Patent Publication Number: US-2023144981-A1

Title: Vehicle center console

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-181887, 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 storage portion, and the like are arranged is provided between a driver seat and a passenger seat of a front seat. 
     In recent years, in accordance with the popularization of a portable information terminal and the like, a vehicle in which a terminal connection port such as a USB port is provided in a vehicle room in the vehicle is increased. In consideration of the convenience for an occupant in the front seat, a structure inside a vehicle room is proposed in which an article placement portion on which an article such as the portable information terminal is placeable and the terminal connection port such as a USB port are arranged on an upper portion of the center console (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2013-220740). 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in the above-described center console of the related art, since the article placement portion and the terminal connection port are arranged on the upper portion of the center console, when a liquid such as a drink is accidentally spilled on the upper portion of the center console in a state where an article such as a portable information terminal is placed on the article placement portion, the liquid may be slopped on the article. Further, in the center console of the related art, the terminal connection port is arranged at a high position on an upper surface side of the center console, and therefore, an occupant seated in the front seat does not easily perform a work by which an electrical device such as a portable information terminal is attached to or detached from the terminal connection port. 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle center console which is capable of protecting an article that is placed on an article placement portion and in which a terminal of an electrical device is capable of being easily attached to and detached from a terminal connection port. 
     A vehicle center console according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an article placement portion; 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, is arranged above the article placement portion to interpose a space portion, and has a width in a vehicle width direction which is narrower than that of the article placement portion; an inclination wall that is arranged on a front section of the article placement portion and is inclined to a vehicle forward side toward an upward direction; and a terminal connection port that is arranged on the inclination wall, wherein the terminal connection port is arranged at a position that does not overlap the bridge portion in a top view. 
     According to the configuration described above, a main section above the article placement portion is covered by the bridge portion. Therefore, even if an occupant accidentally spills a liquid such as a drink at the upper side of the center console, the liquid such as the drink is unlikely to be slopped on an article that is placed on the article placement portion. Further, the terminal connection port is arranged on the inclination wall at the front section of the article placement portion and is located at a position that does not overlap the bridge portion in the top view. Therefore, together with the narrower width of the bridge portion than the width of the article placement portion, it is possible to easily attach and detach an electrical device with respect to the terminal connection port. 
     The inclination wall may be inclined in a vehicle width direction toward a direction of an occupant seated in a front seat. 
     In this case, it becomes possible to easily attach and detach an electrical device with respect to the terminal connection port while the occupant seated in the front seat remains in a seated state. 
     An eave section that extends above the terminal connection port may be provided on the front block portion. 
     In this case, since the eave section of the front block portion covers an upper portion of the terminal connection port, when a liquid such as a drink is spilled at the upper portion of the center console, it is possible to prevent the spilled liquid from being directly slopped on the terminal connection port by the eave section. 
     An article storage recess section that opens upward may be provided on the rear block portion, and a penetration groove which opens to an upward side and through which a cable that connects the terminal connection port to an electrical device is capable of being inserted may be provided on a circumferential wall of the article storage recess section. 
     In this case, by inserting the cable of which one end portion is connected to the terminal connection port through the penetration groove, an electrical device that is connected to the other end portion of the cable can be arranged in the article storage recess section of the rear block portion. Accordingly, since the placement position of the electrical device can be selected from the article placement portion and the article storage recess section and be determined, the convenience for the occupant is further enhanced. 
     The penetration groove may be provided on both right and left sides of a front wall of the article storage recess section. 
     In this case, by inserting the cable from a front direction (article placement portion side) into one penetration groove of the front wall, arranging the cable that is drawn into the article storage recess section in a width direction at a rear surface side of the front wall, and inserting the cable into the other penetration groove, the cable can be drawn to a forward side of the front wall. Further, if necessary, by arranging the cable that is drawn to the forward side of the front wall in the width direction at a front surface side of the front wall and inserting the cable into the one penetration groove again, the cable can be drawn into the article storage recess section. Similarly, the cable can also be wound on a circumferential wall arbitrary number of times in accordance with the length of the cable to be used. Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, when the length of the cable to be used is long, an extra length portion of the cable can be held between the right and left penetration grooves of the front wall of the article storage recess section, and the convenience for the user is enhanced. 
     A lid body that is openable and closable and that closes an upper part of the article storage recess section may be provided on the rear block portion, and the lid body may open an upper part of the penetration groove in an open state, and may cover the upper part of the penetration groove and maintain communication in a forward-rearward direction of the front wall in a closed state. 
     In this case, an electrical device can be stored in the article storage recess section while maintaining a state where the electrical device and the terminal connection port are connected by a cable, and the lid body can be closed while maintaining the state. Therefore, the electrical device can be stored in the storage recess section in a state where the electrical device cannot be seen from the outside and charging of the electrical device or the like can be performed in the state. Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is used, the electrical device can be further safely arranged inside the vehicle. 
     In the vehicle center console according to an aspect of the present invention, the bridge portion having a width in the vehicle width direction which is narrower than that of the article placement portion is arranged above the article placement portion to interpose the space portion, and the terminal connection port is arranged on the inclination wall at the front section of the article placement portion so as not to overlap the bridge portion in a top view. Therefore, when the center console according to an aspect of the present invention is employed, it is possible to protect an article that is placed on the article placement portion by the bridge portion, and an occupant seated in the front seat can easily attach and detach the terminal of an electrical device with respect to the terminal connection port. 
    
    
     
       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 perspective view of the center console according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     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 a protrusion shape to 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 . 
     When an article having a rectangular plate shape such as a portable information terminal 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 , it is possible to ensure a space by the extension placement surface  11   b  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. 
     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 electrical device such a portable information terminal (including a mobile phone) 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 electrical device is connected; however, 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  19  (refer to  FIG.  5   ) connected to the electrical device 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 side 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  20   a  (refer to  FIG.  5   ) 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  20   a  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  20   a  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  is set to be narrower than the 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 the 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 the 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 joined 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 seen to be exposed outward. Therefore, in a case where the portable information terminal 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 from an occupant seated in a seat (the driver seat or the passenger seat) at a side close to the placed portable information terminal. 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, the bridge portion  14  (narrow width section  14   a ) becomes a blinder, and viewing of the screen of the portable information terminal is blocked. Accordingly, the screen of a portable information terminal 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.  4    is a cross-sectional view along a IV-IV line of  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the center console  10  showing a state in which the lid body  21  of the rear block portion  13  is opened. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , a penetration groove  23  that opens upward and penetrates through a front wall  20   f  of the article storage recess section  20  in a forward-rearward direction is formed on two positions (circumferential wall) that are spaced from each other at both right and left sides of the front wall  20   f . In each penetration groove  23 , a cable  19  connected to the portable information terminal can be inserted from an upper side. An upper portion of the right and left penetration grooves  23  of the front wall  20   f  is closed by a front edge portion of the lid body  21  when an upper part of the article storage recess section  20  is closed by the lid body  21 . In other words, the lid body  21  opens an upper portion of the two penetration grooves  23  in an open state, and covers an upper side of the two penetration grooves  23  and maintains communication between forward and rearward portions of the front wall  20   f  in a closed state. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the center console  10  can hold the extra length portion of the cable  19  by the front wall  20   f  through the two penetration grooves  23  of the front wall  20   f.    
     Specifically, in a state where the lid body  21  is opened, for example, the cable  19  is inserted from a front direction into one penetration groove  23  of the front wall  20   f , and the cable  19  that is drawn into the article storage recess section  20  is arranged in a width direction at a rear surface side of the front wall  20   f  and is inserted into the other penetration groove  23 . Then, the cable  19  that is drawn from the other penetration groove  23  to the forward side of the front wall  20   f  is arranged in the width direction at a front surface side of the front wall  20   f  and is inserted into the one penetration groove  23  again. Thereby, the extra length portion of the cable  19  is held between the two penetration grooves  23  of the front wall  20   f . An end portion of the cable  19  having the extra length portion that is held by the front wall  20   f  can be placed, for example, inside the article storage recess section  20  together with the portable information terminal. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , an inclination portion  23   a  that is inclined outward in the width direction toward an upper side is provided on the right and left penetration grooves  23  of the front wall  20   f  in a lower region of an inner side surface in the width direction that faces the inside of the groove. The inclination portion  23   a  functions as a cable regulation portion that regulates positon displacement of the cable  19  toward an upper side when the cable  19  is wound on the front wall  20   f  across the right and left penetration grooves  23 . Accordingly, by winding the cable  19  on the front wall  20   f  such that the cable  19  is in contact with the inclination portion  23   a , the winding position of the cable  19  can be maintained at a constant position close to a lower portion of the front wall  20   f . As a result, an electrical device such as a portable information terminal connected to the cable  19  can be stored in a stable state in the article storage recess section  20 . 
     As described above, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the bridge portion  14  that is provided on the front block portion  12  and the rear block portion  13  is arranged above the article placement portion  11  to interpose the space portion  25 . Therefore, a main section above the article placement portion  11  is covered by the bridge portion  14 , and even in a case where an occupant accidentally spills a liquid such as a drink at the upper side of the center console  10 , the liquid such as the drink is unlikely to be slopped on an article that is placed on the article placement portion  11 . 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the terminal connection port  18  is arranged on the inclination wall  17  at the front section of the article placement portion  11  and is located at a position that does not overlap the bridge portion  14  in the top view. Therefore, together with the narrower width of the bridge portion  14  than the width of the article placement portion  11 , it is possible to easily attach and detach a terminal of an electrical device with respect to the terminal connection port  18 . 
     Accordingly, in a case where the center console  10  of the present embodiment is employed, it is possible to protect an article that is placed on the article placement portion  11  by the bridge portion  14 , and an occupant seated in the front seat can easily attach and detach the terminal of the electrical device with respect to the terminal connection port  18 . 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the inclination wall  17  on which the terminal connection port  18  is provided is inclined also in the vehicle width direction toward the direction of the occupant seated in the front seat at the front section of the article placement portion  11 . Therefore, in a case where the present configuration is employed, the occupant seated in the front seat can easily connect the terminal of the cable  19  or the like to the terminal connection port  18  while accurately confirming the shape or the position of the terminal connection port  18  and keeping a seated state, and can easily remove the terminal from the terminal connection port  18 . 
     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, an upper side of the terminal connection port  18  is covered by the eave section  22  of the front block portion  12 , and thereby, when a liquid such as a drink is spilled at the upper side of the center console  10 , it is possible to prevent the spilled liquid from being directly slopped on the terminal connection port  18  by the eave section  22 . 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, it is possible to reliably protect the terminal connection port  18  while maintaining a good attachment/detachment operation property of the terminal with respect to the terminal connection port  18 . 
     In particular, in the present embodiment, a front end of the eave section  22  is inclined to a vehicle rearward side toward the inside in the width direction of the center console  10 . Therefore, in a top view, the inclination directions (inclination directions relative to the forward-rearward direction) of the inclination of the front end of the eave section  22  and the inclination of the inclination wall  17  on which the terminal connection port  18  is provided become the same direction. Therefore, an operator&#39;s hand is unlikely to interfere with the eave section  22  at the time of an attachment/detachment work of the terminal with respect to the terminal connection port  18 . 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, an attachment/detachment work property of the terminal is improved. 
     Further, the center console  10  of the present embodiment includes the penetration groove  23  that penetrates through the circumferential wall of the article storage recess section  20  of the rear block portion  13 , and the penetration groove  23  opens to an upper side of the article storage recess section  20 . The cable  19  for connecting the terminal connection port  18  to an electrical device is capable of being inserted through the penetration groove  23  from the upper side. Therefore, by inserting the cable  19  of which one end portion is connected to the terminal connection port  18  through the penetration groove  23 , an electrical device that is connected to the other end portion of the cable  19  can be arranged in the article storage recess section  20  of the rear block portion  13 . 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, the placement position of the electrical device connected to the terminal connection port  18  by the cable  19  can be selected from the article placement portion  11  and the article storage recess section  20  and be determined. Therefore, since it is possible to select the placement position of the electrical device in accordance with the preference or the purpose of use of the occupant, the convenience for the user is further enhanced. 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the penetration groove  23  is provided on each of both right and left sides of the front wall  20   f  of the article storage recess section  20 . Therefore, the cable  19  for connecting the terminal connection port  18  to the electrical device can be wound around the front wall  20   f  of the article storage recess section  20  through the right and left penetration grooves  23 . 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is employed, when the length of the cable  19  to be used is long, the extra length portion of the cable  19  can be held between the right and left penetration grooves  23  of the front wall  20   f  of the article storage recess section  20 , and it is possible to enhance the convenience for the user. 
     Further, in the present configuration, since the penetration groove  23  is provided on each of both right and left sides of the front wall  20   f , even when the terminals of the cables  19  are connected to the right and left terminal connection ports  20 , respectively, by inserting each cable  19  through a corresponding penetration groove  23  of the right and left penetration grooves  23 , electrical devices each connected to each cable  19  can be simultaneously accommodated in the article storage recess section  20 . 
     Further, in the center console  10  of the present embodiment, the lid body  21  that is openable and closable and that closes the upper part of the article storage recess section  20  is provided on the rear block portion  13 , the lid body  21  opens an upper part of each penetration groove  23  when the lid body  21  is in an open state, and the lid body  21  covers the upper part of each penetration groove  23  and maintains communication in a forward-rearward direction of the front wall  20   f  when the lid body  21  is in a closed state. Therefore, an electrical device can be stored in the article storage recess section  20  while maintaining a state where the electrical device and the terminal connection port  18  are connected by the cable  19 , and the lid body  21  can be closed while maintaining the state. Therefore, the electrical device can be stored in the storage recess section  20  in a state where the electrical device cannot be seen from the outside and charging of the electrical device or the like can be performed in the state. 
     Accordingly, in a case where the present configuration is used, the electrical device can be further safely arranged inside the vehicle. 
     Further, in the case of the present configuration, when the lid body  21  is in a closed state, since the lid body  21  covers the upper part of the penetration groove  23  formed on the front wall  20   f , the penetration groove  23  is unlikely to be seen from the outside, and the appearance from the outside is improved. 
     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 two penetration grooves  23  that allow insertion of the cable  19  are formed on the front wall  20   f  of the article storage recess section  20 ; however, the number of penetration grooves  23  may be one or may be equal to or more than three. 
     Further, the formation position of the penetration groove  23  is not limited to the front wall  20   f  of the article storage recess section  20 . The penetration groove  23  may be formed on a side wall or the like of the circumferential wall of the article storage recess section  20  other than the front wall  20   f.    
     However, in a case where the penetration groove  23  is formed on the front wall  20   f  as in the embodiment described above, the arrangement of the cable  19  is smoothly performed, the cable  19  is unlikely to be seen from the outside, and the appearance from the outside is improved.