Console-mounted deployable work surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906445-B2
Application number	US-201815951796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2018
Priority date	Apr 12, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A work surface for a vehicle includes a first leaf, a second leaf, and a dual-stage hinge pivotably coupling the first and second leafs. The dual-stage hinge includes a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work surface for a vehicle, comprising:
a first leaf comprising a first presented surface and a first leaf support bar, wherein the first leaf support bar and the first presented surface are provided on opposing sides of the first leaf, and wherein the first leaf support bar provides support to the first leaf when the first leaf is in a deployed position;
a second leaf comprising a second presented surface; and
a dual-stage hinge pivotably coupling the first and second leafs, wherein the dual-stage hinge comprises a hinge mechanism, a body, and a third presented surface, wherein the hinge mechanism is housed within the body such that the first, second, and third presented surfaces are free of perforations by components of the hinge mechanism, wherein the dual-stage hinge comprises a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, and wherein the dual-stage hinge extends along adjacent edges of the first and second leafs such that a length of the dual-stage hinge is at least fifty percent of a length of the adjacent edges of the first and second leafs.

2. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first leaf is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the second leaf by pivotable motion about the dual-stage hinge.

3. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the pivotable motion about the dual-stage hinge is accomplished by a first ninety-degree (90°) rotation about the first pivot axis and a second ninety-degree (90°) rotation about the second pivot axis in the same direction as the first ninety-degree (90°) rotation.

4. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the deployed position of the first leaf results in the first presented surface of the first leaf being substantially coplanar with a presented surface of the second leaf.

5. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the first, second, and third presented surfaces are substantially coplanar when the first leaf is in the deployed position.

6. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the first, second, and third presented surfaces provide a substantially continuous work area.

7. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the third presented surface is configured to be utilized as at least a portion of the work area.

8. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first leaf and the second leaf are vertically disposed relative to one another when in a stowed position.

9. A floor console for a vehicle, comprising:
a work surface, comprising:
a first leaf comprising a first leaf support bar, wherein the first leaf support bar provides support to the first leaf when the first leaf is in a deployed position; and
a second leafs pivotably coupled to the first leaf by a dual-stage hinge at adjacent edges of the first and second leafs, wherein a length of the dual-stage hinge is at least seventy percent of a length along the adjacent edges of the first and second leafs, the dual-stage hinge comprising first and second pivot axes, wherein the first leaf, the second leaf, and the dual-stage hinge provide substantially coplanar presented surfaces when in a deployed position, wherein the presented surface of the dual-stage hinge forms at least a portion of a work area, and wherein the presented surface of the dual-stage hinge is free of perforations from components of the dual-stage hinge.

10. The floor console for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first leaf is movable between a stowed position and the deployed position relative to the second leaf by pivotable motion about the dual-stage hinge.

11. The floor console for a vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the pivotable motion about the dual-stage hinge is accomplished by a first ninety-degree (90°) rotation about a first pivot axis and a second ninety-degree (90°) rotation about a second pivot axis in the same direction as the first ninety-degree (90°) rotation.

12. The floor console for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the presented surfaces of the first leaf, the second leaf, and the dual-stage hinge provide the work area as substantially continuous.

13. The floor console for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the work surface is incorporated into a lid assembly of a main storage bin.

14. The floor console for a vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the lid assembly comprises:
a first latch mechanism that releases the lid assembly to permit access to the main storage bin; and
a second latch mechanism that releases the first leaf from a stowed position.

15. A work surface for a vehicle, comprising:
a first leaf comprising a first presented surface and a first leaf support bar, wherein the first leaf support bar and the first presented surface are provided on opposing sides of the first leaf, and wherein the first leaf support bar provides support to the first leaf when the first leaf is in a deployed position;
a second leaf comprising a second presented surface; and
a dual-stage hinge pivotably coupling the first and second leafs, wherein the dual-stage hinge comprises a hinge mechanism, a body, and a third presented surface, wherein the hinge mechanism is housed within the body such that the first, second, and third presented surfaces are free of perforations by components of the hinge mechanism, wherein the dual-stage hinge comprises a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis.

16. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein a distance between the first leaf support bar and the second leaf is decreased when the first leaf is transitioned from a stowed position to the deployed position.

17. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the work surface is incorporated into a lid assembly of a main storage bin of a floor console.

18. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the lid assembly comprises:
a first latch mechanism that releases the lid assembly to permit access to the main storage bin; and
a second latch mechanism that releases the first leaf from a stowed position.

19. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the first leaf support bar provides support to the lid assembly when the first leaf is in a stowed position.

20. The work surface for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein presented surfaces of the first leaf, the second leaf, and the dual-stage hinge provide a substantially continuous work area.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Johns Ian S
• Didato Francesco
• Skinner Glen D

Classifications

• B43L3/00

  Writing or drawing underlays, e.g. blotting pads (blotters B43L17/00; {supports for note pads: B42D5/005}) · CPC title

• B60R7/04

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

• B60N2/773

  Longitudinal adjustment · CPC title

• E05D2015/485

  Swinging or sliding movements · CPC title

• E05Y2900/538

  Interior lids · CPC title