Abstract:
A motor vehicle drawer assembly is disclosed having a slideable drawer and a moveable plate housed in a casing. The drawer and the plate both have overlying compressible members used to restrain from movement an item placed in the drawer when the drawer is in a closed position. Movement of the drawer to the closed position causes the plate to move towards the drawer to clamp any item resting on the drawer thereby restraining movement of the item but not until the drawer approaches the closed position. The use of a clamping mechanism that only allows for movement of the plate towards the drawer when the drawer approaches the closed position prevents the plate from interfering with stowing of the item.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to motor vehicles, and in particular to a motor vehicle drawer assembly for transporting small items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is generally well-known to provide a motor vehicle with storage means such as a glove box, a storage bin or an under seat drawer for transporting small items. It can be a problem with such known devices that items placed in such storage devices are able to move freely within the storage device and so are prone to rattling. Such rattling can be annoying to a user of the motor vehicle and if the item being transported is delicate such as sunglasses or a mobile phone can result in minor damage such as scratching or abrasions occurring to the transported item. 
         [0003]    It would be desirable to provide a motor vehicle drawer assembly that overcomes the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle drawer assembly comprising a drawer slidingly supported for sliding movement by a support structure between a closed position and an open position, a plate moveably supported by the support structure for movement between a raised position in which the plate is spaced away from the drawer and a lowered position in which the plate is positioned substantially parallel and in close proximity to the drawer and a clamping mechanism to move the plate in response to movement of the drawer wherein at least one of the plate and the drawer includes a compressible member that is deformed by an item placed in the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position and the plate is in the lowered position so as to prevent movement of the item and the clamping mechanism only moves the plate when the drawer is close to the closed position. 
         [0005]    The drawer may be close to the closed position when it is within a predefined distance from the closed position. The plate and the drawer may both have a compressible member and both of the compressible members may be deformed by an item placed in the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position and the plate is in the lowered position. Each compressible member may have a non-planar surface for contact with the item. Each compressible member may be a foam pad. 
         [0006]    The clamping mechanism may move the plate from the raised position towards the lowered position when the drawer is close to the closed position and the drawer is being closed. The plate may be moveably supported by the support structure to maintain it substantially parallel to the drawer at all times. The plate may be biased into the raised position by at least one spring biasing device and moved to the lowered position against the action of the spring biasing means by the clamping mechanism. 
         [0007]    The clamping mechanism may comprise a lever pivotally supported by the support structure drivingly connected to the plate and a complementary driving surface on the drawer for engagement with the lever. The support structure may be a casing used to support the plate and the drawer. 
         [0008]    According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle drawer assembly. The motor vehicle drawer assembly includes a drawer slideable between closed and open positions, and a plate moveable between a raised position spaced from the drawer and a lowered position positioned in close proximity to the drawer. The assembly also includes a clamping mechanism to move the plate responsive to movement of the drawer, wherein a compressible member compresses on an item in the drawer in the closed position with the plate in the lowered position. 
         [0009]    These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1 a    is a diagrammatic side view of a motor vehicle having a center console supporting a drawer assembly in accordance with one embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1 b    is a rear three quarter pictorial view of the center console shown in  FIG. 1  showing the location of the drawer assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front three quarter pictorial view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 1 b    prior to assembly of the drawer assembly to the center console and showing a drawer in a partially open position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3 a    is a front view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3 b    is a left hand side view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3 c    is a top plan view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4 a    is a ghosted side view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2  showing operational positions of a clamping mechanism of the drawer assembly with the drawer in a fully open position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4 b    is a ghosted side view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2  showing operational positions of a clamping mechanism of the drawer assembly with the drawer in a half open position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4 c    is a ghosted side view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2  showing operational positions of a clamping mechanism of the drawer assembly with the drawer in a partial open position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4 d    is a ghosted side view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2  showing operational positions of a clamping mechanism of the drawer assembly with the drawer in a nearly closed position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4 e    is a ghosted side view of the drawer assembly shown in  FIG. 2  showing operational positions of a clamping mechanism of the drawer assembly with the drawer in a fully closed position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal cross section through the drawer assembly of  FIG. 2  when the drawer is in the closed position; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic representation showing the principle of operation of the drawer assembly shown in  FIGS. 1 b   - 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    there is shown a motor vehicle  1  defining a passenger compartment  2  in which is mounted an instrument panel  3 , first and second rows of seats  4  and  5  and a center floor console  10  that extends rearwardly away from the instrument panel  3  so as to be positioned between a pair of seats forming the first row of seats  4 . 
         [0025]    The center floor console  10  includes a housing that is defined by a pair of side panels  11  and  12  and an upper panel  13  that generally extends between the pair of side panels  11  and  12 . A drawer assembly  20  constructed according to one embodiment is mounted in the center console  10  so as to be accessible to a passenger seated on one of the seats forming the second row of seats  5 . The center console  10  also includes a cup holder  14  and an armrest  15 , both of which may be conventional in construction, and the center console  10  may be shaped having an interior space that may define a conventional storage bin covered by a cover  16 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-6 , the motor vehicle drawer assembly  20  comprises a structural support in the form of a casing  21  arranged to slidingly support a drawer  22  and moveably support a plate  40 . The plate  40  may also be referred to as a platen and is movable between a raised position and a lowered position which operates as a press or a platen when an item is contacted. The casing  21  has a front wall  27  including an aperture through which the drawer  22  slides when moving between respective open and closed positions. It will be appreciated that the casing  21  is constructed to enable the components of the drawer assembly  20  to be assembled. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the drawer  22  in the case of this example is slideably along a first axis S-S between respective closed and open positions as indicated by the double headed arrow X and the plate  40  is moveable along a second axis C-C arranged orthogonally with respect to the first axis S-S between raised and lowered positions as indicated by the double headed arrow Y. When the drawer  22  is in the closed position the plate  40  is in the lowered position and when the drawer  22  is in the open position the plate  40  is in the raised position. 
         [0028]    The movement of the plate  40  is controlled so that the plate  40  and the drawer  22  remain substantially parallel to one another irrespective of their respective positions. To achieve this, guide pins  33  are engaged with elongate slots  34  in side walls of the casing  21  towards a rear end of the casing  21  and driven pins  31  are engaged with elongate slots  32  in the side walls of the casing towards the front wall  27  of the casing  21 . The driven pins  31  have two roles, firstly they guide the motion of the plate  40  so that it remains substantially parallel to the drawer  22  at all times and secondly they form part of an actuation mechanism described in further detail hereinafter. The orientation of the elongate slots  32 ,  34  is such that respective longitudinal axes of the slots  32 ,  34  are aligned parallel to one another and to the axis C-C. 
         [0029]    However it will be appreciated that the elongate slots  32 ,  34  could be inclined so as to move the plate  40  away from the front wall  23  of the casing  21  as it moves towards the drawer  22  or could be curvilinear to produce motion of the plate  40  away from the front wall  27  as the plate  40  moves towards the drawer  22 . Both of these arrangements has the advantage that the plate  40  will be moving in the same lateral direction as the drawer  22 , thereby reducing or preferably eliminating relative movement between the plate  40  an the item being clamped or held by the drawer assembly  20 . 
         [0030]    It will be further appreciated that other means could be used to guide the movement of the plate  40  and that the drawer assembly is not limited to the use of pins and slots. For example and without limitation, the plate  40  could have a number of ribs along each side for engagement with complementary grooves formed in the casing  21  or vice-versa. 
         [0031]    The drawer  22  is, in the case of this example, in the form of a shallow tray supporting a sheet of foam in the form of a foam pad  24 . The shallow tray comprises a pair of side walls  25 ,  26  extending between a drawer front  23  and a rear wall  29  and a substantially flat floor  22   f  for supporting the foam pad  24 . The shallow tray of the drawer  22  may be molded as a single component from a rigid plastics material. 
         [0032]    The plate  40  is in the case of this example in the form of a shallow tray supporting a sheet of foam in the form of a foam pad  43 . The shallow tray comprises a pair of side walls  41  extending between a front wall  42   a  and a rear wall  42   b  and a substantially flat base  42   f  for supporting the foam pad  43 . The shallow tray of the plate  40  is molded as a single component from a rigid plastics material. Note that, in the case of this example, the width and length dimensions of the shallow tray of the plate  40  are slightly smaller than the corresponding width and length dimensions of the shallow tray of the drawer  22  and that because the plate  40  is housed within the casing  21  with clearance, the length and width dimensions of the plate  40  must also be less than corresponding internal dimensions of the casing  21 . 
         [0033]    When the plate  40  is moved to the lowered position, the foam pad  43  in this case just makes contact with the foam pad  24  supported by the drawer  22 . Movement of the plate  40  to the lowered position forms a press that operates as a platen to contact one or more items in the drawer  22 . However, it will be appreciated that there could be a small gap between the foam pads  43  and  24  in other embodiments. 
         [0034]    When an item is placed on top of the foam pad  24  of the drawer  22  and the drawer  22  is closed, in the disclosed embodiment, both foam pads  24 ,  43  will be compressed because the plate  40  is lowered. It is the compression of the two foam pads  24 ,  43  that holds an item located in the drawer  22  in position and not direct clamping by the plate  40 . 
         [0035]    It will be appreciated that there need only be one foam pad and that the foam pad or pads could be replaced by another compressible material. However, it is preferable if two foam pads are used and also desirable for the surfaces of the pads to be non-planar so that load is built up gradually as the plate  40  approaches the drawer  22 . The foam pads  24 ,  43  are preferably of an egg crate pattern as shown or are made from a material such as convoluted foam sheet. 
         [0036]    A clamping mechanism is provided to move the plate  40  towards the drawer  22 . The clamping mechanism comprises, in the case of this example, a pair of actuation levers  36  pivotally supported by the casing  21 , the pair of driven pins  31  extending outwardly from the side walls  41  of the plate  40  and complementary driving surfaces on the drawer  22  for engagement with the levers  36  in the form of a pair of driving pins  28  extending outwardly from the side walls  25 ,  26  of the drawer  22 . 
         [0037]    Each actuation lever  36  is pivotally supported by a pivot pin  35  engaged with an aperture formed in the casing  21  and has an elongate slot  38  formed near to one end with which a respective driven pin  31  is engaged. Rotation of the actuation lever  36  shown in  FIGS. 4 a  to 4 e    in a clockwise direction will cause the plate  40  to move towards the drawer  22  and vice-versa. It will be appreciated that a spring biasing device, e.g., one or more springs, (not shown) may be provided to bias the plate  40  away from the drawer  22 . The biasing device could be arranged to act directly on the shallow tray of the plate  40  or could be arranged to act on one or both of the actuation levers  36 . 
         [0038]    The plate  40  is biased into the raised position by the at least one spring biasing device and is moved towards the lowered position against the action of the spring biasing device by the clamping mechanism. 
         [0039]    One of the key features of the drawer assembly  20  is that the clamping mechanism may be constructed so that movement of the plate  40  towards the drawer  22 , that is to say in a lowering direction, does not commence until the drawer  22  has almost reached the fully closed position that is to say is within a predefined distance from the closed position. This feature may be important because, if the plate  40  were to be lowered too early during closing of the drawer  22 , there is a risk that an item resting on the foam pad  24  of the drawer  22  would be blocked from entering the casing  21  by a lowered or partially lowered plate  40 . It will be appreciated that when placed on the foam pad  24 , the item to be stored must not project above the drawer front  23  or side walls  25 ,  26  of the shallow tray otherwise it cannot enter through the aperture formed in the front wall  27  of the casing  21 . 
         [0040]    In order to produce this late activation of the activation mechanism, the distance “d” of each of the driving pins  28  from the outer face of the drawer front  23  (see  FIG. 4 a   ) in the case of this example is slightly greater than the distance “f” (shown on  FIG. 4 c   ) of an abutment surface on the respective actuation lever  36  from an outer surface of the front wall  27  of the casing  21  when the driving pins first make contact with the actuation levers  36 . The abutment surface on each actuation lever  36  is a surface against which the driving pin  28  reacts during lowering of the plate  40  from an outer surface of the front wall  27  of the casing  21 . 
         [0041]    It will be appreciated that the positioning of the driving pins  28  is based upon the location of the lever  36  and so if, for example, the levers  36  co-operated with the pins  33  instead of the pins  31  then the driving pins  28  would need to be positioned closer to the rear wall  29  of the shallow tray of the drawer  22 . It will also be appreciated that the rear wall  29  of the shallow tray of the drawer  22  could itself react directly against one or more levers. It will be further appreciated that the drawer assembly  20  is not limited to this clamping mechanism and that other mechanisms such as cam drives, gear drives, cable drives could be used to provide a similar functionality. 
         [0042]    With particular reference to  FIGS. 4 a -4 e   , operation of the drawer assembly  20  will now be described in greater detail. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 4 a    the drawer  22  is in the fully open position so that it projects outwardly away from the front wall  27  of the casing  21 . In this position it is easy for a user to place an item onto the foam pad  24  of the drawer  22  ready for storage. 
         [0044]    In  FIG. 4 b    the drawer  22  has been pushed towards the end wall  27  of the casing  21  by a user causing the drawer  22  to slide through the aperture in the front wall  27  of the casing  21  into a partially closed position. In this position there has been no contact between the driving pins  28  and the actuation levers  36  and so the plate  40  remains in a fully raised position. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 4 c    the drawer  22  has been slid into the casing  21  so that it is close to and approaches the closed position but still projects by a small amount from the front wall  27  of the casing  21 . The drawer  22  in this position has approached the fully closed position but is not fully closed and is said to be a predefined distance from the closed position. In this position the driving pins  28  have just come into contact with the abutment surfaces on the actuation levers  36  but no rotation of the actuation levers  36  has occurred about the pivot pins  35 . 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 4 d    the closing motion of the drawer  22  from the position shown in  FIG. 4 c    has continued as the drawer  22  is pushed by a user into the casing  21  and the drawer  22  is now less than the predefined distance from the closed position. The sliding of the drawer  22  further into the casing  21  causes the actuation levers  36  to be rotated in a clockwise direction about the pivot pins  35 , resulting in the driving pins  31  being displaced in the elongate slots  32 ,  38  and causing the plate  40  to move towards the drawer  22 . That is to say the plate  40  is moved in a clamping direction so as to be lowered from is fully raised position. 
         [0047]    As the drawer  22  is further slid into the casing  21  the plate  40  will continue to move in a clamping direction and this motion will cause the foam pad  43  of the plate  40  to contact the item being stored. Further lowering of the plate  40  as the drawer  22  is moved towards the closed position will cause the foam pads  24 ,  43  to be further compressed as the plate  40  moves towards the drawer  22  until eventually, as shown in  FIG. 4 e    the drawer  22  is in the closed position. In the closed position the outer surfaces of the end wall  27  of the casing  21  and the drawer front  23  are in the case of this embodiment substantially aligned. 
         [0048]    It will be appreciated that in practice a push-push latch or other type of latch mechanism may be provided to retain the drawer  22  in the fully closed position. Such latch mechanisms are well known and so no latch mechanism is shown in the figures to ease understanding of the drawer assembly. 
         [0049]    When the drawer  22  is released from the fully closed position, the steps referred to with respect to  FIGS. 4 a -4 e    occur in the reverse order so that initially the actuation levers  36  will rotate in an anticlockwise direction about their respective pivot pins  35  until the plate  40  has returned to its fully up position at which point the driving pins  28  lose contact with the actuating levers  36  and the drawer  22  will then move to its fully open position without causing any further movement of the plate  40 . 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated that the shallow trays of the drawer  22  and the plate  40  do not directly clamp any item placed in the drawer  22 . The holding force is provided by the compression of the two foam pads  24 ,  43 . This has the advantage that items of differing thickness can readily be accommodated by a drawer assembly  20  constructed in this manner. 
         [0051]    It will be appreciated that more than one item can be stored in the drawer assembly  20  at the same time and that in such a case the holding force applied to each item will be different if the items are not of the same thickness. 
         [0052]    One particularly advantageous use for the drawer assembly is for storing a mobile telephone, this is particularly the case if the drawer assembly includes non-contact charging means to recharge the mobile telephone. In such an embodiment the plate or the drawer would include an inductive charging coil that forms a charging circuit with a coil located within the mobile telephone when the mobile telephone is placed in close proximity to the charging coil and the charging coil is energized. It will be appreciated that in order for effective charging to take place, the mobile telephone needs to be maintained in close proximity to the charging coil during charging and that a drawer assembly constructed in accordance with this embodiment is able to provide the positional stability required for charging. 
         [0053]    Although in the case of the example shown, the structural support for the drawer and plate is provided by a casing so that the drawer assembly is in the form of a self-contained cassette unit that can be conveniently fitted to many parts of a motor vehicle interior such as, for example and without limitation, an instrument panel, a center console, a door casing or under a seat. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the structural support could be formed as part of the component to which the drawer is fitted. 
         [0054]    It will be appreciated that the drawer assembly shown and described herein is provided by way of example and that the invention is not limited to a drawer assembly of the relative dimensions and specific construction disclosed and that alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0055]    It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.