Package tray assembly including hidden expandable storage system

A package tray assembly is provided for a motor vehicle. The package tray assembly includes a package tray having a vehicle forward end, a vehicle rearward end and a storage device. The storage device is carried on the underside of the package tray and has an opening oriented toward the vehicle rearward end of the package tray. That opening is easily accessed and is presented to the user when the lift gate is opened and the package tray is pivoted upwardly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a package tray assembly incorporating a hidden expandable storage system that is very easy to access and use.

BACKGROUND

Many sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and crossover-utility vehicles (CUVs) are equipped with a lift glass on a lift gate and also with a cargo cover such as a rigid package tray. Typically, the package tray pivots at the front and is connected by one or more retention cords to the lift gate so that when the lift gate is opened, the package tray pivots upwardly to allow better access to the storage area. Such an arrangement may cause a number of potential issues that interfere with the efficient and effective use of the storage space provided behind the rear seats in these vehicles.

When carrying small groceries or other items, the user must either open the lift gate or release the cargo cover/package tray and then lean in from the lift gate with the list glass open. During this process, a user's clothes may come into contact with the lift gate which may be soiled by road grime and thus transfer road grime to those clothes. Further, the ergonomic reach is not the most convenient, particularly for shorter users.

Still further, storing small items such as groceries on the floor of the storage area, even using available partitions or nets, may not prevent delicate items such as bread, eggs and lightbulbs from being damaged.

This document relates to a new and improved package tray assembly including a hidden expandable storage system that is more reachable and readily presents itself to the user when the lift gate is opened.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a package tray assembly is provided for a motor vehicle. That package tray assembly comprises a package tray having a vehicle forward end and a vehicle rearward end and a storage device carried on the underside of the package tray. The storage device has an opening oriented toward the vehicle rearward end of the package tray.

More specifically, a pivot is provided adjacent the vehicle forward end of the package tray and the package tray is displaced about this pivot between a home position and a raised position. Further, at least one lift cord connects the package tray to the lift gate whereby the package tray is displaced about the pivot to the raised position when the lift gate is opened. Advantageously, this movement serves to present the storage device opening at a convenient and easily accessed angle for the user. In one possible embodiment, the storage device is expandable. Thus, the storage device may comprise a flexible netting system. The flexible netting system may include a front section, a bottom section, a right side section and a left side section forming a storage compartment. Further, the flexible netting system may additionally include at least one partition section so as to form multiple storage compartments.

A fastener is provided for securing the flexible netting system to the package tray. That fastener may comprise a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

The storage device may be displaceable between a stowed position flat against the underside of the package tray and a deployed position projecting downwardly from the underside of the package tray. A retainer may be provided securing the storage device in the stowed position. In one possible embodiment, the retainer comprises at least one hook and loop fastener. In yet another possible embodiment, an access door is provided in the package tray overlying the storage compartment. That access door allows one to access the storage compartment from directly above the package tray if desired.

In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the package tray assembly. As it should be realized, the package tray assembly is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the package tray assembly as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the center console assembly and console tray, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made toFIGS. 1-2, illustrating a motor vehicle M equipped with the package tray assembly10that is the subject matter of this document. As illustrated, the package tray assembly10includes a rigid package tray12that may, for example, be made from an appropriate polymer composite material. The package tray12has a vehicle forward end14and a vehicle rearward end16. A pivot18adjacent the vehicle forward end14connects the package tray12to the side walls W of the motor vehicle storage area A. As illustrated inFIG. 2, opposed lift cords20are attached at first ends thereof to the package tray12adjacent the vehicle rearward end16and attached at second ends thereof to points (not shown) on the lift gate22. During normal vehicle operation, the package tray12rests in the substantially horizontal position, concealing the storage area A behind the rear seats R of the motor vehicle M. In contrast, when the lift gate22is pivoted open, the package tray12pivots upwardly about the pivot18as a result of the connection between the package tray12and the lift gate22provided by the cords20. SeeFIG. 2.

As further illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the package tray assembly10also includes a storage device, generally designated by reference numeral24. As illustrated, the storage device24is carried on the underside26of the package tray12. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage device24comprises a flexible netting system. The flexible netting system24includes a closed front section28, a bottom section30, a right side section32and a left side section34, forming a storage compartment36. An opening38at the rear of the storage device24(i.e., oriented toward the rearward end16of the package tray12) allows access to the storage compartment36. Significantly, when the lift gate22is opened, the opening38is pivoted upwardly to present itself at a convenient and easily accessible angle so that a user may quickly and efficiently load items into or remove items from the storage compartment36as desired.

As also illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible netting system24may also include a partition section40dividing the storage device into multiple storage compartments36. While only one partition section40is illustrated, it should be appreciated that substantially any number of partitions may be provided as desired.

As further illustrated inFIG. 5, an optional access door42may be provided in the package tray12overlying the storage device24. That access door42may be opened in order to gain access to the storage compartment36when the package tray12is in the lowered position illustrated inFIG. 1. As should be appreciated, the access door42may be secured in a closed position by means of a hook and loop fastener44, a zipper or another appropriate latching mechanism as known in the art.

As should be appreciated from reviewingFIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible netting system24is selectively expandable and thus may be collapsed and held in a stowed position flat against the underside26of the package tray12(seeFIG. 3) or displaced into a deployed position projecting downwardly from the underside26of the package tray12as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2 and 5. A retainer48, in the form of cooperating hook and loop fasteners, may be utilized to securely hold the storage device/flexible netting system24in the stowed position illustrated inFIG. 3. An operator may engage and pull down on the straps50to expand the flexible netting system24from the collapsed position to the fully expanded or deployed position.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, a series of fasteners in the form of straps52with hook and loop fasteners54may be provided to secure the storage device/flexible netting system24to the package tray12. Thus it should be appreciated that the fasteners54may be released to remove the storage device/flexible netting system24from the package tray12if desired.

As should be appreciated, the package tray assembly10described herein provides a number of benefits and advantages. The storage device24includes a rearwardly-oriented opening38which allows the user to conveniently access the storage compartment36when the lift gate22is opened and the package tray12is pivoted upwardly as illustrated inFIG. 2. More specifically, the storage device opening38is oriented at an angle that is easily accessible and may be used when placing items into or removing items from the storage compartment36. Advantageously, the optional access door42in the package tray12allows the user to gain access to the storage compartment36when the lift gate22is closed and the package tray12is in its home or horizontal position overlying the storage area A. Thus it should be appreciated that, if desires, a user may simply open the lift glass on the lift gate22and then open the access door42to gain access to the storage compartment36underlying the package tray12. As should be appreciated, this is a relatively short reach and is thus ideal for more ergonomic access to the contents of the storage compartment36.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, while the illustrated storage device24is a flexible netting system, other flexible storage devices may be utilized including, for example, one made from cloth or even one made with rigid accordion-like sidewalls and partition walls. Further, it should be appreciated that the storage device24may include a lid section to open and close the rearwardly-directed opening38as required or desired for a particular vehicle application. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.