Universal storage system for a motor vehicle

A universal storage system for a motor vehicle, the universal storage system comprising:

• an enclosure defining a chamber;
• a plurality of partitions movable within the chamber for defining at least one compartment;
• a partition actuator coupled to the partitions for moving the partitions within the chamber;
• a cover mechanism having a frame and at least two cover elements movable relative to the frame for covering the at least one compartment;
• a cover actuator for moving the cover elements;
• a user interface generating a deposit signal indicative of a size of an object to be deposited into the enclosure;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive the deposit signal from the user interface;
• generate a first actuation signal associated with a plurality of predetermined positions of the partitions to define a compartment that is sized for receiving the object, wherein the partition actuator moves the partitions to the predetermined positions in response to the partition actuator receiving the first actuation signal from the controller;
• generate a second actuation signal associated with a plurality of predetermined locations of the cover elements for uncovering the compartment, wherein the cover actuator moves the cover elements to the predetermined locations in response to the cover actuator receiving the second actuation signal from the controller;
• generate a compartment access code associated with the second actuation signal;
• transmit the compartment access code to a sender and a recipient;
• and
• generate the second actuation signal in response to the user interface receiving the compartment access code from the sender;
• wherein the user interface is configured to generate a retrieve signal in response to the user interface receiving the compartment access code from the recipient;
• wherein the controller is configured to generate the second actuation signal in response to the controller receiving the retrieve signal from the user interface.

A method for operating a universal storage system having an enclosure defining a chamber, a plurality of partitions, a partition actuator, a cover mechanism having at least two cover elements, a cover actuator, a user interface, and a controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating, using a user interface, a deposit signal indicative of a size of an object to be deposited into the enclosure;
• receiving, using the controller, the deposit signal from the user interface;
• generating, using the controller, a first actuation signal associated with a plurality of predetermined positions of the partitions to define a compartment that is sized for receiving the object;
• moving, using the partition actuator, the partitions to the predetermined positions in response to the partition actuator receiving the first actuation signal from the controller;
• generating, using the controller, a second actuation signal associated with a plurality of predetermined locations of the cover elements for uncovering the compartment used for holding the object;
• and
• moving, using the cover actuator, the cover elements to the predetermined locations in response to the cover actuator receiving the second actuation signal from the controller.