extending laterally beyond the edges of the rectangle defined by said first frame.

7. The divider shelf as defined in claim 6 wherein said storage structure comprises a support shelf.

8. The divider shelf as defined in claim 6 wherein said storage structure comprises a collapsible storage compartment.

9. The divider shelf as defined in claim 8 wherein said socket comprises a generally disk-shaped member having an inverted L-shaped groove formed therein for receiving an extending end of said tubular member defining said first edge of said second frame.

10. The divider shelf as defined in claim 9 and further including a locking handle mounted to said second frame for selectively engaging said mounting bracket for locking said storage divider shelf in a collapsed position.

11. A storage divider shelf for a vehicle comprising:

a first frame having first and second generally parallel spaced-apart edges;

a bracket for mounting said first edge of said first frame in pivotal relationship to a vehicle floor;

a second frame having first and second generally parallel spaced-apart edges, said second edge of said second frame pivotally mounted to said second edge of said first frame such that said first and second frames can collapse to a substantially horizontal stored position and pivotally extend to a raised position with said first edge of said second frame spaced from said first edge of said first frame when in a raised use position, wherein said mounting bracket comprises a pair of panels with a first one of said panels attachable to a floor of a vehicle and the second of said panels captively and pivotally holding said first frame to said first panel; and

a storage structure mounted to said second frame member for supporting objects to be stored thereon.

12. The divider shelf as defined in claim 11 and further including threaded fasteners for holding said first and second panels together and to a vehicle floor.

13. The divider shelf as defined in claim 12 wherein said threaded fasteners include hand-operated knobs to allow a user to easily remove said divider shelf from a vehicle.

14. The divider shelf as defined in claim 13 wherein said panels are generally rectangular molded polymeric trim panels.

15. A storage divider for a vehicle comprising:

a first member having first and second spaced-apart generally parallel edges;

a bracket for mounting said first edge of said first member in pivotal relationship to a vehicle floor;

a second member having first and second spaced-apart generally parallel edges, said second member pivotally mounted to said first member such that said first and second members can collapse to a substantially horizontal stored position and pivotally extend to a raised position with said second member generally parallel to and spaced above the vehicle floor; and

a collapsible storage bin mounted to said second member for supporting objects to be stored therein.

16. The storage divider as defined in claim 15 wherein said first and second members are tubular frames.

17. A storage divider for a vehicle comprising:

a first member having first and second spaced-apart generally parallel edges;

a bracket for mounting said first edge of said first member in pivotal relationship to a vehicle floor;

a second member having first and second spaced-apart generally parallel edges, said second member pivotally mounted to said first member such that said first and second members can collapse to a substantially horizontal stored position and pivotally extend to a raised position with said second member generally parallel to and spaced above the vehicle floor, wherein said first and second members are tubular frames, and wherein said second member includes at least one extension thereof and further including a socket adapted to be mounted to a vehicle support member in orthogonal relationship to and spaced above the floor, said socket receiving said extension of said first end of said second member for locking said shelf in a raised use position; and

a storage shelf mounted to said second member for supporting objects to be stored thereon.

18. The storage divider as defined in claim 17 wherein said storage shelf comprises a collapsible storage compartment.

19. A storage divider shelf for vertically dividing the storage area of a vehicle comprising:

a shelf for storing objects thereon; and

first and second frames made of tubular material, said frames having edges pivotally coupled to one another and one of said frames having an opposite edge pivotally mounted to the vehicle floor, wherein said second frame includes an end extending laterally beyond the edges of the rectangle defined by said frames and further including a socket adapted to be mounted to a vehicle support member in orthogonal relationship to said bracket, said socket receiving said extension of said first end of said second frame for locking said divider shelf in a raised use position for movement between a lowered position adjacent the vehicle floor and a raised position spaced above the vehicle floor for providing storage on said shelf above the vehicle floor and on the vehicle floor below said shelf.

20. The divider shelf as defined in claim 19 wherein said storage shelf comprises a collapsible storage compartment.

21. The divider shelf as defined in claim 20 wherein said socket comprises a member having an inverted L-shaped groove formed therein for receiving the extending end of said second frame.

22. The divider shelf as defined in claim 20 and further including a locking handle mounted to said second frame for selectively locking said storage divider shelf in a collapsed position.