Abstract:
A cargo system for a vehicle having a floor and a seat that folds and forms a cargo surface. The cargo system includes a cargo platform having a front edge. The cargo platform is connectable to the vehicle for movement between a lowered position with the front edge being located under a portion of the seat and a raised position with the cargo platform being generally aligned with the cargo surface of the seat thereby forming an upper tier and a lower tier.

Description:
This application claims benefit to U.S. application Ser. No. 60/135,438, filed May 22, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention generally relates to systems utilized to improve the flexibility and usefulness of the interior of a vehicle and, more particularly, to cargo management or article support systems. 
     2. Discussion 
     There is an ever increasing requirement from consumers that the interiors of their vehicles provide for a variety of tasks. Cargo management, storage, and providing tray tables or support systems are a few of the major areas of development in recent years. While many systems have been provided which adequately solve many consumer needs, new and innovative solutions are required to meet the changing demands of package constraints in new vehicle design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a cargo system is disclosed. The preferred embodiment provides a two-tier cargo system which is preferably supported and allowed to move by use of a linkage mechanism. The cargo system itself can provide additional features which are incorporated within or attached to the cargo platform. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the following specification and by reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIGS. 1-11 are rear perspective views showing the two-tier cargo system in a variety of orientations and configurations; and 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 are side views showing the four-bar linkage system preferably used in the two-tier cargo system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, or its application, or uses. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the two-tier cargo system  10  is shown to be incorporated in a vehicle  12 . The vehicle  12  also includes seats  14 , interior trim panel  16 , lift gate scuff plate  18 , body side outer sheet metal  20 , body side inner sheet metal  22 , and floor  24 . The two-tier cargo system  10  is shown in its lowered position wherein the top surface  26  of the cargo platform  27  is generally aligned with and at the same level as floor  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the top surface  26  of cargo system  10  can include a pivotally supported lid  28  which when pivoted about hinge  30  provides access to an interior storage area  32 . The interior storage area  32  can include a bottom  34  made of the bottom surface  36  of cargo platform  27 . Further, the cargo platform  27  can have all or a portion of the bottom surface  36  removed such that access is provided to an interior storage area similar to area  32  but which provides a bottom comprised of a lowered portion of floor  24 . This alternate configuration is particularly beneficial if a spare tire or other item having significant height or mass is stored within the interior storage area. 
     FIG. 3 is illustrative of a combination of an interior storage area  32  wherein the bottom  34  of the storage area is defined by the bottom surface  36  of platform  27  on the right-hand side of the platform  27 , while the left-hand portion of platform  27  provides a cover  38  supported by floor  24  and used to conceal an item such as a spare tire. Cover  38  would remain in its location on the floor when cargo platform  27  is raised to its elevated position (as shown in FIG.  6 ). 
     FIG. 5 shows an alternate configuration wherein the spare tire is carried below the floor  24  and on the exterior of the vehicle while an interior storage area  32  is provided in a portion of cargo platform  27 . One skilled in the art would readily recognize that multiple storage areas could be included of varying sizes and shapes depending upon the particular configuration and package constraints of the vehicle in which cargo system  10  is incorporated. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, cargo system  10  is shown to incorporate a collapsible cargo management device  40 . Cargo management device  40  is shown to be incorporated within cargo platform  27  and located between top surface  26  and bottom surface  36  when lid  28  is in a closed position. When lid  28  is pivoted to an open position as shown, side walls  42  unfold and create a bounded storage area  44 . The storage area  44  is bounded along a forward wall by lid  28 , along each side by side walls  42 , and along a rearward edge by rear wall  46 . One or more partitions or dividers  48  can be used within the cargo management device  40  to partition the storage area  44  into a plurality of compartments. Dividers  48  can either be removable or, in a preferred embodiment, pivotally connected to a lower surface  50  of storage area  44 . The dividers  48  are folded to a flat condition along lower surface  50  prior to closing lid  28  which collapses cargo management device  40  back into a stored position. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, cargo platform  27  is shown in an intermediary position between the lowered position previously shown and the raised position such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. Depending upon the particular linkage system, the motion of platform  27  between the lowered position and the raised position will vary as will be described in detail below. 
     Referring to FIG. 10, cargo platform  27  is shown in a raised position wherein top surface  26  is now generally aligned with and substantially planar to a cargo surface  52  on seat  14 . The raised position of cargo platform  27  provides an upper tier for storing cargo (such as the lumber shown) and a lower tier which is protected from the cargo above. The structural integrity of cargo platform  27  provides protection for the items which may be stored in the lower tier and which rest in the depression  54  formed in the floor  24 . The depression  54  shown can be of varying depths depending upon the particular space available within the vehicle architecture, but preferably includes a support lip  56  upon which cargo platform  27  is peripherally supported when in the lowered position. Due to the constraints within some vehicle architectures, the support lip  56  will be the same depth as the remainder of depression  54  and form a single continuous plane essentially the thickness of cargo platform  27  below the normal level of the floor  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the collapsible cargo management device  40  shown in FIG. 8 can also be deployed and utilized when cargo platform  27  is in the raised position. Further, while not shown, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that an interior storage area  32  as shown in FIGS. 2,  3 , and  5 , can also be utilized when the cargo platform  27  is in the raised position. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 12 a , the linkage mechanism  60  which supports and allows cargo platform  27  to move from the lowered position to the raised position is shown. In a preferred embodiment, a bracket  62  is secured to the body side inner sheet metal  22  at four different locations. Each bracket  62  supports a link  64  about a fixed pivot point  66 . Link  64  is freely rotatable about the fixed pivot point  66  at a first end  68  and provides a pivot pin  70  at a distal second end  72 . Cargo platform  27  is pivotally attached to each of the four pivot pins  70  on the four links  64  which are within linkage mechanism  60 . 
     Cargo platform  27  and links  64  are shown in their lowered position by the cross hatched portion of FIG.  12 . As cargo platform  27  is moved from the lowered position to the upper position, the pair of forward links  64 F and the pair of rear links  64 R constrain the motion of the platform  27  as it pivots about the pins  70  and each link  64  pivots about fixed pivot point  66 . The constrained, arcuate motion of cargo platform  27  allows the forward edge  74  of the platform  27  to avoid interfering with the seat surface  76  and preferably, but need not, rest on a support formation  78  formed on the surface  76  of seat  14 . 
     While not specifically shown, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that a wide variety of locking mechanisms can be utilized to secure links  64  in their upper and lower positions. By locking links  64  when in the upper position, platform  27  can be secured in the raised position and provide adequate support for reasonable cargo loading. Further, it is preferable that a locking mechanism be provided when the links  64  are in their lowered position so as to avoid any undesirable motion or rattling of platform  27  when in the lowered position. 
     Further, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that one or more intermediate lock positions can be incorporated within the arcuate path of platform  27 . By providing the intermediate locking positions, the rearward edge  80  of platform  27  can be extended rearward in vehicle  12  up to one half the difference in height between the lowered position and the raised position of platform  27 . Depending upon the height difference and the particular vehicle architecture, this rearward motion provides a surface which extends beyond the lift gate or door opening and provides a work surface that can be conveniently used by a person standing outside of the vehicle. 
     With brief reference to FIG. 3, slots  82  are shown in interior trim panel  16  which provide clearance for pivot pins  70  during the transitional motion between the lowered position and the raised position of platform  27 . Depending upon the particular motion created by linkage mechanism  60 , the pattern or path of slots  82  will vary as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art. 
     Referring now to FIG. 13, an alternate linkage mechanism  60 ′ is shown. Mechanism  60 ′ includes brackets  62  and fixed pivot points  66  as in FIG. 12 a . Further, mechanism  60 ′ also includes front links  64 F′ and rear links  64 R′ as well as a slotted intermediary bracket  84 . Intermediary bracket  84  is required in linkage mechanism  60 ′ in order to provide the appropriate translational motion between the lowered position and the raised position of platform  27  so the forward edge  74 ′ does not interfere with the seat surface  76 ′ as the platform  27  articulates from the lowered position to the raised position. The motion of platform  27  when articulating from the lowered position to the raised position can best be described as first raising the rearward edge  80 ′ such that link  64 R′ rotates in a clockwise direction. This rotation causes the platform  27  to raise at an angle as the forward edge  74 ′ moves somewhat downward and forward into a recess  86  provided in depression  54 ′. Note that a support lip  56 ′ can be included rearward of the forward edge  88  of depression  54 ′. Next, platform  27  is raised upward and rearward generally toward the person raising the platform  27  as rear link  64 ′ continues to arc through its motion. Link  64 F′ is preferably spring biased such that the forward edge  74 ′ automatically raises once platform  27  has been raised to a specific level at its rearward edge  80 ′. An engagement pin  90  extends from platform  27  and engages a slot  92  in intermediary bracket  84 . Further, a coordinated slot  94  is provided in cargo platform  27  which coordinates with pin  70  at the distal second end  72  of link  64 F′. 
     It would be appreciated by one skilled in the art that locking mechanisms similar to those previously described can also be utilized in conjunction with linkage mechanism  60 ′ as it was with linkage mechanism  60 . Further, a support formation  78 ′ can optionally be included in seat surface  76 ′ if allowed or required by the package constraints and architecture of the vehicle. With brief reference to FIG. 1, slots  82 ′ are shown which coordinate with the combined clockwise and counterclockwise motion of links  64 R′ and  64 F′, respectively, of linkage mechanism  60 ′. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings that various changes, modifications, and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention.