Vehicle centre consoles

A reversible pad is provided for use on a vehicle center console. The pad includes a first side provided with a utility surface, a second side provided with a luxury surface, and wherein the pad is configured to engage with a center console with either the first side or the second side uppermost.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to vehicle centre consoles and, in particular, to improvements relevant to vehicles used for carrying cargo.

BACKGROUND

Most vehicles are provided with a centre console which is frequently provided with some storage, typically with a hinged lid to access the contents.

When smaller vehicles are used for carrying cargo it is not unusual for long pieces of cargo to protrude through the centre of the vehicle between the driver and passenger's seats. These pieces of cargo are typically then rested on the centre console.

If the cargo is wet or dirty, it can damage the interior of the vehicle. In order to avoid damage, it is known to spread a tarpaulin or similar cover over the areas in contact with the cargo. However, it can be difficult to draw the covers through between the seats to protect the cargo and seats without the cover interfering with the gear lever and hand brake.

It is against this background that the present invention reversible pad and centre console have arisen.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is provided a reversible pad for a vehicle centre console. The pad comprises a first side provided with a utility surface, a second side provided with a luxury surface. The pad is configured to engage with a centre console with either the first side or the second side uppermost.

By providing a single pad that has a utility surface and a luxury surface, the pad can be reversed and put back in the same place providing a centre console that has the same configuration and functionality in all regards except the finish on the top surface, provided by the pad. This provides a notable advantage over systems which provide a removable luxury pad to be placed over the top of the existing centre console. Such a double layering can cause difficulties with accessibility to centre console storage and also the removable pad has to be placed somewhere else when not in use making it more likely to be lost or dirtied. The new and improved reversible pad and centre console address both of these problems.

The utility surface may include a waterproof fabric, a scratch resistant surface, a durable or wear resistant fabric or a surface combining more than one of these characteristics.

The luxury surface may include a leather surface, a suede surface or a soft or plush fabric surface.

The pad may engage with the centre console either via a lip provided on one or both sides or via one or more magnets.

The pad may further comprise a hinge mechanism that enables the pad to be transitioned between a configuration in which the first side is uppermost and a configuration in which the second side is uppermost. The hinge mechanism may comprise at least one arm to interface with the pad and at least one arm to interface with the centre console, a cross bar linking the two arms and an internal pin configured to enable the pad to be rotated by 180°. The arm to interface with the pad and the cross bar may be provided in a recessed position within the pad. The hinge mechanism may be provided with two substantially parallel arms to interface with the pad.

A pad may be incorporated into a centre console which may further comprise a storage box. The pad may provide a lid for the storage box.

Furthermore, there is provided a centre console for a vehicle, the centre console comprising a plurality of independently operable telescopic legs configured to provide continuous variation within a pre-defined range for the height of each part of the centre console. The telescopic legs can be configured to provide a tilted surface.

Furthermore, there is provided a centre console for a vehicle, the centre console comprising a plurality of hinged fins configured to fold out to protect adjacent seats. The fins may be further configured to secure a load placed thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a pad10which is configured for use as a lid for a storage box20provided as a centre console30. In this example, the pad10is substantially rectilinear and has a durable or utility surface12and a luxury surface14. The utility12and luxury14surfaces are provided on opposing sides of the pad10so that the pad10can be removed from the centre console30, flipped over and replaced with the other side facing upwards.

In order to retain the pad10in place on the storage box20, there are provided a set of four magnets16, one in the vicinity of each corner of the pad10. The storage box20is also provided with four magnets22and these are positioned such that when the pad10is correctly aligned, the magnets will meet and the pad10will be retained in position.

The four magnets16provided in the pad10and the four magnets provided in the storage box20may be visible, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Alternatively, they may be provided below the surface so that they are not visible.

FIG. 2also shows a pad10which is configured for use as a lid for a storage box20provided as a centre console. In this example, the pad10is provided with a lip18which is raised above the level of the surface of the pad. The storage box20is provided with an opening area24which is sized to mate with the lip18of the pad, thus securing the pad10in place on top of the storage box20.

FIGS. 3A-3Hshow the various aspects of a hinge mechanism40that can be deployed in conjunction with either of the pads10illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. The hinge mechanism40includes an arm42which interfaces with the pad10and an arm44which interfaces with the centre console30. Between these two arms42,44, there is provided a cross bar46. The cross bar46houses an internal pin48. The interface between arm42and the pad10is effected with a blanking plate41.

A side view of the hinge mechanism40is shown inFIG. 3Awhich shows the hinge mechanism40in the configuration that is adopted when the pad10is in contact with the centre console30. There is approximately a right angle between the arms42,44.

A front view of the hinge mechanism40is shown inFIG. 3B. The cross bar46includes a fixed side45and a pivot side47with the routing of the internal pin48shown in dashed line.

An elevated view of the hinge mechanism40is shown inFIG. 3C. This shows the fixed side45and pivot side47of the cross bar46together with the arm42for interfacing with the pad10together with the blanking plate41.

A rear view of the hinge mechanism40is shown inFIG. 3D. This shows the blanking plate41with the cross bar46extending away from it and the arm44for interfacing with the centre console extending below the blanking plate41.

FIG. 3Eshows a part perspective view of the hinge mechanism40.FIG. 3Eshows a spring ball valve49that is provided on the arm44for interfacing with the centre console30in order to achieve that interface. The centre console30is provided with a receiver32for the spring ball valve49. The spring ball valve49optimises the position of the pad10in its “home” or “resting” position. In an alternative embodiment, not separately illustrated, the spring ball valve49and receiver32may be omitted.

The series of imagesFIGS. 3F, 3G and 3Hillustrate the movements undertaken by the operative to change the pad10from the luxury side14to the utility side12. InFIG. 3Fthe luxury side14is uppermost. In order to change the configuration so that the utility side12is uppermost, the pad10is first lifted into an upright position as illustrated inFIG. 3Gand the pad10is then rotated in the horizontal direction by 180°. The durable or utility side12is then uppermost and the pad10can be closed down onto the centre console again as shown inFIG. 3H.

FIG. 3Ishows an alternative configuration in which further lateral stability is provided in the form of a second arm42A to interface with the pad10.

Although the examples shown inFIG. 3all have the entire hinge mechanism40exposed, in alternative embodiments, not illustrated, the arm42for interfacing with the pad10and the cross bar46could be recessed into the pad itself and therefore not visible to the user.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bshow the positions in which telescopic supports50can be provided, and the detail of an example of the support, respectively.FIG. 4Ashows a storage box20closed by a pad10. The points marked X and Y illustrate the positions of the telescopic supports50. If the points marked X are used this configuration has two telescopic supports50, whereas if the points marked Y are used this configuration has four telescopic supports50.

FIG. 4Bshows, schematically, a single simple telescopic support50. This particular example has four telescopic hoops52which fit concentrically when the support is at its lowest level. When the telescopic support50is required to increase the height of the upper surface of the pad, one or more of the four telescopic hoops52to drawn out to increase the overall height of the support. The telescopic support50can be locked in place in any position between the lowest, when all four hoops52are concentrically stowed, up to the maximum height when all four hoops52are fully drawn apart. Although this example shows four hoops52, more or fewer hoops can be used depending on the total maximum height required and the available space at minimum height.

FIGS. 5A-5DandFIGS. 6A-6Dshow four different configurations achieved in each of two different examples of the fitting of the telescopic supports50. InFIGS. 5A-5D, the supports50are located below the storage box20. InFIGS. 6A-6D, the supports50are located between the storage box20and the pad10.

FIGS. 5A and 6Ashow the respective centre consoles30with the supports50fully collapsed. This provides the lowest height of the pad10and occurs when all of the hoops in each telescopic support50are concentrically stacked.

FIGS. 5B and 6Bshow the respective centre consoles30with the supports50fully extended so that the maximum height of the pad10is provided.

FIGS. 5C-5D and 6C-6Dshow different tilt configurations. In order to provide a tilted surface of the pad10to support irregular shaped or delicate loads, two adjacent telescopic supports50are extended to a different height from the remaining two supports. The higher supports50may be provided to one side, for example, the driver's side of the vehicle or, alternatively, the higher supports may be provided in fore/aft direction. This later configuration is especially convenient where there is a requirement to arrest a load that may move in transit.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bshow a pad10which is further provided with a series of fins11that are provided on the durable side12. The fins11are hingeably attached to the pad and can be folded out when the durable side of the pad10is uppermost. The fins11are shown in their stowed position flush with the surface of the pad10inFIG. 7A.FIG. 7Bshows the configuration of the fins when they have been deployed. Some of the fins11fold out to positions adjacent to the driver and passenger seats and these fins11protect the fabric of the seat from the load. The fins11at the front of the pad10can be used to secure a load to prevent its ingress too far forward. AlthoughFIGS. 7A and 7Bshow all of the fins in the same condition: either stowed or deployed, the fins can be individually deployed and therefore the use of some of the fins without others is also contemplated.

In a further embodiment, not shown in the accompanying drawings, the functionality of the fins11can be provided by a plurality of guard rails which slide up from the storage box to protect the seat sides in a similar manner to the fins11. However, there would be no requirement to provide hinges as the guard rails would slide up and lock in place. The guard rails can be moved independently of one another and can be locked at differing heights as required in order to protect the load to be carried. The guard rails can be locked in place using a twist to lock mechanism which would allow the guard rail to be locked at any height, or, alternatively, the guard rail may be provided with a series of receivers for a spring ball valve so that the guard rail can be locked off in one of a plurality of discrete positions.

It will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to several embodiments it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and that alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.