Sliding center console

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11938902-B2
Application number	US-201817267072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2018
Priority date	Aug 23, 2018
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A sliding vehicle center console is provided. The center console may include an elongated rack, including an elongated rack, defining a plurality of teeth, a carrier member coupled to the rack, and a gearbox assembly including a pinion configured to rotate in a first or a second direction to translate the carrier member and the elongated rack from a first position to a second position. The sliding vehicle center console may also include a controller configured to change the rotation of the pinion from one of the first or second directions to the other directions, responsive to a comparison of a sensor value to a threshold condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sliding center console frame assembly for a vehicle having a floor comprising:
a mounting member;
an elongated rack defining a plurality of teeth;
a carrier member coupled to the rack;
rack attachment bracket and wherein the rack attachment bracket couples the carrier member to the elongated rack; and
a gearbox assembly fixed to the mounting member including a pinion configured to rotate in a first or second direction to translate the carrier member and the elongated rack from a first position to a second position, wherein the rack attachment bracket defines a longitudinal slot and wherein a nose defined by the pinion of the gearbox assembly is disposed within the longitudinal slot.

2. The sliding center console of claim 1 , wherein the mounting member is the vehicle floor.

3. The sliding center console of claim 1 , wherein the carrier member is configured to translate along a longitudinal axis and wherein the pinion of the gearbox assembly defines an axis of rotation and wherein the axis of rotation is transverse to the longitudinal axis.

4. The sliding center console of claim 1 , further comprising a second elongated rack defining another plurality of teeth, wherein each of the teeth of the second elongated rack define a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area defined by the plurality of teeth of the elongated rack.

5. The sliding center console of claim 4 , wherein the second elongated rack is adhered to the elongated rack.

6. The sliding center console of claim 5 , wherein the second elongated rack is comprised of a polymeric material.

7. The sliding center console of claim 6 , wherein the second elongated rack is over molded to the elongated rack.

8. The sliding center console of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox assembly includes a cover that includes a cap that defines a recessed pocket and surrounds an outer circumferential surface of the nose of the pinion, and wherein an outer circumferential surface of the cap engages an edge defined by the longitudinal slot.

9. A sliding center console frame assembly for use in a vehicle having a floor and configured to support a fixed portion of a center console assembly and a moving portion of a center console assembly that includes an armrest, and a second storage area, the sliding center console frame assembly comprising:
a base member attachable to the floor;
a carrier member for supporting the moving portion;
an elongated rack, defining a plurality of teeth, coupled to a rack attachment bracket;
a gearbox assembly fixed to the base member including a pinion configured to rotate in a first or second direction to translate the carrier member and the elongated rack from a first position to a second position; and
a controller configured to change the rotation of the pinion from one of the first or second directions to the other directions, responsive to a comparison of a sensor value to a threshold condition.

10. The sliding center console frame assembly of claim 9 , wherein the sensor value is a speed of the gearbox assembly relative the elongated rack, and wherein the threshold condition is a predetermined speed.

11. The sliding center console frame assembly of claim 9 , wherein the sensor value is a distance traveled relative to either the first position or the second position, and wherein the controller is further configured to stop rotation of the pinion, responsive to the distance traveled exceeding a predetermined distance threshold.

12. The sliding center console frame assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sensor value is a torque required to rotate the pinion and wherein the controller is further configured to cease power to a motor coupled to the gearbox assembly, responsive to the torque required to rotate the pinion exceeding a predetermined torque threshold.

13. The sliding center console frame assembly of claim 12 , wherein the torque required to rotate the pinion is associated with a weight applied to the moving portion.

14. A sliding vehicle center console including an elongated rack, defining a plurality of teeth, a carrier member coupled to the rack, and a gearbox assembly including a pinion configured to rotate in a first or a second direction to translate the carrier member and the elongated rack from a first position to a second position, the sliding vehicle center console comprising:
a controller configured to change the rotation of the pinion from one of the first or second directions to the other directions, responsive to a comparison of a sensor value to a threshold condition.

15. The sliding vehicle center console of claim 14 , wherein the sensor value and the threshold condition are each associated with a quantity of light indicative of an obstruction positioned between a closure and a mating surface.

16. The sliding vehicle center console of claim 14 , wherein the sensor value and the threshold condition are each associated with a capacitance measured by a sensor disposed within either a fixed portion of the center console and a moving portion of the center console.

17. The sliding center console of claim 16 , wherein the moving portion is a storage bin that is configured to move from a stored position, adjacent to and in contact with the fixed portion, and a deployed position and wherein when the storage bin is in the deployed position a portion of the storage bin is spaced apart from the fixed portion.

18. The sliding center console of claim 16 , wherein the moving portion is an armrest that is configured to move between a retracted position to an extended position and wherein the fixed portion is a portion of the center console that is adjacent to a portion of the armrest that is adjacent to the fixed portion when the armrest is adjacent to and disposed along the fixed portion.

19. An adjustment mechanism comprising:
an elongated rack member defining a plurality of teeth;
attachment bracket defining a slot having an inner edge that is positioned adjacent to the plurality of teeth; and
a gearbox assembly including,
a gearset,
a pinion coupled to the gear set and comprising a plurality of pinion teeth and a nose outwardly extending therefrom, wherein the pinion is configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first to translate the elongated rack, and
a housing comprising an input cover and an output cover that cooperate to sandwich the gearset and wherein the output cover includes a protrusion outwardly that defines an inner diameter that receives the nose and an outer diameter that engages the inner edge of the slot such that relative movement between the plurality of pinion teeth and the plurality of teeth defined by the elongated rack is mitigated.

20. The sliding center console of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixed portion fixed to the mounting member;
a moving portion including a storage bin fixed to the carrier and configured to move from a stored position, adjacent to and in contact with the fixed portion, and a deployed position, in which a portion of the storage bin is spaced apart from the fixed portion.

21. The sliding center console of claim 20 , further comprising:
a sensor fixed to at least one of the fixed portion and the moving portion, and configured to detect an object disposed between the fixed portion and the moving portion; and
a controller a controller configured to command the gearbox assembly to stop, responsive to a sensor value received form the sensor and indicative of the object disposed between the

Assignees

• Brose Fahrzeugteile Se & Co Kg Coburg

Inventors

• Hartmann Ulf
• Elsarelli James
• Kidd Michael
• Lakerdas Andrew
• Weir Raymond
• Miller Sarah
• Neundorf Robert

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

• B60R11/00

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

• F16H19/043

  for converting reciprocating movement in a continuous rotary movement or vice versa, e.g. by opposite racks engaging intermittently for a part of the stroke · CPC title

• F16H19/04

  comprising a rack · CPC title