Sliding center console

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10946802-B2
Application number	US-201916290889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2019
Priority date	Mar 2, 2019
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

A sliding center console may include a mounting member, a carrier, and a gearbox assembly. The carrier may be configured to receive a container and translate between a first position and a second position. The carrier may include a plurality of teeth. The gearbox assembly may be fixed to the mounting member and include a pinion configured to rotate in a first rotational direction or second rotational direction to translate the carrier from the first position to the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sliding center console for a vehicle comprising:
a mounting member;
a carrier configured to receive a container and translate between a first position and a second position, the carrier including,
a longitudinal-extending wall defining a slot forming a first cavity, wherein the slot includes a first inner wall and a second inner wall, and
a plurality of teeth including a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, wherein the first set of teeth extend from the first inner wall into the first cavity and the second set of teeth extend from the second inner wall in the first cavity; and

a gearbox assembly fixed to the mounting member including a pinion extending into the first cavity and engages a tooth of the plurality of teeth and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction or second rotational direction to translate the carrier from the first position to the second position.

2. The sliding center console of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall is formed of a first material and a tooth of the plurality of teeth is formed of a second material different than the first material.

3. The sliding center console of claim 2 , wherein the second material is a thermoplastic composite material.

4. The sliding center console of claim 2 , wherein a base portion of the tooth of the plurality of teeth is fixed to a portion of the inner wall by a bond between the first and second materials.

5. The sliding center console of claim 1 , wherein the carrier defines a second cavity configured to receive an elongated rack, wherein the elongated rack defines the plurality of teeth that extend into the first cavity.

6. The sliding center console of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the first set of teeth is over molded by a portion of the first inner wall.

7. The sliding center console of claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide member fixed to the mounting member and configured to guide the carrier along the mounting member.

8. The sliding center console of claim 7 , wherein the guide member includes a roller and the carrier defines a track, wherein the roller engages the track as the carrier translates from the first position to the second position.

9. The sliding center console of claim 7 , wherein the first position and the second position are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction and wherein the gearbox assembly is spaced apart from the guide member in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction.

10. A sliding center console for a vehicle comprising:
a mounting member;
a carrier configured to receive a container and move between a first position and a second position, wherein the carrier defines a cavity;
an elongated rack defining a plurality of teeth extending into the cavity; and
a gearbox assembly fixed to the mounting member including a pinion configured to rotate in a first rotational direction or second rotational direction to translate the carrier from the first position to the second position, and wherein at least a portion of the pinion is disposed within the cavity such that the pinion engages at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth defined by the elongated rack.

11. The sliding center console of claim 10 , wherein the cavity is formed by a longitudinal slot defined by a longitudinal extending portion of the carrier, and wherein the elongated rack is fixed to a first inner edge of the longitudinal slot by a bond.

12. The sliding center console of claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal slot includes a second inner edge and the plurality of teeth includes a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, and wherein the second set of teeth extend from the second inner edge.

13. The sliding center console of claim 11 , wherein the bond between the elongated rack and the inner edge is a molecular bond.

14. The sliding center console of claim 13 , wherein one of the sidewalls defines a second longitudinal slot, and wherein the second longitudinal slot is configured to receive a guide member coupled to the mounting member.

15. The sliding center console of claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal extending portion includes a middle wall extending between a pair of sidewalls and wherein the middle wall defines the longitudinal slot.

16. The sliding center console of claim 15 , wherein the middle wall includes a raised section wherein the raised section is configured to receive a portion of the gearbox assembly.

17. The sliding center console of claim 11 , wherein the elongated rack is formed of a first plastic material and the carrier is formed of a second plastic material, different than the first plastic material.

18. The sliding center console of claim 11 , wherein the elongated rack is at least partially encapsulated by a section of the longitudinal extending portion.

19. The sliding center console of claim 18 , wherein the elongated rack is over molded by the section of the longitudinal extending portion.

20. A sliding center console for a vehicle comprising:
a mounting member;
a container configured to translate between a first position and a second position, the container defining a receptacle and a cavity and including a plurality of teeth extending into the cavity; and
a gearbox assembly fixed to the mounting member including a pinion extending into the cavity to engage one or more of the plurality of teeth and configured to rotate in a first rotational direction or second rotational direction to translate the container from the first position to the second position.

21. The sliding center console of claim 20 , wherein the cavity includes a first inner wall and a second inner wall each including a number of teeth of the plurality of teeth extends.

Assignees

• Brose Fahrzeugteile

Inventors

• Harris Daryl
• Bossingham Tim
• Bachman Todd

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

• F16H19/04

  comprising a rack · CPC title