Vehicle cargo assist

A cargo assist system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a cargo space at least partially defined by a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall of the vehicle, a recess being defined in the first lateral side wall;
• a cargo assist arm, the cargo assist arm including a distal end region and a distal end;
• a cargo carrier being operatively connected to the distal end region of the cargo assist arm;
• the cargo assist arm being selectively movable between a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including a stowed position and a deployed position,
• when the cargo assist arm is in the stowed position, the cargo assist arm being located entirely within the cargo space such that at least a portion of the cargo assist arm and at least a portion of the cargo carrier are received within the recess,
• when the cargo assist arm is in the deployed position, the cargo carrier and the distal end region of the cargo assist arm extend through an access opening to the cargo space and are located outside of the vehicle;
• one or more processors operatively connected to control the cargo assist arm;
• one or more light sources, the one or more light sources being operatively connected to the one more processors;
• and
• one or more load sensors configured to determine a load imposed by the cargo carrier and any items located therein, wherein the load sensor being operatively connected to the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are being configured to:
• compare a determined load of the cargo carrier and any items therein to a predetermined load threshold;
• and
• when the determined load is greater than the predetermined load threshold, provide a warning to a user by activating the one or more light sources, whereby a visual warning is provided to the user.

A cargo assist method for a vehicle, the vehicle including a cargo space at least partially defined by a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall of the vehicle, a recess being defined in the first lateral side wall, the vehicle including a cargo assist arm having a distal end region and a distal end, the cargo assist arm including one of a rope, a cable, a tether, a belt, or a chain and a connector operatively connected to the one of the rope, the cable, the tether, the belt, or the chain;

• a cargo carrier being operatively connected to the cargo assist arm by the connector, the connector being configured for operatively connection to the cargo carrier, the cargo carrier being configured to receive one or more items therein, the cargo carrier being configured to transported by a person when used outside of the vehicle, the cargo assist arm being selectively movable between a plurality of positions including a stowed position in which the cargo assist arm is located entirely within the cargo space such that at least a majority of the cargo assist arm and at least a majority of the cargo carrier are received within the recess, the recess being configured to retain the cargo assist arm or the cargo carrier therein when in the stowed position by at least one of:
• one or more connectors, one or more fasteners, one or more straps, one or more tie downs, one or more bungee cords, one or more tethers, or one or more locking elements;
• and frictional engagement, the method including:
• responsive to receiving a user input to deploy the cargo assist arm, causing the cargo assist arm to move from the stowed position to a deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the cargo carrier and the distal end region of the cargo assist arm extend through an access opening to the cargo space and are located outside of the vehicle.

A cargo assist method for a vehicle, the vehicle including a cargo space at least partially defined by a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall of the vehicle, a recess being defined in the first lateral side wall, the vehicle including a cargo assist arm having a distal end region and a distal end, a cargo carrier being operatively connected to the distal end region of the cargo assist arm, the cargo assist arm being selectively movable between a plurality of positions including a stowed position in which the cargo assist arm is located entirely within the cargo space such that at least a portion of the cargo assist arm and at least a portion of the cargo carrier are received within the recess, the method including:

• responsive to receiving a user input to deploy the cargo assist arm, causing the cargo assist arm to move from the stowed position to a deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the cargo carrier and the distal end region of the cargo assist arm extend through an access opening to the cargo space and are located outside of the vehicle;
• determining a load of the cargo carrier and any items located therein;
• comparing a determined load to a predetermined load threshold;
• and
• when the determined load is greater than the predetermined load threshold, causing a warning to be presented to a user by activating one or more light sources, whereby a visual warning is provided to the user.

A cargo assist system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a cargo space at least partially defined by a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall of the vehicle, a recess being defined in the first lateral side wall;
• a cargo assist arm, the cargo assist arm including a distal end region and a distal end;
• the cargo assist arm being selectively movable between a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions including a stowed position and a deployed position,
• when the cargo assist arm is in the stowed position, the cargo assist arm being located entirely within the cargo space such that at least a portion of the cargo assist arm is received within the recess,
• when the cargo assist arm is in the deployed position, the distal end region of the cargo assist arm extends through an access opening to the cargo space and is located outside of the vehicle;
• one or more processors operatively connected to control the cargo assist arm;
• and
• one or more cargo space access opening sensors operatively connected to the one or more processors, the one or more processors being configured to:
• determine, based on data acquired by the one or more cargo space access opening sensors, whether the access opening to the cargo space of the vehicle is sufficiently open;
• and
• responsive to determining that the cargo space of the vehicle is not sufficiently open:
• causing a warning to be presented to a user;
• or
• ignore or cancel a user input that would cause a movement of the cargo assist arm to the deployed position.

A cargo assist method for a vehicle, the vehicle including a cargo space at least partially defined by a first lateral side wall and a second lateral side wall of the vehicle, a recess being defined in the first lateral side wall, the vehicle including a cargo assist arm having a distal end region and a distal end, the cargo assist arm being selectively movable between a plurality of positions including a stowed position in which the cargo assist arm is located entirely within the cargo space such that at least a portion of the cargo assist arm is received within the recess, the method including:

• responsive to receiving a user input to deploy the cargo assist arm, causing the cargo assist arm to move from the stowed position to a deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the distal end region of the cargo assist arm extends through an access opening to the cargo space and are located outside of the vehicle;
• determining whether the access opening to the cargo space of the vehicle is sufficiently open;
• and
• responsive to determining that the cargo space of the vehicle is not sufficiently open:
• causing a warning to be presented to a user;
• or
• ignoring or canceling the user input that would cause a movement of the cargo assist arm to the deployed position.