Track assembly with storage bin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12570218-B2
Application number	US-202418676847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2024
Priority date	May 29, 2024
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A system and method include providing a track assembly that supports at least one accessory base plate in a vehicle cargo area, wherein the track assembly extends to a distal end that faces a tailgate. One or more receptacles are mounted within the distal end, and each receptacle is moveable between an open position and a closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area; a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area, wherein each of the first track structure and the second track structure extend to a distal end; at least one base plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge, wherein the first edge is supportable by the first track structure and the second edge is supportable by the second track structure; one or more receptacles mounted within at least one distal end of the first track structure and the second track structure, wherein the one or more receptacles are moveable between an open position and a closed position; a control system having at least one sensor in communication with one or more controllers to actively determine if the one or more receptacles are in the closed position or the open position.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one base plate is mounted for sliding movement along the first track structure and the second track structure.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprise a plurality of receptacles, wherein at least one receptacle is mounted in each distal end of the first track structure and the second track structure.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one receptacle mounted in each distal end comprises at least two receptacles mounted in each distal end.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a first receptacle of the at least two receptacles is positioned vertically above a second receptacle of the at least two receptacles.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprise a base wall with one or more side walls extending outwardly around an outer periphery of the base wall to form an internal cavity having an open end, and including a cover that closes the internal cavity.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the cover is pivotal between the open position and the closed position.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of each of the first track structure and the second track structure comprises an open pocket surrounded by one or more walls, and wherein the one or more receptacles are at least partially received within the open pocket.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first track structure and the second track structure are positioned within the vehicle cargo area that has at least one end associated with a moveable vehicle panel that moves between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the one or more receptacles have an outer surface that faces an inner surface of the moveable vehicle panel when the moveable vehicle panel is in the closed position.

10 . The system of claim 1 , including a movable vehicle panel associated with an end of the vehicle cargo area, wherein:
the movable vehicle panel is moveable between a panel open position and a panel closed position; the one or more receptacles each have a cover that is moveable between the open position and the closed position; and movement of the cover between the open position and the closed position is in response to movement of the movable vehicle panel between the panel open position the panel closed position such that the cover moves to the open position in response to the movable vehicle panel moving to the panel open position.

11 . The system of claim 1 , including a unidirectional locking mechanism associated with at least one of the first track structure and second track structure, the unidirectional locking mechanism coupled to an electrically controlled component to control a deployment position of the one or more receptacles.

12 . The system of claim 1 , including a resilient closure mechanism configured to position the one or more receptacles to a desired position.

13 . A system, comprising:
a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area; a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area, wherein each of the first track structure and the second track structure extend to a distal end; at least one base plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge, wherein the first edge is supportable by the first track structure and the second edge is supportable by the second track structure; one or more receptacles mounted within at least one distal end of the first track structure and the second track structure, wherein the one or more receptacles are moveable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the one or more receptacles comprise a base wall with one or more side walls extending outwardly around an outer periphery of the base wall to form an internal cavity having an open end;
a cover that closes the internal cavity, wherein the cover is pivotal between the open position and the closed position; and
wherein the distal end of the first track structure and the second track structure face an inner surface of a movable vehicle panel when the movable vehicle panel is in a closed position, and wherein the cover pivots to the open position in response to the movable vehicle panel moving to an open position.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the cover automatically pivots to the closed position in response to the movable vehicle panel moving to the closed position, and wherein access to the one or more receptacles is prevented by moving the movable vehicle panel to the closed position.

15 . A system, comprising:
a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area; a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area, wherein each of the first track structure and the second track structure extend to a distal end; at least one base plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge, wherein the first edge is supportable by the first track structure and the second edge is supportable by the second track structure; one or more receptacles mounted within at least one distal end of the first track structure and the second track structure, wherein the one or more receptacles are moveable between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the first track structure and the second track structure are positioned within the vehicle cargo area that has at least one end associated with a moveable vehicle panel that moves between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the one or more receptacles have an outer surface that faces an inner surface of the moveable vehicle panel when the moveable vehicle panel is in the closed position; and
wherein movement of the one or more receptacles between the open position and the closed position is solely responsive to movement of the moveable vehicle panel between the open position and the closed position.

16 . A system, comprising:
a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area; a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area, wherein each of the first track structure and the second track structure extend to a distal end; at least one base plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge wherein the first edge is supportable by the first track structure and the second edge is supportable by the second track structure; one or more receptacles mounted within at least one distal end of the first track structure and the second track structure, wherein the one or more recepta

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Nugent Blaise
• Rutman Matthew B
• Diamond Brendan

Classifications

• B60R9/06 Primary

  at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} · CPC title