Rear vehicle storage system

• US 7,201,421 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hawkins, Stephen, Reynolds, Brian J., Higgins, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US11/056,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/37.2, 296/37.5, 296/37.14, 296/37.16, 224/545, 224/549, 224/400
• US Class Current: 296/37.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/02 in separate luggage compartment B60R7/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle storage assembly for a vehicle cargo area includes a base defining a floor of the storage assembly and a storage panel attached to said base. At least a portion of the storage panel is movable relative to the base by a living hinge. The storage panel is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position for dividing at least a portion of the vehicle cargo area.

Claims

1. A storage assembly for a vehicle cargo area comprising:

a base;

a storage panel;

a first living hinge provided between said base and said storage panel; and

a second living hinge dividing said storage panel into a flange portion and an attachment portion, said attachment portion disposed between said base and flange portion, said attachment portion having parallel first and second opposed edges spaced from one another, wherein said first living hinge is adjacent said first opposed edge and said second living hinge is adjacent said second opposed edge, said flange portion being pivotable relative to said attachment portion about said second living hinge such that said flange portion is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position for dividing at least a portion of the vehicle cargo area, said attachment portion adapted to be attached to said base; and

a cover panel connected to said base and movable to an extended position in which said cover panel extends generally parallel to said base and extends outwardly from said storage assembly.

2. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base and said storage panel are formed integrally.

3. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first living hinge is adapted to be flexed to position said attachment portion adjacent said base to be fixedly attached thereto.

4. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle storage assembly includes a pair of storage panels attached to opposed ends of said base, at least a portion of each of said storage panels movable relative to said base by a living hinge, each of said storage panels movable between a stowed position and a deployed position for dividing at least a portion of the vehicle cargo area.

5. The storage assembly according to claim 4, wherein said pair of storage panels and said base are formed integrally.

6. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle storage assembly includes a plurality of storage panels, each of said storage panels divided into a flange portion and an attachment portion by a living hinge, each of said attachment portions of said storage panels being adapted to be mounted to a base of a vehicle such that each of said flange portions, respectively, is positionable to a stowed position, and a deployed position for dividing at least a portion of the vehicle cargo area.

7. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flange portion of said storage panel is pivotally mounted such that said storage panel is rotatable between said stowed position in which said flange portion of said storage panel is generally parallel to a load surface of said vehicle and a deployed position in which said flange portion of said storage panel is generally perpendicular to said load surface of said vehicle.

8. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cover panel is positionable between a closed position and an open position for dividing at least a portion of the vehicle cargo area.

9. The storage assembly according to claim 8, wherein said cover panel extends across the vehicle cargo area generally perpendicular to said storage panel when said cover panel is in said open position and said storage panel is in said deployed position.

10. The storage assembly according to claim 8, wherein said cover panel extends across the vehicle cargo area generally parallel to said base and said storage panel when said cover panel is in said closed position and said storage panel is in said stowed position.

11. The storage assembly according to claim 8, wherein said cover panel extends across one of the length and the width of the vehicle cargo area to divide the vehicle cargo area.

12. The storage assembly according to claim 8, wherein said cover panel and said base are formed integrally.

13. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said storage panel extends across one of the length and the width of the vehicle cargo area to divide the vehicle cargo area.

14. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein an interior component of a vehicle comprises said base.

15. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base is removably attached to an interior component of a vehicle.

16. The storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base and said storage panel are formed from a blow molding operation forming an interior cavity therein.

17. The storage assembly according to claim 1 further including a plurality of rollers mounted on said assembly.