Abstract:
A console includes a housing with a central storage area selectively enclosed by first and second sliding tray assemblies which move between a closed position adjacent one another to an open position distal from one another for gaining access to the central storage area. The console may include a removable storage bag which can be fitted under the sliding trays and removed from the console for carrying to a remote location. The sliding tray assemblies include storage systems, such as a storage/trash bin, cup holders, and the like and include a positive latching system to prevent inadvertent movement of the trays.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a vehicle console and particularly one which has movable and removable storage units.  
           [0002]    Many vehicles include storage consoles for the convenience of the vehicle operator and/or passengers. Vehicles, such as minivans, sport utility vehicles, and automobiles, typically have bucket seats with space therebetween for allowing the convenient mounting of such consoles. Consoles typically include cup holders, compartments, storage trays, and the like for use by vehicle occupants. Some consoles, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,081 and 5,085,481, include a variety of such features and may be removable from the vehicle floor itself. The console of the present invention provides improved features allowing for additional flexibility in the storage of items as well as providing removable storage, and the console itself can be removably mounted to a vehicle floor.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Consoles embodying the present invention include a housing which defines a central storage area which is selectively enclosed by first and second sliding covers which move between a closed position adjacent one another to an open position distal from one another for gaining access to the central storage area. In one embodiment of the invention, the console includes a removable storage container which can be fitted under the sliding covers and removed from the console and vehicle for carrying to a remote location. In other embodiments of the invention, the sliding covers include storage systems, such as a tray, a storage/trash bin, cup holders, and the like. The sliding covers include a positive latch to prevent their inadvertent movement.  
           [0004]    In one preferred embodiment of the invention, sliding trays are pivotally coupled to pivoted end walls of the console housing and include guide rods captively held within guide tracks formed in the housing for controlling the movement of the sliding trays. A spring-loaded latch is provided for both trays, which allow the trays to be releasably latched for movement between positions selected by passengers or the vehicle operator in front of or behind the console. In a preferred embodiment of the invention also, the console housing is removably mounted to a vehicle floor utilizing a latch assembly so that the entire console can be removed from the vehicle if desired.  
           [0005]    These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a console embodying the present invention, shown with the tray assemblies in a first or closed position;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the console shown in FIG. 1, showing the trays in their open position and a removable container shown positioned above the console;  
         [0008]    FIGS.  3 A- 3 D is an exploded perspective view of the components of the console shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, shown divided into sheets  3 A- 3 D from top to bottom;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the latch assembly for mounting to the vehicle floor for receiving the console of FIGS.  1 - 3 ;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along section lines V-V of FIG. 1, of one of the tray latch assemblies, shown in a latched position;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view, taken along section lines VI-VI of FIG. 1, of the latch assembly shown in FIG. 5, shown in the latched position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the structure as shown in FIG. 5, shown with the latch in a depressed unlatched position; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism as shown in FIG. 6, shown in an unlatched position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a console  10  embodying the present invention, which is removably mounted to the floor  12  of a vehicle, such as a minivan, automobile, sport utility vehicle or the like. Console  10  includes a central housing  20  which defines a support for a front sliding tray assembly  40  and a rear sliding tray assembly  60 , each of which are movable as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, from a closed position shown in FIG. 1 in which the tray assemblies are substantially adjacent and contacting one another to an expanded open position as seen in FIG. 2. The tray assemblies  40 ,  60  define covers for a central storage compartment  22  of console housing  20  which receives a removable wire frame nylon storage container  24 . Container  24  includes handles  26  and storage pockets opened with zippers or other fasteners  28  for providing a removable storage container  24  which integrally fits within console housing  20 . In one embodiment, housing  20  is mounted to a base  30  which, in turn, is secured to a latch assembly  80  (FIG. 3D) which removably mounts the housing  20  to a mating socket assembly  90  (FIG. 4) to releasably secure the console  10  to the floor  12  of a vehicle. The latch assembly  80  and socket assembly  90  may be of a construction disclosed in greater detail in U.S. patent application entitled MEDIA PLAYER SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, filed on Dec. 28, 1998, Ser. No. 09/222,261, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, although a brief description of the assembly follows after a description of the console  10 .  
         [0015]    As best seen in FIG. 3C, housing  20  includes a first integral side member  32  and a second integrally molded side member  34 , both of which are made of a suitable polymeric material, such as ABS, or the like. Sides  32  and  34  define halves of the housing and integrally include a floor  31 , which is secured to base  30  (FIG. 3D) by suitable fastening screws (not shown). Sides  32  and  34  also each include a front wall  33  and a rear wall  35  interconnected by a top wall  36 . Each member  32  and  34  thereby define an open framework having a central opening  37  which can be selectively enclosed by removable panels, if desired, although the open framework provides access to the central storage area  22  from the sides if desired.  
         [0016]    A guide track  25  is provided on each of the interfacing top walls  36  of the housing  20  and is defined by a lower rail  21  and an upper rail  23 , which is mounted in spaced relationship to lower rail  21 , as best seen in FIGS.  5 - 8 , for receiving guide rods  62  and latching bars  104  as described in greater detail below. The substantially symmetrical housing halves  32 ,  34  thus define a pedestal base with inclined walls  38  (FIG. 3C) having slots  39  formed therein for receiving hinges  42  and  62  (FIG. 3D) for pivotally coupling the lower end of sliding tray assemblies  40  and  60  to base  30  to which housing  20  is secured by suitable fastening means, such as self-threading screws or the like. Base  30  is also made of a suitable polymeric material, such as ABS. In some embodiments, the floor  31  of housing  20  may integrally define the base  30  as a single unit.  
         [0017]    Housing halves  32 ,  34  are inter-fit together along a mating edges  27  and fastened together with suitable fasteners, such as self-tapping screws or the like. With such construction, housing half  34  overlaps housing half  32  slightly to provide an integral open housing to which the tray assemblies  40  and  60  are attached as now described.  
         [0018]    Each of the tray assemblies  40 ,  60  are substantially identical in their coupling to base  30  and their relationship to housing  20 . Each include identical tray latch assemblies  100  which are spring-loaded and actuated to lock the sliding tray assemblies in either a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, or an open position, as shown in FIG. 2. A description of sliding tray assembly  40  and its detailed construction is now presented with it being understood that sliding tray assembly  60  and its latch assembly  100  is substantially identical and can best be understood by reference to the details in FIGS. 3A and 3B now described.  
         [0019]    Tray assembly  40  comprises a generally vertically extending panel  44  which has a lower wall  46  secured to tang  41  on hinge  42  (FIG. 3D) with tang  43  of hinge  42  secured to base  30 . Tang  41  extends through slot  39  in walls  38  (FIG. 3C) to allow the panel  44  to pivot between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Panel  44  is pivotally mounted at its upper end by means of a pair of tangs  48  on either upper end which engage mating tangs  58  of sliding plate  50  by means of pivot pins  49  extending through apertures  47  in tangs  48  and apertures  57  in tangs  58 . This allows the panel  44  to pivot with respect to sliding plate  50 . The coupling of sliding plate  50  to housing  20  is described later in detail below with reference to FIGS.  5 - 8 .  
         [0020]    Panel  44  includes an open central area  45  for pivotally receiving a storage bin  70  with a cover  72 , with bin  70  and cover  72  being removably and pivotally mounted within recess  45  to define a trash receptacle or additional storage for the sliding tray assembly  40 . A spring-loaded catch  74  is mounted to bin  70  to engage the upper wall  45 ′ of panel  44  to hold the bin  70  in a closed position as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Panel  44 , storage bin  70  and cover  72  can be integrally molded of a suitable polymeric material, such as ABS or the like, and the elements, such as cover  72 , mounted to bin  70  by suitable fasteners, ultrasonic welding or the like.  
         [0021]    Tray assemblies  40 ,  60  are covers for the storage compartment  22  but preferably each include a storage tray  120  (FIG. 3A) which includes side walls  122 , front wall  124 , and a rear wall  126  having a slot  128  formed therein for receiving a control actuator  102  of latch assembly  100  as described in greater detail below. Tray  120  includes an open storage area  125  which may removably receive a cup holder unit  130  which is defined by a rectangular molded polymeric structure which fits within the opening  125  at the forward end, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and which includes a pair of cup holder recesses  132  for providing storage for drinking cups, soda cans and the like. The floor  127  of recess  125  may be covered by a mat  129  made of sanoprene to provide a removable member for cleaning storage bin  125  of tray  120  if necessary. Tray  120  is mounted to sliding plate  50  by suitable fastening means extending through apertures  51  in the floor  52  of sliding plate  50 . Sliding plate  50  includes rear, downwardly extending tangs  59  at rear opposite corners with slots  55  for receiving therein a vertically movable latch bar  104  which extends through slots  55  and is vertically movable therein to selectively interengage notches  29  in rail  23  as described below in connection with the latch assemblies  100 .  
         [0022]    A sliding rod  62  for each of the tray assemblies  40 ,  60  fit within an aperture  53  with downwardly depending tangs  59  and ride within the groove  25  between rails  21  and  23 , as best seen in FIGS.  5 - 8  to provide guided support for the tray assemblies as they slide between a closed position (shown in FIG. 1) to an open position (shown in FIG. 2). Thus, each of the tray assemblies, which are of substantially identical construction, are pivoted at their lower wall  46  by a hinge (either  42  or  62 ) to pivot outwardly while the pivot connection between tangs  48  and  58  allow the upper end  45 ′ to pivot with respect to sliding plate  55  and tray  120  mounted thereto. The inner facing ends of tray assemblies  40  and  60  are guideably supported by the guide rods  62  which extends in the slot  25  between rails  21  and  23  to control the sliding movement of the trays when they are moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2. The latch assembly  100  employed for each of the tray assemblies  40 ,  60  provides a spring-loaded latch to positively lock the trays in either an open or closed position and is now described in connection with FIGS.  3 A and  5 - 8 .  
         [0023]    Each of the latch assemblies include a latch receiver  140  integrally molded of a suitable polymeric material, such as ABS, for example, and includes a generally vertically extending wall  142  and a socket  145  defined by edges  144  and  146  extending from one side of wall  142  for receiving tangs  154 ,  156  of pushbutton  102  to captively and slidably mount pushbutton actuator  102  to receiver  140 . Wall  142  includes an outwardly extending flange  148  which allows the mounting of receiver  140  to the floor  52  of sliding plate  50  by means of fasteners extending through apertures  147  in flange  148  with the lower end of wall  142  extending through mounting slots  54  in floor  52  of sliding plate  50 . The latch bar  104  is captively held to pushbutton actuator  102  within receiving slots  106  with the bar  104  being urged in an upwardly latching position by means of compression springs  110  which extend between ledges  112  at the bottom of slots defined by edges  144  and  146  of receiver  140  and the tangs  154  and  156  of pushbutton actuator  102  to urge the pushbutton actuator  102  into a raised position, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. This urges latch bar  104  (which has a length which extends between the inner sides of sides  36  of housing halves  32  and  34  between rails  21  and  23 ) to selectively engage slots  29  in the upper rail  23  when trays  40  and  60  are in their latched closed or latched open positions. Additional notches  29  can be provided for latching the trays in intermediate positions if desired.  
         [0024]    The vertical wall  142  of receiver  140  includes a pair of integrally formed resilient tabs  149  which engage top surface of horizontal wall  108  once pushbutton actuator  102  is inserted within the slot  145  defined by edges  144  and  146  and project inwardly to captively hold the pushbutton actuator  102  within receiver  140 . Thus, once latch assemblies  100  are preassembled with members  102 ,  140  and springs  110 , the assemblies  100  are secured to the sliding plate  50  for each of the tray assemblies  40  and  60  by inserting latch bars  104  into slots  106  and  55  and guide rods  62  through apertures  52  into track  25  by installing top rail  23  to attach the sliding plate  50  and latch assemblies  100  to housing  20 .  
         [0025]    The pushbutton actuator  102  includes a top actuator surface  103  which extends through and is generally flush with aperture  128  in tray  120 , as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the actuator bar  104  is in a latched position in one of the notches  29 . When the actuator  102  is depressed downwardly as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, latch bar  104  is depressed downwardly in a direction indicated by arrow A in FIGS. 7 and 8 to release from slots  27  allowing the trays  40  or  60  to be slid from a latched position to the next adjusted position. Aperture  128  defines, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, a finger recess for allowing the operator to easily slide the tray assemblies  40 ,  60  to an open or closed position.  
         [0026]    Base  30  is mounted to latch assembly  80  (FIG. 3D) which, in turn, releasably mounts console  10  to the floor  12  of a vehicle by means of the socket  90  (FIG. 4) mounted permanently in the floor of the vehicle. Socket  90  comprises a molded polymeric member  92  having a pair of semicylindrical sockets  91 ,  93  therein which each receive locking pins  94  extending across the recesses  91  and  93  and through apertures  97  in side walls thereof for receiving latch bars of latch assembly  80  as described below. A pair of pivoted covers  96 , which snap or detent into the closed position, extend over and enclose sockets  91  and  93  when console  10  is not installed to the floor of a vehicle. Covers  96  include pivot pins  95  which extend within apertures in housing  92  and are captively held in position at an opposite end by means of a keeper bar  98  secured to housing  92  by conventional fastening means.  
         [0027]    Latch assembly  80  includes a spring-loaded sliding latch plate  82  slidably mounted to a stationary housing  84 . Plate  82  includes two pairs of spring-loaded latching dogs  86  and  88  which are pivotally mounted to plate  82  and controlled by latch arm assembly  85 , as described in detail in the above-identified patent application Ser. No. 09/222,261, such that latch dogs  86  and  88  selectively extend downwardly and engage pins  94 . When latch arm assembly  85  is released, this allows plate  82  under the force of compression spring  81  engaging boss  83  on housing  84  and tab  81 ′ on plate  82  to move latching pate  82  in the direction indicated by arrow B for holding the console  10  to floor  12  of the vehicle. When latch arm assembly  85  and particularly actuator member  85 ′ is depressed, plate  82  slides in a direction opposites arrow B, thereby causing latching dogs  86 ,  88  with progressive latching angles to release from pins  94 , allowing the console to be removed entirely from the vehicle floor. The use of pairs of latching dogs  86  and  88 , which include progressively different angles of engagement with pins  94 , provides secure locking of the console to the vehicle floor for preventing detachment of the console in the event of a collision.  
         [0028]    Thus, the console assembly of the present invention provides the flexibility of allowing a console to be removably mounted to a vehicle floor and provides sliding trays permitting access to a central storage area, which may include a removable bag. The sliding trays  40 ,  60  may include additional storage features, such as trash receptacles, cup holders, mesh bags, or the like, to provide the vehicle operator and passengers with additional conveniences when traveling in a vehicle. The open sides  37  of the console housing  20  may be selectively enclosed by panels (not shown), if desired, to provide an enclosed storage compartment  22  with the storage container  24  removed therefrom.  
         [0029]    It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that these and various other modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.