Center console

• US 7,543,871 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Zavatski, Irina, Smyczynski, Robert, Kornilov, Michael A., McKinzie, Todd, Quigley, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/615,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 296/37.14, 296/70, 296/74, 296/37.1, 296/72, 180/90, 224/483
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports

Abstract

A center console for a instrument panel includes a housing having a display region and an actuation mechanism associated with the housing. The actuation mechanism permits movement of the housing relative to the instrument panel.

Claims

1. A center console for an instrument panel, the center console comprising:

a housing having a display region;

an actuation mechanism associated with said housing and operable to selectively translate said housing away from the instrument panel and to rotate said display region about a vertical axis between a first use position and a second use position; and

a locking mechanism operable to selectively prevent translation and rotation of said housing relative to said instrument panel.

2. The center console of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a storage compartment rotatable with said housing relative to the instrument panel.

3. The center console of claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism includes at least one rail that facilitates translation of said housing relative to the instrument panel.

4. The center console of claim 3, wherein said at least one rail includes a pivot that permits rotation of said housing relative to said at least one rail and the instrument panel.

5. The center console of claim 1, wherein the said display region includes at least one control device.

6. The center console of claim 5, wherein said at least one control device includes controls for at least one of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, an audio system, and a global positioning system.

7. The center console of claim 1, further comprising a wire harness extending from the instrument panel to said housing to supply said housing with at least one of power and data.

8. The center console of claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism includes a pivot that permits rotation of said housing relative to the instrument panel.

9. An instrument panel for a vehicle having a driver seat and a passenger seat, the instrument panel comprising:

a center console having a display that is selectively translatable towards and away from the instrument panel and rotatable about a vertical axis between a first use position adjacent to the driver seat and a second use position adjacent to the passenger seat; and

a locking mechanism that selectively prevents movement of said display relative to the instrument panel.

10. The instrument panel of claim 9, wherein said center console includes at least one storage space selectively movable with said center console relative to the instrument panel.

11. The instrument panel of claim 9, further comprising a wire harness extending from the instrument panel to said center console to supply said center console with at least one of power and data.

12. A vehicle comprising:

an instrument panel; and

a passenger seat;

an instrument panel opposing said driver seat and said passenger seat;

a center console having a display, said center console being translatable towards said driver seat and said passenger seat and away from said instrument panel and rotatable about a vertical axis between a first use position adjacent to said driver seat and a second use position adjacent to said passenger seat; and

a locking mechanism operable to selectively prevent movement of said center console relative to said instrument panel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising at least one rail that facilitates translation of said center console between said first use position and said second use position.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said at least one rail includes a pivot that permits rotation of said center console relative to said at least one rail and said instrument panel.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a wire harness extending from said instrument panel to said center console to supply said center console with at least one of power and data.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said center console includes at least one storage space selectively movable with said center console relative to said instrument panel.