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US 2026/0138537 A1Published application
Adjustable tray system for cargo space in a vehicle
OwnerElizabeth Kokinosinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tray system includes a left-side telescoping slide assembly, a right-side telescoping slide assembly, and an expandable tray. The left-side and right-side telescoping slide assembly each include interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract in a longitudinal direction between a retracted-storage stage and extended-service stage. The expandable tray is coupled to the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies for movement therewith.
Claims12
A tray system adapted for use in a trunk of a vehicle, the tray system comprising:
- a left-side telescoping slide assembly adapted to be coupled to the trunk of the vehicle, the left-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract in a longitudinal direction between a retracted-storage stage and extended-service stage,
- a right-side telescoping slide assembly adapted to be coupled to the trunk of the vehicle in spaced apart relation to the left-side telescoping slide assembly, the right-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract with the left-side telescoping slide assembly among the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage, and
- an expandable tray coupled to the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies for movement therewith, the expandable tray including:
- a base plate coupled to the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies, the base plate formed to include a plurality of slots formed in the base plate and spaced apart from each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and
- a pair of adjustable panels configured to extend and retract in the lateral direction between a plurality of predetermined positions to adjust a width of the expandable tray, each panel formed to include at least one lock tab that extends away from the panel,
- wherein the at least one lock tab on each panel of the plurality of adjustable panels cooperates with any one of the plurality of slots in the base plate to provide a locking system configured block the pair of adjustable panels from extending and retracting in the lateral direction when in any one of the plurality of predetermined positions once the at least one lock tab on each panel of the plurality of adjustable panels is inserted and translated in the longitudinal direction.
3 more elements
A method comprising;
- arranging a tray system in a trunk of a vehicle, the tray system comprising:
- a left-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract in a longitudinal direction between a retracted-storage stage and extended-service stage,
- a right-side telescoping slide assembly including interconnected, slide members moveable to extend and retract with the left-side telescoping slide assembly among the retracted-storage stage and the extended-service stage, and
- an expandable tray coupled to the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies for movement therewith, the expandable tray including (i) a base plate coupled to the left-side and right-side telescoping slide assemblies and formed to include a plurality of slots formed in the base plate and spaced apart from each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and (ii) a pair of adjustable panels each formed to include at least one lock tab that extends away from the panel, wherein the pair of adjustable panels spaced apart at a first lateral distance,
- removing a plurality of fasteners that extend through the pair of adjustable panels into the base plate,
- translating the pair of adjustable panels in a first longitudinal direction to align the at least one lock tab with a corresponding slot so that the at least one lock tab may be moved out of the corresponding slot,
- lifting the pair of adjustable panels in an upward-vertical direction away from the base plate after translating the pair of adjustable panels in the first longitudinal direction to space the at least one lock tab of each panel away from the base plate,
- moving the pair of adjustable panels in the lateral so that the pair of adjustable panels are spaced apart at a second lateral distance that is different from the first lateral distance to adjust the width of the expandable tray,
- lowering the pair of adjustable panels in a downward-vertical direction opposite the upward-vertical direction toward the base plate to insert the at least one lock tab of each panel into one slot of the plurality of slots,
- translating the pair of adjustable panels in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction to misalign the at least one lock tab with a corresponding slot so that the at least one lock tab is unable to be moved out of the corresponding slot, and
- inserting the plurality of fasteners through the pair of adjustable panels into the base plate.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.