Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a cargo management system for use in a cargo area of a motor vehicle. The system may have a floor pan configured to be fixedly secured to a surface of the cargo area and a back wall. The back wall may be pivotally secured to the floor pan adjacent an edge of the floor pan. At least first and second divider wall panels may be provided which are each pivotally secured to the back wall and spaced apart from one another. Each may be moveable between a collapsed orientation, wherein the plurality of divider wall panels rest parallel and closely adjacent a surface of the floor pan, and an upright orientation wherein each of the divider wall panels, along with the back wall, form at least one compartment for containing cargo items therein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/919,330, filed Dec. 20, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to stowage system used with motor vehicles, and particularly to a collapsible stowage system configured to be used in a trunk of a motor vehicle such that it is substantially or entirely hidden from view when stowed, and able to be opened into a configuration where a plurality of wall components extend to form compartments for restraining cargo in the trunk. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    With motor vehicles such as sedans, station wagons and sport utility vehicles, when one needs to carry items such as groceries and other relatively some individual or bagged articles, such items are typically placed in the trunk area of the vehicle. However, as the vehicle travels, it is common for packages to tip over and the contents to be spilled out and then be free to roll or slide around in the trunk area. This is inconvenient both while driving, as the driver may hear items sliding in the trunk and hitting the interior walls of the trunk, and when the items need to be re-bagged before removing them from the trunk. However, it is generally undesirable to put permanent partitions in the trunk because that may reduce the utility of the trunk in being able to accommodate larger items. Accordingly, some form of restraining system is needed that is able to be easily stowed in the trunk when not needed, and yet placed quickly and easily in an operative configuration when the need arises to restrain smaller items or bags of items from tipping over and rolling or sliding around in the trunk. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a cargo management system for use in a cargo area of a motor vehicle. The system may comprise a floor pan configured to be fixedly secured to a surface of the cargo area and a back wall. The back wall may be pivotally secured to the floor pan adjacent an edge of the floor pan. At least first and second divider wall panels may be included which are each pivotally secured to the back wall and spaced apart from one another. Each of the first and second divider wall panels are moveable between a collapsed orientation, wherein the plurality of divider wall panels rest parallel and closely adjacent a surface of the floor pan, and an upright orientation wherein each of the divider wall panels, along with the back wall, form at least one compartment for containing cargo items therein. 
         [0006]    In another aspect the present disclosure relates to a cargo management system for use in a cargo area of a motor vehicle. The system may comprise a floor pan configured to be fixedly secured to a surface of the cargo area, a back wall, first and second outer divider walls, and a center divider wall. The back wall is pivotally secured to the floor pan adjacent an edge of the floor pan. The first and second outer divider wall panels are each pivotally secured to the back wall and spaced apart from one another. Each of the first and second divider wall panels is moveable between a collapsed orientation, wherein the plurality of divider wall panels rest parallel and closely adjacent a surface of the floor pan, and an upright orientation. The center divider wall panel is pivotally secured to the floor pan at a location between the first and second outer divider wall panels. Each of the outer divider wall panels, along with the back wall and the center divider wall panel, form a plurality of adjacent compartments for containing cargo items therein. 
         [0007]    In still another aspect the present disclosure relates to a cargo management system for use in a cargo area of a motor vehicle. The system may comprise a floor pan configured to be fixedly secured to a surface of the cargo area, a back wall, first and second outer divider walls, and a center divider wall panel. The back wall is pivotally secured to the floor pan adjacent an edge of the floor pan. The first and second outer divider wall panels are each pivotally secured to the back wall and spaced apart from one another. Each of the first and second divider wall panels is moveable between a collapsed orientation, wherein the plurality of divider wall panels rest parallel and closely adjacent a surface of the floor pan, and an upright orientation. Biasing components are associated with each of the first and second outer divider wall panels for tending to bias the first and second outer divider wall panels into open positions generally perpendicular to the back wall. The center divider wall panel is pivotally secured to the floor pan at a location between the first and second outer divider wall panels. Separate first latching systems are each associated with a separate one of the outer divider panels for securing the outer divider panels in upright positions generally perpendicular to back wall. A second latching mechanism is associated with the center divider wall panel. A locking mechanism is associated with the back wall that cooperates with the second latching mechanism to hold the center divider wall panel in an upright orientation generally perpendicular to the back wall when the center divider wall panel is deployed for use. Each of the outer divider wall panels, the center divider wall panel and the back wall, cooperatively form a plurality of adjacent compartments for containing cargo items therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway view of a trunk of a vehicle illustrating a cargo restraining system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, in its operative configuration; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a high level perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1  in its fully stowed orientation; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1  with the rear wall component lifted up and the remaining panels in their stowed positions; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 1  with the outer panels folded out into their operative positions and releasably attached to the rear wall component; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the system with the intermediate panels in the process of being opened to their operative positions; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cargo restraining system in accordance with the present disclosure, with the system removed from a vehicle trunk; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the cargo restraining system of  FIG. 6  but with the various panels completely collapsed into their stowed positions; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the cargo restraining system of  FIG. 7  in an intermediate stage of opening; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is perspective view of the cargo restraining system of  FIG. 8  in another intermediate stage of opening in which a pair of side panels have been fully opened, but wherein a center divider panel has not yet been raised into its open position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a cargo management system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; the system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective exploded view of various components that may be used to form the cargo management system of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of just a portion of the center divider wall panel illustrating how it is pivotally secured to the inside surface of a floor pan of the cargo management system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing the three divider wall panels of the cargo management system of  FIG. 10  collapsed before the back wall is folded down over them; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the cargo management system with the back wall folded down over the divider wall panels, and thus with the system in its fully stowed configuration; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of one of the outer divider wall panels illustrating the use of a torsion spring therewith; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a portion of one of the outer divider walls illustrating a latching system that may be used to help secure a respective one of the outer divider wall panels in its opened orientation; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged perspective view of the outer divider wall panel of  FIG. 16  along with various components that make up the latching system shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of an upper edge of the center divider wall panel engaged with a locking assembly on an inside surface of the back wall of the cargo management system, which holds both the back wall and the center divider wall panel in an upright orientation when the center divider wall panel is in its upright orientation; 
           [0027]      FIG. 18   a  is an enlarged perspective, exploded view of the various components of both the locking system present on the back wall, and the latching mechanism used along the upper edge of the center divider wall panel; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18   b  is an enlarged perspective view of the latching mechanism of the center divider wall panel engaged with the locking mechanism of the back wall; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  a view of an outer surface of the back wall of the cargo management system illustrating the knob used with the locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the back wall from the floor pan; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a portion of the cargo management system illustrating a slot which is used to help secure the back wall of the cargo management system in its stowed configuration; 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cargo management system in accordance with the present disclosure, where the cargo management system is readily removable as a single unit from tracks formed in a floor of a cargo area of the vehicle; 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a simplified side view of the lower base assembly of the system shown in  FIG. 21 ; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is a cross sectional view taken in accordance with section line A-A in  FIG. 21  showing one of the latches of the cargo management system that may be used to retain the cargo management system within a recessed track in a floor of the vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a cargo restraining system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The system  10  may be used in a trunk  14  of a vehicle  12  such as a sedan, sport utility vehicle (SUV), station wagon, crossover, minivan, commercial van, or even potentially in the bed of a pickup truck. However, the following discussion will be with reference to implementation of the system  10  in the trunk of a sedan, with it being understood that this specific implementation is only one example, and the system  10  may be used in a wide variety of vehicles. 
         [0036]    The system  10  be built in to a recessed portion  16  of a floor  18  of the trunk  14 . The system  10  may include outer panels  20  and  22  which are pivotally secured to a rear wall component  24 . Intermediate wall panels  26  and  28  are pivotally secured to a bottom wall  30 . Strips of hook and loop fasteners  32  may be used to hold the panels  20 ,  22 ,  26  and  28  in their operative positions. Fabric strips  34  may be used to form the hinges for the panels  20 ,  22 ,  26 ,  28  and the rear wall component  24 , or any other type of lightweight hinge structure may be employed. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates the system  10  in its fully collapsed configuration within the recessed portion  16  of the trunk floor  18 . The various panels  20 ,  22 ,  26 ,  28  and the rear wall component  24  all fold down in a highly compact configuration. When in the fully collapsed configuration, other larger cargo items can be rested on top of the rear wall component  24  and the entire trunk volume may be used for carrying larger cargo items. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows the system  10  in a partially opened condition. The rear wall compartment  24  has been lifted up. A small opening  24   a  may be provided to better facilitate opening of the rear compartment wall  24 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows the outer panels  20  and  22  folded out in the directions of arrows  36 . Hook and loop fastening strips  32  are used to secure the panels  20  and  22  in their operative positions. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows the intermediate panels  26  and  28  being folded upwardly into their operative positions in accordance with arrows  38 . The fully opened system  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , a cargo restraining system  100  (hereinafter simply “system  100 ”) is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. The system  100  is somewhat similar to the system  10  and may be used to cover the recessed portion of a conventional trunk area of a passenger vehicle where the spare tire is stowed. 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 6  the system  100  is shown fully opened (i.e., fully deployed). The system  100  has been shown removed from the trunk area of a vehicle to better help illustrate its various components and operation. The system  100  may include a floor panel  102 , a hingedly connected rear wall panel  104 , a pair of hingedly connected side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b , and a hingedly connected center divider panel  108 . The floor panel  102  is shaped and of dimensions to fully cover the spare tire well where the spare tire of the vehicle is stored. Preferably, a rear edge  102   a  of the floor panel  102  is hingedly coupled to structure associated with the floor of the trunk so that the entire system  100  may be lifted with a single hand by grasping a cutout section  102   b  in the floor panel  102  and lifting the floor panel  102  upwardly. The floor panel  102 , side wall panels  106   a , 106   b  and center divider panel  108  may each be made from a suitably thick section of plastic or otherwise strong but lightweight material, and may be covered with carpeting that matches the carpeting used in the vehicle trunk area. As such, the system  100  appears as an integral portion of the vehicle&#39;s trunk. 
         [0043]    When the system  100  is in its fully opened position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the system is able to retrain articles from shifting in the trunk as the vehicle is moving. The system  100  is expected to find particular utility in restraining items such as bags of groceries in an upright orientation, as well as items that would ordinarily be prone to rolling around (for example produce such as cantaloupe, watermelon, etc.) in a conventional trunk with no article restraining system. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  shows the system  100  is shown in its fully closed (i.e., stowed) position. In this orientation the system  100  essentially forms a generally flat surface upon which other cargo items can be placed. The strength of the floor panel  102 , the rear wall panel  104 , the side wall panels  106   a , 106   b  and the center divider wall  108  cooperatively provide a significant degree of structural strength for supporting articles thereon when the system  100  is in its fully closed position. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  shows the system  100  in an intermediate stage of deployment. In this illustration the rear wall panel  104  has been lifted almost into its fully deployed (i.e., fully upright) position. Side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  are in the process of being opened into their fully deployed positions. The rear wall panel  104  may be opened by grasping the cutout  104   a  and lifting the rear wall panel  104  upwardly away from the floor panel  102 . A lower edge  104   b  of the rear wall panel  104  is pivotally or hingedly secured to the floor panel  102  by any suitable hinge structure. The side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  are also each hingedly attached at their lower edges  107  to the opposing lateral edges of the rear wall panel  104  via suitable hinge structures such as those mentioned above for the rear wall panel  104 . As such, the side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  tend to pivot open automatically as the rear wall panel  104  is lifted upwardly. The floor panel  102  in this example has a recessed area  102   c  within which the rear wall panel  104  and the side wall panels  106   a , 106   b  rest when in their stowed positions. This recessed area  102   c  also provides a pair or lateral wall portions  110   a  and  110   b  that serve as stops to limit pivoting movement of the side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  as they are being pivoted outwardly away from each other into their fully deployed positions. Optionally, sections of hook and loop style fastening material could be used on both of the lateral wall portions  110   a  and  110   b  and at the abutting surfaces of the side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  to hold the side wall panels in their fully deployed positions. 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  shows the side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  in their fully opened positions. In this regard it will be appreciated that the overall dimensions of the side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  should be selected to enable them to be folded down flush in the recessed area  102   c  of the floor panel  102 . The depth of the recessed area  102   c  is preferably selected such that when both of the side wall panels  106   a  and  106   b  and the rear wall panel  104  are folded down into their fully stowed positions, an upper facing surface of the rear wall is generally flush with an upper surface  102   d  of the floor panel  102 . 
         [0047]    Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the center divider panel  108  may be lifted out and pivoted into a fully upright position. A cutout  102   e  in the floor panel  102  enables one or more fingers to grasp an edge portion of the center divider panel  108  to ease in lifting the panel  108 . Preferably, hook and loop style fastening material is incorporated on a lower surface  104   c  and also along a rear edge  108   a  of the center divider panel so that the panel  108  can be easily secured in its fully deployed position. Of course, any other suitable means may be employed to hold the center divider panel  108  in its fully upright position. One such means may be a short length of strap with a snap that engages a corresponding snap mounted on the rear wall panel  104 . Another means may be a short length of strap with a hook at one end that may be engaged in a suitable opening in the rear wall panel  104 . It will be appreciated that any implement may be used provided it does not interfere with allowing the center divider panel  108  and the rear wall panel  104  to be folded down flush against one another when in their stowed positions. A lower edge  108   b  of the center divider panel  108  also has a suitable hinge, such as described above, to enable pivoting motion of the panel  108  between its operative and stowed positions without separating from the floor panel  102 . 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a cargo management system  200  (hereinafter simply “system  200 ”) is shown positioned within the floor of a cargo area  202  of a vehicle  204 . The cargo area  202  may form the trunk area of a sedan, the rear most interior area of a station wagon, minivan, full size van or SUV, or even the bed of a pickup truck. Accordingly, the system  200  is not limited to use with only one type of vehicle. It is a significant advantage of the system  200  that it can be integrated into the trunk or cargo areas of a wide variety of vehicles with little modification, or possibly no modification, to the trunk or cargo area of the vehicle itself. 
         [0049]    The system  200  includes a floor pan  206 , a center divider wall panel  208 , outer divider wall panels  210  and  212 , and a back wall  214 . The floor pan  206  may be secured to a floor area  216  of the cargo area  202  in any convenient fashion, such as by using RivNut® style fasteners, simple threaded fasteners, etc. (not shown). The floor area  216  may also be manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer with a recessed area of a predetermined depth, although this is not mandatory. If the system  200  is secured within a recessed area of the floor area  216 , then the system  200 , when in its fully stowed position, may appear as virtually an integral portion of the cargo floor area  216 . Since the system  200  has a relatively slim profile when in its stowed configuration, even mounting the system  200  on a flat cargo floor area will only consume minimal space within the cargo area when the system  200  is in its stowed configuration. 
         [0050]    The system  200  is shown in  FIG. 10  in its deployed configuration ready for use. Divider wall panels  208 ,  210  and  212  cooperate with the back wall  214  to provide areas where groceries, tools, sports equipment or other cargo items can be placed, and the divider wall panels  208 ,  210  and  212 , together with the back wall  214 , prevent the items from moving or rolling around within the cargo area  202 . The system  200  is expected to be especially useful with helping to maintain grocery bags in an upright orientation while the vehicle is moving. 
         [0051]    With further reference to  FIGS. 10-12 , the center divider wall panel  208  is pivotally mounted via a hinge arrangement  218  along a lower edge via a pin  220  ( FIG. 11 ) that extends through a bore  222  in the lower edge, and through bores  224  in upstanding mounting structures  226  ( FIG. 12 ) of the floor pan  206 . The back wall  214  similarly is secured for pivoting movement relative to the floor pan  206  by mounting structures  228  and an elongated rod  230  ( FIG. 11 ). The elongated rod  230  extends through bores  232  in the mounting structures  228  and through bores  234  in cylindrical flanges  236  at a lower edge of the back wall  214 . The outer divider wall panels  210  and  212  are similarly coupled to the back wall  214  for pivoting movement via cylindrical rods  238  and  240  ( FIG. 11 ) which extend through bores  242  and  244  in mounting structures  246  and  248 , respectively, on an inner surface  214   a  of the back wall  214 . The rods  238  and  240  also extend through bores  250  and  252  in cylindrical flanges  254  and  256 , respectively. The center divider wall panel  208  is able to be pivoted downwardly into a position flush with an upper surface of the floor pan, as shown in  FIG. 13 . The outer divider wall panels  210  and  212  are able to be collapsed inwardly toward one another, with one of the panels  210  or  212  lying over the center divider wall panel  208  when the system  200  is in its fully closed configuration. This forms an extremely compact, low profile arrangement when the back wall  214  is then collapsed over collapsed wall divider panels  208 - 212 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0052]    Referring briefly to  FIG. 15 , each of the outer divider wall panels  210  and  212  may incorporate a torsion spring  258 , although only panel  212  is shown in the Figure. It will be understood that the construction and implementation of the torsion spring  258  will be the same for outer divider wall panel  210 . The torsion spring in  FIG. 15  is wrapped around one of the rods  238 , in this example the lower rod  238 . This provides a biasing force which tends to assist in opening the outer divider wall panel  212  when the system  200  is being opened for use. Optionally, the back wall  214  may also incorporate a torsion spring to aid in providing a biasing force that tends to help open the back wall  214  from its collapsed orientation. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  16  and  17 , the outer divider wall panels  210  and  212  each are associated with latching systems  260  which enable the panels  210  and  212  to be secured in their opened (i.e., deployed) orientations. One of the latching systems  260  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . It will be appreciated that the latching systems  260  are identical to each other in construction, although they need not necessarily be identical. The latching system  260  includes a guide sleeve  262  that is secured, for example by rivets  263 , by threaded fasteners or any other suitable means, to an upper surface  206   a  of the floor pan  206 . The guide sleeve has a tapered slot  264  into which a plate  266 , secured to a lower edge of outer divider wall panel  212 , may be received when the panel  212  is pivoted into its fully open position, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The plate  266  may be secured to a lower edge of the outer wall panel divider  212  by rivets  268 , threaded fasteners or any suitable means. Also attached to the upper surface  206   a  of the floor pan  206  using the rivet(s)  263  is a flexible latching element  270 , which in this example is a spring steel element which acts as both a latching element and a release element. The construction of the latching element  270  is also shown in  FIG. 17  and can be seen to include a tab  272  at an outer end thereof which the user may press down with one or more fingers to release the latching element  270 . The latching element  270  also has an intermediate channel  274  and a ramped portion  276 . As a lower edge  266   a  of the plate  266  impinges the ramp  276  during opening movement of the outer divider wall panel  212 , the lower edge  266   a  pushes the latching element  270  downwardly, and then the lower edge  266   a  “snaps” into the channel  274  with a noticeable, tactile feeling to the user as the user is handling the panel  212 . At this point the outer divider wall panel  212  will be held securely in its opened (i.e., deployed) orientation. When the user wants to collapse the system  200  into its stowed orientation, the user presses down on the tab  272  slightly using the finger of one hand, while urging the outer divider wall panel  212  into its folded orientation relative to the back wall  214 . The plate  266  clears the channel  274  during this motion because of the downward biasing force applied by the user on the flexible latching element  270 . The same operation occurs for the latching element  270  associated with the outer divider wall panel  210 . As such, the user can quickly and easily deploy or collapse the outer divider wall panels  210  and  212  without any complex procedures and without the need for any tools. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  18  and  18   a , the center divider wall panel  208  has an upper edge  208   a  with its own latching mechanism  280  that cooperates with a locking assembly  282  on the back wall  214 . With specific reference to  FIG. 18   a , the latching mechanism  280  includes a biasing element  284 , in this example a V-shaped spring steel element, which is captured in a cutout section  286  of the upper edge  208   a  of the center divider wall panel  208 , and within an interior area of a user depressible member  292 . The user depressible member  292  is pivotally secured at a rear end  292   a  thereof via a rivet  288  or like component, which extends through a hole  291 , and a hole  208   c  in the upper edge  208   a . This allows a forward edge  292   b  of the depressible member  292  to pivot about a relatively small arc while the depressible member  292  is retained to the upper edge  208 . 
         [0055]    With continuing reference to  FIG. 18   a , the forward edge  292   b  of the depressible member  292  is also captured by a rivet  290  or other like component which extends through a hole  292   c  in the depressible member, and also through a slightly curved slot  208   b  in the center divider wall panel  208 . Thus, the depressible member  292  can move pivotally up and down a distance in accordance with the length of the slot  208   b . The depressible member  292  also has a cutout section  292   d  for engaging a portion of the locking assembly  282 . The V-shaped biasing element  284  biases the depressible member  292  upwardly in the drawing of  FIG. 18   a  into engagement with the locking assembly  282 , but permits the user to release the center divider wall panel  208  from engagement with the locking assembly  282  simply by pressing downwardly with one or more fingers on the depressible member  292 . 
         [0056]    With brief reference to  FIGS. 18 and 18   b , the depressible member  292  can be seen engaged with a protruding portion  297  on the inside surface  214   a  of the back wall  214 . The V-shaped biasing element  284  provides a biasing force that tends to urge the rear edge  292   b  upwardly in the drawing of  FIG. 18 , and thus into contact with a recess  296  formed in the protruding section  297  of the inside surface  214   a  of the back wall  214 . This enables the center divider wall panel  208  to be maintained engaged with the back wall  214  and in a perpendicular orientation relative to the inner surface  214   a  of the back wall  214  when the system  10  is being used to hold cargo items. While the depressible member  292  is held in its depressed position, the center divider panel  208  may be urged down into a collapsed position resting parallel to the upper surface  206   a  of the floor pan  206 , when the system  10  is to be placed in its stowed configuration. 
         [0057]    With further reference to  FIGS. 18   a  and  18   b , the locking assembly  282  also makes use of a rotatable locking base element  300 . The rotatable locking base element  300  has ( FIG. 18 ) a T-shaped locking member  300   a  which is dimensioned to be inserted through a similarly sized cutout  214   b  in the back wall  214 . A tab  300   b  projecting from the locking base element  300  also engages within an arcuate slot  214   c  in the back wall  214  and limits the rotational travel of the base element  300  to a predetermined range, the opposite extremes of which define an open position and a locked position. A pin  300   c  extends through a bore  300   d  in the base element  300  and through holes  302   a  in a generally U-shaped knob  302 , which secures the U-shaped knob  302  pivotally to the locking base element  300 . The U-shaped knob  302  can be rotated by a user by grasping it with two or more fingers and rotating it between two orientations 90 degrees from one another. A spring clip  301  may be used to retain the base element  300  to the back wall  214  while permitting easy rotational movement of the locking base element  300 . A recess  306  may also be formed in the base element  300  to aid the user in initially grasping the U-shaped rotatable knob  302  and lifting it out perpendicular to the base element. When the U-shaped knob  302  is in its collapsed orientation as shown in  FIG. 19  it forms a generally smooth surface with the base element  300 . This enables cargo items to be placed on top of the back wall  214  and easily slid or moved over the back wall  214  without interference from the locking system  282 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 20  shows a slot  308  formed in a raised section  310  projecting from the surface  206   a  of the floor pan  206 . The slot  308  is shaped and dimensioned to receive the T-shaped locking member  300   a  when the back wall  214  is lowered down into a position parallel to the surface  206   a  of the floor pan  206 . Once the T-shaped locking member  300   a  is positioned in the slot  308  and the U-shaped rotatable knob is rotated 90 degrees, the back wall  214  is secured in its stowed position, and encases the collapsed divider wall panels  208 - 212  between the floor pan  206  and the inside surface  214   a  of the back wall  214 . 
         [0059]    With further reference to  FIG. 20 , when each of the divider wall panels  208 ,  210  and  212  are positioned in their upright orientations, as shown in  FIG. 20 , the divider wall panels  208 ,  210 ,  212  and  214  form a plurality of separate but adjacent compartments  310  and  312  which can be used to contain various cargo items from rolling around or otherwise moving within the cargo area of a vehicle while the vehicle is travelling. It is anticipated that the system  200  will find particular utility when used with grocery bags and other items which need to be kept in an upright orientation during travel to prevent spilling the contents thereof. Items that tend to roll or slide around easily, such as types of farm produce, tools, sports equipment, etc., can be conveniently confined using the system  200 . The system  200 , when in its stowed position, takes up virtually no cargo room in the cargo area of a vehicle and allows other cargo items to be placed on top of it without interference from the system  200 . Importantly, the system  200  is light in weight and can be manipulated into its fully deployed orientation within a few seconds, and without the need for any special tools or complex procedures, and by a single person. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 21 , a cargo management system  300  in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The system  300  is somewhat similar to the system  200  and includes a floor pan  302 , a back wall  304  pivotally secured to the floor pan  302 , and a pair of outer divider wall panels  306  and  308  pivotally secured to the back wall  304  in a manner identical to that described for the system  200 . The system  300 , however, incorporates a slidably adjustably positionable center divider wall panel  310 . The center divider wall panel  310  is also pivotally secured to a lower base assembly  312 . The lower base assembly  312  further includes a user rotatable locking wheel  314 . The pivotal attachment enables the center divider wall panel  310  to be folded down against the floor pan  302  when the system  300  is to be collapsed into its stowed configuration. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , the floor pan  302  also includes a rail or track  316 . The track  316  receives a foot portion  318  of the lower base assembly  312 . The foot portion  318  is slidable within the track  316  and retains the lower base assembly  312  to the track. A tap plate  320  positioned within the track  316  is tightened and loosened relative to the track  316  via a threaded member  322  which is fixedly coupled to the locking wheel  314 . Rotation of the locking wheel in one direction tightens the tap plate  320  to clamp the center divider wall panel  310  at a desired longitudinal position along the track  316 . An upper edge  310   a  of the center divider wall panel  310  is releasably retained to an upper base assembly  324 . The upper base assembly  324  may also be adjustably, slidably positioned by the user along a track  326 . The track  326  is recess mounted in the back wall  304 . The upper base assembly  324  includes a base member  328  with a user rotatably locking wheel  330 . The construction of upper base assembly  324  is identical to the lower base assembly  312 . The upper edge  310   a  of the center divider wall panel  310  may be releasably secured to the base member  328  of the upper base assembly  324  via a magnet, a clip or any other suitable structure. When the system  300  is to be collapsed into its stowed configuration, the center divider wall panel  310  may be collapsed against the floor pan  302 , and the outer divider wall panels  306  and  308  folded inwardly against the back wall  304 . The back wall  304  may then be collapsed down against the floor pan  302  where the collapsed system  300  forms a compact, low profile system that can be easily handled and carried by an individual. 
         [0062]    A particular advantage of the system  300  is that it may be removably mounted to a pair of tracks  332  positioned fixedly within a floor of a cargo area  334  of a vehicle. A spring biased locking element  336 , shown in  FIG. 23 , may be used to latch the system  300  to the tracks  332 . The biasing may be provided by a torsion spring (not shown in the figure). While only one locking element  336  is shown in  FIG. 23 , it will be appreciated that two or more such locking elements could be incorporated if desired. 
         [0063]    When the locking element  336  is moved to its release position, a jaw  338  of the latching element  336  is moved clear of an inwardly protruding lip  340  of the track  332 . The entire system  300  may then be lifted up and manipulated out of the tracks  332 . In this manner, the entire system  300  may be removed from the vehicle&#39;s cargo area in the event it needs to be cleaned, or if maximum space is required within the cargo area for carrying a large item. However, it will be appreciated that when the system  300  is folded into its stowed configuration, the system  300  assumes a low profile that otherwise does not interfere with the placement of other cargo items thereon or within the vehicle&#39;s cargo area. 
         [0064]    And it will be appreciated while the system  300  shows three wall panels (i.e., panels  306 ,  308  and  310 ), that the system  300  could readily be modified so that only two divider wall panels are used, but where at least one of the two divider wall panels is slidably positionable along the tracks  316  and  326  and securable at a user defined longitudinal position, just like the center divider wall panel  310 . Still another embodiment is where only the two outer divider wall panels  306  and  308  are used, but where both of the panels  306  and  308  are slidably positionable along the tracks  316  and  326 . 
         [0065]    The systems  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  each form a convenient means for implementing a cargo divider/management system that may be collapsed and stowed in a highly space efficient manner when it is not needed. The various panels of each of the systems  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  may be made from high strength plastics or any other suitably strong, and lightweight materials. Plastics are especially desirable because they are very light in weight and easily cleaned in the event of spillage of liquids, or of dirt or grime being deposited on the various panels. 
         [0066]    Advantageously, the systems  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  can be used to cover a spare tire well, and do not interfere with accessing the spare tire well when such access is needed to remove the vehicle&#39;s spare tire. The systems  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  form relatively flat surfaces that appear as an integral portion of the vehicle&#39;s trunk when they are in their fully stowed orientations. As such they do not interfere with storing larger items in the trunk. Another important advantage is that the systems  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  may be deployed between their stowed and operative configurations without any tools and within a matter of seconds. The various panels of each of the systems  10  and  100  are lightweight and can be easily lifted and manipulated by an individual with only a small degree of effort. 
         [0067]    And while the systems  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  have been described as being easily implemented in a vehicle trunk, it will be appreciated that the teachings presented herein are equally applicable to be used in the floor areas of other types of vehicles, for example in the floor areas of SUVs, minivans, vans, crossovers, and even the beds of pickup trucks. Essentially any floor area of a vehicle where a small degree of space exists for the overall thickness of the system  10 ,  100 ,  200  and  300  to be mounted, may enable the system  10 ,  100 ,  200  or  300  to be implemented for use. 
         [0068]    While various embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications or variations which might be made without departing from the present disclosure. The examples illustrate the various embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with only such limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art.