Patent ID: 12227117

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

A vehicle, in accordance with a non-limiting example, is indicated generally at10inFIG.1. Vehicle10includes a body12supported on a plurality of wheels16. Body12defines, in part, a passenger compartment20having seats, including a driver's seat23and a front passenger seat25. Driver's seats23and front passenger seat25are positioned behind a dashboard26. A steering control system30is arranged between driver's seat23and dashboard26. In a non-limiting example, a center console32is arranged between driver's seat23and front passenger seat25. Center console32supports a reconfigurable storage bin34as will be detailed herein.

Reference will now follow toFIGS.2and3in describing reconfigurable storage bin34in accordance with a non-limiting example. Reconfigurable storage bin34includes a storage bin portion39and an article holder portion42. As will be detailed more fully herein, article holder portion42may be selectively reconfigured to accommodate a wide range of articles of various sizes. In a non-limiting example, article holder portion42is designed to retain cups, such as indicated at44, in an upright orientation in storage bin portion39. Article holder portion42may be adjusted to accommodate and retain cups44having different diameters and may also be removed in order to accommodate other articles.

In a non-limiting example, storage bin portion39includes a base wall46and a plurality of side walls48that define a storage zone50. Plurality of side walls48include a first end wall52, a second end wall54opposite to first end wall52, a first lateral side wall56, and a second lateral side wall58opposite to first lateral side wall56. First lateral side wall56and second lateral side wall58extend between and connect with first end wall52and second end wall54. Storage bin portion39includes an upper edge60that supports a frame62. Frame62includes a first end portion64, a second end portion66, a first side portion68and a second side portion70.

First side portion68and second side portion70extend between and connect with first end portion64and second end portion66. In a non-limiting example, first side portion68includes a first recess (not separately labeled) that extends between first end portion64and second end portion66. The recess forms a first guide rail74. In a non-limiting example, second side portion70includes a second recess (not separately labeled) that extends between first end portion64and second end portion66. The second recess forms a second guide rail76.

In a non-limiting example, article holder portion42includes a rail member80having a first end82supported at first end wall52, a second end84supported at second end wall54, and an intermediate portion86. A first support88is arranged at first end82and a second support90is arranged at second end84. First support extends into first guide rail74and second guide rail76. Likewise, second support90extends into first guide rail74and second guide rail76. As will be detailed herein, first and/or second supports88or90may slide between first end wall52and second end wall54on first guide rail74and second guide rail76. Intermediate portion86extends between first end82and second end84. Intermediate portion86supports a hinge92and includes a first surface94and a second surface96that is opposite first surface94. Second surface96defines a lower surface (not separately labeled) and includes a plurality of tooth elements98.

In a non-limiting example, rail member80extends across storage zone50at a non-zero angle. That is, first end82is closer to first lateral side wall56than to second lateral side wall58. Second end84is closer to second lateral side wall58than to first lateral side wall56. Thus, rail member80is not perpendicular to first end wall52or second end wall54and does not extend parallel to either first lateral side all56or second lateral side wall58. In this manner, various sized articles may be accommodated as will be detailed more fully herein.

In a non-limiting example, article holder portion42includes a retaining device102slideably mounted to rail member80. Retaining device102includes a center portion104coupled to rail member40, a first retainer106extending from center portion104in a first direction and a second retainer108extending from center portion104in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. As shown inFIGS.4and5, retaining device102includes a latch mechanism110having a glide member112that runs along first surface94of rail member80and a latch member114including a plurality of tooth members116that selectively engage with the plurality of tooth elements98to fix retaining device102to rail member80. Latch mechanism110further includes an actuator118that selectively disengages latch member114from second surface96. When released, springs120cause latch member114to re-engage.

In a non-limiting example, when actuator118is depressed and latch member114is released from second surface96, retaining device102may slide freely between first end82and second end84of rail member80. In this manner, retaining device102may be adjusted to accommodate articles, such as cups, having different diameters such as shown inFIG.3. In one position, larger diameter cups may be accommodated on one side of rail member80and when in a second position, smaller diameter cups may be accommodated on the same side. Retaining member102may be positioned to accommodate any diameter cup that will fit between rail member80and first or second lateral side walls56or58.

In a non-limiting example, when not in use, article holder portion42may be folded into a stowed position as shown inFIGS.6and7. First support88may be released from frame62and guided along first and second guide rails74and76while at the same time hinge92folds (FIG.6). First support88may be moved towards and/or against second support90as shown inFIG.7such that storage zone50is fully available. In a non-limiting example, second support90may also be released from frame62allowing article holding portion42to be completely disengaged and removed from storage bin portion39.

In a non-limiting example, first support88includes a first connector element131(FIG.6) and second support90includes a second connector element133. Reference will now follow toFIGS.8and9in describing first connector element131with an understanding that second connector element133includes similar structure. First connector element131includes an actuator member135connected to a lock pin137. Lock pin137include a hollow interior139that receives a pin member142that extends from first support88. Pin member142defines a reduced thickness portion of first support88and may include a diameter. A spring150is arranged between lock pin137and pin member142. Lock pin137extends through an opening155formed in second side portion70of frame62adjacent to first end portion64.

In operation, actuator member135may be slide toward rail member80causing lock pin137to pass from opening155and compress spring150. At this point, first support88may be moved along first guide rail74and second guide rail76as shown inFIG.6. Rail member80may fold as shown inFIG.7and article holder portion42placed in the stowed configuration. When needed, first support88may be urged toward first end portion64of frame62. When in position, spring150will bias lock pin137into opening155. Once in place, retaining device102may be adjusted as necessary. At this point, while shown as being arranged in center console, storage bin could be in other locations in passenger compartment20. Also, while shown as retaining cups44, article holder portion42may be used to retain a wide variety of articles in storage zone50.

The terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The term “or” means “and/or” unless clearly indicated otherwise by context. Reference throughout the specification to “an aspect”, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, step, or characteristic) described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect described herein, and may or may not be present in other aspects. In addition, it is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various aspects.

When an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Unless specified to the contrary herein, all test standards are the most recent standard in effect as of the filing date of this application, or, if priority is claimed, the filing date of the earliest priority application in which the test standard appears.

Unless defined otherwise, technical, and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.