Patent Publication Number: US-2007119885-A1

Title: Floor console with reconfigurable storage

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/740,066, filed Nov. 28, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60/755,763 and 60/755,940, both filed Jan. 3, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Storage in vehicles is always an issue. Space is limited and different potential owners have different preferences and needs for storage.  
      For example, trash storage in vehicles has been a difficult issue. Vehicle owners, especially those with children, need readily accessible trash storage in the vehicle. However, different owners have different preferences for the location of the trash storage, depending on the location of passengers in the vehicle who need to access the trash storage. Auto makers are reluctant to provide permanent trash storage in the vehicle for esthetic reasons, and have thus largely left the issue of trash storage to after-market products. These after-market products are not tailored to any specific vehicle and have not provided acceptable trash storage solutions.  
      Also, many vehicles are now equipped with cd players as part of the in-vehicle entertainment system. Although many of the vehicles include cd players that hold more than one cd, the typical user has more cds in the vehicle than can be held within the player. Thus, there is still a need to store cds in the vehicle outside the cd player.  
      One known cd storage device is a sleeve having a plurality of overlapping flaps forming pockets, each of which holds a cd. The sleeve includes straps for securing the sleeve to the sun visor in the vehicle. One drawback of this device is that the sleeve can interfere with the operation of the sun visor in some vehicles. Also, the sleeve cannot be easily removed from the visor by the driver because the driver must flip down the visor in order to access the cds.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an improved storage system for a vehicle passenger compartment, including storage for cds and trash. The storage system includes multiple portable storage containers that are selectively mountable at several optional locations in the vehicle passenger compartment, or storable inside a floor console. One of the example portable storage containers is a cd sleeve and the other example portable storage container is a receptacle, such as for trash storage. Other portable storage containers could also be included.  
      In the example embodiments, the portable storage containers are securable to one of a plurality of interior panels via a magnetic coupling between the portable storage container and the interior panels. Additional mechanical coupling may be provided to prevent the storage containers from slipping on the interior panels. For example, in the portable trash storage receptacle, a protrusion is received in a complementary recess between the container wall and the interior panel, in order to prevent the container from sliding. The protrusion may include the magnet of the magnetic coupling. Preferably, the portion of the magnetic coupling that is formed on the interior panel is hidden behind an outer trim surface and does not protrude from the interior panel.  
      The portable receptacle is roughly sized to accommodate plastic grocery bags. The portable receptacle may provide hooks or other connectors near a bottom end of the container. The loop handles of the plastic grocery bag can be secured to the hooks or connectors to keep the bag properly positioned in the container.  
      The console has one or more storage areas for removably storing the cd storage sleeve. The cd storage sleeve can be easily removed from at least some of the storage areas with one hand (e.g. without opening the console). The cd storage sleeve does not occupy a significant amount of console storage volume. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a console according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the forward portion of the console of  FIG. 1 , with the cd storage tray in the open position.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the console of  FIG. 1 , with the lid closed.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates an instrument panel of the vehicle in which the console of  FIG. 1  is installed. the panel to which it is attached.  
       FIG. 6  is a section view of the trash container, illustrating attachment of a bag to the container.  
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of an alternative forward portion of the console of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 8  is a section view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      A floor console  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The floor console  10  generally includes a console box  12  and a forward console portion  14 . The console box  12  includes console walls including a pair of opposed sidewalls  16  and a rear wall  20  defining an interior compartment  22 . A lid  24  is pivotably secured to the rear wall  20  to selectively cover an opening to the interior compartment  22 . The lid  24  is pivotable between a closed position covering the interior compartment  22  and an open position as shown.  
      A plurality of storage containers can be secured to various locations in and on the floor console  10 . Two example containers shown include a cd sleeve  38 , for holding a plurality of cds, and a receptacle, such as a portable trash container  26 . A plurality of mounting areas (designated as recesses  30  and connection points  31 ) are formed on various surfaces of the console  10 . The cd sleeve  38  and/or the portable trash container  26  can be removably secured to each of the mounting areas  30 ,  31 . The occupants of the vehicle can arrange the cd sleeve  38  and portable trash container  26  as desired or needed.  
      The portable trash container  26  may be a molded plastic receptacle and can be removably stored inside the interior compartment  22 . The trash container  26  includes a fastener, such as a magnet  28 , secured to an exterior surface. The magnet  28  may alternatively be mounted to an interior surface or insert-molded with the trash container  26 . In the embodiment shown, the magnet  28  is secured to the exterior surface and protrudes from the exterior surface of the trash container  26 . A single round magnet  28  is shown, but one or more magnets of other shapes could be used. Other fasteners (hooks, Velcro®, etc) could be used in place of or in addition to the magnet  28 .  
      The forward console portion  14  includes a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls  40  and an upper wall  42  defining a forward interior compartment  44 . Cup holders  46  are formed in the forward interior compartment  44  for holding cups or bottles, etc.  
      A plurality of connection points  31   a - b  (two shown in  FIG. 1 ) are formed on several surfaces of the console  10 . A first connection point  31   a  is formed on an exterior surface of one of the sidewalls  16  of the console box  12 . A second connection point  31   b  is formed on an exterior surface of one of the sidewalls  40  of the forward console portion  14 . Each connection point  31   a,b  includes a magnetic plate  33  behind or insert-molded within the sidewall  16 ,  40  and an optional recess  35  molded into the sidewall  16 ,  40 .  
      Optionally, the magnet  28  could be provided on the connection point  31  and the magnetic plate  33  could be provided on the trash container  26 . Although round recesses  34  are shown, other shapes could be used. Also, more than one recess  35  could be provided at each connection point  31 . Alternatively, the recess  35  can be eliminated for a completely hidden connection point  31 . If fasteners other than a magnet  28  are formed on the trash container  26 , then suitable complementary fasteners would be provided at the connection points  31 ; however, it is preferred that the fasteners on the connection points be non-protruding connectors (i.e. do not protrude from the surface of the sidewall  16 ,  40  or other interior trim panel), both for esthetic reasons and safety.  
      The trash container  26  is shown connected to the connection point  31   a . The magnet  28  on the trash container  26  is received in the recess  35  and is magnetically secured to the magnetic plate  33 . The trash container  26  can easily be moved to either connection point  31   a,b  or returned to the interior compartment  22 . In the embodiment shown, there is a single trash container  26  shown at two optional locations in  FIG. 1 ; however, in an optional feature of the present invention, a plurality of trash containers  26  may be provided, such that they can be mounted at multiple locations. The trash containers  26  may be of slightly different sizes, such that they can nest one within the other inside the interior compartment  22  of the console  10  when not in use. The trash containers  26  may optionally be connected to one of the plurality of recesses  30 .  
      The plurality of recesses  30   a - c  are formed on several surfaces of the console  10 . A first recess  30   a  is formed on the underside of the lid  24 . A second recess  30   b  is formed on an interior surface of one of the sidewalls  16 . A third recess  30   c  is formed on an exterior surface of the other sidewall  16 . Each recess  30   a - c  includes a pair of upwardly-protruding tabs  32  on a lower edge thereof. A pair of magnets  34  are mounted to (or recessed within or hidden behind) the interior surface of each recess  30   a - c  adjacent an upper edge of the recess  30   a - c . Alternatively, other fasteners, such as Velcro, clips, dual lock, etc. could be used in place of the magnets  34 .  
      Each of the recesses  30   a - c  can receive the cd storage sleeve  38 . One cd storage sleeve  38  can be provided, such that it can be stored in the recess  30   a - c  selected by the user, or alternatively, a cd storage sleeve  38  can be provided for each one of the recesses  30   a - c  (in which case, the cd storage sleeves  38  are preferably interchangeable, if not identical). The bottom edge of the cd storage sleeve  38  is received behind the upwardly-protruding tabs  32 . Magnets  39  secured to (or held within) the upper edge of the cd storage sleeve  38  releasably secure the cd storage sleeve  38  within the recess  30   a - c.    
      A vertically-slidable, spring-operated cd storage tray  48  is formed through the upper wall  42  of the forward console portion  14 . The cd storage tray  48  can be released by pressing a release button  49  on the upper wall  42  or the storage tray  48  can be spring-loaded such that it is released by pressing down on the top of the storage tray  48 .  
      In  FIG. 2 , the cd storage tray  48  is shown in the open position so that the cd storage sleeve  38  can be removed from or inserted into a recess  30   d  (similar to recesses  30   a - c  of  FIG. 1 ). The cd storage sleeve  38  is retained by tabs  32  and magnets (not shown in  FIG. 2 ).  
      The cd storage sleeve  38  includes a plurality of pockets  60  each capable of receiving a cd  62 . The cd storage sleeve  38  and the manner of retaining the cd storage sleeve  38  within the recesses  30   a - d  make it possible for the driver to retrieve a cd  62  using only one hand. The driver can even access the cd storage sleeve  38  in the recess  30   d  in the cd storage tray  48  or in the recess  30   c  on the exterior of the console box  12  without opening the lid  24  on the console box  12 . The recesses  30   a - c  occupy a minimal amount of storage volume in the console box  12 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , an additional connection point  31   c , similar to connection points  31   a,b is formed on the rear wall  20  of the console box  12 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , another connection point  31   d  is formed on an instrument panel  36 . Additional connection points  31  at other locations in the vehicle could also be formed. The trash container  26  can be moved to any of the connection points  31 . Optionally, the cd sleeve  38  could be secured to the connection points  31 .  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view through one wall of the trash container  26  and the sidewall  16 ,  40 . As shown, the magnet  28  on the trash container  26  is received in the recess  35  (to prevent slippage) and is magnetically secured to the magnetic plate  33  hidden behind the sidewall  16 ,  40  (or any interior panel, wherever the connection point  31  is provided). Alternatively, the magnet  28  could be mounted inside or behind the wall of the trash container  26 , in which case a protrusion for being received in the recess  35  could be molded into the wall of the trash container  26 . Multiple protrusions and recesses  34  could also be used. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the magnetic plate  33  is not visible and does not affect the appearance of the vehicle interior; however, the recess  35  provides to the user a subtle indicator of where the trash container  26  can be mounted.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , the trash container  26  is preferably sized to accommodate a typical plastic grocery bag  50  having loop handles  52 . Hooks  54  are molded near the bottom of the trash container  26 , such as on the bottom wall  56  of the trash container  26 . The hooks  54  connect to the handles  52  to retain the bag  50  in the trash container  26 . The magnet  28  is not affected by the bag  50 . By accommodating the readily-available plastic grocery bags  50 , the users will be able to easily use and change the bag  50  in the trash container  26 .  
      Still referring to  FIG. 6 , the trash container  26  includes container walls  58  defining a storage area  60 . The bottom wall  56  is opposite an opening  62  to the storage area  60 . When secured to any of the connection points  31  ( FIGS. 1-5 ), the opening  62  is oriented upward, in order to hold the bag  50  and trash.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative forward portion  64  of the console  10  of  FIG. 2 . The forward portion  14  includes a pair of opposed sidewalls  66  and an upper wall  68  having an opening  70  formed therein. The opening  70  is selectively closed by sliding, curved doors  72   a,b  (slidable mounting and springs or motors not shown). In  FIG. 8 , the door  72   a  is shown in the closed position, while the door  72   b  is shown in the open position (for purposes of illustration only—normally, the doors  72   a,b  would both be either open or both closed). The doors  72   a,b  slide behind dividers  74   a,b  respectively in the interior of the forward portion  64  when in the closed position. One of the dividers  74   b  has an interior surface with a recess  30   e  that may be somewhat similar to the recesses  30   a - d  described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-2 . The recess  30   e  includes tabs  32  ( FIG. 8 ) (and optionally includes the magnets  34 , not shown) for removably retaining the same cd storage sleeve  38  described above. The other divider  74   a  is adjacent or integral with a cup holder assembly  78 , including a plurality of recesses  79  for holding cups.  
      The doors  72   a,b  include a spring-loaded or motorized mechanical assembly (not shown) for sliding the doors between the open and closed positions based upon the user activating a switch  84 . When the doors  72   a,b  are open, the user can access the cd storage sleeve  38  stored in recess  30   e . The cd storage sleeve  38  is stored between the divider wall  74   b  and the cup holder assembly  78 .  
      In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.