Work surface for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12392146-B2
Application number	US-202217948543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2022
Priority date	Sep 20, 2022
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A work surface for a vehicle includes a first section, a central section, and a first lock assembly. The first section includes a proximal edge and a distal edge. The first section defines a channel therein. The central section includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the central section is positioned adjacent to the proximal edge of the first section. The proximal edge of the first section is pivotably coupled to the first end of the central section. The first section is movable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position relative to the central section. The first lock assembly is coupled to the central section. The first lock assembly includes a post that is operable between a retracted position and an extended position. The fully-deployed position of the first section arranges the channel defined by the first section to receive the post.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work surface for a vehicle, comprising:
a first section having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein the first section defines a channel therein;
a central section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the central section is positioned adjacent to the proximal edge of the first section, wherein the proximal edge of the first section is pivotably coupled to the first end of the central section, wherein the first section is movable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position relative to the central section;
a first lock assembly coupled to the central section, wherein the first lock assembly comprises a post that is operable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the fully-deployed position of the first section arranges the channel defined by the first section to receive the post of the first lock assembly, wherein the first lock assembly further comprises a biasing member positioned between the post and the central section, wherein the biasing member biases the post to the extended position, and wherein the first lock assembly further comprises a protrusion that extends from the post;
a first receptacle defined by the central section, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the first receptacle when the post is in the retracted position, and wherein the engagement between the protrusion and the first receptacle retains the post in the retracted position; and
a second receptacle defined by the central section, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the second receptacle when the post is in the extended position, and wherein the engagement between the protrusion and the second receptacle retains the post in the extended position.

2. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a fully-deployed-and-locked position of the first section is defined as the post of the first lock assembly extending into the channel defined by the first section when the first section is in the fully-deployed position.

3. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second section having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein the proximal edge of the second section is positioned adjacent to the second end of the central section.

4. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the central section is positioned between the first section and the second section.

5. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the second section is pivotably coupled to the second end of the central section.

6. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second section is movable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position relative to the central section.

7. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the second section defines a channel therein.

8. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second lock assembly coupled to the central section, wherein the second lock assembly comprises a post that is operable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the fully-deployed position of the second section arranges the channel defined by the second section to receive the post of the second lock assembly.

9. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 8 , wherein a fully-deployed-and-locked position of the second section is defined as the post of the second lock assembly extending into the channel defined by the second section when the second section is in the fully-deployed position.

10. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first section and the second section are capable of use as support legs for the central section when the first section and the second section are each in a partially-deployed position.

11. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second lock assembly coupled to the central section, wherein the second lock assembly comprises a post that is operable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein placing the post of the first lock assembly in the extended position when the first section is in the partially-deployed position and placing the post of the second lock assembly in the extended position when the second section is in the partially-deployed position aids in retaining the first section and the second section in the partially-deployed position.

12. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a recess defined in an underside thereof.

13. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising:
a leg that is received by the recess, wherein the leg is configured to provide support to the work surface.

14. A work surface for a vehicle, comprising:
a first section having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein the first section defines a channel therein;
a second section having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein the second section defines a channel therein;
a central section having a first end and a second end, wherein the central section is positioned between the first section and the second section, wherein the first end of the central section is positioned adjacent to the proximal edge of the first section, wherein the proximal edge of the first section is pivotably coupled to the first end of the central section, wherein the first section is movable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position relative to the central section, wherein the proximal edge of the second section is positioned adjacent to the second end of the central section, wherein the second section is pivotably coupled to the second end of the central section, wherein the second section is movable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position relative to the central section;
a first lock assembly coupled to the central section, wherein the first lock assembly comprises a post that is operable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the fully-deployed position of the first section arranges the channel defined by the first section to receive the post of the first lock assembly; and
a second lock assembly coupled to the central section, wherein the second lock assembly comprises a post that is operable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the fully-deployed position of the second section arranges the channel defined by the second section to receive the post of the second lock assembly, wherein the first and second lock assemblies each further comprises:
a biasing member positioned between the post and the central section, wherein the biasing member biases the post to the extended position;
a protrusion that extends from the post;
a first receptacle defined by the central section, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the first receptacle when the post is in the retracted position, and wherein the engagement between the protrusion and the first receptacle retains the post in the retracted position; and
a second receptacle defined by the central section, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the second receptacle when the post is in the extended position, and wherein the engagement between the protrusion and the second receptacle retains the post in the extended position.

15. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 14 , wherein a fully-deployed-and-locked position of the first section is defined as the post of the first lock assembly extending into the channel defined by the first section when the first section is in the fully-deployed position, and wherein a fully-deployed-and-locked position of the second section is defined as the post of the second lo

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Simon Gonzalez Jose Ernesto
• Aburto Jose Maria
• Mendez Lorena Virginia

Classifications

• E04G7/301

  for connecting bars or members which are parallel or in end-to-end relation · CPC title

• E04G1/32 Primary

  Other free-standing supports, e.g. using trestles (stands or trestles in general F16M11/00 {, work benches B25H1/00}) · CPC title

• B60R5/00 Primary

  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