Cargo system with concealable rack for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Provided are a cargo system for supporting cargo, and a vehicle provided with the cargo system. The cargo system includes a rack to be arranged along a length of the vehicle. The rack includes a frame assembly, and a rack arm that is adjustable relative to the frame assembly. A coupling system couples the rack arm to the frame assembly in a recessed position and a deployed position. In the recessed position, a portion of the rack arm is disposed within an interior space between an external body panel of the vehicle and a side panel of a cargo bed, to be concealed from view when an exterior of the vehicle is observed. In the deployed position, the portion of the rack arm extends from the interior space, to be exposed externally of the interior space, for supporting the cargo vertically above a portion of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cargo system for supporting cargo on a vehicle, the cargo system comprising:
 a rack to be arranged along a length of the vehicle, wherein the rack comprises:
 (i) a frame assembly configured to cooperate with an internal structure of the vehicle, 
 (ii) a rack arm that is adjustable relative to the frame assembly, 
 (iii) a coupling system that couples the rack arm to the frame assembly in a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions comprising: (a) a recessed position in which a portion of the rack arm is disposed within an interior space between an external body panel of the vehicle and a side panel of a cargo bed, to be concealed from view when an exterior of the vehicle is observed, and (b) a deployed position in which the portion of the rack arm extends from the interior space, to be exposed externally of the interior space, for supporting the cargo vertically above a portion of the vehicle, and 
 (iv) a rack support that cooperates with the rack arm and is configured to support the cargo. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cargo system of  claim 1 , wherein the rack support is pivotally coupled to the rack arm by a hinge, and the rack support is pivotally adjustable about a pivot point established by the hinge between:
 a stowed orientation in which a portion of the rack support is positioned adjacent to the rack arm, and   a deployed orientation in which the portion of the rack support extends generally away from the rack arm.   
     
     
         3 . The cargo system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame member is configured to cooperate with the internal structure of the vehicle at a location that is concealed by the external body panel of the vehicle when an exterior of the vehicle is observed. 
     
     
         4 . The cargo system of  claim 1  further comprising a lock that maintains the rack arm in the deployed position relative to the frame member. 
     
     
         5 . The cargo system of  claim 1  further comprising a lock that maintains the rack arm in the recessed position relative to the frame member. 
     
     
         6 . The cargo system of  claim 1  further comprising a second rack, wherein the frame assembly of the rack cooperates with a first internal structure, and a frame assembly of the second rack cooperates with a second internal structure, different from the first internal structure, that is arranged apart from the first internal structure along a lengthwise direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The cargo system of  claim 1 , wherein the rack support is pivotal in a horizontal plane at an elevation vertically above the portion of the vehicle, the rack support being adjustable between:
 a first orientation substantially parallel with a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, and   a second orientation substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The cargo system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling system comprises a portion of the rack arm having a shape that passes through an aperture in a body panel of the vehicle in a first orientation and does not pass through the aperture in the body panel of the vehicle in a second orientation. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle comprising:
 a set of ground-engaging wheels;   a body formed from a plurality of body panels, the body having a length extending in a longitudinal direction parallel with a driving direction of the vehicle and a width extending transversely to the longitudinal direction;   a cargo bed for transporting objects, the cargo bed comprising side panels defining opposing lateral sides of the cargo bed; and   a cargo system for supporting cargo on the vehicle, the cargo system comprising:
 a rack comprising: 
 (i) a frame assembly coupled to an internal structure of the vehicle, 
 (ii) a rack arm adjustably coupled to the frame assembly by a coupling system, wherein the coupling system couples the rack arm to the frame assembly in a plurality of positions, the plurality of positions comprising: (a) a recessed position in which a portion of the rack arm is disposed within an interior space between an external body panel of the vehicle and a side panel on a common side of the cargo bed, and (b) a deployed position in which the portion of the rack arm extends from the interior space, to be exposed externally of the interior space, for supporting the cargo vertically above a portion of the vehicle, and 
 (iii) a rack support that is coupled to the rack arm and is configured to support the cargo. 
   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the rack support of the rack is pivotally coupled to the rack arm by a hinge, and the rack support pivots about a pivot point established by the hinge between:
 a stowed orientation in which a portion of the rack support is positioned adjacent to the rack arm, and   a deployed orientation in which the portion of the rack support extends generally away from the rack arm.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the frame member cooperates with the internal structure of the vehicle at a location that is concealed by at least one of the body panels of the vehicle when an exterior of the vehicle is observed. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the rack further comprises a lock that maintains the rack arm in the deployed position relative to the frame member. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the rack further comprises a lock that maintains the rack arm in the recessed position relative to the frame member. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the cargo system further comprises a second rack comprising a second frame assembly, wherein the frame assembly of the rack and the second frame assembly are configured to cooperate with different internal structures, arranged at different locations along the length of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the rack support is pivotal in a horizontal plane at an elevation vertically above a portion of the vehicle, the rack support being adjustable between:
 a first orientation substantially parallel with a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, and   a second orientation substantially perpendicular with a widthwise direction of the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling system comprises a portion of the rack arm having a shape that passes through an aperture in at least one of the body panels of the vehicle in a first orientation, and does not pass through the aperture in the at least one of the body panels of the vehicle in a second orientation.