US 9,809,140 B2Granted

Platform system for vehicle interior

AssigneeNotel Enterprise LLC

InventorBrian Saunders

Life of this patent

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Abstract

At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may be a disassemblable platform system in a pickup truck cab, or other vehicle, such as, but not limited to, a SUV or van that (after installation), comprises: a plurality of panels (generally, 40, as installed) relatively positioned to form a flat, raised rigid platform 41 in a pickup truck cab and that is elevated above lower seat cushions, where such panels include two rear panels 1,2 (i.e., in the rear seat area), a driver area panel 3, a passenger area panel 6, and a console area panel 42 between said driver area panel and said passenger area panel. The system further includes horizontal supports 43 that underlie at least some of said panels, such horizontal supports including at least two right-left horizontal support bars 44 (i.e., a horizontal support bar that is installed in a right-left direction defined by the vehicle); and panel-attached horizontal supports 45, each of which is attached to a panel to which it is dedicated.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A disassemblable platform system in a vehicle interior, comprising:

a plurality of panels relatively positioned to form a flat, raised rigid platform in the vehicle interior, the platform being elevated above lower seat cushions in the vehicle interior, said plurality of panels comprising two rear panels, a driver area panel, a passenger area panel, and a console area panel between said driver area panel and said passenger area panel;
horizontal supports that underlie at least two of said plurality of panels, said horizontal supports comprising at least two right-to-left horizontal support bars;
and panel-attached horizontal supports that are each attached to a corresponding panel to which they are dedicated;
wherein said panel-attached horizontal supports extend horizontally beyond the corresponding panel to which they are attached so as to underlie at least one adjacent panel;
vehicle contacting, non-horizontal supports that directly contact at least some of said horizontal supports and provide support to said platform, wherein said non-horizontal supports comprise at least one vehicle contacting, under-platform, non-horizontal support, and a plurality of vehicle contacting, above-platform, non-horizontal supports, wherein at least some of said vehicle contacting, above-platform, non-horizontal supports are connected to at least one of:
a vehicle-occupant assist handle, and a rear seat head rest support;
wherein said at least one vehicle contacting, under-platform, non-horizontal support comprises a cup holder post;
at least one inter-panel compression device operable to bring one panel of the plurality of panels toward another in a horizontal plane, the compression device being selected from the group consisting of:
a clamp;
telescoping and lockable panel-attached horizontal supports;
and a tension-resistant strap.

8 more elements

An apparatus assemblable into a flat, raised, rigid platform that occupies at least part of a horizontal plane in an interior of a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of panels configured to be arranged in a pickup truck cab, the plurality of panels being arranged in an installation mode to form said flat, raised, rigid platform in said vehicle interior to be elevated above lower seat cushions in the vehicle, said panels comprising two rear panels configured to be established in a rear seat area of said vehicle, a driver area panel configured to be established in a driver area of said vehicle, a passenger area panel configured to be established in a passenger area of said vehicle, and a console area panel configured to be established in a console area of said vehicle, the console area panel located between said driver area and said passenger area panels;
horizontal supports configured to underlie or form the bottom part of at least two of said plurality of panels in said installation mode, said horizontal supports comprising at least two right-to-left horizontal support bars configured to be established in a right-to-left direction and panel-attached horizontal supports, each panel-attached horizontal support is attached to a corresponding panel to which it is dedicated;
wherein said panel-attached supports are configured to extend, or are permanently extended, horizontally beyond the corresponding panel to which they are attached, so as to underlie at least one adjacent panel in said installation mode;
vehicle contacting, non-horizontal supports configured to directly contact at least some of said horizontal supports in said installation mode, and thereby provide support to said platform, wherein said non-horizontal supports comprise at least one vehicle contacting, under-platform, non-horizontal support configured to contact a surface of said vehicle below said plurality of panels in said installation mode, and above-platform, non-horizontal supports configured to contact a component of said vehicle above said plurality of panels in said installation mode, wherein at least some of said vehicle contacting, non-horizontal supports are configured to connect to one of:
a vehicle occupant assist handle, and a rear seat head rest support in said installation mode;
wherein said at least one vehicle contacting, under-platform, non-horizontal support comprises at least one cup holder post;
at least one inter-panel compression device configured to keep at least one panel of the plurality of panels securely against another panel in the horizontal plane in said installation mode, said device selected from the group consisting of:
a clamp;
telescoping and lockable panel-attached horizontal supports;
and a tension-resistant strap.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/423,367Filed 2 Feb 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 Feb 2016
Published: US 2017/0217350 A13 Aug 2017
Granted: 7 Nov 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60N 3/008
Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for: of beds
A47C 17/645
Travelling or camp beds: dismountable
A47C 17/80
Travelling or camp beds: adapted to be used in or connected to vehicles
B60N
Seats specially adapted for vehicles