| 摘要 |
The present invention is an integrated storage compartment for a truck bed liner. A divider panel and an enclosure panel are formed by either molding or cutting slits on three sides of the liner bottom or rear wall, respectively. The fourth side forms a living hinge. The living hinge allows the unattached portion of the truck bed liner bottom to move freely about the hinge. The side walls of the truck bed liner include receiving channels into which the divider and enclosure panels are locked into place. The side walls also have a closure means which comprise horizontal protrusions that form a closure channel to receive the enclosure panel. Thus, an operator can position the divider panel to a 90 degree position with respect to the bottom and lock it into the receiving channels found on the side walls. The enclosure panel is rotated to a 90 degree position with respect to a base panel and is inserted into the closure means to form, in conjunction with the divider panel, an enclosed truck storage compartment. When the trunk storage compartment is no longer needed, the enclosure and divider panels can be removed from the side wall channels and secured into a flat, horizontal position. An alternate embodiment includes the use of two living hinges. The principles apply to any type of vehicle storage area. An alternate embodiment applying the principles directly to a truck bed or vehicle storage area is also provided. |
