Vehicle console having deployable heated shelf

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065068-B2
Application number	US-202217734163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2022
Priority date	May 2, 2022
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle console includes a housing having at least one cupholder, a deployable shelf located proximate to the housing and movable between a recessed position in thermal communication with the at least cupholder and an extended position extending outward from the housing. The deployable shelf has a thermally conductive surface, and a heater operatively coupled to the thermally conductive surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle console comprising:
a housing having at least one cupholder;
a deployable shelf located proximate to the housing and movable between a recessed position in thermal communication with the at least cupholder and an extended position extending outward from the housing, wherein the deployable shelf has a thermally conductive surface; and
a heater operatively coupled to the thermally conductive surface.

2. The vehicle console of claim 1 , wherein the shelf is located below the at least one cupholder such that the thermally conductive surface is positioned below and thermally coupled to the at least one cupholder in the recessed position.

3. The vehicle console of claim 2 , wherein the shelf is movable by sliding within an opening between the recessed and extended positions.

4. The vehicle console of claim 3 , wherein the thermally conductive surface in the extended position of the shelf is configured to support items to be heated.

5. The vehicle console of claim 1 , wherein the console is a center console positioned between first and second seats in a vehicle.

6. The vehicle console of claim 1 further comprising a light bar positioned on the thermally conductive surface.

7. The vehicle console of claim 6 , wherein the light bar provides an illuminated light indicative of a temperature of the thermally conductive surface.

8. The vehicle console of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic surface provided on the shelf.

9. The vehicle console of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a Peltier device.

10. A vehicle console comprising:
a housing having at least one cupholder;
a deployable shelf located proximate to the housing and movable between a recessed position in thermal communication with the at least cupholder and an extended position extending outward from the housing, wherein the deployed shelf has a thermally conductive surface configured to support items to be heated; and
a heater operatively coupled to the thermally conductive surface, wherein the shelf is located below the at least one cupholder such that the thermally conductive surface is positioned below and is thermally coupled to the at least one cupholder in the recessed position, wherein the shelf is movable by sliding within an opening between the recessed and extended positions.

11. A vehicle comprising:
a body defining a cabin interior; and
a vehicle console disposed within the cabin interior, the vehicle console comprising:
a housing having at least one cupholder;
a deployable shelf located proximate to the housing and movable between a recessed position in thermal communication with the at least cupholder and an extended position extending outward from the housing, wherein the deployable shelf has a thermally conductive surface; and
a heater operatively coupled to the thermally conductive surface.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the shelf is located below the at least one cupholder such that the thermally conductive surface is positioned below and proximate to the at least one cupholder in the recessed position.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the shelf is movable by sliding within an opening between the recessed and extended positions.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the thermally conductive surface in the extended position of the shelf is configured to support items to be heated.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising a light bar positioned on the thermally conductive surface.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the light bar provides an illuminated light indicative of a temperature of the thermally conductive surface.

17. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising a magnetic surface provided on the shelf.

18. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the heater comprises a Peltier device.

19. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising a first seat and a second seat within the cabin interior, wherein the vehicle console is disposed between the first and second seats.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the vehicle console is a center console.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Shedlarski Dustin
• Jones Micah
• Berry Hussein H

Classifications

• B60N3/001

  of tables or trays · CPC title

• B60Q3/70

  characterised by the purpose · CPC title

• B60Q3/20

  for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60N3/104 Primary

  with refrigerating or warming systems · CPC title

• B60N3/10 Primary

  of receptacles for food or beverages, e.g. refrigerated · CPC title