Abstract:
A storage compartment or presenter includes a tray that is ejected from a vehicle panel when a door on the storage presenter is fully opened and recessed into a storage housing. In this way, the present invention presents objects stored in the storage compartment to a driver or passenger by deploying a storage tray allowing access to items stored therein. Thus, the present invention eliminates the difficulty in retrieving objects within the often times small confines available for in-panel storage compartments.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a storage compartment for use within a vehicle instrument panel, and, more particularly, to a vehicle storage presenter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Small storage compartments often exist within a vehicle interior in the cockpit area and are often times generally disposed on the vehicle instrument panel. In accessing these small storage compartments, it is difficult to retrieve the objects stored therein due to lack of accessibility given the confines of the storage compartments and the limited space found on the vehicle instrument panel. 
     The present invention provides a vehicle storage compartment that includes a tray that is ejected from the vehicle panel when a door on the storage compartment is fully opened and recessed into a storage housing. In this way, the present invention presents objects stored in the storage compartment to a driver or passenger outside of a storage housing. Thus, the present invention eliminates the difficulty in retrieving objects within the small confines available for in-panel storage compartments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle panel storage compartment or presenter comprising a housing, a storage tray and a door. The storage tray is slideably moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the housing. The door is slideably moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the housing and is further pivotably moveable relative to the housing. A flexible connector is disposed within the housing and operably couples to the door at a first end and operably couples to the tray at a second end. The storage tray and door are inversely slideable between stowed and deployed positions relative to the housing, such that as the door is stowed, the storage tray is deployed and vice versa. 
     Another aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle panel storage compartment or presenter comprising a housing which includes a cavity with a guide channel disposed therein. A storage tray is operable between stowed and deployed positions such that the tray is substantially enclosed within the cavity of the housing in the stowed position. A door is slideably moveable relative to the housing between stowed and deployed positions. A flexible connector is disposed within the guide channel and operably couples the door to the tray. The door further actuates the deployment of the tray simultaneously as the door is stowed. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle panel storage compartment or presenter comprising a flexible connector slideably movable relative to a housing and having a first end and a second end. A door is operably coupled to the connector at the first end of the connector and a storage tray is operably coupled to the connector at the second end. The storage tray and the door are slideably moveable relative to the housing in an inverse relationship, such that as the door is stowed, the storage tray is deployed and vice versa. 
     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 DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage presenter as found in a vehicle instrument panel according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the storage presenter in the closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the storage presenter in an open position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the storage presenter in an open position; 
         FIG. 5A  is a side elevational view of the storage presenter in an open position; 
         FIG. 5B  is a side elevational view of the storage presenter in an open position, illustrating relative movement of the storage presenter; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the storage presenter in an open position; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the storage presenter in an open position, illustrating relative movement of the storage presenter; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a storage presenter; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a door, flexible connector, and tray assembly of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be construed as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the reference numeral  10  generally designates a storage presenter of the present invention disposed in a vehicle instrument panel or dashboard  2  as found in a vehicle passenger compartment  4 . The vehicle instrument panel  2  has a central section  6  and the storage presenter  10  is disposed to the left of the central panel section  6  on the vehicle instrument panel  2 . In this embodiment, the storage presenter  10  is shown as a vertical storage presenter and further includes an access door  12  having an elevated tab  14 . 
     The access door  12  pivots relative to a storage presenter housing  16  as further described below. Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the storage presenter  10  is shown removed from, the vehicle instrument panel  2 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The housing  16  comprises a top wall  18 , first and second side walls  20  and  21  and a bottom wall  22 . Housing  16  further comprises a rear wall  24  and a front lip or rim  26 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the housing  16  is assembled such that first and second sidewalls  20  and  21  are laterally disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with top wall  18 , bottom wall  22  and rear wall  24  connecting the first and second side walls  20  and  21  to form a cavity  30 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the housing  16  is assembled in a generally U-shaped configuration having a curved rear portion along rear wall  24 . 
     The front rim  26 , a shown in  FIG. 2 , comprises a front wall  27  and a rear wall  28 , wherein the rear wall  28  is configured to abut a vehicle instrument panel  2 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , in assembly. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front rim  26  of the housing  16  circumvents the access door  12  completely. The access door  12  has an upper portion  31  and a lower portion  32 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the access door  12  is in a closed position A. The access door is pivotable between the closed position A ( FIG. 2 ) and an open position B (as indicated by arrow C in  FIG. 3 ). The access door  12  pivots with respect to the housing  16  at a pivot point disposed near the upper portion  31  of the access door  12 . Tab  14  disposed on the lower portion  32  of the access door  12  provides an engagement point for the user to engage and pivot the access door  12  from the closed position A to the open position B, thereby exposing storage cavity  30 . The access door  12  is slideably movable relative to the housing  16 , as further described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a storage tray  40  is shown in a stowed position, wherein the storage tray is substantially enclosed within the cavity  30  of the housing  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the storage tray  40  is slideably movable relative to the housing  16  and is shown here in a deployed position. The storage tray  40  is moved to the deployed position, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when the access door  12  is slideably pushed into the housing  16  by the user as further described below. The storage tray  40  comprises a front lip  42 , a bottom wall  44 , and side walls  45 ,  46 . Together, the front lip  42 , bottom wall  44 , and side walls  45 ,  46  make up a storage cavity  48  wherein a user of the storage presenter  10  can store an item for retrieval. 
     Referring now to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , the vehicle storage presenter  10  is shown with side walls  20 ,  21  (shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ) of housing  16  removed to show the sliding storage tray  40  disposed within the storage cavity  30  of the storage presenter  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the storage tray  40  further comprises a rear wall  47 , which helps to retain items stored in the storage tray  40 . The storage presenter  10  further comprises a flexible connector or sliding track  50  which is operably coupled to the door  12  and the storage tray  40  and is disposed within the housing  16 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , the flexible connector  50  is disposed between the housing  16  on the storage presenter&#39;s top wall  18  and an interior guide  52  which retains the flexible connector  50  in a guide channel  54  disposed between the interior guide  52  and the top wall  18 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , the interior guide  52  has a similar U-shaped configuration as exterior housing  16 , such that the height and width of the guide channel  54  is relatively consistent. As shown in  FIG. 5A , the storage tray  40  is in a recessed or stowed position D within the storage cavity  30 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5B , the access door  12  is shown in a stowed or recessed position as having been slideably pushed into the guide channel  54  of the housing  16  by the user in a path indicated by arrows F. As the door  12  is slideably recessed into the guide channel  54  of the housing  16 , the flexible connector  50  is also moved within the guide channel  54 , thereby urging the storage tray  40  into a deployed position E. Thus, when in the deployed position, the storage tray  40  presents items stored therein to the user. When the user wishes to retract the storage tray  40  into the storage cavity  30  of the storage presenter  10 , the user may engage the lower portion  32  of the access door  12  and pull the access door  12  out to the deployed position shown in  FIG. 5A . As the access door  12  is pulled out to a deployed position, the flexible connector  50  will pull the storage tray  40  into the storage cavity  30  until the storage tray  40  hits a guide stop  56  disposed at the end of the interior guide  52 . Alternately, the user may push the storage tray  40  into the housing  16 , thereby sliding the door  12  from the housing  16  to the deployed position, as shown in  FIG. 5A  from which the door  12  can pivot and close the storage presenter  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the upper portion  31  of the access door  12  is coupled to the sliding track  50  at a junction wherein a living hinge  58  is disposed. In this way, the access door  12  is pivotable relative to the housing  16  at the site of the living hinge  58  when the door  12  is in the deployed or extended position. The elevated tab or finger tab  14  disposed on the lower portion  32  of the access door  12  serves as a door stop, which assures that the door  12  is not fully recessed into the guide channel  54 , such that the lower portion  32  of access door  12  is accessible to the user to pull the access door  12  from the housing  16 , stow the storage tray  40  and close the storage presenter  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the deployment of the storage tray  40  is again illustrated by the actuation of the access door  12 . In this way, the storage tray  40  presents to the user items stored within the storage cavity  48  of the storage tray  40 . In  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the housing  16  is shown in phantom. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the storage presenter  10  is shown in an exploded view with the housing  16  in phantom. Flexible connector  50  is shown having a first end  60  and a second end  61 . The flexible connector  50  is sized to fit within the guide channel  54  formed by the interior guide  52  and the housing  16 . The flexible connector  50  is comprised of a flexible material that allows the flexible connector  50  to conform to the U-shaped configuration of the storage presenter  10 . The flexible connector  50 , while flexible, retains enough rigidity to move the storage tray  40  to a deployed position when the access door  12  is recessed into the housing guide channel  54  without deformation of the flexible connector  50 . The flexible connector  50  maybe comprised of a polymeric material which allows it to retain sufficient rigidity to move with the access door  12  and storage tray  40 , yet conform to the overall U-shaped configuration of the storage presenter  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the flexible connector  50  has a first side  63 , a second side  64  and first and second ends  60 ,  61 . The flexible connector  50  is operably coupled to the upper portion  31  of the access door  12  at first end  60 . At the junction of the access door  12  and the flexible connector  50 , a living hinge  58  is disposed which allows the access door  12  to be pivotable in relation to the housing in assembly. Second end  61  of the flexible connector  50  is operably coupled to the storage tray  40  at or near the intersection of rear wall  47  and the bottom wall  44  of the storage tray  40 . The second end  61  of the flexible connector  50  connects to the storage tray  40  at junction point  59 . It is contemplated that the access door  12 , the flexible connector  50  and the storage tray  40  can all be comprised of a unitary polymeric member. Also, it is contemplated that the flexible connector  50  can be attached to the storage tray  40  at junction point  59  in a manner such that the storage tray  40  is removable from the flexible connector  50  for ease of assembly of the storage presenter as well as to allow for removing and cleaning of the storage tray  40 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 8 , the flexible connector  50  can flex to correlate to the U-shaped configuration of the storage presenter housing  16  (as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ), such that first end  60  of the flexible connector  50  is disposed in a generally vertically spaced-apart relationship above second end  61  of the flexible connector  50  in assembly. In this way, the body portion of the flexible connector  50 , disposed between first end  60  and second end  61 , forms the U-shaped portion of the flexible connector  50  for use in the storage presenter  10  of the present invention. The flexible connector  50  is slideably engaged with respect to the housing in such a way that the access door  12  and the storage tray  14  are inversely slideable between stowed and deployed positions relative to the housing. Thus, the access door  12  actuates the deployment of the storage tray  40  to a deployed position when the access door  12  is pushed by the user to a stowed position within the housing  16 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . Inversely, as the storage tray is moved to a stowed position as shown in  FIG. 6A , the access door  12  slideably moves relative to the housing  16  to a deployed position where the access door  12  is pivotable in relation to the housing  16  to open and close the storage presenter  10 . With the storage tray  40  and the access door  12  being slideably movable relative to the housing  16  in an inverse relationship, the stowing of either the access door  12  or storage tray  40  actuates the deployment of the other and vice versa. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the flexible connector  50  is an elongate flexible connector which resides in a guide channel  54  disposed within the housing  16 . It is further contemplated that the flexible connector  50  can reside within the housing  16  of the storage presenter  10  without an interior guide  52  or guide channel  54 . In such a configuration, a support guide would be disposed near the lip or rim  26  of the housing  16  to positively capture the door  12  and flexible connector  50  near the top wall  18  of the housing  16 . Similarly, a guide would also be installed near the location of the guide stop  56 , as shown in  FIG. 5B , to positively retain the flexible connector  50  against the bottom wall  22  of the housing  16 . This guide insert would also serve as an abutment for the storage tray  40  when the storage tray  40  is in the stowed position D, as shown in  FIG. 5A . Thus, it is contemplated that the flexible connector  50  retains a certain amount of rigidity, such that it will conform to the U-shaped configuration of the storage presenter  10  even when a fully encapsulating interior guide channel is not present. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.