Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Auxiliary article compartments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-10
2001-01-23
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Auxiliary article compartments
C296S026080, C296S026100, C296S191000, C296S024430, C224S496000, C224S542000, C224S564000, C224S925000, C211S134000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176535
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention generally pertains to the cargo carrying capacity of automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multipurpose shelf for use in the storage area of an automotive vehicle. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiment and/or use which is shown and described for purposes of illustration, the present invention relates to a multipurpose shelf system for partitioning the storage area of a vehicle to provide a plurality of useful features.
2. Discussion
Most modern motor vehicles, in addition to the passenger area, incorporate a storage area of some sort into the vehicle. In a passenger car, the typical storage area is a trunk. In a minivan, sport utility vehicle, or hybrid-type vehicle, the storage area is generally the space behind the last row of seats. This storage area is defined by the side quarter trim panels, the floor, the back of the last row of seats, and the end gate of the vehicle. There has been an increased demand for these types of vehicles in recent years. The increased popularity of minivans, sport utility vehicles, and hybrid-type vehicles can be attributed in some measure to their ability to carry cargo compared to a passenger car. Accordingly, there has been an industry wide effort to provide vehicles that can efficiently utilize available space not only for carrying passengers but cargo as well.
To enhance the cargo carrying capabilities of a storage area, flanges have been used to support luggage that may traverse the storage area as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,534. This arrangement is extremely dependent on the size of the luggage that the operator desires to stow. Since then, there have been many attempts to enhance the utility of the storage area of a vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,537 discloses a multi-positional storage unit. This unit can provide a shelf-like structure in a variety of positions to partition the storage area. However, this unit is large and tends to take up a significant amount of the usable storage space that is available to the operator. This unit also has a number of movable parts that may make operation of the unit time consuming and possibly difficult for some operators.
To enhance the cargo carrying capabilities of a vehicle in general, many manufacturers have tried to provide a functional relationship between the storage area and the passenger area. This is done in an effort to provide maximum passenger carrying capability while at the same time being able to provide enhanced cargo carrying capability when desired by the operator of the vehicle. Such a relationship is shown and described in commonly assigned U.S. Ser. Nos. 08/997,636 and 08/997,637, filed Dec. 23, 1997, which are hereby incorporated as reference.
There continues to be a need to enhance the cargo carrying capabilities of a vehicle's storage area and of a vehicle in general. Enhanced cargo carrying capability can be afforded by an increase in the functionality of a partitioning system for the storage area of a vehicle. Increased or improved functionality can be achieved by providing more useful partitioning locations as well as easy transitioning between the partitioning locations. There is also a need to provide a relatively horizontal surface in a vehicle to store large items. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a small and simple system that can enhance the functionality of the storage area to satisfy the aforementioned needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to provide a truly versitle partitioning system for the storage area of a motor vehicle.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a light and easy to use shelf to enhance the functionality of the storage area of a motor vehicle.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a multipurpose shelf that can cooperate with multiple rows of seats to provide a generally horizontal load floor stretching from the instrument panel to the end gate.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a rear shelf that can be supported, while the end gate is open, in a horizontal position such that the rear shelf extends beyond the storage area as defined by a closed end gate.
In one form, the present invention provides a partitioning system for use in the storage area of a vehicle. The partitioning system includes a multi-positional shelf that can be positioned in a plurality of different locations. The shelf can be disposed horizontally near the top of the rear row of seats to act as a security cover. The shelf can be disposed horizontally to cooperate with a folded last row of seats to provide a generally flat surface that extends from the end gate into the passenger area. The shelf can be disposed horizontally along the floor in the storage area. The shelf can be disposed vertically and adjacent to the rear row of seats. The shelf can also be disposed in an extended horizontal position, while the end gate is open, such that the shelf extends beyond the storage area as defined by a closed end gate. The shelf includes a pivotable support leg that may contact the vehicle body to support the shelf in this horizontal position that extends beyond the storage area defined by a closed end gate.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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1998 Renault Megane—pertint photographs.
Detroit news: Business Section; D. jawett; For 1999 Models, it's what's inside that counts; Oct. 2, 1998, P. 1B and 3B.
Chaloult Brian
Mihelich Thomas D
Walczowski George
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Dayoan D. Glenn
Engle Patricia
Lorelli Marc
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