Abstract:
A vehicle console with unique utilitarian features. One feature includes a table member that extends from a compartment to provide at least a writing surface. Another feature includes a slideable armrest and tray device. The tray device includes a rotatable tray that alternately provides a tray and a writing surface. Yet another feature is a storage compartment that can be opened by rotating the compartment about an axis.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to vehicle consoles and in particular to one that provides novel storage and writing surface features.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     For the past 100 years, consumers have accepted automobiles as a viable means of daily transportation. In the most recent 50 years, daily commuters have spent more time in automobiles and have come to expect more utility from the interior space of an automobile. Automobile manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers are constantly seeking to meet customer demand for greater utility in a vehicle interior. As competition for a limited market increases and most automobiles are accepted as providing comparable levels of quality and safety, features such as cockpit comfort, utility, and driveability are increasingly important factors in differentiating automobiles.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a vehicle console that includes a compartment moveable between an open position and a closed position and a table member. The table member is coupled to the compartment and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The table member is generally parallel to at least one of the sidewalls when in the retracted position. The table member provides a writing surface when in the extended position.  
         [0004]     In another embodiment, a vehicle console includes a fixed base selectively coupled to a vehicle and an armrest. The armrest is slideably coupled to the base and moveable between an armrest fore position and an armrest aft position. The vehicle console further includes a tray device that is slideably coupled to at least the base. The tray device is moveable between a tray extended position and a tray retracted position. The tray device includes a writing surface.  
         [0005]     In a further embodiment, a rotatable storage device for vehicle includes an interior member defining a console cavity and a generally cylindrical housing. The housing is selectively interposed at least partially within the console cavity. The housing has a housing axis and an outer surface. The housing is rotatable about the housing axis. The outer surface is defined by at least one aperture. The housing defines at least one storage compartment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle console.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vehicle console of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a compartment in an open position.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vehicle console of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a table member in an extended position.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the vehicle console of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the console of  FIG. 4 , illustrating an armrest in an aft position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tray of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the console of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a vehicle console with a rotatable storage compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a sectional side view of the compartment of  FIG. 8 , taken along line  8 - 8 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]      FIGS. 1-3  show an embodiment of a vehicle console  20 . The vehicle console  20  is especially adapted to be positioned between seats (not shown) of an automobile (not shown). The vehicle console  20  includes a body portion  22  having an opening  24  with a slideable compartment  26 . Compartment  26  is moveable in a longitudinal direction L within the opening  24  between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and an open position ( FIG. 2 ). As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , compartment  26  includes a front wall  28 , and sidewalls  30 ,  32 . The sidewall  30  includes a recessed portion  36  with slide channels  38  formed therein, and a table member  40  hindgeably attached thereto. Table member  40  includes a pair of shaft ends  44  extending generally in longitudinal direction L therefrom and defining a shaft axis A-A.  
         [0017]     With continual reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , shaft ends  44  are interposed into slide channels  38 , allowing table member  40  to translate in a vertical direction V from a table retracted position ( FIG. 2 ) to a table interim position (illustrated in phantom as P in  FIG. 3 ). Shaft ends  44  are preferably rounded to allow table member  40  to rotate about axis A-A from the table interim position to the table extended position ( FIG. 3 ). Axis A-A extends generally in longitudinal direction L. While the cooperation of slide channels  38  and shaft ends  44  are described as guiding members translating within a grooved area, it would be appreciated that equivalent coupling arrangements that allow relative translation could also be utilized.  
         [0018]     Table member  40  further includes a writing surface  48  that is positioned generally in a vertical plane when table member  40  is in the table retracted position, and generally in a horizontal plane when table member  40  is in the table extended position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates vehicle console  20  with table member  40  in the table retracted position such that table member  40  is generally vertical and permits compartment  26  to move between the open position ( FIG. 2 ) and the closed position ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0020]      FIGS. 4, 5  and  7  illustrate the vehicle console  20  to further include a base  62  with an armrest  64 , and a tray device  66  slideably attached thereto. Base  62  is illustrated in  FIG. 4  to include a track  70 , that extends in a longitudinal direction L, for guiding armrest  64  as armrest  64  translates from an armrest aft position ( FIG. 5 ) and an armrest fore position ( FIG. 4 ). Base  62  further includes a bottom portion  72 , a generally tubular body portion  74 ( FIG. 4 ), a front end  76 , and a rear portion  78 . Armrest  64  slides over body portion  74  when in the armrest aft position.  
         [0021]     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , tray device  66  includes a frame  84  and a tray  86 . Frame  84  at least partially encloses four sides of tray  86  and rotatably supports tray  86  about an axis T-T. Frame  84  includes a top surface  90 , a forward portion  92 , lateral portions  94 , and a rearward portion  96 . Tray  86 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , includes a forward side  102 , lateral sides  104 , a rear side  106 , and a bottom  108 . Bottom  108  includes a writing surface  110 .  
         [0022]     Lateral sides  104  of tray  86  include axial coupling members  114 , and lateral portions  94  of frame  84  include attachment members  116 . As will be appreciated, axial coupling members  114  and attachment members  116  cooperate to permit tray  86  to rotate about axis T-T (see  FIG. 6 ) at least between a writing position, wherein writing surface  110  is generally flush with top surface  90  ( FIG. 5 ), and a tray position, where tray  86  is rotated on axis T-T about 180° from the writing position. Tray device  66  is moveable between an extended position ( FIG. 5 ) and a retracted position ( FIG. 7 ) where tray device  66  is retracted, at least partially, into body portion  74 .  
         [0023]     When tray device  66  is in the retracted position and armrest  62  is in the aft position, console  20  provides a compact console when desired and tray device  66  is covered by armrest  62 . When tray device  66  is in the extended position and armrest  62  is in the aft position ( FIG. 5 ), tray  86  may be rotated about the T-T axis. When tray device  66  is in the extended position and armrest  62  is in the fore position ( FIG. 4 ), tray  86  is covered by armrest  62  and armrest  62  provides a moveable support, when desired.  
         [0024]     When tray  86  is in the tray position, articles can be stored in tray  86 . When tray  86  is in the writing position, writing surface  110  can be used to support various objects, such as a pad of paper to permit an operator to write thereon.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate an embodiment of the vehicle console  20  to further include a rotatable storage device  142 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 9 , vehicle console  20  includes a recessed portion  148  having a partially cylindrical surface  150 . Storage device  142  includes a center web  154  connecting a pair of circular side members  156  and a pair of side rails  158 . Side members  156  are rotatably mounted about an axis C-C to console  20  such that storage device  142  is permitted to rotate freely about axis C-C. Side rails  158  define a generally tubular outer surface  160 .  
         [0026]     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , storage device  142  provides a pair of storage compartments  170 ,  172 . Storage compartments  170 ,  172  are open at opposing regions of storage device  142 . Side rails  158  and side members  156  define a pair of apertures  176 ,  178  that provide access to storage compartments  170 ,  172 . As illustrated, storage compartment  170  may be accessed, as aperture  176  is visible in  FIG. 8 . Also as illustrated, storage compartment  172  is closed, where access is not permitted. When storage device  142  is rotated about 180° from the position illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , storage compartment  172  may be accessed, while storage compartment  170  is closed.  
         [0027]     As will be appreciated, additional webs of a circular section when viewed along axis C-C may be provided with storage device  142  between side members  156  to further subdivide storage device  142  in more than two storage compartments. Also, the vehicle console  20  may be provided with any or all of the features of the present invention, as described in the embodiments presented herein.  
         [0028]     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.