Abstract:
A cargo area for a vehicle includes a package tray behind the rear seat having an upper surface and a lower surface. The package tray is rotated about an axis to uncover the cargo area. The cargo area further includes a container detachably or permanently attached to the lower surface of the panel. The container may define one or more receptacles that are accessible when the panel is raised and lowered when the package tray is lowered to a horizontal orientation above the cargo area.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to storage systems for vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cargo areas for vehicles aid in storing items necessary for travel. These cargo areas may be covered with a panel or package tray. Further, the panel or package tray may rotate to uncover the cargo area when the rear lift gate is unlatched. This allows for easy access to items that may be stored within the cargo area. In compact cars, this cargo space may be limited. Certain products may be used to organize the items stored within the cargo area. These products may not efficiently use space within the cargo area. 
     Packaging space within the storage area is important. Consumers may use a storage area to secure cargo required for travel. It may be advantageous to increase the packaging space of the storage area, or to provide a storage system to aid in organizing the packaging space of the storage area. It may be difficult to access items within the storage area. It is further advantageous to use a storage system that allows easy access to stored items. 
     Storage options for vehicles are generally limited. A vehicle may use traditional storage areas, such as the glove box, console bin, and seatback pockets. The storage options are generally fixed and not configurable. Using fixed areas and non-configurable designs limit the use of storage options within the vehicle. Packaging space for traditional storage areas may be limited or constrained to allow storage of only certain items. Storage options that are fixed and not removable from the vehicle also limit the use of the storage options. This results in a less efficient use of the packaging space within the storage options. A consumer must then store an external storage option within the vehicle for use when away from the vehicle. 
     The storage options are primarily focused on being within reach of a vehicle passenger. This may present conflicts and limit the items a consumer may need for travel. A consumer may be more likely to store an item that requires more frequent use, such as a map. Being limited in packaging space, the storage option within reach of the consumer may only be configured to store a single item such as a map. A consumer may need additional storage options for items such as road flares, camping equipment, or a roadside repair kit. These items may be used by the consumer less frequently, but may still be required for travel. Creating packaging space in less conventional locations may provide the consumer with storage options for items used less frequently and result in safer travel. 
     This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and other problems as summarized below. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vehicle storage system includes a panel hingedly connected to a rear portion of a vehicle. The panel has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is disposed over the storage area of the vehicle. The vehicle storage system further includes a container attached with the lower surface of the panel. The container defines a receptacle. 
     A rear portion of a vehicle defining a cargo area includes a package tray disposed within the rear portion. The package tray has an upper surface and a lower surface covering the cargo area. The package tray is configured to rotate about an axis such that upon rotation the lower surface is projected toward the rear portion. The rear portion further includes a container attached with the lower surface of the package tray. The container defines a receptacle wherein the receptacle is accessible from the lower surface of the package tray. 
     A cargo area for a vehicle includes a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is disposed opposite the upper surface. The panel is configured to rotate about an axis such that the lower surface uncovers the cargo area upon rotation. The cargo area further includes a container attached to the lower surface of the panel. The container defines a receptacle accessible when the panel rotates about the axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view of a vehicle rear cargo container; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a vehicle having an elevated lift gate and cargo area package tray; and 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary view of a rear of a vehicle having a removable container on the underside of the cargo area package tray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features are exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the present invention. The various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  having a rear portion  12  defining a cargo area  14  is shown. The cargo area  14  includes a package tray  16 . The package tray  16  is disposed over a storage area  18 . The vehicle  10  also includes a lift gate  20 . The lift gate  20  may be hingedly connected to the rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10 . The gate  20  may also be connected to the package tray  16 . 
     The package tray  16  for the storage area  18  may not be considered a conventional storage option. The storage system  22  of the present disclosure utilizes a container  24  disposed on the package tray  16 . This increases the packaging space of the storage area  18  and allows for easy access to the container  24  by the consumer. The package tray  16  may also be disconnected from the gate  20 . The package tray may include a handle  21  connected to an upper surface  23  of the package tray  16 . The handle  21  allows a consumer to open the package tray  16  and expose the storage area  18 . Disconnecting the package tray  16  from the gate  20  allows a consumer to utilize the rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10  as a storage option when the storage items are not ideal for storage within the storage area  18 , or when the storage area  18  is already being used to store items. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a rear view of the rear portion  12 , with an open gate  20  and package tray  16 , of the vehicle  10  is shown. The package tray  16  may be hingedly connected to the cargo area  14 . Opening the gate  20 , via the latch mechanism (not shown), may cause the package tray  16  to rotate within the cargo area  14 . When the gate  20  is open, the package tray  16  exposes the storage area  18 . The container  24  may be attached to a lower surface  26  of the package tray  16 . The lower surface  26  of the package tray  16  is the portion of the package tray  16  enclosed within the storage area  18 . The container  24  is connected to the package tray  16  such that upon opening the gate  20  the container  24  rotates upwardly to face the rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10 . The package tray  16  rotates about an axis  25  with the gate  20 . Rotation of the package tray  16  about axis  25  raises the container  24  to face the rear portion  12  of the vehicle  10 . 
     The container  24  may define a single receptacle  30  or a plurality of receptacles  30 . The container  24  may be molded to the package tray  16 , adhered to the package tray  16 , or press-fit onto the package tray  16 . The container  24  includes an access panel  32  to secure the receptacle  30 . The access panel  32  may be a flexible material, or a rigid material. The access panel  32  may be a polymer composite, a metal alloy, or a fabric such as nylon or mesh. The access panel  32  may include netting to cover the receptacle  30  and to secure items within the container  24 . Using a net as the access panel  32  allows a consumer to visually see the items stored in the container before opening the access panel  32 . The access panel  32  may open using a latch mechanism, a spring actuated pin, a string, a button, or a slide mechanism. The access panel  32  provides for a zipper between the access panel  32  and the container  24  wherein movement of the zipper opens the access panel  32  and exposes the receptacle  30 . The container  24  may provide for a single access panel  32  or a plurality of access panels  32 . 
     The package tray  16  is configured to support the additional weight from the container  24  as well as the items stored within the container  24 . The package tray  16  may be a panel composed of a polymer composite of sufficient thickness T or structural shape to support the container  24  as well as the items stored within the receptacle  30  of the container  24 . The thickness T or structural shape of the package tray  16  allows items to be stored within the receptacle  30  of the container  24  without deforming the package tray  16  or collapsing into the storage area  18 . The package tray  16  may use an increased thickness T, a rigid material, or any shape that may be configured to support the weight of the container  24 . Further, the package tray  16  may also use a combination of a thickness T, material composition, or structural shape to support the weight of the container  24  and the items stored within the receptacle  30  of the container. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the container  24  is shown detached from the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16 . The container  24  is attached to the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16  using a plurality of snaps  28 . The plurality of snaps  28  may be insert molded to the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16 . The plurality of snaps  28  allow the container  24  to separate from the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16 . Separating the container  24  from the package tray  16  may provide easier access to the container  24  and allows the container  24  to be transported outside the vehicle. This allows for convenient storage and transport of items to locations other than the vehicle  10 . This also allows for ability to easily clean the storage container if needed. 
     The plurality of snaps  28  may include a snap  38  attached to the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16  and a snap receptacle  40  attached with the container  24 . The snap  38  and the snap receptacle  40  interlock when aligned and pressure is applied to either the snap  38  or the snap receptacle  40 . Engagement between the snap  38  and the snap receptacle  40  secures the container  24  to the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16  while maintaining the ability to remove the container  24  from the package tray  16 . 
     When the package tray  16  is closed, covering the storage area  18 , the weight of the container  24  may act toward the storage area  18 . The snap  38  and the snap receptacle  40 , when interlocked, transfer the weight of the container  24  to the package tray  16 . The plurality of snaps are depicted in  FIG. 3  as button type snaps  28  wherein the snap features  28  resemble a button. Other snap features  28  may also be utilized. The plurality of snap features  28  may include, but are not limited to hook and loop strips adhered to the container  24  and the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16 , a plurality of clips disposed along the lower surface  26  of the package tray  16  that clip to the container  24 , or a pin and groove feature in which a pin engages a groove disposed between a plurality of flexible protrusions.