Adjustable device placement system of console bin

• US 10,173,599 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gaw, Jr., William D., Arnold, Dennis L., Hauser, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyjak, Lori L
• Application Number:
  US15/409,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20180201197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/087 for stowing money or valuables, e.g. using safes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/115 Electric wiring; Electric connectors

Abstract

An adjustable device placement system of a vehicle includes a center console bin of an armrest. A separator wall within the center console bin divides the center console bin into a first section and a second section. An aperture has notches spaced vertically along the aperture. A position mechanism is disposed within the aperture. The position mechanism includes c-channels formed along lateral sides of the position mechanism and receives sides of the separator wall that define the aperture. The position mechanism remains in direct contact with the separator wall as the position mechanism slides vertically within the aperture. The position mechanism includes tabs that extend perpendicularly away from the separator wall and teeth that enter the notches, thereby locking the position mechanism into a position. A bottom portion extends a predetermined distance away from the separator wall and toward a front wall of the center console bin.

Claims

1. An adjustable device placement system of a vehicle comprising:

a center console bin of an armrest, wherein the center console bin includes a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;

a separator wall within the center console bin that includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face and that divides the center console bin into;

a first section defined by a first portion of the first side wall, a first portion of the second side wall, the front wall, and the first face of the separator wall; and

a second section is defined by a second portion of the first side wall, a second portion of the second side wall, the back wall, and the second face of the separator wall;

an aperture defining a vertical opening within the separator wall, the aperture having notches spaced vertically along the aperture;

a position mechanism that;

is disposed within the aperture;

includes c-channels that are formed along lateral sides of the position mechanism and that receive sides of the separator wall that define the aperture such that the position mechanism remains in direct contact with the separator wall as the position mechanism slides vertically within the aperture;

includes tabs that extend perpendicularly away from the separator wall;

includes teeth that enter the notches, thereby locking the position mechanism into a position; and

a bottom portion that extends a predetermined distance greater than zero away from the first face of the separator wall and toward the front wall of the center console bin.

2. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of the position mechanism includes an opening.

3. The adjustable device placement system of claim 2 wherein the opening is trapezoidal.

4. The adjustable device placement system of claim 2 wherein the opening is has a width that is greater than a predetermined diameter of a coin.

5. The adjustable device placement system of claim 2 wherein the opening has a width that is greater than a predetermined maximum width of connectors of cables that connect mobile electronic devices to the vehicle via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port of the vehicle.

6. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the teeth are located within the c-channels of the position mechanism.

7. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the position mechanism slides vertically within the aperture when the teeth are disengaged from the notches in the aperture.

8. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion extends the predetermined distance away from the first face of the separator wall and toward the front wall of the center console bin at an angle that is perpendicular to the first face of the separator wall.

9. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion extends the predetermined distance away from the first face of the separator wall and toward the front wall of the center console bin forming an acute angle between the bottom portion and the first face of the separator wall.

10. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion extends the predetermined distance away from the first face of the separator wall and toward the front wall of the center console bin forming an obtuse angle between the bottom portion and the first face of the separator wall.

11. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the position mechanism consists of a thermoplastic elastomer.

12. The vehicle, comprising:

the adjustable device placement system of claim 1; and

a wireless charging device positioned at the front wall of the center console bin.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the wireless charging device generates an electrical field within a predetermined area adjacent to the front wall of the center console bin within the center console bin.

14. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 further comprising an armrest that covers the center console bin and that is hinged at one of:

the back wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall.

15. The adjustable device placement system of claim 14 wherein the armrest:

completely covers the second section; and

does not cover the first section.

16. The adjustable device placement system of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion extends away from the first face of the separator wall and toward the front wall of the center console bin to within less than one millimeter from the front wall of the center console bin.

17. The adjustable device placement system of claim 16 wherein the bottom portion of the position mechanism includes an opening at a side of the bottom portion that is closest to the front wall of the center console bin.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

a center console bin that includes a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;

a separator wall within the center console bin that includes a first face and a second face opposite the first face and that divides the center console bin into;

a first section defined by a first portion of the first side wall, a first portion of the second side wall, the front wall, and the first face of the separator wall; and

a second section is defined by a second portion of the first side wall, a second portion of the second side wall, the back wall, and the second face of the separator wall;

a wireless charging device that is positioned at the front wall of the center console bin and that generates an electrical field within a predetermined area adjacent to the front wall of the center console bin within the center console bin;

an aperture defining a vertical opening within the separator wall, the aperture having notches spaced evenly vertically along the aperture;

a position mechanism that;

is disposed within the aperture;

includes c-channels that are formed along lateral sides of the position mechanism and that receive sides of the separator wall that define the aperture such that the position mechanism;

slides vertically within the aperture;

includes tabs that extend perpendicularly away from the separator wall;

includes teeth that enter the notches, thereby locking the position mechanism into a position; and

a bottom portion that extends away from the first face of the separator wall and toward the front wall of the center console bin to within a predetermined distance of the front wall of the center console bin; and

an opening formed at a side of the bottom portion that is closest to the front wall of the center console bin.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the bottom portion that extends away from the first face of the separator wall and toward the front wall of the center console bin to within one millimeter of the front wall of the center console bin.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the opening is trapezoidal.