Garage door opener bin

• US 5,887,929 A
• Filed: 07/17/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Donnelly Overhead Systems LLC (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Rickfelder, John, Miller, Bradley D., Fischer, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US08/896,043
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.8, 296/37.7, 224/282, 224/311, 224/312, 200/61.62, 340/825.69, 455/99
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0043 for integrated articles, i.e. not substantially protruding from the surrounding parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

An overhead console for a vehicle has a support structure (14) with walls (30, 80, 82, 84) and an access door (10) defining a compartment (78) for storing a remote transmitter (86). The transmitter (86) includes an actuator switch (92) that is normally manipulated by a user for operating the transmitter (86) to open a garage door, turn on lights, etc., from inside the vehicle. The console access door (10) is attached to the support structure (14) for movement between closed and open positions. A manually operable actuator (12) is engageable with the transmitter switch (92) for operating the transmitter (86) upon depression of the actuator (12). The actuator (12) is attached to the support structure (14) independent of the door (10) such that movement of the actuator (12) is at least substantially unaffected by movement of the door (10) between the closed and open positions. With this arrangement, the transmitter switch (92) and actuator (12) can be mutually aligned with the door (10) in the open position by positioning the transmitter (86) in the compartment (78) and adjusting the transmitter (86) with respect to the actuator (12).

Claims

1. In an overhead console for a vehicle having a support structure including walls and an access door defining a compartment for storing a remote transmitter, the transmitter having an actuator switch for operating the transmitter, the access door being attached to the support structure for movement between closed and open positions, a manually operable actuator engageable with the transmitter switch for operating the transmitter upon depression of the actuator, the improvement comprising:

the actuator being attached to and supported by the support structure independent of the door such that the actuator is supported independently of the door and can be moved independently of the door;

whereby the transmitter switch and actuator can be mutually aligned with the door in the open position by positioning the transmitter in the compartment and adjusting the transmitter with respect to the actuator in at least one direction.

2. An overhead console according to claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a push button and at least one resilient cantilevered arm having a first end extending from the button and a second end attached to the support structure.

3. An overhead console according to claim 2 wherein the door has an aperture for receiving at least a portion of the button for accessing the button outside of the compartment, the at least one cantilever arm biasing the button toward the aperture.

4. An overhead console according to claim 3 and further comprising a flange on an outer periphery of the button that abuts an inner surface of the door when the door is in the closed position.

5. An overhead console according to claim 4 wherein the button has an outer surface for contact by a user and an inner surface with at least one receptacle facing the interior of the compartment;

and

an intermediate member for insertion in the at least one receptacle and for contacting the transmitter switch;

wherein depression of the button causes corresponding movement of the actuator switch and operation of the transmitter.

6. An overhead console according to claim 5 and further comprising additional intermediate members for selective insertion in the at least one receptacle.

7. An overhead console according to claim 6 wherein the intermediate members are of different lengths corresponding to different distances between the button inner surface and remote actuators of different heights, respectively.

8. An overhead console according to claim 7 wherein each intermediate member includes an upper surface with a receptacle and a lower surface, the lower surface of one intermediate member being engageable with the receptacle in an adjacent intermediate member whereby the intermediate members are stackable on each other to accommodate various distances between the button inner surface and remote actuators of different heights.

9. An overhead console according to claim 7 and further comprising a swing arm pivotally attached to the inner surface of the actuator, and wherein at least two of the intermediate members are connected to the swing arm for rotation therewith to thereby selectively position one of the intermediate members adjacent to the actuator switch.

10. An overhead console according to claim 6 wherein each intermediate member includes an upper surface with a receptacle and a lower surface, the lower surface of one intermediate member being engageable with the receptacle in an adjacent intermediate member whereby the intermediate members are stackable on each other to accommodate various distances between the button inner surface and remote actuators of different heights.

11. An overhead console according to claim 2 wherein the support structure comprises a slot and the second end of the cantilevered arm has a first tab that fits within the slot for attaching the actuator to the support structure.

12. An overhead console according to claim 11 and further comprising a locking tab connected to the cantilevered arm and extending into the slot for locking the actuator to the support structure.

13. An overhead console according to claim 12 and further comprising a second cantilevered arm with a first end extending from the button and a second end having a second tab that fits within the slot, the locking tab being positioned between the first and second tabs.

14. An overhead console according to claim 13 wherein the cantilevered arms are S-shaped.

15. An overhead console according to claim 11 wherein the tab is bifurcated into a generally vertically extending arm and a branch with a first end integrally attached to the arm and a second free end, the branch extending at an acute angle with respect to the arm, the branch being flexible toward and away from the arm during installation of the locking tab into the slot.

16. An overhead console according to claim 15 wherein the branch includes a ledge for engagement with the a side wall of the slot to thereby lock the actuator to the support structure.

17. An overhead console according to claim 16 and further comprising a finger extending from the branch free end, the finger being accessible outside of the slot for pressing the branch toward the arm to thereby release the tab from the slot.

18. An overhead console according to claim 1 wherein the actuator has an outer surface for contact by a user and an inner surface with at least one receptacle facing the interior of the compartment;

and

an intermediate member for insertion in the at least one receptacle and for contacting the transmitter switch;

wherein depression of the actuator causes corresponding movement of the actuator switch and operation of the transmitter.

19. An overhead console according to claim 18 and further comprising a plurality of intermediate members for insertion in the at least one receptacle.

20. An overhead console according to claim 19 wherein the intermediate members are of different lengths corresponding to different distances between the inner surface of the actuator and remote actuators of different heights, respectively.

21. An overhead console according to claim 20 wherein each intermediate member includes an upper surface with a receptacle and a lower surface, the lower surface of one intermediate member being engageable with the receptacle in an adjacent intermediate member whereby the intermediate members are stackable on each other to accommodate various distances between the inner surface of the actuator and remote actuators of different heights.

22. An overhead console according to claim 21 and further comprising a swing arm pivotally attached to the inner surface of the actuator, and wherein at least two of the intermediate members are connected to the swing arm for rotation therewith to thereby selectively position one of the intermediate members adjacent to the actuator switch.

23. An overhead console according to claim 1 wherein the actuator is removably mounted to the support structure for selective removal from the support structure and adjustable placement of the transmitter in the compartment.