Patent Abstract:
A vehicular storage enclosure comprising a sub-compartment ( 108 ) disposed within a passenger compartment (P) of a vehicle (V), wherein the sub-compartment ( 108 ) includes a closure panel ( 106 ) that provides selective access to the sub-compartment ( 108 ), wherein the closure panel ( 106 ) includes an outboard surface ( 116 ) that is substantially exposed to the passenger compartment ( 106 ) and an inboard surface ( 114 ) that is substantially exposed to the sub-compartment ( 108 ) when the sub-compartment ( 108 ) is closed off by the closure panel ( 106 ), and a handle ( 204 ) that is accessible from within the sub-compartment ( 108 ), and wherein one of or both of the handle ( 204 ) and an area proximate the handle ( 204 ) on the inboard surface ( 114 ) includes indicia (G) to conspicuously provide one or more instructions for opening the closure panel ( 106 ) from within the sub-compartment ( 108 ).

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a storage enclosure including a sub-compartment disposed within a passenger compartment and to a mechanism that permits movement of a closure panel of the storage enclosure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventional storage compartments are provided within vehicles for stowing a variety of items. Such storage compartments may be located/disposed within a load floor of a vehicle and include a closure panel that provides selective access to the storage compartment. 
         [0005]    In some circumstances, the closure panel can include a latch mechanism, designed to move between an unlatched/unlocked state to latched/locked state. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A vehicular storage enclosure comprising a sub-compartment disposed within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, wherein the sub-compartment includes a closure panel that provides selective access to the sub-compartment, wherein the closure panel includes an outboard surface that is substantially exposed to the passenger compartment and an inboard surface that is substantially exposed to the sub-compartment when the sub-compartment is closed off by the closure panel, and a handle that is accessible from within the sub-compartment, and wherein one of or both of the handle and an area proximate the handle on the inboard surface includes indicia to conspicuously provide one or more instructions for opening the closure panel from within the sub-compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger compartment of a vehicle including a storage enclosure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the storage enclosure according to line  2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of a storage enclosure according to line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  illustrating a closure panel in a first position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is another cross-sectional view of the storage enclosure of  FIG. 3A  with the closure panel in a second position in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a latch mechanism for a closure panel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the latch mechanism is adapted to provide means for a person to readily exit from within the storage enclosure. 
         [0013]    For brevity, the disclosure hereof will illustrate and describe a closure panel constructed as a load floor door, but it is appreciated that the closure panel could be any type of door or cover for a storage enclosure and the invention should not be limited to the exemplary closure panel. Moreover, while the illustrated storage enclosure is shown disposed within the rear portion of a vehicle, it is to be understood that the storage enclosure could be provided within any portion of the vehicle and the invention should not be limited to the exemplary illustrations. Based on the foregoing, it is to be generally understood that the nomenclature used herein is simply for convenience and the terms used to describe the invention should be given the broadest meaning by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a storage enclosure  100  is disposed in a load floor  101  of a vehicle, V. In an embodiment, the storage enclosure  100  includes a volume that is defined by four sidewalls  102   a - 102   d,  a floor portion  104  ( FIGS. 3A ,  3 B), and a closure panel  106 . Accordingly, the volume defined by the sidewalls  102   a - 102   d,  floor portion  104 , and closure panel  106  provides a storage compartment  108  for stowing any desirable number of items, including, for example, groceries, children&#39;s toys, an emergency kit, road-side assistance accessories, and the like. It will be appreciated that various configurations of the storage enclosure  100  are known and the invention should not be limited to the arrangement of the storage enclosure  100  illustrated within the Figures. 
         [0015]    The closure panel  106  provides selective access to the storage compartment  108 . Because the storage compartment  108  is included/located within a passenger compartment, P, it will be appreciated that the storage compartment  108  may be referred to as a sub-compartment within the passenger compartment, P, of the vehicle, V. As provided hereinabove, the remaining portion of this disclosure refers to the closure panel  106  as a load floor door that provides selective access to the storage compartment  108  within the load floor  101 , however, it will be appreciated that the invention hereof should not be limited to the exemplarily disclosed embodiments. 
         [0016]    As illustrated, a vehicle structure is shown generally at  103  and may include, for example, an edge of the load floor  101  as defined by one or more of the sidewalls  102   a - 102   d  that define the storage compartment  108 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, the edge  103  may include a hinged portion  105  proximate the sidewall  102   b.    
         [0017]    In an embodiment, load floor door  106  is a body of material having a thickness that is hingably attached to the hinged portion  105  such that load floor door  106  moves relative to the load floor  101 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hinge panel  110  is provided to hingably-connect the load floor door  106  to the edge  103 . According to an embodiment, the hinge panel  110  is fastened to an inboard surface  114  of the load floor door  106 . 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, the hinge panel  110  of the load floor door  106  includes a hinged portion  112  that correspondingly-meshes with the hinged portion  105  of the edge  103  of the load floor  101  to provide a hingable connection relative one another. As a result, the hinged portions  105 ,  112  cooperate to provide a hinge means  150  for the storage enclosure  100 . 
         [0019]    Although a hinge means  150  is disclosed for providing movement of the load floor door  106 , it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a hinge means  150  and that the load floor door  106  may be moved by any desirable means, such as, for example, a sliding means. A sliding means may be defined by one or more rollers/wheels (not shown) extending from the load floor door  106  that rotates within one or more track members (not shown) that is/are disposed/formed on/in the edge  103  of the load floor  101  thereby providing a sliding means similar to that of conventional “pocket” doors provided in homes, office buildings, or the like. 
         [0020]    With reference now to  FIG. 3A , the load floor door  106  may be moved to a first position (i.e., a closed position) such that the load floor door  106  prevents access to the storage compartment  108  from a passenger located in the passenger compartment, P. As such, an outboard surface  116  of the load floor door  106  provides a substantially continuous surface  107  with the load floor  101 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3B , the load floor door  106  may alternatively be moved to a second position (i.e., an opened position) such that the load floor door  106  permits access to the storage compartment  108  and contents that may be located therein. 
         [0021]    When the load floor door  106  is in the first position (i.e., the closed position of  FIG. 3A ), the hinge means  150  may be latched/locked by way of a means for permitting movement of the closure panel  106 . The means for permitting movement of the closure panel  106  may include, for example, a latch mechanism  200 . According to an embodiment, the latch mechanism  200  prevents the load floor door  106  from inadvertently being moved from the first position to the second position when the vehicle is, or, is not in use. When so desired by an operator, the hinge means  150  may be unlatched/unlocked by the latch mechanism  200  to permit the load floor door  106  to be moved to/from the first position (i.e., the closed position of  FIG. 3A ) and the second position (i.e., the opened position of  FIG. 3B ) when an operator moves an outboard handle  204  of the latch mechanism  200  according to the direction of the arrow, D. 
         [0022]    As illustrated, the outboard handle  202  is shown extending from the outboard surface  116  of the load floor  106 . According to an embodiment, and explained in further detail below, the latch mechanism  200  may also include an inboard handle  204  that extends from the inboard surface  114  of the load floor door  106 . In operation, movement of the inboard handle  204  in the direction of the arrow, D, has a similar unlatching/unlocking effect on the closure panel  106  as described above with respect to the outboard handle  204 . 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, the inboard handle  204  may be illuminated via an incandescent light source, a light emitting diode and/or may include a “glow-in-the-dark” property, which is shown generally at starbursts, G. Accordingly, as seen in  FIG. 3A , it will be appreciated that the glow, G, may provide an illumination to an otherwise darkened storage compartment  108  when the load floor door  106  is moved to the first position; as such, if an operator, such as, for example, a child, C, intentionally, or, unintentionally finds himself/herself locked within the storage compartment  108  when the load floor door  100  is moved to the first position and the latch mechanism  200  is moved to a latched/locked state, the child, C, may easily locate the inboard handle  204  by seeing the glow, G, in the darkness of the storage compartment  108 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a third respect, the inboard handle  204  or the area proximate to the handle  204  may also include a indicia  206 . The indicia  206  may include, for example, an arrow, that points in the direction of the arrow, D, that defines a direction to move the latch mechanism  200  so as to unlatch/unlock the hinge means  150 . 
         [0025]    Accordingly, because the inboard handle  204  may: (a) be located proximate the inboard surface  114 , (b) have illumination properties, G, and/or (c) include the arrow indicia  206 , the child, C, may ( 1 ) easily have access to the latch mechanism  200 , ( 2 ) locate the latch mechanism, and ( 3 ) identify the direction, D, that is needed to move the latch mechanism  200  so that latch mechanism  200  may be unlatched/unlocked. Thus, the child, C, may have access to a means that permits movement of the closure panel  106  of the load floor door  100  from the first, closed position to the second, opened position when the operator or child, C, is located within the storage compartment  108 . 
         [0026]    Although the handle  204  associated with the latch mechanism  200  is disclosed to include a mechanical hinge means  150 , it will be appreciated that the latch mechanism  200  may including an alterative mechanical movement means, such as, for example, a sliding means as described above, rather than a hinge means  150 . Additionally, it will be appreciated that although the hinge means  150  and sliding means have been described to include a manually-actuated deployment configuration that is operable according to an application of a force in the direction of the arrow, D, by the person, C, it will be appreciated that the load floor door  106  may alternatively be deployed in an automated system that is powered by an actuator or motor. 
         [0027]    According to an embodiment, for example, an automated deployment of the load floor door  106  may include a button  204  having glow-in-the-dark properties, G, and including an indicia/phrase stating “Press Here To Unlatch.” Alternatively, for one who is illiterate, a drawing or picture similar to that of  FIG. 3B  of the present disclosure may be provided on the button  204  to illustrate that, when the button  204  is pressed, the load floor door  106  may automatically or manually open, thereby permitting a person, C, to escape the storage compartment  108 . It will be appreciated that a powered, automated system may also be supplemented by a manual, mechanical system as described above in  FIGS. 1-3B  in the event that the vehicle&#39;s battery or power system has been sufficiently discharged or deactivated such that the power system does not permit an automated deployment of the load floor door  106 . 
         [0028]    The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. This may be done without departing from the spirit of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the preceding description.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1