IP Library Granted Patent US 11,198,381
Granted Patent B2
US 11,198,381 · App. 16/419,559 · Granted Dec 14, 2021

Multipurpose tray for vehicles

Inventor: Manuel Alejandro Vite Cadena (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
B60N3/002B60R7/04B60R16/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,198,381
App. No.
16/419,559
Granted
Dec 14, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle is disclosed that includes: a first (e.g., front) passenger seating area having a console; a second (e.g., rear) passenger seating area that is located rearwardly of the first passenger seating area; a floorpan that extends beneath the first and second passenger seating areas; and a multipurpose tray that is configured for removable connection to the floorpan. The floorpan includes an access port extending therethrough that is located generally adjacent to the console. The multipurpose tray is configured to conceal the access port, and defines at least one compartment that is configured to receive personal effects.

Claims (30)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a first passenger seating area including a console;

a second passenger seating area located rearwardly of the first passenger seating area;

a floorpan extending beneath the first and second passenger seating areas, the floorpan including an access port extending therethrough located generally adjacent to the console; and

a multipurpose tray configured for removable connection to the floorpan, the multipurpose tray being configured to conceal the access port, and defining at least one compartment configured to receive personal effects.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the multipurpose tray includes at least one electrical charging port.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electrical charging port includes at least one USB port.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment includes a first compartment, and a second compartment positioned rearwardly of the first compartment.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the second compartment is fixed in configuration, and defines one or more chambers.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the second compartment is reconfigurable.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the second compartment includes at least one movable divider.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the at least one movable divider is generally planar in configuration.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second compartment defines a series of receiving structures configured to receive the at least one movable divider to facilitate placement of the at least one movable divider in a plurality of locations so as to define a series of chambers in the second compartment.

10. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the multipurpose tray includes a front-end portion positioned generally adjacent to the console, and a rear-end portion positioned generally adjacent to the second passenger seating area, the multipurpose tray including a generally tapered configuration defining a transverse cross-sectional dimension that increases towards the rear-end portion.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the multipurpose tray defines an overall height varying between the front-end portion and the rear-end portion.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the multipurpose tray defines a first height at the first compartment, and a second height at the second compartment, the second height being greater than the first height.

13. A multipurpose tray configured for positioning adjacent to an access port in a floorpan of a vehicle located between front and rear passenger seating areas, the multipurpose tray comprising:

a body configured to conceal the access port in the floorpan, the body defining at least one compartment configured to receive personal effects, the body including deflectable engagement structure configured for releasable connection to corresponding receipt structure located adjacent to the access port such that the multipurpose tray is removable from the vehicle.

14. The multipurpose tray of claim 13 , wherein the multipurpose tray includes at least one electrical charging port.

15. The multipurpose tray of claim 13 , wherein the at least one compartment includes a first compartment having a fixed configuration, and a second compartment having a variable configuration.

16. The multipurpose tray of claim 15 , further including at least one movable divider configured for insertion into a plurality of receiving structures defined by the second compartment so as to define a series of reconfigurable chambers in the second compartment.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the body includes a front-end portion and a rear-end portion, the body including a generally tapered configuration defining a transverse cross-sectional dimension that increases towards the rear-end portion.

18. A multipurpose tray configured to conceal an access port in a floorpan of a vehicle, the multipurpose tray comprising:

a body configured to conceal the access port in the floorpan;

engagement structure extending from the body and configured for releasable connection to corresponding receipt structure located adjacent to the access port such that the multipurpose tray is removable from the vehicle;

a first compartment having a fixed configuration;

a second compartment having a variable configuration; and

opposing first and second end portions, the multipurpose tray including a generally tapered configuration defining a transverse cross-sectional dimension that increases towards the second end portion.

19. The multipurpose tray of claim 18 , wherein the second compartment defines a series of receiving structures configured to receive at least one movable divider to facilitate placement of the at least one movable divider in a plurality of locations so as to define a series of chambers in the second compartment.

20. The multipurpose tray of claim 18 , wherein the multipurpose tray defines a first height at the first compartment, and a second height at the second compartment, the second height being different than the first height such that an overall height of the multipurpose tray varies between the first and second end portions.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2022
From: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 058990/0974 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2019
From: VITE CADENA, MANUEL ALEJANDRO
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 049256/0097 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200369189A1 · Nov 26, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,377,786 US 12,673,616