GB2436545A

GB2436545A - Utility tray assembly for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2436545A
Application number: GB0606222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Miles Hawley; Stephen Sayers; Martin Kay; Stephen David Fleming; William Farrelly; Gary Brown; Jonathan Young
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2006-03-29
Filing date: 2006-03-29
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: GB0606222D0

Abstract

A utility tray assembly 20 for a motor vehicle is disclosed that has a utility tray 21 moveably mounted to a dashboard 10 of the motor vehicle so as to permit the utility tray 21 to be moved between a stowed position in which it is located in a cavity in the dashboard 10 and a deployed position in which it projects out from the dashboard 10. The tray may be rotated in the deployed position.

Description

A Utility Tray Assembly for a Motor Vehicle This invention relates to

motor vehicles and in particular to a utility tray for a motor vehicle that can be used as a surface for placing objects on or as a writing surface.

For people such as travelling representatives and transport drivers a motor vehicle is their place of work.

It is often a requirement for such motor vehicle users to complete paperwork in their vehicle and so it is desirable to provide a surface within the motor vehicle that can assist with this task. It is also the case that such people often eat their lunch or other food in the motor vehicle and so it would be helpful if a surface could be provided upon which they can temporarily place the item or items of food they intend to consume.

It is an object of this invention to provide a utility tray for a motor vehicle that provides a useful surface upon which items can be placed without taking up excessive interior space or compromising vehicle safety.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a utility tray assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a utility tray moveably attached to a dashboard of the motor vehicle so as to permit the utility tray to be moved between a stowed position in which the utility tray is positioned within a cavity in the dashboard and a deployed position in which the utility tray projects outwardly from the dashboard.

The utility tray may be moveably attached to the dashboard of the motor vehicle to permit the utility tray to slide along a slide axis between the stowed and deployed positions.

The utility tray assembly may include means to permit the utility tray to be rotated relative to the slide axis when the utility tray is in the deployed position.

The utility tray may only be rotated relative to the slide axis when the utility tray is in a fully deployed position.

The utility tray may be connected to a carrier member slideably connected to the dashboard in order to allow the utility tray to move between its deployed and stowed positions.

The utility tray may be rotatably connected to the carrier member to allow the utility tray to be rotated relative to the slide axis.

In accordance with a second embodiment the utility tray may be rotatably connected to the dashboard of the motor vehicle to permit the utility tray to move between the stowed and deployed positions.

In which case, the utility tray may be rotatably connected near to one rear corner to the dashboard.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle having a utility tray assembly in accordance with said first aspect of the invention attached thereto.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which:-Fig.l is a pictorial representation of a dashboard for a motor vehicle having a utility tray assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention showing a utility tray forming part of the utility tray assembly in a partially deployed position; Fig.2 is a cross-section through the dashboard shown on Fig.l showing when viewed from above the utility tray in a fully deployed position; Fig.3 is view similar to that of Fig.2 but showing the utility tray rotated so as to locate the utility tray more conveniently for a passenger seated on a left hand side of the motor vehicle; Fig.4 is a plan cross-sectional view through the dashboard shown on Fig.1 showing the utility tray in a stowed position; Fig.5 is a cross-section similar to that of Fig.2 but showing an underside view of the utility tray; and Fig. 6 is a pictorial view of part of an interior of a motor vehicle showing a utility tray assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 5 there is shown a dashboard 10 for a right-hand drive motor vehicle. The dashboard 10 includes a glovebox 11, an instrument cluster 12 and a utility tray assembly 20.

The utility tray assembly 20 comprises of a substantially planar utility tray 21 having a depression 23 in an upper surface bounded on three edges by a lip 22. The utility tray 21 is moveably connected to the dashboard 10 so as to permit the utility tray to be moved from a deployed position, as shown on Fig.1, in which the utility projects outwardly from the dashboard through an aperture 30 in the dashboard 10, to a stowed position in which the utility tray 21 is located within a cavity in the dashboard 10.

With particular reference to Figs.2 to 5 it can be seen that the utility tray 21 is rotatably connected to a carrier member 34 slideably mounted in two spaced apart U-shaped channels 31, 32. Each of the channels 31, 32 is attached to a respective flange 14, 15 formed as part of the dashboard 10. The flanges 14, 15 are spaced further apart than the width of the aperture 30 in the dashboard, and the edges of the aperture 30 form end stops 16, 17 for the carrier member 34.

The carrier member 34 has an elongate slot 35 extending along it with which is engaged with clearance a spigot (not shown) fastened to a lower or rear surface of the utility tray 21. The spigot has an end cap 36 fastened to it to retain the spigot within the slot 35 thereby rotatably connecting the utility tray 21 to the carrier member 34.

The carrier member 34 has a nose portion 33 which, when the utility tray 21 is in the deployed position, projects outwardly from the dashboard 10 through the aperture 30 and supports the utility tray 21.

Operation of the utility tray assembly is as follows.

From the position shown in Figs.2 and 5 in which the utility tray 21 is fully deployed the utility tray 21 can either be rotated left or right relative to a slide axis S-S of the utility tray 21 so as to place the utility tray 21 closer to a front seat occupant of the motor vehicle such as shown in Fig.3, can be left projecting straight out from the dashboard 10 so as to remain aligned with the slide axis S-S or be moved to the stowed position shown in Fig.4 by pushing an outer end of the utility tray 21 towards the dashboard 10.

If the utility tray 21 is moved towards the stowed position from the fully deployed position it will, after moving a short distance engage along its longitudinal edges with the edges of the aperture 30 in the dashboard 10 which form the end stops 16, 17. In this partially deployed position shown in Fig.l the utility tray 21 can still be used to support objects but is restrained from rotation by the interaction between its longitudinal edges and the sides of the aperture 30.

Further inward movement of the utility tray 21 from this position will cause it to move to the stowed position shown in Fig.4. Note that not only does the carrier member 34 slide along the channels 31, 32 during this motion but the utility tray 21 also slides along the carrier member 34.

In the embodiment shown the utility tray 21 is loosely connected to the carrier member 34 to ensure that the friction between the carrier member 34 and the utility tray is less than the friction between the carrier member 34 and the channels 31, 32. Therefore when the utility tray 21 is moved towards it stowed position the first motion is sliding of the utility tray 21 along the carrier member 34 until the spigot reaches the end of the slot 35. Further inward motion of the utility tray 21 is then achieved by sliding of the carrier member 34 along the channels 31, 32.

From the stowed position, if the utility tray 21 is pulled out from the dashboard 10 towards the deployed position, the first motion is sliding of the utility tray 21 along the carrier member 34 until the spigot attached to the utility tray 21 reaches the outermost end of the slot 35 followed by sliding of the carrier member 34 along the channels 31, 32 until it abuts against the end stops 16, 17.

It will be appreciated that by permitting the utility tray 21 to slide along the carrier member 34 the depth of the cavity in the dashboard is less than it would be if the utility tray was merely pivotally attached to the carrier member 34.

By permitting the utility tray 21 to rotate relative to the slide axis S-S it enables the utility tray 21 to be positioned closer to a potential user. Although the utility tray 21 shown has a depression 23 in its upper surface to aid with the retention of articles placed upon the utility tray 21, it need not have such a depression 23 and could have a flat upper surface.

It will be appreciated that, if required, latching means may be provided to hold the utility tray in its stowed or deployed positions or to hold it in one or more rotated positions.

With reference now to Fig.6 there is shown a second embodiment of utility tray assembly according to the invention. The utility tray assembly comprises of a utility tray 121 fitted to a dashboard 110 of a left hand drive motor vehicle. The utility tray 121 is rotatably connected near to a left hand rear corner by a pivot pin (not shown) or by other pivot means to the dashboard 110. A cut-out 127 is formed in the utility tray 121 near to the position where the utility tray 121 is pivotally connected to the dashboard 111 so as to increase the angle through which the utility tray 121 can be rotated.

When in a deployed position as shown in Fig.6 the utility tray 121 projects outwardly from the dashboard 110 through an aperture 130 in the dashboard 110. The utility tray 121 is rotatable from the deployed position to a stowed position in which it is positioned within a cavity in the dashboard 111 by rotation about the pivot pin so that it passes through the aperture 130 in the dashboard 110. A latch means may be provided to retain the utility tray 121 in its stowed or deployed positions or in partially deployed positions.

As before, when the utility tray 121 is deployed, it provides a useful working surface or surface upon which articles may be placed but when stowed does not take up space within the motor vehicle and so does not increase the risk of occupant injury if the motor vehicle is involved in a collision. The utility tray 121 can be rotated to a suitable position for use by a passenger or driver of the motor vehicle.

One advantage of the invention is that the utility tray can be stowed out of the way when not required thereby freeing up space within the motor vehicle and reducing the risk of injury during a collision. A second advantage of the invention is that the utility tray can be easily deployed to provide a useful working surface when required and that surface can be conveniently positioned close to a potential user.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more embodiments it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and that one or more modifications to the disclosed embodiments or alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A utility tray assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a

utility tray moveably attached to a dashboard of the motor vehicle so as to permit the utility tray to be moved between a stowed position in which the utility tray is positioned within a cavity in the dashboard and a deployed position in which the utility tray projects outwardly from the dashboard.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the utility tray is moveably attached to the dashboard of the motor vehicle to permit the utility tray to slide along a slide axis between the stowed and deployed positions.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the utility tray assembly includes means to permit the utility tray to be rotated relative to the slide axis when the utility tray is in the deployed position.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the utility tray can only be rotated relative to the slide axis when the utility tray is in a fully deployed position.

5. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the utility tray is connected to a carrier member slideably connected to the dashboard in order to allow the utility tray to move between its deployed and stowed positions.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 when claim 5 is dependent upon claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the utility tray is rotatably connected to the carrier member to allow the utility tray to be rotated relative to the slide axis.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the utility tray is rotatably connected to the dashboard of the motor vehicle to permit the utility tray to move between the stowed and deployed positions.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the utility tray is rotatably connected near to one rear corner to the dashboard.

9. A dashboard for a motor vehicle having a utility tray assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 attached thereto.

10. A utility tray assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A dashboard for a motor vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.