Vehicle console having deployable table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12043155-B2
Application number	US-202217944353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2022
Priority date	Sep 14, 2022
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

An armrest center console for a vehicle includes a housing defining a storage bin, a track assembly having a first and second tracks provided on opposite sides of the housing, and an armrest cover assembly supported on the housing and having a deployable table. The armrest center console also includes a linkage assembly coupling the armrest cover assembly to the first and second tracks, wherein the armrest cover assembly is configured to slide forward on the first and second rail and to rotate upward via the linkage assembly to deploy the deployable table.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An armrest assembly for a vehicle, the armrest assembly comprising:
a housing;
a track system coupled to the housing;
an armrest having a deployable table and supported by the housing; and
a linkage assembly coupling the armrest to the track system, wherein the armrest is configured to slide forward on the track system and to rotate upward via the linkage assembly to deploy the deployable table.

2. The armrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the armrest assembly is located on a console.

3. The armrest assembly of claim 2 , wherein the housing defines a storage bin.

4. The armrest assembly of claim 3 , wherein the armrest defines a cover extendable over the storage bin.

5. The armrest assembly of claim 4 , wherein the console is a center console.

6. The armrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deployable table comprises a plurality of panels that pivot between a stacked position and a deployed position.

7. The armrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises at least one pivotable brace mechanism on each of opposite lateral sides of the housing.

8. The armrest assembly of claim 7 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises first and second pivotable brace mechanisms and an interconnecting link forming a first and second three-bar linkage on each of the opposite lateral sides of the housing.

9. The armrest assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one auxiliary armrest pivotally coupled to the housing and configured to pivot between a stowed position and a use position when the deployable table is deployed.

10. The armrest assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one auxiliary armrest comprises a first auxiliary armrest on one side of the housing and a second auxiliary armrest on an opposite side of the housing, wherein each of the first and second auxiliary armrests is pivotally coupled to the housing and configured to pivot between the stowed positon and the use position when the deployable table is deployed.

11. The armrest assembly of claim 1 , wherein the track system comprises first and second tracks extending generally longitudinally within a vehicle.

12. The armrest assembly of claim 11 , wherein the linkage assembly further comprises first and second rollers operatively coupled to the first and second tracks.

13. An armrest center console for a vehicle, the armrest center console comprising:
a housing defining a storage bin;
a track system having first and second tracks provided on opposite sides of the housing;
an armrest cover assembly supported on the housing and configured to cover the storage bin and having a deployable table; and
a linkage assembly coupling the armrest cover assembly to the first and second rails, wherein the armrest cover assembly is configured to slide forward on the first and second tracks and to rotate upward via the linkage assembly to deploy the deployable table.

14. The armrest center console of claim 13 , wherein the deployable table comprises a plurality of panels that pivot between a stacked position and a deployed position.

15. The armrest center console of claim 13 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises at least one pivotable three-bar linkage on each of opposite lateral sides of the housing.

16. The armrest center console of claim 13 further comprising at least one auxiliary armrest pivotally coupled to the housing and configured to pivot between a stowed position and a use position when the deployable table is deployed.

17. The armrest center console of claim 16 , wherein the at least one armrest comprises a first auxiliary armrest on one side of the housing and a second auxiliary armrest on an opposite side of the housing, wherein each of the first and second auxiliary armrests is pivotally coupled to the housing and configured to pivot between the stowed positon and the use position when the deployable table is deployed.

18. The armrest center console of claim 17 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises first and second pivotable brace mechanisms and an interconnecting link forming a three-bar linkage on each of the opposite lateral sides of the housing.

19. The armrest center console of claim 13 , wherein the linkage assembly further comprises first and second rollers operatively coupled to the first and second tracks.

20. The armrest center console of claim 13 , wherein the first and second tracks extend generally longitudinally within a vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Thomas Gregory Paul
• Skinner Glen D
• Robb Brian
• Luckett Thomas Junior
• Welch Ryan

Classifications

• B60N3/002

  of trays · CPC title

• B60N2/793

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title

• B60N2/77

  Height adjustment · CPC title

• B60R7/04 Primary

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

• B60N2/79

  Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests · CPC title