Abstract:
A vehicle having a storage compartment includes a floor defining a track, a plurality of panels pivotally connected to the floor, and an arm pivotally attached to an upper portion of each of the panels. The arm is adapted to be pivoted to a folded position in the plane of the panel to a floor supported position connected to the track. The arm is also adapted to be pivoted to a panel supported position connected to an adjacent panel.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to cargo area storage systems for vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Vehicles have cargo areas that are used by customers to store items and transport cargo. Vehicle cargo areas may be wide open areas that do not include a storage system with separate compartments. Storage systems may be incorporated in cargo areas as original equipment or as an aftermarket accessory. Such systems may define fixed, un-adjustable compartments. Storage systems with fixed sized compartments may not provide for an efficient use of the cargo area. Storage systems that are too large allow the cargo to shift and slide. Cargo compartments that are too small cannot be used to hold the cargo. Storage systems having dimensions inappropriate for certain items may take up space within the cargo area and may have to be removed from the cargo area of the vehicle, or stored within the vehicle. Storing the storage system within the vehicle is counterproductive because it takes away from the available storage space. Storage systems that lack adaptability present problems for customers needing a variety of storage options for the cargo area of the vehicle. 
         [0003]    Vehicle cargo areas may be provided storage systems that include dividers to aid customers in organizing items in the cargo area. These storage systems with stationary dividers split the storage space into pre-defined areas. Storage systems using stationary dividers lack adjustability. The location of the stationary dividers may improperly divide the space for customers with a variety of items ranging in size and shape. Storage systems having stationary dividers are not collapsible and may reduce space needed for larger items. 
         [0004]    This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and other problems as summarized below. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A vehicle having a storage compartment includes a floor defining a track, a plurality of panels pivotally connected to the floor, and an arm pivotally attached to an upper portion of each of the panels. The arm is adapted to be pivoted to a folded position in the plane of the panel to a floor supported position connected to the track. The arm is also adapted to be pivoted to a panel supported position connected to an adjacent panel. 
         [0006]    A vehicle cargo storage system includes at least one panel hingedly connected to a floor, a track disposed on the floor adjacent to the panel, and an arm. The track defines a plurality of grooves disposed along the track. The arm has a first end disposed on the panel, and a second end configured to extend away from the panel and engage the grooves on the track. 
         [0007]    A vehicle storage system includes at least one panel hingedly connected to a floor. The panel is configured to extend away from the floor about a first end. The vehicle storage system further includes at least one arm connected to a second end of the panel. The arm is configured to extend toward and engage the floor such that the panel is substantially perpendicular to the floor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is schematic top plan view of a vehicle having a cargo area storage system made according to one embodiment of this disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle cargo area with the storage system shown in  FIG. 1  in a deployed position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle cargo area with the storage system shown in  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of storage system panel assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features are exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the present invention. The various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  is shown that includes a cargo area  12 . The cargo area  12  includes a storage system  14 . The storage system  14  acts as a divider assembly for the cargo area  12 . The storage system  14  includes a plurality of panel assemblies  16  and a plurality of tracks  18 . Alternatively, the storage system  14  may include a single track or more than two tracks. The panel assemblies  16  include a panel  20  and an arm  22 . When deployed, the panel assemblies  16  engage the track  18  allowing the storage system  14  to define a plurality of cargo compartments  24  within the cargo area  12 . As will be discussed in more detail below, the storage system  14  may be reconfigured by positioning the panels to provide a variety of cargo compartments  24 . Cargo compartments  24  may be configured to define a variety of different dimensions by simply repositioning the panel assemblies  16 . 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the storage system  14  of the present disclosure is configured to allow a variety of different items to be stored within the cargo area  12  of the vehicle  10 . Using an adjustable storage system  14 , the cargo area  12  may accommodate items having a wide variety of dimensions. Storage system  14  is configured to support and retain large items as well as small items within the cargo area  12 . The storage system  14  is configured to separate items stored within the cargo area  12 . The storage system  14  may be adjusted to retain and separate items within the cargo area  12  to prevent damaging the items. The storage system  14  is adjustable to divide the cargo area  12  of the vehicle  10  to accommodate items of various sizes and shapes. 
         [0015]    The panel assemblies  16  include a net  26  that is attached to the panel  20  between a first end  28  and a second end  30  of the panel  20 . The net  26  is attached to the panel  20  using mechanical fasteners, such as snaps (not shown), hooks, buttons, or the like. Alternatively, the net  26  may be formed, stitched, or adhered to the panel  20 . The net  26  facilitates the storage and transport of small items. The net  26  is adapted to retain smaller fragile items that may be damaged in transport. The net  26  secures those items to the panel  20  to minimize any potential damage to the items. 
         [0016]    The storage system  14  is a self-storing system that may be collapsed to fit within the cargo area  12 . The storage system  14  when not in use does not require substantial storage space. The self-storing system allows more efficient use of the space within the cargo area  12  and provides customers with flexibility when utilizing the cargo area  12 . The self-storing system when not in use may be completely stored and does not need to be stored outside the vehicle  10 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a cargo area  12  is illustrated that has a deployed storage system  14 . Storage system  14  uses a plurality of panel assemblies  16  to define a plurality of cargo compartments  24  within the cargo area  12  of the vehicle  10 . A plurality of panel assemblies  16  is interconnected to form the cargo compartments  24 . 
         [0018]    Interconnections between the panel assemblies  16  are discussed in more detail below. The panel assemblies  16  include an arm  22  that may be connected to the panel  20  or the track  18  in the floor  32 . A first end  28  of the panel is connected to the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . The first end  28  of the panel  20  is hinged to the floor  32 . The arm  22  is pivotably connected to a second end  30  of the panel  20  that is disposed opposite the first end  28 . The arm  22  is extended away from the panel  20  as the panel  20  rotates at the first end  28  and the second end  30  is lifted away from the floor  32 . The arm  22  engages the track  18  to support the panel  20  in a vertical position with the second end  30  being spaced from the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . 
         [0019]    The track  18  is disposed on the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . The track  18  defines a plurality of grooves  34 . Panel assemblies  16  engage a groove  34  on the track  18  to define cargo compartments  24 . The arm  22  is connected to the groove  34  on the track  18  to support the panel  20 . A distal end  36  of the arm  22  defines an engagement portion  38 . The engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  fits into the groove  34  on the track  18  to support the panel  20 . The engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  and the groove  34  on the track  18  has complementary engagement features. The engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  and the groove  34  on the track  18  cooperate to define a rigid wall of the cargo compartment  24 . 
         [0020]    A single groove  34  is defined by the track  18  in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, the track  18  may define a plurality of grooves  34  that may be spaced apart by a fixed distance, or may be defined intermittently on the track  18 . The arm  22  of the panel assembly  16  may fit into any groove  34  on the track  18  based upon a desired size of the cargo compartment  24 . For example, an angle α defined between the first end  28  of the panel  20  and the floor  32  may vary the dimensions of the cargo compartment  24  depending on which groove  34  is engaged by the arm  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rearmost panel assembly  16  is supported by the arm  22  in the groove  34  at a rear portion  37  of the track  18 . The panel assembly  16  may be supported by the arm  22  in any of the grooves  34  on the track  18 . The panel assemblies  16  may be positioned to define a cargo compartment  24  having the desired dimensions. This allows the storage system  14  to be adapted to define appropriate sized cargo compartments  24 . 
         [0021]    The storage system  14  also defines cargo compartments  24  by interconnecting the panel assemblies  16 . The engagement portion  38  at the distal end  36  of the arm  22  engages the second end  30  of the panel  20 . The engagement portion  38  at the distal end  36  of the arm  22  is adapted to engage an adjacent panel assembly  16 . The arm  22  of the panel assembly  16  engages the second end  30  of an adjacent panel assembly  16  to define a plurality of cargo compartments  24 . 
         [0022]    The engagement portion  38  at the distal end  36  of the arm  22  is selectively attached to the second end  30  of the panel  20  to connect two panels  16 . A cargo compartment  23  defined by interconnection between panel assemblies  16  may be larger than a cargo compartment  25  defined by interconnection between the panel assembly  16  and the track  18 . A cargo compartment  23  defined by interconnection between panel assemblies  16  may also be smaller than a cargo compartment  25  defined by interconnection between the panel assembly  16  and the track  18  depending on which groove  34  the engagement portion  38  engages. The angle α may vary allowing for the cargo compartments  24  to define various sizes. 
         [0023]    The arm  22  has a first surface  40  that defines a groove  42 . The groove  42  on the first surface  40  of the arm  22  corresponds to the plurality of grooves  34  on the track  18 . The groove  42  on the first surface  40  of the arm  22  may be the same size and shape as the plurality of grooves  34  on the track  18 . The groove  42  on the first surface  40  of the arm  22  receives the engagement portion  38  at the distal end  36  of the arm  22 . 
         [0024]    For example, the engagement portion  38  at the distal end  36  of the arm  22  of a first panel assembly  16  may engage a groove  42  on the first surface  40  of an arm  22  of a second panel assembly  16 . The first panel assembly  16  defines a cargo compartment  24  while the second panel assembly  16  may be collapsed against the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cargo area  12  is shown with the collapsed storage system  14  of the present disclosure. When the panel assembly  16  is in a horizontal or collapsed position, the panel assembly  16  is in contact with the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . In this configuration, both the first end  28  and the second end  30  are in contact with the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . The panel assembly  16  is disposed lying flat against the floor  32  when the storage system  14  is not in use. This saves space within the cargo area  12  when the storage system  14  is not needed and it allows for larger items to be stored within the cargo area  12 . Allowing the panel assemblies  16  to lay flat against the floor  32  of the cargo area  12  adds adaptability to the storage system  14 . 
         [0026]    The arm  22  of the panel assembly  16  engages the track  18  to secure the panel assemblies  16  against the floor  32  of the cargo area  12  when the panel assemblies  16  are collapsed against the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . The arm  22  may be rotatably engaged with the panel  20 . The distal end  36  of the arm  22  rotates toward the first end  28  of the panel  20  as the first end  28  of the panel  20  hinges, moving the second end  30  of the panel  20  toward the floor  32 . The arm  22  moves toward a parallel position with the track  18 . 
         [0027]    The engagement portion  38  of the distal end  36  of the arm  22  engages a groove  34  on the track  18  when the arm  22  is parallel with the track  18  and the panel  20  is collapsed against the floor  32 . The complementary shapes of the engagement portion  38  and the groove  34  allow the arm  22  to lock onto the track  18 . The attachment between the engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  and the groove  34  on the track secure the panel assembly  16  against the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . Securing the panel assembly  16  against the floor  32  ensures the panel assemblies  16  maintain a collapsed position with the floor  32 . This prevents disturbances to the operator of the vehicle  10  and prevents damage to potential items stored when some of the panel assemblies  16  are collapsed against the floor  32 . 
         [0028]    The panel assembly  16  further includes a protrusion  44 . The protrusion may be attached to the second end  30  of the panel  20 . The protrusion  44  may also be attached to the arm  22  at the second end  30  of the panel  20 . The protrusion  44  has a shape complementary to the shape of engagement portion  38  at the distal end  36  of the arm  22 . The engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  is configured to snap onto the protrusion  44 . The panel assembly  16  locks against the floor  32  of the cargo area  12  when the engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  snaps onto the protrusion  44 . 
         [0029]    Panel assemblies  16  may have a thickness  46  such that minimal space within the cargo area  12  of the vehicle  10  is occupied. The thickness  46  of the panel assembly  16  does not substantially raise the level of the floor  32  when the panel assemblies  16  are collapsed against the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . Maintaining a minimum panel thickness  46  such that the floor  32  of the cargo area  12  does not substantially increase in height increases the usable space of the cargo area  12 . The storage system  14  may use substantially the entire cargo area as a cargo compartment  24  due to the minimal thickness  46  of the panel assemblies  16 . This allows the storage system  14  to more efficiently use the space within the cargo area  12  when larger or bulkier items need to be secured within the cargo area  12 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a magnified perspective view of the protrusion  44  of the panel assembly  16  is shown. The protrusion  44  attaches to the engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  to lock the panel assemblies  16  either vertically to define cargo compartments  24  or collapsed to the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . Locking the panel assemblies  16  together vertically, defining a plurality of cargo compartments  24  ensures that the panel assemblies  16  do not inadvertently collapse while the storage system  14  is in use. Locking the panel assemblies  16  while collapsed to the floor  32  ensures that the storage system  14  does not provide disturbances to an operator of a vehicle  10 . 
         [0031]    The protrusion  44  may be attached to the panel  20  at the second end  30  of the panel  20 . The protrusion  44  may also be disposed on the arm  22  opposite of the distal end  36  of the arm  22 . The shape of the protrusion  44  may be square, hexagonal, or any other shape that allows the engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  to snap and lock into place with the protrusion  44 . Alternatively, the protrusion  44  may define a circular shape. 
         [0032]    The protrusion  44  may also be used during deployment of storage system  14 . The panel assemblies  16  may be deployed individually or as a pair of panel assemblies  16 . The engagement portion  38  is locked with the protrusion  44  when the panel assemblies  16  are collapsed on the floor  32  of the cargo area  12 . Deploying a first panel assembly  16  causes a second panel assembly  16  to deploy along with the first panel assembly  16 . The protrusion  44  of the first panel assembly  16  may be joined with the engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  disposed on the second panel assembly  16 . 
         [0033]    The second panel assembly  16  may also hinge to define the cargo compartment  24  when the first panel assembly  16  hinges about the first end  28 . This is due to the transfer of force through the protrusion  44  on the first panel assembly  16  to the engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  of the second panel assembly  16 . Rotation of either the first panel assembly  16  or the second panel assembly  16  causes the corresponding panel assembly  16  to rotate. If only a single panel assembly  16  is needed, the second panel assembly  16  may detach from the first panel assembly  16 . It may also be advantageous to support the second panel assembly  16  using the groove  34  on the track  18 . The engagement portion  38  of the arm  22  may disengage from the protrusion  44  of the first panel assembly  16  to engage the groove  34  on the track  18 . The protrusion  44  allows the storage system  14  to define a plurality of cargo compartment configurations and increases the flexibility and adaptability of the storage system  14 . The collapsibility, flexibility, and adaptability of the storage system  14  create an efficient and effective use of the cargo area  12  of the vehicle  10 .