Configurable storage compartments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11766969-B2
Application number	US-202117564482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2021
Priority date	Dec 29, 2021
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

A configurable storage assembly for a storage compartment of a vehicle, the storage assembly including a plurality of panels extendable between a retracted position and an extended position, one or more attachment features coupled to the first end of each wall portion, and one or more receiving features coupled to the vehicle, the receiving features are configured to be selectively coupled to the attachment features. Each panel includes a wall portion having a first end and an opposite second end, the second end of the wall portion extending from a surface of the vehicle. In the retracted position, the attachment feature of each panel is spaced apart from the receiving features. In the extended position, the attachment feature of each panel is coupled to one of the receiving features.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A configurable storage assembly for a storage compartment of a vehicle, the storage assembly comprising:
a plurality of panels extendable between a retracted position and an extended position, the plurality of panels comprising:
a wall portion having a first end and an opposite second end, the second end of the wall portion extending from a surface of the vehicle;
a horizontally extending panel, the second end of the horizontally extending panel extending from a wall of the vehicle; and
a vertically extending panel, the second end of the vertically extending panel extending from a floor of the vehicle:

one or more attachment features coupled to the first end of each wall portion; and
one or more receiving features coupled to the vehicle, wherein the receiving features are configured to be selectively coupled to the attachment features,
wherein in the retracted position, the attachment feature coupled to each panel is spaced apart from the receiving features, in the extended position, the attachment feature of each panel is coupled to one of the receiving features, and each of the vertically extending panel and the horizontally extending panel are folding structures comprising a plurality of hingedly coupled folding panels that fold and unfold to extend between the extended position and the retracted position.

2. The configurable storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein one of the receiving features is coupled to the vertically extending panel and is configured to receive the attachment feature of the horizontally extending panel when the horizontally extending panel is in the extended position.

3. The configurable storage assembly of claim 2 , wherein each panel further comprises a reel coupled to the vehicle that is configured to take up and pay out the panel between the retracted position and the extended position.

4. The configurable storage assembly of claim 3 , wherein when the panels are in the retracted position, the panels are at least partially positioned within the wall, a ceiling, or the floor of the storage compartment of the vehicle.

5. The configurable storage assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
one or more hinges coupled to at least one of the ceiling, the floor, the vertically extending panel, and the horizontally extending panel; and
a door removably coupleable to the hinges.

6. The configurable storage assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a lock mechanism configured to lock the door to the hinges.

7. The configurable storage assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the configurable storage assembly further comprises an individual storage compartment at least partially defined by the vertically extending panel, the horizontally extending panel, and one of the floor, the wall, and the ceiling,
the individual storage compartment comprises an opening to allow access to the individual storage compartment, and
when the door is coupled to the hinges, the door closes off the opening of the individual storage compartment to enclose the individual storage compartment.

8. The configurable storage assembly of claim 7 , wherein the attachment feature is a hook.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• David Mikio

Classifications

• B60R5/048 Primary

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

• B60R7/02 Primary

  in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R5/045

  collapsible or transformable · CPC title