Patent ID: 7240941

Claim:
A vehicle storage assembly for use within an interior of a vehicle, comprising: a storage compartment adapted for use within the interior of the vehicle and having an opening to permit access to said compartment; a door proximate said opening, said door movable between a closed position that covers said opening, and an open position away from said opening to permit access to said compartment through said opening; a controllable damper coupled to said door and adjustable between high and low damping states, independent of the position of said door, to facilitate moving and maintaining said door between said open and closed positions; a controller communicating with said controllable damper, said controller operable to actuate said controllable damper between said high and low damping states; and a sensor communicating with said controller and adapted to sense the presence of an object in a path of said door between said closed position and said open position and to generate a signal when the presence of an object is sensed.