Retractable gap blocker for center console

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894494-B2
Application number	US-201916364954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2019
Priority date	Mar 26, 2019
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A gap blocker assembly for a vehicle is provided. The gap blocker assembly includes a passage extending through an outer wall of a vehicle center console. A gap blocker resides in the passage and is configured to be positionable in an extended position in which the gap blocker extends from the passage past the outer wall to an exterior of the console. The gap blocker is also configured to be positionable in a retracted position in which the gap blocker does not extend past the outer wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gap blocker assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a passage extending through an outer wall of a vehicle center console; and
a gap blocker residing in the passage and configured to be positionable in an extended position in which the gap blocker extends from the passage past the outer wall to an exterior of the center console, and positionable in a retracted position in which the gap blocker does not extend past the outer wall.

2. The gap blocker assembly of claim 1 wherein the gap blocker includes an actuation portion residing in an interior of the center console and operable to enable movement of the gap blocker between the retracted position and the extended position.

3. The gap blocker assembly of claim 2 wherein the gap blocker includes a gap blocking portion operably coupled to the actuation portion and configured to extend from the passage past the outer wall to the exterior of the center console when the gap blocker is in the extended position.

4. The gap blocker assembly of claim 3 wherein the center console includes an inner wall spaced apart from the outer wall and facing an interior of the center console, wherein the passage extends through the inner wall and between inner wall and the outer wall.

5. The gap blocker assembly of claim 4 further comprising a detent portion interposed between the actuation portion and the gap blocking portion and structured to be resiliently deformable responsive to contact with the inner wall.

6. The gap blocker assembly of claim 5 wherein the detent portion is structured to reside between the inner wall and the outer wall when the gap blocker is in the extended position, and wherein the detent portion is structured to maintain the gap blocker in the extended position when the detent portion resides between the inner wall and the outer wall.

7. The gap blocker assembly of claim 5 wherein the inner wall defines a recess, wherein the detent portion is structured to reside in the recess when the gap blocker is in the retracted position, and wherein the detent portion is structured to maintain the gap blocker in the retracted position when the detent portion resides in the recess.

8. The gap blocker assembly of claim 2 wherein the center console has an opening enabling access to an interior of the center console, and wherein the gap blocker is structured to be actuated by a user reaching into the center console interior and contacting the actuation portion.

9. A vehicle comprising:
a center console having an outer wall positioned opposite a seat of the vehicle and defining an interior of the center console; and
a gap blocker positioned in the center console interior, the gap blocker being configured to be positionable in an extended position in which the gap blocker extends from the outer wall to contact the vehicle seat to span a gap between the outer wall and the vehicle seat, and a retracted position in which the gap blocker does not span a gap between the outer wall and the vehicle seat.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Cunningham James D

Classifications

• B60R7/04 Primary

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

• B60N2/6009 Primary

  covering more than only the seat · CPC title