Patent Abstract:
A storage assembly for an associated vehicle includes a pocket for storing associated articles. A lid is pivotally secured and selectively positionable between an open position that allows access to the pocket and a closed position that covers the pocket. The lid has an inner, first surface that coincides with a maximum fill line of the pocket when the lid is in the closed position, a recess formed in the first surface of the lid adjacent a first edge of the lid, and an object bumper extending adjacent at least a portion of the recess for preventing the associated articles from interfering with pivotal movement of the lid relative to the pocket.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure is directed to a storage assembly, and more particularly a pocket having a closeable lid as is commonly associated with a center console of an automotive vehicle. Selected aspects of the present disclosure may find application in related environments and applications. 
         [0002]    It is known to provide a storage assembly such as a pocket holding loose items or small objects such as coins, fasteners, etc. It is likewise known to provide a selectively openable/closable lid for the storage assembly so that items received in a recess or pocket of the storage assembly are retained therein. Typically, the lid is pivoted between open and closed positions, and is usually mounted in such a manner that the lid pivots or rotates through a generally arcuate path over a terminal edge of a sidewall of the pocket. The terminal edge of the sidewall defines the true maximum fill line for the pocket. That is, other sidewall portions of the pocket may have a different or increased height relative to the sidewall terminal edge. When the lid of the storage assembly is open, users have a tendency to continue to deposit items in the pocket. For example, with the lid in an upright or open position, an undersurface of the lid allows additional items to be inserted into the pocket without overflowing, i.e., fill to an upper edge of the opening that forms the pocket and that substantially coincides with an underside or undersurface of the lid in a closed position. However, when the items are filled above a terminal edge of one of the sidewalls, and the user pivots the lid from the open position to the closed position, items can undesirably spill over the terminal edge of the pocket and thereby obstruct or jam further movement of the lid. 
         [0003]    Consequently, a need exists for an alternative arrangement for the storage assembly that maximizes a volume of the storage pocket. Likewise, a need exists for an alternative arrangement that addresses the obstruction/lid jamming issues associated with prior arrangements. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A storage assembly for an associated vehicle includes a surface having a perimeter edge and a pocket extending below the surface for storing associated articles. A lid is pivotally secured and selectively positionable between an open position that allows access to the pocket and a closed position that covers the pocket. The lid has an inner, first surface that coincides with a maximum fill line of the pocket when the lid is in the closed position, a recess formed in the first surface of the lid adjacent a first edge of the lid, and an object bumper extending adjacent at least a portion of the recess for preventing the associated articles from interfering with pivotal movement of the lid relative to the pocket. 
         [0005]    The pocket has a first edge in close proximity to the lid recess during pivotal movement between the open and closed positions. 
         [0006]    The object bumper includes a series of spaced projections extending along an edge of the recess. 
         [0007]    The object bumper projections preferably each have a generally arcuate conformation that allows the lid to pivot from the open position to the closed position, and vice-versa. 
         [0008]    Each object bumper projection has a generally arcuate conformation that allows the lid to pivot from the open position to the closed position, and vice-versa. 
         [0009]    The pocket includes generally tapered sidewalls that extend from a base wall, and a cupped extension provided along one of the sidewalls that extends outwardly in a generally arcuate contour that corresponds to a generally arcuate conformation of the recess in the lid first surface. 
         [0010]    The pocket includes a terminal edge over which the lid pivots between the open and closed positions, the terminal edge having a height less than a fill depth of the pocket. 
         [0011]    The terminal edge has a height less than a remainder of an upper edge of the pocket. 
         [0012]    The pocket includes a terminal edge over which the lid pivots between the open and closed positions, the terminal edge having a height less than a fill depth of the pocket. 
         [0013]    A primary advantage of the new storage assembly is the ability to provide for a maximum fill line for the pocket. 
         [0014]    Another benefit resides in the ability to limit the potential for objects to obstruct the lid during opening and closing movement relative to the pocket. 
         [0015]    Still another advantage is associated with the improved aesthetics associated with the functional structure. 
         [0016]    Yet another benefit relates to the reduced prospect that the lid can be jammed that prevents the lid from opening and closing correctly. 
         [0017]    Still other benefits and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art center console that incorporates a storage assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the storage assembly of  FIG. 1  with the lid in an open position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the storage assembly of  FIG. 1  with the lid in the closed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 2  of an improved storage assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  of the improved storage assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the lid of  FIGS. 4 and 5  in an open orientation. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the lid in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a prior arrangement of the storage assembly SA of the type that is incorporated into a center console C disposed between front seats (not shown) in an automotive vehicle. The storage assembly SA includes a pocket P that is recessed relative to an upper surface of the console. The pocket P receives small items or objects such as coins, tokens, fasteners, clips, receipts, etc. Generally these objects are deemed unsightly and to improve the aesthetics of the interior of the automotive vehicle, it is common for the storage assembly SA to include a lid L that allows selective access to the pocket P. For example, the lid P is mounted for pivoting movement or rotation through a limited range between open and closed positions (shown open in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and shown in a closed position in  FIG. 3 ). Oftentimes the user leaves the lid in an open position to allow ready access to the pocket. In this position as shown in  FIG. 2 , the pocket P may be filled with items to a level generally shown by the broken line and referred to as a “max fill line”. However, if items are stored to this height or fill line, when the lid L is closed (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) items or objects can spill over an upper edge E of one of the walls W defining the pocket sidewall. As will be appreciated from a comparison of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a “true max fill line” represented by the dotted line in  FIG. 3  is defined by the height of the upper edge E of the wall W over which the lid pivots. That is, the wall W has a reduced height relative to other portions of the sidewall of the pocket P in order to accommodate the pivoting movement of the lid L. Unfortunately, if items have been introduced into the pocket to the “max fill line” of  FIG. 2 , then pivoting movement of the lid L would allow the small items or objects to spill over the edge E of wall W. When the user then seeks to subsequently rotate the lid L to the open position of  FIG. 3 , the items can potentially jam or prevent rotation of the lid L and thereby prevent the lid L from opening, or fully opening relative to the pocket P. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5-7  provide a solution to this problem. More particularly, console  100  has an upper surface  102 . An opening  104  in the upper surface  102  allows access to a pocket  110  which in this embodiment is formed as a recessed member having sidewalls  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  that extend upwardly from a base or bottom wall  120 . Preferably, the sidewalls have a slight taper as they extend upwardly and slightly outwardly from the bottom wall  120 . In addition, sidewall  116  includes a first or lower portion  116 A and a second or upper portion  1168  that is interconnected by a contoured transition region  116 C. 
         [0027]    It is particularly evident in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  7  that sidewall  116  has a reduced height relative to the remaining sidewalls  112 ,  114 ,  118 . This reduced height that terminates at upper edge  116 E of the sidewall  116  accommodates pivoting/limited rotating movement of lid  130  between an open position ( FIGS. 4 ,  6 , and  7 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 5 ). The lid  130  has a substantially planar conformation but is modified relative to prior art arrangements by the inclusion of recess  132 . In the preferred arrangement, the recess  132  has an arcuate or curvilinear configuration. Particularly, the arcuate recess  132  in the lid is shaped relative to the pivoting or rotational axis of the lid so that the surface of the recess proceeds in closely spaced relation over the upper edge  116 E of the sidewall. 
         [0028]    In addition, an object bumper, or series of object bumpers,  140  are formed in an underside of the lid and are provided adjacent the recess. As perhaps best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the object bumpers  140  extend outwardly from an underside of the lid in spaced relation relative to one another. The object bumpers  140  are preferably interposed between the recess  132  and a terminal edge  142  of the lid. Each of the object bumpers  140  is configured to advantageously extend the curvilinear shape of the recess  132  toward the terminal edge  142  of the lid ( FIG. 5 ). In this way, an inward edge of each of the object bumpers  140  is disposed adjacent the recess  132  while an outboard edge of each of the object bumpers is disposed adjacent the terminal edge  142  of the lid. The longitudinal spacing between the object bumpers is selected to minimize the potential for small objects to pass over the upper edge  116 E of sidewall  116  and into lid-receiving cavity  150  of the console. 
         [0029]    The cavity  150  is formed in part by wall  152  that also has a partially arcuate conformation that tracks the pivoting movement of the lid  130 , and particularly the leading edge  142  as the lid rotates over the sidewall  116 . The cavity  150  is also defined by the contour of the sidewall  116 , including the contour of transitional portion  116 C. This contour of the sidewall closely matches that of the combined recess  132  and object bumpers  140  formed in the underside  130 A of the lid. Thus, when the lid  130  is in a full open position ( FIG. 4 ), the underside  130 A of the lid mates with the sidewall  116 . In addition, the shape of pocket sidewall  116  advantageously hides the object bumpers  140  and the recess  132  when the lid  130  is in a full open position. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate that the “max fill line” of the pocket, i.e. the depth dimension measured from base wall  120  to the top of sidewalls  114 ,  118 , extends upwardly to the lip of the respective sidewalls  112 ,  114 , and  118 . As evident in  FIG. 5 , the “max fill line” coincides with an undersurface  130 A of the lid in the closed position. When the lid is open, the “max fill line” is maintained because the recess  132  and object bumpers  140  preclude passage of objects or items over the upper edge  116 E of the sidewall  116  into cavity  150 . Thus, even though the sidewall  116  has a height less than a fill depth of the pocket (or less than the “max fill line”), the object bumpers and the recess advantageously limit the potential for items to leave the pocket over the edge  116 E of the reduced height sidewall  116 . 
         [0031]    This written description uses examples to describe the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1