Vehicle storage structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016200258-A1
Application number	US-201514593186-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 9, 2015
Priority date	Jan 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle storage structure has a box structure with a cargo compartment, a lid and a locking mechanism. The lid is movable between a lowered orientation covering the cargo compartment and a raised orientation exposing the cargo compartment. The lid has a first section and a second section connected to one another via a hinge. The second section is pivotally movable such that with the first section in the lowered orientation, the second section pivots between a retracted position overlaying the first section and an extended position defining a flat cargo receiving surface. The locking mechanism is fixedly attached to the first section of the lid and is configured to releasably lock the lid in the lowered orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle storage structure comprising:
a vehicle floor; a vehicle seat assembly fixedly coupled to the vehicle floor; a storage structure fixedly attached to the vehicle floor between the vehicle floor and a seating section of the vehicle seat assembly, the storage structure including:
a box structure having a cargo compartment;
a lid including a first section and a second section, the first section being movable between a lowered orientation covering the cargo compartment and a raised orientation exposing the cargo compartment, the second section being connected to the first section via a hinge, the second section being pivotally movable about the hinge relative to the first section such that with the first section in the lowered orientation, the second section pivots between a retracted position overlaying the first section and an extended position with the first section and the second section together defining a flat cargo receiving surface that extends forward of the vehicle seat assembly; and
a locking mechanism fixedly attached to the first section of the lid and being configured to releasably lock the lid in the lowered orientation.

2 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the second section of the lid includes an aperture that exposes the locking mechanism with the second section in the retracted position.

3 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the second section includes a removable cover that attaches to the second section covering the aperture and concealing the locking mechanism with the second section in the retracted position.

4 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the hinge between the first section and the second section is a living hinge unitarily formed with the first section and the second section.

5 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 4 , wherein
the living hinge between first section and the second section of lid is located adjacent a front edge of the box structure with the lid in the lowered orientation.

6 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the second section of the lid includes a leg member having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being attached to the second section of the lid for pivotal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, such that with the second section in the extended position and the leg member in the extended position the second edge of the leg member contacts the vehicle floor supporting the second section.

7 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 6 , wherein
the leg member is attached to the second section via a pivot structure that is located at a distal edge of the second section relative to the hinge.

8 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the leg member defines at least one recessed area formed adjacent to the second edge, the leg member further including a shaft portion that extends from a first side of the recess to a second side of the recess, the shaft portion being parallel to the second edge of the leg member, the shaft portion at least partially defining the pivot structure.

9 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 8 , wherein
the second section of the lid includes a shaft receiving recess formed along a surface of the second section adjacent to the distal edge of the second section, and the shaft portion is retained for pivotal movement within the shaft receiving recess.

10 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the second section of the lid includes a pair of apertures adjacent to one another that together define a cargo tie-down.

11 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the seating section of the vehicle seat assembly is attached to the vehicle floor for pivotal movement between a seating orientation and a retracted orientation such that in the seating orientation the seating section overlays the box structure of the storage structure and in the retracted orientation the seating section exposes the storage structure.

12 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 11 , wherein
the lid of the storage structure is configured such that with the first section in the lowered orientation and the second section of the lid in the retracted position, the seating section of the vehicle seat assembly overlays the lid of the storage structure.

13 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the storage structure is fixed to the vehicle floor via removable mechanical fasteners.

14 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle floor includes a central section that has an uneven non-planar contour, and the box structure of the storage structure includes a lower surface contoured to mate with the uneven non-planar contour of the vehicle floor.

15 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 14 , wherein
the second section of the lid includes a leg member having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being attached to the second section of the lid for pivotal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, such that with the second section in the extended position and the leg member in the extended position the second edge of the leg member contacts the vehicle floor supporting the second section.

16 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 15 , wherein
the second edge of the leg member includes a recessed portion that is shaped to correspond and mate with the uneven non-planar contour of the central section of the vehicle floor.

17 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the box structure includes an upper surface that includes at least one recess that defines a gap between the lid and the box structure with the first section being in the lowered orientation.

18 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the cargo compartment of the box structure includes a surface having a recess, and the locking mechanism includes a bolt movable between a locking orientation and a releasing orientation, the bolt extending into the recess in the surface of the cargo compartment with the bolt in the locking orientation.

19 . The vehicle storage structure according to claim 18 , wherein
the surface of the cargo compartment is located on a front wall of the box structure.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Chawlk Michael
• Shepard Brian
• Schlotterer Kelly

Classifications

• B60R7/043 Primary

  mounted on or under a seat · CPC title

• B60N2/3047

  the cushion being hinged at the back-rest · CPC title

• B60N2/305

  the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame · CPC title