Console and object holder assembly for a vehicle

• US 7,147,259 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Radu, Bogdan, Dry, Alan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US10/956,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 296/37.8, 296/37.14, 296/1.09, 297/115, 297/116, 297/188.14, 297/188.15, 297/188.16, 224/537, 224/275
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/75 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

A console for a vehicle is disclosed. The console includes a body defining an opening and also includes a lid that is configured to cover the opening and a panel that is movably mounted relative to the body. The panel is movable between a retracted position within the opening and an extended position away from the opening. The panel also has at least one receptacle formed therein. The receptacle is configured to receive an object therein.

Claims

1. A console for a vehicle comprising:

a body defining an opening therein;

a tray movably mounted on the body;

a lid configured to cover the opening, the lid being movably mounted on the tray; and

a panel movably mounted on the tray, the panel being movable between a retracted position within the opening, and an extended position away from the opening;

wherein the panel has at least one receptacle formed therein, the receptacle being configured for receiving an object therein.

2. The console defined in claim 1 wherein the receptacle is a slot formed through the panel.

3. The console defined in claim 1, wherein the panel is connected to the tray via a first hinge mechanism, and wherein the body includes a pair of opposed end first and second walls and a pair of opposed side walls, the first hinge mechanism being positioned at the first end wall of the body such that the panel hinges away from the second end wall of the body in the extended position and the panel hinges towards the second end wall of the body to at least partially cover the opening in the retracted position.

4. The console defined in claim 1 wherein the tray is connected to the body by a first hinge mechanism such that the tray, lid and panel are pivotable between a first open position and a closed position.

5. The console defined in claim 4 wherein the lid is connected to the tray by a second hinge mechanism such that the lid is pivotable relative to the tray between a second open position and a second closed position;

and

wherein the panel is movable into one of the retracted position and extended position when the lid is in the second open position.

6. The console defined in claim 5 wherein the lid is an arm rest when the lid is in the closed position.

7. The console defined in claim 6 wherein the lid is movable between the first open position, the second open position, and the closed position regardless of the position of the panel.

8. The console defined in claim 1 further comprising a support member for supporting an object with the receptacle.

9. The console defined in claim 1 wherein the opening of the body is configured to be used as a storage compartment.

10. The console defined in claim 1

wherein the tray defines a frame for receiving the panel therein.

11. The console defined in claim 10 wherein the panel is connected to the tray via a first hinge mechanism, the first hinge mechanism allowing the panel and the tray to be pivoted between the retracted position within the opening, and an extended position away from the opening;

and

wherein the lid is connected to the tray via a second hinge mechanism, the second hinge mechanism allowing the lid to be pivoted between a closed position covering the tray, and a second open position away from the tray.

12. The console defined in claim 11 wherein the body includes a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, the first hinge mechanism being positioned along one of the end walls of the console, and the second hinge mechanism being positioned on the tray adjacent one of the side walls of the body when the tray is in the retracted position.

13. The console defined in claim 1 further comprising a first hinge mechanism including a stop, the stop being configured to maintain the panel in a substantially horizontal position in the extended position and during normal loading, and the stop being configured to allow the panel to move beyond horizontal in the extended position and during higher than normal loading.

14. The console of claim 1, wherein the tray has an opening formed therein to provide access to the opening of the body.

15. A vehicle console member comprising:

a body defining an opening therein;

a tray pivotably mounted relative to the body by a first hinge mechanism, the tray defining a frame for receiving a panel therein;

the panel having at least one receptacle formed therethrough, the panel being pivotably mounted relative to the body and the tray by the first hinge mechanism between a retracted position and an extended position;

a lid pivotably mounted relative to the tray by a second hinge mechanism, the lid being configured to at least partially cover the opening;

wherein the first hinge mechanism is positioned along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the second hinge mechanism.

16. The vehicle console defined in claim 15 wherein the tray, the panel and the lid are jointly pivotable about the first hinge mechanism into a first open position.

17. The console defined in claim 15 wherein the panel is pivotable into the extended position when the lid is pivoted into a second open position.

18. The console defined in claim 15 wherein the lid is movable between a second open position and the closed position about the second hinge mechanism when the panel is in either the extended position or retracted position.

19. The console defined in claim 15 wherein the lid and tray are movable together between a first open position and the closed position about the first hinge mechanism when the panel is either in the extended position or retracted position.

20. A console for a vehicle comprising:

a body defining an opening therein;

a lid configured to cover the opening; and

a panel movably mounted relative to the body, the panel being movable between a retracted position within the opening, and an extended position away from the opening;

wherein the panel has at least one receptacle formed therein, the receptacle being configured for receiving an object therein, and wherein the lid and panel are connected to the body by a first hinge mechanism such that the lid and panel are pivotable between a first open position and a closed position, and wherein the lid is connected to the body by a second hinge mechanism such that the lid is pivotable between a second open position and a second closed position, and wherein the panel is movable into one of the retracted position and extended position when the lid is in the second open position.

21. A console for a vehicle comprising:

a body defining an opening therein;

a lid configured to cover the opening; and

a panel movably mounted relative to the body, the panel being movable between a retracted position within the opening, and an extended position away from the opening; and

a first hinge mechanism including a stop, the stop being configured to maintain the panel in a substantially horizontal position in the extended position and during normal loading, and the stop being configured to allow the panel to move beyond horizontal in the extended position and during higher than normal loading,

wherein the panel has at least one receptacle formed therein, the receptacle being configured for receiving an object therein.