Patent ID: 7661741

Claim:
An in-vehicle storage unit comprising: a base member adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body and having an opening portion, said base member having a plurality of walls that cooperate to define an inner space of the base member; a case which is openable and closable with respect to the opening portion of the base member; a pivot disposed within said inner space via which the case is rotatably supported by the base member; a gear disposed on a side wall of the case and received within said inner space, the gear being arc-shaped and having a center at the pivot; and a damper disposed on the base member and extending into said inner space so as to engage the gear to provide a damping force to the case when the case rotates from a closed position, at which the case is closed with respect to the opening portion, to an open position, at which the case is opened with respect to the opening portion, wherein, when the case is at the open position, the gear is disposed entirely within the inner space of the base member.