Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Variable capacity of body
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-14
2001-11-27
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Variable capacity of body
C296S037100, C296S037800, C296S037160, C224S400000, C224S401000, C224S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322123
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a storage compartment for a vehicle that slides open from the rear of the vehicle for access to the storage compartment.
BACKGROUND ART
Specialty vehicles such golf carts and utility vehicles are used for a wide variety of purposes. Such vehicles are generally smaller then normal motor vehicles. Due to the small size of such vehicles, the quantity of useable storage space is limited.
Storage facilities provided by such vehicles generally consist of golf bag supports and open baskets if the vehicle is a golf cart. For utility vehicles, generally an open platform is provided on which objects to be stored may be placed.
In the design of speciality vehicles, cost and weight constraints must be addressed by providing economical manufacturing techniques that utilize lightweight components.
A promising new market for speciality vehicles is the market for electric personal mobility vehicles designed for commuting around closed communities, industrial sites, resorts and golf courses. There is a need for zero emission electric vehicles having a modular design that provides flexibility for personalizing the vehicle for storing a wide variety of objects. A challenge for such vehicle is to provide useful storage space including closed and/or open storage for a wide variety of articles.
These and other problems and objectives are addressed by applicants' invention as summarized below.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, a foldout trunk for an electric vehicle is provided that pulls out from the rear of the vehicle to provide access to a storage compartment in the foldout trunk. According to the invention, a bottom portion of the foldout trunk pulls out from the rear of the vehicle, and pivotable trays are then shifted to a use position. In this way, substantial closed and open storage capacity may be provided.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a rear storage compartment for a vehicle is provided that comprises a primary compartment mounted on the vehicle for sliding movement between a closed and open position. At least one storage compartment is pivotally mounted to the primary compartment to be pivoted between a first position overlying the primary compartment and a second position not overlying the primary compartment when the primary compartment is in its open position.
According to other aspects of the invention, two storage compartments may be pivotally mounted to the primary compartment. The primary compartment has two side walls to which the two storage compartments are mounted.
According to other additional, more specific aspects of the invention, the primary compartment may have at least one side wall extending rearwardly from a front wall of the primary compartment. The primary compartment includes a face plate attached to a rear edge of the primary compartment. When the primary compartment is shifted rearwardly, a gap is formed between the side wall and the face plate, and the storage compartment may be pivoted from a first position adjacent to side walls to a second position filling the gap formed when the primary component is in its open position.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the storage compartment may have a recess in which the face plate is partially received when the storage compartment is in its second position to selectively lock the storage compartment in its second position.
The present invention also comprehends providing a cover that is pivotally secured to the vehicle and movable between an open position wherein access is provided to the primary compartment and a pivotally mounted storage compartment and a closed position wherein the primary compartment is retained in its closed position by the cover.
The present invention also relates to a storage compartment for a speciality vehicle having a body including a rear end portion defining a space in which the storage compartment is received. The storage compartment comprises a base connected by a slide guide to the body adjacent this base defined by the rear end portion of the body. The base is movable between a closed position in which it is confined within the space defined by the rear end portion of the body and an open position in which the base is at least partially disposed behind the rear end portion of the body. A face plate is attached to a rear edge of the base. A side sub-compartment is pivotally attached to the body adjacent the space defined by the rear end portion of the body. The side sub-compartment is pivoted between a retracted position in which it is within the space defined by the rear end portion of the body and an extended position in which it is behind the rear end portion of the body and laterally outboard of the base.
According to the invention, the side sub-compartment may have a bottom wall and a side wall that define an open top container. The side wall has a portion that at least partially defines a lateral wall of a central storage compartment in conjunction with a base and face plate when the base is in its open position. Two sub-compartments may be provided that at least partially define opposite side walls of the central storage compartment. The side sub-compartments preferably have first and second planar walls joined in a right angle relationship on one end of each planar wall and a curved wall joining another end of the planar walls. The side sub-compartment may be rotated 180 degrees as it is moved from the retracted position to the extended position so that one of the planar walls is rotated from a first position overlying a side of the space defined by the rear end portion of the body to a second position wherein the planar wall extends rearwardly to the face plate when the base is in its open position.
According to another aspect of the invention, a rear deck lid may be connected by hinge to the body of the vehicle that is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein the deck lid covers an opening in the body of the vehicle above the base plate when it is in the closed position. The deck lid covers a convenient closed storage compartment when the base is in its closed position and the side sub-compartments are retracted.
The invention may also be characterized as a storage drawer for a vehicle body having a compact configuration defining a compact perimeter. The storage drawer comprises a pullout drawer having a face plate and base plate. The pullout drawer is movable on at least one drawer slide between a closed position wherein the pullout drawer is disposed within the compact perimeter and an opened position wherein the pullout drawer is extended outside of the compact perimeter. At least one drawer compartment is pivotally secured to the pullout drawer and is movable between a closed position wherein the drawer compartment is within the compact vehicle perimeter and an open position wherein the drawer compartment is disposed rearward of the compact vehicle perimeter and laterally outboard of the pullout drawer. A rear deck lid is connected by hinge to the body of the vehicle. The deck lid is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein the deck lid covers an opening in the body of the vehicle above the pullout drawer when the pullout drawer is in the closed position.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the drawer compartment has a bottom wall and side walls that define an open top container. The side walls partially define lateral walls of the storage compartment when the base is in its open position. The two drawer compartments include first and second planar walls joined in a right angle relationship on one end of each planar wall, and a curved wall joins another end of the planar walls. Each of the drawer compartments are rotated as they are moved between the retracted position and their extended position so that each drawer compartment is rotated from a first position overlying the pullout drawer to a second position wherein each of the drawer compartments is laterally outboard of the pullout drawer.
These and
Garrison William Grant
Nowak Jeffrey M.
Scott Thomas
Coletta Lori L.
Coughlin William J.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Gordon Stephen T.
Pecari Damian
LandOfFree
Vehicle rear storage drawer 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 rear storage drawer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle rear storage drawer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2611782