Portable multi-position vehicle storage unit

In an automotive vehicle having an enclosed cargo storage area including a floor bounded by at least two generally vertically extending vehicle panels, a portable, multi-position vehicle storage unit comprising:

• a base member which extends substantially along the width of the storage area when the storage unit is placed therein;
• a pair of side supports attached at opposing ends of the base member perpendicularly to a base plane formed thereby, each of the pair of side supports having at least one hinge means mounted therein;
• a pair of side members hingedly attached to the pair of side supports for pivotal movement between a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the base plane and a stored position substantially horizontal with the base plane;
• at least one removable shelf for alternately dividing the storage area into generally vertical and horizontal compartments;
• a track system on each of the pair of side members for guiding and maintaining the at least one shelf in alternately at least one horizontal position and at least one vertical position;
• side member lock means on each of the pair of side members for securing the pair of side members to the vehicle when in the deployed position;
• and
• side support lock means on each of the pair of side supports for securing the pair of side supports to the vehicle.

A storage unit for a storage area of an automotive vehicle, the storage area defined by a floor bounded by generally vertically extending vehicle panels including at least two laterally opposed vehicle side panels, the storage unit having an installed position for dividing the storage area into alternately vertical and horizontal storage compartments and collapsible into a transportable position for convenient transit when not installed in the storage area, the storage unit comprising:

• a base member extending substantially between the vehicle side panels when the storage unit is in the installed position;
• a multiple position shelf system comprising:
• a pair of side supports attached at opposing ends of the base member perpendicularly to a base plane formed thereby, each of the pair of side supports having at least one hinge means mounted therein;
• a pair of side members hingedly attached to the pair of side supports for pivotal movement between a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the base plane and a stored position substantially horizontal with the base plane;
• at least one removable shelf for alternately dividing the storage area into generally vertical and horizontal compartments, the at least one shelf having shelf guide members along opposing side edges thereof;
• at least one set of generally horizontally extending side support tracks in the pair of side support members for receiving the shelf guide members when the storage unit is in the transportable position;
• at least one set of generally horizontally extending side member tracks in the pair of side members for guiding and maintaining the at least one shelf in at least one horizontal position when the storage unit is the installed position;
• at least one set of generally vertically extending side member tracks in the pair of side members for guiding and maintaining the at least one shelf in at least one vertical position when the storage unit is in the installed position;
• side member lock means on each of the pair of side members for securing the pair of side members to the vehicle when in the deployed position;
• and
• side support lock means on each of the pair of side supports for securing the pair of side supports to the vehicle.