MXPA98006712A - Central console slider, multiple positions, with adjustable top board - Google Patents

Abstract

An interior assembly for a vehicle comprising a center console and a guiding member for mounting the console to the vehicle is described. Preferably, the center console is of the type that includes at least one storage compartment and an associated lid. The guide member defines a reciprocal path from a first end of the guide to a second end of the guide. Preferably, the first end of the guide is adjacent to a group or a set of front passenger seats and the second end of the guide is adjacent to a set of rear passenger seats. A carriage is operatively coupled between the console and the guide member for the sliding movement of the console on the guide member along the reciprocal path between the front and rear passenger seats

Description

CENTRAL CONSOLE SLIDER, MULTIPLE POSITIONS, WITH ADJUSTABLE UPPER BOARD TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to central console assemblies for vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to a sliding center console assembly that can be moved from a first position of use between a first group of passenger seats to a second position of use between a second group of passenger seats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The interiors of the vehicles typically include front passenger seats and rear passenger seats positioned behind the front seats. These passenger seats can either be individual bucket seats or bench seats. A number of other interior components are usually mounted directly in or in close proximity to these seats. The components may include stationary and pivoting armrests, seat belts REF .: 28234 safety, head rests, cup holders and storage console mounts. Storage console mounts are typically placed in the center of the bench seats or between a pair of bucket seats. According to this, these console mounts are typically called center console mounts. The consoles usually have at least one storage compartment with a pivoting lid for opening and closing the compartments. The pivoting lid can also act as an armrest. The storage compartment is used to store any number of objects such as portable telephones, compact discs, pens, notepads or the like. The center console assemblies known in the art are either pivotally mounted to the bench seats or fixed securely to the interior floor of the vehicle between the bucket seats. More commonly, center consoles are parts of a modular unit that also include a transmission shift lever, parking brake, mirror controls and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES The present invention includes an interior assembly for a vehicle comprising a center console and a guide member for mounting the console to the vehicle. The guide member has a first end and a second end defining a reciprocal path therebetween. The assembly is characterized by a carriage operatively coupled between the console and the guide member for slidably moving the console on the guide member along the reciprocal path between the first and second ends. Accordingly, the present invention provides a moveable center console assembly, which can be slid from a position adjacent a front seat to a position adjacent a rear seat. The movable center console can also be moved to any other position between the front and rear seats and still to a position behind the rear seats. In fact, in the broadest sense of the invention, the center console assembly need not depend on any particular seat or seat arrangement and can be slid to any position from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as it is better understood with reference to the following detailed description when considered in relation to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates an embodiment of the present invention that shows a sliding center console between the seats of a mini-van type vehicle; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mode of a sliding center console mounted on a floor mounted rail member; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sliding center console; Figure 4 is a cross section of the sliding center console of Figure 2 taken along the line IV-IV; Figure 5A shows a partial perspective view of a locking mechanism of the sliding center console; Figure 5B is a perspective view in partial section showing the openings similar to gripping grooves and the gripping teeth of the gripping mechanism. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a control rod mechanism and disassembled fastening release handle; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rail installed on the floor of the vehicle on which the sliding center console travels forward and backward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY For convenience, in the following description, various directional references or spatial references have been made with respect to the orientation of the structures shown in the drawings. It is understood, however, that such references, include without limitation the upper, lower, upper, lower, front, rear, left, right, central, vertical, horizontal, lateral or longitudinal, for convenience only and not necessarily considered as limiting the invention described herein. Referring to the Figures, in which like reference numbers indicate similar or corresponding parts throughout all the views, schematically shown in Figure 1 is an exterior mounting for a vehicle, generally indicated as 10. The interior 10 of the vehicle includes a surface 12 of the floor that can be covered by a mat 14. The interior 10 of the vehicle can represent the interior of a mini-van that can include a pair of front passenger seats, generally indicated as 16 and a pair of similar rear seats for passengers, generally indicated as 18, placed behind the front seats 16. Additional passenger seats can be placed behind the rear seats. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the present invention is not dependent on any particular type of vehicle or arrangement thereof. A guide member, generally shown as 20, serves to mount a multi-position sliding center console, generally indicated 22, which operates and is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The term "center console" is a term of the art typically used for these types of console assemblies. The console assembly of the present invention can be placed anywhere within the interior of the vehicle and not necessarily along a center between a group of passenger seats. As shown in Figure 1, the sliding center console 22 is free to travel back and forth along the guide member 20. Specifically, the guide member 20 has first and second ends defining a reciprocal path therebetween. Preferably, the guide member 20 comprises a center mounted rail assembly 20 fixed to the floor surface 12 of the interior 10 of the vehicle. The central console 22 can be selectively secured in position to any of a plurality of locations along the rail assembly 20. The center mounted rail assembly 20 preferably extends from a position between the front passenger seats 16 rearwardly to a position between the rear passenger seats 18. The rail assembly 20 can also extend beyond the rear seats 18 for passengers. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the sliding center console 22 generally comprises a console body 26 having a lower platform structure 24. In other words, the central console 22 is a two-piece assembly. The body 26 of the console is the upper portion and the platform structure 24 is the lower portion. The platform structure 24 is secured to the console body 26 by any suitable means as are known in the art.

Alternatively there could be a lower wall portion of the body 26 of the console, opposite the platform structure 24, which could operate in a similar manner as the platform structure 24. The platform structure 24 includes an integral groove 23 and a number of support openings 25. A bracket attachment structure 29 is also mounted to the body 26 of the console as will be discussed in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, a first storage reservoir 28 is located within the body 26 of the console and is covered by a lid 38. The lid 38 can be pivotal between an open position for access to the first storage reservoir 28 and a position closed covering the first storage tank 28. A second storage tank 30 comprises a molded recessed area formed in the body 26 of the console. Each of these storage tanks 28, 30 are designed to store any number of items such as portable phones, CDs, tapes, pens, notepads or other similar devices. The first storage tank 28 can be removed or removed and can also be divided, by fitting it into a large cavity 32 accessible in the upper portion of the body 26 of the console. The pivotal cover 38 may include a release handle 37 for securing the cover 38 to the body 26 of the console. The handle 37 is operable in a conventional manner to selectively release a fixing mechanism (not shown) that secures the lid 38 in a closed position with respect to the first storage reservoir 28. Alternatively, as best shown in Figure 3, the lid 38 can be removed to support a multitude of functions. It can be appreciated that a number of different cover-type removable covers can be incorporated as the removable cover on the top of the console 22. The removable cover 38 comprises a first console cover 42 and a second console cover 40 as shown. The first console lid 42 covers a first portion of the first storage reservoir 28 and can be moved between an open position for access to the first storage reservoir 28 and a closed position covering the first storage reservoir 28. The second console cover 40 is mounted adjacent to the first console cover 42 and covers a second portion of the first storage container 28 and can be moved independently of the first console cover 42 between an open position for access to the first storage tank 28 and a closed position covering the first storage tank 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the first console cover 42 includes a release handle 37 for securing and releasing the first console cover 42 from the body 26 of the console. The second lid 40 of the console contains circular recesses 41, recessed, molded in the lid 40 to secure and support vessels similar to cups or glasses. By providing a two-part lid 38, one part of the lid 38 can be lifted to allow access to the reservoir 28 while leaving the other part of the lid 38, which can be holding beverages or other objects, without alteration . Preferably, the first portion covered by the first console cover 42 is larger than the second portion covered by the second console cover 40. In other words, the first console cover 42 is larger than the second console cover 40. This is designed in such a way that the first console cover 42 can properly accommodate the release handle 37. The console 22 may have a surface similar to an adjustable board which, when lifted, may provide a writing surface, to support a portable computer, or to provide areas for food and beverages according to the user's desire. A large variety of removable covers 38, with and without release handles, and upper surfaces sculpted and shaped differently can be placed on the front storage tank allowing a multitude of possible modalities to be considered for the present invention. A grip release handle 34 in an upper end portion 36 of the body 26 of the console allows the sliding center console 22 not to be released for movement along the mounting 20 of the center mounted rail as will be described further. detail right away. As shown in Figures 4 and 7, the rail assembly 20 is preferably comprised of two parallel rail elements 80, spaced apart to guide the console within the vehicle. The rail elements 80 are preferably of a channel structure having substantially C-shaped cross sections with upper and lower flanges 83, 81, defining longitudinal grooves 82 facing each other, opposite. The rail elements 80 are attached to the floor 12 by suitable means such as mechanical or welded fasteners, and the mat 14 is preferably provided on the floor 12 on opposite sides of the rail assembly 20 with the upper part of the mat 14 being preferably pressed with the top of the rails 80. An ornamental cover 84 defining a longitudinal central slot 86 is preferably provided to cover and protect the rails 80. The central slot 86 is positioned along the reciprocal path of the guide member 20 . As shown in Figures 3 and 4 the body 26 of the console is supported and can be moved on the rail assembly 20 by means of a carriage, generally indicated as 46, which has a plurality of pivotably mounted therein. of rollers 44. Specifically the carriage 46 is operatively coupled between the console 22 and the guide member 20 for slidably moving the console 22- over the guide member 20 along the reciprocal path between the first and second ends. Four rollers are preferred, two on each side. The carriage 46 includes a lower portion 88 engaged with the guide member 20, a top portion 90 mounted on the body 26 of the console for moving the center console 22 along the guide member 20. The upper portion 90 of the carriage 46 includes a pair of joists 89 separated and a number of outwardly extending detent pins or pins 91. The pins 91 hold a corresponding support opening 25 on the platform structure 24 to secure the carriage 46 to the center console 22. The lower portion 88 extends downward from the upper portion 90. The lower portion 88 may comprise a pair of support legs (as shown) or a single support leg. The lower portion 88 of the carriage 46 travels within the rail elements 80 of the rail assembly 20. The rollers 44 are rotatably mounted on the lower end of the lower portion 88 opposite the upper portion 90. The legs of the lower portion 88 extend from the rail elements 80 through the central slot 86 above the ornamental cover 84. The leg of the lower portion 88 also extends through the integral slot 23 of the platform structure 24. Accordingly, the upper portion 90 also extends above the cover 84 and above the integral slot 23 of the platform structure 24. From here, the upper portion 90 is truly positioned within the cavity 32 of the central console 22. As shown in Figure 4, when the console 22 is operatively coupled with the rail assembly 20, the rollers 44 roll along the lower flange 81 within the longitudinal slots 82 of the rails 80. The upper 90 and lower portions 88 of the carriage 46 together with the rollers 44 support the body 26 of the console above the rail assembly 20 when the rollers 44 are placed in the slots 82. As appreciated by those skilled in the art. The rollers 44 can be placed on either side within the rail assembly 20 as long as the body 26 of the console is properly supported. The central console 22 includes a clamping or securing mechanism, generally indicated as 48, supported on the lower platform structure 24. The clamping or securing mechanism 48 selectively secures the console 22 to one of a plurality of incremental positions along the reciprocal path of the rail assembly 20. Specifically, the rail assembly 20 includes a series of slot-like securing or securing openings 50, which define the incremental positions and are positioned between the portion of spaced rails 80, which are engaged by the securing mechanism 48, as will be described later to selectively secure the sliding center console 22 in place. The details of the securing or securing mechanism will be described with reference to Figures 4, 5A and 5B. The securing or securing mechanism 48 includes a clamping member 66 preferably comprising a central crown portion 94 extending upwardly and two substantially parallel, substantially parallel clamping plates 92 which depend downwardly on the crown portion 94 and which have , each with a plurality of clamping teeth 52 formed along the lower edge thereof. The clamping member 66 operates between the rafters 89 of the carriage 46 and extends through a similarly shaped opening formed within the lower platform structure 24 for engaging the clamping openings 50 disposed between the rails 80. An enclosure 64 of protective coupling, comprising a continuous upwardly extending wall defining a generally rectangular opening similar in size and shape to the rectangular opening of the clamping member 66, preferably surrounds the clamping member 66 to hold the clamping member 66 aligned with the opening formed in platform structure 24. The enclosure 64 may include a side, peripheral flange 67 for securing the enclosure 64 to the platform structure 24. An upwardly extending support block 68 comprises projections or tips extending upwards, parallel to a transverse connection portion which is mounted in a position outside the protective coupling enclosure 64 and can be mounted to the peripheral flange 67 of the protective coupling. enclosure 64. Alternatively, block 68 may be attached to the support structure of the console, such as platform structure 24. A lever rod 62 is pivotally mounted to the support block 68 by means of a pivot pin 70. One end of the lever rod 62 is connected to a control rod 58 by means of a hook 60 formed in a lower end of the rod 58 which extends through the opening 61 formed in the end of the rod 62 of lever. The control rod 58 provides additional control of the clamping mechanism 48 by means of the release handle 34 (see for example, Figure 6). As will be described in more detail below. An opposite end of the lever rod 62 preferably includes a longitudinally extending central slot 63 defining opposed, parallel projections 65 having a wide spacing therebetween sufficient to accommodate the central crown portion 94 of the fastening member 66. The lever rod 62 is pivotally connected to the clamping member 66 by means of a pin 72 extending through the ends of the projections 65 and through the portion 94 of the central crown of the clamping member 66 placed between the projections 65. The clamping member 66 moves up and down to uncouple and engage the clamping or securing teeth 52. With the fastening openings 50 by the pivoting lever rod 62 around the pin 70 in the mounting block 68. The fastening mechanism 48 is unlocked and decoupled in the preferred embodiment by the latch release handle 34. Specifically, the safety release handle 34 drives the clamping member 66 between a secured engagement position of the rail assembly 20 and secures the console 22 in one of the incremental positions and an unsecured position, released from the rail 20 and allows the movement of the console 22 along the reciprocal path. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the latch release handle 34 has a projecting actuator 56 to which the control rod 58 transfers the actuation of the handle 34 to the clamping member 66. A hook-shaped upper end 96 of the control rod 58 is attached to the lock release handle 34 through a connecting opening 98 of the control rod formed in the projecting drive link 56. The lock release portion of the console 22 comprises the lock release handle 34, the control rod 58, a pivot rod 74 of the release handle, and a torsion spring element 54. The control rod 58 extends downwardly through the sliding center console 22 to the clamping mechanism 48. The latch release handle 34 is pivotally mounted to a handle mounting bracket 76 by the pivot rod 74 of the release handle. The rod 74 of the release handle pivot passes through a pair of circular openings defined in the respective mounting flanges 35 extending at a right angle from the latch release handle 34 to engage a pair of circular openings 78 formed in each of a pair of limbs 77 at right angles to the handle mounting bracket 76. The latch release handle 34 is biased towards a position secured by the torsion spring members 54. The mounting bracket 76 can be fixed to the body 26 of the console by means of suitable fasteners or integrally molded plastic bullets extending through the joint holes 79 formed in the bracket 76 and in the connecting structure 29 of the a bracket formed inside the body 26 of the console. When the latch release handle 34 is raised upwardly by the user, the control rod 58 is pushed downwards, thereby causing the lever rod 62 to rotate in a direction of release of the latch and raise the clamping member 66 or secure, thereby decoupling the series of clamping teeth 52 from the series of clamping opening 50. With the gripping teeth 52 disengaged from the gripping openings 50, the center console 22 is free to travel along the rail assembly 20 as the rollers 44 of the carriage 46 can roll within the slots 82 of the rails 80. When the lock release handle 34 is released, the elastic torsion spring member 54 pushes the lock release handle 34 downward which pulls the control rod 58 upwards, causing the lever rod 62 to rotate in a direction of positioning of the latch thus causing the clamping teeth 52 to engage the slit-like fastening openings 50, securing the sliding center console 22 in place over the rail assembly 20 mounted in the center.

The torsion spring element 54, in addition to providing deflection for the latch release handle 34 remains in the secured position, keeps the release handle 34 properly positioned within the mount mounting bracket 76. In an alternative embodiment the latch release handle 34 may be a push or push button loaded with the linearly actuated spring, opposite the pivoting handle structure. The push button mechanism may be directly coupled to the control rod 58 for the user to push down the lock release button, opposite to the lifting of the pivoting handle, to unlock or release the sliding center console 22 from the assembly 20 lane mounted in the center. The release button is biased by a spring to an upward position so that when the button is released the plunger and control rod 58 are pushed upward to cause the clamping mechanism 48 to again hold the center console 22 in its place. place. The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it will be understood that the terminology which has been used attempts to be of the nature of the words of the description in a place of being a limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it will be understood within the scope of the appended claims, that the invention may be practiced in another manner than that specifically described. .

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (27)

1. - An interior assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a central console; a guide member to mount the console to the vehicle; the guide member has first and second ends defining a reciprocal path between them; and the assembly is characterized by a carriage operatively coupled between the console and the guide member for slidably moving the console on the guide member along the reciprocal path between the first and second ends.

2. - An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage includes a lower portion coupled with the guide member and an upper portion mounted to the console for moving the console along the guide member.

3. - An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide member comprises a rail assembly comprising a group of rail elements for guiding the console inside the vehicle.

4. - An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the rail elements have a substantially C-shaped configuration with an upper flange and a lower flange defining a set of longitudinal grooves.

5. - An assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower portion of the carriage includes a set of rollers traveling along the lower flange within the longitudinal grooves.

6. - An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower portion of the carriage travels inside the rail elements of the rail assembly.

7. - An assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that it also includes an ornamental cover that encompasses the rail elements of the rail assembly.

8. - A assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the ornamental cover includes a central groove placed along the reciprocal path of the guide member.

9. - An assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the upper portion of the carriage extends from the rail elements through the central groove above the cover.

10. - An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that it also includes a securing mechanism to secure the console in one of a plurality of incremental positions along the reciprocal path.

11. - An assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the clamping mechanism includes a clamping member for selectively coupling the rail assembly to secure the console with the vehicle.

12. an assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the clamping or securing member includes a number of clamping teeth which engage a plurality of slot-like openings defining the incremental positions and which are positioned within the rail assembly.

13. - A assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the clamping teeth are mounted on a pair of clamping or securing plates extending from the clamping member.

14. - A mounting according to claim 13, further comprising a protective coupling enclosure mounted on the console and surrounding the fastening member.

15. - An assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that it also includes a safety release handle for actuating the clamping member between a secured position of coupling with the rail assembly and securing the console in one of the incremental positions and a unsecured position released from the rail and allowing the movement of the console along the reciprocal path.

16. - A mounting according to claim 15, characterized in that it also includes a control rod mounted on the safety release handle to move the handle drive to the clamping member.

17. - An assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that the lock release handle includes a torsion spring element for deflecting the handle and the clamping member to a secured position.

18. - An assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that it also includes a lever rod mounted pivotally on the clamping member and interconnecting the control rod with the clamping member.

19. - A mounting - according to claim 15, characterized in that the console includes a console body having a lower wall portion for supporting the clamping member.

20. - A mounting according to claim 15, characterized in that the console includes a console body having a lower platform structure for supporting the clamping member.

21. - An assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the body of the console includes a first storage tank mounted inside a large cavity for storing a number of items within the vehicle.

22. - A assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that the body of the console includes a pivoting cover or that rotates between an open position for access to the first storage tank and a closed position covering said first storage tank.

23. - A mounting according to claim 21, characterized in that the body of the console includes a second storage tank for storing articles inside the vehicle.

24. - A central console assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a hollow console body; a storage tank placed inside the body of the console; a first cover of the console covering a first portion of the storage tank and movable between an open position to access the storage tank and a closed position covering said storage tank; and a second console lid mounted adjacent to the first console lid and covering a second portion of the storage container and movable independently of the first console lid between an open position to access the reservoir storage and a closed position that covers the storage tank.

25. - An assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that the first cover of the console includes a release handle to secure and release or unlock the first cover of the console from the body of the console.

26. - A assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that the second lid of the console includes at least one recessed circular cavity to support vessels similar to cups or glasses.

27. - A assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that the first portion covered by the first lid of the second is larger than the second portion covered by the second lid of the console.