Vehicle cargo retainer
A cargo retainer coupled relative to a vehicle surface includes a perimeter frame and a flexible member mounted within the perimeter frame. The perimeter frame is further coupled to a vehicle component and movable relative to a vehicle surface.
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Various embodiments of a vehicle cargo retainer are described herein. In particular, the embodiments described herein relate to an improved cargo retainer for a vehicle.
Many vehicles, such as station wagons, vans, mini-vans, sport utility vehicles (SUV), and the like have flat cargo-receiving areas in their interiors behind the passenger seats.
Various methods of securing cargo which may be stored in the cargo-receiving areas are known and include rigid and bulky built-in or after-market storage containers, and loose nets. Such known methods of securing cargo may be undesirably bulky, may not accommodate large objects, and may allow stored objects to move within the container or net, resulting in undesirable noise. It would therefore be advantageous to provide an improved retainer for securing cargo within a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,644 discloses a barrier net for restraining cargo within the cargo area from entering the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,222 discloses a net type cargo restraining system comprising a net detachably connected to a front of the cargo area and the vehicle door, whereby the net member is raised and lowered with the door to provide access to the cargo and capture the cargo on the vehicle floor when the door is closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,348 discloses a reversible load floor which covers a recess in a vehicle cargo area. The reversible load floor includes a substantially flat first surface and a second surface with a wall projecting from the perimeter thereof.
SUMMARYThe present application describes various embodiments of a cargo retainer coupled relative to a vehicle surface. One embodiment of the cargo retainer includes a perimeter frame and a flexible member mounted within the perimeter frame. The perimeter frame is further coupled to a vehicle component and movable relative to a vehicle surface. Other advantages of the cargo retainer will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The cargo retainer 20 includes a frame 26 defining a perimeter. The illustrated frame 26 is substantially rectangular in shape and includes first 26A, second 26B, third 26C, and fourth 26D side members. It will be understood that the frame 26 may have any other desired shape, such as a shape which corresponds to the shape of a first embodiment of a surface or trim panel 28 to which the frame 26 will be coupled. The illustrated trim panel 28 is a reversible vehicle load or floor panel (described below in detail) and includes a substantially flat first side (not shown but oriented downwardly in
The illustrated frame 26 is formed from tubular aluminum. Alternatively, other suitable materials may be used. Examples of suitable materials include steel, glass-filled nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate ABS, reinforced polypropylene, and other metals, metal alloys, plastic or resin, and other non-metals. It will be understood that the frame 26 need not be formed from a tubular material. For example, the frame 26 may also be formed from any suitable solid material.
Articulating or pivot members 30 may be provided on the frame 26 for coupling the cargo retainer 20 to the vehicle trim panel 28. In the embodiment of the cargo retainer 120 illustrated in
In the embodiment shown in
A latch 32 may be provided on the frame 26 for selectively latching the cargo retainer 20 to an attachment feature within the vehicle. In the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring again to
In the embodiment illustrated in
A second embodiment of the reversible vehicle floor panel is generally shown at 128 in
Referring again to
As shown in
The cargo retainer 220 is structured and configured such that an operator may flex either or both of the second side member 126B or the wall 146 so as to insert the second side member 126B into the groove 50, thereby moving the cargo retainer 220 between a latched position, as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Cargo to be retained by the cargo retainers 20, 120, 220, 320, and 420 has been described and illustrated as a ball 12. It will be understood that any desired size and shape of cargo may be satisfactorily retained by the cargo retainers 20, 120, 220, 320, and 420 described herein.
Although not illustrated, the cargo retainers 20, 120, 220, and 320 may be coupled, such as pivotally coupled, to the back of a seat cushion (not shown) adjacent the vehicle floor panel 40. Alternatively, the cargo retainers 20, 120, 220, and 320 may be pivotally coupled to a rearward facing portion of the passenger seats 24, such as the passenger seats 24 in
If desired, the cargo retainers 20, 120, 220, and 320 may be coupled to a substantially vertical interior trim panel, such as the trim panel 41 illustrated in
In operation, the cargo retainer 20 may be moved between an open or unlatched position, as shown in
Alternatively, as best shown in
The principle and mode of operation of the vehicle cargo retainer have been described in its various embodiments. However, it should be noted that the cargo retainer described herein may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its scope.
Claims
1. A cargo retainer coupled relative to a vehicle surface, said cargo retainer comprising:
- a perimeter frame; and
- a flexible member mounted within said perimeter frame, wherein said perimeter frame is coupled to a vehicle component and movable relative to a vehicle surface.
2. The cargo retainer according to claim 1, wherein said perimeter frame is movable between a coupled position and an uncoupled position relative to said vehicle component.
3. The cargo retainer according to claim 1, wherein said perimeter frame is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said vehicle surface.
4. The cargo retainer according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member is expandable such that objects having a plurality of sizes may be securely retained between said vehicle surface and said flexible member.
5. The cargo retainer according to claim 4, wherein said vehicle surface is a bottom wall of a recess formed in a vehicle floor.
6. The cargo retainer according to claim 1, further including a pivot member coupling said cargo retainer to said vehicle component.
7. The cargo retainer according to claim 6, wherein said cargo retainer is positionable between a closed position and a plurality of open positions relative to said vehicle surface.
8. The cargo retainer according to claim 7, wherein said flexible member is expandable such that objects having a plurality of sizes may be securely retained between said vehicle surface and said flexible member when said cargo retainer is positioned in any of said closed and said plurality of open positions.
9. The cargo retainer according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member comprises one of a net, a flexible fabric panel, and a plurality of flexible members.
10. The cargo retainer according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle surface is a reversible vehicle load panel.
11. The cargo retainer according to claim 10, wherein said reversible vehicle load panel defines a cover of a recess formed in a vehicle floor, and wherein said reversible vehicle load panel is positionable between a first position such that said cargo retainer is disposed within said recess and a second position such that said cargo retainer is exposed to a vehicle interior.
12. A cargo retainer coupled relative to a vehicle surface, said cargo retainer comprising:
- a vehicle surface;
- a perimeter frame; and
- a flexible member mounted within said perimeter frame, wherein said perimeter frame is pivotally coupled to a vehicle component and pivotally movable relative to a vehicle surface, and wherein said flexible member is expandable such that objects having a plurality of sizes may be securely retained between said vehicle surface and said flexible member.
13. The cargo retainer according to claim 12, wherein said perimeter frame is movable between a coupled position and an uncoupled position relative to said vehicle component.
14. The cargo retainer according to claim 12, wherein said perimeter frame is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said vehicle surface.
15. The cargo retainer according to claim 12, wherein said vehicle surface is a bottom wall of a recess formed in a vehicle floor.
16. The cargo retainer according to claim 12, wherein said cargo retainer is positionable between a closed position and a plurality of open positions relative to said vehicle surface.
17. The cargo retainer according to claim 16, wherein said objects having a plurality of sizes may be securely retained between said vehicle surface and said flexible member when said cargo retainer is positioned in any of said closed and said plurality of open positions.
18. The cargo retainer according to claim 12, wherein said vehicle surface is a reversible vehicle load panel.
19. The cargo retainer according to claim 18, wherein said reversible vehicle load panel defines a cover of a recess formed in a vehicle floor, and wherein said reversible vehicle load panel is positionable between a first position such that said cargo retainer is disposed within said recess and a second position such that said cargo retainer is exposed to a vehicle interior.
20. A cargo retainer attachable relative to a vehicle surface, said cargo retainer comprising:
- a reversible vehicle load panel having a first surface and a second surface; and
- a flexible member selectively attachable to said first surface of said reversible vehicle load panel, wherein said reversible vehicle load panel defines a cover of a recess formed in a vehicle floor, wherein said flexible member is expandable such that objects having a plurality of sizes may be securely retained between said reversible vehicle load panel and said flexible member, and wherein said reversible vehicle load panel is positionable between a first position such that said cargo retainer is disposed within said recess and a second position such that said cargo retainer is exposed to a vehicle cargo area.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 18, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2008
Applicant:
Inventors: Alan Sturt (W. Bloomfield, MI), John S. McKenzie (Royal Oak, MI)
Application Number: 11/640,672