Mobile device retention and charging tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016211697-A1
Application number	US-201615086667-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2016
Priority date	Dec 18, 2012
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A console assembly for an automotive vehicle and use with a mobile device. The console assembly including a storage compartment having a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls. An opening permits access into the storage area and a slidable top wall is operable to move between a covered position and a retracted position relative to the opening. An anti-slip surface is provided on the top wall and configured to receive the mobile device thereon. A wireless charging unit is also incorporated into and moveable with the top wall. The wireless charging unit is located immediately below the anti-slip surface. When the mobile device is placed on the anti-slip surface, the device is moveable with the top wall, between the covered position and retracted position, while being charged.

First claim

I/We claim:

1 . An assembly for an automotive vehicle and for wirelessly charging a mobile device, the assembly comprising:
a storage compartment including a tray, a storage area, and an opening, the storage area defined by a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of end walls, wherein the opening permits access in the storage area, the tray is operable to be slid between a covered position and a retracted position relative to the opening, wherein in the covered position the tray covers the opening and in the retracted position the opening is exposed to permit access into the storage area through the opening; and a wireless charging unit incorporated into and movable with the tray, whereby the mobile device is charged when placed on the tray.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-slip surface provided on the tray and configured to receive the mobile device thereon, wherein the wireless charging unit is located below the anti-slip surface.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the anti-slip surface is formed from a material having a surface hardness of less than or equal to 70 Shore A.

4 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein when the mobile device is placed on the anti-slip surface, the anti-slip surface prevents sliding or movement of the mobile device when the mobile device is subjected to loading of up to +/−4G during operation of the automotive vehicle when the tray and the anti-slip surface are inclined at an angle of up to 21.5°.

5 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the tray further comprises a bounding surface that surrounds the anti-slip surface.

6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the bounding surface and the anti-slip surface are formed from different materials, and wherein a material of the bounding surface has a Shore A hardness that is less than a Shore A hardness of the material of the anti-slip surface.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tray further comprises upwardly extending end and sidewalls, wherein the bounding surface comprises curved contours transitioning into the upwardly extending end and sidewalls.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tray is provided at an inclined angle such that a forward end of the tray is raised relative to a rearward end of the tray.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Lambert Michael R
• Sitarski Nicholas S
• Weiss Scott L
• Quijano Jonathan J

Classifications

• H02J2105/37

  exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] · CPC title

• H02J2105/33

  exchanging power with road vehicles · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R7/04

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

• B60R16/02

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title