Storage assembly having retractable power cord

• US 8,104,816 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Lupton, Fred William III, Reish, Marc Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniels, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US12/774,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20110272959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 296/37.1, 296/37.12, 296/37.8, 224/483
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder

Abstract

A storage assembly for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle provides power to an electronic device from a vehicle power system. The storage assembly includes a storage bin having an exterior surface, an opening, and a storage space accessible through the opening. The storage assembly also includes a door having an outer surface which is pivotally coupled to the storage bin. A retractable cord is attached to a detachable member which is releasably attached to the storage bin. The retractable cord includes a first end having a first connector which is configured to connect the vehicle power system and a second end having a second connector configured to connect to the electronic device. A notch is formed in the housing adjacent the opening. The notch allows the second connector to extend beyond the exterior surface of the housing when a door is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A storage assembly for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle which provides power to a portable electronic device from a vehicle power system, said storage assembly comprising:

a storage bin having an interior storage space;

a detachable member releasably attached within said interior storage space of said storage bin; and

a retraction mechanism having a retractable cord, said retraction mechanism operable to position said retractable cord between a retracted position and an extended position, said retraction mechanism is attached to said detachable member, said retractable cord having a first connector at a first end and a second connector at a second end, said first connector configured to connect to the vehicle power system, and said second connector configured to connect to the electronic device.

2. The storage assembly of claim 1, wherein said storage assembly includes a housing having an exterior surface and an opening, and wherein said storage space is accessible through said opening.

3. The storage assembly of claim 2, wherein a door is pivotally coupled to said storage bin for movement between a closed position and an open position.

4. The storage assembly of claim 3, wherein a notch is formed in said housing adjacent said opening, said notch allowing said second connector to extend beyond said exterior surface of said housing when said door is in said closed position.

5. The storage assembly of claim 4, wherein a slot is formed in said storage bin adjacent said notch, said slot receiving said retractable cord such that a portion of said retractable cord exits said storage space, and wherein a hook extends from said storage bin adjacent said slot to releasably secure said second connector within said notch.

6. The storage assembly of claim 4, wherein a slot is formed in said storage bin adjacent said notch, said slot receiving said retractable cord such that a portion of said retractable cord exits said storage space, and wherein a magnet is attached to an interior surface of said housing to releasably secure said second connector within said notch.

7. The storage assembly of claim 4, wherein said retractable cord is a universal serial bus allowing two way communication of data and one way communication of power between the electronic device and the vehicle.

8. The storage assembly of claim 1, wherein said storage bin includes an end wall having an opening, and wherein said detachable member is disposed within said opening of said end wall.

9. The storage assembly of claim 8, wherein said detachable member is a container having a base wall, two pair of opposing side walls and a cover defining an enclosed space, said retraction mechanism being disposed within said enclosed space of said container, and wherein said cover includes an aperture through which said retractable cord extends such that said second connector is positioned on one side of said cover and a remainder of said retractable cord is positioned on an opposite side of said cover in said enclosed space.

10. The storage assembly of claim 9, wherein said cover includes a recessed cavity for receiving a portion of said second connector.

11. The storage assembly of claim 10, wherein said first connector extends through an aperture formed in said base wall to connect to the vehicle power system.

12. A storage assembly for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle to provide power to a portable electronic device from a vehicle power system, said storage assembly comprising:

a storage bin having an end wall and two pair of opposing side walls extend from said end wall to define an interior storage space,

a chamber having an open end formed in said end wall;

a detachable member releasably attached to said open end of said chamber; and

a retraction mechanism having a retractable cord, said retraction mechanism operable to position said retractable cord between a retracted position and an extended position, said retraction mechanism is attached to said detachable member, said retractable cord having a first connector at a first end and a second connector at a second end, said first connector configured to connect to the vehicle power system, and said second connector configured to connect to the electronic device.

13. The storage assembly of claim 12, wherein said storage bin includes a door pivotally coupled to said storage bin for movement between a closed position preventing access to said storage space and an open position.

14. The storage assembly of claim 12, wherein said detachable member includes an aperture through which said retractable cord extends such that said second connector is positioned on one side of said detachable member and a remainder of said retractable cord is positioned on an opposite side of said detachable member in said chamber.

15. The storage assembly of claim 14, wherein said detachable member includes a recessed cavity for receiving a portion of said second connector.

16. The storage assembly of claim 13, wherein said storage assembly further includes a housing having an exterior surface and an opening, and wherein said storage space is accessible through said opening.

17. The storage assembly of claim 16, wherein a notch is formed in said housing adjacent said opening, said notch allowing said second connector to extend beyond said exterior surface of said housing when said door is in said closed position.

18. The storage assembly of claim 17, wherein a slot is formed in said storage bin adjacent said notch, said slot receiving said retractable cord such that a portion of said retractable cord exits said storage space, and wherein a hook extends from said storage bin adjacent said slot to releasably secure said second connector within said notch.

19. The storage assembly of claim 17, wherein a slot is formed in said storage bin adjacent said notch, said slot receiving said retractable cord such that a portion of said retractable cord exits said storage space, and wherein a magnet is attached to an interior surface of said housing to releasably secure said second connector within said notch.

20. The storage assembly of claim 12, wherein said retractable cord is a universal serial bus allowing two way communication of data and one way communication of power between the electronic device and the vehicle.