Living Storage Structure for a Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019039525-A1
Application number	US-201715668477-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 3, 2017
Priority date	Aug 3, 2017
Publication date	Feb 7, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A storage structure for mounting on an interior mounting surface of a vehicle is described. The storage structure includes a sheet of flexible fabric that forms a pocket on the interior mounting surface. The fabric pocket can be opened and closed with one or more shape memory alloy actuators. The interior mounting surface can be a seatback, door trim, a wall of a cargo area, etc.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle, comprising:
a mounting surface within an interior of the vehicle; and a storage structure affixed to the mounting surface, the storage structure comprising:
a sheet of material secured to the mounting surface and forming a pocket for the mounting surface;
a rigid arch component having inner ends extending between pivot points at the mounting surface that are on opposing sides of the pocket and having an outer end to which the sheet of material is secured; and
an actuator assembly coupled to the outer end of the rigid arch component for pivoting movement of the rigid arch component, wherein the rigid arch component pivots about the pivot points between a closed position where the outer end of the rigid arch component is adjacent to the mounting surface to close the pocket and an open position that opens the pocket.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises an actuator formed of a shape memory material that extends from a bottom of the pocket to the outer end of the rigid arch component, the shape memory material contracting responsive to application of an energy source to pivot the rigid arch component from the closed position to the open position.

3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory alloy that contracts into a spring shape when the energy source is applied.

4 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the energy source is a voltage applied to the shape memory material.

5 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises:
a spring extending between the outer end of the rigid arch component and the mounting surface, the spring biased to pivot the rigid arch component into the closed position.

6 . The vehicle of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first hinge and a second hinge affixed to the mounting surface and forming the pivot points, the spring comprising a first spring located at the first hinge and a second spring located at the first hinge.

7 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:
the actuator is a first actuator, the actuator assembly comprises a second actuator formed of the shape memory material that extends from the mounting surface to the outer end of the rigid arch component, the shape memory material of the second actuator deforming responsive to the application of the energy source to the shape memory material of the first actuator and contracting responsive to application of the energy source to pivot the rigid arch component from the open position to the closed position, and the shape memory material of the first actuator deforms responsive to the application of the energy source to the shape memory material of the second actuator.

8 . The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising:
a flexible tube made of an insulating material and surrounding the shape memory material of the actuator so as to space the actuator from the sheet of material.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the rigid arch component has one of a semi-circular or rectangular shape at the outer end.

10 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a motion sensor affixed to the mounting surface, the motion sensor configured to actuate an actuator of the actuator assembly responsive to detection of motion.

11 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the mounting surface is a substantially flat surface, and the open position of the rigid arch component is 90 degrees relative to the mounting surface.

12 . A vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle component forming a mounting surface within an interior of the vehicle; and a storage structure affixed to the mounting surface, the storage structure comprising:
a sheet of material secured to the mounting surface along three sides and having an aperture along a fourth side;
a closure device secured to the sheet of material and having a first outer end and a second outer end extending horizontally in a direction along the aperture; and
an actuator assembly comprising an actuator formed of a shape memory material that extends from the closure device to a bottom of the sheet of material where the sheet of material is secured to the mounting surface, the shape memory material contracting responsive to application of an energy source to pull the closure device from a first position that closes the aperture to a second position that allows access through the aperture.

13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
the mounting surface is a rear surface of a seatback of a seat; and the aperture extends horizontally across the seatback.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the rear surface of the seatback is angled to reduce a force required to move the closure device from the first position to the second position as compared to a force required to move the closure device from the first position to the second position when the rear surface is a substantially flat surface.

15 . The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising:
a latch located on the mounting surface to secure the closure device in the first position.

16 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
the closure device forms a rigid arch component having two legs extending from the first outer end and the second outer end to respective pivots points with the mounting surface, and the actuator comprises a first actuator that extends from the first outer end to the bottom of the sheet of material and a second actuator that extends from the second outer end to the bottom of the sheet of material.

17 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the sheet of material comprises a flexible fabric.

18 . A component for a vehicle having a mounting surface for a storage structure, the mounting surface forming an interior surface within the vehicle, the storage structure comprising:
flexible fabric forming a pocket on the mounting surface; a rigid arch component having a first leg extending from a first pivot point to an outer end and a second leg extending from a second pivot point to the outer end, the first pivot point and the second pivot point located at the mounting surface, and the flexible fabric having a portion secured to the outer end; and a first actuator formed of a shape memory material extending between a bottom of the pocket and the outer end of the rigid arch component for pivoting movement of the rigid arch component, the shape memory material contracting responsive to application of an energy source to pivot the rigid arch component about the first pivot point and the second pivot point from a closed position where the outer end is adjacent to the mounting surface, closing the pocket, to an open position wherein the outer end is spaced apart from the mounting surface, opening the pocket.

19 . The component of claim 18 , wherein the first actuator comprises a first shape memory material actuator that extends between the bottom of the pocket and the outer end of the rigid arch component at the first leg, and a second shape memory material actuator that extends between the bottom of the pocket and the outer end of the rigid arch component at the second leg, the storage structure further comprising:
a second actuator formed of the shape memory material that extends from the mounting surface to the outer end of the rigid arch component, the shape memory material of the second actuator deforming responsive to the application of the energy source to the first shape memory material actuator and the second shape memory material actuator, and the shape memory material of the second actuator contracting responsive t

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Hu Teng

Classifications

• B60R7/043

  mounted on or under a seat · CPC title

• B60R7/005 Primary

  Nets or elastic pockets tensioned against walls or backrests · CPC title