Support system providing a supporting surface for rest in a vehicle

A support system for a highway passenger vehicle including at least one front seat, at least one rear seat spaced rearwardly of the at least one front seat to define a gap between the at least one front seat and the at least one rear seat, a front anchoring feature at a forward side of the gap and a rear anchoring feature at a rear side of the gap, the system comprising:

• a panel structure comprising a sheet of flexible material arranged to span the gap from a front portion of the panel structure at the at least one front seat to a rear portion of the panel structure at the at least one rear seat of the vehicle, the panel structure defining an upper supporting surface spanning an upper side of the panel structure for supporting a load thereon;
• one or more front end connectors joined to the front portion of the panel structure and arranged for connection to the front anchoring feature of the vehicle;
• one or more rear end connectors joined to the rear portion of the panel structure and arranged for connection to the rear anchoring feature of the vehicle;
• and
• a supporting arrangement providing support to laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure to resist inward displacement of the laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure towards one another when supporting the load on the upper supporting surface of the panel structure;
• wherein the supporting arrangement comprises a forward rigid member arranged to be supported under compression laterally of the panel structure between opposing ends of the forward rigid member;
• wherein the forward rigid member comprises an elongate pole coupled to the panels structure in proximity to the front portion of the panel structure, the elongate pole being collapsible in length between the opposing ends;
• wherein the panel structure is foldable upon removal of the supporting arrangement from the panel structure;
• and
• wherein the panel structure captures the opposing ends of the forward rigid member thereon whereby lateral tension of the panel structure is transferred to a compressive load on the forward rigid member between the opposing ends of the forward rigid member.