Patent Description:
Vehicle interiors typically include one or more closeable compartments for storage of personal belongings or for some other use when opened. One example is a glove box, usually located in front of the front passenger seat and having a hinged door that can be opened to access the storage area. Another example is a center console, usually located between the front driver and passenger seats. Such consoles may include a hinged or sliding door that can be opened to access an underlying storage area or accessory. By and large, the door opening functionality of these components is rather rudimentary - i.e., hinges have been around for thousands of years, and manual latches for several hundred. In the meantime, vehicles have evolved to include advanced features with computer processors, sensors, and other systems continuously collecting and processing data to make the driving experience safer and more enjoyable. Vehicle interiors have also become more advanced with multitudes of occupant protection features cleverly concealed from view and wireless communication equipment connecting occupants to in-vehicle and extra-vehicle networks.

Japanese patent document <CIT> discloses a vehicle console with a slidable door that functions as a lid and as an upper tray, or as a middle tray positioned lower in the housing. The door is sized to cover only a part of an opening in the housing and is configured so that the door can longitudinally slide along rails at the sides of a console body. The rails are configured with multiple vertical levels so that the door can be removed and vertically repositioned to slide at a different level. Like many advancements in vehicle storage compartments and consoles, Hiroshi focuses on adding new functionality but fails to make any advances that provide vehicle interior components with a high-tech or otherwise modern flair to compliment the more modern electronic components and luxurious materials that are becoming more prominent in vehicle interiors.

Document <CIT> discloses a vehicle interior assembly.

Document <CIT> shows a vehicle interior assembly according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In accordance with various embodiments, a vehicle interior assembly is in accordance with the vehicle interior assembly of the appended set of claims.

It is contemplated that any number of the individual features of the above-described embodiments and of any other embodiments depicted in the drawings or description below can be combined in any combination to define an invention, except where features are incompatible.

Illustrative embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:.

Described below is a vehicle interior assembly with unique door-opening motion that lends a modern or futuristic feel when used by a vehicle occupant. The assembly can be made with a zero-gap condition such that the presence of the door is not readily perceivable until it begins to open. The opening motion includes a vertical drop of the door followed by horizontal movement to a concealed position. The door can be opened or closed based on user touch or gesture, and the opening and/or closing motion can be motorized to achieve the desired effect.

<FIG> is a perspective view from above of an embodiment of a vehicle interior assembly <NUM> with a fall away door <NUM>. The door <NUM> is illustrated in a closed position and exhibits sequential vertical (Z) and horizontal (XY) movement between the illustrated closed position and an open position, in which the door is concealed from view. The assembly <NUM> is a center console in this example and configured to be located between front driver and passenger seats of the vehicle. In other embodiments, the assembly <NUM> is located elsewhere in the vehicle, such as between second or third row vehicle seats, along an instrument panel, along the outboard side of one or more seats, or in a cargo area of the vehicle. As noted above, the presence of the illustrated door <NUM> is not apparent when the door is in the closed position as in <FIG> - i.e., the top surface of the door may be flush with the top surface of the surrounding portions of the assembly, and the outer perimeter of the door is concealed beneath a frame <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> can be any shape or size and defines an opening <NUM> of the illustrated console <NUM>. Only an edge of the opening <NUM> is visible in <FIG>. When the door <NUM> moves away from the closed position, such as to the open position, the opening <NUM> provides access to an interior of the console <NUM>, which may be a storage area and/or house an accessory. The entire base of the console <NUM> may be considered the frame <NUM>, or the frame may be in the form of one or more pieces supported by the console base, such as one or more trim pieces.

The longest dimension of the console <NUM> is oriented in a longitudinal (X) direction extending between front and rear ends of the vehicle. A transverse (Y) direction perpendicular with the longitudinal direction is shown in <FIG> extending between left and right sides of the vehicle. The vertical (Z) direction is perpendicular to the X and Y directions. The opening <NUM> of the frame <NUM> lies on or in a plane substantially parallel with the XY plane. As used herein, "substantially" means ± <NUM> degrees when referencing angles.

The door <NUM> can also be any shape or size suitable to close off the opening <NUM> in the frame <NUM> and to provide the desired aesthetic. The door <NUM> presents a decorative surface to the vehicle interior, such as a wood, leather, or fabric surface. The door <NUM> may also include functional components located beneath the decorative surface, such as sensors embedded within the thickness of the door or guides or other features extending from the non-visible opposite side of the door.

<FIG> is a schematic cutaway view of an example of the vehicle interior assembly <NUM> further illustrating a door movement mechanism <NUM>. The top surface of the door <NUM> is not visible in this view, but features extending from the back side of the door are visible. The illustrated movement mechanism <NUM> includes guides <NUM>, followers <NUM>, a shuttle <NUM>, upper and lower links <NUM>-<NUM>, a shuttle actuator <NUM>, a transmission <NUM>, a spring <NUM>, a damper <NUM>, and a pair of springs <NUM> (not visible in <FIG>). These elements are discussed further in conjunction with <FIG>.

<FIG> is an exploded view of the assembly <NUM> of <FIG>. The opening <NUM> in the frame <NUM> is partly visible in this view and is generally defined in a horizontal (XY) plane. The guides <NUM> provide a path for the door <NUM> to follow during movement between the open and closed positions. In this example, the guides <NUM> include an upper guide 20a and a lower guide 20b, each of which is located along an inner surface of a sidewall of the assembly <NUM>. The illustrated guides <NUM> are in the form of a track protruding transversely from the sidewall and having a central channel such that the defined path is parallel with a vertical (XZ) plane. Each guide <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> extending vertically downward from the frame <NUM> near the opening <NUM>, a second portion <NUM> extending horizontally away from the first portion, and a curved transition portion <NUM> interconnecting the first and second portions to form one continuous guide. These features are also present along the omitted opposite sidewall.

The illustrated door <NUM> has a decorative top surface <NUM> that is visible through the opening <NUM> when the door is in the closed position and concealed from view when the door is in the open position. Upper and lower followers 22a, 22b corresponding to the upper and lower guides 20a, 20b extend from the opposite or bottom side of the door <NUM> and are configured for sliding movement along the guides <NUM>. Each of the illustrated followers <NUM> includes a downwardly extending arm and a transversely extending post <NUM> at the end of the arm. The upper and lower followers 22a, 22b are horizontally spaced by the same amount as the vertical portions <NUM> of the upper and lower guides 20a, 20b and vertically spaced by the same amount as the horizontal portions <NUM> of the upper and lower guides 20a, 20b. The guides <NUM> and followers <NUM> cooperate to define the movement path of the door and can take many forms, such as single-rail guides fixed along the sidewall and dual-element followers fixed to the door <NUM> or other suitable arrangements.

The shuttle <NUM> operates to move the door <NUM> back and forth between the open position and a dropped position beneath the opening <NUM>. In this example, the shuttle <NUM> is an L-shaped plate with pairs of posts <NUM> extending transversely from a side of the plate nearest the sidewall of the assembly <NUM> and configured to mate with and follow the same guides <NUM> as the door <NUM>. The shuttle <NUM> may alternatively or additionally be configured to follow dedicated guides.

The links <NUM>, <NUM> interconnect the door <NUM> and the shuttle <NUM>. Each link <NUM>, <NUM> has a first end pivotably connected to the door <NUM> and a second end pivotably connected to the shuttle <NUM>. The first end of the upper link <NUM> is connected to and pivots about a post <NUM> of an upper follower 22a of the door <NUM>, and the second end of the upper link <NUM> is connected to and pivots about an upper post 50a of the shuttle <NUM>. Similarly, the first end of the lower link <NUM> is connected to and pivots about a post <NUM> of a lower follower 22b of the door <NUM>, and the second end of the lower link <NUM> is connected to and pivots about a lower post 50b of the shuttle <NUM>. The links <NUM> connect the door <NUM> and the shuttle <NUM> in a manner that permits the shuttle to remain vertically stationary during vertical movement of the door. The links <NUM>, <NUM> are also configured to maintain the horizontal orientation of the door <NUM> during its vertical movement - i.e., the decorative surface <NUM> of the door remains parallel with itself at all vertical positions of the door <NUM>. The shuttle <NUM> and links <NUM>, <NUM> may be duplicated along the omitted opposite sidewall of the assembly.

The actuator <NUM> provides kinetic energy to the shuttle <NUM> via the transmission <NUM> during at least a portion of the movement of the door between the open and closed positions. In this particular example, the actuator <NUM> is an electric motor mounted to the inner surface of the assembly <NUM>. The illustrated transmission <NUM> includes a gear section <NUM> that is rotatable about a transverse axis. The transmission <NUM> may include other portions not visible in the figures, such as a portion that converts rotation of the actuator <NUM> about a longitudinal axis to rotation about the transverse axis of the gear portion and/or a gear reduction portion.

The transmission includes teeth along a perimeter of the gear portion <NUM> that mesh with teeth along an edge of the shuttle <NUM> in the manner of a rack-and-pinion system that converts rotational motion of the gear portion to linear motion of the shuttle, or vice versa. As discussed further below, the particularly illustrated example provides kinetic energy to the shuttle <NUM> via the actuator <NUM> in one horizontal direction and via the spring <NUM> in another horizontal direction. The actuator <NUM> and transmission may be duplicated along the transversely opposite side of the door <NUM>. In some embodiments, only the gear section <NUM> is duplicated on the opposite side of the door with a rod or other connector rigidly connecting the gear sections for coordinated movement.

The spring <NUM> is a roller spring including a metal or similarly stiff ribbon with a first end affixed to the shuttle <NUM> and an opposite second end affixed to a spool that is rotatable about a vertical axis. The spool is in a fixed position along the illustrated sidewall of the assembly <NUM>. The spring <NUM> has a relaxed condition in which the ribbon is coiled around the spool. When the first end of the ribbon is moved away from the spool, the spring <NUM> is in an extended condition and stores mechanical energy proportional to the distance of the first end from the spool. Other types of springs, energy storage mechanisms, and/or actuators can be employed in a similar manner.

The damper <NUM> is configured to slow the release of energy from the spring <NUM> when moving toward its relaxed condition. The damper <NUM> may for example be in frictional contact with the sidewall of the assembly <NUM>, one or more of the guides <NUM>, or some other component that remains stationary with respect to the opening <NUM> or guides <NUM>. The resulting damped movement is smoother and more gradual than the potentially fast and sudden movement that the spring <NUM> alone would provide.

Each of the pair of springs <NUM> is located along the vertical portion <NUM> of one of the upper and lower guides 20a, 20b. These springs <NUM> bias the door <NUM> away from the closed position when the door is in the closed position. In the illustrated example, each spring <NUM> is a coil spring with a first or top end affixed to the frame <NUM> and a second or lower end in contact with one of the followers 22a, 22b of the door <NUM> when in the closed position. Each spring <NUM> has a relaxed condition in which its opposite ends are spaced apart by an equilibrium amount. When its opposite ends are moved toward each other from the relaxed condition, each spring <NUM> is in a compressed condition and stores mechanical energy proportional to the amount of compression. Other types of springs, energy storage mechanisms, and/or actuators can be employed in a similar manner.

Operation of the fall away door <NUM> via the mechanism <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> is discussed below with reference to the schematic cross-sectional views of <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates the door <NUM> in the closed position, in which the door closes off the opening <NUM> in the frame <NUM> so that the decorative surface <NUM> of the door is visible through the opening <NUM> from the vehicle interior. The illustrated door <NUM> has a perimeter <NUM> that is entirely concealed from view from the exterior of the assembly <NUM> when in the closed position. The door <NUM> is biased vertically downward toward the dropped position by the springs <NUM> (not visible in <FIG>), which are in a compressed condition. The door <NUM>, via the shuttle <NUM> and links <NUM>, <NUM>, is also biased horizontally away from the opening <NUM> (to the left in <FIG>) by the horizontal spring <NUM> in its extended condition.

One or more latches <NUM> are in an engaged condition to hold the door <NUM> in the closed position against the weight of the door and/or the bias of the springs. In this example, the latch <NUM> is of the type with a latching element that moves parallel with a plane of the door <NUM> to permit the door to move vertically past the latch in one direction (upward) but not in the opposite direction (downward) when in the engaged condition. The illustrated latch <NUM> is actuated in response to a sensor <NUM> configured to detect a user intention to open the door <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may for example be a motion sensor, proximity sensor, touch sensor, pressure sensor, gesture sensor, fingerprint reader, or any other suitable sensor. The sensor <NUM> may be in communication with the latch <NUM> directly or via a controller to move the latch to a disengaged condition when the user intention to open the door is detected. The illustrated latch <NUM> is moved to the disengaged condition via a solenoid or other electromagnetic means. In keeping with the modern feel of the fall away door <NUM>, it may be preferred that these elements are non-visible to vehicle occupants and/or integrated with other interior components. The latch <NUM> may be electro magnetic without moving parts, for example, or a touch display can act as the sensor and/or controller. Other types of latches <NUM>, sensors <NUM>, and/or latch actuators may be employed including push-button switches, manual actuators or latches, microphones, temperature sensors, actuation by voice command, etc..

In <FIG>, the latch <NUM> is changed to the disengaged condition in response to the sensor <NUM> detecting a user intention to open the door <NUM>. Under its own weight and under the influence of the mechanical energy stored in the springs <NUM>, the door <NUM> moves vertically downward toward the dropped position. During this stage of door movement, the followers 22a, 22b of the door <NUM> move along the vertical first portions <NUM> of the stationary guides 20a, 20b, and an angle of the links <NUM>, <NUM> with respect to horizontal is reduced while the orientation of the door <NUM> remains unchanged.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the vertical door movement from the closed position to the dropped position is damped movement. For example, a rotational damper (e.g., a grease damper) can be included at one or more of the pivot joints where the links <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to the door <NUM> or shuttle <NUM>. As with the horizontal damper <NUM>, a vertical damper may be configured to slow the release of energy from the springs <NUM> when moving toward their relaxed condition. The resulting damped movement is smoother and more gradual than the potentially fast and sudden movement that the weight of the door <NUM> and the optional springs <NUM> would otherwise cause. Such dampers can be tuned to permit an initially undamped movement that changes to slower, damped movement at some threshold movement velocity. Preferably, a first portion of the vertical movement of the door <NUM> away from the closed position is undamped movement and a subsequent second portion of the vertical movement of the door away from the closed position is damped movement. In various embodiments, the first <NUM>-<NUM>% of the vertical movement of the door <NUM> away from the closed position is undamped movement and followed by damped movement for the remainder of the vertical door movement. Preferably, initial vertical movement of the door <NUM> away from the closed position is undamped, and the final <NUM>-<NUM>% of downward vertical movement of the door is damped movement.

<FIG> illustrates the door <NUM> while moving from the dropped position toward the open position under the bias of the horizontal spring <NUM>. The followers 22a, 22b of the door <NUM> are guided through the transition portions <NUM> of the guides 20a, 20b and into and along the horizontal second portions <NUM> of the guides. During this stage of movement the vertical springs <NUM> are not in contact with the door and are in their relaxed condition, while the horizontal spring <NUM> is moving toward its relaxed condition. The links <NUM>, <NUM> are oriented horizontally and move horizontally together with the door <NUM> and shuttle <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> is non-energized and configured to permit free rotation of the gear portion <NUM> about its transverse axis. In some embodiments, the actuator <NUM> functions as a damper during horizontal movement of the door toward the open position. The latch <NUM> is changed back to the engaged condition awaiting return of the door <NUM> to the closed position.

<FIG> illustrates the door <NUM> in the open position, in which it is concealed from view from the exterior of the assembly <NUM>. The open position may be defined by a mechanical stop that blocks the shuttle <NUM> or door <NUM> from moving any further horizontally away from the opening <NUM> or when the spring <NUM> reached its relaxed condition. The open position can be defined in other ways, such as by a limit switch or a pre-programmed motorized movement by a particular distance. The interior of the assembly is now accessible to vehicle occupants through the opening <NUM>.

Movement of the door <NUM> back to the closed position is not shown explicitly to avoid redundancy, but movement from the open position to the closed position is generally the reverse of the movement from the closed position to the open position. In this case, the door <NUM> is moved back toward the dropped position under the power of the actuator <NUM>, which rotates the gear portion <NUM> (clockwise in the figures), thereby moving the shuttle <NUM> horizontally along the horizontal portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM> toward the opening <NUM> and moving the followers <NUM> of the door toward the transition portions <NUM> of the guides. Movement of the door <NUM> through the transition portions <NUM> of the guides moves the first end of the links <NUM>, <NUM> upward so that the links are angled up about their second ends with respect to horizontal, as in <FIG>. Further movement of the shuttle <NUM> away from the open position thus provides an upward component of force on the door <NUM> in the vertical portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM> and toward the closed position, where the latch <NUM> again holds the door in the closed position. The closing movement can be initiated similar to the opening movement, with the same or a different sensor detecting a user intention to close the door <NUM> and corresponding energizing of the actuator <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic cutaway view of a portion of another example of the vehicle interior assembly <NUM>. As in the above example, the movement mechanism <NUM> includes guides <NUM> and followers <NUM>. The mechanism also includes a shuttle <NUM>, actuator <NUM>, and transmission <NUM> that are not shown in <FIG>. The door <NUM> is in the closed position in <FIG>. The guides <NUM> provide a path for the door <NUM> to follow during movement between the open and closed positions. In this example, the guides <NUM> include cylindrical or otherwise prismatic rods. Each guide <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> extending vertically downward from the frame <NUM> near the opening <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> extending horizontally below the first portion <NUM>. The first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the guides <NUM> are not interconnected in this example such that each guide <NUM> is discontinuous. The vertical portions <NUM> of the guides are relatively short rods extending downward from the frame <NUM> to an end, and the second horizontal portions <NUM> of the guides are relatively long rods suspended from the frame <NUM>.

In this case, the upper followers 22a are holes formed through the door <NUM> and hidden from view when the door is in the closed position. The upper followers 22a are positioned concentric with the first portions <NUM> of the guides when the door <NUM> is in the closed position and are configured for sliding movement along the first portions of the guides during movement of the door between the closed and dropped positions. The first portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM> cooperate with the upper followers 22a to permit only one degree of freedom of movement during movement of the door <NUM> between the closed and dropped positions, which is vertical translation. In other words, the first portions <NUM> of the guides and the upper followers 22a constrain movement in all horizontal directions during movement of the door between the closed and dropped positions.

The lower followers 22b are U-shaped extensions along the back side of the door <NUM>, with the open end of the U-shapes affixed to the door. While the lower followers 22b are configured for sliding movement along the second horizontal portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM>, they also follow the horizontal portions <NUM> of the guides during vertical movement between the closed and dropped positions of the door. The second portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM> cooperate with the lower followers 22b to permit two degrees of freedom of movement during movement of the door <NUM>, which are vertical translation and longitudinal translation in this example. In other words, the second portions <NUM> of the guides and the lower followers 22b constrain door movement in the transverse direction.

Operation of the fall away door <NUM> and the remainder of the movement mechanism <NUM> of are discussed below with reference to the schematic cross-sectional views of <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates the door <NUM> in the closed position. In this case, the door <NUM> is not biased in any particular direction when in the closed position, with only its own weight providing any downward force. Though not shown here, one or more latches may be in an engaged condition to hold the door <NUM> in the closed position against the weight of the door and actuated in response to a sensor configured to detect a user intention to open the door, as in the example of <FIG>. The illustrated mechanism also includes a return actuator <NUM>, which in this case is a cam configured to rotate about a horizontal axis. The cam <NUM> is located behind the horizontal portion <NUM> of the guide <NUM> and behind the shuttle <NUM> in <FIG> but can be located anywhere beneath the door in the closed position. In <FIG>, the cam is a disengaged position.

In <FIG>, the latch has been disengaged and the door has reached the dropped position. Under only its own weight, the door <NUM> moves vertically downward toward the dropped position. During this stage of door movement, the followers 22a formed through the door <NUM> move along the vertical first portions <NUM> of the stationary guides <NUM>. In this case, the vertical movement continues past the ends of the vertical portions <NUM> of the guides and continues until the top surface <NUM> of the door <NUM> is below the ends of the vertical portions <NUM>. Continued vertical guidance is provided by the lower followers 22b and the horizontal second portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM>, even after the door is no longer on the vertical portions <NUM> of the guides. Vertical movement of the door stops when the door comes into contact with the shuttle <NUM>. In particular, the lower followers 22b of the door <NUM> are received by corresponding openings or recesses in the shuttle <NUM>, which is a horizontally oriented plate in this example.

As in the previous example, the shuttle <NUM> operates to move the door <NUM> horizontally back and forth between the open position and the dropped position beneath the opening <NUM>. In this example, the shuttle <NUM> follows a dedicated guide <NUM>' with posts or other followers extending from its transverse sides. Also as in the previous example, the shuttle <NUM> includes teeth along its bottom edges that mesh with the teeth of the actuator-driven transmission <NUM> to convert rotational motion of the gear portion <NUM> to linear motion of the shuttle <NUM> in the manner of a rack-and-pinion system.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the vertical door movement from the closed position to the dropped position is damped movement. For example, a rotational damper can be affixed to a cam lobe positioned in one or more of the recesses that receive the followers 22b of the door <NUM>. Such dampers may be configured to slow the falling energy of the door <NUM> and provide a smoother and more gradual mating with the shuttle <NUM>. The dampers can be tuned as discussed above in conjunction with the previous example.

<FIG> illustrates the door <NUM> moved to the open position, in which it is concealed from view from the exterior of the assembly <NUM>, from the dropped position of <FIG>. The energy for horizontal movement toward the open position in this example is provided by the actuator <NUM> via the transmission <NUM> and shuttle <NUM>. Free from the vertical portions <NUM> of the guides in the dropped position, the lower followers 22b of the door <NUM> are guided along the horizontal second portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM>. In this case, the open position is reached when the door <NUM> reaches the end of the horizontal portions <NUM> of the guides, and the actuator is de-energized. The open position can be defined in other ways, as noted above. The interior of the assembly is now accessible to vehicle occupants through the opening <NUM>.

Movement of the door <NUM> back to the closed position is not shown explicitly to avoid redundancy, but movement from the open position to the closed position is generally the reverse of the movement from the closed position to the open position. In this case, the door <NUM> is moved back toward the dropped position under the power of the actuator <NUM>, which rotates the gear portion <NUM> (clockwise in the figures), thereby moving the shuttle <NUM> horizontally along the dedicated guide <NUM>' and the door along the horizontal portions <NUM> of the guides <NUM> toward the opening <NUM>.

Because the guides are discontinuous in this example, a return actuator <NUM> may be required to move the door <NUM> vertically upward to the closed position after it reaches the dropped position from the open position. The cam actuator <NUM> shown here is only one example and is shown in a quarter-rotated engaged position in phantom in <FIG>. A solenoid or other suitable return actuator can be employed. Upon actuation of the return actuator, the door <NUM> is moved upward toward the closed position. The lower followers 22b and the horizontal portion <NUM> of the guide vertically guide the door for the first portion of movement from the dropped position to the closed position, then the upper followers 22a and the vertical portion <NUM> of the guide continue to vertically guide the door to the closed position, where a latch again holds the door in the closed position. The closing movement can be initiated similar to the opening movement, with the same or a different sensor detecting a user intention to close the door <NUM> and corresponding energizing of the actuator <NUM>.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A vehicle interior assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a frame (<NUM>) defining an opening (<NUM>); and
a door (<NUM>) having a closed position, in which the door (<NUM>) closes off the opening (<NUM>), and an open position,
wherein movement of the door (<NUM>) from the closed position to the open position includes vertical movement to a dropped position and horizontal movement from the dropped position to the open position, characterized in that the door is concealed from view in the open position, and in that
the assembly further comprises a guide (20a, 20b) configured to constrain movement of the door (<NUM>) in all horizontal directions during movement between the closed position and the dropped position.