Abstract:
An ambidextrous lid assembly that allows a lid to be opened from either side of a compartment is disclosed. The lid assembly includes at least a first frame member adapted to be pivotally attached proximate the compartment opening. The first frame member has an opening that allows access therethrough to at least a portion of the interior of the compartment when the first frame member is closed against the perimeter of the compartment opening. The lid assembly includes a second frame member that is pivotally attached to the first frame member and either by itself or in cooperation with a lid cover provides a closure for the opening in the first frame member. The first frame member carries a latch for securing it about the opening, and the second frame member carries a latch for securing it to the first frame member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a lid assembly that functions as a closure for a compartment or the like.  
           [0003]    2. Background and description of the prior art  
           [0004]    In many applications it may be desirable to allow a closure member such as a door or lid to be opened from either side of the compartment closed by the closure member. For example, consider the bin in the console of a vehicle such as a passenger car or sports utility vehicle. Such bins are normally located between the driver&#39;s seat and the front passenger&#39;s seat. Further such bins are usually provided with cushioned lids that also act as arm rests. The top opening of the bin would then have one side which is located closest to the passenger&#39;s seat and one side which is located closest to the driver&#39;s seat. If the lid is hinged on the passenger&#39;s side, then the driver can open the lid and readily view the contents of the bin, but the lid will obstruct the passenger&#39;s view and the passenger&#39;s access to the contents of the bin. Similarly, If the lid is hinged on the driver&#39;s side, then the passenger can open the lid and readily view the contents of the bin, but the lid will obstruct the driver&#39;s view and the driver&#39;s access to the contents of the bin.  
           [0005]    One solution has been to hinge the lid at the rearmost side of the bin opening such that the lid swings toward the rear of the passenger compartment when the lid is being opened. This solution has not been entirely satisfactory. One drawback of this solution is that the usually elongated lid has to swing through a very large arc and, therefore, may interfere with other objects in the passenger compartment. Another drawback is that once the lid is opened, the lid is positioned between the backs of the front seats and is therefore difficult to reach by the occupants of the front seats. The need exists in the art for a special lid which can selectively swing to either side of the opening of a compartment.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is directed to an ambidextrous lid assembly that allows a lid to be opened from either side of a compartment. The lid assembly includes at least a first frame member adapted to be pivotally attached proximate the compartment opening. The first frame member has an opening that allows access therethrough to at least a portion of the interior of the compartment when the first frame member is closed against the perimeter of the compartment opening. The lid assembly includes a second frame member that is pivotally attached to the first frame member and either by itself or in cooperation with a lid cover provides a closure for the opening in the first frame member. The first frame member carries a latch for securing it about the opening, and the second frame member carries a latch for securing it to the first frame member.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a lid assembly that can be selectively swung to either side of the opening of a compartment to allow access to the interior of the compartment.  
           [0008]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a lid assembly that allows users positioned on either side of a compartment access to different portions of the compartment.  
           [0009]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an ambidextrous lid assembly which is cost-effective and fully effective for its intended purposes.  
           [0010]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a right perspective view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a top view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a left perspective view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a right side view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a front view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a left side view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a right perspective view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the left or driver&#39;s side.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a top view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the left or driver&#39;s side.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a left perspective view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the left or driver&#39;s side.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a right side view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the left or driver&#39;s side.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a front view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the left or driver&#39;s side.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a left side view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the left or driver&#39;s side.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a right perspective view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the right or passenger&#39;s side.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a top view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the right or passenger&#39;s side.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is a left perspective view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the right or passenger&#39;s side.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is a right side view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the right or passenger&#39;s side.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is a front view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the right or passenger&#39;s side.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 18 is a left side view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly opened from the right or passengers side.  
         [0029]    FIGS.  19 A- 19 G are views of a center console of a vehicle usable with the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0030]    FIGS.  20 A- 20 G are views of a combination compartment opening frame and container defining the compartment cavity, which may be used as part of the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0031]    FIGS.  21 A- 21 G are views of the first pivotal frame member of the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0032]    FIGS.  22 A- 22 G are views of the second pivotal frame member of the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0033]    FIGS.  23 A- 23 G are views of a lid cover usable with the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0034]    FIGS.  24 A- 24 G are views of the left button or latching member of the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0035]    FIGS.  25 A- 25 G are views of the right button or latching member of the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0036]    FIGS.  26 A- 26 B are views of one of a pair of springs used to bias the left and right buttons or latching members of the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 27 is a top fragmentary environmental view of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  28 - 28  of FIG. 27, of a center console of a vehicle using the ambidextrous lid assembly of the present invention, showing the ambidextrous lid assembly in the closed configuration. 
     
    
       [0039]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 28 , the present invention is directed to an ambidextrous lid assembly  100  for use with a compartment such as the center console  102  of a vehicle. The center console  102 , used for illustrative purposes, is of the type that is positioned between the front seats of a vehicle. The driver normally sits on one side of the console  102  and the front passenger sits on the other side of the console  102 . In the illustrative embodiment, the ambidextrous lid assembly is shown configured for vehicles where the driver sits on the left side and the front passenger sits on the right. Naturally, a mirror image of the illustrated lid assembly  100  could be used for vehicles where the driver sits on the right. Although the operation of the lid assembly  100  will be described in the context of providing a closure for the bin of a vehicle console, the lid assembly of the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of other compartments or can be used as a closure wherever ambidextrous operation is desired.  
         [0041]    The ambidextrous lid assembly  100  of the present invention, in its basic form includes a first frame member  104  and a second frame member  106 . In a preferred embodiment the lid assembly  100  also includes a compartment opening frame  108  which may have, as in the illustrated embodiment, an integral container  110 . In addition, the lid assembly  100  may include a lid cover  112  to give the lid assembly  100  an aesthetically pleasing appearance and/or to provide a comfortable armrest. The console  102  is preferably molded in one piece and has a receptacle  114  designed to accommodate the container  110 . The perimeter  116  of the opening  114  is shaped to receive and support the third frame member  108 . With the third frame member  108  seated on the perimeter  116 , the container  110  fits into the receptacle  114 . The frame member  108  may be glued or otherwise attached to the console  102  in any well known manner. The compartment opening frame or third frame member  108  is roughly rectangular in plan view and has a relatively large central opening  118  that is contiguous and coextensive with the top opening of the container  110 . The frame member  108  has two relief recesses  120  and  122  whose function will be explained later. In addition, the frame member  108  has a pair of depressions  124  and  126 . Depression  124  is provided on one side with a ramped edge  128 . Located between the depressions  124  and  126  is a receptacle  130  that has different size sections for holding different sized coins. Each end of the recess  120  is provided with a hole  132 . Each hole  132  is provided with a lead-in ramp  134  that widens toward the top of the frame member  108 .  
         [0042]    In the illustrated example, the frame member  108  and the container  110  are integral and form part of the assembly  100 . Alternatively, the container  110  can be separate from the frame member  108  and/or be integral with the console  102 . Additionally, both the frame member  108  and the container  110  may be integral with the console  102 . In the illustrated example, the container  110  defines the interior of the compartment enclosed by the lid assembly  100 .  
         [0043]    The first frame member  104  is roughly rectangular in plan view and has a relatively large central opening  136  that is designed to register with the top opening of the container  110 . In the illustrated example, the opening  136  is sized such that the first frame member  104  covers the coin receptacle  130 , thus giving access to the coin receptacle only from the driver&#39;s side. The right side of the frame member  104  has a downward extending bracket  138  has a stub shaft  140  at each end. Each stub shaft  140  is snapped into a respective hole  132  using lead-in ramps  134  to pivotally attach the frame member  104  to the frame member  108 . Each stub shaft  140  has a ramped end face that cooperates with a respective lead-in ramp  134  to facilitate this attachment process. A second bracket  142  is provided on the left side of the frame member  104 . The bracket  142  also extends downward from the bottom of the frame member  104 . A stub shaft  144  projects from each end of the bracket  142 . Once again the end face of each stub shaft  144  is preferably ramped. A rail  146  is projects from the top surface of the frame member  104 . The rail  146  appears mushroom-shaped when viewed from one end as shown in FIG. 21E. The rail  146  has a cavity  148  designed to receive at least in part a coil spring  152 . At the closed end of the cavity  148  is a guidepost  150  which passes into one end of the spring  152 . An open cutout  154  is provided adjacent the left end of the rail  146 . A second cutout  156  is provided near the right side of the frame member  104  in line with the rail  146 .  
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS.  24 A- 24 G, the left button or latching member  158  can be seen. The button  158  has an outer face  160  where finger pressure can be applied by a user to push the button inward. The button  158  has a rear cavity  162  which receives the rail  146  such that the button  158  can move slidably relative to the rail  146 . The button  158  has a pair of rails  164  that fit into grooves  170  at the base of the rail  146 . The button  158  has a receptacle  168  that receives one end of the spring  152 . The spring  152  is positioned between the closed end having the surface  160  of the button  158  and the closed end of the cavity  148 . The spring  152  biases the button  158  toward the left of the frame member  104 . At the right end of the grooves  170  are recesses  172 . Ramped hooks  166 , provided at the inner ends of the rails  164 , snap into the recesses  172  and limit the outward movement of the button  158 . The button  158  has a downward projecting plate  174  which passes through the cutout  154  and extends below the bottom surface of the frame member  104 . The plate  174  is provided with a ramped edge  176  which catches the edge  128  of the recess  124  of the frame member  108  to secure the frame member  104  in the closed position. To pivotally move the frame member  104  to the open position, the button  158  must be pushed inward to disengage the edge  176  from the edge  128  to thereby allow the frame member  104  to be pivoted to the open position. With the frame member  106  and the lid cover  112  secured to the frame member  104 , this operation is in effect the opening of the lid of the center console compartment from the driver&#39;s side of the console, thereby allowing access to the interior of the center console compartment from the driver&#39;s side. When closing the lid assembly including frame members  104  and  106  and the lid cover  112  from the driver&#39;s side, the ramped surfaces of the edges  176  and  128  cooperate to push the button  158  to the inward open position, thus allowing the frame member  104  to be moved to the closed position. Once the edge  176  clears the edge  128 , the spring  152  pushes the button  158  to the outward position, thus bringing the edge  176  into engagement with the underside of the edge  128  to thereby secure the frame member  104 , and consequently the rest of the lid assembly, in the closed position.  
         [0045]    The frame member  106  has a bracket  178  projecting downward from the left side thereof At each end of the bracket  178  is a flange  180  having a hole  182 . The holes  182  are preferably provided with lead-in ramps. The bracket  142  fits between the flanges  180  and the stub shafts  144  snap into the holes  182  to pivotally attach the frame member  106  to the frame member  104 . A boss  184  projects upward from the top left surface of the frame member  106  and defines a cavity  186 . The cavity  186  receives the button  158  when the frame member  106  is in the closed position, i.e. folded up against the frame member  104 . A second boss  188  projects upward from the top right surface of the frame member  106  and defines a cavity  190 . The cavity  190  receives the button  192  such that the button  192  can move slidably within cavity  190 . A spring  152  is received at least in part in the bore of the receptacle  194  of the button  192 . The spring is positioned between the closed left end of the cavity  190  and the receptacle  194 , and biases the button  192  toward the outward or latching position. The button  192  has an outer face  196  where finger pressure can be applied by a user to push the button inward to the unlatched position.  
         [0046]    Ramped hooks  198  provided at the ends of resilient arms  200 , snap into openings  202  in the sides of the cavity  190  and limit outward movement of the button  192 .  
         [0047]    The button  192  has a downward projecting plate  204  which passes through the cutout  206  at the bottom of the cavity  190  and extends below the bottom surface of the frame member  106 . The plate  204  is provided with a ramped edge  210  which catches a ramped edge  208  on the right side of the opening  156  in the frame member  104  to secure the frame member  106  in the closed position against the frame member  104 . The opening  156  registers with the depression  126  which provides sufficient clearance for the head  212 , defining the ramped surface of the edge  210 , of the downward projecting plate  204  such that the frame member  106  can lie flat against the frame member  104  in the closed position. To pivotally move the frame member  106  to the open position, the button  192  must be pushed inward to disengage the edge  210  from the edge  208  to thereby allow the frame member  106  to be pivoted to the open position. With the lid cover  112  secured to the frame member  106 , this operation is in effect the opening of the lid of the center console compartment from the passenger&#39;s side of the console, thereby allowing access to the interior of the center console compartment from the passenger&#39;s side through the opening  136 . When closing the lid assembly including frame member  106  and the lid cover  112  from the passenger&#39;s side, the ramped surfaces of the edges  210  and  208  cooperate to push the button  192  to the inward open position, thus allowing the frame member  106  to be moved to the closed position. Once the edge  210  clears the edge  208 , the second spring  152  pushes the button  192  to the outward position, thus bringing the edge  210  into engagement with the underside of the edge  208  to thereby secure the frame member  106 , and consequently the lid cover  112 , in the closed position.  
         [0048]    The lid cover  112  can be secured to the frame member  106  by any well known means. In the illustrated example, cylindrical receptacles  214  project from the underside  216  of the lid cover  112 . The receptacles  214  register with the counter-sunk through holes  218  that allow screws or rivets to be used to fix the lid cover  112  to the frame member  106 . If the frame member  106  has cutouts to lighten it and save material, then the lid cover  112  also serves to completely close off the opening of the center console compartment.  
         [0049]    The lid assembly including frame members  108 ,  104 , and  106 , the lid cover  112 , and the container  110  are preferably made of molded plastic, although metal or composites may also be used. The two springs  152  are preferably made of metal.  
         [0050]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following