Vehicle storage structure

Abstract

A vehicle body structure includes a storage box installed in a location within the vehicle that is originally arranged and configured to receive a rear passenger's seat. The storage box has an upper opening and a cargo cavity that extends downwardly from the upper opening below an upper surface of the vehicle floor. A storage cover overlies the upper opening of the storage box. The storage cover has first and second lids. The first lid is arranged to move between a closed position covering a forward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the forward area of the cargo cavity to the side access opening. The second lid is arranged to move between a closed position covering a rearward area of the cargo cavity and an open position exposing the rearward area of the cargo cavity to the rear access opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention generally relates to a vehicle body structure that includes a storage box. More specifically, the present invention relates to a storage box that is installed in an area within the vehicle body structure that is arranged and configured to receive a passenger seat. [0003] 2. Background Information [0004] Most vehicles have one or two rows of seats with a storage compartment or storage area in the rear portion of the vehicle behind the last row of passenger seats. In some vehicles, such as station wagons, sport utility vehicles and vans, the storage area behind the last row of seats is a large open area. Depending on the construction of the vehicle, some vehicles have in floor storage to provide hidden cargo storage spaces that can accommodate a variety of cargo loads. [0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,304 to Hotary et al. discloses a rear cargo storage assembly that includes a small storag...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Thus, the storage compartments such as the ones disclosed in the above mentioned patent do not taken advantage of those areas of the vehicle typically used for installing passenger seats, when the additional row of passenger seats are not installed.

One reason for this omission is that the portion of the floor of a vehicle body structure that is formed for receiving a seat those areas of the vehicle typically used for installing passenger seats has seat mounts such that storage is not possible when the row of seats are installed.

Moreover, this floor portion of the vehicle body structure is not always flat and continuous.

In other words, if the last row of passenger seats has been removed, the uneven surfaces of the floor are unsuitable for cargo without modification.

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