Opening/closing structure for vehicular tray

• US 7,036,862 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, In-heum
• Primary Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US11/108,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 296/37.13
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/08 of receptacles for refuse, e.g. ash-trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/12 of receptacles for cigarettes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/082 for supporting spectacles

Abstract

An opening/closing structure for a vehicular tray includes a housing opened at a front surface, and internally defining a receiving space, the housing being mounted at a predetermined position of a vehicle body, and having a pair of through-holes formed at both lateral sides of the open front surface, a door covering the open front surface of the housing, a pair of sliding units mounted at both lateral outer surfaces of the housing, the sliding units being horizontally movable through gear engagement, and a pair of connecting members, a first end of each of the connecting members being coupled to the door, a second end of the connecting member passing through one of the through-holes and being fixed to an associated one of the sliding unit.

Claims

1. An opening/closing structure for a vehicular tray comprising:

a housing opened at a front surface, and internally defining a receiving space, the housing being mounted at a predetermined position of a vehicle body, and having a pair of through-holes, one through-hole of said pair of through holes formed on one protrusion extending from one side of the front surface of the housing, and another through-hole of said pair of through-holes formed on another protrusion extending from another side of the front surface of the housing;

a door covering the front surface of the housing;

a pair of sliding units, each sliding unit of said pair of sliding units respectively mounted on an opposed outer surface of the housing, each of the sliding units being horizontally movable through gear engagement; and

a pair of connecting members, a first end of each of the connecting members being coupled to the door, a second end of the connecting member passing through one of the through-holes and being fixed to an associated one of the sliding unit.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the door is hinged to one edge of the front surface of the housing.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the sliding units comprises:

a guide rail member fixed to one of the opposed outer surfaces of the housing, and provided with a horizontal toothed row having a prescribed length; and

a damper member having a circular gear configured to be engaged in the toothed row provided at the guide rail member so as to be horizontally moved along the toothed row.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the guide rail member comprises;

a body formed with the toothed row horizontally disposed near a lower end of the opposed outer surface; and

a horizontal guide slot perforated above the toothed row; and

the damper member comprises;

a damper portion having the circular gear rotatably coupled thereto, and one or more damper holes; and

a holder portion having one or more holder holes, which are formed at one side thereof to correspond to the damper holes for the coupling of the damper portion and the holder portion, a threaded fastening protrusion, which is formed at the other side thereof so as to be inserted and fastened in the guide slot, and a central opening that allows the circular gear of the damper portion to be engaged therein.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the body of the guide rail member is further formed at one side thereof with an outwardly-extending fitting, and at a corresponding outer position of the housing is defined a recess for use in the insertion of the fitting.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the body of the guide rail member is further formed at one side thereof with an outwardly-extending fitting, and at a corresponding outer position of the housing is defined a recess for use in the insertion of the fitting.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the housing further has a pair of rearward extending fixtures formed at a rear surface thereof, and

wherein the body of the guide rail member is further formed at the other side thereof with a fixing plate, the fixing plate being curved to come into close contact with the rear surface of the housing, and having a hole for use in the insertion of the fixture.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the housing further has a pair of rearward extending fixtures formed at a rear surface thereof, and

wherein the body of the guide rail member is further formed at the other side thereof with a fixing plate, the fixing plate being curved to come into close contact with the rear surface of the housing, and having a hole for use in the insertion of the fixture.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first end of the connecting member is formed with a pin hole for the pin coupling of the door, and the second end of the connecting member is formed with a bore that receives a connector protrusion formed at the holder portion.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first end of the connecting member is formed with a pin hole for the pin coupling of the door, and the second end of the connecting member is formed with a bore that receives a connector protrusion formed at the holder portion.