Adjustable device positioner

• US 9,849,799 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kiester, Timothy A., Bone, Jason C., West, Kenton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US15/130,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20170297444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

An adjustable device positioner is configured for storage and access of a variety of devices, each having a back, a first end, a second end, and a length. The device positioner includes a bin, a tray, and an end rest. The tray is disposed inside the bin and has a back rest surface. The tray is positioned such that the back rest surface supports the backs of the devices. The end rest is operatively connected to one of the bin and the tray. The end rest has an end rest surface configured to support the first ends of the devices. The end rest is movable to and lockable in a selected position to accommodate the lengths of the devices such that the second ends of the devices protrude from both the tray and the bin for easy hand access when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner.

Claims

1. An adjustable device positioner configured for storage and access of a variety of devices, each having a back, a first end, a second end, and a length, the adjustable device positioner comprising:

a bin;

a tray disposed inside the bin, having a back rest surface, and positioned such that the back rest surface supports the backs of the devices when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner; and

an end rest operatively connected to one of the bin and the tray and having an end rest surface configured to support the first ends of the devices when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner;

wherein the end rest is movable to and lockable in a selected position to accommodate the lengths of the devices such that the second ends of the devices protrude from both the tray and the bin for easy hand access when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner.

2. The adjustable device positioner of claim 1, wherein the end rest is movable to the selected position when the end rest is placed in a movable position;

and

wherein the end rest is locked in the selected position when the end rest is placed in a locked position.

3. The adjustable device positioner of claim 2, wherein the end rest is placed in one of the movable position and the locked position by rotating the end rest.

4. The adjustable device positioner of claim 3, wherein one of the bin and the tray has a first guide feature;

wherein one of the bin and the tray has a first lock feature;

wherein the end rest has a second guide feature configured to cooperate with the first guide feature to guide movement of the end rest to the selected position when the end rest is placed in the movable position; and

wherein the end rest has a second lock feature configured to cooperate with the first lock feature to lock the end rest at the selected position when the end rest is placed in the locked position.

5. The adjustable device positioner of claim 4, wherein the first guide feature is a slot formed in the tray and having a width;

wherein the second guide feature is a first rib formed on the end rest and having a length; and

wherein the length of the first rib is less than the width of the slot such that the first rib is movable in the slot when the end rest is placed in the movable position.

6. The adjustable device positioner of claim 5, wherein the first lock feature is the slot formed in the tray;

wherein the second lock feature is a second rib formed on the end rest and having a length; and

wherein the length of the second rib is greater than or equal to the width of the slot such that the second rib is locked in the slot when the end rest is placed in the locked position.

7. The adjustable device positioner of claim 6, wherein the tray further has a third lock feature;

wherein the end rest further has a fourth lock feature configured to cooperate with the third lock feature to lock the end rest at the selected position when the end rest is placed in the locked position.

8. The adjustable device positioner of claim 7, wherein the third lock feature is a third rib formed in the tray;

and

wherein the fourth lock feature is an end of the end rest.

9. The adjustable device positioner of claim 1, wherein the end rest is movable to and lockable in the selected position without a tool.

10. The adjustable device positioner of claim 1, wherein the tray is removable from the bin without a tool.

11. The adjustable device positioner of claim 1, wherein the tray includes a rubber mat;

and

wherein the rubber mat forms the back rest surface of the tray.

12. The adjustable device positioner of claim 1, wherein the end rest forms an opening configured to accommodate a charging wire for wired charging of the selected one of the variety of devices when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner.

13. The adjustable device positioner of claim 1, further comprising an inductive charge sender attached to the bin;

wherein the selected one of the variety of devices includes an inductive charge receiver; and

wherein the end rest is movable to and lockable in the selected position to further accommodate inductive charging of the devices when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a storage unit, including;

an adjustable device positioner configured for storage and access of a variety of devices, each having a back, a first end, a second end, and a length, the adjustable device positioner having;

a bin;

a tray disposed inside the bin, having a back rest surface, and positioned such that the back rest surface supports the backs of the devices when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner; and

an end rest operatively connected to one of the bin and the tray and having an end rest surface configured to support the first ends of the devices when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner;

wherein the end rest is movable to and lockable in a selected position to accommodate the lengths of the devices such that the second ends of the devices protrude from both the tray and the bin for easy hand access when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the storage unit is a center console having an openable cover for access to the bin;

wherein the center console is configured with an opening for the adjustable device positioner; and

wherein the devices protrude from the center console through the opening for easy hand access when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the end rest of the adjustable device positioner is movable to and lockable in the selected position by an occupant of the vehicle when the openable cover is in an open position.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the end rest is movable to the selected position when the end rest is placed in a movable position by the occupant of the vehicle;

and

wherein the end rest is locked in the selected position when the end rest is placed in a locked position by the occupant of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the end rest is placed in one of the movable position and the locked position by rotating the end rest.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the end rest is movable to and lockable in the selected position without a tool.

20. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising an inductive charge sender attached to the bin and in close proximity to the tray;

wherein the devices include an inductive charge receiver; and

wherein the end rest is movable to and lockable in the selected position to further accommodate inductive charging of the devices when the devices are stored in the adjustable device positioner.