Abstract:
A pickup truck cargo box includes a cargo floor and a panel being movably mounted with respect to the cargo floor. The panel is movable between a stowed position and an upright position, in which the panel extends higher into a cargo area to form a compartment within the cargo area. The panel prevents the shifting of cargo during transport when upright, and is stowable to maximize the uninterrupted cargo area available.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to vehicle cargo areas having a panel movable between a stowed position and an upright position to divide the cargo area and thereby prevent cargo shifting. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior art pickup trucks include a cab for carrying a driver and one or more passengers, as well as a cargo box behind the cab for carrying cargo. The cargo box is typically defined by a cargo floor, two sidewalls, and the back of the cab. The cargo box includes an opening at the rearward end to facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo onto the cargo floor. A tailgate is pivotably mounted to the end of the cargo box to selectively close the rearward opening thereof. Cargo placed on the cargo floor adjacent the opening may shift forward during movement of the pickup truck, away from the opening. 
     Cargo boxes are typically open and exposed from the exterior. In order to secure personal items in the cargo box, a separate, lockable tool box is sometimes placed in the front portion of the cargo box. However, the tool box reduces the length of the cargo box available for cargo. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A pickup truck with a cargo box is provided. The cargo box includes a cargo floor and two sidewalls that cooperate to at least partially define a cargo area. The cargo box also includes at least one panel that is movably mounted with respect to the floor and selectively movable between a stowed position and an upright position. In the upright position, the panel extends higher into the cargo area thereby to separate a first portion of the cargo area and a second portion of the cargo area. 
     The panel, when upright, prevents the shifting of cargo during vehicle movement by creating a barrier to restrict cargo to one portion of the cargo area. Thus, if the panel is in close proximity to a rear opening of the cargo box, the panel prevents the shifting of cargo forward of the panel, thus keeping the cargo close to the opening for easy removal after transport. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the panel defines a storage compartment with a closable door. The storage compartment provides secure storage for personal or other items, and, when the panel is in the stowed position, does not substantially affect the length of the cargo box available for other cargo. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, perspective view of a pickup truck including a cargo box bed liner having two selectively movable panels in respective stowed positions; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, perspective view of the bed liner of  FIG. 1  with the two selectively movable panels in respective upright positions; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, rear view of the bed liner of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, perspective view of the bed liner of  FIGS. 1-3  with one of the movable panels in its respective stowed position and the other of the movable panels in its respective upright position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a pickup truck  10  is schematically depicted. The pickup truck  10  includes a cab  14  for enclosing a driver and one or more passengers. The pickup truck also includes a cargo box  16  that has two sidewalls  18  and a load floor  22  that cooperate with the rear panel of the cab  14  to define a cargo area  26 . The floor  22  and the sidewalls  18  cooperate to define an opening  27  at the rearward end of the cargo box  16  to facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo. A tailgate  29  is pivotable between an open position, as shown, and a closed position in which the tailgate  29  obstructs the opening  27 . 
     In the embodiment depicted, the pickup truck  10  includes a bed liner  30  inside the cargo area  26 . The bed liner  30  includes a member  32  that defines two sidewalls  34  and a floor  38  that cooperate to define cargo area  42  that is coextensive with cargo area  26 . As used in the claims, a “sidewall” or a “floor” of a cargo box may be part of the vehicle body, as sidewalls  18  and floor  22 , or they may be part of a bed liner, as sidewalls  34  and floor  38 . Member  32  also defines front wall  46  that defines the forward extent of cargo area  42 . 
     The member  32  may be of single-piece construction or multiple-piece construction within the scope of the claimed invention. Bed liner  30  is preferably configured not to interfere with the installation of after-market products such as caps, tonneau covers, etc. For example, sidewalls  34  are positioned under the upper rails of sidewalls  18  so that the bed liner is under or flush to the top of the cargo box  16 . Those skilled in the art will recognize a variety of materials that may be employed to form the member  32  within the scope of the claimed invention, such as polyethylene, fiber glass, etc. 
     A first panel  50  is pivotably connected at one end to the floor  38  via hinges (not shown). A second panel  54  is pivotably connected at one end to the floor  38  via hinges (not shown). The first panel  50  and the second panel  54  are shown in respective stowed positions in  FIG. 1 . 
     When in their respective stowed positions, the panels  50 ,  54  are arranged such that their smallest dimension (i.e., thickness) is vertically oriented to maximize vertical cargo space in the cargo area  42 . To further maximize the vertical cargo space in the cargo area  42 , the panels  50 ,  54  rest on the floor  38  and are at least partially located in a respective concavity  58 ,  62  formed in the floor  38  when in their respective stowed positions. 
     Each panel  50 ,  54  is selectively pivotable approximately 90 degrees to a respective upright position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIG. 1 , panel  50  is oriented such that its smallest dimension is not vertically oriented, and, accordingly, the panel  50  extends higher into the cargo area  42  than when in the stowed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . Similarly, panel  54  is oriented such that its smallest dimension is not vertically oriented, and, accordingly, the panel  54  extends higher into the cargo area  42  than when in the stowed position as shown in  FIG. 1 . It may be desirable for the panels  50 ,  54  to be made of a light-weight material, such as light-weight plastic, to facilitate the movement of the panels between the stowed and upright positions. 
     In the upright position, the panel  50  separates a first portion  66  of the cargo area  42  and a second portion  70  of the cargo area. Similarly, in the upright position, the panel  54  separates the second portion  70  of the cargo area  42  from a third portion  74  of the cargo area  42 . Each portion  66 ,  70 ,  74  forms a compartment. The panels  50 ,  54  prevent load shifting by retaining cargo in a respective one of the compartments. Thus, for example, cargo placed in the first portion  66  of the cargo area will remain in the first portion  66  of the cargo area adjacent the opening  27  because of the first panel  50 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , each sidewall  34  defines a respective forward protrusion  78 A and a respective rearward protrusion  78 B. Protrusions  78 A and  78 B extend inward into the cargo area  42 , and are sufficiently positioned to cause physical part interference with a respective one of the panels  50 ,  54  in their upright positions. More specifically, and with reference to  FIG. 2 , the rearward protrusions  78 B physically interfere with forward rotation of the first panel  50  in the upright position. Similarly, the forward protrusions  78 A physically interfere with the rearward rotation of the second panel  54  in the upright position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each rearward protrusion  78 B has a latch member  82  thereon. The panel  50 , which is shown in its stowed position in  FIG. 3 , has two latch members  86  mounted thereon for movement therewith. Latch members  86  are releasably engageable with latch members  82 . Each of latch members  86  is positioned on the panel  50  so as to align with, and engage, a respective one of the latch members  82  on a respective one of the rearward protrusions  78 B when the panel  50  is in the upright position. 
     Latch members  82 ,  86  cooperate to form a latching system configured to releasably lock the panel  50  in the upright position. For example, latch members  82  may be latches such as those used with vehicle doors or tailgates, and latch members  86  may be strikers. Exemplary latches and strikers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,618,069, issued Apr. 8, 1997 to Konchan, et al., and 6,364,379, issued Apr. 2, 2002 to Roberts, et al., both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In the context of the claimed invention, a “latch system” may include any device or devices sufficiently configured to releasably retain a panel in its upright position. 
     When latch members  82  and latch members  86  are engaged with one another, they lock together, thereby locking the panel  50  with respect to the sidewalls  34  in the upright position. The latch members  82 ,  86  are releasably engageable. A first latch release device  90  is mounted with respect to one of the sidewalls  34 , and a second latch release device  90  is mounted with respect to the other sidewall  34 . Exemplary latch release devices include push-buttons, pull handles, etc. Each latch release device  90  is operatively connected to both latches  82  on the rear protrusions  78 B, and each latch release device  90  is operative to selectively cause the disengagement of both of the latches  82  to release the panel  50  from its upright position. Thus, a vehicle user can disengage both latches  82  using a single latch release device  90  when moving the panel  50  from the upright position to the stowed position. 
     A connection system  94  operatively interconnects each release device  90  with both latches  82 . In an exemplary embodiment, the connection system  94  is mechanical, and employs cables or rods. In another exemplary embodiment, the connection system is electrical, and includes actuators (not shown) to cause the disengagement of the latches  82 . For clarity, the latch release devices are shown only in  FIG. 3 . It should be noted that the latch system shown in  FIG. 3  with respect to the first panel  50  and the rear protrusions  78 B is substantially similar to the latch system employed with the panel  54  and the forward protrusions  78 A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1-3 , each panel  50 ,  54  defines storage compartments  100  therein. The floor  38  also defines a plurality of storage compartments  100  between the panels  50 ,  54 . Each storage compartment  100  has a respective opening  102 . Each storage compartment  100  has a respective door  110  that is pivotably connected with respect to a panel  50 ,  54  or the floor  38  and that is movable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, each door  110  closes a respective opening  102  to secure a respective storage compartment  100 . All doors  110  are shown in respective closed positions in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The doors  110  that are pivotably connected to the panel  50  are depicted in their respective open positions in  FIG. 4 , as are two of the doors  110  pivotably connected to the floor  38 . 
     While the best mode for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.