Overhead console for motor vehicle

• US 6,267,428 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: George, Richard David, Palaski, William Edwin, Simpson, Tracy Lee, Alfano, Gregory W., Ohashi, Hitoshi, Morrison, Gerald Oscar, Avram, Eileen Marie, Baldas, Jason Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US09/474,239
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 296/37.1
• US Class Current: 296/37.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A modular overhead console assembly for attachment to a vehicle roof which can be formed by attaching a plurality of modules having different controls and convenience packages. Preferably, the console assembly includes a main console and at least one wing portion. The main console is attached to the roof and extends longitudinally along the roof. The wing portion extends from a side of the main console towards a lateral edge of the roof. The wing portion is positioned behind and adjacent a visor pivotally attached to the roof.

Claims

1. An overhead console assembly for attachment to a vehicle roof having lateral edges, said overhead console assembly comprising:

a main console having a housing attached to the vehicle roof, said housing of said main console having a pair of opposed sides extending longitudinally along the vehicle roof; and

a wing portion having a housing separate from said housing of said main console, said wing portion extending from one of said sides of said main console towards one of the lateral edges of the roof.

2. The console assembly of claim 1, wherein the wing portion extends substantially to the one of the lateral edges of the roof.

3. The console assembly of claim 2, wherein the wing portion has a free end spaced less than about 20 centimeters from the one of the lateral edges of the roof.

4. The console assembly of claim 1 further including a second wing portion extending from an opposed side of said main console.

5. The console assembly of claim 1, wherein said wing portion has a door pivotally attached to the wing portion for accessing a storage compartment.

6. An overhead assembly for a roof of a vehicle, said assembly comprising;

a visor pivotally attached to the roof, said visor having a rear edge, said visor movable from a first position in which said rear edge of said visor is positioned adjacent the roof, and a second position in which said rear edge of said visor is spaced from said roof;

a main console attached to the vehicle roof, said main console having sides extending longitudinally along the vehicle roof, said sides having a first longitudinal length; and

a wing portion extending from one of said sides of said main console towards one of the lateral edges of the roof, wherein said rear edge of said visor is adjacent a front edge of said wing portion when said visor is in said first position, and wherein said wing portion has a second longitudinal length which is less than said first longitudinal length of said sides of said main console.

7. The overhead assembly of claim 6, wherein the wing portion has a recess formed therein adjacent said rear edge of said visor to provide access to said rear edge of said visor.

8. The overhead assembly of claim 6, wherein said rear edge of said visor is spaced from said front edge of said wing portion by less than about 5 centimeters.

9. The overhead assembly of claim 6, wherein said rear edge of said visor is spaced from said front edge of said wing portion by less than about 2 centimeters.

10. A method of assembling an overhead system for attachment to a roof of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a main console;

b) attaching the main console to a roof of a vehicle;

c) providing a plurality of modules attachable to the roof of the vehicle;

d) selecting one of the plurality of modules; and

e) attaching the one of the plurality of modules to the roof such that the one of the plurality of modules is adjacent the main console.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of modules are selected from the group comprising:

a first module having storage compartments;

a second module having a video monitor;

a third module having a display;

a fourth module having lights; and

a fifth module having controls for a climate control system.