Under seat cargo management system for a vehicle

Abstract

A selectively deployable cargo management system for a vehicle includes at least one cargo attachment device positioned on an underside of a foldable vehicle seat. The cargo attachment device may include a plurality of cargo hooks or projections attached to a seat cover on the underside of a vehicle seat so that the hooks may be manually or automatically deployed when the vehicle seat is placed in its folded position. Manually deployable hooks may be concealed beneath a foldable panel having one side removably secured to the seat underside so that the hooks may remain concealed when the foldable seat is in either position. The system may also include a storage compartment disposed beneath a foldable vehicle seat with one or more cargo hanging projections attached thereto. A device to secure the cargo management devices to a second vehicle seating component may also be provided.

1 . A cargo management system for a vehicle, the system comprising: 
 a cargo hanging device disposed beneath and secured to an underside of a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat being pivotable between a deployed seating position and a stowed position, the cargo hanging device being substantially hidden from view when the vehicle seat is in the deployed seating position.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cargo hanging device comprises a plurality of hooks.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the cargo management system further comprises a retention device secured to the vehicle seat and adapted for removable attachment to a secondary vehicle component to retain the vehicle seat in the stowed position.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the retention device comprises an elastic strap having a hook at one end for securing to a vehicle seat head restraint post.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cargo hanging device comprises a foldable flap having a first end permanently secured to the underside of the vehicle seat and a second end attachable to a secondary vehicle component to expose the cargo hanging device when the vehicle seat is in the stowed position.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the second end of the foldable flap includes a hook adapted for attachment to a head restraint post.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the second end of the foldable flap is attachable to the underside of the vehicle seat to conceal the cargo hanging device when the vehicle seat is in either one of the seating position and the stowed position.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cargo hanging device comprises a storage compartment having an access opening to stow and retrieve cargo and at least one protrusion extending from the storage compartment adapted to hang cargo.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the storage compartment includes a door to selectively cover the access opening.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the storage compartment includes collapsible sides and a collapsible bottom.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a retention device fixable to the vehicle seat and a secondary vehicle component to secure the vehicle seat in a stowed position.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the access opening is along an upper edge of the storage compartment when the vehicle seat is in the stowed position.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the access opening is disposed in a lateral face of the compartment and the at least one protrusion extends from an upper edge of the storage compartment when the vehicle seat is in the stowed position.  
     
     
         14 . A cargo management device for a vehicle, the cargo management device comprising: 
 a storage compartment securable to an underside of a foldable vehicle seat having an open seating position and a folded position, the storage compartment including an access opening to stow and retrieve cargo, the storage compartment having a plurality of projections extending therefrom and adapted to hang cargo when the vehicle seat is in the folded position.    
     
     
         15 . The cargo management device of  claim 14  wherein the storage compartment further includes a cover for the access opening to facilitate retention of cargo in the storage compartment.  
     
     
         16 . The cargo management device of  claim 14  wherein the storage compartment includes collapsible sides.  
     
     
         17 . The cargo management device of  claim 14  wherein the storage compartment is made of flexible material.  
     
     
         18 . A cargo management system for a vehicle, the cargo management system comprising: 
 a vehicle seat pivotable between a seating position generally parallel to a vehicle floor and a cargo position generally perpendicular to the vehicle floor; and    a cargo hanging device secured to an underside of the vehicle seat to be substantially concealed from view when the vehicle seat is in the seating position and substantially exposed when the vehicle seat is in the cargo position.    
     
     
         19 . The cargo management system of  claim 18  wherein the cargo hanging device comprises a storage compartment having a plurality of projections extending therefrom to accommodate hanging cargo, the storage compartment including a door to provide access to an interior portion of the compartment for stowing and retrieving cargo.  
     
     
         20 . The cargo management system of  claim 18  wherein the cargo hanging device comprises a foldable panel permanently secured to a seat cover of the vehicle seat along one edge of the panel and including an integral hook adapted for securing to a head restraint post of a second vehicle seat, the foldable panel including a plurality of projections extending therefrom and adapted to hang cargo.