Patent Description:
Storage compartments or boxes are used inside vehicles particularly for storing articles, such as bottles, documents, coins, mobile phone, tablet and the like. Mostly, the storage boxes are arranged on the instrument panel or on a centre console of the vehicle for easy access for both the driver and the occupant. These centre console storage compartments, often act as an armrest for the vehicle passengers. The storage compartments in the centre console can be accessible only for the front row passengers.

There are mechanisms or secondary storage compartments provided on the centre console storage unit which can be accessible to the second-row passengers by sliding the console assembly or the secondary storage compartment. Such mechanism makes the centre console assembly complex and bulky.

The patent application <CIT> describes a storage device having fixed and sliding consoles according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. The storage device has a fixed central console and a sliding central console sliding relative to each other back and forth, where the consoles are laterally arranged in the front seat i.e. driver seat of a vehicle. The consoles are telescopic when the sliding console slides into the fixed console between a deployed position in which the sliding console extends behind the seat and a retracted position in which the sliding console is integrally opposite to the fixed console. However, the arrangement is bulky, consumes more space, and does not fulfil the requirements of the front passengers and the rear passengers.

Further, the patent application <CIT> discloses a storage unit for a motor vehicle. The storage assembly includes upper and lower cover parts that are hingedly connected together and also hingedly connected, via the lower cover part, to an interior panel of the motor vehicle, such as a sidewall of a center console. When the storage assembly is in a fully deployed configuration, the upper and lower cover parts are arranged to form a substantially L-shaped support for transporting one or more objects.

Furthermore, the Japanese patent <CIT> describes a console box. The console box includes a lid plate arranged as the center armrest. The console box can be opened and closed <NUM> degrees rearward specifically, the lid plate can be opened and closed. Also, a secondary plate is provided on the back side of the lid plate that opens both sides to the left and right to form a table together with the lid plate. However, the said console box does not offer an adequate storage compartment for the rear passengers, especially in areas with limited space.

Therefore, there is a need of a compact arrangement of centre console assembly which can overcome the above drawback(s) and provide a storage console for the vehicle.

Some of the objectives of the present invention, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage console for a vehicle with two storage compartments accessible simultaneous to front row passengers and rear row passengers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage console for a vehicle which has a foldable armrest unit to configure a tray to hold articles such as laptop, book and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage console for a vehicle which has a compact arrangement to configure the storage compartment for the rear row passengers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage console for a vehicle which has a simple mechanism for easy operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a storage console for a vehicle interior. The storage console may be arranged adjacent/beside a front row seat of the vehicle. The arrangement of the storage console is advantageous for both front row passengers as well as rear seat passengers since the storage space of the storage console can be accessed by both row passengers.

The storage console may include at least one storage unit. The storage unit is adapted to store articles which can be accessible by the front row passengers. The storage unit is arranged adjacent/beside a front row seat of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the storage unit is fixed to the floor of the vehicle interior.

Further, the storage unit may be partially enclosed by a housing. The housing may cover at least one side portion of the storage unit and a back portion. The housing is slidably arranged on the storage unit. Specifically, the housing may be slidable linearly along a longitudinal plane of the storage unit between a first position and a second position. The first position is when the housing covers the storage unit and the second position is when housing is moved in a rearward position towards the second-row passengers. The housing configures a storage compartment in the second position for storing articles and the storage compartment is accessible to the second-row passengers. When the housing is in the second position, the front row passengers can access the front storage unit and the second-row passengers can access the storage compartment simultaneously.

Further, the housing has a lid for covering the storage unit. The lid is also moveable along with the housing when the housing moves between the first position and the second position. The lid is movably arranged on a portion of the housing such that in the first position of the housing the lid pivot around a pivotal axis to provide access to the storage unit. In the present embodiment, the lid is pivotally arranged on a top portion of the housing. When the housing is in the first position, the front row passengers can access the storage unit by lifting the lid around the pivotal axis.

The housing may have a collapsible sidewall portion movable between a stowed position and a deployed position when the housing is in the second position. The side wall portion may be arranged at an inner side portion of the housing. When the housing is moved rearwards or in the second position, the side wall portion moves to the deployed position away from the inner side portion of the housing. In the deployed position of the side wall portion, the housing configures the storage compartment.

Further, the side wall portion may flush to the inner wall portion of the housing in the stowed position. Specifically, the side wall portion may have a corrugated side portion which connects with the inner portion of the housing. The corrugated side portion facilitates the movement of the side wall portion between the deployed position and the stowed position. In the stowed position, the corrugated side portion collapses and facilitates the side wall portion to flush against the inner side of the housing.

When the housing slides from the second position to the first position, the second-row occupant can remove the articles from the storage compartment and can flushes the side wall portion to the stowed position. In an embodiment, the side wall portion may have a locking arrangement to keep the side wall portion stay in the stowed position. In an embodiment, the lid or the housing may have a magnetic arrangement to arrest the side wall portion in the stowed position. In another embodiment, the storage unit may have a secondary storage space to accommodate the side wall portion when the housing slides back to the first position.

Further, the housing may be slidable on a guide arranged on the floor of the vehicle or on a periphery of the storage unit. The guide can be a channel or a rail like structure to facilitate the sliding motion of the housing towards the second position.

Further, the storage console has an armrest mounted on a top portion of the lid. In an embodiment, the armrest has a foldable unit which is swivellable around a rotational axis. The foldable unit has a first armrest portion and a second armrest portion. The first armrest portion and the second armrest portion are substantially flat members which are adjoined together on a side portion. Specifically, the first armrest portion and the second armrest portion are pivotally connected to the side portion such that the first armrest portion is foldable over the second armrest portion. When the first armrest portion is unfolded, the first armrest portion aligns in the same plane of the second armrest portion configuring a rectangular tray for holding articles. By way of non-limitting example, the tray can be used for holding a laptop or book or bottles or glasses.

In an embodiment, the storage console includes a locking and unlocking unit. The locking unit locks the position of the housing according to the user requirement. Specifically, the locking unit may prevent the sliding movement of the housing when the storage compartment is used by the occupants.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components.

The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.

The present disclosure relates to a storage console arranged inside a vehicle interior.

Referring now to <FIG>, a storage console <NUM> for a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The storage console <NUM> is arranged adjacent/beside a front row seat of the vehicle. Specifically, the storage console <NUM> is located between a front left seat and a front right seat, wherein said front left and front right seats comprise a first row of seats within said passenger cabin of said vehicle. The arrangement of the storage console <NUM> is advantageous for both front row passengers as well as rear seat passengers since the storage space of the storage console <NUM> can be accessed by both row passengers.

The storage console <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and at least one storage unit <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The storage unit <NUM> is fixed on the base <NUM>. The storage unit <NUM> includes a storage space for storing articles therein and the storage unit <NUM> is adapted to store articles which can be accessible by the front row passengers. The storage unit <NUM> is arranged adjacent/beside a front row seat of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the storage unit <NUM> is fixed to the floor of the vehicle interior.

Further, the storage unit <NUM> is partially enclosed by a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> covers at least one side portion of the storage unit <NUM> and a back portion. The housing <NUM> is slidably arranged on or over the storage unit <NUM>. Specifically, the housing <NUM> is slidable linearly along a longitudinal plane of the storage unit <NUM> between a first position 200a and a second position 200b. The first position 200a is when the housing <NUM> covers the storage unit <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The second position 200b is when housing <NUM> is moved in a rearward position towards the second-row passengers as shown in <FIG>. The housing <NUM> configures a storage compartment <NUM> in the second position 200b for storing articles and the storage compartment <NUM> is accessible to the second-row passengers as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. When the housing <NUM> is in the second position 200b, the front row passengers can access the front storage unit <NUM> and the second-row passengers can access the storage compartment <NUM> simultaneously.

In the present embodiment, the housing <NUM> has a lid <NUM> for covering the storage unit <NUM>. The lid <NUM> is also moveable along with the housing <NUM> when the housing <NUM> moves between the first position 200a and the second position 200b. The lid <NUM> is movably arranged on a portion of the housing <NUM> such that in the first position 200a of the housing <NUM> the lid <NUM> pivot around a pivotal axis to provide access to the storage unit <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the lid <NUM> is pivotally arranged on a top portion of the housing <NUM>. When the housing <NUM> is in the first position 200a, the front row passengers can access the storage unit <NUM> by lifting the lid <NUM> around the pivotal axis.

Referring to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> has a sidewall portion <NUM> movable between a stowed position 205a <FIG> and a deployed position 205b when the housing <NUM> is in the second position 200b. The side wall portion <NUM> is arranged at an inner side portion of the housing <NUM>. When the housing <NUM> is moved rearwards or in the second position 200b, the side wall portion <NUM> moves to the deployed position 205b away from the inner side portion of the housing <NUM>. In the deployed position 205b of the side wall portion <NUM>, the housing <NUM> configures the storage compartment <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>.

Further, the side wall portion <NUM> flushes to the housing <NUM> in the stowed position 205a as shown in <FIG>. Specifically, the side wall portion <NUM> has a corrugated side portion <NUM> which connects with an inner side wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The corrugated side portion <NUM> facilitates the movement of the side wall portion <NUM> between the deployed position 205b and the stowed position 205a. In the stowed position 205a, the corrugated side portion <NUM> collapses and facilitates the side wall portion <NUM> to flush against the inner side wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The movement of the side wall portion <NUM> can be controlled manually or by means of a motor. In the present embodiment, the side wall portion <NUM> is moved manually.

When the housing <NUM> slides from the second position 200b to the first position 200a, the second-row occupant can remove the articles from the storage compartment <NUM> and can flushes the side wall portion <NUM> to the stowed position 205a. In an embodiment, the side wall portion <NUM> may have a locking arrangement to keep the side wall portion <NUM> stay in the stowed position 205a. By way of non-limiting example, the housing <NUM> may have a magnetic arrangement to arrest the side wall portion <NUM> in the stowed position 205a. In another embodiment, the storage unit <NUM> may have a secondary storage space to accommodate the side wall portion <NUM> when the housing <NUM> slides back to the first position 200a.

In an embodiment, the side wall portion <NUM> has an articulated structure. When the housing <NUM> is in the first position 200a, the side wall portion <NUM> is in a collapsible state where the side wall portion <NUM> is stored on a back side portion of the front storage unit <NUM>. There may be a plurality of joints which may joins together and expands to form the side wall portion <NUM> when the housing <NUM> slides to the second position 200b. When the housing <NUM> slides back to the first position 200a, the side wall portion <NUM> collapses and may get stored on the back side portion of the front storage unit <NUM>.

Further, the housing <NUM> is slidable on a guide not shown arranged on the floor of the vehicle or on a periphery of the storage unit <NUM>. The guide can be a channel or a rail like structure to facilitate the sliding motion of the housing <NUM> towards the second position 200b. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to configure any other obvious arrangement to provide sliding motion to the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> can be operated manually or is electrically operable.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the storage console <NUM> has an armrest <NUM> mounted on a top portion of the lid <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the armrest <NUM> is a foldable unit which is swivellable around a rotational axis. The armrest <NUM> has a first armrest portion <NUM> and a second armrest portion <NUM>. The first armrest portion <NUM> and the second armrest portion <NUM> are substantially flat members which are adjoined together on a side portion. Specifically, the first armrest portion <NUM> and the second armrest portion <NUM> are pivotally connected to the side portion such that the first armrest portion <NUM> is foldable over the second armrest portion <NUM>. When the first armrest portion <NUM> is unfolded, the first armrest portion <NUM> aligns in the same plane of the second armrest portion <NUM> configuring a rectangular tray 230a for holding articles as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. By way of non-limiting example, the tray can be used for holding a laptop or book or bottles or glasses.

In an embodiment, the storage console <NUM> includes a locking and unlocking unit not shown. The locking unit locks the position of the housing <NUM> according to the user requirement. Specifically, the locking unit may prevent the sliding movement of the housing <NUM> when the storage compartment <NUM> is used by the occupants. The locking unit may be a manual push lock or electrically driven lock or the like. When the storage compartment <NUM> is not in use, the occupant can unlock the position of the housing <NUM> to slide back the housing <NUM> towards the first position 200a.

Further, the housing <NUM> can be movable manually or is electrically operable. in an embodiment the storage console <NUM> has a handle to push or pull the housing <NUM> in between the first position 200a and the second position 200b. In another embodiment, the housing <NUM> is electrically operable.

In the present embodiment, the console unit <NUM> includes two storage units <NUM>, <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Both the storage units <NUM>, <NUM> are partially covered by housings <NUM>, <NUM>. Each housing <NUM>, <NUM> can be pulled separately between a first position 200a and a second position 200b to configure respective storage compartments. Each storage compartments can be accessible to the rear row passengers. Further, each storage units <NUM>, <NUM> can be accessible by lifting respective armrests <NUM>, <NUM>.

Therefore, the advantage of the present invention is to provide a storage console for a vehicle with two storage compartments accessible simultaneous to front row passengers and rear row passengers. The storage console has a foldable armrest unit to configure a tray to hold articles such as laptop, book and the like. It has a compact arrangement to configure the storage compartment for the rear row passengers. Also, the storage console has a simple mechanism for easy operation.

Moreover, in interpreting the specification, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C. and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc..

Claim 1:
A storage console (<NUM>) for a vehicle comprising:
At least one storage unit (<NUM>) including a storage space for storing articles therein and adapted to be arranged adjacent/beside a front row seat of the vehicle;
a housing (<NUM>) at least partially enclosing the storage unit (<NUM>), the housing (<NUM>) is slidably arranged on/over the storage unit (<NUM>) to slide linearly along a longitudinal plane of the storage unit (<NUM>) between a first position (200a) and a second position (200b).
wherein the housing (<NUM>) has a lid (<NUM>) for covering the storage unit (<NUM>) such that the lid (<NUM>) is also moveable along with the housing (<NUM>) when the housing (<NUM>) moves between the first position (200a) and the second position (200b), characterized in that the lid (<NUM>) is movably arranged on a portion of the housing (<NUM>) such that in the first position (200a) of the housing (<NUM>) the lid (<NUM>) pivot around a pivotal axis to provide access to the storage unit (<NUM>).