Console device for vehicle

• US 10,661,717 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2018
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoplastic Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Young Ju, Kim, Eun Sue, Park, Dong Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Romain, Pinel E
• Application Number:
  US16/037,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20190315281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 296 2434, 296 378
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A console device for a vehicle is provided. A console box is provided to be movable to a desired position in the forward-and-backward direction of the vehicle. The console box is inserted into the space under a crash pad when the console box moves in the forward direction of the vehicle. Therefore, utilization of the interior space of the vehicle is maximized, and the console device is therefore suitable for installation in an autonomous vehicle.

Claims

1. A console device for a vehicle, comprising:

a console box movably mounted in an interior space of a vehicle to be inserted into a space under a crash pad, wherein the console box is coupled to a rail unit mounted in the interior space of the vehicle to be movable along the rail unit;

a locking unit mounted to be connected with the rail unit and the console box to restrict or allow movement of the console box; and

a locking operation unit for enabling the locking unit to be operated manually or automatically, wherein the locking operation unit allows the console box to move along the rail unit upon automatic operation of the locking unit,

wherein the locking unit includes;

a locking rail fixed to a floor panel to be arranged parallel to the rail unit, wherein the locking rail includes locking recesses formed continuously in a longitudinal direction thereof; and

a locking lever mounted to a console bracket coupled to the console box to be rotatable, the locking lever having a locking protrusion protruding from a first end thereof,

wherein, when the locking protrusion is inserted into one of the locking recesses, the locking lever restricts movement of the console box, and

wherein, when the locking protrusion is withdrawn from the locking recesses, the locking lever releases restriction of movement of the console box, and

wherein the locking operation unit includes;

a hinge lever rotatably coupled to the console bracket, the hinge lever being maintained in contact with the locking lever; and

a manual operation unit for allowing the hinge lever to be operated manually.

2. The console device according to claim 1, wherein the rail unit includes:

a fixed rail fixed to a floor panel; and

a moving rail connected to the console box, wherein the moving rail is coupled to the fixed rail to be movable along the fixed rail.

3. The console device according to claim 1, wherein the manual operation unit includes:

a front handle and a rear handle respectively coupled to a front surface and a rear surface of the console box to be rotatable; and

an operation cable that interconnects the front handle and the hinge lever and interconnects the rear handle and the hinge lever.

4. The console device according to claim 1, wherein the locking operation unit includes:

a hinge lever rotatably coupled to the console bracket, the hinge lever being maintained in contact with the locking lever;

an automatic operation unit configured to automatically operate the hinge lever; and

a controller configured to operate the automatic operation unit by receiving signals from a manipulation unit based on a user manipulation.

5. The console device according to claim 4, wherein the automatic operation unit includes:

a first solenoid fixed to the console bracket to be adjacent to the hinge lever, wherein the controller is configured to supply electrical power to the first solenoid; and

a plunger disposed at the first solenoid to move forwards or backwards while contacting the hinge lever.

6. The console device according to claim 4, wherein the locking operation unit further includes:

a motor operated by the controller;

a motor shaft directly connected to the motor to be rotated therewith;

a driving pulley coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the motor shaft to rotate relative thereto via a bearing;

a clutch unit coupled to the motor shaft to interconnect or disconnect the motor shaft and the driving pulley in response to supply or interruption of electrical power; and

a power transmission belt coupled to the console bracket while interconnecting the driving pulley and a driven pulley.

7. The console device according to claim 6, wherein the driving pulley and the driven pulley are disposed proximate to a first end and a second end of the rail unit, idle rollers are rotatably mounted adjacent to the driving pulley and the driven pulley to maintain constant tension of the power transmission belt, and the power transmission belt is disposed over the driving pulley and the driven pulley via the idle rollers.

8. The console device according to claim 6, wherein the clutch unit includes:

a locking pin housing and a locking pin cover coupled to the motor shaft;

a second solenoid coupled to the locking pin cover to allow the locking pin cover to be rotated with the motor shaft, wherein the controller is configured to supply electrical power to the second solenoid; and

a plurality of locking pins, each having a first end mounted in the locking pin cover to be elastically supported by a corresponding one of springs and a second end that penetrates the locking pin housing and protrudes toward the driving pulley,

wherein, when electrical power is supplied to the second solenoid, the locking pins are moved backwards while compressing the springs, and are disconnected from the driving pulley, and

wherein, when supply of electrical power to the second solenoid is interrupted, the locking pins are moved forwards by elastic force of the springs, are inserted into pulley apertures formed in the driving pulley, and are connected to the driving pulley.

9. The console device according to claim 8, wherein the pulley apertures and end portions of the locking pins that are inserted into the pulley apertures are formed to have a round shape to allow the locking pins to be withdrawn from the pulley holes when the motor is overloaded.

10. The console device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first flange disposed at the driving pulley, the first flange being formed in a shape of a circular plate having therein a first sensing aperture;

a second flange disposed at the motor shaft, the second flange being formed in a shape of a circular plate having therein a second sensing aperture;

a first hall sensor configured to sense the first sensing aperture; and

a second hall sensor configured to sense the second sensing aperture,

wherein, when electrical power is applied to the motor, the controller is configured to determine whether the motor is overloaded based on whether operation signals are transmitted thereto from the first hall sensor and the second hall sensor.

11. The console device according to claim 10, wherein, when electrical power is applied to the motor, when an operation signal from the first hall sensor and an operation signal from the second hall sensor are simultaneously transmitted to the controller, the controller is configured to determine that a state of the motor is a normal state, in which the motor is not overloaded.

12. The console device according to claim 11, wherein when electrical power is applied to the motor, when an operation signal from the first hall sensor is not transmitted to the controller but an operation signal from the second hall sensor is transmitted to the controller, the controller is configured to determine that the motor is overloaded.

13. The console device according to claim 12, wherein, in response to determining that the motor is overloaded, the controller is configured to cut off supply of electrical power to the motor to terminate operation of the motor by force.