Storage system for passenger vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9490461-B2
Application number	US-201414302018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2014
Priority date	Jun 29, 2011
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A passenger vehicle is provided with a seating row that is oriented in a passenger compartment forward of a storage compartment. The seating row has a seat back that is pivotally connected to the vehicle body for providing access to the storage compartment when the seat back is in a collapsed position. A battery having a top surface is mounted within the storage compartment. A receptacle is provided with a back surface that is connected to the top surface of the battery by a panel. The receptacle moves in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the battery between a rearward position within the storage compartment and a forward position within the passenger compartment. A face of the receptacle engages the seat back, and the panel extends from the receptacle to the battery in the forward position for providing a raised platform extending to the passenger compartment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A passenger vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body having a passenger compartment and a storage compartment oriented rearward of the passenger compartment;
a seating row oriented in the passenger compartment forward of the storage compartment, the seating row having a seat back pivotally connected to the vehicle body for providing access to the storage compartment when the seat back is in a collapsed position;
a battery mounted to the vehicle body and disposed within the storage compartment, the battery having a top surface; and
a receptacle having a back surface and a face oriented opposite to the back surface, the back surface being connected to the top surface of the battery by a panel, the receptacle being moveable in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the battery between a rearward position within the storage compartment and a forward position within the passenger compartment;
wherein the face of the receptacle engages the seat back and the panel extends from the receptacle to the battery in the forward position for providing a raised platform extending in the passenger compartment.

2. The passenger vehicle of claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises an opening formed through the face for exposing an inner portion of the receptacle when the receptacle is in the rearward position.

3. The passenger vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a hinge for pivotally connecting the panel to the top surface of the battery.

4. The passenger vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a container with a lower surface and an open face extending from the lower surface, the lower surface being connectable to the top surface of the battery and the container being movable relative to the battery between an upward position and a downward position;
wherein the lower surface of the container rests upon the top surface of the battery and the open face provides access to an inner portion of the container for storage in the upward position of the container.

5. The passenger vehicle of claim 4 wherein the lower surface of the container is aligned with the top surface of the battery in the downward position of the container for extending the raised platform in the storage compartment.

6. A vehicle comprising:
a battery mounted to a vehicle body and disposed within a storage compartment and extending behind a rear seat; and
a container disposed rearward of the battery and having a surface movable between a first position and a second position;
wherein the surface aligns with a top surface of the battery to provide a raised platform in the second position.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the container further comprises a face with an opening formed through the face for exposing an inner portion of the container when the container is oriented in at least one of the first position and the second position.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a second container oriented laterally adjacent to the container, the second container being independently adjustable relative to the container about the battery between the first position and the second position.

9. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a receptacle having a back surface and a face oriented opposite to the back surface, the back surface being connected to a top surface of the battery by a panel, the receptacle being moveable in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the battery between a rearward position within a storage compartment and a forward position within a passenger compartment.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a seating row oriented in the passenger compartment and forward of the storage compartment, the seating row having a seat back pivotally connected to the vehicle body for providing access to the storage compartment when the seat back is in a collapsed position;
wherein the face of the receptacle engages the seat back and the panel extends from the receptacle to the battery in the forward position for extending the raised platform into the passenger compartment.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a hinge for pivotally connecting the panel to the top surface of the battery, wherein the panel and the top surface of the battery together with the back surface of the receptacle and the surface of the container provide the raised platform.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a second panel pivotally connected to the back surface of the receptacle, wherein the second panel extends from the back surface in the first position to engage a seat cushion and extend the raised platform in a vehicle passenger compartment.

13. A vehicle comprising:
a battery mounted to a vehicle body and disposed within a storage compartment; and
a container disposed adjacent to the battery and having a surface and an open face, the surface being adjustable between an upward position and a downward position, wherein the surface is aligned with a top surface of the battery in at least one of the upward position and the downward position to provide a raised platform, the open face exposing an inner portion of the container when the container is oriented in at least one of the upward position and the downward position.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the container is disposed rearward of the battery in at least one of the upward position and the downward position.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a second container oriented laterally adjacent to the container within the storage compartment, the second container being independently adjustable relative to the container about the battery between the upward position and the downward position.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising:
a second receptacle oriented laterally adjacent to the receptacle; and
a second panel having a first end pivotally connected to the second receptacle and a second end opposite the first end pivotally connected to a top surface of the battery;
wherein the second receptacle is pivotally adjustable about the battery to a forward position upon a second collapsed seat back to provide a second raised platform.

17. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a receptacle having a back surface and a face oriented opposite to the back surface, the back surface being connected to a top surface of the battery by a panel, the receptacle being moveable in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the battery between a rearward position within the storage compartment and a forward position within a passenger compartment.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 further comprising a seating row oriented in the passenger compartment and forward of the storage compartment, the seating row having a seat back pivotally connected to the vehicle body for providing access to the storage compartment when the seat back is in a collapsed position;
wherein the face of the receptacle engages the seat back and the panel extends from the receptacle to the battery in the forward position to provide a raised platform within the passenger compartment.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lucas Marc Jonathon
• Wuerth John Stephen
• Houk Peter Daniel

Classifications

• B60N2/305 Primary

  the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame · CPC title

• Y02T10/648

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B60L11/1864

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• H01M2/1083 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• B60R5/045

  collapsible or transformable · CPC title