Sliding console system

• US 6,203,088 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yanfeng Luxembourg Automotive Interior Systems Leasing S.a.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Fernandez, Carlos C., Koester, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/233,679
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.8, 296/37.14, 296/34.1, 296/37.7, 296/37.15, 297/411.21
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0264 characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/773 Longitudinal adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/793 for use as storage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A sliding console system for a motor vehicle in which one or more console bodies are provided with a track for movement of the console body longitudinally within the motor vehicle. Multiple console bodies can be provided and each adjusted in position in the vehicle independent of one another. An elongated electrical cable or sliding contacts in the track can be utilized to provide electrical power to one or more electrical devices contained in the console bodies.

Claims

1. A console system for a vehicle having a vehicle body, the console system comprising:

a generally stationary rail adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body;

a first console body having a first slide rail coupled to said generally stationary rail for movement of said first console body relative to said generally stationary rail; and

a second console body including a second slide rail coupled to said generally stationary rail for movement relative to said generally stationary rail whereby said first and second console bodies can be separately moved relative to said generally stationary rail and the vehicle body.

2. The console system of claim 1 comprising a pair of said generally stationary rails spaced apart from one another and said first and second bodies include a pair of said first and second slide rails respectively coupled to one each of said pair of generally stationary rails.

3. The console system of claim 1 further comprising a mounting member adapted for mounting to the vehicle to which said generally stationary rail is attached whereby said generally stationary rail is mounted to the vehicle body.

4. The console system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an electrical system and further comprising at least one electrical device carried by one of said first and second console bodies and an electrical connector for connecting said at least one electrical device to the electrical system of the vehicle.

5. The console system of claim 4 wherein said electrical connector is a cable and wherein said generally stationary rail has an elongated slot therein through which said cable extends whereby said cable moves along said slot when said one of said first and second console bodies having said electrical device is moved relative to said generally stationary rail.

6. The console system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an instrument panel, a front seat and a rear seat, each said seat having a generally horizontal seat bottom having front and rear ends and a seat back extending upwardly at the rear end of the seat bottom, and wherein said generally stationary rail extends from the instrument panel to the front end of the seat bottom of the rear seat.

7. The console system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle has an instrument panel, a front seat and a rear seat, each said seat having a generally horizontal seat bottom having front and rear ends and a seat back extending upwardly at the rear end of the seat bottom, and wherein said generally stationary rail extends from the instrument panel to the rear end of the seat bottom of the rear seat.

8. A console system for a vehicle having a vehicle body with a front seat and a rear seat, each seat having a seat bottom, each seat bottom having a rear end, the console system comprising:

first and second generally stationary rails spaced apart and parallel to one another and adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body;

a console body including first and second side rails coupled to said first and second generally stationary rails respectively for movement of said console body relative to said first and second generally stationary rails;

wherein said first and second generally stationary rails extend to a point between said rear end of said front seat and said rear end of said rear seat, such that at least a portion of said console body may be positioned between said front seat and said rear seat.

9. The console system of claim 8 further comprising a mounting member adapted for mounting to the vehicle to which said first and second generally stationary rails are attached whereby said first and second generally stationary rails are mounted to the vehicle body.

10. The console system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle has an electrical system and further comprising at least one electrical device carried by said console body and an electrical connector for connecting said at least one electrical device to the electrical system of the vehicle.

11. The console system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle has an instrument panel, wherein said first and second generally stationary rails extend from said instrument panel to said rear end of said bottom of said rear seat.

12. A console system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and an electrical system, the console system comprising:

a generally stationary rail adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body;

a console body including a slide rail coupled to said generally stationary rail for movement of said body relative to said generally stationary rail;

at least one electrical device carried by said console body; and

an electrical connector for connecting said at least one electrical device to the electrical system of the vehicle.

13. The console system of claim 12 wherein said electrical connector is a cable and wherein said generally stationary rail has an elongated slot therein through which said cable extends whereby said cable moves along said slot when said console body is moved relative to said generally stationary rail.

14. The console system of claim 12 wherein said electrical connector includes electrical contacts in said generally stationary and slide rails in contact with one another along the length of said generally stationary rail.

15. The console system of claim 12 further comprising a console mounting member adapted to be attached directly to the body of the vehicle and wherein said generally stationary rail is mounted to said console mounting member whereby said generally stationary rail is coupled to said vehicle body.

16. A console system for a vehicle having a vehicle body with a front seat and a rear seat, each seat having a seat bottom, each seat bottom having a rear end, the console system comprising:

first and second generally stationary rails spaced apart and parallel to one another and adapted to be mounted to the vehicle body;

a console body including first and second side rails coupled to said first and second generally stationary rails respectively for movement of said console body relative to said first and second generally stationary rails;

wherein said first and second generally stationary rails extend to a point between said rear end of said front seat and said rear end of said rear seat, such that at least a portion of said console body may be positioned between said front seat and said rear seat, said rear seat bottom having a front end, wherein said first and second generally stationary rails extend from said instrument panel to said front end of said seat bottom of said rear seat.