Patent Publication Number: US-11643150-B2

Title: Vehicle cargo structure

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a vehicle cargo structure. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cargo structure that includes front corner brackets that provide the cargo structure with flexibility and movement while operating the vehicle. 
     Background Information 
     Cargo carrying vehicles, such as pickup trucks endure changes in weight distribution within a cargo area of a cargo structure when differing cargo is placed within the cargo area. Further, with various cargo loads within the cargo area, the cargo structure flexes and moves in response to these changes in loads. 
     SUMMARY 
     It has been discovered that vehicle cargo structures provided with flexing capability can provide a longer term of service due to the flexing capability. 
     One object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle cargo structure with structural relationships that allow the cargo structure to flex in response to differing cargo loads in a variety of driving conditions. 
     In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle cargo structure with an inboard side wall structure, an upright strut member, a front wall structure and a bracket attached to a forward upper portion of the inboard side wall panel, an upper end of the upright member and an outboard end of the front wall structure. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle cargo structure is provided with a reinforcement panel, an upright strut member having an upper end, a front wall structure having an attachment bracket fixed to an outboard upper end of the front wall structure and a bracket fixedly attached to a forward portion of the reinforcement panel and the upper end of the upright strut member, the bracket being further secured to the attachment bracket of the front wall structure via mechanical fasteners. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a vehicle body structure of a vehicle showing a cab portion and a cargo structure that defines a cargo area in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view showing a gap between the cab portion and the cargo structure of the vehicle in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded top view of the vehicle showing the cargo structure spaced apart from the cab portion, the cargo structure having a floor, a driver&#39;s side wall, a passenger&#39;s side wall, a front wall structure, an upright strut member, a bracket and a tail gate structure, the driver&#39;s side wall having an inboard side wall structure, an outboard side wall structure and a reinforcement panel in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of a forward portion of the cargo structure showing a forward portion of the inboard side wall structure of the driver&#39;s side wall and further showing the reinforcement panel of the inboard side wall structure, the bracket, the upright strut member, an attachment panel (front wall bracket) and a wall panel of the front wall structure in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is another exploded perspective view of the forward portion of the cargo structure partially assembled showing the inboard side wall structure, the reinforcement panel, the bracket, the upright strut member and the front wall structure in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the forward portion of the cargo structure showing the forward portion of the inboard side wall structure of the driver&#39;s side wall attached to the front wall structure in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    another perspective view of the forward portion of the cargo structure showing the forward portion of the inboard side wall structure of the driver&#39;s side wall attached to the front wall structure and showing the upright strut member in phantom lines in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    is a first perspective view of the bracket removed from the vehicle cargo structure showing an inboard facing surface in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  9    is another exploded perspective view of the forward portion of the cargo structure from a different angle compared to  FIG.  4   , showing the forward portion of the inboard side wall structure of the driver&#39;s side wall, the reinforcement panel of the inboard side wall structure, the bracket, the upright strut member, the attachment panel (front wall bracket) and the wall panel of the front wall structure in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  10    is a second perspective view of the bracket removed from the vehicle cargo structure showing an outboard facing surface in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  11    is a side view of the bracket showing the inboard facing surface in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  12    is a front view of the bracket in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  13    is another side view of the bracket showing the outboard facing surface in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  14    is a rear view of the bracket in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  15    is a bottom view of the bracket in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  16    is a top view of the bracket in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of the vehicle cargo structure with the upright strut member and portions of the front wall structure removed showing attachment between the bracket and the reinforcement panel of the inboard side wall structure and attachment between a forward flange section of the reinforcement bracket and a wall panel of the front wall structure in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  18    is another perspective view of the vehicle cargo structure similar to  FIG.  17    with portions of the front wall structure removed showing attachment between the bracket and the upright strut member and attachment between the forward flange section of the reinforcement bracket, the wall panel of the front wall structure and a main section of the upright strut member in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  19    is another perspective view of the vehicle cargo structure similar to  FIGS.  17  and  18    with portions of the front wall structure removed showing attachment between the outer side wall member and the upright strut member and attachment between the upright strut member, the wall panel of the front wall structure and the forward flange section of the reinforcement bracket in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  20    is another perspective view of the vehicle cargo structure similar to  FIG.  17 - 19    showing an upper support rail and an attachment panel attached to the upper support rail and the wall panel of the front wall structure, and further showing attachment between the attachment panel of the front wall structure, a rearwardly extending flange of the upright strut member and the bracket via mechanical fasteners in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG.  21    is a side view of an inboard side of the driver&#39;s side wall and the upright strut member with the front wall structure removed in accordance with the exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG.  22    is a front view of the front wall structure and the driver&#39;s side wall showing the fasteners attaching the front wall structure to the driver&#39;s side wall and the upright strut member in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Referring initially to  FIG.  1   , a vehicle cargo structure  10  of a vehicle  12  is illustrated in accordance with a first embodiment. The vehicle  12  defines a vehicle rearward direction D R , a vehicle forward direction D F , a longitudinal center line C L , inboard directions D I  and outboard directions D O . The inboard directions D I  and outboard directions D O  are defined relative to the longitudinal center line C L . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  3   , the vehicle  12  includes a cab portion  14  that defines a passenger compartment  16 . The rear wall  18  of the cab portion  14  includes a lower section  20  and an upper section  22  with an offset section  24  located therebetween. The lower section  20  of the cab portion  14  extends along a first plane P 1  and the upper section  22  extends along a second plane P 2 . The first plane P 1  and the second plane P 2  are offset from one another. More specifically, the lower section  20  is further forward in the vehicle forward direction D F  than the upper section  22 . Consequently, the upper section  22  overhangs the lower section  20 . The offset section  24  has a curved contour transitioning from the lower section  20  in the vehicle rearward direction D R  toward the upper section  22  but has a more abrupt transition and sharper curve where it meets the lower end of the upper section  22 . 
     The lower section of the rear wall  18  of the cab portion  14  can have a concaved curved contour (not shown). A forward side of a front wall structure  36  (described herein below) can also include a convex curved contour (not shown). A gap is defined between the rear wall of the cab portion  14  and a front surface of the front wall structure  36  such that they do not contact. However, that gap is not visible in  FIG.  2   . 
     More specifically, a lower portion of the offset section  24  defines a first radius R 1  (with a center point within the vehicle cargo structure  10 ). An upper portion of the offset section  24  defines a second radius R 2  (with a center point within the cab portion  14 ). The first radius R 1  is larger than the second radius R 2 . In the depicted embodiment, the first radius R 1  is more than twice the length of the second radius R 2 . 
     A description of the vehicle cargo structure  10  is now provided with specific reference to  FIGS.  1 - 22   . The vehicle cargo structure  10  includes a floor structure  30 , a driver&#39;s side wall  32 , a passenger&#39;s side wall  34 , the front wall structure  36  and a tailgate structure  38 . The driver&#39;s side wall  32  and the passenger&#39;s side wall  34  are identical except that they are symmetrical about the longitudinal center line C L  of the vehicle  12 . In other words, the driver&#39;s side wall  32  and the passenger&#39;s side wall  34  are basically mirror images of one another. Since the driver&#39;s side wall  32  and the passenger&#39;s side wall  34  of the vehicle cargo structure  10  are basically identical, only the driver&#39;s side wall  32  of the vehicle cargo structure  10  will be described below, for the sake of brevity. The description of the driver&#39;s side wall  32  applies equally to the passenger&#39;s side wall  34 . Further, the structural relationships described herein below between the driver&#39;s side wall  32  and the front wall structure  36  also apply equally to the structural relationships between the passenger&#39;s side wall  34  and the front wall structure  36 . 
     The floor structure  30  is a conventional structure that is attached to lower portions of each of the driver&#39;s side wall  32 , the passenger&#39;s side wall  34  and front wall structure  36  in a conventional manner. Since floor structures are conventional structures, further description is omitted for the sake of brevity. Similarly, since tailgate structures are also conventional structures, further description is also omitted for the sake of brevity. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 - 7   , the driver&#39;s side wall  32  basically includes inboard side wall structure  40 , an outboard side wall member  42 , an upright strut member  44  and a bracket  46 . As described further below, the upright strut member  44  and the bracket  46  are also part of the front wall structure  36 . 
     The inboard side wall structure  40  includes, among other features, a main panel  50  and a reinforcement panel  52 . The main panel  50  has a contoured surface that is shaped to at least partially form a wheel well section  54 . The main panel  50  can optionally include a fuel filler section  56 . The wheel well section  54  is shaped such that a wheel and corresponding suspension (not shown) of the vehicle beneath the wheel well section  54  is covered from above by the wheel well section  54 . The fuel filler section  56  is an optional feature that can be included in either the driver&#39;s side wall  32  or the passenger&#39;s side wall  34 , but preferably not both. Specifically, if a filler tube (not shown) of a fuel tank (not shown) is located outboard of the fuel filler section  56 , the fuel filler section  56  of the inboard side wall structure  40  covers and conceals the filler tube. Since fuel filler tubes and fuel tanks are conventional features well known in the art, further description is omitted for the sake of brevity. 
     The main panel  50  also includes an upper portion  50   a  that extends along the entire length of the upper end of the main panel. As shown in  FIG.  4   , the main panel also defines an upper outboard area  50   b , with the upper portion  50   a  extending above and along the upper outboard area  50   b . The upper portion  50   a  also includes an inboard flange  50   c  that extends downward from the upper portion  50   a  and along a majority of the length of the upper portion  50   a . A gap G is defined by the inboard flange  50   c  at a forward end of the upper portion  50   a , as shown in  FIGS.  4 - 6   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 - 7   , the main panel  50  of the inboard side wall structure  40  further includes an attachment flange  58  that extends from an upper area of a forward edge of the main panel. The attachment flange  58  is bent in an inboard direction such that the attachment panel  58  is parallel with the front wall structure  36 . 
     The reinforcement panel  52  has an upper section  60 , an outboard section  62 , an inboard section  64  and a forward flange section  66 . The outboard section  62  extends downward from an outboard side of the upper section  60 . The inboard section  64  extends downward from an inboard side of the upper section  60 . The inboard section  64  that defines a downwardly extending flange having an inboard surface  64   a . The inboard surface  64   a  include a first section  70 , a second section  72  and a third section  74 . The first section  70  is offset from the second and third sections  72  and  74 . Further, the second section  72  is offset from the third section  74 . More specifically, the first section  72  is parallel to the second and third sections  72  and  74  but is offset in the outboard direction Do from the second and third sections  72  and  74 . Similarly, the second section  72  is offset in the outboard direction Do from the third section  74 . The first section  70  is adjacent to and forward of the second section  72 . The second section is adjacent to and forward of the third section  74 . 
     The forward flange  66  extends from a forward end of the outboard section  62  and is bent such that the forward flange  66  is parallel to the front wall structure  36 . Except for the forward flange  66 , the reinforcement panel  52  has an upside down U-shape, as viewed looking rearward, as shown in  FIG.  9   . The upper section  60  of reinforcement panel  52  of the inboard side wall structure  40  is welded to or otherwise fixedly attached to an underside of an upper portion  50   a  of the main panel  50 . Also, the outboard section  62  of the reinforcement panel  52  is welded to or otherwise fixedly attached to an upper outboard area  50   b  of the main panel  50 . 
     A description of the outboard side wall member  42  is provided below following a description of the front wall structure  36 , the upright strut member  44  and the bracket  46 . 
     The front wall structure  36  includes a wall panel  78 , an upper support rail  80  (a top rail panel) and an attachment panel  82  (a front wall bracket). The wall panel  78  extends across the front of the cargo structure  10  from one of the upright strut member  44  at the front end of the driver&#39;s side wall  32  to the upright strut member  44  (not shown) at the front end of the passenger&#39;s side wall  34 . The upper support rail  80  (also referred to as a top rail panel) is fixedly attached to an upper end of the wall panel  78  via, for example, welding techniques. 
     The attachment panel  82  (also referred to as a front wall bracket) has an elongated portion  86  and a flange portion  88 . The elongated portion  86  extends in a vehicle inboard directions D I  from the upright strut member  44 . The elongated portion  86  is fixedly attached to one or both of wall panel  78  and the upper support rail  80  via, for example, any of a variety or combination of various welding techniques. 
     The flange portion  88  extends in a vehicle rearward direction D R  from an outboard end of the elongated portion  44 . The flange portion  88  is also vertically oriented. As shown in  FIGS.  4 ,  9  and  20   , the flange portion  88  includes a pair of openings  90  that are described further below. 
     A description of the upright strut member  44  is now provided with specific reference to  FIGS.  1 ,  3 - 5 ,  7 ,  9  and  18 - 22   . 
     The upright strut member  44  is a structural element that connects the driver&#39;s side wall  32  to the front wall structure  36 , as described in greater detail below. The upright strut member  32  includes a main section  92 , a curved upper end section  94  and a rearwardly extending flange  96 . 
     The main section  92  is vertically oriented extending from a lower portion (not shown) of the vehicle cargo structure  10  or vehicle frame (not shown) to an upper end of the inboard side wall structure  40  and an upper end of the front wall structure  40 . 
     The curved upper end section  94  defines an upwardly facing surface portion that extends rearward and upward from the main section  92 , as shown in  FIG.  2   . As is also shown in  FIG.  2   , the curved upper end section  94  is inclined by an angle relative to vertical that complements the curvature of the offset section  24  of the cab portion  14  of the vehicle  12 . Further, the curved upper end section  94  is spaced apart from the offset section  24  of the cab portion  14  of the vehicle  12 . 
     The rearwardly extending flange  96  extends in a rearward direction from the curved upper end section  80  and an upper end of the main section  92 . The rearwardly extending flange  96  is vertically oriented. The rearwardly extending flange  96  has an attachment section  98  and a bracket attachment section  100 . The attachment section  98  includes a pair of openings  102 . The bracket attachment section  100  is parallel to and offset from the attachment section  98 . 
     A description of the bracket  38  is now provided with reference to  FIGS.  4 - 5  and  7 - 20   . The bracket  38  is basically a single metallic member, unitarily formed and a monolithic member that includes a main section  110 , a first flange portion  112 , a second flange portion  114 , a third flange portion  116 , a fourth flange portion  118  and fastener structures  120 . The main section  110  has an inboard facing surface  122  and an outboard facing surface  124 . For example, the bracket  38  can be stamped from a blank sheet metal material to form the main section  110 , the first flange portion  112 , the second flange portion  114 , the third flange portion  116  and the fourth flange portion  118 . The fastener structures  120  are preferably welded to the bracket  38 . 
     The first flange portion  112  extends from the outboard facing surface  124  and is inclined relative to vertical by an acute angle (less than 45°). The second flange portion  114  below the first portion having a vertical portion  114   a  and a curved portion  114   b  that extends to first flange portion  112 . The third flange portion  116  extends along upper edge of outboard facing surface  124  in outboard direction is horizontally oriented. The fourth flange portion  118  extends in a rearward direction and has a first section  118   a  and a second section  118   b  that extends rearward from first section  118   a  and is parallel to first section  118   a . The fastener structures  120  are welded or otherwise fixedly attached to the main section  110  and extend in an outboard direction from the outboard facing surface  124 , as shown in  FIG.  10   . The fastener structures  120  have threaded openings  130  that extend from inboard facing surface  122  to the outboard facing surface  124 . 
     The bracket  46  further includes a lower flange  126  that extends from the outboard facing surface  124  along a lower end of the main section  110 , as shown in  FIGS.  10  and  13   . 
       FIGS.  17 - 20    show portions of the vehicle cargo structure  10  in various stages of assembly.  FIGS.  17 - 20    are provided to show the various relationships between the elements and structures of the vehicle cargo structure  10 , but do not necessarily shown the actual order in which these elements and structures are assembled. 
     As shown in  FIG.  17   , the reinforcement panel  52  (a reinforcement bracket) is welded or otherwise fixedly attached to a front upper portion of the main panel  50  of the inboard side wall structure  40 . The third section  74  of the inboard surface  64   a  of the inboard section  64  of the reinforcement panel  52  is visible in the gap G defined by the inboard flange  50   c  of the main panel  50 . The upper section  60  (not visible in  FIG.  17   ) of the reinforcement panel  52  is welded to or otherwise fixedly attached to the underside of the upper portion  50   a  of the main panel  50 . Further, although not visible in  FIG.  17   , the outboard section  62  of the reinforcement panel  52  is welded to or otherwise fixedly attached to the inboard side of the upper outboard area  50   b  of the main panel  50 . Thus, the reinforcement panel  52  is fixedly and non-movably attached to an upper forward area of the main panel  50 . 
     As is shown in  FIG.  17   , an outboard flange  78   a  of the wall panel  78  of the front wall structure  36  overlaps but is slightly spaced apart from the attachment flange  58  of the main panel  50  of the inboard side wall structure  40 . As shown, the upper end of the flange  78   a  and the upper end of the attachment flange  58  are both below and spaced apart from the bracket  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  18   , the main section  92  of the upright strut member  44  extends in an inboard direction to an area between the outboard flange  78   a  and the attachment flange  58 . The main section  92 , the outboard flange  78   a  and the attachment flange  58  are welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to one another. Like the outboard flange  78   a  and the attachment flange  58 , the main section  92  of the upright strut member  44  is spaced apart from the bracket  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  17   , the bracket  46  is installed to a forward upper end of inboard side wall structure  40 . Specifically, the first section  118   a  of the fourth flange portion  118  of the bracket  46  overlays and is welded to the first section  70  of the inboard surface  64   a  of the inboard section  64  of the reinforcement panel  52 . The second section  118   b  of the fourth flange portion  118  of the bracket  46  overlays and is welded to the second section  72  of the inboard surface  64   a  of the inboard section  64  of the reinforcement panel  52 . As shown in  FIG.  17   , the third section  74  of the inboard surface  64   a  of the inboard section  64  of the reinforcement panel  52  is exposed at a point adjacent to and rearward of the second section  118   b  of the bracket  46 . 
     Hence, the bracket  46  is attached to a forward upper portion of the reinforcement panel  52  of the inboard side wall structure  40 . The reinforcement panel  52  is welded to or otherwise non-movably fixed to the main panel  50  of the inboard side wall structure  40 . Therefore, the bracket  46  is directly fixed to the reinforcement panel  52  and in-directly fixed to the main panel  50 . 
     However, the bracket  46  is spaced apart from and positioned above the attachment between the main section  92 , the outboard flange  78   a  and the attachment flange  58 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  18   , when the upright strut member  44  is installed, the main section  92 , the outboard flange  78   a  and the attachment flange  58  are welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to one another, as mentioned above. Further, the curved upper end section  94  of the upright strut member  44  covers the first flange portion  112  and the second flange portion  114  of the bracket  46 . Specifically, the first flange portion  112  and the vertical portion  114   a  and the curved portion  114   b  of the second flange portion  114  are covered and concealed by the curved upper end section  94  of the upright strut member  44 . As well, the attachment section  98  and the bracket attachment section  100  cover and conceal the first section  118   a  and most of the inboard facing surface  122  of the fourth flange portion  118  of the bracket  46 . As shown in  FIG.  18   , the second portion  118   b  of the fourth flange portion  118  of the bracket  46  are not covered or concealed by the upright strut member  44 . As is clear by comparing  FIGS.  17  and  18   , the openings  102  in the attachment section  98  align with the threaded openings  130  of the fastener structures  120  of the bracket  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  19   , when the outboard side wall member  42  is installed, the main section  42   c  covers and conceals outboard and upper portions of the inboard wall structure  40 . Specifically, the upper portion  42   a  of the outboard side wall member  42  covers and conceals the upper portion  50   a  of the inboard side wall structure  40  and the upper section  60  of the reinforcement panel  52 . Further, the inboard flange  42   b  of the outboard side wall member  42  covers and conceals the inboard flange  50   c  of the main panel  50 . Further, the main section  42   c  of the outboard side wall member  42  wraps around an outboard portion of the main section  92  of the upright strut member  44 , as shown in  FIGS.  19  and  20   . 
     Further, an upper portion of the main section  42   c  of the outboard side wall member  42  wraps around an outboard portion of the curved upper end section  94  of the upright strut member  44 . However, as shown in  FIG.  19   , a majority of the curved upper end section  94  is exposed. The main section  42   c  of the outboard side wall member  42  is welded to the forward edge of the curved upper end section  94  and the main section  92  of the upright strut member  44  at the depicted weld locations W. As shown in  FIG.  19    there are two no attachment zones  42   d  and  42   e  where there are no welds. The absence of welds in these zones allow for flexing of the vehicle cargo structure  10 . Further an edge section  42   f  corresponds to the no attachment zone  42   e  and is provided to ensure some flexing at that location of front wall structure  36  and the outboard side wall member  42  relative to one another. 
     Hence, the forward end of the outboard side wall member  42  is fixed to the upright strut member  44  by the welds W. However, due to the shape of the area of the outboard side wall member  42  forward of the upper portion  42   a , the driver&#39;s side wall  32  can undergo some lateral flexing. This flexing is also made possible due to the inboard side wall structure  40  being attached to the upright strut member  44  by the attachment flange  58  being welded to the main section  92  of the upright strut member  44  at a location spaced apart from and located below the bracket  46 . 
     As is clear by comparing  FIGS.  17  and  18   , the openings  102  in the attachment section  98  of the upright strut member  44  align with the threaded openings  130  of the bracket  46 . 
       FIG.  20    shows the upper support rail  80  (a top rail panel) of the front wall structure  36  attached to the wall panel  78 . Specifically, the upper support rail  80  is welded or otherwise fixedly and rigidly attached to the upper end of the wall panel  78 . The attachment panel  82  (a front wall bracket) is welded to the upper support rail  80 . With the upper support rail  80  and the attachment panel  82  in position as shown in  FIG.  20   , the openings  90  of the flange portion  88  of the attachment panel  82  align with the openings  102  of the attachment section  98  of the upright strut member  44  and align with the threaded openings  130  of the fastener structures  120  of the bracket  46 . The fasteners F 1  are inserted into the openings  90 , through the openings  102  of the upright strut member  44  and threaded into the openings  130  of the fastener structures  120  of the bracket  46 . With the fasteners F 1  tightened and torqued to a predetermined level of torque, the front wall structure  36 , the upright strut member  44  and the forward end of the driver&#39;s side wall  32  are rigidly attached to each other. Hence, the bracket attachment section  98  of the upright strut member  44  is confined between the flange portion  88  of the attachment panel  82  of the front wall structure  36  and the main section  110  of the bracket  46  via the tightened fasteners F 1 . 
     The following relationships make it possible for the front wall structure  36  and the driver&#39;s side wall  32  to flex in response to changes in cargo loads and rough road conditions while carrying a heavy cargo load. The upper end of the front wall structure  36  and the upper end of the upright strut member  44  are fixed to one another via the connection between the fasteners F 1  and the bracket  46 . All other connections between the front wall structure  36  and the upright strut member  44  are spaced apart from and below the bracket  46 . The bracket  46  is fixed to an upper forward area of the inboard side wall structure  40 . 
     The various elements of the vehicle  12  other than the above described features of the vehicle cargo structure  10  are conventional components that are well known in the art. Since these vehicle elements are well known in the art, these structures will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the components can be any type of structure and/or programming that can be used to carry out the present invention. 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiment(s), the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle cargo area. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the vehicle cargo area. 
     The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such features. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.