Vehicle storage structure

• US 7,090,274 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Randy, Kulkarni, Sharad, Khan, Moonis F., Hougesen, Betina
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/055,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.16, 296/37.1, 296/37.3, 296/100.09
• US Class Current: 296/37.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/36 into a loading platform B60N2/065 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle body structure includes a storage box installed in a location within the vehicle that is originally arranged and configured to receive a rear passenger'"'"'s seat. The storage box has an upper opening and a cargo cavity that extends downwardly from the upper opening below an upper surface of the vehicle floor. A storage cover overlies the upper opening of the storage box. The storage cover has first and second lids. The first lid is arranged to move between a closed position covering a forward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the forward area of the cargo cavity to the side access opening. The second lid is arranged to move between a closed position covering a rearward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the rearward area of the cargo cavity to the rear access opening.

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a vehicle side body including a side access opening and a rear access opening;

a vehicle floor fixedly coupled to the vehicle side body with the vehicle floor including an cargo surface;

a row of first seats fixedly coupled to the vehicle floor at a first longitudinal location within the vehicle side body;

a row of second seats fixedly coupled to the vehicle floor at a second longitudinal location within the vehicle side body;

a third seat receiving recess formed in the vehicle floor that is configured to receive a row of third seats;

a cargo space between the third seat receiving recess and the rear access opening;

a storage box installed in the third seat receiving recess, the storage box including a plurality of walls defining an upper opening and a cargo cavity extending downwardly from the upper opening below the cargo surface of the vehicle floor, the storage box being configured to encompass substantially an entire area of the vehicle floor from the second seats to the cargo space and laterally between the vehicle side body; and

a storage cover overlying the upper opening of the storage box.

2. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the storage cover includes first and second lids with the first lid being arranged to move between a closed position covering a forward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the forward area of the cargo cavity to the side access opening, and the second lid being arranged to move between a closed position covering a rearward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the rearward area of the cargo cavity to the rear access opening.

3. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the first and second lids are covered with an interior flooring material forming a living hinge coupling the first and second lids together.

4. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein

the living hinge has a pivot axis extending from side to side between side walls of the vehicle side body.

5. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein

the interior flooring material includes a carpeting material.

6. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

a first restriction member attached to the first lid and configured to hold the first lid in the open position of the first lid; and

a second restriction member attached to the second lid and configured to hold the first lid in the open position of the second lid about the living hinge.

7. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein

the first and second restriction members are each made from an elongated flexible material.

8. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein

the living hinge is configured such that the first and second lids pivot 180 degrees between the closed and open positions of the first and second lids.

9. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein

the first and second lids are separable from the vehicle floor as a single unit.

10. The vehicle body structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the storage box is divided into a plurality of discrete storage spaces.