Mobile device retention and charging tray

• US 8,783,752 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Lambert, Michael R., Sitarski, Nicholas S., Weiss, Scott L., Quijano, Jonathan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US13/718,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20140167438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 296/24.34, 180/287, 320/103, 320/108, 320/109
• US Class Current: 296/24.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle

Abstract

A console assembly for an automotive vehicle and use with a mobile device. The console assembly including a storage compartment having a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls. An opening permits access into the storage area and a slidable top wall is operable to move between a covered position and a retracted position relative to the opening. An anti-slip surface is provided on the top wall and configured to receive the mobile device thereon. A wireless charging unit is also incorporated into and moveable with the top wall. The wireless charging unit is located immediately below the anti-slip surface. When the mobile device is placed on the anti-slip surface, the device is moveable with the top wall, between the covered position and retracted position, while being charged.

Claims

1. A console assembly for an automotive vehicle and for use with a mobile device, the console assembly comprising:

a storage compartment having a storage area defined by a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls, the storage compartment having an opening permitting access in the storage area, the storage compartment also including a slidable top wall operable to be slid between a covered position and a retracted position relative to the opening, wherein in the covered position the top wall is in a position covering opening and in the retracted position the top wall is in a position permitting access into the storage area through the opening;

an anti-slip surface provided on the top wall and configured to receive the mobile device thereon; and

a wireless charging unit incorporated into and moveable with the top wall, the wireless charging unit having a charging spot on the support surface, the charging spot being purposefully positioned on the support surface and not centered thereon, the wireless charging unit being located immediately below the anti-slip surface whereby the mobile device is charged when placed on the anti-slip surface and is moveable with the top wall between the covered position and retracted position while being charged.

2. A console assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wireless charging unit includes a primary coil for inductively providing power to the mobile device, the wireless charging unit further including a power supply circuit coupled to the primary coil.

3. A console assembly according to claim 1, wherein the anti-slip surface is flat and defines less than all of a top surface of the top wall.

4. The console assembly according to claim 3, wherein the anti-slip surface is bounded by a curved surface defining further portions of the top surface of the top wall.

5. The console assembly according to claim 4, wherein the curved surface circumscribes the anti-slip surface.

6. The console assembly according to claim 4 wherein the anti-slip surface is elevated in height relative to immediately adjacent portions of the curved surface.

7. The console assembly according to claim 4, wherein the curved surface is formed of a different material than material forming the anti-slip surface.

8. The console assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving slot, the receiving slot being defined by a pair of second sidewalls and a second top wall generally extending between the second sidewalls, the top wall of the storage compartment defining a bottom wall of the receiving slot when in the retracted position, the anti-slip surface of the top wall of the storage compartment being spaced apart from the second top wall so as to define a receiving space whereby the mobile device can be retained on the anti-slip surface as the top wall is moved between the closed position and the retracted positions.

9. The console assembly according to claim 8, wherein the receiving space has a height of at least 0.5 inches.

10. The console assembly according to claim 1, wherein the anti-slip surface is inclined relative to horizontal.

11. The console assembly according to claim 1, wherein the charging spot is defined off-center relative to the top wall.

12. The console assembly according to claim 1, wherein the charging spot is defined off-center relative to the anti-slip surface.

13. A console assembly for an automotive vehicle and for use with a mobile device, the console assembly comprising:

a storage compartment having a storage area defined by a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls, the storage compartment having an opening permitting access in the storage area, the storage compartment also including a slidable top wall operable to be slid between a covered position and a retracted position relative to the opening, wherein in the covered position the top wall is in a position covering opening and in the retracted position the top wall is in a position permitting access into the storage area through the opening;

an anti-slip surface provided on the top wall and configured to receive the mobile device thereon; and

a wireless charging unit incorporated into and moveable with the top wall, the wireless charging unit having a charging spot on the support surface, the charging spot being purposefully positioned on the support surface, the wireless charging unit being located immediately below the anti-slip surface whereby the mobile device is charged when placed on the anti-slip surface and is moveable with the top wall between the covered position and retracted position while being charged.