# US 11,077,987 B2 · Storage container including storage compartments with adjustable volumes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,987 B2 - Document ID: US11077987B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/241,032 - Filed: 2019-01-07 - Published: 2020-07-09 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-07 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Tushar R. Gawade; Biswajit Tripathy; Sujit Venugopal; Rajiv M. Nagarkatti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077987B2 ## CPC - B60R 7/02: in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} - B65D 25/06: adapted to be fitted in two or more alternative positions - B60R 5/00: Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like (primarily intended for stowing loads in load-transporting vehicles B60P; arrangements for stowing spare wheels B62D43/00) - B60R 7/06: mounted on or below dashboards - B65D 43/14: Non-removable lids or covers - B65D 2525/284: combined with closure retaining means - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A storage container having a locked position is disclosed, and includes a housing defining a cargo volume and an axis of rotation, a tubular member, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of dividers. The tubular member is positioned along the axis of rotation and within the cargo volume of the housing. The tubular member defines one or more slots aligned with the axis of rotation. The shelves each define one or more engagement features that are each shaped to engage with a corresponding slot of the tubular member. A radially extending space is defined between a pair of shelves positioned directly adjacent to one another. The dividers that are each secured within a corresponding radially extending space when the storage container is in the locked position. Each of the shelves is configured to slide along the corresponding slot of the tubular member to adjust a volume the individual compartments. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A storage container having a locked position, the storage container comprising: a housing defining a cargo volume and an axis of rotation; a tubular member positioned along the axis of rotation and within the cargo volume of the housing, wherein the tubular member defines one or more slots aligned with the axis of rotation; a plurality of shelves that each define one or more engagement features that are each shaped to engage with a corresponding slot of the tubular member, wherein a radially extending space is defined between a pair of shelves positioned directly adjacent to one another; and a plurality of dividers that are each secured within a corresponding radially extending space when the storage container is in the locked position, wherein the cargo volume is divided into individual compartments by intersections between the dividers and the shelves, and wherein each of the shelves is configured to slide along the corresponding slot of the tubular member to adjust a volume the individual compartments, wherein the storage container includes a deployed position, and wherein the dividers are each no longer positioned within the corresponding radially extending space when the storage container is in the deployed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The storage container of claim 1, wherein the dividers are configured to rotate about the axis of rotation when the storage container is in the deployed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The storage container of claim 2, wherein rotating the dividers about the axis of rotation adjusts the volume of the individual compartments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The storage container of claim 2, wherein rotating the dividers about the axis of rotation either increases or decreases an overall number of individual compartments located within the storage container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The storage container of claim 2, wherein the dividers each include a plurality of apertures that are each shaped to receive a cross-sectional area of one of the annular members. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The storage container of claim 5, wherein the dividers rotate around the tubular member by sliding around the annular members when the storage container is in the deployed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of annular members, wherein each of the annular members define an opening sized to receive the tubular member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The storage container of claim 1, wherein the slots each extend lengthwise along a portion of an entire length of the tubular member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The storage container of claim 8, wherein the slots each include an open end and a closed end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The storage container of claim 9, wherein the closed end of the slots act as a hard stop that prevents further movement of the shelves along the tubular member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The storage container of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a substantially cylindrical profile. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The storage container of claim 11, wherein cylindrical profile includes an upper end surface, a lower end surface, and a side surface, wherein the side surface is located between the upper end surface and the lower end surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The storage container of claim 12, wherein the tubular member is fixedly attached to at least one of the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the housing. ### Claim 14 A storage container having a locked position and a deployed position, the storage container comprising: a housing defining a cargo volume and an axis of rotation; a tubular member positioned along the axis of rotation and within the cargo volume of the housing, wherein the tubular member defines one or more slots aligned with the axis of rotation; a plurality of shelves that each define one or more engagement features that are each shaped to engage with a corresponding slot of the tubular member, wherein a radially extending space is defined between a pair of shelves positioned directly adjacent to one another; and a plurality of dividers that are each secured within a corresponding radially extending space when the storage container is in the locked position and are no longer positioned within the corresponding radially extending space when the storage container is in the deployed position, wherein the dividers are configured to rotate about the axis of rotation when the storage container is in the deployed position, and wherein the cargo volume is divided into individual compartments by intersections between the dividers and the shelves, and wherein each of the shelves is configured to slide along the corresponding slot of the tubular member to adjust a volume the individual compartments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The storage container of claim 14, wherein rotating the dividers about the axis of rotation adjusts the volume of the individual compartments. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The storage container of claim 14, wherein rotating the dividers about the axis of rotation either increases or decreases an overall number of individual compartments located within the storage container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The storage container of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of annular members, wherein each of the annular members define an opening sized to receive the tubular member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The storage container of claim 14, wherein the dividers each include a plurality of apertures that are each shaped to receive a cross-sectional area of one of the annular members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The storage container of claim 18, wherein the dividers rotate around the tubular member by sliding around the annular members when the storage container is in the deployed position.