Reconfigurable drop panels for a vehicle cargo bed
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsBruce M Grzegorzewski, Randy C Curtis, Mark R Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle cargo bed has reconfigurable drop side and tail panels. Tail lights are incorporated within the reconfigurable panels. Each side panel is hinged with respect to the cargo bed so that the side panel can pivot downwardly to a cargo bed widening horizontal position or upwardly to a vertical or horizontal position spaced from the cargo bed. The cargo bed includes a storage box accessible through the side entrance. The side panel may also be hinged with respect to itself to form a lip or small restraining wall.
Claims16
A vehicle body comprising:
- a passenger compartment;
- a cargo bed having a tailgate;
- an upstanding side panel defining a side of the cargo bed extending from said tailgate to said passenger compartment;
- and
- the upstanding side panel having at least one portion of the side panel pivotable about an upper pivot axis and a lower pivot axis with respect to the cargo bed wherein the one portion of the side panel is pivotable about the upper pivot axis by swinging outwardly and upwardly to a vertical position with respect to the cargo bed.
A vehicle body comprising:
- a passenger compartment;
- a cargo bed;
- a pair of upstanding side panels defining at least two sides of the cargo bed and extending along both sides to said passenger compartment;
- and
- at least one of the upstanding side panels having at least one portion of the one side panel pivotable about an upper pivot axis and a lower pivot axis with respect to the cargo bed and the passenger compartment, wherein the one portion of the side panel is pivotable about the upper pivot axis by swinging outwardly and upwardly to a vertical position with respect to the cargo bed, and wherein the one portion of the side panel is pivotable about the lower pivot axis by swinging outwardly and downwardly to a horizontal position to widen the cargo bed.
A vehicle body comprising a cargo compartment, a pair of upstanding side panels defining at least two sides of the cargo bed and being pivotable with respect to the cargo bed to a horizontal position, a storage box on the cargo bed and a pair of side wall portions respectively pivotally openable on each of the upstanding side panels, the storage box having a rearwardly opening access door outwardly pivotable to connect with a pivotally open side wall portion to at least partially enclose the periphery of the cargo bed.
A vehicle body comprising:
- a passenger compartment;
- a cargo bed;
- an upstanding hollow side panel defining a side of the cargo bed;
- and
- the upstanding hollow side panel having at least one portion of the side panel pivotable about more than one axis with respect to the cargo bed, and wherein the hollow of the upstanding side panel is a fuel tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.