Foldable cover for a vehicle door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10272844-B1
Application number	US-201815889590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 6, 2018
Priority date	Feb 6, 2018
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

One general aspect includes a cover system for a vehicle door pocket including: a first cover section; a second cover section; where the first cover section can cover a first portion of an opening to the door pocket when in an unfolded orientation and can abut the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, the first cover section can receive an elongated object and restrict movement of the elongated object thereafter; and where the second cover section can cover a second portion of the opening to the door pocket when in an unfolded orientation and abut a side of the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, the second cover section includes a tray section to retain a personal object when the second cover section is in the unfolded orientation and become a storage compartment to contain the personal object when the second cover section is in the folded orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cover system for a vehicle door pocket comprising:
a first cover section;
a second cover section;
wherein the first cover section is configured to cover a first portion of an opening to the door pocket when in an unfolded orientation and abut the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, the first cover section configured to receive an elongated object and restrict movement of the elongated object thereafter; and
wherein the second cover section is configured to cover a second portion of the opening to the door pocket when in an unfolded orientation and abut a side of the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, the second cover section comprises a tray section configured to retain a personal object when the second cover section is in the unfolded orientation and become a storage compartment configured to contain the personal object when the second cover section is in the folded orientation.

2. The cover system of claim 1 , wherein the second cover section further comprises a plurality of miniature tray sections, the miniature tray sections configured to retain respective miniature personal objects when the second cover section is in the unfolded orientation and become storage compartments configured to contain the respective miniature personal objects when the second cover section is in the folded orientation.

3. The cover system of claim 2 , wherein:
the elongated object is a beverage container;
the personal object is a smartphone; and
the miniature personal objects are keys.

4. The cover system of claim 1 , wherein the second cover section further comprises an elongated opening centrally located along a substantial portion of the second cover section, the elongated opening configured to receive planar objects into the door pocket.

5. The cover system of claim 1 , wherein the first cover section comprises an opening having a plurality of flexible features to receive the elongated object and restrict movement of the elongated object thereafter.

6. The cover system of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting subsystem configured to mount the first and second cover sections to the vehicle door and permit the first and second cover sections to be in both the folded and unfolded orientations.

7. The cover system of claim 6 , wherein the mounting subsystem comprises a plurality of latches, a spacing axle, and a plurality of mounting brackets.

8. The cover system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections are made from an elastomeric material.

9. A vehicle door comprising:
a door pocket having an opening; and
a cover system comprising:
a first cover section pivotably mounted to the vehicle door;
a second cover section pivotably mounted to the vehicle door;
wherein the first cover section covers a first portion of the door pocket opening when in an unfolded orientation and abuts a side of the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, the first cover section can receive an elongated object when in the unfolded orientation and restrict movement of the elongated object after being received; and
wherein the second cover section covers a second portion of the opening to the door pocket when in an unfolded orientation and abuts the side of the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, the second cover section comprises a tray section configured to retain a personal object when the second cover section is in the unfolded orientation and become a storage compartment configured to contain the personal object when the second cover section is in the folded orientation.

10. The vehicle door of claim 9 , wherein the second cover section further comprises a plurality of miniature tray sections, the miniature tray sections configured to retain respective miniature personal objects when the second cover section is in the unfolded orientation and become storage compartments configured to contain the respective miniature personal objects when the second cover section is in the folded orientation.

11. The vehicle door of claim 10 , wherein:
the elongated object is a beverage container;
the personal object is a smartphone; and
the miniature personal objects are keys.

12. The vehicle door of claim 9 , wherein the second cover section further comprises an elongated opening centrally located along a substantial portion of the second cover section, the elongated opening configured to receive planar objects into the door pocket.

13. The vehicle door of claim 9 , wherein the first cover section comprises an opening having a plurality of flexible features to receive the elongated object and restrict movement of the elongated object thereafter.

14. The vehicle door of claim 9 , further comprising a mounting subsystem connected to the vehicle door and the first and second cover sections, the mounting subsystem permits the first and second cover sections to be in both the folded and unfolded orientations.

15. The vehicle door of claim 14 , wherein the mounting subsystem comprises a plurality of latches, a spacing axle, and a plurality of mounting brackets.

16. A method of installing a cover system for a vehicle door pocket comprising:
providing a mounting subsystem;
providing a first cover section;
providing a second cover section;
pivotably mounting the first cover section to a vehicle door via the mounting subsystem;
pivotably mounting the second cover section to the vehicle door via the mounting subsystem;
allowing the first cover section to cover a first portion of an opening to the door pocket when in an unfolded orientation and abut the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, wherein the first cover section is configured to receive an elongated object and restrict movement of the elongated object thereafter; and
allowing the second cover section to cover a second portion of the opening to the door pocket when in an unfolded orientation and abut a side of the vehicle door when in a folded orientation, wherein the second cover section comprises a tray section configured to retain a personal object when the second cover section is in the unfolded orientation and become a storage compartment configured to contain the personal object when the second cover section is in the folded orientation.

17. The method of installation of claim 16 , wherein the second cover section further comprises a plurality of miniature tray sections, the miniature tray sections configured to retain respective miniature personal objects when the second cover section is in the unfolded orientation and become storage compartments configured to contain the respective miniature personal objects when the second cover section is in the folded orientation.

18. The method of installation of claim 16 , further comprising:
wherein the mounting subsystem comprises a plurality of latches, a spacing axle, and a plurality of mounting brackets;
mounting each mounting bracket to the vehicle door;
operatively connecting the spacing axle to each mounting bracket;
joining each latch to a proper location on the spacing axle;
wherein the step of to pivotably mounting the first cover section to the vehicle door comprises operatively connecting the first cover section to the end of the respective latches not operatively joined to the spacing axle; and
wherein the step of to pivotably mounting the second cover section to the vehicle door comprises operatively connecting the second cover section to the end of the respective latches not operatively joined to the spacing axle.

19. The method of installation of claim 16 , wherein the second cover sec

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• H N Nikhil
• Potharaju Rama Krishna P
• Ganiger Vinodkumar
• Balse Tanmay

Classifications

• B60R7/087

  for stowing money or valuables, e.g. using safes · CPC title

• B60R7/081

  for supporting maps · CPC title

• B60R7/046 Primary

  mounted on door · CPC title

• B60R11/0241

  for telephones · CPC title

• B60R2011/0075

  using a containment or docking space · CPC title