Integrated door and shelving system

• US 8,388,042 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Quijano, Jonathan Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US12/947,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/37.12, 296/37.13
• US Class Current: 296/37.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards

Abstract

The present invention provides for an integrated door and shelving system for a storage compartment located on a vehicle instrument panel. The storage compartment includes at least one door rotatably mounted to the opening of the storage compartment and rotatable about a first axis. The storage compartment includes a side wall, a back wall, and a lower wall. When the door is in a substantially open position, the door is generally parallel to the lower wall and generally perpendicular to the back wall. When the door is rotated to a fully closed position, the door is generally perpendicular to the lower wall and generally parallel to the back wall. When fully opened, the door is used as a shelf to store a cell phone, iPod, PDA, etc.

Claims

1. An integrated door, storage and shelving assembly for use within a vehicle, the integrated door, storage and shelving assembly comprising:

a compartment having an opening, the compartment having at least one generally vertical wall;

at least one panel having a horizontal pivot axis, the panel having a first surface and a second surface, the panel further having a first portion and a second portion, the horizontal pivot axis extending through the panel, the horizontal pivot axis positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the panel rotatable about the horizontal pivot axis from a generally horizontal open position to a closed position; and

a stopping member provided on the at least one generally vertical wall for positioning and maintaining the panel in the horizontal open position, the stopping member extending outwardly from the generally vertical wall, the stopping member engaging one of the first surface or the second surface of the panel in the horizontal open position, the second portion extending into the compartment when in the horizontal open position.

2. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one panel is a plurality of panels.

3. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the stopping member is a protrusion.

4. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 3, wherein a protrusion is provided on the at least one wall of the storage compartment to prevent further movement of the panel and to complete a full shelf.

5. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 4, wherein a second protrusion operable to secure the panel between the first protrusion and the second protrusion to form a shelf.

6. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein a means for rotation is provided.

7. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 6, wherein a knob is provided to rotate the at least one panel.

8. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the closed position is a first position defined by the at least one panel rotated so that the at least one panel is generally vertical.

9. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the open position is a second position defined by the at least one panel rotated so that the at least one panel is generally horizontal.

10. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one wall is planar.

11. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one panel rotates about an elongated pin extending though the at least one panel.

12. The door, storage and shelving assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel extends substantially into the compartment.