Abstract:
A cargo cover assembly for covering a cargo area of a vehicle including: a housing; a panel portion secured to the housing, wherein the panel portion is configured to roll and unroll within the housing, a flexible rod associated with the panel portion and moveable with respect to the housing, and wherein when the cargo cover assembly is in an unretracted position, the panel portion is unrolled from the housing and the flexible rod flexes outwardly to substantially match a posterior portion of the cargo area so that the cargo cover assembly substantially conceals the cargo area.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention generally relates to cargo cover assemblies for covering the cargo area of vehicles. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Sport utility or crossover vehicles have become very popular over the past several years. Some of these vehicles include an aggressive outer shape, including an arcuately shaped rear end. The interior cargo area of such vehicles similarly conforms to the general arcuate shape of the rear end. Cargo covers are typically utilized in such vehicles (e.g., those that do not have a fully enclosed trunk). Cargo covers conceal items that may be placed within the cargo area for storage and transportation purposes. However, because of the general contour of the cargo areas, it is difficult to conceal these areas from view with conventional cargo covers. 
   Conventional cargo covers only cover a rectangular area because the rigid frame of the retractable cargo cover limits the coverage area. In the case of today&#39;s aggressively and extremely styled vehicles, interior back door styling, which may consist of pronounced curvatures, further prevents full cargo area coverage with conventional cargo covers. Particularly, if the posterior of the cargo area of a vehicle has a pronounced curve, a conventional retractable cargo cover, which consists of a rigid rod and a plastic material, will not cover the curved portion of the cargo area. This uncovered portion exposes items that may be located in the curved portion of the cargo area. 
   Accordingly, cargo cover assemblies that substantially conceal cargo areas of vehicles, including curved portions, are desired. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one embodiment, a cargo cover assembly for covering a cargo area may comprise a housing, a panel portion secured to the housing, wherein the panel portion is configured to roll and unroll within the housing and a flexible rod associated with the panel portion and moveable with respect to the housing. When the cargo cover assembly is in an unretracted position, the panel portion may be unrolled from the housing and the flexible rod may flex outwardly to substantially match a posterior portion of the cargo area so that the cargo cover assembly substantially conceals the cargo area. 
   According to another embodiment, a cargo cover assembly for covering a cargo area may comprise a housing comprising a panel portion, wherein the panel portion is received within the housing, a frame member associated with the panel portion, the frame member comprising a first end having a first spring and a second end having a second spring and a flexible rod comprising a first hooked end and a second hooked end, wherein the first end of the frame member is configured to receive the first hooked end of flexible rod and the second end of frame member is configured to receive the second hooked end of flexible rod. When the panel portion pulled in a direction away from the housing, the first and second hooked ends compress against the first and second springs so that the flexible rod flexes outwardly. 
   According to yet another embodiment, a vehicle may comprise a cargo area having a first wall having a first locking slot and a second wall having a second locking slot, the first locking slot and the second locking slot configured to receive a cargo cover assembly, and the cargo cover assembly may comprise: a housing, a panel portion secured to the housing, wherein the panel portion is configured to roll and unroll within the housing, and a flexible rod associated with the panel portion and moveable with respect to the housing. When the cargo cover assembly is in an unretracted position, the panel portion may be unrolled from the housing and the flexible rod may flex outwardly to substantially match a posterior portion of the cargo area so that the cargo cover assembly substantially conceals the cargo area. 
   These and additional features can be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to be limited of the inventions defined by the claims. Moreover, the individual features of the drawings will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description. The following detailed description of specific embodiments can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a cargo cover assembly in a partially unretracted position according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of a cargo cover assembly in a retracted position according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of a cargo cover assembly in an unretracted position according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a vehicle comprising an exemplary cargo cover assembly in an unretracted position according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Embodiments of the invention relate to cargo cover assemblies for concealing the cargo areas of aggressively or extremely styled vehicles (e.g., those having an arcuate or non-traditional cargo area). As will be discussed herein, the cargo cover assemblies generally comprise a housing with a retractable panel portion, a frame member and a cover portion, the cover portion having a flexible rod associated therewith. The flexible rod is capable of conforming to the shape of the rear or posterior portion of the cargo area to substantially conceal the cargo area of a vehicle such as those having such an aggressive or extreme style. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a cargo cover assembly  10  is illustrated in a partially unretracted position. The cargo cover assembly may comprise a frame member  50  secured to a panel portion  70 , the panel portion being retractable within housing  60 . As illustrated, the frame member  50  may comprise a first and second end  40 . The first and second ends  40  may be configured as rectangular slots or as other appropriate geometry to accept the ends  20  of the flexible rod  32 . The frame member  50  may be made of any rigid material, including, but not limited to metal, fiberglass, plastic or composites thereof. The frame member should be of a length to extend across the cargo area. 
   The first and second ends  40  of the frame member are configured to have a compression assembly that such that the compression assembly is in an uncompressed state when the cargo cover assembly  10  is a retracted state and in a compressed state when in an unretracted state.  FIG. 1  illustrates the compression assembly as springs  42  located within the first and second ends  40  of the frame member  50 . According to other embodiments, pistons may be located within the first and second ends  40  of the frame member  50 . In another embodiment, any components configured to allow flexible rod  32  to move relative to frame member  50  may be utilized. 
   The flexible rod  32  may be coupled to the frame member  50 . The ends  20  of the flexible rod  32  may be positioned within the ends  40  of the frame member  50 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the ends  20  of the flexible rod  32  may comprise first and second hooked ends  20  that are accepted by the first and second ends  40  of the frame member  50 . According to other embodiments, the flexible rod  32  and the ends  20  may be one unit. As such, the flexible rod  32  may be a flexible rod with integrated hooked ends. The flexible rod  32 , which is illustrated of a length that is longer than frame member  50 , may be made of any material that allows the flexible rod  32  to flex outwardly when compressed about the ends  20 . 
   Located between the flexible rod  32  and the frame member  50  may be the cover portion  80  that covers the curved portion of the cargo area when the cargo cover assembly  10  is in an unretracted position. The cover portion  80  may be made of a flexible non-woven material that may be stretched when the cargo cover assembly  10  is in an unretracted position. The cover portion may comprise, for example Spandex®, nylon or other materials. The cover portion  80  may be attached to the flexible rod  32  by any appropriate method, including, for example, hooks and loops, snaps or a loop within the cover portion  80  in which the flexible rod  32  is threaded through or located in. Similarly, the cover portion  80  may be attached to the frame member  50  by any mechanically appropriate component. For example, the cover portion  80  may be clamped to the frame member  50 , attached by staples, attached by hooks and loops or other fastening components. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top view of an exemplary cargo cover assembly  10  in a retracted position within a vehicle is illustrated. As illustrated, the ends of the housing  60  are positioned into locking slots  220  within the first and second walls  200  of the vehicle. However, the housing  60  may also be secured to the vehicle by other methods. In the retracted position illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the frame member  50  of the exemplary embodiment rests concomitantly against the housing  60 , allowing the cargo area of the vehicle to be uncovered. When the cargo cover assembly  10  is in a retracted position as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the flexible rod  32  is not compressed and is in a relatively unflexed position. Additionally, the panel portion (not shown) is rolled within the housing  60  in this retracted position. 
   The housing  60  is configured to house at least panel portion  70  that is attached to the frame member  50 . The housing  60  may be made of any appropriate rigid material including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, fiberglass or composites thereof. The housing  60  may be either removably or permanently attached to the rear seats of the vehicle according to some embodiments, or to a structure located behind the rear seats of the vehicle according to other embodiments. The panel portion  70  may provide rectangular coverage of the cargo area. The panel portion  70  may be configured to roll and unroll from within the housing  60  according to some embodiments. According to other embodiments, panel portion  70  may be configured to roll and unroll from within the frame member  50 . Accordingly, the panel portion may be made of cloth, Nylon®, polyester or any other type of material that may be rolled and unrolled. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of an exemplary cargo cover assembly  10  in an unretracted position within a vehicle. When the cargo cover assembly  10  is in an unretracted position, the ends  20  of the flexible rod  32  move inwardly as the ends  20  move along the first and second walls  200  of the cargo area, thereby compressing the springs  42  within the first and second ends  40  of the frame member  50 . This causes the flexible rod  32  to flex outwardly and thereby changes the shape of the cover portion  80 . The flexing of flexible rod  32  allows the cargo cover assembly  10  to substantially match the posterior contour of the cargo area, including any curvatures that may be present. By matching the posterior contour of the cargo area of the vehicle, the cargo area is substantially concealed and the items located within are out of view. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary embodiment installed in a vehicle. The cargo cover assembly  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  is in an unretracted position, thereby flexing the flexible rod  32  outwardly and allowing the cover portion  80  to substantially conceal the rear portion  300  of the cargo area. The vehicle may be any type of vehicle, including, but not limited to, a sport utility vehicle, a wagon, or a hatchback. 
   As illustrated throughout the drawings in use, as a user pulls cargo cover assembly  10  from a retracted position (e.g.,  FIG. 2 ) to an unretracted position (e.g.,  FIG. 3 ), frame member  50  moves from the housing  60  toward the rear or posterior portion of the cargo area  300 . The panel portion  70  is unrolled from the housing illustrated in  FIG. 4  to cover the front or anterior portion  310  of the cargo area, as well as the rear or posterior portion  300   
   The ends  20  of flexible rod  32  press against and slide along the first and second walls  200  of the cargo area of the vehicle. According to some embodiments, the ends  20  slide along a track located within the first and second walls  200 . According to other embodiments, the ends press against and slide along the walls  200  of the cargo area of the vehicle without the use of tracks. According to yet other embodiments, the ends  20  of flexible rod  32  do not press against the first and second walls  200  of the cargo area of the vehicle until the ends  40  of the frame member  50  are placed into the first and second locking slots  90 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the rear or posterior portion  300  of the cargo area may have a pronounced curve that is defined by the first and second walls  200  and rear door opening. The frame member  50  and the flexible rod  32  are pulled toward the posterior portion of the cargo area and the cargo cover assembly  10  is locked into place by placing the ends  40  of the frame member  50  into the locking slots  90 . The locking slots  90  may be integrated indentations in the first and second walls  200  of the cargo area, or according to other embodiments, they may consist of other mechanical locking components. 
   The foregoing description of the various embodiments and principles of the inventions has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Moreover, although many inventive aspects have been presented, such aspects need not be utilized in combination, and various combinations of inventive aspects are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above. Accordingly, the above description is intended to embrace all possible alternatives, modifications, combinations and variations that have been discussed or suggested herein, as well as others that fall within the principles, spirit, and broad scope of the various inventions as defined by the claims. 
   For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the term “substantially” or “relatively” is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation.