Pivotable and interchangeable console

• US 7,111,883 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Palakodati, Sunil, Patel, Udit, Bharadwaj, Balaji, Tiwari, Abha, Paruchuri, Mohan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US11/352,155
• Time in Patent Office: 228 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 224/275, 224/483, 224/282, 224/484, 224/538
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• 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 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A center console for a motor vehicle comprising a stationary housing mounted within the vehicle. The housing includes an open center defined between opposing ends and has a console body mounted within the open center of the housing. The console body is rotatable about a longitudinal axis running through the console body and is mounted such that an operator may remove the body from the frame. Also, at least two longitudinal side walls of the rotating body are visible within the open center and the console body may be rotated such that alternate side walls may be positioned in an uppermost position with respect to the center console. Thus, a user may exchange the console body for another and access multiple sides of the console body, regardless of which is in the uppermost position.

Claims

1. A center console for a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing to be stationary mounted within the vehicle, the housing having an open center defined between opposing ends; and

a console body removeably mounted within the open center of the housing and being rotatable about a longitudinal axis through the console body, the console body having longitudinal side walls and at least two of the side walls being visible within the open center, whereby said console body is rotatable such that alternate ones of the side walls are positionable in an uppermost position with respect to the center console.

2. The center console of claim 1, wherein the frame is located on a floor of the vehicle between at least two seats.

3. The center console of claim 1, wherein the console body includes shafts collinear with the longitudinal axis such that the shafts are in rotating engagement with the opposing ends, the shafts mounting the console body to the frame.

4. The center console of claim 3 wherein the shafts are included on the opposing ends and the console body is in rotating engagement with the shafts.

5. The center console of claim 3, including a latch and actuator, wherein the actuator triggers the latch and releases at least one shaft from engagement with the opposing end, allowing the rotating body to be removed from the open center.

6. The automobile console of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a push-button mechanism.

7. The automobile console of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a mechanical turn-key lock.

8. The automobile console of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises an electronic mechanism.

9. The center console of claim 1 further comprising a second console body having a configuration different from the other console body.

10. The center console of claim 1 wherein at least one cupholder is defined in the console body.

11. The center console of claim 1 further comprising a detent mechanism, the detent mechanism selectively positioning the console body in at least first and second and retaining positions.