REMOVABLE STORAGE MODULE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20060103173A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Schultz, Neil A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,393,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/05 mounted on sun visor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/088 for stowing tape cartridges, compact discs, or the like

Abstract

A removable storage module assembly configured for securement to the headliner in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The headliner includes a storage module receiving area formed therein having a securement portion disposed proximate the receiving area. A storage module having a housing, a fastener associated with the housing configured to engage the securement portion and a storage area defined in the housing is removably positioned in the storage module receiving area.

Claims

1. A removable storage module and headliner combination for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the combination comprising:

a headliner with a storage module receiving area formed therein;

a storage module assembly removably positionable in the storage module receiving area, the storage module assembly including a housing having a top surface including one or more fasteners configured to engage the storage area defined in the housing and a bottom surface having a storage area defined thereon; and

a visor assembly mountable to the headliner, the visor assembly includes a visor body that is pivotable between a use position and a stored position in which the visor body at least partially covers the storage module when the combination is mounted in the vehicle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the storage module receiving area comprises an opening formed through the headliner.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the storage module assembly comprises a storage module receiving panel mounted proximate the storage module receiving area and a storage module housing having one or more fasteners adapted to engage and secure one or more mating fastener portions on the storage module receiving panel.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the one or more fasteners extending from the storage module housing comprise magnets disposed on the top surface of the housing adapted to engage receiving magnets disposed on the storage module receiving panel.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the one or more fasteners extending from the storage module housing comprise mounting arms extending from the top surface of the housing adapted to engage receiving members on the storage module receiving panel.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein the storage module comprises a housing having a mounting portion and a cover portion pivotally attached to the mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion includes an outer surface having a mounting pin that is engageable with the securement portion and an inner surface adapted to receive and secure a plurality of storage pockets.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the storage module further comprises a trim ring releasably securable to the inner surface of the mounting portion for securing the plurality of storage pockets in the mounting portion.

8. The combination of claim 7 further comprising an additional securement portion disposed within the pocket in the headliner and an additional pin that is engageable with the additional securement portion, the pins extending from opposing side walls of the mounting portion of the storage module.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the storage module receiving area comprises a pocket formed in a lower surface of the headliner.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein the storage area defined on the bottom surface of the storage module housing includes a plurality of pockets adapted to receive one or more disc media.

11. A removable storage module assembly for use with a vehicle having a headliner, the headliner having an opening formed through the headliner, the module assembly comprising:

a storage module receiving panel disposed within the opening in the headliner, the panel having a top surface having one or more fasteners securable to the headliner and a bottom surface having a securement portion; and

a storage module removably attachable to the storage module receiving panel, the storage module including a housing having a bottom surface that defines a storage area and a top surface having one or more fasteners disposed thereon adapted to engage the securement portion on the storage module receiving panel.

12. The removable storage module assembly of claim 11 wherein the storage area defined on the bottom surface of the storage module housing includes a plurality of pockets adapted to receive one or more disc media.

13. The removable storage module assembly of claim 11 wherein the top surface of the storage module housing includes one or more magnets adapted to engage one or more corresponding magnets provided on the bottom surface of the storage module receiving panel.

14. The removable storage module assembly of claim 11 wherein the top surface of the storage module housing includes a plurality of snap fasteners adapted to engage a plurality of corresponding receiving fasteners provided on the bottom surface of the storage module receiving panel.

15. A removable storage module assembly for use with a vehicle having a headliner, the headliner having an opening formed through the headliner, the module assembly comprising:

a storage module receiving panel disposed within the opening in the headliner, the panel having a top surface having one or more fasteners securable to the headliner and a bottom surface having a securement portion, the storage module receiving panel incorporating one or more magnets; and

a storage module removably attachable to the storage module receiving panel, the storage module including a housing having a bottom surface that defines a storage area and a top surface having one or more magnets disposed thereon adapted to cooperate with the one or more magnets in the storage module receiving panel to removable secure the storage module thereon.

16. The removable storage module assembly of claim 15 wherein the storage area defined on the bottom surface of the storage module housing includes a plurality of pockets adapted to receive one or more disc media.