INTERIOR VEHICLE CARGO SYSTEM

• US 20080253857A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc. (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: McJunkin, James G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 410/132
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/14 the load bracing means comprising a movable bulkhead

Abstract

An interior vehicle cargo system is provided with an interior cargo structure, bulkhead and a bulkhead attachment assembly. The bulkhead attachment assembly selectively retains the bulkhead in one of a plurality of locations within interior cargo area. The bulkhead attachment assembly includes at least a pair of elongated tracks and at least one fastening structure associated with each of the elongated tracks. One of the elongated tracks is attached to a first one of the vehicle panels, while another elongated track is attached to a second one of the vehicle panels that is opposite the first one of the vehicle panels. The fastening structures are slideably arranged on the elongated tracks to selectively fastening the bulkhead at one of the plurality of locations.

Claims

1. An interior vehicle cargo system comprising:

an interior cargo structure including a lower vehicle panel, a first side vehicle panel, a second side vehicle panel and an upper vehicle panel defining a vertical cross sectional area;

a bulkhead movably positioned within the interior cargo area, the bulkhead including first and second side surfaces defined by a lower bulkhead edge, a first side bulkhead edge, a second side bulkhead edge and an upper bulkhead edge; and

a bulkhead attachment assembly selectively retaining the bulkhead in one of a plurality of locations within interior cargo area, the bulkhead attachment assembly including

a first elongated track attached to a first one of the vehicle panels,

a first fastening structure slideably arranged on the first elongated track to selectively fastening a first one of the bulkhead edges to the first elongated track at one of the plurality of locations,

a second elongated track attached to a second one of the vehicle panels that is opposite the first one of the vehicle panels, and

a second fastening structure slideably arranged on the second elongated track to selectively fastening a second one of the bulkhead edges to the second elongated track at one of the plurality of locations.

2. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second elongated tracks are secured to the lower and upper vehicle panels, respectively.

3. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second elongated tracks are secured to the first and second side vehicle panels, respectively.

4. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the bulkhead attachment assembly further includes a third elongated track attached to the first one of the vehicle panels, and a third fastening structure selectively fastening the first one of the edges of the bulkhead to the third elongated track at one of the plurality of locations.

5. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

each of the first and second fastening structures includes an operating member at least partially disposed within the bulkhead and a securing member disposed in a corresponding one of the first and second elongated tracks to releasably secure the bulkhead to the first and second elongated tracks.

6. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 5, wherein

the operating members are recessed inwardly from the first and second side surfaces the bulkhead.

7. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

each of the first and second fastening structures is accessible from each of the first and second interior spaces to be operated between a secured position and a released position.

8. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 7, wherein

the bulkhead has a first mounting aperture extending between the first and second side surfaces of the bulkhead with an operating portion of the first fastening structure being exposed by the first mounting aperture, and a second mounting aperture extending between the first and second side surfaces of the bulkhead with an operating portion of the second fastening structure being exposed by the second mounting aperture.

9. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second elongated tracks are flushly mounted with respect to adjacent interior surfaces of the first and second one of the vehicle panels.

10. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 7, wherein

the bulkhead includes a door that at least partially forms the lower bulkhead edge when the door is in a closed position.

11. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the bulkhead includes at least cargo hook disposed on at least one of the first and second side surfaces of the bulkhead.

12. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the bulkhead includes an upper section with an upper window aperture that extends a majority of a lateral width of the bulkhead as measured between the first and second side bulkhead edge.

13. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the bulkhead includes at least cargo net disposed on at least one of the first and second side surfaces of the bulkhead.

14. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 1, wherein

the bulkhead is dimensioned slightly smaller that the overall vertical cross sectional area of the interior cargo structure.

15. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 14, wherein

the bulkhead attachment assembly further includes a third elongated track attached to the first one of the vehicle panels, and a third fastening structure selectively fastening the first one of the edges of the bulkhead to the third elongated track at one of the plurality of locations.

16. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 14, wherein

each of the first and second fastening structures includes an operating member at least partially disposed within the bulkhead and a securing member disposed in a corresponding one of the first and second elongated tracks to releasably secure the bulkhead to the first and second elongated tracks.

17. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 16, wherein

the operating members are recessed inwardly from the first and second side surfaces the bulkhead.

18. The interior vehicle cargo system according to claim 14, wherein

each of the first and second fastening structures is accessible from each of the first and second interior spaces to be operated between a secured position and a released position.