Abstract:
An overhead storage bin comprises a storage bin bezel, a door movable in relation to the storage bin bezel between a closed position and an opened position, a storage compartment accessible by a vehicle passenger when the door is in the opened position, and a lamp carried by the storage bin bezel, the lamp being focused to the storage compartment when the door is in the open position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to interior vehicle assemblies and consoles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular storage bin for use with a powerstrip within a configurable module console of a vehicle.  
         [0002]     Modern vehicles typically include an overhead console assembly. The overhead console assembly is generally an elongated structure disposed along a center longitudinal axis of a headliner. The headliner includes an upper surface mounted to an interior roof structure of the vehicle and a lower surface having an overlay applied thereon. The overhead console assembly is mounted to the lower surface and provides additional storage space for items, such as eyeglasses, garage door openers, audio cassettes, and compact discs. The overhead console assembly also may provide amenities or electronic accessories, such as overhead lights, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system (HVAC) controls, audio and video displays and controls, compasses, and temperature displays.  
         [0003]     Overhead console assemblies have evolved to support a series of modules for storing and containing the above-stated items and accessories. Such modules are typically limited in use in that they are incapable of being repositioned relative to each other without completely rebuilding the console assemblies. Fixed modules restrict passengers from rearranging the position of the modules based on driver and passenger preferences.  
         [0004]     Modular overhead console assemblies have been created to allow for physical relocating of overhead storage modules. Some assemblies even permit electronic modules to be relocated. However, such assemblies do not address the need to direct light to items and accessories stored in storage modules without illuminating the entire vehicle.  
         [0005]     Thus, there exists a need for an improved configurable module console that allows for the relocating or repositioning of a modular storage bin and the provision of light directly to the storage bin without illuminating the entire vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is directed towards an overhead storage bin for a vehicle that meets the foregoing needs. The overhead storage bin according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a storage bin bezel, a door movable in relation to the storage bin bezel between a closed position and an opened position, a storage compartment accessible by a vehicle passenger when the door is in the opened position, and a lamp carried by the storage bin bezel, the lamp being focused to the storage compartment when the door is in the open position.  
         [0007]     Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be had to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying figures and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a bottom, rear perspective view of a modular storage bin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and powerstrip of a vehicle;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the modular storage bin and the powerstrip shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial sectional elevational view of the modular storage bin and the powerstrip shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional exploded rear perspective view of the modular storage bin and a lamp module bezel for support therein;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the lamp module bezel shown in  FIG. 4  and a switch paddle supported for pivotal movement relative to the lamp module bezel.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded partial front perspective view of the lamp module bezel and the switch paddle shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0015]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are partial sectional side perspective views of the modular storage bin and the powerstrip shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , with the modular storage bin door closed and opened, respectively, to make and break a switch contact. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     In each of the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components. While the present invention is described primarily with respect to a modular storage bin for use with a powerstrip within a configurable overhead module console for a vehicle, the present invention may be adapted to various vehicle consoles including fore, center, and aft located consoles, and other vehicle consoles known in the art. The present invention may be applied to ground-based vehicles, aeronautical vehicles, watercraft, and other vehicle applications known in the art.  
         [0017]     In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for one constructed embodiment. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , partial perspective views of a configurable overhead module console  10  of a vehicle is shown. The overhead console  10  includes a vehicle overhead powerstrip  12  and a modular storage bin  14  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The modular storage bin  14  may be manually removed from the powerstrip  12  and rearranged in various positions relative to the powerstrip  12  and other modules as desired by vehicle passengers. Moreover, the modular storage bin  14  may be moved relative to the powerstrip  12  without losing electrical contact with the powerstrip  12 . An example of the powerstrip  12  in cooperation with the modular storage bin  14  is shown in with respect to  FIG. 3  and described in detail in the description hereinbelow.  
         [0019]     The modular storage bin  14  may be of various types, styles, shapes, and sizes. The modular storage bin  14  may include a storage compartment  16 , such as an eyeglass holder, a garage door opener holder, and audio cassette, CD, and DVD holder, as well as other storage compartments known in the art. The modular storage bin  14  may further include a light assembly  18  for casting light on the storage compartment  16 .  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a partial sectional view of the modular storage bin  14  and the powerstrip  12  of the overhead module console  10  is shown. The overhead module console  10  includes an upper track  20  and a lower track  22 . The modular storage bin  14  is rearrangeable on the tracks  20  and  22  and may receive power via the powerstrip  12 . The modular storage bin  14  when snapped onto the tracks  20  and  22  is in contact with and may be slid along the powerstrip  12  while maintaining electrical contact therewith.  
         [0021]     The overhead module console  10  is shown as one illustrated example, as is the modular storage bin  14 , which may be one of a plurality of modular storage bins. The upper track  20  is coupled to the headliner and the vehicle support structure. The vehicle support structure refers to a frame, a unibody, or a body structure of a vehicle. The lower track  22  and the modular storage bin  14  are coupled to the upper track  20 . The modular storage bin  14  is coupled to and receives power from the powerstrip  12 , which allows it to be in various positions longitudinally along the centerline of the vehicle. The modular storage bin  14  may be in various fore and aft positions within the overhead module console  10 .  
         [0022]     The powerstrip  12  includes an overhead attachment strip  24 , which may be coupled to the upper track  20  or to the support structure. Multiple electrically conductive strips  26  reside within and are coupled to the attachment strip  24  and provide power to electrical contacts  28  of a modular connector  30 . The modular connector  30  is coupled to the modular storage bin  14  and may be manually snapped into or coupled to the attachment strip  24 . The modular connector  30  has an infinite number of attachment positions along the attachment strip  24 .  
         [0023]     The attachment strip  24  extends fore and aft longitudinally along the centerline of the vehicle. The attachment strip  24  may be a single extruded component as shown or may be formed of multiple components. The attachment strip  24  may be formed of various materials. In one sample embodiment, the attachment strip  24  includes a base  32  having a main center member  34  and a pair of flanges  36 . The base  32  and the flanges  36  are integrally extruded and formed as a single component using techniques known in the art.  
         [0024]     The flanges  36  have upper portions  38  and lower portions  40 . The lower portions  40  are formed of a flexible material such that they may be deflected to allow insertion of the electrical contacts  28   a  into the attachment strip  24  and connection with the conductive strips  26   a . In the embodiment as shown, the flanges  36  are curled inward toward the main center member  34  and are deflected by and apply pressure on the electrical contacts  28   a . The flanges  36  apply pressure on the electrical contacts  28   a  to aid in maintaining contact between the electrical contacts  28   a  and the associated conductive strips  26   a . The flanges  36  also aid in preventing body parts of a passenger, such as fingers of the passenger, from contacting the conductive strips  26   a . The flanges  36  in addition provide an esthetically pleasing look to the overhead module console  10  when overhead modules, such as the modular storage bin  14 , are removed therefrom by covering and hiding from passenger view the conductive strips  26   a.    
         [0025]     The conductive strips  26  also extend fore and aft longitudinally along the centerline of the vehicle. The conductive strips  26  may also be of various types, styles, sizes, and shapes. The conductive strips  26  may be formed at least partially of brass, copper, aluminum, a half hard brass, or some other conductive material known in the art and may be controlled with the attachment strip  24 . The conductive strips  26 , which are merely exemplary of conducting strips having application with the present invention, include round or cylinder strips, although other shapes, including for example rectangular or flat strips, may be suitable for application with the present invention. The conductive strips  26  may be selected based on ease of manufacturing and availability or commonality thereof.  
         [0026]     In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, two positively charged conductive strips, such as conductive strips  26   a , are mounted within vertical recessed portions  42  of the main center member  34 . A third negatively or neutrally charged conductive strip  26   b , such as a ground strip, a common strip, or a return strip, is coupled horizontally along a groove  44  of the main center member  34 . The conductive strips  26   b  may be adhesively coupled to the main center member  34  or coupled via some other technique known in the art. For example, the conductive strips  26   a ,  26   b  may have an attachment tab (not shown) that may be depressed or snapped into a channel of the main center member  34 .  
         [0027]     The modular connector  30  may have multiple electrical terminals or contacts. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of contacts  28   a  extends vertically and is hooked to have spring characteristics. When coupling the contacts  28   a  to the attachment strip  24 , the contacts  28   a  are inserted into recessed portions or contact channels  42  of the attachment strip  24 , through the flanges  36 , and are in contact with the conductive strips  26   a . The contact channels  42  are formed via channel surfaces  50  of the attachment strip  24  and the conductive strips  26   a . Hooked areas  52  of the contacts  28   a  may be compressed when inserted into the contact channels  42  and may remain at least somewhat compressed or relaxed and in a normal state when in the contact channels  42 . When compressed, the contacts  28   a  may apply additional pressure on the conductive strips  26   a . The contacts  28   a  also may have a physical spreading resistance therebetween, such that the contacts  28   a  are further separated when inserted into the contact channels  42 , again increasing pressure of the contacts  28   a  on the conductive strips  26   a.    
         [0028]     The modular connector  30  may also have a vertical ground contact  28   b , as shown in the drawing, which is in contact with the ground strip  26   b . The modular connector  30  may have any number of contacts and the contacts may be in various configurations, other than that shown in the drawings.  
         [0029]     Continuing with reference to  FIG. 3 , the modular storage bin  14  includes the modular connector  56  and one or more module hanging attachment clips  58 . The modular connector  56  is coupled to the modular storage bin  14  in any suitable manner, including but not limited to plastic welding. The hanging attachment clips  58  may be in the form of two-way clips, sometimes referred to as push push clips. Approximately the same amount of pressure is applied to the hanging attachment clips  58  to attach them to the upper track  20  as when removing them from the upper track  20 . The hanging attachment clips  58  may be formed of steel or some other rigid material or materials known in the art.  
         [0030]     As stated above, the modular connector  30  is irregularly U-shaped. The modular connector  30  has a pair of vertical electrically conductive positive contacts  28   a  and a vertical ground contact  28   b , which are separated by an insulator stack or block  60 . The vertical contacts  28   a  extend within the contact channels  42  and are in contact with the conductive strips  26   a . The vertical contacts  28   a  extend around the sides of and are coupled to the insulator block  60 . The vertical contacts  28   a  are coupled to and may be integrally formed with positive or end terminals  64   a . The ground contact  28   b  is pressed against the ground strip  26   b  and is coupled to a ground plate  66 . The ground plate  66  resides on the insulator block  60  and is coupled to a ground terminal  64   b . The ground contact  28   b , the ground plate  66 , and the ground terminal  64   b  may be formed as a signal unit as shown or may be separate components. The ground contact  28   b  extends about the center of the modular connector  30  and curls inward in a fore and aft direction. The ground contact  28   b  also has spring characteristics such that it is at least partially in compression when in contact with the ground strip  26   b . The terminals  64   a ,  64   b  extend horizontally and protrude from the modular connector  30 . An electrical connector (not shown) may be attached to the terminals  64   a  and used to supply power to electronic devices, such as the modular storage bin  14 .  
         [0031]     The contacts  28   a ,  28   b  and the terminals  64   a ,  64   b  may be formed of conductive materials, including but not limited to spring steel and are zinc plated.  
         [0032]     The vertical contacts  28   a ,  28   b , the insulator box  86 , and the ground plate  66  may have holes  72  extending therethrough for which module studs or stakes, such as the stakes  74  shown in  FIG. 4 , may be inserted and attached thereto. The holes  72  may be of various sizes and shapes, which may correspond to the sizes and shapes of the stakes. The holes  72  may also be keyed such that the modular connector  30  can only be coupled to the modular storage bin  14  in one or more desired positions. The module stakes  74  may be plastic welded or attached via some other technique known in the art to the vertical contacts  28   a ,  28   b , the insulator block  60 , and the ground plate  66 .  
         [0033]     Now referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the modular storage bin  14  has a bin module bezel  78  with a bottom side opening  80  allowing access to the bin module bezel  78 , and also has a door  82  which is arranged pivotably on the bottom front of the bin module bezel  78  and in its closed position, indicated in  FIG. 7 , closes the opening  80  and in its swung-down position, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , protrudes downwards and forwards from the opening  80 . In this case, the compartment opening  80  on the bottom side of the bin module bezel  78  runs virtually as far as the rear wall  84  of the bin module bezel  78 , which rear wall  84  determines the width of the bin module bezel  78 . The bin module bezel  78  has a top wall  86  and side walls  88 , which determine the length of the bin module bezel  78 . The door  82  shown is of double-shell design with the inner shell  90  and the outer shell  92  and a cavity lying in between. The door  82  is coupled to the bin module bezel  78  on both sides in the vicinity of its front wall  94  by means of hinges  96 .  
         [0034]     On the top wall  86  there is arranged in the vicinity of the rear wall  84  a downwardly shining lamp  98 , which in  FIG. 2  is shown to be supported by a lamp module bezel  100 , which is in the bin module bezel  78  adjacent and between the inner surface of the top wall  86  and the rear wall  84 , and which supports a switch paddle  102 . A snap fastener, such as the snap fastener  103  shown in  FIG. 4 , extending from the top wall  86  passes through a hole  105  in the lamp bezel module  100  to retain the lamp bezel module  100  to the top wall  86 . The lamp module bezel  100  and the switch paddle  102  are located so as to be unobtrusive and inconspicuous and lamp module bezel  100  conceals the electric circuit of the lamp  98  so as to provide a wire-free appearance. In the closed position of the door  82 , which is indicated in  FIG. 7 , the switch paddle  102  is pivoted to move an electrical contact  104  of the switch paddle  102 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , as a result of which the electric circuit of the lamp  98  is interrupted.  
         [0035]     The lamp  98  is arranged on the inside of the bin module bezel  78  in such a manner that in the swung-down position of the door  82 , which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the bin module bezel  78  opened, the lamp  98  is switched on and light from the lamp  98  is focused to a storage compartment  16  when the door  82  is in a full opened position. A typical path of light beam is indicated by dash-dotted line in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lamp  98  is designed as an LCD light and is supported by the lamp module bezel  100  in an angularly disposed front wall  106  of the lamp module bezel  100 . It should be appreciated that other lamps may be suitable for carrying out the invention and that reflectors and other suitable structure may be configured to focus light from the lamp.  
         [0036]     The exemplary switch paddle  102 , as shown in the drawings, has an inverted, substantially J-shaped configuration and is supported for pivotal movement relative to the lamp module bezel  100  by pivots  108  that extend transversely from opposing sides of the switch paddle  102 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a metal contact  104  is bonded to an upper end of the switch paddle  102  and is electrically connected to one side of the lamp  98  via an electrical conductor  109 . The metal contact  110  makes electrical contact with a female spade terminal receiver  112 , which is shown in  FIG. 6 , when the door  82  of the bin module bezel  78  is swung-down. The female spade terminal receiver  112  receives and makes electrical contact with the ground terminal  64   b , which in turn makes electrical contact with the negatively charged conductive strip  26   b  of the powerstrip  12  via the ground contact  28   b . The other side of the lamp  98  makes electrical contact with a positively charged conductive strip  26   a  of the powerstrip  12  through a contact  28   a  and via one of the positive terminals  64   a  and via an electrical conductor  113  to complete the electrical circuit and switch on and light the lamp  98  when the door  82  of the bin module bezel  78  is swung-down. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a spring  114  may be carried by one or both of the pivots  108  and provides a biasing action to pivot the switch paddle  102  in a manner to cause the metal contact  110  to make electrical contact with a female spade terminal receiver  112  when the door  82  of the bin module bezel  78  is swung-down.  
         [0037]     The modular storage bin  14 , with its door  82  in the closed position, is shown in a partial sectional side perspective view in  FIG. 7 . With the door  82  closed as shown, the switch paddle  102  is pivoted relative to the lamp module bezel  100  so that the electrical contact  104  breaks contact with the female spade terminal receiver  112 , shown in  FIG. 6 , so as to interrupt the electric circuit of the lamp  98 . The modular storage bin  14 , with its door  82  in the opened position, is shown in a partial sectional side perspective view in  FIG. 8 . With the door  82  opened as shown, the switch paddle  102  is biased by the return spring  114  so as to be pivoted relative to the lamp module bezel  100  so that the electrical contact  104  makes contact with the female spade terminal receiver  112  so that the lamp  98  is switched on and light from the lamp  98  is focused to a storage compartment  16 .  
         [0038]     The present invention provides a vehicle overhead module powerstrip that allows for rearrangement of overhead modules within an overhead console without rebuilding the console. The powerstrip allows electronic modules to be repositioned in an infinite number of positions along an overhead console. The present invention provides multiple features to maintain electrical contact between the module and power strip assembly and also accounts for esthetic satisfaction of and prevents electrical physical contact with a vehicle passenger. In accordance with the present invention, the module can be moved along the powerstrip with its contact points hidden and without breaking electrical contact with the powerstrip, even with the door open and the lamp on, and may be locked in place with a lock assembly, such as the console latch assembly described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/946,712, to Lear Corporation, filed on Sep. 22, 2004, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0039]     The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.