Stowable table unit system for a vehicle

• US 8,096,599 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Cheung, Timothy, Fu, Katherine, Jura, Jason, Kaushal, Nikhil, Sato, Gaku, Theis, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US12/473,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.3, 108/143, 108/44, 108/115, 108/13, 108/42, 297/145, 297/162, 297/14, 297/144, 280/651
• US Class Current: 296/24.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/06 with legs for supporting the table on the floor tables combined with cabinets A47B83/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/001 of tables or trays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18576 including screw and nut

Abstract

A stowable table unit system for a motor vehicle comprises a table portion, a support leg portion, and a lifting mechanism. The table portion has a top surface and a bottom surface. The lifting mechanism connects to the table portion and positions the table portion between a stowed position and a deployed position. The support leg moves between a stored position within the bottom surface of the table portion when the table portion is in the stowed position and an extended position when the table portion is in the deployed position.

Claims

1. A stowable table unit system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a table portion having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a support leg portion having a powered actuator mechanism and a linkage attached to the support leg portion and to the actuator mechanism; and

a lifting mechanism connecting to the table portion and positioning the table portion between a stowed position and a deployed position;

the powered actuator mechanism being activated to reposition the linkage and the leg portion between a stored position within the bottom surface of the table portion when the table portion is in the stowed position and an extended position when the table portion is in the deployed position.

2. The stowable table unit system of claim 1, wherein the table portion has a mounting bracket portion connecting to the lifting mechanism.

3. The stowable table unit system of claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket portion has a plurality of electrical outlets.

4. The stowable table unit system of claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism is located within a B-pillar of the vehicle.

5. The stowable table unit system of claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a motor powered threaded rod and a B-pillar bracket attached to the motor powered threaded rod.

6. The stowable table unit system of claim 5, wherein the table portion has a mounting bracket portion connecting to the B-pillar bracket of the lifting mechanism.

7. The stowable table unit system of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the table portion has a plurality of cup holders.

8. The stowable table unit system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the table portion has a plurality of electrical outlets.

9. The stowable table unit system of claim 1, wherein the stowed position is located within a ceiling of the vehicle in the stowed position.

10. The stowable table unit system of claim 1, wherein the lifting mechanism has a top ledge and a bottom ledge, the top ledge and the bottom ledge of the lifting mechanism limiting the movement of the table portion.