Removable media storage compartment

• US 7,270,370 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Petersen, Marty, Zucal, James Lawrence, Rumberger, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEVERT, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US10/762,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20050161481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 224/311, 224/312, 224/309, 224/328, 224/42.2, 224/580, 206/308.1, 296/37.1, 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 296/210, 296/214
• US Class Current: 296/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/088 for stowing tape cartridges, compact discs, or the like

Abstract

A storage compartment for a vehicle includes a base configured to be attached to a passenger compartment side portion of a vehicle roof. The storage compartment additionally includes a portable member that has at least one pocket. The portable member is configured to be releasably engaged with the base.

Claims

1. A removable storage compartment arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:

a headliner that defines an interior surface of a passenger compartment;

a base located at a position that is at least partially covered by a sun visor when the sun visor is in a stored position; and

a portable storage member being adapted to releasably engage with the base with a fastener,

wherein the headliner is configured and dimensioned to receive the base within the headliner, and at least a portion of the portable storage member engaged with the base is concealed from view by the sun visor when the sun visor is in the stored position.

2. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the portable storage member engaged with the base does not substantially extend into the passenger compartment relative to an inner surface of the headliner.

3. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the base is formed of a durable material.

4. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the base is formed of a plastic or polymeric material.

5. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the headliner has a recessed portion to receive the base within the headliner.

6. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a magnetic fastener.

7. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop type fastener.

8. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises an interlocking clip.

9. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a snap.

10. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the portable storage member comprises a portable media storage member.

11. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured to release by pulling the portable storage member downward.

12. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the portable storage member includes at least one media storage slot.

13. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 12, wherein the media storage slot is configured to receive a disc shaped media therein.

14. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the portable storage member includes a storage pouch.

15. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 14, wherein the storage pouch comprises a mesh material.

16. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the base includes a recessed central portion and a peripheral edge that extends outwardly from the recessed central portion.

17. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 16, wherein the base includes a c-channel arranged along an interior of the peripheral edge, the c-channel is configured to receive a peripheral edge of the portable storage member.

18. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 16, wherein the base includes at least one retaining member that projects beyond one side of the peripheral edge toward an opposite side of the peripheral edge, the retaining member is configured to locate and retain the portable storage member in the base.

19. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 18, wherein the fastener is arranged along the opposite side of the peripheral edge.

20. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 16, wherein the recessed central portion of the base is configured to be recessed relative to a contour of an adjacent portion of an inner surface of the headliner.

21. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 20, wherein the peripheral edge of the base is configured to be substantially coplanar with the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the headliner.

22. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 20, wherein the portable storage member engaged with the base does not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the headliner into the passenger compartment.

23. A removable media storage compartment arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:

a headliner having an inner surface that defines an interior surface of a passenger compartment;

a base; and

a portable media storage member being adapted to releasably engage with the base with a fastener,

wherein the headliner is configured and dimensioned to receive the base such that the base is recessed within the headliner and the portable media storage member engaged with the base does not substantially extend into the passenger compartment relative to the inner surface of the headliner.

24. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the base is located in the headliner at a position that is covered by a sun visor when the sun visor is in a stored position, at least a portion of the portable media storage member engaged with the base is concealed from view by the sun visor when the sun visor is in the stored position.

25. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the portable media storage member engaged with the base does not extend into the passenger compartment relative to an inner surface of the headliner.

26. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the base is formed of a durable material.

27. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the base is formed of a plastic or polymeric material.

28. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the headliner has a recessed portion to receive the base within the headliner.

29. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the fastener comprises a magnetic fastener.

30. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop type fastener.

31. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the fastener comprises an interlocking clip.

32. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the fastener comprises a snap.

33. The removable storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the fastener is configured to release by pulling the portable media storage member downward.

34. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the base includes a cover configured operatively to shield the portable media storage member.

35. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 34, wherein the cover is configured to be operatively moveable between an open position and a closed position about a pivot.

36. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the portable media storage member includes at least one media storage slot.

37. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 36, wherein the media storage slot is configured to receive a disc shaped media therein.

38. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the portable media storage member includes a storage pouch.

39. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 38, wherein the storage pouch comprises a mesh material.

40. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 23, wherein the base includes a recessed central portion and a peripheral edge that extends outwardly from the recessed central portion.

41. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 40, wherein the base includes a c-channel arranged along an interior of the peripheral edge, the c-channel is configured to receive a peripheral edge of the portable media storage member.

42. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 40, wherein the base includes at least one retaining member that projects beyond one side of the peripheral edge toward an opposite side of the peripheral edge, the retaining member is configured to locate and retain the portable media storage member in the base.

43. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 42, wherein the fastener is arranged along the opposite side of the peripheral edge.

44. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 40, wherein the recessed central portion of the base is configured to be recessed relative to a contour of an adjacent portion of an inner surface of the headliner.

45. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 44, wherein the peripheral edge of the base is configured to be substantially coplanar with the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the headliner.

46. The removable media storage compartment arrangement of claim 44, wherein the portable media storage member engaged with the base does not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the headliner into the passenger compartment.