Vehicle cargo management apparatus having movable cargo...

Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Auxiliary article compartments

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C296S037160

Reexamination Certificate

active

06811196

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to vehicles and, more particularly, to storage apparatus for use within vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Motor vehicles are typically provided with a cargo storage compartment of some type. For example, sedan-style automobiles are conventionally equipped with a trunk. Sport/utility vehicles, mini-vans, station wagons, and other vehicles in which there are two or more rows of seating, are conventionally provided with a cargo storage area behind the last row of seating. Items carried within vehicle cargo storage areas are often free to move about during vehicle operation, which may be undesirable. In addition, in vehicles such as sport/utility vehicles and mini-vans, cargo storage space may be somewhat limited. Accordingly, a need exists to maximize the efficiency and utilization of existing cargo storage space without intruding on passenger space. In addition, a need exists to restrain items from moving about in vehicle cargo storage areas during vehicle operation.
Plastic “T-shirt” style shopping bags are increasingly being utilized by consumers to transport purchased items, such as groceries. Unlike a box or other container with rigid confines, T-shirt style shopping bags typically do not have the ability to maintain any shape apart from the shape of whatever items the bag may be enveloping and typically are unable to prevent items therewithin from causing the shape and position of the bag to shift. While T-shirt style shopping bags may be convenient for personal carrying, because their handles are readily accessible and a plurality of bags can be gripped for carrying, they may be relatively inconvenient when placed within a vehicle. During vehicle operation, items within T-shirt style shopping bags may tend to move, roll about, shift position and fall out as a vehicle moves and turns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above discussion, a cargo management apparatus, according to embodiments of the present invention includes a cargo support arm that is movably secured to a vehicle compartment and is movable between stored and operative positions. The arm is positioned adjacent to the floor of a vehicle compartment when in the stored position and extends outwardly from the floor into a vehicle compartment for convenient use thereof by a user when in the operative position. The cargo support arm includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship. Each projection is configured to support one or more articles (e.g., shopping bags, etc.) suspended therefrom.
A cargo management apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a movable load floor operably secured to the housing for movement between a closed position and one or more open positions, and a cargo support arm that is movably secured to the vehicle compartment and that is movable between stored and operative positions. The cargo support arm includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship. Each projection is configured to support one or more articles (e.g., shopping bags, etc.) suspended therefrom. The cargo support arm may be operably connected with the load floor such that, when the arm is moved to an operative position, the load floor can be supported in one or more open positions.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4222601 (1980-09-01), White et al.
patent: 4540213 (1985-09-01), Herlitz et al.
patent: 4723741 (1988-02-01), Doering
patent: 5287971 (1994-02-01), Dorman
patent: 5427288 (1995-06-01), Trubee
patent: 5484091 (1996-01-01), Malinowski et al.
patent: 6367746 (2002-04-01), Webb et al.
patent: 6439633 (2002-08-01), Nemoto
patent: 6502731 (2003-01-01), Gehring et al.
patent: 6502885 (2003-01-01), Gammon et al.
patent: 6533340 (2003-03-01), Gaunzon et al.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Vehicle cargo management apparatus having movable cargo... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Vehicle cargo management apparatus having movable cargo..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle cargo management apparatus having movable cargo... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3300432

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.