Seat extender/barrier panel for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131282-B2
Application number	US-201615353364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2016
Priority date	Nov 16, 2016
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A cargo assist apparatus is provided for a motor vehicle. That cargo assist apparatus includes a panel and a translating and pivoting connector whereby the panel is displaced between a stowed position below an upper face of the seat bottom, a first deployed position projecting above the upper face and a second deployed position projecting forward from the upper face.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A cargo assist apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a panel;
a translating and pivoting connector including:
a slider and a panel support, said panel support being pivotally connected to said panel and to said slider; and
a guide including an elongated T-shaped slot, the guide being carried on a motor vehicle support, said motor vehicle support adapted for connection to the motor vehicle, wherein the slider translates along said guide; and

a flap pivotally connected to said panel and displaceable between a home position extending along said panel and a projecting position;
whereby said panel is displaced between a stowed position below an upper face of a seat bottom, a first deployed position projecting above said upper face and a second deployed position projecting forward from said upper face.

2. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 1 , further including a first stability link connected at a first end to a first edge of said panel.

3. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 2 , further including a first guide track on said first edge of said panel, said first stability link including a first follower riding in said first guide track.

4. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 3 , further including a second stability link connected at a second end to a second edge of said panel.

5. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 4 , further including a second guide track on said second edge of said panel, said second stability link including a second follower riding in said second guide track.

6. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 5 , further including a first pivot connection at a third end of said first stability link, said first pivot connection adapted for connecting to the motor vehicle, and a second pivot connection at a fourth end of said second stability link, said second pivot connection adapted for connecting to the motor vehicle.

7. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said panel support includes a shell having a first section and a second section and a tension device held in a cavity within said shell.

8. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said first section includes a neck and said second section includes an opening that receives said neck.

9. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said tension device is a component selected from a group consisting of a spring and a resilient elastomer insert.

10. A cargo assist apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a panel;
a translating and pivoting connector connecting said panel to a motor vehicle support, said motor vehicle support adapted for connection to the motor vehicle, whereby said panel may be displaced between a stowed position below an upper face of a seat bottom, a first deployed position projecting above said upper face and a second deployed position projecting forward from said upper face, for carrying cargo on a seat bottom of said motor vehicle; and
a first stability link including a first end connected to a first edge of said panel and further including a second end adapted for connection to a portion of the motor vehicle, said first stability link being translatable along said first edge of said panel.

11. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 10 , further including a first guide track on said first edge of said panel, said first stability link including a first follower riding in said first guide track.

12. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 11 , further including a second stability link connected at a second end to a second edge of said panel.

13. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 12 , further including a second guide track on said second edge of said panel, said second stability link including a second follower riding in said second guide track.

14. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the translating and pivoting connector includes a slider and a panel support, said panel support being pivotally connected to said panel and to said slider.

15. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said panel support includes a shell having a first section and a second section and a tension device held in a cavity within said shell.

16. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said first section includes a neck and said second section includes an opening that receives said neck.

17. The cargo assist apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said tension device is a component selected from a group consisting of a spring and a resilient elastomer insert.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Hellman Kristin Ann
• Sakarian Artur Stanislavovich
• Hosbach' Christian John

Classifications

• B60R2011/0012

  Seats or parts thereof · CPC title

• B60N2/00

  Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles (railway seats B61D33/00; cycle seats B62J1/00; aircraft seats B64D11/06, B64D25/04, B64D25/10) · CPC title

• B60N2002/363

  characterised by provisions for enhancing the cargo floor surface, e.g. elements closing gaps or enlarging the back-rest surface · CPC title

• B60R7/04 Primary

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R7/043 Primary

  mounted on or under a seat · CPC title