Articulated fence for a vehicle cargo area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9950672-B1
Application number	US-201615333988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 25, 2016
Priority date	Oct 25, 2016
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle having a cargo area accessible through a liftgate opening frame and partially defined by a floor, side quarter trims, and pillar covers is provided. The vehicle includes an articulated fence movable between a stowed position and an elevated position, and a guide formed in at least one of the pillar covers for guiding the articulated fence between the stowed position and the elevated position. A motor is positioned behind one of the side quarter trims for moving a belt attached to the articulated fence. The articulated fence is transparent and positioned within a recess beneath the floor in the stowed position. A cover may be attached to the articulated fence and is substantially flush with the floor when the articulated fence is in the stowed position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A vehicle having a cargo area accessible through a liftgate opening frame and partially defined by a floor, side quarter trims, and pillar covers, comprising:
a lattice structure movable between a stowed position and an elevated position; and
a guide formed in at least one of said pillar covers for guiding said lattice structure between the stowed position and the elevated position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a motor positioned behind one of said side quarter trims for moving a belt attached to said lattice structure.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said lattice structure is transparent.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said lattice structure is positioned within a recess beneath said floor in the stowed position.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising a cover attached to said lattice structure said cover being substantially flush with said floor when said lattice structure is in the stowed position.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein said guide is a slot molded in at least one of said pillar covers.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein said cover extends through said slot and attaches to a belt for moving said lattice structure.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said guide is an aperture formed in each of said pillar covers and a cover attached to an upper end of said lattice structure extends through said guide in each of said pillar covers.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein said aperture formed in each of said pillar covers is a slot.

10. A vehicle having a cargo area accessible through a liftgate opening frame and partially defined by a floor, side quarter trims, and pillar covers, comprising:
a lattice structure movable between a stowed position within a recess beneath said floor and an elevated position, said lattice structure attached to said recess; and
a lifter supported by a pillar adjacent said liftgate opening frame, said lifter connected to said lattice structure for moving said lattice structure between the stowed position and the elevated position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein said lifter includes a motor having a rotating shaft for turning a gear in contact with a belt, said gear moving said belt around a pulley.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said motor is reversible and supported behind one of said side quarter trims.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said lifter is positioned behind one of said pillar covers.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a cover attached to said lattice structure wherein said cover extends through a guide formed in at least one of said pillar covers and is attached to said lifter.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein said cover is substantially flush with said floor when said lattice structure is in the stowed position.

16. A vehicle, comprising:
a cargo area partially defined by a floor having a recess therein adjacent a liftgate opening frame and passenger and driver side quarter trims;
a passenger side pillar cover further defining said cargo area includes a first guide formed therein;
a driver side pillar cover further defining said cargo area includes a second guide formed therein;
a lattice structure movable between a stowed position within said recess beneath said floor and an elevated position, said articulated fence having a lower end attached to a wall of said recess and an upper end;
a cover attached to said upper end of said articulated fence, wherein opposing ends of said cover extend through said first guide and said second guide; and
a lifter supported by one of said passenger side pillar and side driver side pillar, said lifter attached to one of said opposing ends of said cover for moving said lattice structure between the stowed position and the elevated position.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein said lifter includes a belt positioned around a pulley and a gear, and a motor for turning said gear and moving said belt.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein said one of said opposing ends of said cover is attached to said belt and said motor is reversible moving said belt and said lattice structure between the stowed position and the elevated position.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein each of said first guide and said second guide formed in said passenger side pillar and side driver side pillar is a molded slot through which said cover extends.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein said lattice structure is transparent.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salazar Fabian Edgar
• Ontiveros Briones Alexia Sarabanda

Classifications

• B60J5/107

  constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements · CPC title

• B60R5/04 Primary

  arranged at rear of vehicle {(B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065)} · CPC title

• B60J5/101

  for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans · CPC title

• B60J5/12

  slidable; foldable · CPC title