Abstract:
A vehicle body has a reconfigurable back panel and window system for use in an extended cab pickup truck or other similar vehicle in which the rear wall of the vehicle is adaptable for use in various optional configurations. A forward convertible compartment communicates with a rear cargo compartment through an access opening in a body frame. A lower closure panel, intermediate crossbar and upper window optionally close the opening to separate the compartments for passenger and cargo use. The window may be removed and stored in the panel, the panel may be pivoted open and the crossbar may be moved with the panel or remain to support the window, all permitting varying degrees of communication between the compartments for carrying passengers or cargo as desired.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to vehicles, such as pickup trucks, in which a rear wall of the vehicle passenger compartment is adaptable to provide various configurations for optionally increasing cargo space by extension into the rear passenger area or, alternatively, closing off the cargo area from the passenger compartment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known in the art to provide a pickup truck having a cab portion for carrying passengers in a rear seat section behind the driver and a cargo box behind the cab portion for carrying cargo. It is also known to provide aligned openings in the cab portion and the cargo box for carrying longer loads which extend into the passenger compartment with the rear seat folded down. However, a need exists for providing a pickup truck or similar vehicle with a flexible panel and window system that is adapted to accommodate a variety of optional configurations for alternatively carrying a maximum passenger load or an extended cargo load under both covered and uncovered conditions where the cargo load is protected from or exposed to ambient external conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a reconfigurable back panel and window system for use in an extended cab pickup truck or other similar vehicle in which the rear wall of the vehicle body is adaptable for use in various optional configurations. 
     In a passenger carrying mode, a rear seat is positioned in the body in a passenger carrying position ahead of a frame defining a rear opening. A lower portion of the opening is closable by a reconfigurable back panel. Above the panel, an upper portion of the opening is optionally closed by a removable and storable rear window. Manual means are preferably provided for retaining and allowing removal and storage of the window in a storage pocket of the back panel to allow additional cab ventilation or communication with the rear cargo compartment. 
     Conventionally, the rear seat of the passenger compartment may be folded down to allow carrying of cargo within the passenger compartment on the back of the folded down seat. Behind the seat, the back panel acts as a closure panel for closing a lower portion of the rear opening below the window. The panel is pivotable inward about a lower pivot axis to fold down over the back of the rear seat and open communication through the lower portion of the rear opening between the cargo compartment and the rear portion of the passenger compartment for carrying cargo extending between the two compartments. 
     A crossbar preferably extends transversely across the rear wall between the upper and lower portions of the opening. The crossbar is attachable to the frame by retainer means, such as releasable latches at opposite ends of the crossbar engaging striker assemblies on opposite sides of the frame. A second pair of latches within the crossbar are engaged by strikers on the panel to releasably retain the panel to the crossbar. Preferably, a control handle on the crossbar may be actuated to independently release either of the pairs of latches to allow opening of the panel with the crossbar retained in the frame or opening of the panel with the crossbar attached to the panel and released from the frame. 
     A channel in the crossbar provides a mounting portion for the window. Latches in an upper portion of the frame releasably retain the window in the closed position. 
     The reconfigurable back panel and window system thus allows for a variety of configurations in which the vehicle may be used, including: 
     a rear passenger mode with the rear window closed or open and stored; 
     an interior cargo mode with the rear seats forward and the panel and window closed to separate the interior and exterior compartments; 
     a first communication mode with the back panel closed and the rear window open and stored; 
     a second communication mode with the window stored and the back panel and crossbar open to provide full access through the rear opening between the interior and exterior compartments; and 
     a third communication mode with the rear window closed and the back panel open. 
    
    
     These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of certain specific embodiments of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a rear portion of a truck body showing rear seats in a passenger carrying mode; 
     FIG. 2 is a pictorial view showing an interior cargo mode; 
     FIG. 3 is a pictorial view showing interior and exterior compartments in a first or upper communication mode through a window opening; 
     FIG. 4 is a pictorial view showing a second or full communication mode through the fully open panel frame with the window stored; 
     FIG. 5 is a pictorial view showing a third or lower communication mode through a lower panel opening; 
     FIG. 6 is a pictorial view showing installation of the reconfigurable panel assembly with the crossbar in place; and 
     FIG. 7 is a pictorial view showing installation and retention of the removable window. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the rear portion of a vehicle  10 , such as a pickup truck or sport utility vehicle. The front portion of the vehicle is not shown but includes a front compartment for a driver and front passenger. In addition, vehicle  10  includes a body  12  having a rear passenger carrying internal compartment, designated herein for purposes of description as a first compartment  14 , and a rearwardly adjacent cargo carrying external (open topped) compartment, designated herein as a second compartment  16 . 
     The first compartment includes a floor  18  carrying a pair of split bench seats each including seat cushions  20 ,  22  and seat backs  24 ,  26 . The seat cushions  20 ,  22  and seat backs  24 ,  26  are pivotally mounted to the floor  18  for movement between passenger carrying positions, shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, and cargo carrying positions, shown partially in phantom lines in FIGS. 2-5. The first compartment  14  is conventionally enclosed by side walls or doors and a roof, not shown, essentially enclosing the seats and passengers or cargo carried therein. The second compartment  16  also includes a floor  28 , side walls  30  and a tailgate  32 , if desired, to form a partially enclosed cargo bed having an open top  34 . If desired, the top  34  could be closed by a suitable cover, not shown. 
     As is best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, body  12  includes a peripheral frame  36  located between the first and second compartments. Frame  36  defines an opening  38  that allows full communication between the compartments. A crossbar  40  is mountable transversely in the frame and effectively separates the access opening  38  into upper and lower portions  42 ,  44 . The crossbar is retained in the frame by strikers  46  mounted in the frame and engaged by a pair of latches  48  mounted on opposite ends of the crossbar. The crossbar  40  also mounts a second pair of latches  50  accessed through openings on an interior side of the crossbar for a purpose to be subsequently described. Both pairs of latches may be actuated independently by a control handle  52  mounted on the interior side of the crossbar. 
     A closure panel or back panel  54  is pivotally mounted on hinges  56  secured to a lower edge of the frame  36 . A receptor or storage pocket  58  is provided on the front side of the panel in its closed position for a purpose to be subsequently made clear. The panel includes strikers  60  mounted along an upper edge of the panel and engagable with the second latches  50  of the crossbar for latching the panel in an upright closed position. In the closed position, the panel  54  closes the lower portion  44  of the access opening  38  against entry therethrough of exterior materials through the open second compartment. 
     A backlite or rear window  62  is supported in mounting means, such as a channel  64 , along the upper edge of the crossbar  40  and, when installed, closes the upper portion of the access opening  38  against the entry of external materials. The window is retained in the opening upper portion by latches  66  mounted on or adjacent an upper edge of the frame  36  in the body  12 . The latches may engage metal tabs  68  spaced on the upper edge of the window and electrically connected to a rear window defogger grid  70  on the window, so that low voltage electric current may be provided to the grid through the latches. The various latches, strikers and other associated elements are exemplary of various types of retainers which may be used for holding the various components of the invention in their positions as described. 
     Suitable seals may be provided to seal the edges of the window, panel and crossbar when assembled into the frame access opening  38 . These may include a weatherstrip  72  around the edges of the frame and upper and lower seals  74 ,  76  on the crossbar  40  for engaging the window and panel, respectively. The seals act to seal the joints against the entry of water, air or odors and the structures of the panel  54 , crossbar  40  and window  62  mechanically exclude entry of solid materials or cargo from the second compartment  16 . 
     FIGS. 1-5 illustrate various operating modes of the reconfigurable back panel and associated elements of the above-described embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 shows a passenger carrying mode in which the panel  54 , crossbar  40  and window  62  are mounted in the frame  36 , closing the access opening  38 . The seat backs  24 ,  26  and seat cushions  20 ,  22  are pivoted rearward in position to seat up to three passengers in the interior first compartment in an enclosed environment protected by the rear panel, crossbar and window. 
     FIG. 2 shows an interior cargo mode in which the seat cushions  20 ,  22  are pivoted forward and the seat backs  24 ,  26  are pivoted down so that cargo, such as boxed materials, may be carried internally on the upwardly facing rear surfaces of the seat backs. The cargo is protected from external elements by the back panel elements, which remain in place closing the access opening  38 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a ventilated compartment or first communication mode in which the rear window has been removed by manually releasing the latches  66  and removing the window  62  from the mounting channel  64  in the crossbar  40 . The removed window is stored for protection in the receptor or storage pocket  60  on the front of the panel  54 . In this mode, the upper portion  42  of the opening  38  is open for communication between the compartments for the transfer of cargo or objects therebetween and for ventilation of the vehicle interior if desired. In a variation of this mode, the seats may be repositioned as in FIG. 1 for carrying passengers while the first compartment remains open to rear ventilation through the upper portion  42 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a full access or second communication mode in which the panel  54  with the stored window  62  as shown in FIG. 3 is pivoted forward with the crossbar  40  attached. The control handle  52  is actuated to release the end latches  48 , disconnecting the crossbar from the frame  36  and allowing the crossbar and panel to be pivoted down into engagement with the folded down seat backs  24 ,  26 . The window remains protected in the storage pocket  58  on the front of the panel and above the seat backs. In this mode, the full access opening is unblocked for full communication of the first and second compartments including the transfer of cargo therebetween and the carrying of longer cargo which extends into both compartments. Of course, in this mode, the first compartment would be open to the entry of ambient air or water into the interior of the normally enclosed compartment but the carrying of larger cargo would be permitted. 
     FIG. 5 shows a lower access or third communication mode where the arrangement of FIG. 2 is modified by actuating the control handle  52  to release the front latches  50 . The back panel  54  is then pivoted forward and down against the seat backs  24 ,  26  which lie against the floor  18  of the first compartment  14 . The crossbar  40  remains in place latched to the frame  36  with the window in its closed position and latched to the frame as in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lower portion  44  of the access opening is thus clear for free communication between the first and second compartments and the carrying of larger cargo. In a variation of this mode, a conventional box cover or cargo cover may be applied to the normally open second (cargo) compartment, with the possible need for additional seals. Thus, both compartments and any cargo therein may be protected from exposure to exterior ambient conditions, such as rain or snow. 
     Preferably, the crossbar latches are interlocked so that the end latches cannot be actuated to release the crossbar from the frame unless the rear window has first been removed. The continuing support of the in place rear window by the crossbar is thus assured. Likewise, the front latches that secure the back panel to the crossbar cannot be released when the rear window has first been removed. Thus, the crossbar is only movable with the back panel, and then only when the window has been removed and stored. From the foregoing, it may be understood that the vehicle body of the invention is reconfigurable by movement of the rear seats, rear panel, rear window and crossbar to create a cargo and passenger vehicle with variable capacity and conditions of use. 
     While the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes could be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but that it have the full scope permitted by the language of the following claims.