Johnson Controls Technology Company

Shelle Dawn Tilstra

David J Spykerman

A cargo management and restraining apparatus for use in a cargo area of a vehicle, which is also removable from the vehicle and useable as a free standing support surface such as a table. The apparatus includes a base and a pair of pivotably mounted end walls. The base fits within a recess formed within a floor of a cargo area of a vehicle. Cargo may be placed on the base and the end walls help to keep the cargo from moving or shifting during use of the vehicle. The end walls may be folded down against the base when the apparatus is not needed so as not to interfere with the placement of large cargo items in the cargo area. The apparatus can be completely removed from the vehicle and used as a free standing support surface such as a table. A plurality of wheels are included in one preferred embodiment to enable the apparatus to be used as a cart to move cumbersome or heavy items such as a thermal cooler. Another preferred embodiment incorporates a removable planar-like partition which is supported by a pair of support arms above a floor of a cargo area. The support arms are pivotably attached to interior wall portions of the cargo area and positionable in generally horizontal, extended positions. The partition is slid inbetween the outermost ends of the support arms so as to be supported above the floor of the cargo area. In this manner the partition forms an auxiliary support shelf to increase the effective floor area of the cargo area.

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Byron Center, MI, United States of America

Shelle Dawn Tilstra