Systems and Methods of Protecting Vehicle Cargo Areas

Abstract

A cargo area protection system for a vehicle defining a cargo area and comprising a seat assembly has a sheet member and a spreader member. The spreader member is arranged to engage at least a portion of the seat assembly. The sheet member is supported by the spreader member such that at least a supported portion of the sheet member is in a desired position with respect to the cargo area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cargo area protection system for a vehicle defining a cargo area and a forward direction and comprising a plurality of seat assemblies and a side wall adjacent to each seat assembly, where each seat assembly comprises an outer support post and an inner support post, the cargo area protection system comprising:
 a sheet member defining at least one corner portion; and   at least one spreader member defining a spreader spacer portion, a spreader engaging portion, and a spreader support portion; wherein   the spreader support portion is configured to engage a supported corner of the sheet member;   the spreader engaging portion is arranged to engage the outer support post and the inner support post of any of the plurality of seat assemblies; and   with the spreader support portion engaging the supported corner of the sheet member, the spreader spacer portion spaces the spreader support portion from the spreader engaging portion such that the supported corner of the sheet member
 applies a load to the spreader support portion in a direction offset from the forward direction to maintain the spreader engaging portion in contact with the outer and inner support posts, and 
 is supported at a support location between the outer side post of the seat assembly to which the at least one spreader member is attached and the side wall adjacent to the seat assembly to which the at least one spreader member is attached. 
   
     
     
         2 . A cargo area protection system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the at least one spreader member is substantially planar; and   the spreader support portion defines a support opening that receives the supported corner of the sheet member, where at least a portion of the support opening is forward facing.   
     
     
         3 . A cargo area protection system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the at least one spreader member comprises a substantially planar body portion; and   the spreader support portion extends from the substantially planar body portion to define the spreader opening.   
     
     
         4 . A cargo area protection system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the at least one spreader member comprises a substantially planar body portion; and   the spreader support portion is formed by a hook integrally formed with the planar body portion.   
     
     
         5 . A cargo area protection system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the spreader engaging portion defines:
 an inner engaging portion adapted to engage the inner support post; and   an outer engaging portion adapted to engage the outer support post.   
     
     
         6 . A cargo area protection system as recited in  claim 5 , in which:
 the inner engaging portion defines an inner engaging surface that engages at least a portion of the first inner support post; and   the outer engaging portion defines an outer bearing surface that engages at least a portion of the first outer support post.   
     
     
         7 . A cargo area protection system as recited in  claim 6 , in which:
 the inner engaging surface defines a lock gap; and   the inner engaging portion deforms from an un-deformed position to allow the first inner support post to pass through the lock gap and returns to the un-deformed position to inhibit withdrawal of the inner support post through the lock gap.   
     
     
         8 . A method of protecting a cargo area of a vehicle defining a forward direction and comprising a plurality of seat assemblies and a side wall adjacent to each seat assembly, where each seat assembly comprises an outer support post and an inner support post, the method comprising the steps of:
 arranging a sheet member defining at least one corner portion within the cargo area; and   providing at least one spreader member defining a spreader spacer portion, a spreader engaging portion, and a spreader support portion;   arranging the spreader engaging portion to engage the outer support post and the inner support post of any of the plurality of seat assemblies;   arranging the spreader support portion to engage a supported corner of the sheet member such that the spreader spacer portion spaces the spreader support portion from the spreader engaging portion such that the supported corner of the sheet member
 applies a load to the spreader support portion in a direction offset from the forward direction to maintain the spreader engaging portion in contact with the outer and inner support posts, and 
 is supported at a support location between the outer side post of the seat assembly to which the at least one spreader member is attached and the side wall adjacent to the seat assembly to which the at least one spreader member is attached. 
   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , in which:
 the at least one spreader member is substantially planar; and   the spreader support portion defines a support opening that receives the supported corner of the sheet member, where at least a portion of the support opening is forward facing.   
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , in which:
 the at least one spreader member comprises a substantially planar body portion; and   the spreader support portion extends from the substantially planar body portion to define the spreader opening.   
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , in which:
 the at least one spreader member comprises a substantially planar body portion; and   the spreader support portion is formed by a hook integrally formed with the planar body portion.   
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 8 , in which the spreader engaging portion defines:
 an inner engaging portion arranged to engage the inner support post; and   an outer engaging portion arranged to engage the outer support post.   
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , in which:
 the inner engaging portion defines an inner engaging surface that engages at least a portion of the first inner support post; and   the outer engaging portion defines an outer bearing surface that engages at least a portion of the first outer support post.   
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , in which:
 the inner engaging surface defines a lock gap; and   the inner engaging portion deforms from an un-deformed position to allow the first inner support post to pass through the lock gap and returns to the un-deformed position to inhibit withdrawal of the inner support post through the lock gap.   
     
     
         15 . A spreader member for supporting a sheet member relative to a cargo area of a vehicle defining a forward direction and comprising a plurality of seat assemblies and a side wall adjacent to each seat assembly, where each seat assembly comprises an outer support post and an inner support post, the spreader member comprising:
 a spreader spacer portion;   a spreader engaging portion; and   a spreader support portion; wherein   the spreader support portion is configured to engage a supported corner of the sheet member;   the spreader engaging portion is arranged to engage the outer support post and the inner support post of any of the plurality of seat assemblies; and   with the spreader support portion engaging the supported corner of the sheet member, the spreader spacer portion spaces the spreader support portion from the spreader engaging portion such that the supported corner of the sheet member
 applies a load to the spreader support portion in a direction offset from the forward direction to maintain the spreader engaging portion in contact with the outer and inner support posts, and 
 is supported at a support location between the outer side post of the seat assembly to which the at least one spreader member is attached and the side wall adjacent to the seat assembly to which the at least one spreader member is attached. 
   
     
     
         16 . A spreader member as recited in  claim 15 , in which:
 the at least one spreader member is substantially planar; and   the spreader support portion defines a support opening that receives the supported corner of the sheet member, where at least a portion of the support opening is forward facing.   
     
     
         17 . A spreader member as recited in  claim 15 , comprising a substantially planar body portion, where the spreader support portion extends from the substantially planar body portion to define the spreader opening. 
     
     
         18 . A spreader member as recited in  claim 15 , comprising a substantially planar body portion, where the spreader support portion is formed by a hook integrally formed with the planar body portion. 
     
     
         19 . A spreader member as recited in  claim 15 , in which the spreader engaging portion defines:
 an inner engaging portion adapted to engage the inner support post; and   an outer engaging portion adapted to engage the outer support post.   
     
     
         20 . A spreader member as recited in  claim 19 , in which:
 the inner engaging portion defines an inner engaging surface that engages at least a portion of the first inner support post; and   the outer engaging portion defines an outer bearing surface that engages at least a portion of the first outer support post.   
     
     
         21 . A spreader member as recited in  claim 20 , in which:
 the inner engaging surface defines a lock gap; and   the inner engaging portion deforms from an un-deformed position to allow the first inner support post to pass through the lock gap and returns to the un-deformed position to inhibit withdrawal of the inner support post through the lock gap.