Vehicle component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11155194-B2
Application number	US-202117182292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2021
Priority date	Jun 12, 2019
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A component for a vehicle is disclosed. The component may comprise a roller rotatable relative to a base; a sheet coupled to the roller and movable between retracted and extended states; a lock mechanism; and a button. The lock mechanism may disengage to allow sheet movement sheet and engage to block sheet movement. The lock mechanism may comprise a latch to hold the button in an actuated position. The button may move the lock mechanism to block sheet movement. The lock mechanism may comprise an arm to engage a set of teeth of the roller to hold the sheet extended. The component may comprise an actuator to move the lock mechanism to block movement of the sheet. The actuator may provide tension in the sheet. The actuator may rotate the roller to provide tension in the sheet. The component may comprise a tonneau cover, cargo cover or retractable table.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A component for a vehicle comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a roller configured to rotate relative to the base;
(c) a sheet coupled to the roller and configured to move between a retracted state and an extended state;
(d) a lock mechanism; and
(e) a button;
wherein the lock mechanism is configured for a disengaged state to allow movement of the sheet and an engaged state to block movement of the sheet;
wherein the button is configured to move between a default position and an actuated position;
wherein the lock mechanism comprises a latch configured to hold the button in the actuated position.

2. The component of claim 1 wherein the button is configured to move the lock mechanism to the engaged state to block movement of the sheet.

3. The component of claim 1 further comprising a spring; wherein the spring is configured to move the button toward the default position.

4. The component of claim 1 further comprising a spring; wherein the spring is configured to bias the button in default position.

5. The component of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises at least one of (a) a fabric (b) a panel; (c) a textile; (d) a woven fabric; (e) a nylon material; (f) a mesh; (g) a polymer film laminated to a fabric; (h) a moisture resistant material.

6. The component of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises at least one of (a) a bar; (b) an opening; (c) a pin; (d) a wire; (e) a tab; (f) a closure configured to engage at least one of (1) a console; (2) a door; (3) a seat; (4) an armrest to hold the sheet in the extended position.

7. The component of claim 1 wherein the component comprises at least one of (a) a tonneau cover; (b) a cargo cover; (c) a retractable table.

8. A component for a vehicle comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a roller configured to rotate relative to the base;
(c) a sheet coupled to the roller and configured to move between a retracted state and an extended state;
(d) a lock mechanism; and
(e) a button;
wherein the lock mechanism is configured for a disengaged state to allow movement of the sheet and an engaged state to block movement of the sheet;
wherein the roller comprises a set of teeth;
wherein the lock mechanism comprises an arm configured to engage the set of teeth to hold the sheet in the extended state;
wherein the button is configured to engage the arm to provide a gap between the arm and the set of teeth;
wherein the lock mechanism comprises a spring configured to bias the arm to engage the set of teeth to hold the sheet in the extended state.

9. The component of claim 8 wherein the button comprises a latch configured to hold the button in an actuated position to prevent engagement of the button with the arm.

10. The component of claim 8 wherein the set of teeth is configured to prevent movement of the sheet toward the extended state and the retracted state.

11. The component of claim 8 further comprising a tab configured to compress the spring.

12. The component of claim 8 further comprising a tab configured to hold the arm and provide a gap between the arm and the set of teeth.

13. The component of claim 8 wherein the lock mechanism further comprises a first spring, a tab, a second spring and a latch.

14. The component of claim 13 wherein the first spring is configured to move the tab to engage the arm and move the arm out of engagement with the set of teeth and wherein the second spring is configured to move the arm to engage the set of teeth in response to compression of the first spring.

15. The component of claim 13 wherein the latch is configured to hold the first spring in a compressed state to allow the second spring to hold the arm in engagement with the set of teeth.

16. A component for a vehicle comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) a roller configured to rotate relative to the base;
(c) a sheet coupled to the roller and configured to move between a retracted state and an extended state;
(d) a lock mechanism; and
(e) an actuator;
wherein the lock mechanism is configured for a disengaged state to allow movement of the sheet and an engaged state to block movement of the sheet;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the lock mechanism to the engaged state to block movement of the sheet;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the sheet from the extended state to a tensioned state in response to movement of the sheet to the extended state.

17. The component of claim 16 wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the roller to provide tension in the sheet in the extended state.

18. The component of claim 16 further comprising a sensor; wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to move the actuator between the default position and the actuated position.

19. The component of claim 16 wherein the actuator comprises at least one of (a) a motor; (b) a linear actuator.

20. The component of claim 16 wherein the sheet comprises a retractable surface configured for use by an occupant of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Shanghai yanfeng jinqiao automotive trim systems co ltd

Inventors

• Hodgson Thomas Scott
• Nabar Tamanna

Classifications

• B60N3/002 Primary

  of trays · CPC title

• B60R5/047

  collapsible by rolling-up · CPC title

• B60R7/04

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