LATERALLY MOVING CARGO SHADE AND NET
A vehicle includes a body that extends lengthwise along a longitudinal axis, and defines an cargo area laterally bounded by a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall. A shade assembly includes a housing that is removably attached to the first lateral side wall. A retractable cover is retractably supported by the housing, and is extendable across the cargo area to cover the cargo area. A retractable net is retractably supported by the housing, and is extendable away from the housing to secure cargo relative to the body. The housing extends in a lengthwise direction along a central axis that is disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body, when attached to the first lateral side wall. The retractable cover and the retractable net each extend and retract independently of each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.
The invention generally relates to a vehicle having an cargo area, and more specifically to a cargo shade and net assembly for the cargo area of the vehicle.
BACKGROUNDVehicles, such as a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), a station wagon, or a van, may include an cargo area that is generally defined by a roof of the vehicle above, a floor of the vehicle below, lateral opposing sidewalls of the vehicle, a liftgate at the rear of the vehicle, and a backrest of a passenger seat. Some vehicles may include a cargo shade that covers the cargo area. Typically, the cargo shade is attached to the backrest of the passenger seat, and is used in a fore/aft direction of the vehicle.
SUMMARYA vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis between a forward end and a rearward end. The body includes a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall. The first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall cooperate to define a cargo area therebetween. A shade assembly is coupled to the first lateral side wall. The shade assembly includes a retractable cover that is extendable across the cargo area, and is configured for attachment to the second lateral side wall. The retractable cover extends and retracts laterally across the cargo area, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body.
A vehicle is also provided, which includes a body that extends lengthwise along a longitudinal axis, and defines an cargo area laterally bounded by a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall on opposing lateral sides of the longitudinal axis. A shade assembly includes a housing that is removably attached to the first lateral side wall. A retractable cover is retractably supported by the housing. The retractable cover is extendable across the cargo area for attachment to the second lateral side wall to cover the cargo area. A retractable net is retractably supported by the housing. The retractable net is extendable away from the housing for attachment to the first lateral sidewall or the second lateral sidewall to secure cargo relative to the body. The housing extends in a lengthwise direction along a central axis that is disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body, when attached to the first lateral side wall. The retractable cover and the retractable net each extend and retract independently of each other, from the housing, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body.
Accordingly, both the retractable cover and the retractable net extend and retract laterally across the cargo area, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body. A length of the housing that supports the retractable cover and the retractable net may be minimized because the housing extends generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body. The length of the housing is minimized because the cargo area includes a length, which is measured parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body, which is shorter than a width of the cargo area, which is measured transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body. Additionally, a user only needs to reach a little way into the cargo area to grasp the retractable cover and/or the retractable net, thereby improving the ease of operation of the retractable cover and/or the retractable net.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the invention may be described herein in terms of functional and/or logical block components and/or various processing steps. It should be realized that such block components may be comprised of any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions.
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a vehicle is generally shown at 20. The vehicle 20 may include any vehicle that defines a cargo area 22, such as but not limited to a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), cargo van, or some other similarly configured vehicle.
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The housing 44 retractably supports a retractable cover 48 and a retractable net 50.
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The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the invention, but the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the invention defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall cooperating to define a cargo area therebetween; and
- a shade assembly coupled to the first lateral side wall, and including a retractable cover extendable across the cargo area and configured for attachment to the second lateral side wall;
- wherein the retractable cover extends and retracts laterally across the cargo area, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body wherein the shade assembly includes a housing removably attached to the first lateral side wall, and retractably supporting the retractable cover, wherein the housing extends in a lengthwise direction along a central axis that is disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body when attached to the first lateral side wall; and
- wherein the body includes a panel defining a primary load bearing surface of the cargo area, with the floor defining a pocket having a lower surface disposed vertically below the panel to define a storage space between the panel and the lower surface of the pocket, wherein the shade assembly and the storage space are sized such that the shade assembly may be stowed in the storage space when not attached to the first lateral side wall.
2. (canceled)
3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an attachment mechanism operable to attach the housing to the first lateral side wall.
4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the attachment mechanism includes a plurality of pins attached to the housing at opposing ends of the housing along the central axis, and a plurality of receiving notches formed into the first lateral side wall, wherein each of the pins is operably received within one of the receiving notches to secure the housing to the first lateral side wall.
5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the plurality of receiving notches includes an upper set of receiving notches operable to attach the housing to the first lateral side wall at a pre-defined distance vertically above the floor.
6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plurality of receiving notches includes a lower set of receiving notches operable to attach the housing to the first lateral side wall adjacent to the floor.
7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retractable cover includes a support rod attached to a distal edge of the retractable cover, and extending along the central axis, between a forward edge and a rearward edge of the retractable cover.
8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 wherein the second lateral side wall includes at least one catch operable to engage and support the rod, and secure the distal edge of the retractable cover adjacent the second lateral side wall.
9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shade assembly includes a retractable net retractably supported by the housing, and extendable across the cargo area.
10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the retractable net includes a first clip disposed at a first distal corner of the retractable net, and a second clip disposed at a second distal corner of the retractable net.
11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall include a plurality of tie-downs operable to engage the first clip and the second clip to secure the retractable net relative to the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall respectively.
12-20. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 25, 2014
Publication Date: Jan 28, 2016
Inventors: Gustavo E. Valencia Cruz (Pedregal de Carrasco), Carl W. Wellborn (Detroit, MI)
Application Number: 14/340,652