Storage bin for a vehicle interior

• US 9,358,930 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sic, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US14/626,231
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.8, 296/24.34, 224/926, 248/311.2, 248/314
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/101 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards

Abstract

A storage bin includes a base, a plurality of pins supported by and moveable relative to the base, and a locking plate. The locking plate includes a plurality of sidewalls that each define an opening for one of the pins to pass therethrough. Each of the sidewalls are configured to engage one of the pins to lock the pins relative to the base in response to movement of the locking plate.

Claims

1. A cup holder comprising:

a base;

a plurality of pins supported by the base, wherein each of the pins is biased in an extended position and moveable to a depressed position in response to a downward force; and

a locking plate spaced away from the base and defining openings, wherein each of the pins extends through one of the openings and wherein the plate is engageable with the pins to prevent movement of the pins.

2. The cup holder of claim 1 wherein each of the pins further includes an upper portion and a shaft extending downwardly from the upper portion, the shaft being slidably received through the base and configured to extend past a bottom surface of the base when the pin is in the depressed position.

3. The cup holder of claim 2 wherein the shaft extends through the locking plate, and wherein a spring is disposed on the shaft between the locking plate and the upper portion.

4. The cup holder of claim 1 wherein the base further includes a plurality of projections extending upwardly therefrom, and wherein each of the pins is disposed on one of the projections and configured to telescopically slide relative to the projections.

5. The cup holder of claim 1 further comprising a top surface, and an arm connected between the locking plate and the top surface such that actuation of the arm causes the locking plate to be horizontally displaceable relative to the pins.

6. The cup holder of claim 5 further comprising a mid-plate disposed between the top surface and the locking plate, wherein the arm is pivotably attached to the mid-plate.

7. A vehicle interior component comprising:

a panel defining a recess; and

a storage bin disposed within the recess and including

a base,

a plurality of pins supported by and moveable relative to the base, and

a locking plate moveable relative to the pins and including a plurality of sidewalls each engageable with one the pins to lock the pins relative to the base in response to movement of the locking plate.

8. The component of claim 7, wherein the storage bin further includes a top surface, and an arm connected between the locking plate and the top surface such that actuation of the arm causes the at least one sidewall to engage or disengage with the pins.

9. The component of claim 8 wherein the storage bin further includes a mid-plate disposed between the top surface and the locking plate, wherein the arm is pivotably attached to the mid-plate.

10. The component of claim 7 wherein each of the pins is vertically displaceable between an extended position and a depressed position, and includes a spring configured to bias the pins to the extended position.

11. The component of claim 10 wherein each of the pins further includes an upper portion and a shaft extending downwardly from the upper portion, the shaft being slidably received through the base and configured to extend past a bottom surface of the base when the pin is in the depressed position.

12. The component of claim 11 wherein the shaft extends through the locking plate, and the spring is disposed on the shaft between the locking plate and the upper portion.

13. The component of claim 7 wherein the base further includes a plurality of projections extending upwardly from the base, and wherein each of the pins is disposed on one of the projections and configured to telescopically slide relative to the projections.

14. The component of claim 13 wherein each of the pins defines an inner sleeve that receives one of the projections.

15. The component of claim 14 wherein the storage bin further includes springs disposed on each of the projections within the inner sleeves.

16. A storage bin comprising:

a base,

a plurality of pins supported by and moveable relative to the base, and

a locking plate including a plurality of sidewalls each defining an opening for one of the pins to pass therethrough and each configured to engage one of the pins to lock the pins relative to the base in response to movement of the locking plate.

17. The storage bin of claim 16 further comprising a top surface, and an arm connected between the locking plate and the top surface such that actuation of the arm causes the sidewalls to engage or disengage the pins.

18. The storage bin of claim 17 further comprising a mid-plate disposed between the top surface and the locking plate, wherein the arm is pivotably attached to the mid-plate.

19. The storage bin of claim 16 wherein each of the pins is moveable between an extended position and a depressed position, and includes a spring configured to bias the pins to the extended position.

20. The storage bin of claim 16 wherein the base further includes a plurality of projections extending therefrom, and wherein each of the pins is disposed on one of the projections and configured to telescopically slide relative to the projections.