Divider assemblies for partitioning vehicle cargo spaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014487-B2
Application number	US-201715806821-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2017
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A divider assembly for partitioning a vehicle cargo space includes a divider body, a window extending through the divider body, and a panel movable between a first position in which the window is concealed and a second position in which the window is exposed. When the window is exposed, cargo can be inserted through the window and into the vehicle cargo space without first removing the divider body from the cargo space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A divider assembly for partitioning a vehicle cargo space, comprising:
a divider body;
a window extending through the divider body;
a panel movable between a first position in which the window is concealed and a second position in which the window is exposed; and
a handle connected to the panel,
wherein the panel is received within a pocket formed inside the divider body in the second position.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a shaft that extends through a slot formed in the divider body.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the shaft is threadably received by a fix plate disposed within the divider body.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the slot is formed in an upper surface of the divider body.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the handle is slidable relative to the divider body to move the panel between the first and second positions.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein movement of the panel between the first and second positions is guided inside the divider body by an upper channel and a lower channel of the divider body.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the handle is rotatable in a first direction to tighten the panel within a channel of the divider body and is rotatable in a second direction to loosen the panel within the channel.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the window includes a first height that is a least half of a second height of the divider body.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the panel is pivotable between the first and second positions.

10. A vehicle, comprising:
a cargo space; and
a divider assembly positioned to partition the cargo space into multiple sections, the divider assembly including:
a divider body;
a window formed through the divider body; and
a panel that is movable to selectively expose the window for receiving an item of cargo,
wherein the panel is received within a pocket inside the divider body when moved to expose the window.

11. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the cargo space is established by a truck bed.

12. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein the divider body includes a pair of box link connections adapted for securing the divider assembly to opposing side walls of the truck bed.

13. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the item of cargo is a long stock cargo.

14. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the panel is slidable between a first position in which the window is concealed behind the panel and a second position in which the window is exposed.

15. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , comprising a second divider assembly positioned to further partition the cargo space.

16. The vehicle as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second divider assembly is longitudinally spaced apart from the divider assembly within the cargo space.

17. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the pocket is bound by an upper channel and a lower channel that are each configured to guide movement of the panel inside the divider body.

18. A divider assembly for partitioning a vehicle cargo space, comprising:
a divider body;
a window extending through the divider body;
a panel movable between a first position in which the window is concealed and a second position in which the window is exposed; and
a handle connected to the panel,
wherein the panel is pivotable between the first and second positions,
wherein the panel is connected to the divider body by a hinge, and further wherein the panel pivots about a vertical pivot axis of the hinge to move between the first and second positions.

19. The assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the panel is connected to the divider body by a hinge, and further wherein the panel pivots about a horizontal pivot axis of the hinge to move between the first and second positions.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Loew Pattrick
• White Kendra

Classifications

• B60R5/00

  Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like (primarily intended for stowing loads in load-transporting vehicles B60P; arrangements for stowing spare wheels B62D43/00) · CPC title

• B60R5/04

  arranged at rear of vehicle {(B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065)} · CPC title

• B60P7/14 Primary

  the load bracing means comprising a movable bulkhead · CPC title

• B62D33/02

  Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)} · CPC title