Extendable load-bearing floor for vehicles

Abstract

The vehicle's integrated, extendable load-bearing floor includes a frame, a sliding mechanism slidingly coupled to the frame in a longitudinal direction, a first floor connected to the sliding mechanism, and a release handle adapted to trigger a locking mechanism that locks the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto at two or more different positions and that is triggered to unlock the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto from any position, allowing them to freely translate longitudinally relative to the frame.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Field of Disclosure The present disclosure relates to cargo areas of vehicles, and more particularly to an extendable load-bearing floor for a vehicle that facilitates loading and unloading of cargo and provides additional cargo space when the vehicle is stationary. [Background technology]

[0002] background Generally, automobiles include a luggage area in the rear of the vehicle, providing a certain amount of luggage space. In certain instances, there may be a desire for greater luggage space and utility for the luggage area of ​​a vehicle. For example, loading and unloading luggage from the luggage area of ​​a sports utility vehicle (SUV) may be difficult due to the proximity of the luggage area walls to the luggage, the location of the unloading, the depth of the luggage area, or the body of the SUV restricting side access to the luggage area. In some cases, the body of the SUV on either side of the luggage area also limits the utility of the luggage area as a work surface. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an extendable load-bearing floor for a vehicle that facilitates loading and unloading luggage and provides additional luggage space when the vehicle is stationary. Summary of the Invention

[0003] overview An aspect of the present invention includes an extendable load-bearing floor for a vehicle, the extendable load-bearing floor having: a frame; a sliding mechanism slidingly coupled to the frame in a longitudinal direction; a first floor connected to the sliding mechanism; and a release handle adapted to trigger a locking mechanism; wherein: the locking mechanism locks the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto in at least a stowed position and an extended position; and the locking mechanism is triggered to unlock the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto from either the stowed position or the extended position to allow them to translate freely longitudinally relative to the frame between the stowed position and the extended position and between the extended position and the stowed position; and the extendable load-bearing floor is assembled into a vehicle.

[0004] In a further aspect of the invention, the extendable load-bearing floor further comprises a second floor positioned above the first floor, the first floor being stowed beneath the second floor when in the stowed position and sliding out from beneath the second floor when transitioning from the stowed position to the extended position. In a further aspect of the invention, the second floor is a floor of a cargo bed of a vehicle.

[0005] In a further aspect of the present invention, the sliding mechanism includes a pair of rails slidably coupled to opposite sides of the frame in the longitudinal direction, wherein the outer surface of each rail faces the inner surface of the side of the frame to which the rail is slidably coupled in the longitudinal direction; a first floor is connected to each rail and located between the inner surfaces of the rails; and guide rollers and load rollers facilitate longitudinal translation of each rail relative to the frame, wherein one guide roller is attached to at least the front inner surface of each side of the frame and the rear outer surface of each rail; and one load roller is attached to at least the front inner surface of each side of the frame and the rear outer surface of each rail. In a further aspect of the present invention, bumpers are attached to at least the rear and front inner surfaces of each side of the frame, respectively; and the bumpers attached to the rear and front of the frame are adapted to engage with load rollers attached to the outer surface of each rail on the same side as the bumpers to provide overtravel and noise prevention in the stowed position and the extended position, respectively.

[0006] In a further aspect of the present invention, the locking mechanism has: at least one striker pin attached to the rear and front of the inner surface of each side of the frame; at least one catch attached to the rear of the outer surface of each side of the slide mechanism; and one torsion spring connected to each catch; wherein: each catch is connected to a release handle via a cable; and when the first floor is transitioned from an unlocked state to a locked state, the catch completely engages with the striker pin attached to the rear or front of the frame on the same side as the respective catch. and rotates until it engages with the striker pin to lock the first bed in the retracted or extended position; when transitioning the first bed from the locked state to the unlocked state, the release handle triggers the locking mechanism via the connected cable to rotate each catch from the striker pin until it fully disengages from the striker pin with which it is engaged, unlocking the first bed from the retracted or extended position; and each torsion spring returns each catch to its connected position to its unrotated position after the force causing the rotation of each catch during locking or unlocking of the first bed is released. In a further aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism further has at least one catch bumper attached to the rear of the outer surface of each side of the sliding mechanism to limit the amount of rotation of the catches attached to the same side. In a further aspect of the present invention, the sliding mechanism has: a pair of rails slidingly connected to opposite side surfaces of the frame in the longitudinal direction; wherein: the outer surface of each rail faces the inner surface of each side surface of the frame to which each rail is slidingly connected in the longitudinal direction; a first floor is connected to each rail and located between the inner surfaces of each rail; and guide rollers and load rollers facilitate longitudinal translation of each rail relative to the frame, wherein: one guide roller is attached to at least the front inner surface of each side surface of the frame and the rear outer surface of each rail; and one load roller is attached to at least the front inner surface of each side surface of the frame and the rear outer surface of each rail; and the rear of the outer surface of each side surface of the sliding mechanism corresponds to the rear outer surface of each rail.

[0007] In a further aspect of the invention, the extendable load-bearing floor further comprises at least two hooks attached to the frame on either side, wherein each of the at least two hooks has a tie-down eye adapted to pivot up to 90 degrees and be folded flat for storage.

[0008] In a further aspect of the invention, the release handle is attached to the underside of the first floor.

[0009] In a further aspect of the invention, the extendable load-bearing floor further comprises at least two vertical limiting stops attached to opposite sides of one of the frame and the slide mechanism to prevent vertical movement of the first floor relative to the frame. In a further aspect of the invention, the at least two vertical limiting stops are fabricated using injection molding.

[0010] In a further aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism locks the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto in at least one additional position between the stowed position and the extended position.

[0011] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B show an extendable load-bearing floor according to some embodiments. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B show a sliding mechanism of an extendable load-bearing floor, according to some embodiments. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B show bumpers attached to the frame of an extendable load-bearing floor, according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates a locking mechanism for an extendable load-bearing floor, according to some embodiments. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows the extendable load-bearing floor in the extended position. [Figure 6] 6A-6C show the extendable load-bearing floor in various positions. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B show an extendable load-bearing floor integrated into a vehicle, according to some embodiments. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A shows an extensible load-bearing floor with hooks attached to the frame of the extensible load-bearing floor, according to some embodiments. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B shows a hook, according to some embodiments. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates an extendable load-bearing floor with vertical limiting stops attached to the frame of the extendable load-bearing floor, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Detailed Description Aspects of the present invention include an extendable load-bearing floor for a vehicle. The extendable load-bearing floor includes a frame and a sliding mechanism slidingly coupled to the frame longitudinally. The extendable load-bearing floor further includes a first floor connected to the sliding mechanism, a locking mechanism, and a release handle adapted to trigger the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism locks the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto in a stowed position and an extended position. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism further locks the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto in one or more additional positions between the stowed position and the extended position. The locking mechanism is triggered to unlock the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto from either the stowed position or the extended position, allowing them to freely translate longitudinally relative to the frame between the stowed position and the extended position and between the extended position and the stowed position. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is triggered to unlock the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto from one or more additional positions between the stowed position and the extended position.

[0014] In embodiments, the extendable load-bearing floor is incorporated into a vehicle. In some embodiments, a second floor is positioned above a first floor, with the first floor stowed beneath the second floor when in the stowed position and sliding out from beneath the second floor when transitioning from the stowed position to the extended position. When the second floor is used, preferably, the first floor is substantially invisible to the user when in the stowed position. The second floor may be the floor of a cargo area of ​​a vehicle, such as the floor of a cargo area of ​​an SUV. To extend the first floor from the stowed position, a release handle triggers and engages a locking mechanism, unlocking the locking mechanism, and the slide mechanism and the connected first floor may slide longitudinally away from the vehicle relative to the frame until the locking mechanism engages, locking the slide mechanism and the connected first floor in the extended position. Extension of the first floor may be used to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo from the cargo area of ​​the vehicle. Furthermore, when the vehicle is stationary and the first floor is extended, the first floor increases the amount of cargo space in the cargo area of ​​the vehicle. To stow the first floor from the extended position, the release handle triggers and engages the locking mechanism, unlocking the locking mechanism so that the slide mechanism and the first floor connected thereto may slide longitudinally relative to the frame toward the vehicle until the locking mechanism engages, locking the slide mechanism and the first floor connected thereto in the stowed position. In some embodiments, the extendable load-bearing floor having only the first floor or the first floor and the second floor is a separate and independent device from and attachable to the vehicle.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sliding mechanism includes a pair of rails slidably coupled to opposite sides of the frame in the longitudinal direction, with the outer surface of each rail facing the inner surface of the respective side of the frame to which the rail is slidably coupled in the longitudinal direction. A first floor is connected to each rail and positioned between the inner surfaces of the rails. Guide rollers and load rollers facilitate longitudinal translation of each rail relative to the frame. In some embodiments, one guide roller is attached to each of the front inner surface of each side of the frame and the rear outer surface of each rail. In some embodiments, one load roller is attached to each of the front inner surface of each side of the frame and the rear outer surface of each rail. The number and arrangement of the guide rollers and / or load rollers may vary depending on the embodiment. In some embodiments, one bumper is attached to each of the rear and front inner surfaces of each side of the frame. The number and arrangement of the bumpers may vary depending on the embodiment. Bumpers attached to the rear and front of the frame are adapted to engage load rollers attached to the outer surface of each rail on the same side as each bumper to provide overtravel and noise protection in the stowed and extended positions, respectively. Other sliding mechanisms may be used to achieve the same desired functionality of this extendable load-bearing floor.

[0016] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes a striker pin attached to the rear and front of the inner surface of each side of the frame, a catch attached to the rear of the outer surface of each rail of the sliding mechanism, and a torsion spring connected to each catch. The number and arrangement of the striker pins and catches may vary depending on the embodiment. Each catch is connected to the release handle via a cable or other means. When transitioning the first floor from the unlocked state to the locked state, the catch contacts a striker pin attached to the rear or front of the frame on the same side as the catch and rotates until it fully engages with the striker pin and locks the first floor in the retracted or extended position, respectively. When transitioning the first floor from the locked state to the unlocked state, the release handle triggers the locking mechanism via the connected cable, causing each catch to rotate from the striker pin until it fully disengages from the striker pin it is engaging with, unlocking the first floor from the retracted or extended position. Each torsion spring returns each catch to its connected position after the force that caused the rotation of each catch during locking or unlocking of the first floor is released. In some embodiments, the sliding mechanism includes one catch bumper attached to the rear of each outer surface of each rail to limit the amount of rotation of the catches attached to the same side. The number and arrangement of the catch bumpers may vary in embodiments based on the number and arrangement of the catches. In some embodiments, the release handle is attached to the underside of the first floor.

[0017] In some embodiments, the extendable load-bearing floor includes two hooks attached to the frame on each side to facilitate lashing down of cargo for stability during vehicle movement. The number and arrangement of hooks may vary in different embodiments. In some embodiments, each hook includes a tie-down eye that pivots up to 90 degrees and is adapted to be folded flat for storage. Other means for facilitating lashing down of cargo may also be used.

[0018] In some embodiments, the extendable load-bearing floor includes two vertical limiting stops attached to either side of the frame and one of the sliding mechanisms to prevent vertical movement of the first floor relative to the frame. The number and arrangement of the vertical limiting stops may vary in embodiments. Other mechanisms for preventing vertical movement of the first floor relative to the frame may also be used. In some embodiments, the vertical limiting stops are fabricated using injection molding.

[0019] 1A and 1B show an embodiment of an extendable load-bearing floor including a frame (1), a sliding mechanism (2) slidingly coupled to the frame (1) longitudinally, a first floor (3) connected to the sliding mechanism (2), and a release handle (4) attached to the underside of the frame (1) and adapted to trigger a locking mechanism (see FIG. 4).

[0020] Figures 2A and 2B show a slide mechanism (2) consisting of a pair of rails (2a) and (2b) that are slidingly coupled to both sides of the frame (1) in the longitudinal direction. Although not shown in Figures 2A and 2B, a first floor (3) is connected to the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2) (see Figures 1A and 1B). Guide rollers (5) are attached to the front inner surface of each side of the frame (1) and the rear outer surface of the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2). Load rollers (6) are attached to the front inner surface of each side of the frame (1) and the rear outer surface of the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2). The guide rollers (5) and load rollers (6) facilitate longitudinal translation of the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2) relative to the frame (1). 3A and 3B show bumpers (7) attached to the rear and front inner surfaces of each side of the frame (1), respectively. The bumpers (7) attached to the rear and front of the frame (1) engage with load rollers (6) attached to the outer surfaces of the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2) on the same side as each bumper (7) to provide overtravel and noise protection in the stowed and extended positions, respectively.

[0021] Figure 4 shows a locking mechanism consisting of striker pins (8) attached to the rear and front of the inner surface of each side of the frame (1), catches (9) attached to the rear of the outer surface of each of the rails (2a) and (2b) of the sliding mechanism (2), torsion springs (10) connected to each catch (9), and catch bumpers (11) attached to the rear of the outer surface of each of the rails (2a) and (2b) of the sliding mechanism (2) to limit the amount of rotation of the catch (9) attached to the same side. Each catch (9) is connected to the release handle (4) via a cable (12). The locking mechanism locks the rails (2a) and (2b) of the sliding mechanism (2) and the first floor (3) connected to them in the retracted and extended positions. The locking mechanism is triggered by a release handle (4) to unlock the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2) and the first floor (3) connected thereto from either the retracted position or the extended position, allowing them to freely translate longitudinally relative to the frame (1) between the retracted and extended positions and between the extended and retracted positions.

[0022] 1A and 5 show the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2) and the first floor (3) connected thereto in the retracted and extended positions, respectively. When transitioning the first floor (3) from the unlocked state to the locked state, the catches (9) contact the striker pins (8) attached to the rear or front of the frame (1) on the same side as the respective catches (9) and rotate until they fully engage with the striker pins (8) to lock the first floor (3) in the retracted or extended position, respectively. When transitioning the first floor (3) from the locked state to the unlocked state, the release handle (4) triggers the locking mechanism via the connected cable (12) to rotate each catch (9) away from the striker pins (8) until each catch (9) fully disengages from the associated striker pins (8) to unlock the first floor (3) from the retracted or extended position. Each torsion spring (10) returns its connected catch (9) to its unrotated position when the energy stored in the torsion spring is released, causing the catch (9) to rotate during locking or unlocking of the first floor (3). The locking mechanism may also lock the first floor (3) in other positions between the retracted position (see FIG. 1A) and the extended position (see FIG. 5). For example, FIGS. 6A-6C show the rails (2a) and (2b) of the slide mechanism (2) and the connected first floor (3) extended to 25%, 50%, and 75% of the maximum extension shown in FIG. 5, respectively.

[0023] 7A and 7B show an extendable load-bearing floor incorporated into a vehicle (13), which is substantially invisible when the first floor (3) is in the stowed position (FIG. 7B). A second floor (14) located above the first floor (3) is the floor of the cargo area of ​​the vehicle (13). The first floor (3) is stowed beneath the second floor (14) when in the stowed position and slides out from beneath the second floor (14) when transitioning from the stowed position to the extended position. To extend the first floor (3) from the stowed position, the release handle (4) triggers and engages the locking mechanism, unlocking the locking mechanism so that the slide mechanism (2) and the connected first floor (3) may slide longitudinally relative to the frame (1) and away from the vehicle (13) until the locking mechanism engages, locking the slide mechanism (2) and the connected first floor (3) in the extended position. To retract the first floor (3) from the extended position, the release handle (4) engages to trigger the locking mechanism, unlocking the locking mechanism and allowing the slide mechanism (2) and the connected first floor (3) to slide longitudinally relative to the frame (1) towards the vehicle (13) until the locking mechanism engages, locking the slide mechanism (2) and the connected first floor (3) in the retracted position.

[0024] Figure 8A shows the extendable load-bearing floor with the hooks (15) attached to the frame (1) on both sides. Figure 8B shows an exploded and assembled view of the hooks (15) including tie-down eyes (16) that pivot up to 90 degrees and are adapted to be folded flat for storage.

[0025] Figure 9 shows an extendable load-bearing floor where vertical limiting stops are attached to both sides of one of the frames (1) to prevent the first floor (3) from moving vertically relative to the frame (1).

[0026] The specific arrangement of at least some of the elements described herein may be modified as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. While embodiments of the present invention have been shown, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the illustrated structure may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. An extendable load-bearing floor for a vehicle, the extendable load-bearing floor comprising: Frame and; a slide mechanism slidably coupled to the frame in the longitudinal direction; a first floor connected to the slide mechanism; having a release handle adapted to trigger the locking mechanism; Where: the locking mechanism locks the slide mechanism and the first floor connected thereto in at least the retracted position and the extended position; the locking mechanism is triggered from either the stowed position or the extended position to unlock the slide mechanism and the first floor connected thereto, allowing them to freely translate longitudinally relative to the frame between the stowed position and the extended position and between the extended position and the stowed position; the locking mechanism has at least one catch attached to the slide mechanism, the at least one catch configured to rotate out of engagement with at least one striker pin coupled to the frame in response to triggering of the locking mechanism to unlock the slide mechanism and the first floor connected thereto; When the at least one catch contacts the striker pin, it rotates until it fully engages the striker pin and locks the slide mechanism and the first floor connected thereto; and the extendable load-bearing floor is incorporated into the vehicle; Said extendable load-bearing floor.

2. 2. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 1, further comprising a second floor positioned above said first floor, said first floor being stowed beneath said second floor when in said stowed position and sliding out from beneath said second floor when transitioning from said stowed position to said extended position.

3. 3. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 2, wherein said second floor is a cargo bed floor of said vehicle.

4. the slide mechanism has a pair of rails slidably connected to both side surfaces of the frame in the longitudinal direction; Where: an outer surface of each rail facing an inner surface of a respective side of the frame to which each rail is slidably coupled in the longitudinal direction; the first floor is connected to each rail and positioned between the inner surfaces of each rail; and Guide rollers and load rollers facilitate longitudinal translation of each rail relative to the frame, where: one guide roller attached to at least the inner front surface of each side of the frame and the outer rear surface of each rail; and one load roller attached to at least the inner surface of the front of each side of the frame and the outer surface of the rear of each rail; 2. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 1.

5. a bumper attached to at least the rear of each side of the frame and to the inner surface of the front; and the bumpers attached to the rear and front of the frame are adapted to engage the load rollers attached to the outer surface of each rail on the same side as each bumper to provide overtravel and noise protection in the stowed and extended positions, respectively; Extendable load-bearing floor according to claim 4.

6. The at least one striker pin has at least one striker pin attached to the rear and front of the inner surface of each side of the frame; the at least one catch includes at least one catch attached to the rear of the outer surface of each side of the slide mechanism; and One torsion spring is connected to each catch; Where: Each catch is connected to the release handle via a cable; When transitioning the first bed from an unlocked state to a locked state, each of the catches contacts a striker pin attached to the rear or front of the frame on the same side as the respective catch and rotates until it fully engages the striker pin to lock the first bed in the retracted position or the extended position, respectively; In transitioning the first bed from the locked state to the unlocked state, the release handle triggers the locking mechanism via an attached cable to actuate the rotation of each catch from the striker pin until each catch fully disengages from the engaged striker pin to unlock the first bed from the retracted or extended position; and each torsion spring returns each catch to which it is connected to a non-rotated position after the force causing rotation of each catch during locking or unlocking of said first floor is released; 2. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 1.

7. 7. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises at least one catch bumper attached to each of the rear portions of the outer surface of each side of the sliding mechanism to limit the amount of rotation of the catches attached to the same side.

8. The sliding mechanism comprises: a pair of rails slidably connected to both sides of the frame in the longitudinal direction; Where: an outer surface of each rail facing an inner surface of a respective side of the frame to which each rail is slidably coupled in the longitudinal direction; the first floor is connected to each rail and positioned between the inner surfaces of each rail; Guide rollers and load rollers facilitate longitudinal translation of each rail relative to the frame, where: one guide roller attached to at least the inner front surface of each side of the frame and the outer rear surface of each rail; and one load roller attached to at least the inner surface of the front of each side of the frame and the outer surface of the rear of each rail; and the rear portion of the outer surface of each side of the slide mechanism includes the outer surface of the rear portion of each rail; 7. An extendable load-bearing floor according to claim 6.

9. 10. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 1, further comprising at least two hooks attached to the frame on either side.

10. 10. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 9, wherein said at least two hooks each have a tie-down eye adapted to pivot up to 90 degrees and be stored flat for storage.

11. 2. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 1, wherein the release handle is attached to the underside of the first floor.

12. 10. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 1, further comprising at least two vertical limiting stops attached to opposite sides of one of the frame and the sliding mechanism to prevent vertical movement of the first floor relative to the frame.

13. 13. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 12, wherein said at least two vertically limiting stops are fabricated using injection molding.

14. 10. The extendable load-bearing floor of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism locks the sliding mechanism and the first floor connected thereto in at least one additional position between the stowed position and the extended position.

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