Rear cargo tray systems and related methods

A rear cargo tray system for rotatable installation in an interior portion of a vehicle, the rear cargo tray system comprising:

• a tray body comprising a tray bed, first and second end walls, and first and second side walls that extend between the first and second end walls, the tray bed forming a first tray bed surface and an opposing second tray bed surface with the first and second end walls extending upward from ends of the tray bed above the first tray bed surface;
• a first tray bracket and a second tray bracket, each of the first and second tray brackets comprising a support surface on which a portion of the second tray surface is restable, each of the first and second tray brackets having a hinge plate that extends transverse to the support surface and a lock plate that extends transverse to the support surface;
• a first hinge secured to the first end wall of the tray body and rotatably secured to the hinge plate on the first tray bracket and a second hinge secured to the second end wall of the tray body and rotatably secured to the hinge plate on the second tray bracket;
• a first gas spring having an anchor end secured to an inside surface of the hinge plate on the first tray bracket and a piston arm that is extendable and retractable from a barrel of the first gas spring having a distal end securable to the first end wall of the tray body;
• a second gas spring having an anchor end secured to an inside surface of the hinge plate on the second tray bracket and a piston arm that is extendable and retractable from a barrel of the second gas spring having a distal end securable to the second end wall of the tray body;
• and
• a first latch secured on a side of the first end wall of the tray body distal from the first hinge secured to the first end wall and a second latch secured on a side of the second end wall of the tray body distal from the second hinge secured to the second end wall, the first latch configured to engage a latch arm extending from the lock plate on the first tray bracket and the second latch configured to engage a latch arm extending from the lock plate on the second tray bracket.

A method of installing a rear cargo tray system in an interior portion of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a tray body and a first tray bracket and a second tray bracket;
• securing each of the first and second tray brackets to an interior of the vehicle;
• securing a first hinge to a first end of the tray body and a hinge plate on the first tray bracket and a second hinge to a second end of the tray body and a hinge plate on the second tray bracket, such that the tray body is rotatable relative to the respective first and second tray bracket;
• securing an anchor end of a first gas spring to the hinge plate on the first tray bracket and a piston arm of the first gas spring to the first end of the tray body;
• securing an anchor end of a second gas spring to the hinge plate on the second tray bracket and a piston arm of the first gas spring to the second end of the tray body;
• and
• securing at least one latch to the tray body such that the at least one latch is configured to engage at least one of a lock plate of the first tray bracket or a lock plate of the second tray bracket.