Patent ID: 7708329

Claim:
A stowable storage compartment in combination with a sidewall of a vehicle comprising: (a) a vertically extending sidewall panel of a vehicle having a recess formed therein; (b) a stowable storage compartment comprising: (1) a frame carried by the vehicle sidewall panel and comprising a hinge arrangement enabling pivotable movement of the frame about a generally horizontal axis between an outwardly extending storage compartment position and a downwardly extending stowed position, the frame defining a storage compartment opening through which an article can pass; (2) a flexible container portion carried by the frame that extends downwardly from the frame when un-stowed such that it is capable of holding an article therein; (3) a lid pivotally attached to the frame that is pivotable between a closed position where the lid overlies the storage compartment opening and a position disposed from the closed position permitting an article to pass through the storage compartment opening with the lid comprising a receptacle formed in the lid in which the flexible container portion is stowable and an opening in communication with the receptacle through which the flexible container portion extends when stowed in the receptacle; and wherein the flexible container portion is stowable in the receptacle in the lid and the lid pivotable to the downwardly extended stowed position where the lid is received in the recess and substantially flush with the surrounding vehicle sidewall panel.