Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present specification generally relates to vehicle console assemblies and, more specifically, to vehicle console assemblies with associated cup holders and spill control features. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Center consoles for vehicles come in many shapes and sizes and may contain any number of features. Some center consoles may include entertainment and/or climate system controls, auxiliary power outlets, and/or window controls. It is also not uncommon to provide a cup holder and/or storage bin in a center console. 
         [0003]    While cup holders may generally be used to support cups in an upright position, it is not uncommon for liquid to spill from the cups. For example, a driver may slightly miss the cup holder, causing the cup to tilt, thereby spilling liquid from the cup onto the console. Liquid entering the console can come into contact with various electronic components located therein. Thus, it is desirable to control the flow path of fluids entering the console. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a console assembly for a vehicle includes a housing including a front panel extending in a vertical direction. A cup holder assembly is in a cup holder-receiving volume within the housing. The cup holder-receiving volume is at least partially bounded by a partitioning panel having a horizontal portion extending toward the front panel. An interior panel is spaced rearward of the front panel. The interior panel extends in a vertical direction. An electrical component is mounted to at least one of the interior panel and the front panel and located between the interior panel and the front panel. A rib structure extends beyond the horizontal portion of the partitioning panel toward the front panel and that is located between the cup holder assembly and the electrical component. The rib structure is arranged and configured to direct liquid falling from the horizontal portion of the partitioning panel away from the electrical component. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, an interior structure for a console assembly for directing liquid away from an electrical component within the console assembly includes an interior panel extending in a vertical direction that is spaced rearward from a front panel of the console assembly. A rib structure extends outwardly from the interior panel toward the front panel. The rib structure is located between a cup holder-receiving volume of the console assembly and an electrical component located below the cup holder-receiving volume. The rib structure overhangs the electrical component to direct liquid falling from the cup-holder receiving volume away from the electrical component. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a console assembly for a vehicle includes a housing including a front panel extending in a vertical direction. A cup holder assembly is in a cup holder-receiving volume within the housing. The cup holder-receiving volume is at least partially bounded by a partitioning panel having a horizontal portion extending toward the front panel. The cup holder assembly includes at least one cup holder having an opening extending through a sidewall of the cup holder through which light may enter the cup holder for illuminating the cup holder. An interior panel is spaced rearward of the front panel. The interior panel extends in a vertical direction. An electrical connector is mounted to at least one of the interior panel and the front panel and located between the interior panel and the front panel. The electrical connector connects a lighting assembly for illuminating the cup holder to a power source. A rib structure extends beyond the horizontal portion of the partitioning panel toward the front panel and that is located between the cup holder assembly and the electrical connector. The rib structure is arranged and configured to direct liquid entering the cup holder-receiving volume through the opening extending through the sidewall of the cup holder away from the electrical connector. 
         [0007]    These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a console assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a section view of the console assembly of  FIG. 1  according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an interior of the console assembly of  FIG. 1  according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the interior of  FIG. 3  illustrating operation of features for directing liquids away from electrical components according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another console assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Embodiments described herein generally relate to vehicle console assemblies including electronic components, such as vehicle lighting systems, and features for directing fluids away from the electronic components within the vehicle console assemblies. Such fluid directing features can reduce the possibility of electrical shortages, for example, due to fluid spillage onto the console assemblies. Various embodiments of the console assemblies and fluid directing features will be described in more detail herein. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  generally depicts one exemplary embodiment of a console assembly  10  for a vehicle where arrows F and U denote forward and upward directions of the vehicle. The console assembly  10  has a generally box-shaped housing  11  and includes a front  12  facing forward, a rear  14  facing rearward, sides  16  and  18  facing widthwise outward, a top  20  facing upward and a bottom  22  facing downward. The console assembly  10  may be located at any suitable position within a vehicle, such as between front seats, between rear seats, etc. The console assembly  10  may be used with any suitable vehicle, such as automobiles, airplanes, boats, etc. In one embodiment, the console assembly  10  is a center console assembly that is located between seats of an automobile. For example, the console assembly  10  may be located between front seats of an automobile. 
         [0016]    A cup holder assembly  24  is located at the top  20  of the console assembly  10 . Cup holder assembly  24  is located nearer the front  12  and includes cup holders  28  and  30  located side-by-side and extending toward the bottom  22  of the console assembly  10 . Each cup holder  28  and  30  may generally include an upward facing opening  36  sized to receive a bottom portion of a cup and a downwardly extending sidewall  38  forming cup-receiving volumes that can be used to hold a cup therein. A recess  40  may be provided between cup holders  28  and  30 . The recess  40  may provide for storage of travel mugs and cups with handles and increased accessibility to the travel mugs and cups located within the cup holders  28  and  30 . 
         [0017]    A storage bin  44  may be located rearward of the cup holder assembly  24 . A door  46  has an open position and a closed position for providing access to the storage bin  44  through an access opening. A release mechanism (generally referred to as element  50 ) may be provided for latching and unlatching the door  46 . A button  51  or other suitable unlatching device may be provided for controlling the release mechanism  50 . In some embodiments, the door  46  may be biased (e.g., using a spring) toward the open position. In another embodiment, the door  46  may be openable manually. 
         [0018]    The console assembly  10  may include a lighting system  66  for illuminating areas within the console assembly  10  ( FIG. 2 ). The lighting system  66  may be used to light the cup holder assembly  24  and the storage bin  44 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting system  66  may be used to illuminate the cup holder assembly  24  including both cup holders  28  and  30  and the storage bin  44 . An exemplary lighting system for illuminating the cup holders  28  and  30  and the storage bin  44  is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/542,227, filed Aug. 17, 2009, entitled “Vehicle Console Assemblies with Associated Vehicle Lighting Systems for Illuminating Cup Holder and Storage Bin Assemblies,” the details of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, one or both of the cup holders  28  and  30  may not be fluid-tight. For example, the cup holder  28  of  FIG. 1  shows an opening  68  in the sidewall  38  that frames a window through which light may pass from a light source to the cup holder  28 . Cup holder  30  may include the same opening  68 . The opening  68  may provide an escape route for liquid spilled into the cup holder  28 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an interior  70  of the console assembly  10  includes a cup holder receiving volume  72  that receives the cup holders  28  and  30 . A partitioning panel  74  bounds a portion of the cup holder receiving volume  72  with a horizontal portion  75  and a vertical portion  76  connected by a bend  78 . The horizontal portion  75  extends outwardly from the bend  78  toward a front panel  80 . As can be seen, the horizontal portion  75  terminates at an end  82  that is spaced from the front panel  80  leaving a gap  84  between the front panel  80  and the horizontal portion  75 . 
         [0021]    An electrical component  86  is located beneath the horizontal portion  75 , attached to a sidewall  88  of interior panel  90 . In some embodiments, the electrical component  86  may be a wire harness connector connecting electronics of the console assembly  10  (e.g., LED, power outlets, video jacks, etc.) to a main power line running through the vehicle. The electrical component  86  may be connected to the interior panel  90  using any suitable means, such as using fastener  92 . 
         [0022]    Because the cup holders  28  and  30  may not be liquid-tight, a possible leak path indicated by arrows  94  and  96  may be provided where liquid spilled into the cup holders  28  and  30  may travel toward the electrical component  86 . Referring also to  FIG. 3 , an upper rib structure  98  and a lower rib structure  100  are provided for diverting liquid passing through the gap  84 . Rib structure  98  extends horizontally and may extend at a downward angle (e.g., of about five degrees to the horizontal) from a first end  102  to a second end  104 . Rib structure  100  has a horizontal portion  106  and a vertical portion  108  that are connected by a corner  110 . The horizontal portion  106  extends horizontally and may extend at a downward angle (e.g., about 5 degrees to the horizontal) from an end  112  to the corner  110 . Vertical portion  108  extends downwardly to a bottom  114 . Referring particularly to  FIG. 2 , the rib structure  98  extends outwardly from the interior panel  90  a distance D 1  greater than a distance D 2  that the horizontal portion  75  extends from the interior panel  90  toward the front panel  80 . While the rib structures  98  and  100  are illustrated in  FIG. 2  as being relatively horizontal in cross-section, they may extend outwardly at an angle to the horizontal such that outer edges  116  and  118  of the rib structures  89  and  100  are elevated with respect to opposite edges  120  and  122  that are integrally connected with the interior panel  90 . 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the interior panel  90  extends rearward at an angle to the vertical. In some of these embodiments, the rib structure  100  may extend outwardly from the interior panel  90  a distance D 3  greater than distances D 1  and D 2 . In one embodiment, the distance D 3  may be selected such that the outer edges  116  and  118  of the rib structures  98  and  100  are aligned along a vertical line. In other embodiments, the outer edges  116  and  118  may be offset such that one edge  116  or  118  extends outwardly further than the other edge  116  or  118 . For example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the front panel  80  may be angled frontward with respect to the vertical. In these embodiments, the D 3  may be greater than D 1  to locate the outer edge  118  near to the front panel  80 . In some embodiments, D 1  and D 3  of the rib structures  98  and  100  may be selected to maintain a preselected spacing between the rib structures  98  and  100  and the front panel  80 . In many embodiments, gaps between the outer edges  116  and  118  and the front panel  80  may have a width less than gap  84 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the rib structures  98  and  100  operate by directing liquid leaking into the console assembly  10  away from the electrical component  86 . As represented by the arrows  124  and  126 , the rib structures  98  and  100  are shaped such that the liquid flows down the widths of the rib structures  98  and  100  toward the vertical portion  108  of the rib structure  100 . The liquid then flows vertically, as represented by arrow  128  toward the floor of the vehicle. The console assembly  10  may be open to the floor such that the liquid escapes the console assembly  10  and flows to the floor, for example, rather than accumulating within the console assembly  10 . 
         [0025]    The rib structures  98  and  100  may be formed by any suitable method, such as during a plastic (e.g., polypropylene) molding process of the interior panel  90 . In the illustrated embodiment, the rib structures  98  and  100  may be formed as part of a rib matrix  130  formed by a plurality of horizontal and vertically extending strengthening ribs (e.g., see ribs  132  and  134 ). The strengthening ribs  132  and  134  may extend outwardly from the interior panel  90  a distance less than the distances D 1  and/or D 2 . The vertically extending strengthening ribs  132  may intersect one or both of the rib structures  98  and  100 . However, the vertically extending strengthening ribs  132  may terminate at a location spaced from the outer edges  116  and  118  of the rib structures  98  and  100  thereby providing an unobstructed path for the liquid to flow away from the electrical component  86 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another console assembly embodiment  140  may include many of the features described above including a cup holder receiving volume  142 , partitioning panel  144  with horizontal portion  146  and vertical portion  148  and electrical component  150 . In this embodiment, rib structures  152  and  154  extend outwardly from a front panel  156  toward an interior panel  158 . Other variations are contemplated. 
         [0027]    The above-described rib structures can inhibit liquid from contacting electrical components of the console assembly, thereby inhibiting electrical malfunction. The rib structures may provide increased strength for the console assembly and may allow for increased freedom in selection of electrical components. For example, some electrical components may provide water resistance, however, these water resistant electrical components may be more expensive. Thus, the above-described rib structures may allow for selection less expensive electrical components. For example, the electrical component may not be water resistant. However, the rib structures direct liquid flowing into the console assembly through the cup holders away from the electrical component, as described above. While two rib structures are illustrated above, there may be more or less than two rib structures. 
         [0028]    It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. 
         [0029]    While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Technology Category: 7