Granted Patent B2

US 12,409,784 · App. 18/131,494 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Inventors: Jose Nicolas Juarez Espinoza (Cuajimalpa de Morelos, MX); Diego Fabricio Villacres Mesias (Cuajimalpa, MX); Raul Rafael Martinez Huesca (Atizapan de Zaragoza, MX); Mariana Moctezuma Zamudio (Huixquilucan de Degollado, MX); Jose Luis Toriz Vega (Metepec, MX)

Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

B60R5/04

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. A vehicle cargo storage system configured to be located in a floor of a vehicle, the vehicle cargo storage system comprising:

a compartment configured to extend into and below the floor of the vehicle;

a cover movable between a closed position covering the compartment and providing a load floor and an upright open position to expose the compartment; and

a retractable load floor holder comprising a protrusion coupled with an interior of the vehicle, the load floor holder having at least one bias arm and a side first surface and a rear second surface, wherein when the cargo floor cover is configured to move with force from the closed position to the upright open position to allow the cargo floor cover to slide along the side first surface of the protrusion and depress the protrusion to a retracted position, and is supported in the upright open position by the rear second surface with the protrusion in an extended position, and wherein the at least one bias arm comprises a pair of first bias arms each configured to pivot about a pivot point as the protrusion moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

2. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bias arm provides a bias force without a separate spring.

3. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 1 , wherein the load floor holder is connected to an interior trim panel of the vehicle, wherein the protrusion extends through an opening in the trim panel.

4. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 3 , wherein the compartment is located in a rear end of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion further comprises a cylindrical rod for engaging a hook in the interior of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 5 , wherein the retractable load floor holder further comprises a second plurality of parallel arms parallel to the pair of first bias arms in the retracted position.

7. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a flange for engaging the interior.

8. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises a unitary protrusion.

9. The vehicle cargo storage system of claim 1 , wherein the retractable load floor holder comprises first and second load floor holders.

10. A retractable load floor holder for use in a vehicle cargo storage system that is configured to be located in a floor of a vehicle, the load floor holder comprising:

a unitary protrusion coupled with an interior panel of the vehicle, the protrusion having a side first surface and a second rear surface;

at least one bias arm extending from the protrusion; and

a supporting base configured to engage the interior panel in the vehicle, wherein the first side surface of the protrusion is configured to be engaged by a cargo floor cover and depressed to a retracted position by the cargo floor cover as the cargo floor cover is rotated towards an upright position and a rear surface is configured to hold the cargo floor cover in the upright position with the protrusion in an extended position, and wherein the at least one bias arm comprises a pair of first bias arms each configured to pivot about a pivot point as the protrusion moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

11. The retractable load floor holder of claim 10 , wherein the at least one bias arms provide a bias force without a separate spring.

12. The retractable load floor holder of claim 10 , wherein the load floor holder is connected to an interior trim panel of the vehicle.

13. The retractable load floor holder of claim 12 , wherein the compartment is located in a rear end of the vehicle.

14. The retractable load floor holder of claim 10 , wherein the protrusion further comprises a cylindrical rod for engaging a hook in the panel of the vehicle.

15. The retractable load floor holder of claim 14 , wherein the retractable load floor holder further comprises a second plurality of parallel arms parallel to the pair of first bias arms in the retracted position.

16. The retractable load floor holder of claim 10 , wherein the holder comprises a flange for engaging the interior.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (30)