US 12,280,743 B2
Automobile with rack in the cargo space
Ilya Popov, Aachen (DE); Hendrik Berger, Aachen (DE); Michael Herbert Oelscher, Bergheim (DE); Andreas Hegerath, Bergheim (DE); Marcel Grein, Geilenkirchen (DE); and Jeroen Lem, Wittem (NL)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/988,160.
Claims priority of application No. 102021133322.9 (DE), filed on Dec. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182643 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 5/04 (2006.01); B60R 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 5/003 (2013.01) [B60R 5/041 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automobile comprising:
a cargo space;
a rear door opening via which the cargo space is accessible from outside the automobile;
a door pillar which delimits the rear door opening;
a rack which in a stowed state is arranged entirely in the cargo space and is at least partially concealed by the door pillar as viewed from outside the automobile in a direction of a vehicle longitudinal axis of the automobile, and in a deployed state is arranged at least partially outside the cargo space; and
a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the rack from the stowed state into the deployed state, and vice versa, via the rear door opening, wherein the transfer mechanism is configured such that, during a transfer of the rack from the stowed state into the deployed state, the rack moves inward in a direction of the vehicle transverse axis of the automobile, wherein the transfer mechanism has a first guide and a first follower which is configured to move along the first guide, wherein the first guide is arranged so as to be static relative to the cargo space and the first follower is fastened to the rack, or wherein the first guide is fastened to the rack and the first follower is arranged so as to be static relative to the cargo space, wherein the first guide has a starting point of the first guide and an end point of the first guide, wherein, in the stowed state, the first follower is arranged at the starting point of the first guide and, in the deployed state, the first follower is arranged at the end point of the first guide, wherein the first guide defines a trajectory of the first follower from the starting point of the first guide to the end point of the first guide, wherein the trajectory of the first follower has a transverse portion that encloses a third angle of at most 45° with the vehicle transverse axis, wherein the trajectory of the first follower has a longitudinal portion which is arranged between the transverse portion and the end point of the first guide along the trajectory of the first follower and which encloses a fourth angle of at most 45° with the vehicle longitudinal axis, and wherein the trajectory of the first follower has a curvature portion arranged between the transverse portion and the longitudinal portion along the trajectory of the first follower.