Tray assembly

• US 5,749,554 A
• Filed: 05/20/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Avila, Javier, Dybalski, Ronald Henry, Speck, Michael H., Obermeyer, James Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, DONALD JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/650,537
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/313, 248/293, 248/154, 248/230.6, 224/281, 297/188.17
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/107 with different elements of fixed geometry

Abstract

A tray assembly is provided for use in a vehicle having a recessed compartment. The tray assembly includes a housing slidably mounted on the recessed compartment for movement between an open position and a closed position in which the housing is substantially concealed within the recessed compartment. The tray assembly includes generally planar tray portions pivotally connected to the housing for movement between a laterally outward deployed position when the housing is in the open position and a laterally inward folded position when the housing is in the closed position. A cupholder portion is disposed on the housing. The cupholder portion is preferably located between tray portions when the tray portions are in the deployed position.

Claims

1. A tray assembly for use in a vehicle having a recessed compartment, the tray assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be slidably mounted on the recessed compartment for movement between an open position in which the housing is substantially outside the recessed compartment and a closed position in which the housing is substantially concealed within the recessed compartment;

at least one generally planar tray portion pivotally connected to the housing for movement between a laterally outward deployed position when the housing is in the open condition and a laterally inward folded position when the housing is in the closed position;

at least one pivot pin for pivotally mounting the tray portion to the housing;

a coil spring surrounding the pivot pin, the coil spring for biasing the tray portion laterally outward towards the deployed position; and

a cup plate disposed on the housing, the cup plate having a cupholder portion thereon, the pivot pin engaging the cup plate, and the coil spring including one end engaging the cup plate and another end engaging the tray portion for biasing the tray portion laterally outward towards the deployed position.

2. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray assembly includes first and second tray portions and wherein a cupholder portion is disposed on the housing, the cupholder portion being located between the first and second tray portions when the tray portions are in the deployed position.

3. A tray assembly adapted to be mounted in a vehicle having a recessed compartment, the tray assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be slidably mounted within the recessed compartment for movement between an open position in which the housing is substantially outside the recessed compartment and a closed position in which the housing is stored within the recessed compartment;

first and second tray portions pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between a laterally outward deployed position when the housing is in the open position and a laterally inward overlapped position when the housing is in the closed position in which one of the tray portions overlaps another of the tray portions; and

the tray assembly including a cup plate mounted below the housing, the cup plate having a cupholder portion thereon and the tray assembly including first and second springs each having one end engaging the cup plate and each having another end engaging one of the tray portions for biasing each of the tray portions laterally outward towards the deployed position.

4. The tray assembly of claim 3 wherein the tray assembly includes a decorative face plate mounted to the housing, the face plate including a handle thereon for pulling the housing towards the open position.

5. The tray assembly of claim 3 wherein the tray assembly includes a support frame adapted to be secured within the recessed compartment and first and second track members mounted on the support frame and wherein the housing is slidably mounted on the track members.

6. A tray assembly adapted to be mounted in a vehicle having a recessed compartment, the tray assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be slidably mounted within the recessed compartment for movement between an open position in which the housing is substantially outside the recessed compartment and a closed position in which the housing is stored within the recessed compartment; and

first and second tray portions pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between a laterally outward deployed position when the housing is in the open position and a laterally inward overlapped position when the housing is in the closed position in which one of the tray portions overlaps another of the tray portions;

the tray assembly including a support frame adapted to be secured within the recessed compartment and first and second track members disposed on the support frame and wherein the housing is slidably mounted on the track members;

the track members each including a channel portion thereon and the housing including a pair of corresponding guide rails thereon for sliding movement within the channel portions.

7. The tray assembly of claim 6 wherein the channel portions each include a detent portion having ends connected to the track members and having middle portions defining gaps such that the middle portions of the detent portions flexibly engage the guide rails when moving within the channel portions.

8. The tray assembly of claim 6 wherein the tray assembly includes at least one pivot pin for pivotally mounting the tray portions to the housing.

9. The tray assembly of claim 6 wherein the tray assembly includes first and second pivot pins being laterally spaced apart for pivotally mounting the first and second tray portions, respectively, to the housing.

10. The tray assembly of claim 6 wherein the tray assembly includes spring means for biasing the tray portions laterally outward towards the deployed condition.

11. The tray assembly of claim 6 wherein the tray assembly includes a cup plate mounted below the housing, the cup plate having a cupholder portion thereon and wherein the tray assembly includes first and second springs each having one end engaging the cup plate and each having another end engaging one of the tray portions for biasing each of the tray portions laterally outward towards the deployed position.

12. The tray assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing includes a cupholder portion positioned between the first and second tray portions when the housing is in the open position and the tray portions are in the deployed position.

13. A tray assembly adapted to be mounted in a vehicle having a recessed compartment, the tray assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be slidably mounted within the recessed compartment for movement between an open position in which the housing is substantially outside the recessed compartment and a closed position in which the housing is stored within the recessed compartment; and

first and second tray portions pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between a laterally outward deployed position when the housing is in the open position and a laterally inward overlapped position when the housing is in the closed position in which one of the tray portions overlaps another of the tray portions, the housing including a cupholder portion positioned between the first and second tray portions when the housing is in the open position and the tray portions are in the deployed position;

the tray portions having inner edges spaced above the cupholder portion and wherein the inner edges cooperatively vertically extend the height of the cupholder portion.

14. A tray assembly adapted to be mounted in a vehicle having a recessed compartment, the tray assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be slidably mounted within the recessed compartment for movement between an open position in which the housing is substantially outside the recessed compartment and a closed position in which the housing is stored within the recessed compartment; and

first and second tray portions pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between a laterally outward deployed position when the housing is in the open position and a laterally inward overlapped position when the housing is in the closed position in which one of the tray portions overlaps another of the tray portions;

the tray portions each including an upper tray portion and a lower tray portion and wherein each respective pair of upper and lower tray portions are vertically spaced apart by a support span and wherein the tray portions are stored in a stacked condition in the overlapped position with one of the upper tray portions spaced vertically above the other of the upper tray portions and wherein one of the lower tray portions is spaced vertically below the other of the upper tray portions and vertically above the other of the lower tray portions.

15. A tray assembly for use in a vehicle having a recessed compartment, the tray assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be slidably mounted within the recessed compartment for movement between an open position in which the housing is substantially outside of the recessed compartment and a closed position in which the tray assembly is substantially concealed within the recessed compartment;

first and second tray portions pivotally connected to the housing for movement between a laterally outward deployed position when the housing is in the open position and a laterally inward overlapped position when the housing is in the closed position;

a cup plate secured to the housing;

first and second coil springs each having one end engaging the cup plate and each having another end engaging one of the tray portions for biasing each of the tray portions laterally outward towards the deployed position;

a cupholder portion disposed on the cup plate, the cupholder portion being located between the tray portions when the tray portions are in the deployed position; and

first and second pivot pins being laterally spaced apart for pivotally connecting the first and second tray portions to the housing and cup plate, the first and second pivot pins each positioned within the respective first and second coil springs.

16. The tray assembly of claim 15 wherein a decorative face plate having a handle is disposed on the housing for pulling the housing towards the open position.

17. The tray assembly of claim 15 wherein the tray portions each include an upper tray portion and a lower tray portion and wherein each respective pair of upper and lower tray portions are vertically spaced apart by a support span and wherein the tray portions are stored in a stacked condition in the overlapped position with one of the upper tray portions spaced vertically above the other of the upper tray portions and wherein one of the lower tray portions is spaced vertically below the other of the upper tray portions and vertically above the other of the lower tray portions.