Patent ID: 7887008

Claim:
A stowage compartment system for use in an interior area of a mobile vehicle comprising: a support structure supported from a structural subassembly of the mobile vehicle; at least one compartment rotatably coupled to the support structure, the compartment moveable rotatably from a closed position into an opened position, and from the opened position into the closed position, the compartment including a rear panel; an electrically powered actuator having a first end coupled to the rear panel of the compartment and a second end coupled to the support structure, the powered actuator moveable between a retracted position and an extended position such that the movement of the powered actuator between the retracted position and the extended position moves the compartment rotatably into either the closed position or the opened position; a first sensor coupled to the actuator, the first sensor responsive to a change in a sensed amperage of an electrical signal associated with the powered actuator that indicates an obstruction in the movement of the compartment at any point during movement of the compartment between the opened position and the closed position, and at any point between the closed position and the opened position; and at least one first controller that is responsive to the first sensor for controlling the powered actuator to interrupt rotational movement of the compartment upon a detection of an obstruction to rotational movement of the compartment while the compartment is moving from the opened position to the closed position and from the closed position to the opened position.