Vehicle console assembly

• US 6,719,343 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Emerling, David M., Daly, Erin, Kowalski, Steven M., Brewster, Bruce F., Whitman, Jason, Sumbera, John, Taylor, Joseph P., Hicks, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/104,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.1, 296/37.1, 296/37.5, 296/37.8, 296/37.14, 224/542, 224/539, 224/548, 224/555, 224/556
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/793 for use as storage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/101 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A console assembly for a vehicle including a video entertainment system includes a console housing having a storage compartment and a storage compartment closeout section pivotally connected to the console housing positionable between a raised position and a lowered position. An armrest is pivotally connected to the closeout section and is positionable between a closed position disposed adjacent the closeout section and an open position allowing access to a video monitor and monitor mount stored below. A video monitor mount pivotally connects the video monitor to the console assembly and allows for selective adjustment of the video monitor so that the screen is visible to rear seat occupants in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A console assembly for use with a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising:

a console housing adapted to be installed in the passenger compartment including a storage compartment;

a storage compartment closeout section pivotally connected to the console housing and positionable between a raised position and a lowered position wherein a bottom surface of the closeout section at least partially covers the storage compartment, the closeout section having a top surface with a cavity;

an armrest pivotally connected to the closeout section positionable between a closed position in which the armrest is positioned adjacent the closeout section and an open position;

a video monitor mount having a lower portion pivotally connected to the closeout section and an upper portion; and

a video monitor pivotally mounted to the upper portion of the monitor mount, wherein the video monitor is positionable between a stored position wherein the video monitor is disposed within the cavity in the closeout section and a deployed position wherein the video monitor is pivoted upward to a rearward facing position so that the video monitor is visible to rear seat occupants of the passenger compartment.

2. The console assembly of claim 1 wherein the console assembly comprises a floor console assembly having a console base securable to a floor of the passenger compartment of the vehicle between a pair of passenger seats.

3. The vehicle console assembly of claim 1 wherein the console assembly comprises a center seat console assembly disposed between a pair of passengers seats, the center seat console assembly having a seat bottom, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat bottom and a storage compartment formed within the seat back.

4. The console assembly of claim 1 wherein the video monitor mount comprises a hinge member pivotally mounted to a rear portion of the closeout section by a hinge, an arm extending upward from the hinge member, a swivel mount pivotally mounted to the arm and a monitor base rotatably mounted to the swivel mount.

5. The console assembly of claim 4 wherein the swivel mount includes at least one detent on opposing inner surfaces of the swivel mount cooperating with pins extending from an upper portion of the arm to secure the video monitor in at least one vertical positions.

6. The vehicle console assembly of claim 1 wherein the video monitor mount comprises an L-shaped mount having a lower end hingedly connected to a rear portion of the closeout section by a hinge and an upper end having a pivot joint extending upward to receive the video monitor.

7. The vehicle console assembly of claim 1 wherein the armrest has a rear portion hingedly connected to the closeout section and a forward portion rotatably connected to the rear portion including the video monitor secured to a bottom surface.

8. The vehicle console assembly of claim 1 wherein the video monitor mount comprises a mounting arm having a lower section pivotally mounted to the storage compartment and an upper section including a pivot joint operatively connected to a channel formed in a rear surface of the video monitor.

9. The vehicle console assembly of claim 1 wherein the video monitor mount comprises a mounting arm having a lower section pivotally mounted to the closeout section and an upper portion receiving the video monitor positionable on the mounting arm between at least a lowered position and a raised position.

10. The vehicle console assembly of claim 1 wherein the video monitor mount comprises a mounting arm having a lower portion hingedly connected to the closeout section, an L-shaped monitor receiving portion and an upper portion having the video monitor pivotally connected to and positionable between the stored position and the deployed position.

11. The console assembly of claim 1 wherein a video player is disposed within the storage compartment to transmit a signal to the video monitor for viewing by the rear seat occupants.

12. The console assembly of claim 1 wherein a control section is provided on the console assembly in communication with the video monitor and a video player to control at least one function of the video player and monitor.

13. The vehicle console assembly of claim 12 wherein the control section is provided on a portion of the video monitor mount below the video monitor.

14. The console assembly of claim 12 wherein a plurality of audio and video input ports are provided on the control section in communication with the video monitor to provide an auxiliary video input for the video player.

15. The console assembly of claim 12 wherein the control section comprises a control port provided on the video monitor and communicates with the video monitor and the video player to control at least one function of the video monitor or player by an infrared or radio frequency remote control.

16. A console assembly for use with a passenger compartment of a vehicle disposed between a pair of passenger seats, the console assembly comprising:

a console housing having a base securable to a floor of the passenger compartment such that the console housing is disposed between the pair of passenger seats, the console housing having a storage compartment;

a storage compartment closeout section pivotally connected to the console housing and positionable between a lowered position disposed at least partially adjacent the storage compartment and a raised position disposed away from the storage compartment, the closeout section having a top surface with a cavity;

an armrest pivotally connected to the closeout section positionable between a closed position in which the armrest is positioned adjacent the closeout section and an open position;

a video monitor mount having a hinge member pivotally mounted to a rear portion of the closeout section by a hinge, an arm extending upward from the hinge member, a swivel mount pivotally mounted to the arm and a monitor base rotatably mounted to the swivel mount; and

a video monitor disposed on the monitor base of the video monitor mount, wherein the video monitor is positionable between a stored position wherein the video monitor is disposed within the cavity of the closeout section and a deployed position wherein the video monitor is disposed in a rearward facing position so that the video monitor is visible to rear seat occupants of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle console assembly of claim 16 wherein the swivel mount includes at least one detent on opposing inner surfaces of the swivel mount cooperating with pins extending from an upper portion of the arm to secure the video monitor in at least one vertical position.

18. The vehicle console assembly of claim 16 wherein a video player is disposed within the storage compartment and transmits a signal to the video monitor for viewing by the rear seat occupants.

19. The vehicle floor console assembly of claim 16 wherein a control section is provided on the console assembly in communication with the video monitor and a video player to control at least one function of the video monitor and player.

20. The vehicle console assembly of claim 19 wherein a control port is provided on the video monitor to communicate with the video monitor and the video player to control at least one function of the video monitor or player by an infrared or radio frequency remote control.

21. The vehicle console assembly of claim 16 wherein a plurality of audio and video input ports are provided on the control section in communication with the video monitor to provide an auxiliary video input for a video player.

22. The vehicle console assembly of claim 16 wherein the console housing further comprises at least one sliding drawer disposed on a front or rear surface of the housing.

23. The vehicle console assembly of claim 22 wherein at least one interchangeable module is received within the at least one sliding drawer.

24. A console assembly for use with a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising:

a console housing adapted to be installed on a floor of the passenger compartment between a pair of passenger seats, the console housing including a storage compartment;

a storage compartment closeout section pivotally connected to the console housing and positionable between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein a bottom surface of the closeout section at least partially covers the storage compartment, the closeout section having a top surface with a cavity;

an armrest pivotally connected to the closeout section positionable between a closed position in which the armrest is positioned adjacent the closeout section and an open position;

a video monitor mount having a lower portion pivotally connected to the closeout section and an upper portion;

a video monitor pivotally mounted to the upper portion of the video monitor mount, wherein the video monitor is positionable between a stored position wherein the video monitor is disposed within the cavity in the closeout section and a deployed position wherein the video monitor is pivoted upward to a rearward facing position so that the video monitor is visible to rear seat occupants of the passenger compartment;

a video player disposed within the console housing to transmit a signal to the video monitor for viewing by rear seat occupants; and

a control section provided on the console assembly in communication with the video monitor and player to control at least one function of the video player and monitor.

25. The console assembly of claim 24 wherein the video monitor mount comprises a hinge member pivotally mounted to a rear portion of the closeout section by a hinge, an arm extending upward from the hinge member, a swivel mount pivotally mounted to the arm and a monitor base rotatably mounted to the swivel mount.

26. The console assembly of claim 25 wherein the swivel mount includes at least one detent on opposing inner surfaces of the swivel mount cooperating with pins extending from an upper portion of the arm to secure the video monitor in at least one vertical position.

27. The console assembly of claim 24 wherein the control section further comprises one or more wireless control ports provided on an upper portion of the video monitor.

28. The console assembly of claim 27 wherein the one or more wireless control ports include infrared communication control ports.

29. The console assembly of claim 27 wherein the one or more wireless control ports include radio frequency communication control ports.

30. The console assembly of claim 24 wherein a plurality of audio and video input ports are provided on the control section in communication with the video monitor to provide an auxiliary video input for the video player.