Vehicle storage support device

• US 6,092,708 A
• Filed: 01/29/1998
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James M. Rand
• Original Assignee: James M. Rand
• Inventors: Rand, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US09/015,180
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 224/539, 224/542, 224/543, 224/275, 296/37.16, 296/37.8, 296/37.5, 108/44, 108/137, 108/147.2, 108/147.19, 108/147.21, 108/144.11, 108/116, 108/143, 108/127
• US Class Current: 224/542
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/045 collapsible or transformable

Abstract

The present invention provides for a vehicle storage support device for easy installation into and removal from a vehicle'"'"'s rear storage compartment. The device has a generally horizontally extending top platform that has ends that are rotatably connected to vertical support panels. The top platform has a length adjustment means and the vertical support panels have a height adjustment means that allows the device to be adjusted to snugly fit the interior of the rear storage compartment.

Claims

1. A free-standing vehicle storage support device adapted for installation in and removal from a motor vehicle having an interior storage space formed by spaced apart side walls, a seat with a back rest having a rear back rest surface, and a rear lifting hatch or door, said device comprising:

a) a generally horizontally extending platform having spaced apart first and second ends defining a platform length dimension and rotatably connected to first and second vertical support panels, respectively, and means for adjusting said platform length and having spaced apart front and rear edges defining a platform width dimension;

b) wherein each vertical support panel has a height dimension and means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel and wherein said each vertical support panel has a front panel edge and a rear panel edge defining a width dimension that is substantially equal to said platform width dimension and a substantially vertical surface with a portion of the substantially vertical surface having a plurality of elongate, generally parallel, vertically oriented raised contact surfaces for placement against one of the spaced apart side walls of the interior storage space.

2. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 1, wherein the top platform consists of a first generally horizontal platform member adapted to be inserted into and partially removed from a second generally horizontal platform member, the first and second platform members each have spaced apart first and second sides, and the means for adjusting said platform length dimension includes at least two spaced apart first openings formed along each of the first and second sides and first pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the first openings when the first platform member is inserted within the second platform and the first openings of the first and second sides of the first and second platform members are in alignment.

3. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second vertical support panels each consist of first and second panel members that have front and back panel member surfaces, and the means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel includes at least two second openings formed along each of the front panel member surfaces and second pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the second openings when the first panel member is placed immediately adjacent to the second panel member and the second openings of the first and second support panel members are in alignment.

4. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second vertical support panels each have a top edge that has a channel formed therein and a rod placed within the channel, the rod has spaced apart first and second rod ends that are rotatably connected to the first and second ends of the top platform, respectively.

5. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second vertical panels each consist of third and fourth panel members that have front and back panel member surfaces, the third panel members being rotatably connected to the top platform, the fourth panel members each have a slot formed along the upper top edge of the fourth panel member, the third panel members are adapted to be removably inserted within the slots, and the means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel includes at least two third openings formed along each of the front panel member surfaces and third pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the third openings when the third panel member is inserted within the slot and the third openings of the third and fourth panel members are in alignment.

6. A free-standing vehicle storage support device adapted for installation in and removal from a motor vehicle having an interior storage space formed by spaced apart side walls, a seat with a back rest having a rear back rest surface, and a rear lifting hatch or door, said device comprising:

a) a generally horizontally extending top platform having a first platform member adapted to be inserted into and partially removed from a second platform member, the first and second platform members each having spaced apart first and second sides, the first platform member having a first end and the second platform member having a second end that are rotatably connected to first and second vertical support panels, respectively, said first end of said first platform member and said second end of said second platform member defining a platform length dimension, said top platform also having means for adjusting said platform length dimension;

b) wherein the means for adjusting said platform length dimension includes at least two spaced apart first openings formed along each of the first and second sides and first pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the first openings when the first platform member is inserted within the second platform and the first openings of the first and second sides of the first and second platform members are in alignment; and

c) wherein each vertical support panel has a height dimension and means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel and wherein said each vertical support panel has a front panel edge and a rear panel edge defining a width dimension that is substantially equal to said platform width dimension and a substantially vertical surface with a portion of the substantially vertical surface having a plurality of elongate, generally parallel, vertically oriented raised contact surfaces for placement against one of the spaced apart side walls of the interior storage space.

7. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second vertical support panels each consist of first and second panel members that have front and back panel member surfaces, and the means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel includes at least two second openings formed along each of the front panel member surfaces and second pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the second openings when the first panel member is placed immediately adjacent to the second panel member and the second openings of the first and second support panel members are in alignment.

8. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second vertical panels each consist of third and fourth panel members that have front and rear surfaces, the third panel numbers being rotatably connected to the top platform, the fourth panel members each have a slot formed along the upper top edge of the fourth panel member, the third panel members are adapted to be removably inserted within the slots, and the means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel includes at least two third openings formed along each of the front surfaces and third pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the third openings when the third panel member is inserted with the slot and the third openings of the third and fourth panel members are in alignment.

9. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second vertical support panels each have a top edge that has a channel formed therein and a rod placed within the channel, the rod has spaced apart first and second rod ends that are rotatably connected to the first and second ends of the first and second platform members, respective.

10. A free-standing vehicle storage support device adapted for installation in and removal from a motor vehicle having an interior storage space formed by spaced apart side walls, a seat with a back rest having a rear back rest surface, and a rear lifting hatch or door, said device comprising:

a) a generally horizontally extending top platform having a first platform member adapted to be inserted into and partially removed from a second platform member, the first and second platform members each having spaced apart first and second sides, the first platform member having a first end and the second platform member having a second end that are rotatably connected to first and second vertical support panels, respectively, said first end of said first platform member and said second end of said second platform member defining a platform length dimension, said top platform also having means for adjusting said platform length dimension;

b) wherein the means for adjusting said platform length dimension includes at least two spaced apart first openings formed along each of the first and second sides and first pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the first openings when the first platform member is inserted within the second platform and the first openings of the first and second sides of the first and second platform members are in alignment; and

c) wherein each vertical support panel has a height dimension and means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel and wherein said each vertical support panel has a front panel edge and a rear panel edge defining a width dimension that is substantially equal to said platform width dimension and a substantially vertical surface with a portion of the substantially vertical surface having a plurality of elongate, generally parallel, vertically oriented raised contact surfaces for placement against one of the spaced apart side walls of the interior storage space, and wherein the first and second vertical support panels each consist of first and second panel members that have front and back panel member surfaces, and the means for adjusting the height dimension of said each vertical support panel includes at least two second openings formed along each of the front panel member surfaces and second pins that are adapted to be removably inserted within the second openings when the first panel member is placed immediately adjacent to the second panel member and the second openings of the first and second support panel members are in alignment.

11. The free-standing vehicle storage support device set forth in claim 10 wherein the first and second vertical support panels each have a top edge that has a channel formed therein and a rod placed within the channel, the rod has spaced apart first and second rod ends that are rotatably connected to the first and second ends of the top platform, respectively.