Spring force adjustment for a console

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10150422-B2
Application number	US-201715597497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2017
Priority date	May 19, 2016
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A biasing assembly for rotating a lid of a console includes a biasing mechanism operably coupled to the lid at a first end and an adjustable control plate operatively coupled to a second end of the biasing mechanism. Movement of the adjustable control plate with respect to the second end of the biasing mechanism adjusts a biasing force applied to the lid by the biasing mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A biasing assembly for rotating a lid of a console, comprising:
a biasing mechanism operably coupled to the lid at a first end; and
an adjustable control plate operatively coupled to a second end of the biasing mechanism, wherein movement of the adjustable control plate with respect to the second end of the biasing mechanism adjusts a biasing force applied to the lid by the biasing mechanism.

2. The biasing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control plate further comprises an opening associated with an engagement feature, wherein the second end of the biasing mechanism is received within the opening and the engagement feature is configured to retain the second end of the biasing mechanism within the opening.

3. The biasing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein movement of the adjustable control plate relative to the second end of the biasing mechanism increases the biasing force by causing the engagement feature to apply a force to the second end of the biasing mechanism in a direction opposite the biasing force.

4. A console comprising:
a base;
an armrest selectively rotatable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position; and
at least one biasing assembly associated with the armrest, the at least one biasing assembly including:
a biasing mechanism operably coupled to the armrest at a first end; and
a control plate operatively coupled to a second end of the biasing mechanism, wherein the control plate is operable to control a biasing force applied to the armrest by the biasing mechanism.

5. The console according to claim 4 , wherein the biasing force is configured to rotate the armrest to the open position.

6. The console according to claim 4 , wherein movement of the control plate is configured to increase the biasing force by applying a force to the second end of the biasing mechanism in a direction opposite the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.

7. The console according to claim 4 , wherein the control plate includes an opening and the second end of the biasing mechanism is received within the opening.

8. The console according to claim 4 , wherein the control plate includes an engagement feature configured to retain the second end of the biasing mechanism and movement of the control plate causes the engagement feature to engage and apply a force to the second end.

9. The console according to claim 4 , wherein the control plate is translatable along an axis to control the biasing force applied to the armrest by the biasing mechanism.

10. The console according to claim 4 , wherein the control plate is rotatable about an axis to control the biasing force applied to the armrest by the biasing mechanism.

11. The console according to claim 4 , wherein the armrest includes a first panel configured to rotate about a first rotational axis and a second panel configured to rotate about a second rotational axis.

12. The console according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one biasing assembly includes a first biasing assembly is associated with the first panel and a second biasing assembly associated with the second panel.

13. The console according to claim 12 , wherein the first biasing assembly is configured to rotate the first panel with a first rotational speed and the second biasing assembly is configured to rotate the second panel with a second rotational speed, the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed being substantially identical.

14. The console according to claim 13 , wherein the first biasing assembly includes a first biasing mechanism and a first control plate, and the second biasing assembly includes a second biasing mechanism and a second control plate, the first control plate being arranged at a first position relative to the first biasing mechanism, and the second control plate being arranged at a second position relative to the second biasing mechanism.

15. The console according to claim 14 , wherein the first position and the second position are different.

16. A console comprising:
a base;
a first panel mounted to the base and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis between a closed position and an open position;
a second panel mounted to the base and configured to rotate about a second rotational axis between a closed position and an open position;
a first biasing assembly configured to rotate said first panel and a second biasing assembly configured to rotate said second panel, wherein the first biasing assembly includes a control plate movable to adjust a rotational speed of the first panel about the first rotational axis such that the rotational speed of the first panel and a rotational speed of the second panel are substantially identical.

17. The console according to claim 16 , wherein the first biasing assembly further includes a biasing mechanism having a first end and a second end, the first end being operably coupled to the first panel and the second end being associated with the control plate.

18. The console according to claim 16 , wherein the second biasing assembly includes an adjustable control plate movable to adjust a rotational speed of the second panel about the second rotational axis.

19. The console according to claim 16 , wherein the base includes an interior cavity and when arranged in the closed position, the first panel and second panel are configured to seal the interior cavity.

20. The console according to claim 16 , wherein in the closed position, the first panel and the second panel are generally aligned and in contact with one another.

Assignees

• Inteva Products Llc

Inventors

• Ramaer Norbert
• Wiepen Stefan
• Brandt Thilo

Classifications

• B60R7/04 Primary

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/793

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title