Audio apparatus for vehicle

• US 8,562,056 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Furumi, Hiroshi, Inomata, Morihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US12/552,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.12, 296/70, 296/72, 296/74, 296/193.02, 296/37.8, 296/37.1, 296/1.07, 296/24.34, 720/655, 381/86
• US Class Current: 296/37.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space

Abstract

An audio apparatus for a vehicle having an audio unit and storage box for storing goods integrally formed with each other and mounted in a mounting opening formed in an instrument panel. A lid for opening and closing the storage box is pivotally supported on the storage box audio unit side of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An audio apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an audio unit, and

a storage box for storing goods, the audio unit and the storage box being mounted in a mounting opening formed in an instrument panel of the vehicle,

wherein the audio unit is formed into a box shape having a control panel at a front side facing an interior compartment of the vehicle thereof, said control panel being provided with an audio operating part, said audio unit being integrally formed at an upper wall thereof with said storage box which has a box opening at a front side,

wherein the mounting opening of the instrument panel has a lower half portion and an upper half portion, the lower half portion being closed by the control panel and the box opening of the storage box being positioned at the upper half portion of the mounting opening, and

wherein a lid for opening and closing the box opening of the storage box is pivotally supported at a lower edge thereof by hinges on the upper wall of the audio unit such that the upper half portion of the mounting opening is capable of being opened and closed by the lid.

2. The audio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with at least one of a liquid crystal panel and a switch of the audio unit.

3. The audio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with at least one of a liquid crystal panel connected to the audio unit though an interior space defined in the hinges, and a switch of the audio unit.

4. The audio apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage box comprises a first sidewall extending in a first direction toward a front of the vehicle, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall, the second sidewall connecting the first and third sidewalls.

5. The audio apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second sidewall extends obliquely relative to the first direction, and the third sidewall includes a stepped portion defined therein.

6. The audio apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second sidewall extends at an angle of 45 degrees relative to a center line of the storage box, and the stepped portion includes a holder provided therein.

7. The audio apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second sidewall includes a cable passage defined in a lower portion thereof and a connector provided at an upper portion thereof.