# US 11,110,866 B2 · Adaptable vehicle cargo system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,866 B2 - Document ID: US11110866B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/579,650 - Filed: 2019-09-23 - Published: 2021-03-25 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-23 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Carter Jeffrey Hurd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110866B2 ## CPC - B60R 7/00: Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps (for radio sets, television sets, telephones or the like, mounting of cameras operative during drive, tools, or spare parts B60R11/00; for receptacles for refuse, food, beverages, cigarettes B60N) - B60P 7/0884: {by increasing the friction between the load and the surface} - B60P 7/0892: {by preventing lateral movement of the load, e.g. using stop blocks} - F15B 15/20: Other details {, e.g. assembly with regulating devices} - B60R 2011/0003: {inside the vehicle} - B60R 2011/0075: {using a containment or docking space} - B60R 2011/008: {Adjustable or movable supports} - F15B 15/10: the motor being of diaphragm type - F15B 21/06: Use of special fluids, e.g. liquid metal; Special adaptations of fluid-pressure systems, or control of elements therefor, to the use of such fluids - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle cargo retaining apparatus and system having a first enclosure with an outer surface and an inner surface. The first enclosure is capable of containing a fluid within the first enclosure, such as to seal the fluid from an external atmosphere. The apparatus and system may further include a plurality of jamming members within the first enclosure and an opening in the enclosure for receiving or removing fluid. In one state, the plurality of jamming members are moveable relative to one another within the first enclosure when fluid is received via the opening allowing the outer surface of the first enclosure to be deformable. In a second state the plurality of jamming members are restricted from moving relative to one another within the first enclosure when fluid is removed via the opening causing the outer surface of the first enclosure to maintain a semi-rigid or rigid state. A control system may control operation of the system to enable the retaining operations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle cargo retaining apparatus, comprising: a first enclosure having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the first enclosure is capable of containing a fluid; a first jamming member comprising a plurality of sheets forming layers within the first enclosure; and an opening for receiving or removing the fluid, wherein the first jamming member is moveable relative to the first enclosure when fluid is received via the opening so as to allow the outer surface of the first enclosure to be deformable; and wherein the first jamming member is impeded from movement relative to the first enclosure when fluid is removed via the opening so as to cause the outer surface of the first enclosure to maintain a semi-rigid or rigid state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pump for removing or providing fluid to the first enclosure via the opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pump adds fluid to the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with an object being placed on the enclosure; and the pump removes fluid from the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with the deformation of the enclosure due to the object being placed on the enclosure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining apparatus further comprises: a second enclosure having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the second enclosure contains a plurality of jamming members and is capable of sealing a fluid contained within the second enclosure from an outside atmosphere, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the second enclosure overlaps at least a portion of the outer surface of the first enclosure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second enclosure having a second enclosure outer surface and a second enclosure inner surface, wherein the second enclosure is capable of containing a fluid; a second jamming member within the second enclosure, wherein the second jamming member is formed of a material that is different from the first jamming member. ### Claim 6 A vehicle cargo retaining system, comprising: a fluid pump; a first enclosure either forming a surface within the vehicle or rigidly mounted to a surface of the vehicle and having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the first enclosure is capable of containing a fluid provided by the fluid pump; a plurality of jamming members within the first enclosure; and an opening in fluid communication with the pump for receiving or removing the fluid provided by the pump, wherein the plurality of jamming members are moveable relative to one another within the first enclosure when fluid is received via the opening allowing the outer surface of the first enclosure to be deformable; and wherein the plurality of jamming members are restricted from movement relative to one another within the first enclosure when fluid is removed via the opening causing the outer surface of the first enclosure to maintain a semi-rigid or rigid state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of jamming members are a granular media. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of jamming members are a series of sheets forming layers within the first enclosure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising a pump for removing or providing fluid to the first enclosure via the opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the pump adds fluid to the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with an object being placed on the enclosure; and the pump removes fluid from the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with the deformation of the enclosure due to the object being placed on the enclosure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising a second enclosure having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the second enclosure contains a plurality of jamming members and is capable of sealing a fluid contained within the second enclosure from an outside atmosphere, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the second enclosure overlaps at least a portion of the outer surface of the first enclosure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the first enclosure forms an internal surface of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 A vehicle having a cargo retaining system, the cargo retaining system comprising: a fluid pump; a first enclosure either forming a surface within the vehicle or rigidly mounted to a surface of the vehicle and having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the first enclosure is capable of containing a fluid provided by the fluid pump; a plurality of jamming members within the first enclosure; and an opening in fluid communication with the pump for receiving or removing the fluid provided by the pump, wherein the plurality of jamming members are moveable relative to one another within the first enclosure when fluid is received via the opening allowing the outer surface of the first enclosure to be deformable; and wherein the plurality of jamming members are restricted from movement relative to one another within the first enclosure when fluid is removed via the opening causing the outer surface of the first enclosure to maintain a semi-rigid or rigid state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of jamming members are a granular media. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of jamming members are a series of sheets forming layers within the first enclosure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a pump for removing or providing fluid to the first enclosure via the opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the pump adds fluid to the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with an object being placed on a surface of the enclosure; and the pump removes fluid from the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with the deformation of the enclosure due to the object being placed on the enclosure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the pump adds fluid to the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with the object being removed from a surface of the enclosure; and The pump removes fluid from the enclosure in response to a signal that corresponds with the enclosure returning to a default state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a second enclosure having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the second enclosure contains a plurality of jamming members and is capable of containing a fluid within the second enclosure from an outside atmosphere, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the second enclosure overlaps at least a portion of the outer surface of the first enclosure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first enclosure forms an internal surface of the vehicle.