Smartpacking tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11097663-B2
Application number	US-201816135033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2018
Priority date	Sep 19, 2018
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A vehicular cargo assembly includes first and second panels disposed in a vehicle cabin. A plurality of grooves is provided for slidably coupling the first panel to the second panel. The first panel is movable between a first position, wherein the first panel is superjacent to the second panel, and a second position, wherein the first panel is adjacent to the second panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicular cargo assembly, comprising:
first and second panels disposed in a vehicle cabin;
a plurality of grooves for slidably coupling the first panel to the second panel; and
wherein the first panel is movable between a first position, wherein the first panel is superjacent to the second panel, and a second position, wherein the first panel is adjacent to the second panel, wherein the second panel is secured to a cabin floor by at least one attachment tab.

2. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first panel is retained in the second position by at least one pushpin.

3. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one pushpin comprises at a snap-fitting element.

4. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are disposed upon an underside of the first panel.

5. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 1 , wherein a top face of the second panel includes a plurality of ridges configured to slidably engage the grooves.

6. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a peripheral rim for preventing the movement of cargo.

7. A method of operating a vehicular cargo assembly in a cargo compartment adjacent to a seating assembly of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
slidably coupling a groove of a first panel to a ridge of a second panel;
placing cargo onto the first panel;
sliding the groove of the first panel along the ridge of the second panel from a superjacent position to an adjacent position with respect to a second panel, wherein the second panel extends over a portion of the seating assembly in the adjacent position; and
locking the first panel into the adjacent position.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
placing cargo on the second panel.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
securing the second panel to a cabin floor using at least one attachment point.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of:
restoring the first panel to the superjacent position along the ridge of the second panel.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
engaging at least one snap-fitting element to secure the first panel in the adjacent position.

12. A vehicular cargo assembly, comprising:
a first panel comprising at least one groove; and
a second panel comprising at least one ridge having a complementary shape to the groove, wherein the at least one ridge engages the at least one groove forming a directional coupling of the first panel to the second panel, wherein the first panel is slidably adjustable along the directional coupling between a first position superjacent to the second panel and a second position adjacent to the panel.

13. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second panel is secured to a cabin floor by at least one attachment tab.

14. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first panel is retained in the second position by at least one pushpin.

15. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 14 , wherein the at least one pushpin comprises at least one snap-fitting element.

16. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are removably coupled.

17. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first panel includes at least one protuberance configured to prevent the movement of cargo.

18. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of grooves are disposed upon a bottom surface of the first panel.

19. The vehicular cargo assembly of claim 18 , wherein a top face of the second panel includes the plurality of ridges configured to slidably engage the plurality of grooves.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Aguilar Ruelas Eduardo Arturo
• Gallardo Jose Luis

Classifications

• B60R5/04 Primary

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

• B60R5/048 Primary

  of accordion-type, i.e. collapsible by sliding and folding · CPC title

• B60R5/006

  stowing or holding means for elongated articles, e.g. skis inside vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2013/018

  Connection or positioning of adjacent panels · CPC title

• B60R13/011

  for internal load compartments, e.g. car trunks · CPC title