Stowage apparatus for a cargo area of a motor vehicle

• US 6,247,741 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baumeister and Ostler GmbH and Company KG
• Original Assignee: Baumeister and Ostler GmbH and Company KG
• Inventors: Schlecht, Werner P., Seel, Holger, Haspel, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US09/448,858
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.16, 296/37.14, 296/37.2, 296/37.3
• US Class Current: 296/37.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/00 Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like primarily intended for stowing loads in load-transporting vehicles B60P; arrangements for stowing spare wheels B62D43/00
• 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

Abstract

A stowage apparatus for a cargo area of a motor vehicle has a cargo area floor equipped with at least one recess. At least one insert frame fits into the at least one recess of the cargo area floor and can be fastened on the vehicle by an attachment mechanism. The present stowage apparatus is particularly suitable for passenger cars.

Claims

1. A stowage apparatus for a cargo area of a motor vehicle having a side portion, said cargo area defined by a cargo area floor having at least one recess formed therein, said stowage apparatus comprising a stowable lid and at least one insert frame that is fitted into said recess and that is fastened on said vehicle side portion by an attachment mechanism, wherein said at least one insert frame is detachably fastened in said recess of said cargo area floor, said at least one insert frame and said recess are configured with respect to each other such that said at least one insert frame is insertable into said recess in two different positions disposed 180°

with respect to one another.

2. The stowage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert frame has a peripheral upper terminating rim that is configured as a protective profile covering a lining of the cargo area floor.

3. The stowage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment mechanism is positioned such that said at least one insert frame is securable in each of said inserted positions.

4. The stowage apparatus of claim 3 wherein the attachment mechanism has at least one locking pin that is movable between a release position arranged in countersunk fashion in a side rim of said at least one insert frame and a locked position projecting outward beyond said side rim, which in the locked position extends into a corresponding receptacle of said recess of said cargo area floor.

5. The stowage apparatus of claim 4 further comprising at least one actuation element operably engaged with said at least one locking pin via a mechanical positive guide.

6. The stowage apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said at least one locking pin is held in spring-loaded fashion in its locked position, each of said at least one locking pin having a countersurface for engaging an obliquely oriented sliding surface of a linearly movable actuation element, said actuation element movable at right angles to the locking bolt such that said locking pin countersurface and said sliding surface are slideable along one another and are positively guided by said at least one locking pin upon movement of the actuation element.

7. The stowage apparatus of claim 6 wherein said actuation element can be manipulated both from an upper side of said at least one insert frame and from an underside of said at least one insert frame and wherein said actuation element is equipped with two sliding symmetrical surfaces, one surface of which is operated from said upper side of said at least one insert frame and the other surface of which is operated from said underside of said at least one insert frame.

8. The stowage apparatus claim 1 wherein said at least one insert frame is equipped with a bottom having a trough shape that is defined by a peripheral side rim of said at least one insert frame, said peripheral side rim configured with respect to said recess depth such said bottom terminates flush with said cargo area floor when said at least one insert frame is oriented in a turned-over end position.

9. The stowage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lid is a pivotable component of a detachable cover disposed on the side opposite said at least one insert frame bottom.

10. The stowage apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one flexible planar structure, which is wound onto a roller-shade shaft and capable of being pulled out, is integrated into said at least one insert frame.

11. The stowage apparatus claim 1 wherein at least one functional insert is integrated into said at least one insert frame.

12. The stowage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one insert frame comprises an erectable retaining bracket arrangement having a net structure extendable therefrom.