Movable bulkhead system to increase load capacity of a vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsTorsten Gerhardt, Steve David Fleming, John K. Harding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A moveable bulkhead 10, 110 for a motor vehicle such as a van 1 is disclosed comprising of a number of panels 11, 12, 13; 111, 112, and 113 hingedly connected together to permit the bulkhead 10 to be moved or transformed between forward and rear positions by rotation of the panels 11, 12, 13; 111, 112, and 113. The bulkhead 10 is “U”-shaped defining a concavity that faces forward when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the forward position and rearwardly when the bulkhead 10 is latched in the rear position so as to maximize the cargo carrying capacity of the van 1.
Claims7
A motor vehicle having a body structure comprising:
- a passenger area of variable size, said passenger area having a first row of seats including a driver's seat and a second row of seats each of which is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- a cargo area of variable size;
- and
- a moveable bulkhead dividing said passenger area and said cargo area, said bulkhead comprising a number of panels hingedly connected together and attachable so as to permit each panel to rotate about a vertical axis relative to an adjacent panel, and latches to selectively secure the panels forming the bulkhead in the motor vehicle so as to prevent rotation of the panels and to separate said passenger area from said cargo area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.