Patent ID: 7988392

Claim:
A cargo support and storage system for a cargo area of a vehicle, comprising: a first vehicle sidewall including first and second secondary attachment structures located thereon; a second vehicle sidewall including first and second primary attachment structures located thereon; a first stabilizing element having a primary end with a primary securing structure and a secondary end with a secondary securing structure, the first stabilizing element being extendible from the first secondary attachment structure of the first sidewall to the first primary attachment structure of the second sidewall; and a second stabilizing element having a primary end with a primary securing structure and a secondary end with a secondary securing structure, the second stabilizing element being extendible from the second secondary attachment structure of the first sidewall to the second primary attachment structure of the second sidewall, the second stabilizing element spaced away from and substantially parallel to the first stabilizing element when the first stabilizing element and second stabilizing element are extended and the first stabilizing element primary securing structure is attached to the first primary attachment structure of the second vehicle sidewall, the first stabilizing element secondary securing structure is attached to the first secondary attachment structure of the first vehicle sidewall, the second stabilizing element primary securing structure is attached to the second primary attachment structure of the second vehicle sidewall, and the second stabilizing element secondary securing structure is attached to the second secondary attachment structure of the first vehicle sidewall, wherein the first and second stabilizing elements are belts that each have a longitudinal axis extending normal to each of the first and second sidewalls and parallel to a bottom surface of the vehicle cargo area, and each stabilizing element has a rectangular cross section when viewed along the longitudinal axis, wherein a width of each belt parallel to both the first and second sidewalls and parallel to the bottom surface is greater than a thickness of each belt parallel to both the first and second sidewalls and normal to the bottom surface, respectively, wherein each of the first and second stabilizing elements includes a top surface substantially parallel with the bottom surface of the vehicle cargo area, and wherein each of the top surfaces of the first and second stabilizing elements is configured to directly support a downward load, and wherein the first secondary attachment structure includes a first retractor disposed at the first sidewall and the second secondary attachment structure includes a second retractor disposed at the first sidewall.