Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020005424?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-07-04 23:13:17
Document Index: 434111214

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 6', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 42', 'art 6', 'art 42', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 6', 'art 46', 'art 46', 'arts 62', 'art 44', 'art 42', 'arts 62']

Patent US20020005424 - Receptacle cover - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsKnown covers, for example for receptacles in automobiles, have drawbacks in that they require several components in addition to the depositing receptacle and/or require additional reception space clearly exceeding the dimensions of the deposition receptacle for opening, and/or cannot be installed if...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020005424?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020005424 - Receptacle coverAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20020005424 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 09/318,847Publication dateJan 17, 2002Filing dateMay 26, 1999Priority dateMay 29, 1998Also published asDE19824248A1, DE19824248C2, EP0960778A2, EP0960778A3, EP0960778B1, US6478204Publication number09318847, 318847, US 2002/0005424 A1, US 2002/005424 A1, US 20020005424 A1, US 20020005424A1, US 2002005424 A1, US 2002005424A1, US-A1-20020005424, US-A1-2002005424, US2002/0005424A1, US2002/005424A1, US20020005424 A1, US20020005424A1, US2002005424 A1, US2002005424A1InventorsCarsten Lange, Herbert BeierOriginal AssigneeCarsten Lange, Herbert BeierExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (16), Classifications (7), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetReceptacle cover
US 20020005424 A1Abstract
Known covers, for example for receptacles in automobiles, have drawbacks in that they require several components in addition to the depositing receptacle and/or require additional reception space clearly exceeding the dimensions of the deposition receptacle for opening, and/or cannot be installed if only limited installation space is available in the depth or width direction, and/or the cover does not present sufficient sturdiness during use. The cover (2) of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks as a whole and moreover be characterised by low costs per unit, low components weight and an appealing exterior. This is achieved by means of a cover (2) including a multiplicity of planar members (12) translatably guided in guide means (26) and capable of being taken from a closing position into an opened position, with the planar members (12) in the opened position being arranged in a zig-zag configuration relative to each other through guide means (26) designed in accordance with the invention without necessarily projecting above the upper edge of the deposition receptacle (6). In order to avoid undesirable waviness of the cover (2) in the closed position, each planar member (12) is guided by four guide projections (22, 24). The cover (2) of the invention is suited for a multiplicity of openings extending horizontally, vertically or at an inclination, in particular in the passenger cabins of automobiles, which are to be covered in a planar manner. Images(8) Claims(14)
[0042] In all of the sectional representations, the cover remains uncut. [0043] A cover shown under 2 in FIGS. 1 to 9 is to serve, for example in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, for covering an opening 4 formed in an interior accessory part 6, through which a receiving or safekeeping space 8 (FIG. 3) may be accessed the interior accessory part 6 presents the substantially box-shaped design represented in the drawing and is, for example, designed to be arranged between the two front seats of a passenger car. [0044] The reception space 8 which may be closed or liberated by the cover 2 serves, in the known manner, for accommodating a mobile phone, vehicle documents, audio cassettes, glasses, tissues, a key ring or the like. [0045] In front of the cover 2 in the closing direction thereof (on the left in FIG. 1), another deposition tray 10 for receiving coins or the like is furthermore provided in the interior accessory part 6. [0046] As can be learned in particular from FIGS. 8 and 9, the cover 2 includes a plurality of planar members 12 extending transversely with respect to the moving direction of the cover 2. These planar members 12 are interconnected through hinge connections 14 and 16, with the hinge connection 14—as shall be explained hereinbelow—having to be considered a single-action hinge connection, and hinge connection 16 a double-action hinge connection. “Single-action” should be understood to mean that the hinge member of the hinge connection 14 continuously performs a pivoting motion through 180�, and “double-action”, that the hinge connection 16 performs a pivoting motion through 180� as a result of respective 90� pivoting motions of two hinge members. [0047]FIGS. 9, 9A, 9B show details of the hinge connections 14, 16 whereby the planar members 12 are connected to each other. In the shown embodiment, the hinge connections 14, 16 are formed as film hinges integral with the planar members through an infection molding process. The latter include a support structure onto which a soft component is applied in a 2-component injection molding process, which soft component on the one hand forms the visble surface of the planar members and on the other hand has sufficient elasticity to meet the requirements to a film hinge. The single-action hinge connection 14 includes a single film hinge whereby the two planar members (12 a, 12 b) may be pivoted relative to each other through 180�, so that the visible Surfaces formed by the soft component are contiguous with each other (FIG. 9A). [0048] The double-action hinge connection 16 includes two hinge portions having the form of film hinges and each permitting a pivoting motion through 90� relative to the center portion 16 c connecting the two hinge portions 16 a, 16 b. This center portion 16 c tapers in the direction toward the hinge portions 16 a, 16 b, so that the desired pivoting motion through 90� may be performed without any collisions. As can be learned from FIG. 9B the two planar members 12 b and 12 c may each be pivoted through 90� relative to the center portion 16 c through the intermediary of the hinge connection 16, so that the major surfaces of the planar members 12 b, 12 c, which face away from the visible surface, are contiguous in the pivoted position. [0049] As can particularly be learned from Pig. 9, the two hinge connections 14, 16 are formed in the vicinity of the visible surfaces positioned on the top in FIG. 9, so that in both the opened and closed conditions a surface having maximum possible smoothness is obtained inasmuch as the film hinges approximately extend in the plane of the visible surfaces. [0050] As can be learned from the representations of FIGS. 8 and 9B, the visible surface of the cover 2 in the opened state (FIG. 8) is substantially constituted by the center portions 16 c of the double-action hinge connections 16 connected to the associated planar members 12 through the equally visible hinge portions 16 a, 16 b, i.e., in the opened position, too, a substantially planar, smooth visible surface is obtained owing to the zig-zag fold of the invention. [0051] In accordance with, e.g., FIG. 8, each planar member 12 is provided with a plurality of guide projections 20. Herein the guide projections 20 have different axial lengths, i.e., guide projections 22 and guide projections 24 having different axial extensions are provided. The cross-section of the long guide protrusions 24 is shaped to be approximately circular, whereas the inner surface of the short guide projections, which faces the long guide projections 24, in chamfered such as to enable introduction of the cover without any Collisions in the manner described further below. [0052] In accordance with FIG. 3, each planar member 12 is provided with altogether four guide projections 20, namely, a coaxially arranged pair of long guide projections 22 and a coaxially arranged pair of short guide projections 24. The arrangement of the guide projections 20 at the respective planar members 12 is such that the guide projections 20 are each arranged at a small distance from the hinge connections 14 and 16, with, e.g. in accordance with rig. 5, the short guide projections 24 each being arranged on either side adjacent the single-action hinge connections 14, and the long guide projections 22 each being arranged on either side adjacent the double-action hinge connections 16. The reason for this particular arrangement of the guide projections 20 shall be explained hereinbelow. [0053] In the extended position, or closing position, of cover 2, both the long guide projections 22 and the short guide projections 24 are guided in two parallel lateral guide grooves 26 and 28 (cp. FIGS. 2 and 6), with each guide groove 26 or 28 extending at a lateral edge of the opening 4 in the longitudinal direction thereof. In the extended position, or closing position, of cover 2 in accordance with FIG. 1 or 3, each planar member 12 is thus held in the guide grooves 26 and 28 by a total of four guide projections 20, so that the planar members 12 of the cover 2 are arranged in a horizontal plane (view of FIG. 3). [0054] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 5, the entire longitudinal extension of the opening 4 may substantially be subdivided into an opening range 30 and a folding range 32, with the opening range 30 being substantially larger in comparison with the folding range 32. In order to liberate the opening range 30, the cover 2 is moved from the position in accordance with FIGS. 1 or 3 toward the folding range 32, with the single planar members 12 in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5 folding into a zig-zag shape in the folding range 32 and contacting each other in the process. [0055] For the purpose of moving the cover 2 from the closing position in accordance with FIG. 3 into the opened position in accordance with FIG. 4 and back, a grip part 42 is grasped which is formed at an additional planar member 44 following after the foremost planar member 12 c in the closing direction of the cover 2 and being movable along the guide grooves 26 and 28 substantially only by translation. Moreover, this additional planar member 44 is provided with four long guide projections 22 and may thus be translated along the guide grooves 26 and 28 only the two planar members 12 e, 12 g adjacent the additional planar member 44, and the foremost planar member 12 g when viewed in the opening direction have smaller widths than the central planar members 12 of the cover 2. Basically it would, however, also be possible to design all of the planar members 12 a, . . . with an identical width. The planar members 12, 12 h following after the additional planar member 44 have a pair each of short guide projections 24 and long guide projections 22. Formation of the film hinges for the joint connections 14, 16 is concealed optically with the aid of depressions engraved at regular intervals in the visible surface of the cover 2 and having a surface structure which corresponds to the one of the film hinges. [0056] As can be learned in particular from FIGS. 6 and 7, one receding wall portion 38 each is formed in the folding range at each inner wall 36 having the guide grooves 26 and 28, respectively, formed therein, so that an internal portion of the support surface of the guide grooves 26, 28 is cut open. This receding wall portion 38 results, in accordance with the representation of FIG. 7, in formation of a downwardly extending guide path 34. The depth of the receding wall portion 38 is selected, in accordance with FIG. 6, such that the long guide projections 28 still rest on the remaining portion of the guide grooves 26, 28, whereas the short guide projections 24 may be supported on the end surface of the guide path 34. [0057] In accordance with FIG. 7, when viewed in the opening direction, a mounting groove 39 extending as far as to the bottom of the guide grooves 26, 28 is formed after the wall portion 38. Following this mounting groove 39, an additional support 40 is formed which presents the same width as the guide grooves 26, 28 in the opening range 30. In front of the additional support 40 when viewed in the opening direction, the guide grooves 26, 28 are again stepped back similarly to the wall portion 38, so that only the long guide projections 22 are supported. At the end of the guide grooves 26, 28 visible in FIG. 7, a stop 41 is formed which the long guide projections 22 of the planar member 12 g contact upon opening. [0058] Inasmuch as the guide grooves 26, 28 are cut entirely open as a result of the mounting groove 39, when being mounted in the direction of the arrow X (cf. FIGS. 3 and 7), the cover 2 may be introduced from below into the space defined by the outer wall of the interior accessory part 6 and inserted by the guide projections 22, 24 into the guide grooves 26, 28. At that time, the cover 2 is pulled into the closing position represented in FIG. 3 with the aid of the grip part 42. [0059] By briefly pushing or jolting the cover 2 in the forward direction, i.e. into the closing position, the last pair of guide projections 22, 24 of the planar member 12 g finally is guided into the guide grooves 26, 28 against the bottom side of the secondary support 40, of particularly FIG. 3. Due to resilient rebound of the pre-stress applied during jolting the cover 2, the short projections 24 of the first planar member 12 g in the opening direction then coma to lie on the additional support 40. In this closing position, the long guide projections 22 are still located at a distance from the stop 41. [0060] As can moreover be learned from FIG. 8, between the two guide projections 22 of the additional planar member 44 which have an identical length, a sliding lip 45 is formed as a soft component which, during the opening and closing movements, slides along the guide grooves 26, 28 and conveys a high-grade operating sensation owing to friction. This sliding lip 45 moreover acts as a brake/attenuation member, so that the cover 2 remains in the desired position. The force required for actuating the cover 2 may be varied in a simple manner by modifying the sliding lip 45. [0061] As can particularly be learned from FIGS. 3 and 8, the planar member 12 h adjacent the planar member 12 g carries a wall member 47 extending downwardly in the representation of FIG. 3 in the manner of a shark's fin, whereby the inner wall 36 of the folding range 32 is closed against the opening range 30 in co-operation with a rear wall 49. This serves to preclude small objects from entering from the keeping space 8 into the folding range 32 and thereby blocking the cover. The curvature of the wall member 47 is selected so that it reaches around the short planar member 12g at least in portions thereof in the folding position, i.e., in the folding position (FIG. 8) this planar member 12 g is folded into the range between the planar member 12 h and the wall member 47. [0062] The expense in terms of device technology for manufacturing the interior accessory part 6 may be reduced if the rear wall 49 is connected to the inner wall 36 through the intermediary of a film hinge 51. Upon removing the interior accessory part 6 from the mold, the rear wall 49 then assumes the position represented in FIG. 7, so that no slide members whatsoever are required for forming the rear wall 49. During mounting, this rear wall 49 is then taken into the position represented in FIG. 3, with two lateral latch projections locking in a reception groove 53 which opens into the guide path 34. [0063] The geometry of the guide grooves 26, 28, the spacing of guide projections 22, 24, and the width of the guide path 34 as well as of the additional support is selected such that all of the guide projections 22, 24 are supported in the closing position, whereby a planar, substantially smooth cover is ensured. [0064] In order to open the cover 2, the latter is slid to the right in the representation of FIG. 3 with the aid of the grip part 42. [0065] The foremost planar member 12 g in the opening direction is initially moved jointly with the other planar members, only by translation owing to the force pushing at the grip part 42, until the pair of short guide projections 24 of this planar member 12 g leaves its additional support 40, and the pair of long guide projections 22 arrives at the stop 41 at the end of the guide grooves 26, 28. [0066] In the further course of opening, the zig-zag folding of this planar member 12 g is initiated as a result of the turning moment now generated as the product of force pushing at the grip part 42 of the additional planar member 44 and the vertical spacing of the hinge connection 16 from the rotation axis of the last planar member 12 g. [0067] Via the double-action hinge 16 a tensile force is then transmitted by the described pivoting motion to the respective following planar member 12 h. As a result, the short guide projections 24 affected thereby are guided into the branching guide path 34, So that zig-zag folding for each succeeding planar member 12 takes place in a mechanically determined manner independent of gravity or mounting position. [0068] In order to take the cover 2 into the closing position, the grip part 42 is once again grasped and moved, e.g., to the left in FIG. 4, whereby the single planar members 12 are consecutively returned from the zig-zag position into the extended position, with the short guide projections 22 concurrently being guided along the guide paths 34 back up into the guide grooves 26 and 28, after which they can only perform mere translatory movements. Once the short guide projections 24 of a planar member 12 have been received in the guide grooves 26 and 28 together with the long guide projections 22 already located there, the respective planar member 12 can no longer perform pivoting, tilting or rotating movements relative to one or both neighboring planar members 12. The closing process is completed when the short guide projections 24 of the foremost planar member 12 g rest on the additional supports 40 and the additional planar member 44 contacts a closing stop. The closing position may be defined by a spring and/or latch mechanism 55 (FIG. 4) formed in the range of the guide grooves 24, 26 and capable of being taken into engagement with the guide projections 22. [0069] If desired, it is also possible to arrange a key lock, a combination lock or the like in the range of the additional planar member 44. Particularly in the case of a cabriolet it is recomendable to integrate a lock into the power lock of the vehicle. [0070] As can be learned from FIGS. 2 to 5, the top edge of the cover 2 not necessarily projects beyond the plane defined by the upper edge of the opening 4 in the opened condition because the folding operation, due to the short guide projections 24 being disengaged, substantially takes place in a downward direction into the reception space B of the interior accessory part 6. [0071] Moreover, such as in accordance with FIG. 4, the folding range 32 occupied by the planar members 12 contiguous in a zig-zag configuration is very short in comparison with the opening range 30, so that largely unimpeded access to the reception space 8 is possible in the opened condition of the cover 2. [0072] In the case of the embodiment represented in FIGS. 10, 11, an interior accessory part 46 is provided which may, for example, be installed in the range of the door lining and serves for receiving cards, such as vehicle insurance card, vehicle service card, parking card, automobile club card, telephone card or the like. The accessory part 46 includes an accessory body 48 mounted, for example, in vertical position in a door lining 50. This basic body 48 serves for receiving the cards 58 in a plurality of compartments 52. In addition to this, laterally acting clips or holding springs may, for example, be provided in the single compartments 52 for additionally immobilising the respective cards 58. [0073] An opening 54 of the body 48 may be obstructed or liberated by a cover 56, with this cover 56 substantially having the same construction as the cover 2 in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9; a repeated detailed explanation of the construction of the cover may therefore be omitted. [0074]FIGS. 12 and 13 show an embodiment wherein cover 2 is used for closing a beverage holder 60. The latter may be received, for example, in the center console or in the arm rests of an automobile. [0075] The casing of the beverage holder 60 in the representation of FIG. 12 has an approximately rectangular cross-section, with 8 shaped parts 62, 64 being fastened or jointly molded in the keeping space 8 such as to encompass the outer contour of a beverage can 66 indicated in phantom line and positively receive the can. [0076] Owing to the smaller dimensions of the beverage holder 60, the cover 2 is designed with a substantially smaller length than the one of the above described embodiment. In the represented embodiment, the cover 2 includes, for example, a planar member 12 g located in the opening direction which includes a pair of short and long guide projections 22, 24, and is connected to a planar member 12 h having a greater width through the intermediary of a double-action hinge 16. To the latter planar member, a planar member 12 i is coupled by means of a single-action hinge connection 14 formed integrally with a grip part 44. The two planar members 12 h, 12 i are each guided through two pairs of guide projections in the guide grooves 26, 28 formed in the side wall of the beverage holder 60 in the same manner as in the above described embodiment. I.e., in the represented opened position the short guide projections 24 are guided out of the engagement range of the grooves 24 along the guide path 34, so that the planar members 12 are taken into the represented collapsed position herein the grip part 42 integrally connected to the planar member 12 i pivots upwardly out of the opening plane of the beverage holder 60, whereby a manipulating means having good grasping properties is provided for closing the beverage holder 60. [0077] As can particularly be learned from FIG. 13, the planar member 12 i carries at its inner surface opposite the visible surface a support member 68 adapted to the outer contour of the beverage can 66 to be received and thus complementing the shaped parts 62, 64 in the opened position. In the closed state of the cover 2, the support member 68 projects from above (view of FIG. 13) into the reception space 8. [0078] For better adaptation, the support member 68 constituted by support prisms may, for example, be complemented by spring-loaded holding fingers to match different diameters of the beverage can 66. The beverage holder is preferably designed to be easily removable and suited for cleaning in a dishwasher. [0079] Concerning the further constructional features of the cover and of the guide means provided therefor, reference is made to the above described embodiments. [0080] What should furthermore be particularly emphasised with respect to vehicle construction is the possibility of weight reduction in comparison with conventionally covered accessory parts. On the one hand, less Components are required, and on the other hand, the compact design of the guide means facilitates stable design of, e.g., the center console without having to resort to weight-increasing reinforcing members. [0081] The cover 2 or 56 may, of course, also be displaceable in a plane extending obliquely or vertically, or in segments conform with any curved surfaces, i.e., the guide grooves 26 and 28 do not necessarily have to extend perfectly linearly over their entire length. [0082] Known covers, for example for receptacles in automobiles, have drawbacks in that they require several components in addition to the depositing receptacle and/or require additional reception space clearly exceeding the dimensions of the deposition receptacle for opening, and/or cannot be installed if only limited installation space is available in the depth or width direction, and/or the cover does not present sufficient sturdiness during use. [0083] The cover 2 of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks as a whole and moreover be characterised by low costs per unit, low components weight and an appealing exterior. [0084] This is achieved by means of a cover 2 including a multiplicity of planar members 12 translatably guided in guide means 26 and capable of being taken from a closing position into an opened position, with the planar members 12 in the opened position being arranged in a zig-zag configuration relative to each other through guide means 26 designed in accordance with the invention without necessarily projecting above the upper edge of the deposition receptacle 6. In order to avoid undesirable waviness of the cover 2 in the closed position, each planar member 12 is guided by four guide projections 22, 24. [0085] The cover 2 of the invention is suited for a multiplicity of openings extending horizontally, vertically or at an inclination, in particular in the passenger cabins of automobiles, which are to be covered in a planar manner. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6499785 *Sep 6, 2001Dec 31, 2002Nifco Inc.Storage deviceUS7540391 *Aug 30, 2005Jun 2, 2009Nifco Inc.Door shutterUS7581773May 10, 2006Sep 1, 2009Lisa Dr�xlmaier GmbHRoller blind with curved surfaceUS7588280 *Feb 3, 2006Sep 15, 2009Lisa Dr�xlmaier GmbHRoller blind with soft surfaceUS7591499Apr 27, 2006Sep 22, 2009Lisa Dr�xlmaier GmbHRoller blindUS7733553Sep 21, 2005Jun 8, 2010Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Light modulator with tunable optical stateUS7784843 *Jan 8, 2008Aug 31, 2010Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Vehicle console with sliding panelUS8172293Jan 9, 2008May 8, 2012Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Vehicle electronic device support systemsUS8661366Jun 9, 2009Feb 25, 2014Thomson LicensingBuilding macro elements for production automation controlUS8777002Sep 15, 2011Jul 15, 2014Shark-Eye LlcProtective case with substantially-rigid outer layer and cushioning inner layerUS8783752 *Dec 18, 2012Jul 22, 2014Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Mobile device retention and charging trayUS8857492Nov 11, 2010Oct 14, 2014GM Global Technology Operations LLCRetractable safety cover for a rail system in a motor vehicleUS9016751Dec 13, 2012Apr 28, 2015Lisa Dr�xlmaier GmbHManufacture of a curved roller blind for a storage compartmentUS20120037536 *Aug 10, 2010Feb 16, 2012Cypress Holdings, Ltd. D/B/A Cypress IndustriesProtective Case With Sliding Display CoverUS20130049389 *May 12, 2011Feb 28, 2013Johnson Controls Technology CompanyFlexible interior trim component having an integral skin show surfaceEP1600330A1 *May 21, 2004Nov 30, 2005Ford Global Technologies, LLCRoller shutter with sliding elements* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification224/539, 220/351, 220/350, 220/345.4International ClassificationB60R7/04Cooperative ClassificationB60R7/04European ClassificationB60R7/04Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 12, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4May 31, 2010SULPSurcharge for late paymentYear of fee payment: 7May 31, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jun 20, 2014REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedNov 12, 2014LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesDec 30, 2014FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20141112RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services