Patent Application
20070065264
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sliding load floor system for the cargo area of a vehicle to allow ergonomic loading and unloading of heavy cargo.
2. Background Art
Today's roads are traveled by full-size pickup trucks, mid-size, and compact vehicles. Typically, they have relatively short rear cargo areas. Abbreviated length restricts the ability of the vehicle operator who wishes to ergonomically transport longer or heavier items that would otherwise be accommodated by vehicles having a longer bed. Tailgate extension devices offer an extended bed floor area. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,023,850; 4,531,773; and 5,755,480.
To access the rear cargo area, one must first, for example, raise a tailgate or open the rear doors. To retrieve a heavy package located forwardly in the rear cargo area, one must reach over the rear fascia (or rear bumper) area of the vehicle. This may be inconvenient for cleanliness reasons (e.g., the soiling of clothes from a dirty outside vehicle surface). Further, the act of reaching over to retrieve a heavy object may result in back and other physical injury. Similar considerations apply to the act of placing a heavy load into the cargo area from outside the vehicle. Clearly, it would be desirable to avoid the inconvenience of dirtying one's clothing while reducing the chance of back injury.
It would be desirable to provide a sliding load floor system that permits heavy cargo items to be loaded and unloaded ergonomically.
Conventionally, the rear cargo area of a vehicle includes a pair of opposing side portions or trim panels that extend longitudinally in relation to the length of the vehicle, a pair of opposing transverse portions that extend laterally, and can include a storage bin positioned between and at a level below the plane of the side and transverse portions.
The sliding load floor system disclosed herein includes a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism includes a pair of opposing rail members. Each rail member has a forward edge and a rearward edge. A frame is slidably received by the slide mechanism.
Detachably attached to the frame is a removable load floor. A hinge assembly is mounted to the side portion of the rear cargo area. The forward edges of the rail members are connected to the hinge assembly. The sliding load floor system of the rail members can be displaced upwardly in relation to the hinge assembly, thereby elevating a level at which the removable load floor can be slid outwardly in relation to the vehicle. In this way, the slide mechanism, the frame and the removable load floor may be moved upwardly, and the frame plus the load floor can be slid rearwardly and/or if desired, moved arcuately about the hinge assembly.
Among the art considered in preparing this patent application are commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,518; and WO 0153131 that issued to Mink & Associates Inc.
One purpose of this invention is to provide a sliding load floor system in the cargo area of a vehicle that permits heavy cargo items to be loaded and unloaded ergonomically.
In
The sliding load floor system 10 disclosed herein includes a slide mechanism 24 (
Detachably attached to the frame 38 is a removable load floor 42. Optionally, a mounting bracket 46 may be provided. A hinge assembly is mounted to the side portions of the rear cargo area. The forward edges 30, 32 of the rail members 26, 28 are connected to the hinge assemblies. In one embodiment, the connection is provided by a pin or bolt, for example, that hingedly connects a forward edge 30, 32 directly to the associated hinge assembly 82 (left hand side shown only). In this way, the slide mechanism 24, the frame 38 and the removable load floor 42 may be swung upwardly about the forward edges 30, 32. Then the frame plus the load floor can be slid rearwardly, thus allowing access to a spare tire or storage area below.
As shown in
Preferably, as illustrated in
This panel 42 can be removed for installation at a different position in the vehicle, for instance as a higher shelf. Optionally, extension legs (
In other embodiments (
In one embodiment, the system has an installed height of approximately 50 mm. The surrounding floor panels 64 (
This invention thus provides a method for sliding heavy cargo items in and out of a vehicle, while providing a relatively lightweight removable panel that can be moved to a different location.
It will be appreciated that the disclosed storage bin 22 is effectively a multipurpose sub-floor storage facility. It may include, for example, a box, a bin, a tray, or a multi-compartment rotatable storage tray, such as a “lazy susan”.
One advantage of the disclosed system is it provides easy access to sub-floor storage areas while presenting a flush appearance when in the closed position.
Optionally, the load floor system includes a locking feature 66 (
Preferably, the disclosed system so configured as to eliminate buzz, squeal, and rattling concerns (“BSR” concerns). In use, the sliding floor may support a load of up to about 440 lbs. (200 kg) when in the fully retracted and extended positions. Maximum deflection is less than about 20 mm, and there is no permanent deformation following repeated use. The effort to fully extend and retract the sliding load floor is less than about 10 kgf when loaded with 440 lbs. (200 kg).
In one embodiment, the entire sliding floor load system weighs less than 9500 grams—including the load floor, the sub-floor storage unit, frame, slide mechanism, and tie down rails.
In another embodiment (
If desired, the load floor system may be completely removed so as to make the entire sub-floor of the rear cargo area the storage base.
In an alternative embodiment, removable load floor 42 itself may include multiple panels 68 (
One attribute of the hinged assembly 44 is that it permits the load floor 42 to be able to slide outwardly over a raised sill at the rear of some vehicles while maintaining a generally horizontal orientation.
Preferably, the vehicle should not be driven when the load floor 42 is either partially or fully extended. If desired, a mechanism can be provided whereby an annunciator (located, perhaps on the instrument panel,) becomes illuminated if a forward or reverse gear is selected when the load floor is not in its fully retracted position. Additionally or alternatively, such a condition could be communicated via a signal to an actuator that precludes movement of the vehicle until the load floor is slid forwardly and engaged in that position.
Thus, the disclosed system provides a structure (preferably metallic frame 38) that handles load carrying needs. The removable load floor 42 offers the versatility to meet a variety of cargo management needs. The slide mechanism 24 at each side of the system ensures a smooth, low effort movement while extending the load floor of the vehicle. If desired, a storage bin 22 may be provided to handle storage needs below the sliding load floor 42.
Another sliding load floor system is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ dated ______ which is filed on the same day as the present application. Another application disclosing a load floor system was also filed on the date of filing the present application. Its serial number is Ser. No. ______. Each of these two applications are included herein by reference.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
