US-12623607-B2 - Cargo management system for a vehicle

Abstract

A cargo management system for a vehicle includes a base member slidably supported in a cargo zone of a vehicle. A collapsible cargo box is mounted to the base member. The collapsible cargo box includes a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that define a storage zone. A deployment mechanism is operatively connected to the base member. The deployment mechanism selectively biases the base member outwardly from the cargo zone. An actuator is operatively connected to the deployment mechanism. The actuator selectively triggers the deployment mechanism to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone.

Inventors

• James L. Benigni
• Patrick Minjeur
• Michael Apone
• Owen Rauch

Assignees

• GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230315

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system for a vehicle comprising: a cargo zone of the vehicle defined at least in part by a floor and a rear seatback; first and second sliders disposed on the floor; third and fourth sliders disposed on the rear seatback; and a cargo management system comprising: a base member configured to be slidably engaged with the first and second sliders in a first configuration and slidably engaged with the third and fourth sliders in a second configuration, the seatback being folded in at least the second configuration; a collapsible cargo box mounted to the base member, the collapsible cargo box including a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that define a storage zone; a deployment mechanism comprising an electric motor or a spring operatively connected to the base member, the deployment mechanism selectively biasing the base member outwardly from the cargo zone when the base member is in the first configuration; an actuator operatively connected to the deployment mechanism, the actuator selectively triggering the deployment mechanism to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone; and a support element including a support pin connected to a side edge of the base member, wherein the support pin is slidable in a guide track arranged on the side edge as the base member translates into and out from the cargo zone.
2. 2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side walls of the collapsible cargo box include a rearwardly facing side wall, an inwardly facing side wall arranged opposite the rearwardly facing side wall, a first lateral side wall, and a second lateral side wall opposite the first lateral side wall, the rearwardly facing side wall being selectively pivotable relative to the bottom wall.
3. 3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the rearwardly facing side wall includes a latch member selectively connected to each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall.
4. 4 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall include fold pleats that may be selectively folded into the storage zone.
5. 5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein each of the rearwardly facing side wall and the inwardly facing side wall are foldable relative to the bottom wall.
6. 6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the deployment mechanism comprises the electric motor.
7. 7 . The system according to claim 6 , further comprising a control module operatively connected to the electric motor, the control module activating the electric motor to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone.
8. 8 . A vehicle comprising: a body defining a passenger compartment including a passenger area and a cargo zone defined at least in part by a floor and a rear seatback; first and second sliders disposed on the floor; third and fourth sliders disposed on the rear seatback; and a system arranged in the cargo zone, the system comprising: a base member configured to be slidably engaged with the first and second sliders in a first configuration and slidably engaged with the third and fourth sliders in a second configuration, the seatback being folded in at least the second configuration; a collapsible cargo box mounted to the base member, the collapsible cargo box including a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that define a storage zone; a deployment mechanism comprising an electric motor or a spring operatively connected to the base member, the deployment mechanism selectively biasing the base member outwardly from the cargo zone when the base member is in the first configuration; an actuator operatively connected to the deployment mechanism, the actuator selectively triggering the deployment mechanism to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone; and a support element including a support pin connected to a side edge of the base member, wherein the support pin is slidable in a guide track arranged on the side edge as the base member translates into and out from the cargo zone.
9. 9 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of side walls of the collapsible cargo box include a rearwardly facing side wall, an inwardly facing side wall arranged opposite the rearwardly facing side wall, a first lateral side wall, and a second lateral side wall opposite the first lateral side wall, the rearwardly facing side wall being selectively pivotable relative to the bottom wall.
10. 10 . The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the rearwardly facing side wall includes a latch member selectively connected to each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall.
11. 11 . The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall include fold pleats that may be selectively folded into the storage zone.
12. 12 . The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein each of the rearwardly facing side wall and the inwardly facing side wall are foldable relative to the bottom wall.
13. 13 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the deployment mechanism comprises the electric motor.
14. 14 . The vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising a control module operatively connected to the electric motor, the control module activating the electric motor to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone.
15. 15 . The cargo measurement system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second sliders are spaced from lateral edges of the floor.
16. 16 . The cargo measurement system according to claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth sliders are spaced from lateral edges of the rear seatback.
17. 17 . The cargo measurement system according to claim 1 , wherein the collapsible cargo box is configured to overlap the first and second sliders when in the cargo zone.
18. 18 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second sliders are spaced from lateral edges of the floor.
19. 19 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the third and fourth sliders are spaced from lateral edges of the rear seatback.
20. 20 . The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the collapsible cargo box is configured to overlap the first and second sliders when in the cargo zone.

Description

INTRODUCTION The subject disclosure relates to the art of vehicle systems and, more particularly, to a cargo management system for a vehicle. Most vehicles include cargo areas in which users may store, either on a temporary basis, or longer term, various items. Passenger vehicles include trunks that users rely upon to transport groceries, store spare tires, and the like. Pickup trucks include cargo beds that are used to transport items of various sizes. Sport utility vehicles (SUV's) include a cargo area that may be expanded by adjusting seat configurations. Often times smaller items may bounce around a cargo area, bags may topple over spilling contents, and other items may simply slide to a point that is difficult for a user to reach. Many owners of passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, and SUV's use nets that stretch across a portion of the trunk to retain items. Often times the net is not robust enough to retain larger items. Nets tear and require storage. Plastic crates and cardboard boxes are also used to retain items in the trunk. Adding boxes of any sort imposes limits to cargo holding areas and, by extension, limits the size of items that may be carried. Boxes also may slide around making retrieval of items difficult. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system for storing items in a cargo area of a vehicle that not only prevents items from moving around but also promotes easy retrieval and is readily storable. SUMMARY A cargo management system for a vehicle, in accordance with a non-limiting example, includes a base member slidably supported in a cargo zone of a vehicle. A collapsible cargo box is mounted to the base member. The collapsible cargo box includes a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that define a storage zone. A deployment mechanism is operatively connected to the base member. The deployment mechanism selectively biases the base member outwardly from the cargo zone. An actuator is operatively connected to the deployment mechanism. The actuator selectively triggers the deployment mechanism to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the plurality of side walls of the collapsible cargo box include a rearwardly facing side wall, an inwardly facing side wall arranged opposite the rearwardly facing side wall, a first lateral side wall, and a second lateral side wall opposite the first lateral side wall, the rearwardly facing side wall being selectively pivotable relative to the bottom wall. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the rearwardly facing side wall includes a latch member selectively connected to each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall. In addition to one or more of the features described herein a release mechanism is connected to the latch member, the release mechanism selectively disconnecting the latch member from each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the release mechanism is mounted to the rearwardly facing side wall. In addition to one or more of the features described herein each of the first lateral side wall and the second lateral side wall include fold pleats that may be selectively folded into the storage zone. In addition to one or more of the features described herein each of the rearwardly facing side wall and the inwardly facing side wall are foldable relative to the bottom wall. In addition to one or more of the features described herein a support element including a support pin is connected to a side edge of the base member, the support pin being slidable in a guide track arranged on the side edge. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the deployment mechanism comprises an electric motor. In addition to one or more of the features described herein a control module is operatively connected to the electric motor, the control module activating the electric motor to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone. A vehicle, in accordance with a non-limiting example, includes a body defining a passenger compartment including a passenger area and a cargo zone and a cargo management system arranged in the cargo zone. The cargo management system includes a base member slidably supported in the cargo zone. A collapsible cargo box is mounted to the base member. The collapsible cargo box includes a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that define a storage zone. A deployment mechanism is operatively connected to the base member. The deployment mechanism selectively biases the base member outwardly from the cargo zone. An actuator is operatively connected to the deployment mechanism. The actuator selectively triggers the deployment mechanism to shift the base member outwardly of the cargo zone. In addition to one or more of the features described herein the plurality of side walls of the collapsible cargo box include a rearwar