Patent Publication Number: US-2023146107-A1

Title: Vehicle center console

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-181892, filed on Nov. 8, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle center console. 
     Background 
     As a structure inside a vehicle room of a vehicle, such a structure is known in which a center console on which a shift operation portion, a variety of switches, an article accommodation portion, and the like are arranged is provided between a driver seat and a passenger seat of a front seat (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2014-213632). 
     In the center console described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2014-213632, an article accommodation portion that has a substantially rectangular shape and opens upward is formed on an upper portion of a console main body having a box shape. A variety of articles can be accommodated in the article accommodation portion through an upper opening. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in the center console described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2014-213632, since an opening shape of the article accommodation portion is a substantially rectangular shape, when an article having a rectangular shape such as a portable information terminal is placed in the article accommodation portion such that a flat surface faces downward, it becomes difficult to remove the article. In particular, when a forward-rearward width of the article is close to a forward-rearward width of the opening of the article accommodation portion, it is difficult to place a finger on an end portion of the article at the time of removal of the article. 
     Further, in recent years, a center console has been proposed having a structure in which a front block portion and a rear block portion are arranged at front and rear positions of an article placement portion having a tray shape, respectively, and a bridge portion that is provided on the front block portion and the rear block portion bridges an upper section of the article placement portion in a forward-rearward direction. 
     In the case of this type of center console, since an upper space of the article placement portion is greatly limited by the bridge portion, when an article having a rectangular plate shape is placed on the article placement portion, it becomes difficult to place a finger on an end portion of the article on the article placement portion and remove the article. 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle center console in which an article having a rectangular plate shape that is placed on an article placement portion is capable of being easily removed from the article placement portion. 
     A vehicle center console according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an article placement portion having a placement surface on which an article having a rectangular plate shape is capable of being placed; a front block portion that is arranged at a forward position of the article placement portion; a rear block portion that is arranged at a rearward position of the article placement portion; a bridge portion that is provided on the front block portion and the rear block portion and is arranged above the article placement portion to interpose a space portion; a rearward projection portion that stands upward from a front portion of the placement surface and projects rearward toward a middle region in a vehicle width direction of the placement surface; and a finger insertion acceptance surface that is located at an outer position in the vehicle width direction of the rearward projection portion and extends forward from the placement surface. 
     According to the configuration described above, when an article having a rectangular plate shape is placed on the placement surface of the article placement portion, a front position of the article is limited by the projection portion, and the article is not arranged on the finger insertion acceptance surface. Therefore, when the article is removed from the article placement portion, a user can insert his/her finger toward the finger insertion acceptance surface, place his/her fingertip on a front end portion of the article, and easily remove the article from the article placement portion. 
     Further, in the center console of the present configuration, since the bridge portion is arranged above the article placement portion, even if a liquid such as a drink is accidentally spilled at an upper side of the center console, it is possible to prevent the liquid from being slopped on the article on the article placement portion and protect the article. Further, although the bridge portion is arranged above the article placement portion, since the finger insertion acceptance surface is arranged close to the outside in the vehicle width direction of a front section of the article placement portion, it is possible to easily place one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion. 
     A slip prevention member may be arranged on an upper surface of the placement surface. 
     In this case, when placing one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion and causing the article to stand forward, slipping of a rear end portion of the article is prevented by the slip prevention member. Therefore, it is possible to cause the article to stand forward and easily remove the article from the article placement portion. 
     A side wall that stands upward may be provided on both side portions in the vehicle width direction of the placement surface, and a curved surface that is curved in a recess shape from the placement surface toward an upper side of the side wall may be provided between the placement surface and each side wall. 
     In this case, when placing one&#39;s finger on a side portion at a back side of the article that is placed on the article placement portion and drawing the article in a side wall direction to the front side, a side end portion on the front side of the article is lifted upward along the curved surface. Accordingly, by keeping drawing the article, it is possible to easily remove the article from the article placement portion. 
     A narrow width section in which a width in the vehicle width direction is narrower than that of the placement surface, and an end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction is located at a further inward position than an end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction of the placement surface may be provided at least in a middle region in a forward-rearward direction of the bridge portion. 
     In this case, when the article that is placed on the article placement portion is a portable information terminal having a display screen, in a case where the portable information terminal is placed close to one seat on the placement surface, it is possible to easily view and confirm the screen of the portable information terminal from the one seat through a space on the front side of the narrow width section of the bridge portion. Further, in a case where an occupant in the other seat places a portable information terminal close to the other seat on the placement surface, the screen is hidden by the bridge portion (the narrow width section) and is unlikely to be seen from an occupant in the one seat. Accordingly, when the present configuration is employed, it is possible to protect the privacy of the occupants seated in the right and left seats of the front seats. Further, in the present configuration, since the narrow width section is provided at least in the middle region in the forward-rearward direction of the bridge portion, when placing one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion and removing the article, the person&#39;s hand is unlikely to interfere with the bridge portion, and the article is easily removed. 
     An inclination wall that is inclined to a forward side toward an upward direction may be arranged at a forward position of the finger insertion acceptance surface, a terminal connection port to which a terminal of an electricity use device is connected may be arranged on the inclination wall, and an eave section that extends above the terminal connection port may be provided on the front block portion. 
     In this case, since the terminal connection port is arranged on the inclination wall that is arranged on a front section close to the outside in the width direction of the article placement portion, an occupant can easily attach and detach the terminal of the electricity use device with respect to the terminal connection port while being seated in the front seat. Further, since an upper portion of the terminal connection port is covered by the eave section that extends from the front block portion, when a liquid such as a drink is accidentally spilled at the upper portion of the center console, it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid from being slopped on the terminal connection port by the eave section. 
     Further, in the present configuration, since the inclination wall is arranged at a forward position of the finger insertion acceptance surface, when placing one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion and removing the article, the person&#39;s hand is unlikely to interfere with the front block portion, and the article is easily removed. 
     In the vehicle center console according to an aspect of the present invention, when an article having a rectangular plate shape is placed on the placement surface of the article placement portion, a front position of the article is regulated by the rearward projection portion, and the article is not arranged on the finger insertion acceptance surface. Therefore, by inserting a finger toward the finger insertion acceptance surface, it is possible to place one&#39;s finger on a front portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion and easily remove the article from the article placement portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a vehicle room front portion of a vehicle according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a plan view of a center console according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the center console according to the embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view along a IV-IV line of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view along a V-V line of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  6    is an enlarged view of a VI portion of  FIG.  5   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     Forward, rearward, upward, downward, rightward, and leftward directions in the following description mean forward, rearward, upward, downward, rightward, and leftward directions with respect to a vehicle unless otherwise specified. In appropriate positions in the drawings, an arrow UP that indicates a vehicle upward direction, an arrow FR that indicates a vehicle forward direction, and an arrow LH that indicates a vehicle leftward direction are shown. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing a front portion of a front seat inside a vehicle room of a vehicle  1  according to an embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , an instrument panel  2  on which a variety of instruments, an audio operation portion, an air conditioner operation portion, and the like are installed is arranged at the front of the front seat inside the vehicle room. The vehicle  1  of the present embodiment is a so-called left-hand drive vehicle in which a driver seat is arranged on a left side toward a vehicle forward side, and a passenger seat is arranged on a right side. A center console  10  is arranged between the driver seat and the passenger seat. The center console  10  projects upward with respect to a floor  3  inside the vehicle room, and a front end portion extends to a lower region of the instrument panel  2 . The center console  10  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in which the entire center console  10  is elongated in a forward-rearward direction. 
       FIG.  2    is a plan view of the center console  10 .  FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the center console  10  seen from a rear left upper direction. 
     The center console  10  includes: an article placement portion  11  having a flat placement surface  11   a  on an upper surface of the article placement portion  11 ; a front block portion  12  that is arranged at a forward position of the article placement portion  11 ; a rear block portion  13  that is arranged at a rearward position of the article placement portion  11 ; and a bridge portion  14  that is provided on the front block portion  12  and the rear block portion  13 . 
     The article placement portion  11  includes: a placement surface  11   a  that extends substantially horizontally and has a substantially rectangular shape in a top view; an extension placement surface  11   b  that extends forward substantially horizontally from right and left side end portions of the placement surface  11   a ; and a side wall  11   c  that stands upward from an outer end portion in a vehicle width direction of the placement surface  11   a  and the extension placement surface  11   b . The article placement portion  11  is formed in a tray shape having an edge on both right and left sides. A rearward projection portion  15  that stands upward is arranged in a middle region in the vehicle width direction of a front portion of the placement surface  11   a . The rearward projection portion  15  constitutes part of a rear wall of the front block portion  12 . The rearward projection portion  15  projects in an arc shape toward a vehicle rearward side in the middle region in the vehicle width direction of the front portion of the placement surface  11   a . Right and left extension placement surfaces  11   b  are a forward extension region of the placement surface  11   a  that is divided in a rightward-leftward direction by the rearward projection portion  15 . 
       FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view along a IV-IV line of  FIG.  3   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , when an article having a rectangular plate shape such as a portable information terminal  50  is placed on the placement surface  11   a , the rearward projection portion  15  can regulate a forward displacement of the article by coming into contact with a front end portion of the article. Further, when the article having a rectangular plate shape is placed on the placement surface  11   a , a space by the extension placement surface  11   b  is ensured in front of a front end portion close to the outside in the width direction of the article. When the article having a rectangular plate shape is removed from the placement surface  11   a , a user can insert his/her finger into the space by the extension placement surface  11   b  and easily remove the article by placing his/her finger on a front end portion of the article. 
     In the present embodiment, the extension placement surface  11   b  constitutes a finger insertion acceptance surface. The extension placement surface  11   b  has approximately a width and a length in a forward-rearward direction in which first and second joints of a fingertip can be inserted into an upper space of the extension placement surface  11   b.    
     The front block portion  12  is a block in which a shift lever  16  is arranged on an upper surface of the front block portion  12 , and a lever interlock device, a wiring, and the like are embedded inside the block portion  12 . A front end section of the front block portion  12  is connected to a lower portion in a middle region in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel  2 . The rearward projection portion  15  described above is provided in a middle region in the vehicle width direction of a rear section of the front block portion  12 . An inclination wall  17  that is inclined to a vehicle forward side toward an upward direction is formed on each of both right and left sides of the rear rearward projection portion  15  at the rear section of the front block portion  12 . Each inclination wall  17  is arranged at a forward position of each of right and left extension placement surfaces  11   b  of the article placement portion  11  and is also inclined in the vehicle width direction toward a direction of an occupant seated in the front seat (the driver seat or the passenger seat) (so as to substantially face the seated occupant). 
     A terminal connection port  18  to which an electricity use device such the portable information terminal  50  is connected is provided on each of right and left inclination walls  17 . The terminal connection port  18  is a connection port such as a USB port to which a terminal for performing electric power supply, transmission and reception of a signal, or the like with the electricity use device is connected. The shape or the structure of the terminal connection port  18  is arbitrary. The number of terminal connection ports  18  provided on the inclination wall  17  may be two or more. In this case, the terminal connection ports  18  may be ports of the same form (the same standard) or may be ports of a different form (different standard). 
     A terminal of a cable connected to the electricity use device such the portable information terminal  50  can be connected to each terminal connection port  18 . A terminal provided to protrude on a device can also be inserted directly to each terminal connection port  18  if the device is a flash memory or the like. 
     An eave section  22  that extends toward a vehicle rearward direction and covers an upper portion of the terminal connection port  18  is provided to extend on an upper end portion of each of right and left inclination walls  17 . 
     The rear block portion  13  includes an article storage recess section  20  that opens upward and a lid body  21  that opens and closes an opening of the article storage recess section  20 . An opening/closing hinge (not shown) is provided on a rear end side of the lid body  21 , and the lid body  21  is operated (rotated) around a hinge axis of the opening/closing hinge by an operation of an occupant. When the opening of the article storage recess section  20  is opened, a front end side of the lid body  21  is greatly lifted upward around a rear end side of the lid body  21 . Further, a cushion material is embedded in an upper surface side and a circumferential region of the lid body  21 . The lid body  21  also functions as an arm rest on which an occupant seated in the front seat places his/her arm in a state where the opening of the article storage recess section  20  is closed. 
     The bridge portion  14  extends in a vehicle forward-rearward direction and connects a rear upper end section of the front block portion  12  to a front upper end section of the rear block portion  13  (article storage recess section  20 ). The bridge portion  14  is arranged above the article placement portion  11  to interpose a space portion  25 . The width in the vehicle width direction of the bridge portion  14  may be narrower than a width in the vehicle width direction of the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  11 . 
     More specifically, a section to a rear end from a middle region in a forward-rearward direction of the bridge portion  14  is a narrow width section  14   a  in which a width in the vehicle width direction is sufficiently narrower than that of the placement surface  11   a , and an end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction is located at a further inward position than an end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction of the placement surface  11   a . A widened width section  14   b  in which a width in the vehicle width direction is gradually increased to a forward direction is provided on a front side of the narrow width section  14   a  of the bridge portion  14 . A front end of the widened width section  14   b  is integrally connected to a rear section of the front block portion  12 . 
     An outer edge in the width direction on a front end side of the widened width section  14   b  is provided continuously to the eave section  22  described above of the front block portion  12 . 
     Since in the narrow width section  14   a  of the bridge portion  14 , the end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction is located at a further inward position than the end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction of the placement surface  11   a , as shown in  FIG.  2   , when the center console  10  is seen from an upward direction, part of both side edges in the vehicle width direction of the placement surface  11   a  is exposed outward. Therefore, as shown in  FIG.  4   , in a case where the portable information terminal  50  is placed close to a side portion of the placement surface  11   a  such that a screen faces upward, it is possible to easily view the screen of the portable information terminal  50  from an occupant seated in a seat (the driver seat or the passenger seat) at a side close to the placed portable information terminal  50 . At this time, from an occupant seated in a seat (the passenger seat or the driver seat) at a side far from the placed portable information terminal  50 , the bridge portion  14  (narrow width section  14   a ) becomes a blinder, and viewing of the screen of the portable information terminal  50  is blocked. Accordingly, the screen of a portable information terminal  50  which an occupant seated in one of the front seats places at a side close to the occupant is not seen by the next occupant, and it is possible to protect the privacy of each passenger in the front seats. 
     The terminal connection port  18  that is provided on each of the right and left inclination walls  17  at the front section of the article placement portion  11  is arranged at a position that does not overlap the bridge portion  14  in a top view. Further, the arrangement position of the terminal connection port  18  can be desirably a position that does not overlap the bridge portion  14  when seen from a visual line direction of the occupant seated in the front seat. 
     A variety of switches S such as a parking switch is arranged to be aligned in a forward-rearward direction on an upper surface of the bridge portion  14 . 
       FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view along a V-V line of  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  6    is an enlarged view of a VI portion of  FIG.  5   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5    and  FIG.  6   , a mat  30  in which at least an upper surface side has a slip prevention function is arranged on the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  11 . The mat  30  may be constructed of, for example, a rubber material having elasticity, a soft resin, or the like. When an article having a rectangular plate shape such as the portable information terminal  50  is placed on the upper surface, the mat  30  can prevent slippage of an end portion of the article. Therefore, when placing one&#39;s finger on a front end portion of the article and causing the article to stand, a rear end portion of the article is reliably locked on the mat  30 , and as a result, the front end side of the article easily stands. 
     In the present embodiment, the mat  30  constitutes a slip prevention member. 
     A curved surface  35  that is curved in a recess shape from the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  11  toward an upper side of the side wall  11   c  of each of both sides in the vehicle width direction is provided between the placement surface  11   a  and each side wall  11   c . A step portion having a recess shape is formed on a portion on which the mat  30  is provided on the placement surface  11   a  such that the upper surface of the mat  30  is substantially flush with the side edge portion of the placement surface  11   a . The mat  30  which is the slip prevention member is not provided from the side edge portion of the placement surface  11   a  to the curved surface  35 . 
     With respect to the article such as the portable information terminal  50  that is placed on the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  11 , as shown in  FIG.  5   , by placing one&#39;s finger f on a side end portion at a back side in the width direction of the article from an upward direction and pulling the article to the side wall  11   c  on a front side, a side end portion  50   e  on the front side of the article can be caused to stand. At this time, as shown in an enlarged view of  FIG.  6   , the side end part  50   e  of the article can slide upward on the curved surface  35 , and by further pulling one&#39;s finger f to the front side, it is possible to cause the article to stand and remove the article. 
     As described above, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, when an article (for example, the portable information terminal  50 ) having a rectangular plate shape is placed on the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  10 , a front position of the article is regulated by the rearward projection portion, and the article is not arranged on the extension placement surface  11   b  (finger insertion acceptance surface). Therefore, a user seated in the front seat can insert his/her finger toward the extension placement surface  11   b , thereby place his/her finger on a front portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion  11 , and easily remove the article from the article placement portion  11 . 
     In particular, in the present embodiment, since the rearward projection portion projects rearward in an arc shape, it is possible to ensure a large rear end side of the extension placement surface  11   b  (finger insertion acceptance surface) at the inside in the width direction. Therefore, at the time of removal of the article, one&#39;s finger can be easily placed close to a middle portion in the width direction of the article having a rectangular plate shape. Therefore, it is possible to further easily perform a removal work of the article. 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, since the bridge portion  14  is arranged above the article placement portion  11 , even if a liquid such as a drink is accidentally spilled at an upper side of the center console  10 , it is possible to prevent the liquid from being slopped on the article on the article placement portion  11  and protect the article. Further, in the present structure, since the bridge portion  14  is present above the article placement portion  11 , various types of switches can be arranged at an upper surface position of the bridge portion  14  where a seated occupant can easily operate the switches. 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, although the bridge portion is arranged above the article placement portion, since the extension placement surface  11   b  (finger insertion acceptance surface) is arranged at a position close to the outside in the vehicle width direction of a front section of the article placement portion  11 , it is possible to easily place one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion  11 . 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the mat  30  for slip prevention (slip prevention member) is provided on the upper surface of the placement surface of the article placement portion  11 . When placing one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion  11  and causing the article to stand forward, slipping of the rear end portion of the article can be prevented by the mat  30  for slip prevention. 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, it is possible to easily remove the article from the article placement portion  11  even when a forward-rearward length of the article is shorter than a forward-rearward length of the placement surface  11   a.    
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the curved surface  35  that is curved in a recess shape from the placement surface  11   a  toward an upper side of the side wall  11   c  is formed between the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  11  and each side wall  11   c . Therefore, by placing one&#39;s finger f on an end portion at a back side in the width direction of the article that is placed on the placement surface  11   a  and pulling the article to the front side in that state, a side end portion on the front side of the article can be lifted upward along the curved surface  35 . 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, by drawing the article that is placed on the placement surface  11   a  to the front side in the width direction, it is possible to easily remove the article from the article placement portion  11 . 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the narrow width section  14   a  in which a width in the vehicle width direction is narrower than that of the placement surface  11   a , and an end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction is located at a further inward position than an end portion at both sides in the vehicle width direction of the placement surface  11   a  is provided in an area from a middle region in a forward-rearward direction to a rear end of the bridge portion  14 . Therefore, when a portable information terminal  50  is placed on a side section close to one seat on the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  11 , it is possible to easily view and confirm the screen of the portable information terminal  50  from the one seat through a space on the front side of the narrow width section  14   a  of the bridge portion  14 . Further, in a case where an occupant in the other seat places a portable information terminal  50  at a side section close to the other seat on the placement surface  11   a , the screen of the portable information terminal  50  is hidden by the narrow width section  14   a  and is unlikely to be seen from an occupant in the one seat. 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, it is possible to protect the privacy of the occupants seated in the right and left seats of the front seats. 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, since the narrow width section  14   a  is provided at least in the middle region in the forward-rearward direction of the bridge portion  14 , when placing one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the article placement portion  11  and removing the article, the person&#39;s hand is unlikely to interfere with the bridge portion  14 , and the article is easily removed. Further, even when placing one&#39;s finger on the back side in the width direction of the article that is placed on the article placement portion  11  and removing the article, the person&#39;s hand is unlikely to interfere with the bridge portion  14 , and the article is easily removed. 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the inclination wall  17  is arranged at a forward position of the extension placement surface  11   b  (finger insertion acceptance surface), and the terminal connection port  18  is provided on the inclination wall  17 . Therefore, the terminal connection port  18  is arranged on a front section close to the outside in the width direction of the article placement portion  11  in a state of being inclined upward. Accordingly, an occupant can easily attach and detach the terminal of the electricity use device with respect to the terminal connection port  18  while being seated in the front seat. 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the eave section  22  that extends above the terminal connection port  18  is provided on the front block portion  12 . Therefore, since an upper portion of the terminal connection port  18  is covered by the eave section  22  of the front block portion  12 , when a liquid such as a drink is accidentally spilled at an upper portion of the center console  10 , it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid from being slopped on the terminal connection port  18  by the eave section  22 . 
     Further, since the inclination wall  17  is arranged at a forward position of the extension placement surface  11   b  so as to be inclined forward toward an upward direction, when placing one&#39;s finger on the front end portion of the article that is placed on the placement surface  11   a  and removing the article, the person&#39;s hand is unlikely to interfere with the front block portion  12 , and the article is easily removed. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     For example, the above embodiment is described using an example in which the area from the middle region in the forward-rearward direction to the rear end of the bridge portion  14  is the narrow width section  14   a ; however, a region in which the narrow width section  14   a  is arranged is not limited thereto. The region in which the narrow width section  14   a  is arranged may include at least the middle region in the forward-rearward direction of the bridge portion  14 . 
     Further, the above embodiment is described using an example in which the mat  30  which is a slip prevention member is provided on the placement surface  11   a  of the article placement portion  11 ; however, the slip prevention member does not necessarily have a mat shape and may have a block shape or an arbitrary shape. Further, the slip prevention member is not necessarily required if a protrusion portion or the like that regulates displacement of the article toward a rearward side is provided in a rear region on the placement surface  11   a.