Patent Publication Number: US-2023150583-A1

Title: Panel storage and two tier loading system

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
     The subject disclosure relates to the art of vehicles and, more particularly, to a panel storage and two tier loading system for a vehicle. 
     Vehicles, such as pickup trucks, include limited storage options due to the presence of a truck bed. Manufacturers have developed many creative storage solutions for pickup trucks. Storage has been provided in under seat bins, behind seat bins, in body bed side storage, and the like. After market options include molle panels that may be mounted to various vehicle surfaces including interior bed side surfaces, under rear seats, on rear surfaces of front and back seats, undersides of center console lids and the like. Other devices available from aftermarket suppliers include bed sliders, drawers, and/or boxes arranged in a vehicle bed. 
     While helpful, the above described solutions possess several drawbacks. Under seat mounting takes away from other under seat storage options. Back of seat storage may take up leg room; in body, bed side boxes are small; and molle panels create voids of unusable space. Further, adding bed sliders, drawers, or other boxes in the vehicle bed reduces available space for carrying wood panels, and other similar items. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide more flexible storage options in a vehicle that accommodates multiple articles yet allows for a full use of the vehicle bed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed, in accordance with a non-limiting example, is a panel storage system for a vehicle includes a panel body including a first panel portion having a first plurality of mounting elements, a second panel portion having a second plurality of mounting elements, and a hinge joining the first panel portion to the second panel portion. The first panel portion is fixedly mountable to a surface of the vehicle and the second panel portion is pivotable about the hinge. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first panel portion includes a first plurality of openings, the first plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the first panel portion between adjacent ones of the first plurality of openings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the second panel portion includes a second plurality of openings, the second plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the second panel portion between adjacent ones of the second plurality of openings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the second panel portion includes a latch member detachably connecting the second panel portion to the surface of the vehicle. 
     Also disclosed in accordance with a non-limiting example is a vehicle including a body having a passenger compartment portion and a bed portion. The bed portion includes a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. A panel storage system for a vehicle includes a panel body including a first panel portion having a first plurality of mounting elements, a second panel portion having a second plurality of mounting elements, and a hinge joining the first panel portion to the second panel portion. The first panel portion is fixedly mountable to a surface of the vehicle and the second panel portion is pivotable about the hinge. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first panel portion includes a first plurality of openings, the first plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the first panel portion between adjacent ones of the first plurality of openings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the second panel portion includes a second plurality of openings, the second plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the second panel portion between adjacent ones of the second plurality of openings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the second panel portion includes a latch member detachably connecting the second panel portion to the one of the first side wall and the second side wall. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the panel body includes a first panel body mounted to the first side wall and a second panel body mounted to the second side wall, the second panel portion of the first panel body including a first surface facing the first side wall and a second surface, a second panel portion of the second panel body including a first surface section facing the second side wall and a second surface section. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein a panel extending between the first panel body and the second panel body along a third side wall of the bed connecting the first side wall and the second side wall. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the panel extending between the first panel body and the second panel body along the third side wall includes a rib configured to support at least one of the second panel portion of the first panel body and the second panel portion of the second panel body. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the panel extending between the first panel body and the second panel body comprises a panel storage member including a plurality of opening portions and a plurality of mounting element members defined between adjacent ones of the plurality of opening portions. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first surface of the second panel portion of the first panel body includes a first rib element and the first surface section of the second panel portion of the second panel body includes a second rib element. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein a storage compartment defined between the first side wall and the first surface of the first panel body. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first panel portion comprises a first molle panel and the second panel portion comprises a second molle panel. 
     Further disclosed, in accordance with a non-limiting example, is a method of storing articles in a vehicle including pivoting a first panel portion of a panel body mounted to a side wall of the vehicle relative to a second panel portion of the panel body, positioning an article in a storage zone defined between the panel body and the side wall of the vehicle, and pivoting the first panel portion to enclose the storage zone. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein pivoting the first panel portion includes pivoting a second molle panel portion connected by a hinge to a first molle panel portion. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the method further includes pivoting a first panel portion of another panel body mounted to an opposing side wall of the vehicle relative to a second panel portion of the another panel body, and supporting an article on the first panel portion of the panel body and the first panel portion of the another panel body. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein supporting the article includes containing the article between a first rib on the first panel portion of the panel body and a second rib on the first panel portion of the another panel body. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein the method further includes supporting an end of the second panel portion of the panel body on a panel mounted to a third side surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and supporting an end of the second panel portion of the another panel body on the panel mounted to the third side surface. 
     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    depicts a pickup truck including a panel storage and two-tier loading system, in accordance with a non-limiting example; 
         FIG.  2    depicts a portion of the panel storage and two-tier loading system mounted to an inner pickup truck bed wall arranged in a first configuration, in accordance with a non-limiting example; 
         FIG.  3    depicts the panel storage and two-tier loading system of  FIG.  2    in a second configuration, in accordance with a non-limiting example; 
         FIG.  4    depicts the panel storage and two-tier loading system of  FIG.  3    showing a forward edge of a first panel portion supported on a rib on a forward wall of the pickup truck bed, in accordance with a non-limiting example; 
         FIG.  5    depicts a guide rib and a panel on the first panel portion, in accordance with a non-limiting example; and 
         FIG.  6    depicts a panel supported on the first panel portion of the panel storage and two-tier loading system, in accordance with a non-limiting example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
     A vehicle, shown in the form of a pickup truck, in accordance with a non-limiting example, is indicated generally at  10  in  FIG.  1   . Vehicle  10  includes a body  12  supported by a plurality of wheels, one of which is indicated at  16 . Body  12  includes a passenger compartment  20  and a bed portion  22 . While shown as an open bed portion, vehicle  10  may include a closed bed portion such as is the case with an SUV, a minivan, a cargo van, and the like. Bed portion  22  includes a bed floor  24 , a first wheel well  25 , a second wheel well  26  ( FIG.  5   ) a first side wall defining a first side surface  27 , a second side wall defining a second side surface  28 , and a forward or third side wall defining a third side surface  30 . A tail gate  32  ( FIG.  5   ) is pivotally connected to bed floor  24 . 
     In a non-limiting example, a panel storage system  34  is mounted in bed portion  22 . Panel storage system  34  creates side storage as well as second tier loading options in the form of a second tier storage. Second tier storage is spaced from bed floor  24  as will be detailed herein. Panel storage system  34  includes a first panel body  40  mounted to first side surface  27  and a second panel body  42  ( FIG.  5   ) mounted to second side surface  28 . At this point a description will follow with reference to first panel body  40  with an understanding that second panel body  42  includes corresponding structure in accordance with a non-limiting example. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3    and with continued reference to  FIG.  1   , in a non-limiting example, first panel body  40  includes a first panel portion  46  and a second panel portion  48 . In a non-limiting example, first panel portion  46  defines a first molle panel portion (not separately labeled) and second panel portion  48  defines a second molle panel portion (also not separately labeled). First panel portion  46  may be fixedly mounted to first side surface  27 . 
     In a non-limiting example, second panel portion  48  is pivotally connected to first panel portion  46 . That is, a hinge  50  connects second panel portion  48  to first panel portion  46 . In a non-limiting example, first panel portion  46  includes a first plurality of openings  52  that define a first plurality of mounting elements  54 . That is, sections of first panel portion  46  that form the plurality of openings  52  serve as structure that defines the first plurality of mounting elements  54 . Similarly, second panel portion  48  includes a second plurality of openings  56  that define a second plurality of mounting elements  58 . A latch member  61 , mounted to first side surface  27 , selectively secures second panel portion  48  in an upright configuration ( FIG.  2   ). A second latch member (not shown) may also be added to further secure second panel portion in the upright configuration and increase security. 
     In a non-limiting example, first panel body  40  includes a first surface  64  that faces first side surface  27  and a second surface  65 . Similarly, second panel body  42  includes a first surface section  67  ( FIG.  5   ) facing second side surface  28  and a second surface section  68 . In a non-limiting example, panel storage system  34  also includes a panel (not separately labeled) that takes the form of a panel storage member  70  mounted to third side surface  30 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , panel storage member  70  includes a third plurality of openings  72  that define a third plurality of mounting elements  74 . A rib  80  extends across panel storage  70 . In a non-limiting example, second panel portion  48  may be folded downward and a forward edge (not separately labeled) supported on rib  80  as shown in  FIG.  4   . Second panel body may be manipulated in a similar fashion. 
     In the downward position, first surface  64  defines a support (not separately labeled) that is spaced from bed floor  24  that forms a first storage tier so as to define a second storage tier. The support is raised above wheel wells (not separately labeled) that project upward into bed portion  22 . This second tier allows larger articles, such as construction panels, dry wall sheets, plywood and the like to lie flat across a full width (e.g., from first side surface  27  to second side surface  28 ) of bed portion  22  above bed floor  24 . 
     In a non-limiting example, when folded down, a storage zone  82 , defined between first side surface  27  and first surface  64 , is exposed. That is, first surface  64  of first panel body  40  is mounted to bed portion  22  and spaced from first side surface  27  such that an area for receiving articles is established. Securing second panel portion  48  to latch member  61  allows a user to securely store articles in storage zone  82 . Thus, in addition to providing a second tier of storage, panel storage system  34  also allows a user to securely store articles in bed portion  22  without the need for a cap or other type of lockable cover. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , in another non-limiting example, second panel portion  48  includes a first rib element  86  extending across first surface  64 . Second panel body  42  includes a second rib element  88  extending across second surface section  68 . First and second rib elements  86  and  88  are spaced one, from another so as to accommodate, for example, a sheet of plywood  90  on first and second panel bodies  40  and  42  elevated from bed floor  24 . First and second rib elements  86  and  88  serve as a guide and a lateral support that ensures that the sheet of plywood  90  does not slip (e.g., slide from side-to-side) and fall from one or the other of first and second panel bodies  40  and  42 . 
     While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.