Patent Publication Number: US-2013248572-A1

Title: Console box with sliding floor

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure is directed to a storage compartment or console box of the type disposed between front seats in an automotive vehicle. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a console box in which the internal cavity may be reconfigured to accommodate different sized items for storage. It will be appreciated, however, that selected aspects of the present disclosure may find application in related environments and applications. 
     There is an increasing desire to provide a console box that accommodates larger items, for example, tablet computers, notebooks and laptop computers, etc. It is also desirable that the cavity not only accommodates larger items of this type, but also be able to cover the item when stored in the console box. Due to the relatively large size of tablet computers, a floor of the console box must be very low. In order to get a low floor in a console box, and simultaneously route or direct HVAC ducts underneath the console box, it becomes necessary to split the internal cavity into two levels. Customers have a concern that small items will fall into the lower portion of the split cavity, i.e. the deep portion of the console box. Thus there are competing concerns of providing storage for small items, preventing the small items from falling into the lower portion of the split cavity, and also being able to accommodate larger items such as a laptop computer that does not adversely impact on HVAC function in the vehicle. 
     One currently available design has a folding lid which stores along an interior side of the console box. The folding lid rotates downwardly to provide a second level surface to the console box spaced above the bottom surface. Unfortunately, this current design is expensive to manufacture, and requires the side of the box to be more narrow to allow the folding lid to be stored in the box. Further, this design also requires the folding lid to have two good appearance surfaces, i.e. both the top and bottom surfaces of the folding lid must have good appearances, because each of these surfaces is alternately visible when the folding lid is either in use or in a stowed, storage position. 
     Consequently, a need exists for a console box that overcomes these issues and others, and still satisfies the various desires of vehicle owners in a manner that is accommodating to HVAC concerns, aesthetics, cost, and the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     A console box for an associated vehicle includes a bottom wall and sidewalls spaced apart to define a cavity. A slidable wall portion extends from a first, storage position to a second, extended position that overlies the bottom wall in spaced relation, the slidable wall portion defining an enlarged, continuous volume for the cavity in the first position and a split volume for the cavity each having a reduced dimension in the second position. 
     The bottom wall has a stepped configuration where a first portion of the bottom wall generally aligns with the slidable wall portion. 
     A vertical flange has a limited height provided along one edge of the slidable wall portion. The vertical flange extends above an upper surface of the first portion of the bottom wall so that the slidable wall portion can be extended into abutting engagement with an inner surface of the first sidewall and retracted into abutting engagement with the edge of the first portion of the bottom wall. In the retracted position, the slidable wall portion is substantially stored beneath the first portion of the bottom wall. 
     The first portion of the bottom wall is configured to overlie a duct that extends continuously therebeneath, and adjacent a second portion of the bottom wall located lower than the first portion. 
     The slidable wall portion covers the second portion of the bottom wall in the extended, second position to provide a hidden compartment. 
     A slot is dimensioned to receive the slidable wall portion therethrough, and preferably includes a channel assembly that receives opposite ends of the slidable wall portion, the slot communicating with and being disposed adjacent an underside surface of the first bottom wall portion. 
     The channel assembly is provided on an underside of the first portion of the bottom wall and dimensioned to receive the slidable wall portion. 
     One benefit of the present disclosure is the ability to store a large item such as a tablet computer in the console box. 
     Another advantage relates to the ability to close the console box once the large item is received therein and thereby hide the item from view. 
     Yet another benefit relates to the ability to route an HVAC duct underneath the console box. 
     Still another advantage is associated with retaining small items in an upper level of the console box and preventing such items from falling into the deep side of the console box when there is open access thereto. 
     A further advantage of the present disclosure is the more compact design of the cover or lid for the deep portion of the cavity in the console box. 
     Yet another benefit is that only one surface of the movable floor must have a good aesthetic appearance since the second surface is not visible. 
     Still other benefits and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading and understanding the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a known console box assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating some of the problems attempted to be resolved by the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of still another problem attempt be resolved by the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the new console box assembly of the present its closure with the slidable wall extended to a second position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an underside of the console box assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing insertion of a large item into a deep portion of the console box cavity. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the console box assembly with the slidable wall in the extended, second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Initial reference is made to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a console box or console box assembly  100 . The console box  100  is typically located between the front seats in an automotive vehicle. Thus, the console box is generally centrally located and is limited in width due to the space between the seats, and has a limited length that generally corresponds to a length of a seat base, and has a limited depth because it is common to route a HVAC duct through this region from the front of the vehicle toward the rear seat(s). The console box  100  includes first and second sidewalls  102 ,  104  disposed in substantially parallel relation. The sidewalls  102 ,  104  are substantially perpendicular to first (front) and second (rear) end walls  106 ,  108 . In addition, a substantially planar bottom wall  110  extends across and interconnects lower, terminal ends of the sidewalls  102 ,  104  and the end walls  106 ,  108 . The bottom wall  110  forms a lower surface of an internal cavity  120  of the console box  100 . A foldable wall  122  is pivotally mounted along one edge  124  to one of the sidewalls, shown here as the first sidewall  102 . More particularly, the foldable wall  122  is mounted at approximately mid-height along the first sidewall  102 . As shown, the foldable wall  122  includes first and second portions  126 ,  128  that may be independently pivoted between a first, upright position where the floor portion ( 126  or  128 ) folds along an interior surface of the sidewall  102  of the console box  100 , and a second, horizontal position where the foldable wall forms a raised floor at a height spaced above the bottom wall  110 . When folded downwardly, the floor portions  126 ,  128  reduce the depth of the console box  100  and allow the user to store small items. On other hand, when the floor portions  126 ,  128  are folded upwardly into the storage position, the overall cavity depth increases since uninhibited access is available to the bottom surface  110 . 
     As is evident in  FIG. 1 , when folded into the upright, stored position, the foldable wall portions  126 ,  128  impact the overall total volume of the inner cavity  120 . That is, the foldable wall portions  126 ,  128  use some of the total available volume of the inner cavity in the stored position. Moreover, by orienting the foldable wall portions  126 ,  128  in end-to-end fashion, both foldable wall portions must be in the storage position in order to accommodate a large item for storage in the console box. 
     Further, an upper surface  126   a,    128   a  of each foldable wall portion is visible when the wall portions are folded downwardly to reduce the depth of the console box. Likewise, each of lower, underside surfaces  126   b,    128   b  is also visible when each foldable wall portion is positioned in the upright, stored position. Consequently, for aesthetic reasons, each of the upper surfaces  126   a,    128   a  and each of the underside surfaces  126   b,    128   b  must have a good surface finish. This adds to the cost of the mold used to form the foldable wall portions and likewise adds to the overall cost to manufacture the console box. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , and additional reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the present disclosure attempts to resolve the illustrated problem issues, as well as others, facing the console box arrangement of  FIG. 1 . More specifically,  FIG. 2  illustrates HVAC duct  200  that extends along the vehicle floor between the front seats to direct heat or air conditioned, cool air flow from the front of the vehicle to a location behind the front seats. Typically, the console box has a width that sits on top of the duct  200 . As represented in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the design or conformation of console box  300  is modified to accommodate the duct  200  while still addressing the need for an increased depth of the console box. In this preferred arrangement, the bottom wall or floor portion of the console box  300  has a stepped configuration. This stepped configuration provides side-by-side floor portions  310   a,    310   b  at different heights, and likewise an increased depth associated with the side of the console box with the deeper floor portion  310   b.  The shallower depth on the other side of the console box  300  results from that portion of the stepped console box which is positioned over the HVAC duct  200 . The increased depth is represented by reference numeral ID in  FIG. 2  so that the console box can accommodate and is preferably dimensioned to receive larger items LI such as a tablet or laptop computer. Of course one skilled in the art will recognize that other large items LI may be stored in the console box, and particularly in that portion having an increased depth, without departing from the scope and intent of the present disclosure. 
     As represented in  FIG. 3 , small items could potentially fall into the increased depth portion when the large item LI is not stored in the console. This is represented by reference arrow  316 . 
     To resolve the issues of  FIGS. 2-3 , as well as other modifications, the console box  400  of the present disclosure as shown in  FIGS. 4-7  is provided. Console box  400  includes first and second sidewalls  402 ,  404 . The sidewalls  402 ,  404  are disposed in substantially parallel relation. Further, the sidewalls  402 ,  404  are substantially perpendicular to a first (front), end wall  406  and a second (rear), end wall  408 . Lower edges of the sidewalls  402 ,  404  and end walls  406 ,  408 , respectively, are joined by the stepped configuration of the bottom wall portions  410   a  (shallow),  410   b  (deep) which together define a bottom wall  410 . The bottom wall portions  410   a,    410   b  are spanned by a wall portion  412  that extends in a generally vertical direction, i.e., substantially parallel to the sidewalls  402 ,  404 . The wall portion  412  includes a slot  414  at an upper end thereof and which is advantageously located adjacent and just below the bottom wall portion  410   a.  The sidewalls  402 ,  404 , end walls  406 ,  408 , and bottom wall portions  410   a,    410   b  together enclose an internal cavity  420  for receiving and selectively storing items in the console box. 
     The slot  414  has a height dimension that closely receives a slidable wall portion  422 . Preferably, opposite ends  424 ,  426  of the slidable wall portion  422  are received in respective first and second channels  428 ,  430 . The channels  428 ,  430  are generally L-shaped configurations extending downwardly from the respective end walls  406 ,  408  to capture and provide sliding support for the opposite ends  424 ,  426  of the slidable wall portion  420 . In a preferred arrangement, the slidable wall portion  422  has a generally planar conformation along an upper surface  422   a  with an upturned edge  432  extending upwardly therefrom. The upturned edge  432  has a height allowing the upturned edge to extend slightly above an upper surface of bottom wall portion  410   a.  The upturned edge  432  serves as a stop to limit sliding movement of the slidable wall portion  422  along and beneath the underside surface of bottom wall portion  410   a.  This is generally referred to as a retracted or stowed, first position where the slidable wall portion is substantially stored beneath the bottom wall portion  410   a.  When fully retracted beneath the bottom wall portion  410   a,  access is provided to the increased depth portion of the cavity  420 , i.e. that portion of the cavity over bottom wall portion  410   b.  This permits a large item LI to be advantageously received in the cavity  420  and extend for a depth that substantially matches the full height of sidewall  402 . 
     On the other hand, with a large item LI removed, the slidable wall portion  422  may be fully extended from beneath the bottom wall portion  410   a  such that the upturned edge  432  abuts against the inner surface of the first sidewall  402 . This prevents smaller items that may be received on the upper surface of bottom wall portion  410   a  from inadvertently falling into the increased depth of the cavity defined by bottom wall portion  410   b.  This extended position of the slidable wall portion also forms a hidden compartment (i.e., between the bottom wall portion  401   b  and the extended slidable wall portion  422  in a vertical direction and between sidewall  402  and wall portion  412  in the lateral, horizontal direction). 
     As will also be noted from  FIGS. 4-7 , smaller items can be effectively stored in the cavity  420  as shown in either  FIG. 4  or  7 , or larger items can be received as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In either arrangement, a lid or cover  450  (shown in broken line in  FIG. 4 ) may be closed over the upper edges of the sidewalls and end walls to limit access to, and view of, the interior cavity  420 . This is true even if a large item LI is stored in the cavity  420 . 
     Further, use of the slidable wall portion  422  requires only one of the surfaces to have a high grade finish since only the upper surface of the slidable wall portion will be exposed to view ( FIGS. 4 and 7 ). The underside surface of the slidable wall portion  422  can have a rough finish since the underside surface will not be viewed by vehicle occupants ( FIG. 5 ). 
     When the slidable wall portion  422  is fully retracted as shown in  FIG. 6 , a large item can be received in the increased depth side of the console box cavity  420 . The upturned edge  432  of the slidable wall portion  422  extends a limited height above an upper surface of the wall portion  410   a  and can be easily moved by a user&#39;s fingers by engaging the upturned edge and urging the slidable wall portion toward the first sidewall  402 . The slidable wall portion  422  is laterally movable between a first, storage or retracted position where it resides beneath the first bottom wall portion  410   a,  and a second, operative or extended position disposed in generally side-by-side relation with the first bottom wall portion. This extended position forms the hidden compartment formed in the extended depth portion of the cavity overlying the second bottom wall portion. 
     The disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred body meant. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.