Granted Patent B2

US 12,617,327 · App. 17/682,253 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventor: Richard S. Maxwell (Lawrenceville, NJ)

B60N3/044B60N3/048

Abstract

Claims (24)

1 . A configurable cargo support structure, comprising:

a. a plurality of foldable support panels comprising a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel, wherein the plurality of foldable support panels are each of the same length in a first state, and are made of at least one of a rigid or semi-rigid material;

b. foldable joints, the foldable joints connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of foldable support panels in a foldable manner, the foldable joints extending along at least a portion of a width of adjacent foldable support panels;

c. wherein the second, third, and fourth support panels are configurable to rest upon backs of one or more rows of seats in a vehicle when one or more of the one or more rows of seats are in a folded down position, and wherein at least one of the second or third support panels are configured to further be foldable in half lengthwise in a second state converting its length in half, and wherein the foldable one of the second or third support panels is immediately adjacent one of the first panel or the fourth panel; and

d. further wherein, in a first stored configuration the first, second, third, and fourth support panels are stackable one on top of the other in a single vertical stack to rest fully in a rear cargo space behind a rear most row of seats; in a second partially deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and less than all of the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of one or more folded down seats to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across at least a portion of the cargo area and the backs of the one or more folded down seats upon which they are positioned, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween; and in a third fully deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of the folded down seats and to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across the cargo area and the backs of all the folded down seats, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween.

2 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 1 , wherein the foldable support panels comprise an outer covering material.

3 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 2 , wherein the foldable joints are formed of the outer covering material at a space along the length between adjacent foldable support panels.

4 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 1 , wherein adjacent foldable support panels are configured to fold atop one another in a folded configuration.

5 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 4 , wherein the foldable support panels are configurable to fold accordion style in a single stack in the first stored configuration.

6 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 4 , wherein in the second partially deployed configuration one of the second or third support panels is in its second state and folded in half lengthwise.

7 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 1 , wherein the foldable support panels all comprise the same width.

8 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the foldable support panels are split widthwise, wherein the one or more split foldable support panels are configurable to be of a full width in a non-split configuration or a partial width in a split configuration.

9 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 8 , wherein the one or more split foldable support panels each comprise a first split panel and a second split panel, and wherein at least one of the first split panel and the second split panel comprises a flap that overlaps a portion of the other one of the first split panel and the second split panel.

10 . The configurable cargo support structure of claim 1 , wherein a thickness at the foldable joint is less than a thickness of the foldable support panels.

11 . A method of using a configurable cargo support structure, comprising:

a. providing a configurable cargo support structure, comprising:

i. a plurality of foldable support panels comprising a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel, wherein the plurality of foldable support panels are each of the same length in a first state, and are made of at least one of a rigid or semi-rigid material;

ii. foldable joints, the foldable joints connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of foldable support panels in a foldable manner, the foldable joints extending along at least a portion of a width of adjacent foldable support panels;

iii. wherein the second, third, and fourth support panels are configurable to rest upon backs of one or more rows of seats in a vehicle when one or more of the one or more rows of seats are in a folded down position, and wherein at least one of the second or third support panels is configured to further be foldable in half lengthwise in a second state converting its length in half, and wherein the foldable one of the second or third support panels is immediately adjacent one of the first panel or the fourth panel; and

iv. further wherein, in a first stored configuration the first, second, third, and fourth support panels are stackable one on top of the other in a single vertical stack to rest fully in a rear cargo space behind a rear most row of seats; in a second partially deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and less than all of the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of one or more folded down seats to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across at least a portion of the cargo area and the backs of the one or more folded down seats upon which they are positioned, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween; and in a third fully deployed configuration the first support panel rests in the cargo space and the second, third, and fourth support panels are positionable upon the backs of the folded down seats and to form a substantially flat continuous planer support surface across the cargo area and the backs of all the folded down seats, and in the event of a gap present between one or more of the folded down seats upon which they are positioned, to also span the gap therebetween;

b. adjusting a seat configuration of a vehicle; and

c. arranging one or more of the plurality of foldable support panels of the first configurable cargo support structure to substantially match the adjusted vehicle seat configuration.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of foldable support panels are arranged to substantially cover an expanded vehicle cargo area created by folding down or removing one or more seats during the adjusting of the seat configuration of the vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of foldable support panels create a substantially continuous span across the expanded vehicle cargo area.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (30)