Abstract:
A storage system for a vehicle, including housing, which at least partially surrounds a storage compartment, and at least one storage tray at least partially disposed in the storage compartment. The storage tray is designed to be able to slide with respect to the housing.

Description:
[0001]    This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to German Patent Application No. 10 2015 214 220.5, which was filed in Germany on Jul. 28, 2015, and which is herein incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a storage system for a vehicle. 
         [0004]    Description of the Background Art 
         [0005]    Storage systems for vehicles are known in various designs. 
         [0006]    GB 2 255 061 A, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,848, shows an interior part. This interior part is inserted into a center console of vehicles. The interior part has a cover, under which beverage holders are located. The beverage holders and the cover are each rotatably supported around a separate axis. 
         [0007]    EP 1 120 314 A2 shows a container for vehicles. The container is used to receive objects, such as chip cards or magnetic stripe cards. Before the objects can be placed in the container by a person, a cover must be pivoted open. This cover is pivoted laterally past the housing of the container. The pivoting action moves a mechanism that extends a movable holding element. 
         [0008]    DE 101 39 867 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,319, discloses a storage pocket in a vehicle. In the storage pocket, a storage shell may be pivoted around a hinge axis. The storage pocket may be closed with the aid of a cover. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is therefore an of the invention to make better use of the space available in a storage pocket. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, a storage system for a vehicle is provided in that a storage tray is designed to be able to slide with respect to the housing. This results in the advantage that better use may be made of the volume of storage compartments. 
         [0011]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an unlocking device is present for locking and unlocking the storage tray with respect to the housing. An unlocking device is used to lock and unlock the storage tray with respect to the housing or with respect to the storage compartment. The unlocking device has the advantage that it holds the storage tray in at least one locking position with respect to the housing or with respect to the storage compartment. In this locking position, objects may be comfortably and safely placed in the storage tray or removed therefrom. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the invention, a telescopic element is provided for the purpose of at least partially transporting the storage tray out of the storage compartment or out of the surrounding housing. Telescopic elements are use to transport the storage tray out of or into the storage compartment or the housing. If the storage tray of a storage system slides in the storage compartment with little friction, it may be comfortably transported out of the storage compartment or out of the housing at least partially surrounding the storage compartment mechanically or electrically by hand. Telescopic elements thus assist the user. Indeed, they also lift heaving objects out of the housing. The advantage is that even heavy objects may be stored in the storage compartment, since they are lifted out of the depths of the storage compartment without much application of force. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the telescopic element can include a rod guide. The storage tray should also be able to absorb high forces, since it is possible for the storage tray, which is at least partially extended out of the storage compartment, to be quickly and abruptly pushed back into the storage compartment or the housing while the car is being driven. The advantage of rod guides is their stability and reliability during low-friction sliding. 
         [0014]    If the rod guide is formed from a carriage, in which two rods are guided, and a tension spring, the telescopic element has a particularly favorable, robust and straightforward design. This design therefore makes it easier for people to remove the storage tray themselves, if necessary. The advantage is that the storage tray may be easily removed, if necessary, for the purpose of cleaning. 
         [0015]    An advantage of the aforementioned tension spring is that, in a suitable arrangement and configuration, the storage tray may be removed from the storage compartment or from the housing by the tension spring against the force of gravity. The tension spring is tensioned accordingly when the storage tray is pushed into the storage compartment. The storage tray may thereby automatically move out of the storage compartment or the surrounding housing. The advantage is that the storage tray is thus easily operated mechanically. In mechanisms of this type, a plurality of tension springs may also be advantageously installed. The advantage is that the total spring force may be variably set with the aid of the number of tension springs. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment of the invention, a silicone brake can be provided for braking the velocity of the telescopic element. The telescopic element may thereby be comfortably inserted into the housing against the force of the tension spring. The silicone brakes the telescopic element during its movement. The advantage of a silicone brake is that the storage tray is removed comfortably, easily and gently from the storage compartment or from the housing. A person is not unpleasantly surprised by a storage tray shooting out of the storage compartment. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment of the invention, the storage tray has at least two storage pockets. Due to a plurality of storage pockets, the user has the advantage of being able to differentiate the storage of objects, as desired. Two storage pockets are can be provided, disposed one above the other. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment of the invention, the storage pockets furthermore have one or multiple, for example, removable storage shells. When the removable storage shells are inserted into the storage pockets, this has the advantage that the storage pockets are easier to clean, since the storage shells may be removed from the storage pockets for easy cleaning. The storage shells may have different structures and purposes, as desired. The storage pockets, and thus the storage tray, therefore have multifunctional uses. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment of the invention, an armrest is provided for opening and closing the housing. The advantage is that, in a use position of the armrest, a person may comfortably rest their arm on the armrest. As a result, no more objects may unintentionally fall out of the storage compartment. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment of the invention, the armrest is part of the aforementioned unlocking device. In many cases, armrests are already secured by a closing apparatus. Without the opening thereof, armrests are unable to be rotated or flipped up. If the armrest is part of the unlocking device of the storage tray, the storage tray can be automatically extended when the armrest is opened. The advantage is that a person must only release a safety lock in order to unlock the storage system. A rapid depositing of and search for objects is thus possible. 
         [0021]    The armrest can be movable out of its use position, at least one of the storage pockets, in particularly the upper storage pocket, can be slidingly transported out of the storage compartment during this movement. In a storage system according to the invention, a plurality of storage pockets may be consecutively transported in a sliding manner in a continuous transport system. The plurality of storage pockets of the storage tray divides up the space of the storage compartment through which they pass. If a storage compartment of a vehicle is subdivided by a storage tray having a plurality of storage pockets, objects may be stored in different storage pockets. They are separated from each other thereby. The advantage of the separate storage, is that the principle of “toss it in, and you&#39;ll never find it again,” the so-called pocketbook effect, is avoided. Deep and cluttered storage compartments in housings are efficiently made usable by the storage system. Indeed, searching through the depths of the storage compartment or the at least partially surrounding housing is dispensed with. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment of the invention, a roller is provided for transferring the weight of the armrest and compressive forces. The roller transfers the weight of the armrest, and possibly a compressive force applied by a person, to the armrest to the storage tray. 
         [0023]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes, combinations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of one exemplary embodiment of a storage system according to the invention in an opened position of the housing and the storage compartment, including the storage tray in an access position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a storage system according to the invention in a closed position of the housing and the storage compartment, including the storage tray in a stowed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a storage system  10  according to the invention. 
         [0028]    Storage system  10  may also be referred to as a paternoster system or paternoster storage tray. Its purpose is the efficient use of a limited storage compartment space. Storage system  10  is based on the principle of a paternoster elevator. Paternoster elevators have a plurality of elevator cabins, which move one after the other, i.e., serially, by a moving device. The special feature of these system is that they are moved by the moving device toward a removal opening or into a removal opening. 
         [0029]    Storage system  10  according to the invention comprises a carrier  20  forming a housing  21 , a storage compartment  25  surrounding housing  21 , an armrest  70  closing storage compartment  25 , a storage tray  30  slidingly disposed in storage compartment  25 , an unlocking device  40  as well as a telescopic element  50  and a roller  60 . Carrier  20  is a center console of a vehicle. A center console of this type is typically disposed between the two front seats of a vehicle for the purpose, among other things, of providing storage compartments  25 . 
         [0030]    In other exemplary embodiments, carrier  20 , which forms a housing  21 , may also be another component of an interior trim of motor vehicles, for example, door paneling, side paneling, floor paneling, instrument panels, roof liners or center armrests of bench seats. 
         [0031]    In housing  21 , storage tray  30  slides in storage compartment  25  with respect to housing  21 . Storage tray  30  is a lifting tray. Storage tray  30  is constructed as a frame, in which recesses are formed in the form of two storage pockets  32   a ,  32   b , so that the storage space of storage tray  30  is divided into two storage pockets  32   a ,  32   b.    
         [0032]    Alternatively, in other exemplary embodiments, the recesses may be openings, bores, indentations or embossed areas, which give a storage compartment a particular shape. The purpose of this shape may be tailored to particular objects or act as a general storage tray area. 
         [0033]    A storage shell  34  is removably inserted in lower storage pocket  30  in  FIG. 1 . This makes it possible to store objects  36  either directly in storage pockets  32   a ,  32   b  or in storage shell  34 . Storage shell  34  may have different regions, whose contours, shapes and haptics make it easier to stow ordinary objects  36 . 
         [0034]    In one exemplary embodiment, a storage shell  34  is divided, for example, into a pen holder, a coin holder and a compartment for mobile phones. 
         [0035]    Unlocking device  40  comprises a hook  42 , a pushbutton  44  and a mechanism  46 . In an exemplary embodiment, hook  42  is part of storage tray  30 . For this purpose, it is introduced into the back of storage tray  30  and connected to pushbutton  44  with the aid of mechanism  46 . In this exemplary embodiment, this mechanism  46  includes a compression spring and an action, which transmits a press-in motion of pushbutton  44  into a retraction of hook  42  into the frame of storage tray  30 . Telescopic element  50  is released by the retraction of hook  42 . 
         [0036]    Telescopic element  50  includes a rod guide  52 . Rod guide  52  includes two rods  54 , which run freely side-by-side or one after the other in a carriage  56 . The movement results from the spring force of a tension spring  57 . The movement is braked by a silicone brake  58 , so that storage tray  30  slides out of housing  21  in storage compartment  25  gently and without jerking. 
         [0037]    Alternatively, telescopic element  50  may also be a small hydraulic or pneumatic system, which may be controlled, for example electrically, via a control unit and an operating unit in the center console of the vehicle. 
         [0038]    At the upper end of telescopic element  50 , a cap  59  is screwed to each of the two rods  34 . A groove is milled into cap  59 . A roller  60  is supported therein with the aid of an axle. In an exemplary embodiment, roller  60  is made of soft rubber, so that it is able to roll effectively along the underside of armrest  70  disposed above it. Armrest  70  is supported, rotatable around an axis  72 , on housing  21  or on its carrier  20 . 
         [0039]    In use, storage tray  30  may be comfortably used by a person for stowing objects  36 . Two storage pockets  32   a ,  32   b  are available to the person via storage tray  30 , an upper storage pocket  32   a  and a lower storage pocket  32   b.    
         [0040]    In an exemplary embodiment, upper storage pocket  32   a  is directly accessible, since storage system  10  does not have armrest  70  closing storage compartment  25 . In this exemplary embodiment, storage system  10  may be readily unlocked by pressing pushbutton  44 . The compressive force of a person upon pushbutton  44  is translated into an unlocking of unlocking device  50  with the aid of a mechanism  46 . 
         [0041]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , mechanism  46  includes a spring, which presses hook  42  out of the frame of storage tray  30 . Hook  42  thus engages beneath carriage  56 , so that the free movement of rod guide  52  is hindered. Since rods  54  of rod guide  52  are glued, pressed or otherwise fastened to storage tray  30  by their lower end, storage tray  30  remains inserted in storage compartment  25  or in surrounding housing  21 . Pressing pushbutton  44  causes hook  42  to be drawn into the frame of storage tray  30 , so that rod guide  52  is able to move freely. 
         [0042]    The forces of tension springs  57  are introduced into carriage  56  by hook  42 . The advantage of a hook  42 , which engages with carriage  56 , is that unlocking device  40  is locked by hook  42  in the position at which forces are introduced. As a result, no torques occur, which wedge storage tray  30  in its inserted stowing position  39  and which interfere with or prevent it from traveling outward. 
         [0043]    In the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 1 , an armrest  70  is rotatably supported on housing  21 . Armrest  70  may close storage compartment  25  and upper storage pocket  32   a  toward the top. In  FIG. 1 , however, armrest  70  is illustrated in a raised position  74 , in which it provides access to storage compartment  25  in housing  21 . Armrest  70  is secured against carrier  20  of housing  21  by a closure device, so that it is unable to flip up without a person opening the closure device. When armrest  70  is closed, armrest  70  presses against roller  60  by its weight  80 . Roller  60  conducts this weight  80  to tension springs  57  via storage tray  30 . Since weight  80  of armrest  70 , together with the compressive force applied by a person, is greater than the tensile force of tension springs  57 , storage tray  30  then moves into its stowing position  39  in storage compartment  25  in housing  21 . 
         [0044]    Storage system  10  has two end positions.  FIG. 1  shows access position  38  for objects  36 . In this access position  38 , storage tray  30  is partially extended from storage compartment  25 , namely relating to upper storage pocket  32   a . Lower storage pocket  32   b  is raised into the opening area of storage compartment  25 , so that an easy and independent access to both storage pockets  32   a ,  32   b  results in access position  38  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows the second end position, stowing position  39 .  FIG. 2  shows a second exemplary embodiment, having a similar design, of a storage system  10  according to the invention in stowing position  39 . In stowing position  39 , i.e., when storage tray  30  is in storage compartment  25  in housing  21 , hook  42  engages behind carriage  56 , so that storage tray  30  remains inserted. 
         [0046]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , storage system  10  has an armrest  70 . The latter is flipped down in an armrest use position  76 , so that its weight bears down on storage tray  30  via roller  60 . The closure device of armrest  70  is on its front side, which has a rounded engagement for the hand of a person. Objects  36  are placed in the two storage shells  34  in the two storage pockets  32   a ,  32   b . Rod guide  52  is concealed behind a trim panel  82 . Tension springs  57  are tensioned. 
         [0047]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.