Moveable cargo support panel for use in a vehicle

• US 6,516,983 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inteva Products USA LLC (Intevac)
• Original Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Dobson, Simon Blair, Tolinski, Roch Joseph, Chene, George Rene, Sotiroff, John Andrew, Fin, Enrico, Hopson, Charles Berry
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/916,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20020034430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 224/403, 224/281, 224/497, 224/500, 224/501, 224/542, 224/550, 224/551, 224/552, 224/553, 224/554, 224/564
• US Class Current: 224/281
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/047 characterised by the opening or closing movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/02 of sliding type , e.g. comprising guide shoes
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/04 with rigid plate-like element or elements , e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels B60J7/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3009 about transversal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3072 on a lower level of a multi-level vehicle floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/003 vehicles with loading gates B60P1/43 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0823 Insulating partitions, e.g. between front and rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/026 Rigid partitions inside vehicles, e.g. between passengers and load compartments B60R21/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/12 which protect the occupants against personal attack from the inside or the outside of the vehicle
• 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 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/06 Drivers' cabs overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 47/003 convertible in order to modify the number of seats foldable compact cars B62D31/006; convertible from one use to a different one B60P3/42

Abstract

A cargo supporting device supports cargo within a vehicle compartment in more than one position. The cargo supporting device includes at least one moveable panel having a cargo supporting surface. The moveable panel moves from a first position that is relatively distant from a cargo access point to a second position that is closer to the cargo access point. The moveable panel effectively brings one or more cargo items closer to an individual to make them more readily accessible.

Claims

1. A device for supporting cargo within a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

a first portion that remains permanently stationary relative to body of the vehicle, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface; and

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion is above the first portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a generally planar panel.

3. A device for supporting cargo within a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

a first portion that remains stationary relative to body of the vehicle, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface; and

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion is above the first portion wherein the second portion includes a restraining feature associated with an edge of the second portion that is most distal from the first portion when the second portion is in the first position.

4. A device for supporting cargo within a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

a first portion that remains stationary relative to body of the vehicle, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface; and

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion is above the first portion wherein the first portion includes a plurality of tracks that guide the second portion between the first and second positions.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of recesses within which at least a portion of the tracks are received.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the tracks include sections that extend beyond the first portion.

7. The device of claim 6, including at least a first track section extending beyond the first portion for guiding a forward support member of the second portion and at least a second track section extending beyond the first portion for guiding a rearward support member of the second portion, the first and second tracks sections including transition portions that are at different distances from the first portion.

8. A device for supporting cargo within a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

a first portion that remains stationary relative to body of the vehicle, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface; and

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion is above the first portion wherein the second portion comprises a panel having a raised edge along a side of the panel that is most distal from the first portion and wherein the panel provides a cargo supporting surface that is coplanar with the first portion cargo supporting surface when the panel is in the first position.

9. A device for supporting cargo within a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

a first portion that remains stationary relative to body of the vehicle, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface; and

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion is above the first portion including a motorized mechanism for moving the second portion between the first and second positions.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a cargo carrying compartment;

a first portion that remains permanently stationary relative to the cargo carrying compartment, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface; and

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion overlaps the first portion.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the cargo carrying compartment comprises a trunk.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the cargo carrying compartment comprises a truck bed.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the second portion comprises a generally planar panel.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the second portion panel has a raised edge along a side of the panel that is most distal from the first portion and wherein the panel provides a cargo supporting surface that is coplanar with the first portion cargo supporting surface when the panel is in the first position.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a cargo carrying compartment;

a first portion that remains stationary relative to the cargo carrying compartment, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface;

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion overlaps the first portion; and

a plurality of tracks that guide the second portion between the first and second positions.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the tracks are at least partially supported by the first portion.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of recesses within which at least a portion of the tracks are received.

18. A vehicle comprising:

a cargo carrying compartment;

a first portion that remains stationary relative to the cargo carrying compartment, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface;

a second portion that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion overlaps the first portion; and

a motorized mechanism for moving the second portion between the first and second positions.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a cargo carrying compartment;

a first portion that remains stationary relative to the cargo carrying compartment, the stationary portion providing a cargo supporting surface; and

a second portion that comprises a generally planar panel and that is moveable relative to the first portion from a first position where the second portion is aligned with and adjacent to one side of the first portion to a second position where the second portion overlaps the first portion, the second portion panel has a raised edge along the side of the panel that is most distal from the first portion and wherein the panel provides a cargo supporting surface that is coplanar with the first portion cargo supporting surface when the panel is in the first position.