Cargo area divider system

• US 9,783,116 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Huebner, Annette Lynn, Hellman, Kristin Ann, Strong, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D
• Assistant Examiner(s): IVEY, DANA DESHAWN
• Application Number:
  US14/603,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20160214539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 296 3714, 296 2433, 296 371, 296 378
• 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 7/02 in separate luggage compartment B60R7/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle having a storage compartment includes a floor defining a track, a plurality of panels pivotally connected to the floor, and an arm pivotally attached to an upper portion of each of the panels. The arm is adapted to be pivoted to a folded position in the plane of the panel to a floor supported position connected to the track. The arm is also adapted to be pivoted to a panel supported position connected to an adjacent panel.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a storage compartment comprising:

a vehicle floor defining a track;

a plurality of panels pivotally connected to the floor; and

an arm pivotally attached to an upper portion of each panel of the plurality of panels, the arm being pivoted to a folded position in plane with each panel of the plurality of panels, to a floor supported position connected to the track, and to a panel supported position connected to each adjacent panel within the plurality of panels.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion disposed on the arm and connected to each panel of the plurality of panels configured to receive and engage the arm to further define a cargo compartment.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels are configured to interconnect, via the protrusion and the arm, to define a plurality of cargo compartments.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a net attached to the panels.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the arm is further configured to disengage from the track such that each panel of the plurality of panels are configured to collapse substantially parallel to the vehicle floor.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the arm defines a groove on a first surface of the arm.

7. A vehicle storage system comprising:

a panel hingedly connected to a vehicle floor;

a track disposed on the vehicle floor adjacent to the panel and defining a groove; and

an arm having a first end disposed on the panel such that the arm rotates relative to the panel about the first end, and a second end configured to, upon rotation, engage the groove to support the panel in a substantially vertical position.

8. The storage system of claim 7, further comprising a protrusion disposed on the arm at the first end of the arm such that an engagement portion at the second end of the arm is configured to snap onto the protrusion.

9. The storage system of claim 7, wherein the arm includes a groove disposed proximate the first end on a first surface of the arm.

10. The storage system of claim 7, wherein the panel is in a substantially vertical position when the second end of the arm fits into the groove on the track.

11. The storage system of claim 7, wherein the arm is received in the groove when the panel is collapsed against the vehicle floor.

12. A vehicle storage system comprising:

a panel having first and second ends, wherein the first end is hingedly connected to a vehicle floor, and the second end is moveable relative to the vehicle floor; and

an arm pivotally connected to the second end of the panel and having a distal end of the arm pivotable about the first end of the panel, wherein the second end of the panel the vehicle floor engages with an engagement portion of the arm wherein the arm is positioned at a first angle relative to the panel to support the panel at a second angle relative to the vehicle floor.

13. The vehicle storage system of claim 12, further comprising a protrusion disposed on the second end of the panel configured to receive a second arm attached to a second panel such that the arm is configured to engage the protrusion and support the second panel substantially perpendicular to the vehicle floor.

14. The vehicle storage system of claim 13, wherein the protrusion is further configured to receive the arm such that the arm is configured to engage the protrusion and lock the panel substantially parallel to the vehicle floor.

15. The vehicle storage system of claim 12, further comprising a net disposed on a surface of the panel.

16. The vehicle storage system of claim 12, wherein the arm is further configured to collapse toward the vehicle floor such that the panel is substantially parallel to the vehicle floor.