Theft and tamper resistant vehicle interior

• US 8,025,327 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schowalter, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook; Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US12/862,943
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 296/70, 296/24.34, 296/37.8, 296/153, 296/146.7, 296/37.13, 296/1.07, 296/109, 296/190.01, 296/152, 297/411.3, 297/411.38, 297/411.32, 297/115, 297/188.19, 224/275, 224/400
• US Class Current: 296/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/753 movable to an inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/78 post or panel mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/066 Locking of hand actuated control actuating means

Abstract

A theft and tamper resistant vehicle interior is disclosed. The front compartment of the vehicle interior has a concealed mode and an operating mode. During the concealed mode, multiple components, including a display region, a gear shifter, a center armrest, a side armrest, and a central control module may be completely or partially hidden from view. During the operating mode, each of these components may be revealed.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle instrument panel comprising at least one movable panel and a display region, the instrument panel having a default mode in which a majority of said display region is hidden from view, and an operating mode in which the entirety of said display region is revealed, the instrument panel reversibly transitioning from the default mode to the operating mode upon actuation of said movable panel.

2. The instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein said display region comprises a first display region that is partially hidden in the default mode.

3. The instrument panel according to claim 2, wherein said display region comprises a second display region that is completely hidden in the default mode.

4. The instrument panel according to claim 3, wherein said movable panel is an airfoil covering said second display region in the default mode and tilting about an axis such that a free edge moves to reveal said second display region in the operating mode.

5. The instrument panel according to claim 2, comprising a pair of panels movable from a position in which said first display region is partially hidden to a position in which said first display region is completely revealed.

6. The instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein said display region includes a rear camera viewing area.

7. The instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein said display region includes a three dimensional navigational system.

8. The instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein said movable panel has the shape of is airfoil that is tilted when actuated, and further comprising a pair of movable panels that translate when actuated.

9. The instrument panel according to claim 8, wherein the pair of movable panels include a first lower panel and a second lower panel and where the first lower panel and the second lower panel slide down along said instrument panel when actuated.

10. A gear shifter mounted to a center console area of a motor vehicle wherein:

said center console area is configured to reversibly transition from a default mode to an operating mode;

said gear shifter is disposed below a first console panel and a second console panel when the center console area is in the default mode;

the first console panel and the second console panel are disposed against one another when the center console area is in the default mode;

the first console panel and the second console panel are separated by a gap when the center console area is in the operating mode; and

said gear shifter extends upward from the center console through the gap between the first console panel and the second console panel when the center console area is in the operating mode.

11. The gear shifter according to claim 10, wherein a center armrest is associated with the center console area.

12. A center arm rest integrated to a center console area of a motor vehicle interior;

said center console area is configured to reversibly transition from a default mode to an operating mode;

said center arm rest being retracted down into the center console and hidden from view when the center console area is in the default mode; and

said center arm rest is revealed and disposed on top of the center console when the center console area is in the operating mode.

13. The center armrest according to claim 12, wherein the center console area comprises a first console panel and a second console panel.

14. The center armrest according to claim 13, wherein the first console panel and the second console panel are disposed against one another during the default mode.

15. The center armrest according to claim 14, wherein the first console panel and the second console panel are separated by a gap during the operating mode.

16. The center armrest according to claim 15, wherein the center armrest is disposed through the gap when during the operating mode.

17. The center armrest according to claim 15, wherein the center armrest is disposed under the first console panel and the second console panel during the default mode.

18. The center armrest according to claim 12, wherein a gear shifter is associated with the center console.

19. A door interior of a motor vehicle comprising an upper panel and a movable panel movably mounted therebeneath;

the movable panel having a default mode and an operating mode;

the movable panel being flush against the upper panel in the default mode; and

the movable panel being spaced a distance below the upper panel to reveal a recess and a door armrest thereon in the operating mode;

wherein the movable panel reversibly transitions from the default mode to the operating mode.

20. The door interior according to claim 19, further comprising an integrated grab bar that attached to said movable panel and is arranged in a slot on said upper panel in the default mode and across the recess in the operating mode such that it can be grasped about its periphery.

21. The door interior according to claim 19, wherein said door armrest includes a control panel that is visible only in the operating mode.

22. The door interior according to claim 21, wherein the control panel is associated with electronic windows.

23. The door interior according to claim 21, wherein the control panel is associated with power locks.

24. The door interior according to claim 19, wherein the upper side panel includes a door control configured to open and/or close a door.

25. A gear shifter mounted to a center console area of a motor vehicle wherein:

said center console area is configured to reversibly transition from a default mode to an operating mode;

said gear shifter is disposed below a console panel when the center console area is in the default mode;

said console panel being in a closed position when the center console area is in the default mode such that the gear shifter is hidden from view, and said console panel being in an open position when the center console area is in the operating mode so as to create an opening in the center console area; and

said gear shifter extends upward from the center console through the opening when the center console area is in the operating mode.