Automotive wet trunk storage compartment with drain

• US 7,156,439 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Scarfe, Julian, Cucknell, Alan, Bejin, Peter, Cauwood, Peter, Sabberton, Iain, Norris, Jamie, Mason, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/487,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 172 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/208, 296/38
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• 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 recessed storage well is formed in the rear load floor of an automotive vehicle to provide cargo transport capabilities for wet cargo. The recessed storage well is provided with a drain to permit the flow of liquids collected within the recessed storage well to be discharged externally of the vehicle. The recessed storage well is formed from impervious material to permit the storage of wet articles of cargo without dampening the carpet covering on the rear load floor. The drain is seated in an automotive frame component by a rubber grommet that prevents the transfer of vibrational noise to the recessed storage well. The drain enables the use of a water spray in clean-up operations by allowing the collected water to drain away from the recessed storage well.

Claims

1. A wet trunk forming a storage compartment recessed below a floor surface supported by a vehicle chassis, comprising:

a plastic liner having a hole formed therein, said plastic liner being supported in a recessed well formed of sheet metal; and

a drain supported in said hole in flow communication with said plastic liner for the removal of any liquid accumulated in said plastic liner externally of said plastic liner, said drain passing through an opening formed in said recessed well, said drain including a drain tube supported in a rubber grommet mounted in said opening.

2. The wet trunk of claim 1 wherein said drain is provided with a removable plug selectively closing an internal end of said drain tube in flow communication with said liner.

3. The wet trunk of claim 1 further comprising:

a lid movable between an opened position in which access into said recessed storage compartment is enabled and a closed position in which said lid is oriented in said floor surface.

4. The wet trunk of claim 3 wherein said plastic liner is provided with removable dividers selectively creating multiple storage compartments.

5. The wet trunk of claim 1 wherein said floor surface is located in a rear cargo area supported by said vehicle chassis.

6. In a storage compartment recessed into a sheet metal recessed well formed in a rear cargo load floor of an automobile, the improvement comprising:

a drain tube supported in flow communication with said storage compartment for the removal of any liquid accumulated within said recessed storage compartment externally of said storage compartment, said storage compartment being provided with a plastic liner having said drain in flow communication therewith, said recessed well having a hole therein for the passage of said drain tube; and

a rubber grommet mounted in said hole in said recessed well to support said drain tube.

7. The storage compartment of claim 6 wherein said drain is provided with a removable plug selectively closing an internal end of said drain tube in flow communication with said plastic liner.

8. The storage compartment of claim 7 further comprising:

a lid movable between an opened position in which access into said recessed storage compartment is enabled and a closed position in which said lid is oriented in said planar surface of said rear cargo load floor.

9. The storage compartment of claim 8 further comprising:

removable dividers selectively creating multiple storage compartments within said plastic liner.

10. A storage compartment recessed into a rear cargo load floor of an automobile comprising:

a recessed well formed of sheet metal having a hole formed therein and being located below a generally planar surface of said rear cargo load floor;

a plastic liner seated in said recessed well; and

a drain in flow communication with said plastic liner to direct fluids accumulated in said plastic liner externally of said recessed well, said drain including a drain tube supported in a rubber grommet mounted in said hole.

11. The storage compartment of claim 10 wherein said drain is provided with a removable plug selectively closing an internal end of said drain tube in flow communication with said liner.

12. The storage compartment of claim 11 wherein said drain tube is also supported in a rubber grommet mounted in said chassis at a location remote from said recessed well.

13. The storage compartment of claim 11 wherein said recessed storage compartment is provided with a lid movable between an opened position in which access into said recessed storage compartment is enabled and a closed position in which said lid is oriented in said planar surface of said rear cargo load floor.

14. The storage compartment of claim 13 wherein said recessed storage compartment is provided with removable dividers selectively creating multiple storage compartments from said recessed storage compartment.