US-12617347-B2 - Adjustable load floor system for a vehicle

Abstract

An adjustable load floor system for a vehicle includes a support frame including a first side member, a second side member arranged opposite the first side member, and a support member. A first guide member is provided on the first side member. The first guide member includes a first continuous guide track having a first plurality of adjustment lands. A second guide member is provided on the second side member. The second guide member includes a second continuous guide track having a second plurality of adjustment lands. A floor panel includes a first guide element and a second guide element. The first guide element is translatable through the first continuous guide track and the second guide element is translatable through the second continuous guide track to position the support surface in one of a plurality of adjustment positions.

Inventors

• Jorge Ismael Lopez
• Hector Alejandro Castro
• Joaquin Hidalgo
• Omar Rene Hernandez

Assignees

• GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230613

Claims (18)

1. 1 . An adjustable load floor system for a vehicle comprising: a support frame including a first side member, a second side member arranged opposite the first side member, and a support member extending between the first side member and the second side member; a first guide member provided on the first side member, the first guide member including a first continuous guide track having a first plurality of adjustment lands; a second guide member provided on the second side member, the second guide member including a second continuous guide track having a second plurality of adjustment lands; and a floor panel coupled to the support frame, the floor panel including a support surface, a first guide element and a second guide element, the first guide element being translatable through the first continuous guide track and the second guide element being translatable through the second continuous guide track to position the support surface in one of a plurality of adjustment positions defined by the first plurality of adjustment lands and the second plurality of adjustment lands; wherein the first guide element includes a tear drop shape including a first end having a first radius and a second end having a second radius that is distinct from the first radius.
2. 2 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 1 , wherein the first side member includes a first upper surface and the second side member includes a second upper surface, the first upper surface including a first opening connected to the first guide member and the second upper surface including a second opening connected to the second guide member.
3. 3 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first continuous guide track and the second continuous guide track includes an adjustment portion and a return portion.
4. 4 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 3 , wherein each of the first plurality of adjustment lands are spaced along the adjustment portion of the first continuous guide track and each of the second plurality of adjustment lands are arranged along the adjustment portion of the second continuous guide track.
5. 5 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 1 , wherein the first side member includes a first lower edge and the second side member includes a second lower edge, wherein one of the first plurality of adjustment lands is arranged at the first lower edge and one of the second plurality of adjustment lands is arranged at the second lower edge.
6. 6 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 1 , wherein the floor panel includes a first side edge and a second side edge, the first guide element projecting outwardly of the first side edge and the second guide element projecting outwardly of the second side edge.
7. 7 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 6 , wherein the floor panel includes a lower surface, the first guide element being mounted to the lower surface at the first side edge and the second guide element being mounted to the lower surface at the second side edge.
8. 8 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 1 , wherein the first guide element includes a first curvilinear side and a second curvilinear side opposite the first side, the first curvilinear side and the second curvilinear side extending between the first end and the second end.
9. 9 . The adjustable load floor system according to claim 8 , wherein the first curvilinear side is convex and the second curvilinear side is concave.
10. 10 . A vehicle comprising: a body having a cargo zone; and an adjustable load floor system arranged in the cargo zone, the adjustable load floor comprising: a support frame including a first side member, a second side member arranged opposite the first side member, and a support member extending between the first side member and the second side member; a first guide member provided on the first side member, the first guide member including a first continuous guide track having a first plurality of adjustment lands; a second guide member provided on the second side member, the second guide member including a second continuous guide track having a second plurality of adjustment lands; and a floor panel coupled to the support frame, the floor panel including a support surface, a first guide element and a second guide element, the first guide element being translatable through the first continuous guide track and the second guide element being translatable through the second continuous guide track to position the support surface in one of a plurality of adjustment positions defined by the first plurality of adjustment lands and the second plurality of adjustment lands; wherein the first guide element includes a tear drop shape including a first end having a first radius and a second end having a second radius that is distinct from the first radius.
11. 11 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the first side member includes a first upper surface and the second side member includes a second upper surface, the first upper surface including a first opening connected to the first guide member and the second upper surface including a second opening connected to the second guide member.
12. 12 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein each of the first continuous guide track and the second continuous guide track includes an adjustment portion and a return portion.
13. 13 . The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein each of the first plurality of adjustment lands are spaced along the adjustment portion of the first continuous guide track and each of the second plurality of adjustment lands are arranged along the adjustment portion of the second continuous guide track.
14. 14 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the first side member includes a first lower edge and the second side member includes a second lower edge, wherein one of the first plurality of adjustment lands is arranged at the first lower edge and one of the second plurality of adjustment lands is arranged at the second lower edge.
15. 15 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the floor panel includes a first side edge and a second side edge, the first guide element projecting outwardly of the first side edge and the second guide element projecting outwardly of the second side edge.
16. 16 . The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the floor panel includes a lower surface, the first guide element being mounted to the lower surface at the first side edge and the second guide element being mounted to the lower surface at the second side edge.
17. 17 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the first guide element includes a first curvilinear side and a second curvilinear side opposite the first curvilinear side, the first curvilinear side and the second curvilinear side extending between the first end and the second end.
18. 18 . The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein the first curvilinear side is convex and the second curvilinear side is concave.

Description

INTRODUCTION The subject disclosure relates to the art of adjustable load surfaces and, more particularly, to an adjustable load floor system for a vehicle. Vehicles include various options for storing and transporting a wide array of objects. Vehicles include rear storage areas such as trunks and/or forward storage areas such as frunks. Trunks and frunks typically include a fixed volume. Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans typically include rear storage areas that may have an adjustable volume, such as by folding or removing seats. Fixed storage volumes are limited in their usability. Storage volumes that are adjustable by manipulating seats are often impractical as a trade-off must be made between seating and storage. Certain vehicles may include a storage area having a removeable floor panel. When removed, additional cargo space is revealed and availed for use. When removed, the removeable floor panel must be stored. Storing the removeable floor panel is inconvenient, particularly that the removable floor panel is typically stored in an area remote from the vehicle. In other cases, the removeable floor panel may have a single adjustment position. While the single adjustment position is better than no adjustment, the limited option is often inconvenient for a user. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an adjustable support surface in a vehicle storage area. Further, it is desirable to provide an adjustable support surface that may be arranged in multiple positions and yet remain in the vehicle. SUMMARY An adjustable load floor system for a vehicle, in accordance with a non-limiting example, includes a support frame including a first side member, a second side member arranged opposite the first side member, and a support member extending between the first side member and the second side member. A first guide member is provided on the first side member. The first guide member includes a first continuous guide track having a first plurality of adjustment lands. A second guide member is provided on the second side member. The second guide member includes a second continuous guide track having a second plurality of adjustment lands. A floor panel is coupled to the support frame. The floor panel includes a support surface, a first guide element and a second guide element. The first guide element being translatable through the first continuous guide track and the second guide element being translatable through the second continuous guide track to position the support surface in one of a plurality of adjustment positions defined by the first plurality of adjustment lands and the second plurality of adjustment lands. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first side member includes a first upper surface and the second side member includes a second upper surface, the first upper surface including a first opening connected to the first guide member and the second upper surface including a second opening connected to the second guide member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein each of the first continuous guide track and the second continuous guide track includes an adjustment portion and a return portion. In addition to one or more of the features described herein each of the first plurality of adjustment lands are spaced along the adjustment portion of the first continuous guide track and each of the second plurality of adjustment lands are arranged along the adjustment portion of the second continuous guide track. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first side member includes a first lower edge and the second side member includes a second lower edge, wherein one of the first plurality of adjustment lands is arranged at the first lower edge and one of the second plurality of adjustment lands is arranged at the second lower edge. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the floor panel includes a first side edge and a second side edge, the first guide element projecting outwardly of the first side edge and the second guide element projecting outwardly of the second side edge. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the floor panel includes a lower surface, the first guide element being mounted to the lower surface at the first side edge and the second guide element being mounted to the lower surface at the second side edge. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first guide element includes a tear drop shape including a first end having a first radius and a second end having a second radius that is distinct from the first radius. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the first guide element includes a first curvilinear side and a second curvilinear side opposite the first side, the first curvilinear side and the second curvilinear side extending between the first end and the second end. In addition to one or more of the features described the first c