# US 12,110,064 B2 · Panel storage and two tier loading system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,064 B2 - Document ID: US12110064B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/529,401 - Filed: 2021-11-18 - Published: 2023-05-18 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-18 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Blaine D. Christensen; William A. McDonald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110064B2 ## CPC - B62D 33/0207: {Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms} - B62D 33/023: Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} - B60R 7/02: in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} - B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} - B60R 11/06: for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) - B60R 2011/0036: {Luggage compartment} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A panel storage system for a vehicle includes a panel body including a first panel portion having a first plurality of mounting elements, a second panel portion having a second plurality of mounting elements, and a hinge joining the first panel portion to the second panel portion. The first panel portion is fixedly mountable to a surface of the vehicle and the second panel portion is pivotable about the hinge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel storage system for a vehicle that comprises a body including a passenger compartment portion and a bed portion, the bed portion including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, the panel storage system configured to be mounted to one of the first side wall and the opposing second side wall, the panel storage system comprising: a panel body including a first panel portion having a first plurality of mounting elements, a second panel portion having a second plurality of mounting elements, and a hinge joining the first panel portion to the second panel portion, wherein the first panel portion is fixedly mountable to the one of the first side wall and the opposing second side wall and the second panel portion is pivotable about the hinge, wherein the panel body includes a first panel body mountable to the first side wall and a second panel body mountable to the second side wall, the second panel portion of the first panel body including a first surface configured to face the first side wall and a second surface, a second panel portion of the second panel body including a first surface section configured to face the second side wall and a second surface section, wherein the panel storage system further comprises a panel configured to extend between the first panel body and the second panel body along a third side wall of the bed connecting the first side wall and the second side wall, and wherein the panel configured to extend between the first panel body and the second panel body along the third side wall includes a rib configured to support at least one of the second panel portion of the first panel body and the second panel portion of the second panel body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel storage system according to claim 1, wherein the first panel portion includes a first plurality of openings, the first plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the first panel portion between adjacent ones of the first plurality of openings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The panel storage system according to claim 2, wherein the second panel portion includes a second plurality of openings, the second plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the second panel portion between adjacent ones of the second plurality of openings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The panel storage system according to claim 1, wherein the second panel portion includes a latch member detachably connecting the second panel portion to the surface of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 A vehicle comprising: a body including a passenger compartment portion and a bed portion, the bed portion including a first side wall and an opposing second side wall; and a panel storage system mounted to one of the first side wall and the opposing second side wall, the panel storage system including a panel body having a first panel portion including a first plurality of mounting elements, a second panel portion including a second plurality of mounting elements, and a hinge joining the first panel portion to the second panel portion, wherein the first panel portion is fixedly mounted to the one of the first side wall and opposing second side wall and the second panel portion is pivotable about the hinge, wherein the panel body includes a first panel body mounted to the first side wall and a second panel body mounted to the second side wall, the second panel portion of the first panel body including a first surface facing the first side wall and a second surface, a second panel portion of the second panel body including a first surface section facing the second side wall and a second surface section, wherein the vehicle further comprises a panel extending between the first panel body and the second panel body along a third side wall of the bed connecting the first side wall and the second side wall, and wherein the panel extending between the first panel body and the second panel body along the third side wall includes a rib configured to support at least one of the second panel portion of the first panel body and the second panel portion of the second panel body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the first panel portion includes a first plurality of openings, the first plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the first panel portion between adjacent ones of the first plurality of openings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the second panel portion includes a second plurality of openings, the second plurality of mounting elements being defined by sections of the second panel portion between adjacent ones of the second plurality of openings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the second panel portion includes a latch member detachably connecting the second panel portion to the one of the first side wall and the second side wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the panel extending between the first panel body and the second panel body comprises a panel storage member including a plurality of opening portions and a plurality of mounting element members defined between adjacent ones of the plurality of opening portions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the first surface of the second panel portion of the first panel body includes a first rib element and the first surface section of the second panel portion of the second panel body includes a second rib element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a storage compartment defined between the first side wall and the first surface of the first panel body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the first panel portion comprises a first molle panel and the second panel portion comprises a second molle panel. ### Claim 13 A method of storing articles in a vehicle comprising: pivoting a first panel portion of a panel body mounted to a side wall of the vehicle relative to a second panel portion of the panel body; positioning an article in a storage zone defined between the panel body and the side wall of the vehicle; pivoting the first panel portion to enclose the storage zone; pivoting a first panel portion of another panel body mounted to an opposing side wall of the vehicle relative to a second panel portion of the another panel body; supporting an article on the first panel portion of the panel body and the first panel portion of the another panel body; supporting an end of the second panel portion of the panel body on a panel mounted to a third side surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface; and supporting an end of the second panel portion of the another panel body on the panel mounted to the third side surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein pivoting the first panel portion includes pivoting a second molle panel portion connected by a hinge to a first molle panel portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein supporting the article includes containing the article between a first rib on the first panel portion of the panel body and a second rib on the first panel portion of the another panel body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The panel storage system according to claim 1, wherein the second plurality of mounting elements includes more mounting elements than the first plurality of mounting elements in a vertical direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the second plurality of mounting elements includes more mounting elements than the first plurality of mounting elements in a vertical direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The panel storage system according to claim 3, wherein each of the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings are square openings. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein each of the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings are square openings. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle further comprises a wheel well, and the second panel portion is disposed entirely above the wheel well.