Variable friction cargo surface system for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10953784-B2
Application number	US-201816178040-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2018
Priority date	Nov 1, 2018
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

Cargo systems are provided for vehicles that include, in one embodiment: a variable cargo surface disposed within a body of the vehicle behind one or more occupant seats, the variable cargo surface including: a low friction surface that facilitates movement of cargo within the cargo system, the low friction surface having a first coefficient of friction; a high friction surface that inhibits movement of cargo within the cargo system, the high friction surface having a second coefficient of friction that is greater than the first coefficient of friction; and a control device that selectively activates the low friction surface and the high friction surface based on conditions for the vehicle; wherein the low friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the low friction surface is activated; and the high friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the high friction surface is activated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cargo system for a vehicle, the cargo system comprising:
a variable cargo surface configured to be disposed within a body of the vehicle, the variable cargo surface comprising:
a low friction surface that facilitates movement of cargo within the cargo system, the low friction surface having a first coefficient of friction; and
a high friction surface that inhibits movement of the cargo within the cargo system, the high friction surface having a second coefficient of friction that is greater than the first coefficient of friction;

a control device that selectively activates and deactivates the low friction surface and the high friction surface based on conditions of the vehicle, wherein:
the low friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the low friction surface is activated; and
the high friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the high friction surface is activated;

a first chamber coupled to the low friction surface, the first chamber configured to receive fluid for activating the low friction surface;
a second chamber coupled to the high friction surface, the second chamber configured to receive fluid for activating the high friction surface;
one or more fluid movement devices configured to move fluid into and out of the first and second chambers, to thereby selectively activate and deactivate the low friction surface and the high friction surface;
one or more first channels coupled between one or more of the one or more fluid movement devices and the first chamber for delivery of fluid therebetween; and
one or more second channels coupled between one or more of the one or more fluid movement devices and the second chamber for delivery of fluid therebetween.

2. The cargo system of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more fluid movement devices comprise a pump that is configured to:
move fluid into the first chamber for activation of the low friction surface, when the low friction surface is activated;
move fluid into the second chamber for activation of the high friction surface, when the low friction surface is activated;
move fluid out of the first chamber for de-activation of the low friction surface, when the low friction surface is activated; and
move fluid out of the second chamber for de-activation of the high friction surface, when the high friction surface is activated.

3. The cargo system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to receive sensor inputs regarding the conditions of the vehicle;
wherein the control device comprises a processor that is configured to determine a selected activation or deactivation of the low friction surface and the high friction surface based on the sensor inputs, and to provide instructions for the selected activation or deactivation of the low friction surface and the high friction surface.

4. The cargo system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid movement devices comprise a two-way pump that is configured to move fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber, to thereby selectively activate and deactivate the low friction surface and the high friction surface.

5. A vehicle comprising:
a body; and
a cargo system comprising:
a variable cargo surface disposed within the body of the vehicle, the variable cargo surface comprising:
a low friction surface that facilitates movement of cargo within the cargo system, the low friction surface having a first coefficient of friction; and
a high friction surface that inhibits movement of cargo within the cargo system, the high friction surface having a second coefficient of friction that is greater than the first coefficient of friction;

a control device that selectively activates the low friction surface and the high friction surface based on conditions for the vehicle; wherein:
the low friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the low friction surface is activated; and
the high friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the high friction surface is activate;

a first chamber coupled to the low friction surface, the first chamber configured to receive fluid for activating the low friction surface;
a second chamber coupled to the high friction surface, the second chamber configured to receive fluid for activating the high friction surface;
one or more fluid movement devices configured to move fluid into and out of the first and second chambers, to thereby selectively activate and deactivate the low friction surface and the high friction surface;
one or more first channels coupled between one or more of the one or more fluid movement devices and the first chamber for delivery of fluid therebetween; and
one or more second channels coupled between one or more of the one or more fluid movement devices and the second chamber for delivery of fluid therebetween.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
the one or more fluid movement devices comprise a pump that is configured to:
move fluid into the first chamber for activation of the low friction surface, such that the low friction surface extends above the high friction surface, such that the low friction surface contacts cargo in the vehicle when the low friction surface is activated; and
move fluid out of the first chamber for de-activation of the low friction surface, such that the low friction surface does not extend above the high friction surface, such that the high friction surface contacts the cargo in the cargo system when the high friction surface is activated.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the one or more fluid movement devices comprise a two-way pump that is configured to move fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber, to thereby selectively activate and deactivate the low friction surface and the high friction surface.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to receive sensor inputs regarding the conditions of the vehicle;
wherein the control device comprises a processor that is configured to determine a selected one of the low friction surface or the high friction surface for activation based on the sensor inputs, and to provide instructions for the activation of the selected one of the low friction surface or the high friction surface.

9. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
the vehicle includes one or more occupant seats comprising one or more front occupant seats and one or more rear occupant seats; and
the variable cargo surface is disposed in a rear cargo region behind the one or more rear occupant seats.

10. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
the vehicle includes one or more occupant seats comprising one or more front occupant seats and one or more rear occupant seats;
the one or more rear occupant seats have a front side, on which an occupant may sit when the one or more rear occupant seats are in a seating position, and a rear side, on which cargo may be stored when the one or more rear occupant seats are in a cargo position; and
the variable cargo surface is disposed on the rear side of one or more of the one or more rear occupant seats.

11. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
the vehicle further comprises one or more occupant seats disposed within the body; and
the variable cargo surface is disposed behind one or more of the one or more occupant seats.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Univ Michigan Regents

Inventors

• Alexander Paul W
• Kim Wonhee M
• Brei Diann
• Luntz Jonathan E
• Benli Koray
• Giner Munoz Laura Alejandra

Classifications

• B60P7/0892

  by preventing lateral movement of the load, e.g. using stop blocks · CPC title

• B60P7/0884 Primary

  by increasing the friction between the load and the surface · CPC title

• B63B25/24

  Means for preventing unwanted cargo movement, e.g. dunnage · CPC title