Patent Publication Number: US-2022227301-A1

Title: Reconfigurable cargo screen assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present disclosure is a continuation (CON) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/865,873, filed on May 4, 2020, and entitled “RECONFIGURABLE CARGO SCREEN ASSEMBLY,” which claims the benefit of priority of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/851,684, filed on May 23, 2019, and entitled “RECONFIGURABLE CARGO SCREEN ASSEMBLY,” the contents of both of which are incorporated in full by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to the automotive field. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to cargo screens for covering loads stored in a trunk or cargo space in a rear section of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Certain styles of vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles (SUVs), vans, minivans, station wagons, etc., may generally include three or more rows of seats in addition to cargo space at the rear of the vehicle behind the last row of seats. Also, some of these types of vehicles may include a rear row of seats that can be positioned in an upright manner to be used as a regular seat for passengers or may alternatively be folded down or stowed away within a floor panel of the vehicle in order to increase the cargo space. This option to arrange the seats in a usable configuration or stowed configuration allows for using the vehicle for transporting more passengers if necessary and also allowing the users to increase the storage space as needed. 
     Also, some vehicles may include load covers that are configured to be stretched out over a load that is stored in the trunk or cargo space in the rear of the vehicle. The load cover is configured to protect the cargo from direct sunlight that may shine into the vehicle, which may help to keep the temperature of the cargo from rising too high. Also, the load covers serve to hide the owner&#39;s possessions from passersby. Thus, if expensive cargo is stored within the storage space, the load covers can prevent possible theft if people outside the vehicle cannot see what is being stored. 
     Since vehicles may be equipped with both foldable/stowable seats to allow a flexible seating arrangements and also load covers for protecting or hiding cargo, there is a need in the field of automotive design to provide load covers that may serve the purposes of protecting and hiding a load, regardless of the positioning of a third row of seats. Normally, load covers might be positioned behind a second row of seats and may not be usable when the third row of seats is in an upright position, since this third row of seats may interfere with the load covers. Thus, some conventional load covers may only be usable when the third row of seat is in the folded-down/stowed position. 
     The above-described background relating to vehicle configurations and load covers is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of some current issues related to the present disclosure and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other contextual information may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of exemplary embodiments. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to cargo screen assemblies for covering cargo or loads in a back section of a vehicle. The cargo screen assemblies are used for protecting the cargo from sunlight radiating through the windows of the vehicle and further protect the cargo from spying eyes. According to one embodiment, a reconfigurable cargo screen assembly includes a retracting component including a cassette member, a retractable screen, a first end beam, and a retraction mechanism. A first end of the retractable screen is connected to the first end beam and a second end of the retractable screen is retractably connected within the cassette member by the retraction mechanism. The reconfigurable cargo screen assembly further includes a middle cover component including a rod member, a middle screen, and a second end beam. A first end of the middle screen is connected to the rod member and a second end of the middle screen is connected to the second end beam. Also, the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly includes a back component including a connection beam and a back screen connected to the connection beam. In a first configuration, the connection beam of the back component is connected to the first end beam of the retracting component. In a second configuration, the connection beam of the back component is connected to the second end beam of the middle cover component. 
     According to another embodiment, the present disclosure describes a vehicle including first, second, and third rows of seats for seating passengers within the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a cargo screen assembly configurable in a first arrangement when the third row of seats is placed in a folded or stowed position and configurable in a second arrangement when the third row of seats is placed in an upright or usable position. The cargo screen assembly includes a retracting component, a middle cover component, and a back component. The retracting component and back component are connected together to configure the cargo screen assembly in the first arrangement. Also, the middle cover component and the back component are connected together to configure the cargo screen assembly in the second arrangement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like system or assembly components/method or algorithm steps. The illustrated components of the various systems are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a reconfigurable cargo screen assembly for a vehicle, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a first arrangement of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a second arrangement of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of ends of a back component attached to a retracting component or middle cover component of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of an end of a retracting component shown in  FIG. 1 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of a pocket incorporated within an interior side panel of a vehicle for accommodating one of the ends of the retracting component shown in  FIG. 1 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of a variable depth recess incorporated within an interior side panel of a vehicle for accommodating one of the spring-loaded ends of the middle cover component shown in  FIG. 1 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of a slot incorporated within an interior side panel of a vehicle for accommodating one of the ends of the back component of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is diagram illustrating a side view on an interior of a vehicle with a third row of seats placed in a stowed position to allow the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly of  FIG. 1  to be configured in the first arrangement of  FIG. 2 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is diagram illustrating a side view on an interior of the vehicle with the third row of seats placed in an upright or usable position to allow the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly of  FIG. 1  to be configured in the second arrangement of  FIG. 3 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     According to the embodiments described in the present disclosure, reconfigurable cargo screen assemblies provide optional configurations depending on the orientation of a rear (e.g., third) row of seats in a vehicle. Thus, if the vehicle is arranged such that a third row of seats is positioned in an upright position to seat passengers, as needed, a reduced cargo space is created and the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly can be configured to cover this reduced space without interfering with the seats or passengers. Otherwise, if the third row of seats is folded down, flattened, or stowed away, the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly may be configured to adequately cover a larger cargo space. Portions of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly that are not being used in the specific arrangements can be stored away in a compartment, such as under a trunk floor panel. Other storage configurations are also provided herein. Thus, the present disclosure provides a modular based system for enable multiple configurations depending on the seating arrangement and available storage space. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  for a vehicle. In this embodiment, the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  includes three “separate” parts, connectable/connected together as mentioned below. The reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  includes a retracting component  12 , which includes a cassette member  14 , a retractable screen  16 , a first end beam  18 , and a retraction mechanism (not shown) that is located within the body of the cassette member  14 . A first end  20  of the retractable screen  16  is connected to the first end beam  18 , and a second end (not shown) of the retractable screen  16  is retractably connected within the cassette member  14  by the retraction mechanism. The reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  further includes a middle cover component  22 , which includes a rod member  24 , a middle screen  26 , and a second end beam  28 . A first end  30  of the middle screen  26  is connected to the rod member  24 , and a second end  32  of the middle screen  26  is connected to the second end beam  28 . Furthermore, the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  includes a back component  34 , which includes a connection beam  36  and a back screen  38  that is connected at a front end  40  thereof to the connection beam  36 . It should be noted that the middle cover component  22  and the back component  34  could simply represent two portions of an integrated component, with the two portions selectively folded together, for example. 
     The connection beam  36  is configured to be connected with either one of the first end beam  18  and the second end beam  28 . The first end beam  18  and second end beam  28  may include the same shape for attachment with the connection beam  36 . In a first configuration, the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  is connected to the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12 . In a second configuration, the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  is connected to the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22  and material. In some embodiments, the end beams  18 ,  28  and the connection beam  36  may be manufactured from the same material (e.g., aluminum). 
     Furthermore, the middle cover component  22  may include one or more elastic bands  42  formed on a bottom portion of the middle screen  26 . The one or more elastic bands  42  may be configured to elastically connect the rod member  24  to the second end beam  28 . The elastic bands  42  may be used to retract the second end beam  28  toward the rod member  24  in a normal state. During use, the rod member  24  may be secured to interior side panels of a vehicle and the second end beam  28  can be pulled back to stretch the middle screen  26  over the load. In the extended state, end connectors of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  can be attached to side connectors of the vehicle to hold the middle screen  26  in place. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a first arrangement  50  of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 . In the first arrangement  50 , the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  is connected to the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12 , shown as a unitary beam  52  in  FIG. 2 . The reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  may be used in the first arrangement  50  when a third (or most rearward) row of seats is folded down or stowed away and not in use for seating passengers. When the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  is connected or configured in this first arrangement  50 , the retractable screen  16  of the retracting component  12  can be pulled back in an extended position and locked in place. Thus, a greater amount of space may be covered by the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  when it is in the first arrangement  50 . 
     The first end beam  18  and connection beam  36  may include any suitable design to allow these parts to be securely connected together so that they remain connected during use. Also, the parts may be designed to allow them to be disconnected from each other to allow the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  to be reconfigured in other arrangement, such as the arrangement describe below with respect to  FIG. 3 . Therefore, when connected, one or both of the first end beam  18  and/or connection beam  36  may include portions that may be at least partially contained within/connected to corresponding portions of the other component. Ends of the cassette member  14  may be attached to corresponding connection members of an interior side panel of the vehicle for securing a front side of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10 . 
     By pulling the combined beam  52 , which is formed by the first end beam  18  and connection beam  36 , in a rearward direction, a user can stretch the retractable screen  16  over a load stored in the back of a vehicle. In other embodiments, the back component  34  may include a handle that the user can pull to extend the retractable screen  16 . Ends of the beam  52  may include tabs  54  that can be inserted within one or more sets of recesses along side panels of the interior of the vehicle for keeping the retractable screen  16  in an extended position for shading or protecting the load. To retract the screen  16 , the user may pull the beam  52  (or handle) rearward to remove the end tabs  54  from the recesses, and the retraction mechanism of the cassette member  14  retracts the screen  16  into the cassette to allow the user to access the load. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a second arrangement  60  of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  of  FIG. 1 . In the extended position, the second arrangement  60  may be used when a third (or most rearward) row of seats is in an upright position and is usable by passengers for regular seating. Thus, in the second arrangement  60 , a smaller space may be available for storing cargo. Nevertheless, this smaller space can also be covered without the need for the large retractable screen  16 , which might interfere with the third row of seats. The connection beam  36  of the back component  34  is connected to the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22  to form a beam  62 , which the user can pull to stretch the middle screen  26  over the load. 
     When the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  is configured in the second arrangement  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  can be used by inserting the rod member  24 , which may include spring-loaded tabs at both ends thereof, into corresponding recesses in the interior side panel of the vehicle. Thus, according to the two arrangements  50 ,  60  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , three sets of end connection elements are included on the ends of the assembly  10 . That is, a first set of connectors is associated with ends of the cassette member  14  when configured in the first arrangement  50 . A second set of connectors is associated with the spring-loaded end tabs of the rod member  24  when configured in the second arrangement  60 . A third set of connectors is associated with the tabs  54  at the ends of the beam  52 ,  62  (e.g., end of the connection beam  36 ) when the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  is in either one of the first or second arrangements  50 ,  60 . According to various embodiments, the first, second, and third end connectors may include any one or more of retractable tabs, spring loaded pins, pegs, inserts, tabs, and/or hooks for removable attachment with corresponding components of first, second, and third sets of side connectors installed on interior side panels of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of ends of the back component  34  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In the first arrangement  50  of  FIG. 2 , the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  may be attached to the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12  in a snap fit or snap lock arrangement, which allows the connection beam  36  to be removably secured to the first end beam  18 . The ends of the connection beam  36  may include a set of end connectors or tabs  54 , which may be used for attaching the back end of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  in an extended arrangement. 
     Alternative to the first arrangement of  FIG. 2 , the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  may be attached to the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22  to arrange the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  in the second arrangement  60  of  FIG. 3 . Similarly, in the second arrangement  60 , the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  may be attached to the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22  in a snap fit or snap lock arrangement, which allows the connection beam  36  to be removably secured to the second end beam  28 . 
     Each of the beams including the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12 , the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22 , and the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  may include a snap lock feature to allow the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  to be removably connected with either the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12  or the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of an end of the retracting component  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the cassette member  14  of the retracting component  12  may include a slide button  80  that may be spring-biased. Also, the cassette member  14  may include one or more tabs  82  that may extend to front and rear sides of the cassette member  14  and may remain in the extended state when the slide button  80  in biased in a rearward direction. When the tabs  82  are engaged with connection elements in side panels of a vehicle, the cassette member  14  may be removed by pressing the slide button  80  in a forward direction, causing the tabs  82  to retract into the cassette member  14  to disengage from the connection elements. The cassette member  14  of the retracting component  12  includes a left-end connection mechanism (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and a right-end connection mechanism (e.g., including a reversed arrangement with respect to  FIG. 5 ) for removably attaching the cassette member  14  within a left pocket member and a right pocket member, respectively, incorporated in interior side panels of a vehicle. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other engagement mechanisms may be used equally and those presented here are exemplary only. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of a pocket  90  incorporated within an interior side panel  92  of a vehicle. The pocket  90  is configured for accommodating one of the ends of the cassette member  14  of the retracting component  12  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . The pocket  90  may include other characteristics if the ends of the cassette member  14  includes different connection elements. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the one or more tabs  82  on each end of the cassette member  14  may snap into one or more recesses  94  of the pocket  90 . The tabs  82  may be spring-biased allowing the tabs  82  to retract when the cassette member  14  is slid downward into the pocket  90 . To remove the retracting component  12  from the pocket  90 , the user may push the slide button  80  to retract the tabs  82 , allowing the cassette member  14  to be lifted from the pocket  90 . 
     The retracting component  12  may be connected within the pockets  90  when the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  is arranged in the first arrangement  50  of  FIG. 2 . The slide button  80  and tabs  82  may represent a first set of connection components, according to one embodiment of several possible embodiments that allow the retracting component  12  to be attached to the interior side panels of a vehicle. The pocket  90  and recesses  94  may represent a first set of connection elements of the interior panels of the vehicle. The cassette member  14  of the retracting component  12  includes a first set of end connectors for removably attaching the cassette member  14  to a first set of side connectors secured to interior side panels of a vehicle. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of a variable depth recess  100  incorporated within an interior side panel of a vehicle. For example, variable depth recess  100  may be used for attaching to the rod member  24  of the middle cover component  22 . The rod member  24  may include spring-loaded ends that may be inserted within recesses  100  incorporated within opposite sides of interior panels of the vehicle. It should be recognized that the recess  100  illustrated in  FIG. 7  represents a portion of a left-side interior panel. A corresponding right-side interior panel may include a similar recess with a reversed orientation, such that the variable depth surface  102  is oriented in a rearward direction. The end tabs or inserts of the spring-loaded rod member  24  can be pressed against the variable depth surface  102  and dropped into a secured position  104 , where the recess element  100  can resist a rearward force. Each recess  100  may accommodate one of the ends. By sliding respective ends of rod member  24  into recesses  100 . the rod member  24  can be held in place when the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  is arranged in the second arrangement  60  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The ends of rod member  24  may therefore represent a second set of connectors of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  and are configured for connection with the recesses  100 , which may represent a second set of corresponding elements of the interior panels of the vehicle. The rod member  24  of the middle cover component  22  includes this second set of end connectors for removably attaching the rod member  24  to the second set of side connectors (e.g., recesses  100 ) secured to the interior side panels of the vehicle. The rod member  24  of the middle cover component  22  may include spring-loaded pins or tabs for removably attaching the rod member  24  to the variable depth recesses  100  incorporated in interior side panels of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of an embodiment of a slot  110  incorporated within an interior side panel  112  on one side of a vehicle. A similar, reversed slot may also be formed on the opposite side of the vehicle in a facing interior side panel. The slot  110  is configured for accommodating one of the ends or tabs  54  of the back component  34  of the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10 . 
     The slot  110  may include a first projection  114  and a second projection  116  formed in the interior side panel  112  to form a back position  118  where the ends or tabs  54  of the connection beam  36  can be secured. By tilting a front end of the tabs  54  downward to get around the first projection  114 , a user may allow the connection beam  36  to abut and be supported by a front end  120  of the slot  110  to position the tab  54  at a front position  122 . Therefore, the slot  110  allows the user to position the connection beam  36  at either the back position  118  or front position  122  as needed. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other engagement mechanisms may be used equally and those presented here are exemplary only. 
     The connection beam  36  of the back component  34  includes a third set of end connectors (e.g., tabs  54 ) for removably attaching the connection beam  36  to a third set of corresponding side connectors (e.g., slots  110 ) secured to the interior side panels of the vehicle. The connection beam  36  of the back component  34  includes a left-end tab  54  and a right-end tab  54  for removably attaching the connection beam within one or more sets of left and right recesses  110  within interior side panels of the vehicle. 
     In some embodiments, the slot  110  may be configured in other ways, particularly with the positioning of the recess  100  for holding the rod member  24  when configured in the second arrangement  60  of  FIG. 3 . For example, the slot  110  may include the back position  118  only in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 9  is diagram illustrating a side view on an interior of a vehicle  130  with a third row of seats  132  placed in a folded-down or stowed position. In this configuration, the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  may be used in the first arrangement  50  of  FIG. 2 . Particularly, the retracting component  12  can be attached to the back component  34 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  is arranged this way, ends of the cassette member  14  can be inserted into the oppositely arranged pockets  90  of the vehicle  130  and snapped into place using the tabs  82  and recesses  94  of the first set of connection elements to secure the cassette member  14  with respect to the vehicle  130 . Then, the retractable screen  16  can be pulled back to cover the load. The tabs  54  of the back component  34  can be inserted in the oppositely arranged slots  110  and positioned in the back position  118  or front position  122  of the slots  110 . The back screen  38  of the back component  34  may be angled slightly downward to cover the view of the cargo from a back window of the vehicle  130 . The reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  may be used in the first configuration  50  when the third row of seats  132  of the vehicle  130  is configured in a folded or stowed position. 
       FIG. 10  is diagram illustrating a side view on an interior of the vehicle  130  with the third (or other) row of seats  132  placed in an upright or usable position such that passengers may be seated and buckled into the seats  132  as needed. Since the third (or other) row of seats  132  would normally interfere with the retractable screen  16  if the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  were to be arranged in the first arrangement  50  of  FIG. 2 , the reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  allows configuration in the second arrangement  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10  can then be attached to the vehicle  130 . 
     Therefore, the present disclosure may be directed to a vehicle (e.g., vehicle  130 ) including at least first, second, and third rows of seats for seating passengers within the vehicle  130 . The vehicle  130  may include a cargo screen assembly (e.g., reconfigurable cargo screen assembly  10 ) configurable in a first arrangement  50  when the third row of seats  132  is placed in a folded or stowed position ( FIG. 9 ) and configurable in a second arrangement  60  when the third row of seats  132  is placed in an upright or usable position ( FIG. 10 ). The cargo screen assembly may include a retracting component  12 , a middle cover component  22 , and a back component  34 . The retracting component  12  and back component  34  may be connected together to configure the cargo screen assembly in the first arrangement  50 . Also, the middle cover component  22  and the back component  34  may be connected together to configure the cargo screen assembly  10  in the second arrangement  60 . 
     According to some embodiments, the retracting component  12  may include a cassette member  14 , a retractable screen  16 , a first end beam  18 , and a retraction mechanism. A first end  20  of the retractable screen  16  may be connected to the first end beam  18 , and a second end of the retractable screen  16  may be retractably connected within the cassette member  14  by the retraction mechanism. The middle cover component  22  may include a rod member  24 , a middle screen  26 , and a second end beam  28 . A first end  30  of the middle screen  26  may be connected to the rod member  24 , and a second end  32  of the middle screen  26  may be connected to the second end beam  28 . 
     The middle cover component  22  may further include one or more elastic bands  42  formed on a bottom portion of the middle screen  26 . The one or more elastic bands  42  may be configured to elastically connect the rod member  24  with the second end beam  28  or bias the two components toward each other. 
     In some embodiments, the vehicle  130  may be configured such that the back component  34  may include a connection beam  36  and a back screen  38  connected to the connection beam  36 . In the first arrangement  50 , the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  is connected to the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12 . In the second arrangement  60 , the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  is connected to the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22 . Each of the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12 , the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22 , and the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  includes a snap lock feature to allow the connection beam  36  of the back component  34  to be removably connected with either the first end beam  18  of the retracting component  12  or the second end beam  28  of the middle cover component  22 . 
     The vehicle  130  may further be configured such that the cassette member  14  of the retracting component  12  includes a first set of end connectors  80 ,  82  for removably attaching the cassette member  14  to a first set of side connectors  90 ,  94  secured to interior side panels  92  of the vehicle  130 . The rod member  24  of the middle cover component  22  includes second end connectors for removably attaching the rod member  24  to a second set of side connectors  100  secured to the interior side panels of the vehicle  130 . The connection beam  36  of the back component  34  includes a third set of end connectors  54  for removably attaching the connection beam  36  to a third set of side connectors  110  secured to the interior side panels  112  of the vehicle  130 . The first, second, and third sets of end connectors may include spring loaded pins, pegs, and/or hooks for removable attachment with corresponding components of the first, second, and third sets of side connectors of the vehicle  130 . 
     According to some embodiments, the vehicle  130  may be configured as a sport utility vehicle (SUV), van, minivan, station wagon, or other vehicle having at least one row of stowable seats at or near the back of the vehicle  130 . The vehicle  130  may include a stow-away compartment  134  formed under a trunk floor panel  136 . The stow-away compartment  134  may be configured for storing one or more of the retracting component  12 , middle cover component  22 , and back component  34  of the cargo screen assembly  10 . For example, when arranged in the second arrangement  60  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the retracting component  12  is not used in this configuration and may therefore be stored in the stow-away compartment  134 . 
     Thus, the vehicle  130  may include a trunk or rear storage area  138  ( FIG. 10 ), wherein the cargo screen assembly  10  is configured to cover a load stored in the trunk or rear storage space  138 . This arrangement  50  may be considered as being a five-seat configuration. Therefore, the middle cover component  22  is not used and can be stored in the stow-away compartment  134  under the trunk floor panel  136 . The cargo screen assembly  10  may be reconfigurable to cover an extended trunk or extended rear storage space  140  ( FIG. 9 ) when the cargo screen assembly  10  is in the first arrangement  50  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 . This arrangement  60  may be considered as being a seven-seat configuration and the unused retracting component  12  may be stored in the compartment  134 . It should be noted that detached components may also be stored in a folded-up configuration underneath the engaged retraction mechanism or the like. 
     Although the present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples can perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples should be considered as being within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following non-limiting claims.