US 12,617,327 B2Granted

Configurable cargo support structure and method of use

OwnerRichard S. Maxwellinventor

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Abstract

A configurable cargo support structure. The configurable cargo support structure may include foldable support panels, wherein adjacent foldable support panels may be connected via a foldable joint extending along at least a portion of a length of adjacent foldable support panels, and wherein the foldable support panels may be made of at least one of a rigid or semi-rigid material.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A configurable cargo support structure, comprising:

a. a plurality of foldable support panels comprising a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel, wherein the plurality of foldable support panels are each of the same length in a first state, and are made of at least one of a rigid or semi-rigid material;
b. foldable joints, the foldable joints connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of foldable support panels in a foldable manner, the foldable joints extending along at least a portion of a width of adjacent foldable support panels;
c. wherein the second, third, and fourth support panels are configurable to rest upon backs of one or more rows of seats in a vehicle when one or more of the one or more rows of seats are in a folded down position, and wherein at least one of the second or third support panels are configured to further be foldable in half lengthwise in a second state converting its length in half, and wherein the foldable one of the second or third support panels is immediately adjacent one of the first panel or the fourth panel;
and
d. further wherein, in a first stored configuration the first, second, third, and fourth support panels are stackable one on top of the other in a single vertical stack to rest fully in a rear cargo space behind a rear most row of seats;
in a second partially deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and less than all of the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of one or more folded down seats to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across at least a portion of the cargo area and the backs of the one or more folded down seats upon which they are positioned, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween;
and in a third fully deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of the folded down seats and to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across the cargo area and the backs of all the folded down seats, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween.

4 more elements

A method of using a configurable cargo support structure, comprising:

a. providing a configurable cargo support structure, comprising:
i. a plurality of foldable support panels comprising a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel, wherein the plurality of foldable support panels are each of the same length in a first state, and are made of at least one of a rigid or semi-rigid material;
ii. foldable joints, the foldable joints connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of foldable support panels in a foldable manner, the foldable joints extending along at least a portion of a width of adjacent foldable support panels;
iii. wherein the second, third, and fourth support panels are configurable to rest upon backs of one or more rows of seats in a vehicle when one or more of the one or more rows of seats are in a folded down position, and wherein at least one of the second or third support panels is configured to further be foldable in half lengthwise in a second state converting its length in half, and wherein the foldable one of the second or third support panels is immediately adjacent one of the first panel or the fourth panel;
and
iv. further wherein, in a first stored configuration the first, second, third, and fourth support panels are stackable one on top of the other in a single vertical stack to rest fully in a rear cargo space behind a rear most row of seats;
in a second partially deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and less than all of the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of one or more folded down seats to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across at least a portion of the cargo area and the backs of the one or more folded down seats upon which they are positioned, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween;
and in a third fully deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of the folded down seats and to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across the cargo area and the backs of all the folded down seats, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween;
b. adjusting a seat configuration of a vehicle;
and
c. arranging one or more of the plurality of foldable support panels of the first configurable cargo support structure to substantially match the adjusted vehicle seat configuration.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A configurable cargo support structure, comprising:

a. a plurality of foldable support panels comprising a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel, wherein the plurality of foldable support panels are each of the same length in a first state, and are made of at least one of a rigid or semi-rigid material;
b. foldable joints, the foldable joints connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of foldable support panels in a foldable manner, the foldable joints extending along at least a portion of a width of adjacent foldable support panels;
c. wherein the second, third, and fourth support panels are configurable to rest upon backs of one or more rows of seats in a vehicle when one or more of the one or more rows of seats are in a folded down position, and wherein at least one of the second or third support panels are configured to further be foldable in half lengthwise in a second state converting its length in half, and wherein the foldable one of the second or third support panels is immediately adjacent one of the first panel or the fourth panel;
and
d. further wherein, in a first stored configuration the first, second, third, and fourth support panels are stackable one on top of the other in a single vertical stack to rest fully in a rear cargo space behind a rear most row of seats;
in a second partially deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and less than all of the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of one or more folded down seats to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across at least a portion of the cargo area and the backs of the one or more folded down seats upon which they are positioned, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween;
and in a third fully deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of the folded down seats and to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across the cargo area and the backs of all the folded down seats, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween.

4 more elements