Vehicle cargo divider assembly system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724634-B2
Application number	US-202017102783-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2020
Priority date	Nov 24, 2020
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

An assembly for a vehicle includes a substrate that defines a channel that has a bottom, a retention feature that is coupled to the substrate and that extends into the channel, and a panel that is operably coupled to the retention feature. The panel is movable between a locked position, wherein the panel is maintained in an upright position by the retention feature, and an unlocked position, wherein the panel is operable to pivot relative to the retention feature between the upright position and a stowed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a substrate that defines a channel having a bottom;
a retention feature coupled to the substrate and extending into the channel; and
a panel operably coupled to the retention feature and movable between a locked position, wherein the panel is maintained in an upright position by the retention feature, and an unlocked position, wherein the panel is operable to pivot relative to the retention feature between the upright position and a stowed position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retention feature includes a locking portion positioned within the channel and having a protrusion and a receiving portion positioned outside of the channel and defining a receiver, wherein the panel is maintained in the upright position by the locking portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the panel includes a foot, and wherein the foot is nearer than the protrusion to the bottom in the locked position, and the foot is further than the protrusion from the bottom in the unlocked position.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the panel includes a pivot portion configured to be received within the receiver in the unlocked position, such that the panel is operable to pivot between the upright and stowed positions via rotation of the pivot portion within the receiver.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the pivot portion is nearer than the protrusion to the bottom in the locked position, and the pivot portion is further than the protrusion from the bottom in the unlocked position.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes an upper surface, and the panel includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the first side is substantially parallel to the upper surface in the stowed position of the panel, and the first side is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface in the upright position of the panel.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second side is configured to contact the upper surface in the stowed position of the panel.

8. A vehicle, comprising:
a rear cargo area;
a substrate positioned within the rear cargo area and defining a channel having a bottom;
a retention feature having a locking portion positioned within the channel and a receiving portion positioned outside the channel and defining a receiver; and
a panel having a pivot portion and a foot and being operable between a locked position, wherein the locking portion is engaged with the foot within the channel to maintain the panel in an upright position, and an unlocked position, wherein the panel is operable to pivot between the upright position and a stowed position via rotation of the pivot portion within the receiver.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the locking portion includes a protrusion within the channel and in a spaced relationship with the bottom.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the foot is nearer than the protrusion to the bottom in the locked position, and the foot is further than the protrusion from the bottom in the unlocked position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the pivot portion is nearer than the protrusion to the bottom in the locked position, and the pivot portion is further than the protrusion from the bottom in the unlocked position.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the substrate includes an upper surface, and the panel includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the first side is substantially parallel to the upper surface in the stowed position of the panel, and the first side is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface in the upright position of the panel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the second side is configured to contact the upper surface in the stowed position of the panel.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the upper surface is substantially planar and faces vehicle-upward.

15. An assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a substrate defining at least one channel having a bottom;
at least one retention feature coupled to the substrate and extending into the at least one channel;
a first panel operably coupled to the at least one retention feature and movable between a first panel locked position, wherein the first panel is maintained in a first panel upright position by the at least one retention feature, and a first panel unlocked position, wherein the first panel is operable to pivot relative to the at least one retention feature between the first panel upright position and a first panel stowed position; and
a second panel operably coupled to the at least one retention feature and movable between a second panel locked position, wherein the second panel is maintained in a second panel upright position by the at least one retention feature, and a second panel unlocked position, wherein the second panel is operable to pivot relative to the at least one retention feature between the second panel upright position and a second panel stowed position.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first panel is operable to pivot about a first pivot axis between the first panel upright position and the first panel stowed position, and the second panel is operable to pivot about a second pivot axis between the second panel upright position and the second panel stowed position, wherein the first pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the second pivot axis.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first panel is operable to pivot about a first pivot axis between the first panel upright position and the first panel stowed position, and the second panel is operable to pivot about a second pivot axis between the second panel upright position and the second panel stowed position, wherein the first pivot axis is substantially parallel to the second pivot axis.

18. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the at least one retention feature includes a locking portion positioned within the at least one channel and having a protrusion and a receiving portion positioned outside of the at least one channel and defining a receiver, wherein the first panel is maintained in the first panel upright position by the locking portion.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first panel includes a foot, and wherein the foot is nearer than the protrusion to the bottom in the first panel locked position, and the foot is further than the protrusion from the bottom in the first panel unlocked position.

20. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first panel includes a pivot portion configured to be received within the receiver in the first panel unlocked position, such that the first panel is operable to pivot between the first panel upright position and the first panel stowed position via rotation of the pivot portion within the receiver.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bernal Zuñiga Fabio Andres
• Rosas Chávez Mario
• Valero Reyes Carlos José Rodrigo

Classifications

• B60P7/14 Primary

  the load bracing means comprising a movable bulkhead · CPC title

• 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

• B60R13/013

  comprising removable or hinged parts, e.g. for accessing storage compartments · CPC title