Console with multi-position cover

• US 6,045,173 A
• Filed: 12/09/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Lawlis, Peter Andrew, Tiesler, Roy Frank, Pryde, Arthur Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEVERT, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/987,845
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/158, 220/523, 220/525, 220/812, 220/813, 220/835, 224/282, 224/539, 224/542, 224/926, 248/118, 248/118.5, 248/311.2, 297/188.14, 297/188.19
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/773 Longitudinal adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/793 for use as storage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/926 Vehicle attached carrier for beverage container or bottle

Abstract

A vehicle console includes an enclosure having a top defining an access opening communicating with an internal storage bin and a cupholder recess spaced forward of the access opening. A cover mounted on the enclosure has three operating positions including a closed position covering both the cupholder recess and the access opening, a partially open position exposing the cupholder recess for use but covering the access opening, and a fully open position uncovering both the cupholder recess and the access opening for access to the storage bin. The cover is mounted for slidable movement between the closed and partially open positions and for pivotal movement between the partially open and fully open positions.

Claims

1. A vehicle console including:

an enclosure having a top defining an access opening communicating with an internal storage bin and a cupholder recess spaced forward of the access opening; and

a cover mounted on said enclosure and having three operating positions including a closed position covering both the cupholder recess and the access opening, a partially open position exposing the cupholder recess for use but covering the access opening and a fully open position uncovering both the cupholder recess and the access opening for access to the storage bin;

wherein said cover is mounted for slidable movement between said closed and partially open positions and for pivotal movement between said partially open and fully open positions.

6. A vehicle console as in claim 1 wherein said cover is capable of use as an armrest in said closed and said partially open positions.

7. A vehicle console as in claim 1 wherein said cover includes an inner member and an outer member;

said inner member being pivotally mounted to said enclosure adjacent a side of said access opening for pivotal movement between said partially open position, wherein the inner member covers the access opening, and said open position, wherein the inner member is upstanding to uncover the access opening;

said outer member being slidably mounted on said inner member for movement between said closed position, wherein said outer member covers the cupholder recess, and said partially open position, wherein said cupholder recess is uncovered.

8. A vehicle console as in claim 7 wherein said inner member is pivotally mounted adjacent a rear side of said access opening so that the inner and outer members pivot together about said rear side.

9. A vehicle console as in claim 7 wherein a second cupholder recess is defined adjacent said first named cupholder recess in the top of said enclosure and said outer member covers both of the cupholder recesses in said closed position.

10. A vehicle console as in claim 9 wherein said cupholder recesses are positioned in side by side relation.

11. A vehicle console as in claim 10 wherein said adjacent cupholder recesses are narrower than required for holding cups in order to fit said recesses within said enclosure top, said enclosure including pull out drawers outwardly adjacent to said cupholder recesses on opposite sides of said enclosure and movable between inner positions, wherein the drawers are flush with said sides of the enclosure, and outer positions, wherein the cupholder recesses are enlarged sufficiently for cup holding use.

12. A vehicle console as in claim 7 wherein one of said cover members includes a tab receivable in an opening in the top of said enclosure for releasably retaining the cover in one of said closed and partially open positions.

14. A vehicle console as in claim 7 wherein said cover is capable of use as an armrest in said closed and said partially open positions.

2. A vehicle console including:

an enclosure having a top defining an access opening communicating with an internal storage bin and a cupholder recess spaced forward of the access opening; and

a cover mounted on said enclosure and having three operating positions including a closed position covering both the cupholder recess and the access opening, a partially open position exposing the cupholder recess for use but covering the access opening and a fully open position uncovering both the cupholder recess and the access opening for access to the storage bin;

wherein said cover is mounted for slidable movement between said closed and partially open positions and for pivotal movement between said partially open and fully open positions;

said cover being hinged to a slide that is slidably movable between a first position wherein said cover is in said fully closed position and a second position wherein said cover may be pivoted between said partially open position and said fully open position.

3. A vehicle console including:

an enclosure having a top defining an access opening communicating with an internal storage bin and a cupholder recess spaced forward of the access opening; and

a cover mounted on said enclosure and having three operating positions including a closed position covering both the cupholder recess and the access opening, a partially open position exposing the cupholder recess for use but covering the access opening and a fully open position uncovering both the cupholder recess and the access opening for access to the storage bin;

wherein said cover is mounted for slidable movement between said closed and partially open positions and for pivotal movement between said partially open and fully open positions;

said cover being hinged to a slide that is slidably movable between a first position wherein said cover is in said fully closed position and a second position wherein said cover may be pivoted between said partially open position and said fully open position;

said slide being pivotally connected with a hinge leaf that is fixed to said cover, said slide formed in a U shape having parallel legs joined at one end and having a space between the legs that allows full access to the access opening when the slide is in said second position and the cover is fully open, said legs including retainers received in retainer slots in said enclosure adjacent to and on opposite sides of the access opening, the retainers being movable in said retainer slots for movement between the first and second positions and retaining the cover on said enclosure in all of said cover positions.

4. A vehicle console as in claim 3 wherein said cupholder recess, said access opening and said retainer slots are formed in a body insert mountable on a support body in which said storage bin is enclosed.

5. A vehicle console as in claim 4 wherein said cover includes a tab that is engagable with a catch recess in the cupholder recess for releasably retaining the cover in said fully closed position, said tab being also engagable with a slot between said cupholder recess and said access opening for releasably retaining said cover in said partially open position.

13. A vehicle console as in claim 3 wherein said cover is capable of use as an armrest in said closed and said partially open positions.