Powered console with manual release

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11827133-B2
Application number	US-202117189655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2021
Priority date	Mar 2, 2021
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A console assembly for use in a vehicle provided with a floor. The console assembly includes a guide member, coupled to the vehicle floor, a moving portion, a gearbox assembly, a transmission assembly, and a disengaging device. The gearbox assembly includes a gear configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction to move the moving portion between a first position and a second position. The transmission assembly is configured to operate in a number of operating states, including an engaged state and a disengaged state. The disengaging device is configured to change the operating state of the transmission assembly between the engaged state and the operating state so that the moving portion is movable while the transmission assembly is in the disengaged state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A console assembly for use in a vehicle provided with a floor, the console assembly comprising:
a guide member configured to be coupled to the floor;
a moving portion;
a gearbox assembly including a gear configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction to move the moving portion between a first position and a second position along the guide member;
a transmission assembly including a rack provided with a plurality of teeth and configured to operate in a number of operating states including an engaged state, in which the plurality of teeth engage the gear, and a disengaged state in which one or more teeth of the plurality of teeth do not engage the gear; and
a disengaging device configured to change the operating state of the transmission assembly between the engaged state and the operating state so that the moving portion is movable while the transmission assembly is in the disengaged state.

2. The console assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transmission assembly includes,
a first cable coupled to the moving portion, and
a cable drum configured to wind and unwind the first cable to move the moving portion along the guide member.

3. The console assembly of claim 2 , wherein the disengaging device includes a second cable coupled to the gearbox assembly and configured to move the gearbox assembly away from the transmission assembly or move the transmission assembly away from the gearbox assembly.

4. The console assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second cable is configured to move the gearbox assembly in a direction parallel to the rotational axis.

5. The console assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a rod extending through the gearbox assembly and the transmission assembly, wherein the gearbox assembly or the transmission assembly is configured to translate along the rod to change the operating state of the transmission assembly between the engaged state and the operating state.

6. A console assembly for use in a vehicle, the console assembly comprising:
a guide member;
a rack defining a plurality of teeth;
a moving portion coupled to the rack and configured to move along the guide between a first position and a second position;
a gearbox assembly including a pinion configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a first or second direction to translate the carrier member along the guide from a first position to a second position; and
a disengaging device configured to move the rack and to selectively disengage one or more teeth of the plurality of teeth from the pinion, so that the carrier moveable along the guide while one or more teeth of the plurality of teeth are selectively disengaged from the pinion.

7. The console assembly of claim 6 , wherein the rack moves along a direction transverse to the rotational axis.

8. The console assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
further comprising a spring configured to engage and bias the rack towards the gearbox assembly.

9. The console assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a mounting member configured to support the guide member; and
a pin extending from the carrier member or the mounting member, wherein the rack defines a slot, wherein the slot moves along the pin as the one or more teeth selectively disengage the pinion.

10. The console assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a pin extending from the carrier member or the mounting member, wherein the rack is configured to pivot about the pin so that at least some of the plurality of teeth disengage the pinion.

11. The console assembly of claim 6 , wherein the disengaging device includes a handle and a cable, wherein a first end of the cable is coupled to the handle and the a second end of the cable is fixed to the rack and actuation of the handle pulls the cable to selectively disengage the one or more teeth of the plurality of teeth from the pinion.

12. The console assembly of claim 11 , wherein the handle is fixed to the moving portion.

13. The console assembly of claim 6 , wherein the disengaging device includes,
a switch and an electromechanical actuator operatively connected to the switch and the rack, wherein the electromechanical actuator is configured to move the rack in response to actuation of the switch.

14. The console assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a return spring fixed to the moving portion and configured to move the moving portion to the from the second position to the first position.

15. A console assembly comprising:
a guide member;
a moving portion configured to move along the guide member between a first position and a second position;
a gearbox assembly including a gear and a motor configured to rotate the gear about a rotational axis in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction to move the moving portion between the first position and the second position;
a transmission assembly configured to operate in a number of operating states including an engaged state and a disengaged state, the transmission assembly including a cable and a cable drum, the cable coupled to the moving portion;
a disengaging device configured to actuate and change the operating state of the transmission assembly between the engaged state and the operating state so that the moving portion is movable, wherein the cable drum is configured to wind and unwind the cable to move the moving portion along the guide member; and
a controller configured to, responsive to movement of the moving portion from the second position to the first position or another position disposed between the first and second positions, store position data indicative of a position of the moving portion.

16. The console assembly of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to stop the motor in response to:
(1) the gearbox assembly rotating in the first rotational direction,
(2) the moving portion moving to the first position, and
(3) a number of motor position increments exceeding a first threshold within a time period.

17. The console assembly of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to change from a normalized state to a de-normalized state, wherein when the controller is in the normalized state, the controller is configured to command the motor to move the moving portion at a first speed, and when the controller is in the de-normalized state, the controller is configured to command the motor to move the moving portion at a second speed, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed.

18. The sliding center console of claim 15 , wherein the disengaging device includes a switch configured to provide a disengaging signal to the controller in response to actuation of the disengaging device, wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to receiving the disengaging signal, change from a normalized state to a de-normalized state.

19. The sliding center console of claim 15 , further comprising:
a fixed portion, wherein in the first position, the moving portion lies against or is spaced apart from the fixed portion by a first distance and in the second position, the moving portion is spaced apart from the fixed portion by a second distance greater than the first distance; and
a position sensor configured to provide a position signal, indicative of a position with respect to the fixed portion.

20. The console assembly of claim 15 , wherein the transmission assembly includes a rack provided with a plurality of teeth, wherein when the transmission assembly i

Assignees

• Brose Fahrzeugteile Se & Co Kg Coburg

Inventors

• Elsarelli James

Classifications

• B60N2/773 Primary

  Longitudinal adjustment · CPC title

• B60N2/793

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title

• B60R7/04 Primary

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

• B60R11/00

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60R2011/0007

  Mid-console · CPC title