IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,195,999
Granted Patent B1
US 10,195,999 · App. 15/667,077 · Granted Feb 5, 2019

Vehicle compartment systems

Inventors: David Brian Glickman (Southfield, MI); Michael Williams (Northville, MI); Colin Christopher Nitroy (Dearborn, MI); Kosta Papanikolaou (Huntington Woods, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60R5/02B62D25/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,195,999
App. No.
15/667,077
Filed
Aug 2, 2017
Granted
Feb 5, 2019
Kind
B1
Art Unit
3612
USPC
296/37.1
Abstract

A vehicle compartment system includes a tub establishing a storage compartment and a closure panel movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the storage compartment. The closure panel is maintained below a vehicle down vision line in the open position. The closure panel may be raised from the closed position to a position above the storage compartment and then may be automatically slid rearward to the open position.

Claims (32)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle compartment system that is part of a front end module of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle compartment system includes:

a tub establishing a storage compartment; and

a closure panel movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the storage compartment,

wherein the closure panel is at least partially above an upper exterior surface of the tub and is maintained below a vehicle down vision line in the open position,

wherein the closure panel is flush with the upper exterior surface in the closed position.

2. The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle compartment system includes an actuating assembly for moving the closure panel between the closed position and the open position.

3. The vehicle as recited in claim 2 , wherein the actuating assembly includes a strut and a linkage assembly that guide movement of the closure panel after unlatching the closure panel relative to the tub.

4. The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment includes a cargo area and a rear shelf.

5. The vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein the rear shelf is at least partially covered by the closure panel when the closure panel is in the open position.

6. The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle compartment system includes a handle for moving the closure panel from the open position back to the closed position.

7. The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle compartment system includes a shelving assembly attachable to the tub.

8. The vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the shelving assembly includes a shelf and a bracket assembly for securing the shelf to the tub.

9. A vehicle compartment system, comprising:

a tub establishing a storage compartment; and

a closure panel movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the storage compartment, wherein the closure panel is maintained below a vehicle down vision line in the open position,

wherein the tub includes a first access panel for accessing a battery.

10. The vehicle compartment system as recited in claim 9 , comprising a second access panel for accessing a battery terminal.

11. The vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle compartment system is supported by a support beam.

12. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein a front lip of the tub is received over the support beam to support the tub relative to a front end module of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein the support beam further supports a cooling pack of the vehicle.

14. A method, comprising:

raising a closure panel of a vehicle compartment system from a first position to a second position above a storage compartment; and

automatically sliding the closure panel from the second position to a third position rearward of the second position, wherein the closure panel is below a vehicle down vision line and above an outer surface of a hood of the vehicle in the third position.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , comprising:

unlatching the closure panel relative to a tub of the vehicle compartment system prior to raising the closure panel.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein raising the closure panel includes actuating a strut of an actuating assembly.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein automatically sliding the closure panel includes manipulating a strut and a linkage assembly of the vehicle compartment assembly.

18. A method, comprising:

raising a closure panel of a vehicle compartment system from a first position to a second position above a storage compartment;

automatically sliding the closure panel from the second position to a third position rearward of the second position, wherein the closure panel is below a vehicle down vision line in the third position; and

after automatically sliding the closure panel to the third position, opening or removing an access panel of the vehicle compartment system to service a battery.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2017
From: GLICKMAN, DAVID BRIAN; WILLIAMS, MICHAEL; NITROY, COLIN CHRISTOPHER; PAPANIKOLAOU, KOSTA
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 043173/0443 →
Cited By (22)
US 1,063,697 US 1,082,637 US 12,187,341 US 12,187,381 US 12,208,854 US 12,311,868 US 12,391,217 US 12,434,783 US 12,466,494 US 12,485,989 US 12,496,975 US 12,503,200 US 12,630,259 US 12,630,260 US 12,637,174 US 12,662,215 US 12,679,503 US 12,698,054 US 12,703,451 US 12,715,547 US 12,722,740 US 12,735,115