Retractable vehicle storage shelf arrangement

Claim 1

A retractable storage shelf assembly, particularly a rear deck of a vehicle connected to a movable panel or door raisable with respect to the vehicle comprising, a shelf, hinge means connecting a rear portion of the shelf to the door for pivotal movement with respect to the door between a first position in which the shelf is generally horizontal, and a second position in which the shelf is substantially retracted toward the door, the door being movable between a lowered position and an elevated position, and retracting means for retracting said shelf from said first position to said second position in response to movement of the door from the lowered to elevated position, said retracting means comprising, a flexible element having one of its ends connected to said shelf at a location spaced from the rear portion of the shelf, and its other end connected to an anchor point of the vehicle, bearing means connected to said door at a location above and remote from said hinge means and across which said flexible element extends for guiding a length of the element between its ends along a predetermined path with respect to the door, said bearing means being movable with the door away from said anchor point during movement of the door toward its elevated position to increase the length of flexible element between the bearing means and the anchor point and to decrease the length of the flexible element between the bearing means and the shelf, so that the shelf is retracted toward the door as the door is moved to its elevated position.