Reconfigurable intermediate panel for use in a vehicle

• US 6,547,298 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Fin, Enrico, Dobson, Simon Blair, Hopson, Charles Berry, Tolinski, Roch Joseph, Chene, George Rene, Sotiroff, John Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLE, PATRICIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/915,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20020043811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.1, 296/26.08, 296/26.09, 296/85, 296/65.16, 296/51, 296/146.16, 296/190.08, 296/190.11, 296/183, 280/748, 410/129, 410/130
• US Class Current: 296/24.43
• 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 reconfigurable intermediate panel provides the capability of reconfiguring the interior space of a vehicle. A first panel portion is moveable in the vehicle between various locations. A second panel portion is supported for movement with the first panel portion and for movement relative to the first panel portion. By selectively extending the second panel portion relative to the first panel portion, the vehicle interior space may be selectively divided and provides isolated vehicle compartments.

Claims

1. An intermediate body panel assembly for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a first panel portion that is moveable relative to the vehicle body from a first location where the first panel portion is in a first generally vertical plane to a second location where the first panel portion is in a second generally vertical plane that is parallel to the first plane; and

a second panel portion supported for movement with the first panel portion and for movement relative to the first panel portion wherein the second panel portion moves from a first position where the second panel portion is generally aligned with the first panel portion to a second position where the second panel portion is at least partially extended away from the first panel portion wherein the second panel portion is generally parallel to the first panel portion in each of the first and second positions.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second panel portion is at least partially received within the first panel portion when the second panel portion is in the first position.

3. The assembly of claim 1, including a moving mechanism for moving the second panel portion relative to the first panel portion and wherein the moving mechanism is supported by the first panel portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second panel portion is clear.

5. A vehicle, comprising:

a first, interior section;

at least one seat in the first section for supporting at least a driver of the vehicle;

a second section adjacent the first section; and

a moveable panel assembly that is moveable to a plurality of locations in the vehicle such that when the moveable panel assembly is in a first location, there is a first distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, and when the moveable panel assembly is in a second location, there is a second distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, the moveable panel assembly having a first panel portion and a second panel portion that is moveable with the first panel portion and moveable relative to the first panel portion to selectively close off the first section from the second section, including at least one seal member associated with the first panel portion for sealing off an interface between the first panel portion and at least one adjacent surface on the vehicle, wherein the seal is along a lower edge of the first panel and includes a channel.

6. A vehicle, comprising:

a first, interior section;

at least one seat in the first section for supporting at least a driver of the vehicle;

a second section adjacent the first section; and

a moveable panel assembly that is moveable to a plurality of locations in the vehicle such that when the moveable panel assembly is in a first location, there is a first distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, and when the moveable panel assembly is in a second location, there is a second distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, the moveable panel assembly having a first panel portion and a second panel portion that is moveable with the first panel portion and moveable relative to the first panel portion to selectively close off the first section from the second section, including at least one seal member associated with the first panel portion for sealing off an interface between the first panel portion and at least one adjacent surface on the vehicle, wherein the seal is along two side edges of the first panel portion and the seal comprises a compression seal that is adapted to sealingly engage an interiorly facing surface on the vehicle near the side edges of the first panel portion when the first panel portion is in either the first location or the second location.

7. A vehicle, comprising:

a first, interior section;

at least one seat in the first section for supporting at least a driver of the vehicle;

a second section adjacent the first section; and

a moveable panel assembly that is moveable to a plurality of locations in the vehicle such that when the moveable panel assembly is in a first location, there is a first distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, and when the moveable panel assembly is in a second location, there is a second distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, the moveable panel assembly having a first panel portion and a second panel portion that is moveable with the first panel portion and moveable relative to the first panel portion to selectively close off the first section from the second section, wherein the second panel portion comprises a window and the vehicle includes a channel at the first and second locations, respectively, each channel receiving at least a portion of the second panel portion when the second panel portion is in an extended position relative to the first panel portion.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the second panel portion is supported at least partially within the first panel portion.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, including a track assembly supported in the second section of the vehicle, the track assembly guiding the first panel portion when the first panel portion is moved between the first and second locations.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a first, interior section;

at least one seat in the first section for supporting at least a driver of the vehicle;

a second section adjacent the first section; and

a moveable panel assembly that is moveable to a plurality of locations in the vehicle such that when the moveable panel assembly is in a first location, there is a first distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, and when the moveable panel assembly is in a second location, there is a second distance between the first section seat and the moveable panel assembly, the moveable panel assembly having a first panel portion and a second panel portion that is moveable with the first panel portion and moveable relative to the first panel portion to selectively close off the first section from the second section, including a track assembly supported in the second section of the vehicle, the track assembly guiding the first panel portion when the first panel portion is moved between the first and second locations, including a seat positioned at least partially in the second section and wherein the seat has a seat back that is foldable between an upright position and a generally horizontal position and wherein a surface on the seat back supports the track assembly such that the first panel portion is moveable along the track assembly when the seat back is in the generally horizontal position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, including a plurality of recesses in the seat back surface that receive support members associated with the first panel portion as the first panel portion is moved relative to the seat back.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a first, interior section;

at least one seat in the first section for supporting at least a driver of the vehicle;

a second section adjacent the first section;

at least one support panel that comprises a seatback that is selectively moveable between a generally horizontal position and an upright, passenger accommodating position, the support panel being in the second section that has a cargo supporting surface facing upward;

a moveable panel assembly that is moveable to a plurality of locations in the vehicle such that when the moveable panel assembly is in a first location, the first section has a first volume and when the moveable panel assembly is in a second location, the first section has a second volume; and

a track assembly supported on the support panel that guides the moveable panel as the moveable panel assembly is moved between the first and second locations.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the moveable panel assembly includes a first panel portion and a second panel portion that is moveable with the first panel portion and moveable relative to the first panel portion to selectively close off the first section from the second section.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the track assembly is at least partially within the seat back and the cargo supporting surface includes a plurality of recesses that receive support members associated with the moveable panel assembly.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the support panel includes at least one seal member that seals off an interface between at least two sides of the support panel and an adjacent surface on the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, including at least one seal that seals off an interface between the support panel and the moveable panel assembly.

17. The vehicle of claim 12, including at least one seal that seals off an interface between at least two sides of the moveable panel assembly and adjacent portions of the vehicle.