Collapsible storage compartment with inverting hinge for use in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019232879-A1
Application number	US-201815886306-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 1, 2018
Priority date	Feb 1, 2018
Publication date	Aug 1, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A collapsible storage compartment includes an inner bin with an inner side wall and an inner base wall. The inner side wall is connected to a periphery of the inner base wall to define a cavity. The collapsible storage compartment further includes an outer bin connected to the inner bin. The outer bin includes an outer base wall and a flexible hinge. The flexible hinge is movably connected to the outer base wall and is configured to move the outer base wall between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein at least a portion of the hinge flexes into the cavity to move the outer base wall toward the inner base wall when the outer base wall is moved from the deployed position to the stowed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A collapsible storage compartment comprising:
an inner bin including an inner side wall and an inner base wall, the inner side wall connected to a periphery of the inner base wall to define a cavity; an outer bin connected to the inner bin, the outer bin including an outer base wall and a flexible hinge, the flexible hinge movably connected to the outer base wall and configured to move the outer base wall between a stowed position and a deployed position; and wherein at least a portion of the hinge flexes into the cavity to move the outer base wall toward the inner base wall when the outer base wall is moved from the deployed position to the stowed position.

2 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the outer bin is removably connected to the inner bin.

3 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the outer bin is connected to the inner bin along a portion of the inner side wall of the inner bin to define an access opening to permit access to the cavity when the outer base wall is in the deployed position and in the stowed position.

4 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein a vertical height of the outer base wall is less than a vertical height of the inner base wall such that the outer bin permits access to the cavity when the outer base wall is in the deployed position and in the stowed position.

5 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the hinge is integrally formed with the outer base wall.

6 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the hinge is made of a first material and the outer base wall is made of a second material, the first material different from the second material.

7 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the hinge includes an outer side wall and one or more flex regions, the one or more flex regions having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the outer side wall such that the hinge flexes at the flex regions to cause the outer side wall to rotate about the one or more flex regions.

8 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 7 wherein the outer side wall is made of a material having a first durometer and the one or more flex regions are made of the same material as the outer side wall but have a second durometer, the first durometer being different from the second durometer.

9 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 7 wherein the hinge includes at least a first flex region and a second flex region and the outer side wall is positioned between the first flex region and the second flex region.

10 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 9 wherein the outer bin includes an attachment collar, the attachment collar connected to a side of the hinge opposite to the outer base wall, the attachment collar positioned adjacent to the inner bin and connecting the outer bin to the inner bin.

11 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 10 wherein the inner bin includes a saddle portion, the saddle portion positioned along a portion of an outer edge of the inner side wall and configured to receive the attachment collar to connect the outer bin to the inner bin.

12 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 11 wherein:
the saddle portion includes a connecting wall facing the attachment collar, the connecting wall including a plurality of apertures; and
the attachment collar includes a plurality of locking tabs projecting outward from the attachment collar, the plurality of locking tabs configured to be received in the plurality of apertures to connect the outer bin to the inner bin.

13 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 12 wherein the plurality of locking tabs each include a curved projection with a finger, the curved projections of the plurality of locking tabs projecting through the plurality of apertures and the fingers engaging edges of the plurality of apertures to removably connect the outer bin to the inner bin.

14 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 13 wherein the connecting wall and the attachment collar are oriented perpendicular to the inner side wall of the inner bin such that the plurality of locking tabs are positioned perpendicular to the inner side wall when inserted through the plurality of apertures.

15 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 14 wherein the connecting wall is positioned in a connecting plane that is inset from an outer edge of the inner side wall such that the attachment collar is positioned between inner base wall and the outer edge of the inner side wall.

16 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the outer base wall is positioned outside of the cavity when in the deployed position and inside the cavity when in the stowed position.

17 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the outer base wall includes a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, the hinge connected to the outer base wall along the first edge, the second edge and the third edge, the fourth edge free floating relative to the inner bin to permit access to the cavity when the outer base wall is in the deployed position and in the stowed position.

18 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 1 wherein the inner bin includes a plurality of connection points projecting outward from the inner side wall, the plurality of connection points configured for connecting the inner bin to a support surface oriented parallel to the inner base wall.

19 . The collapsible storage compartment of claim 18 wherein the support surface is located on a door trim panel of a vehicle.

20 . A collapsible storage compartment for use in a door trim panel of a vehicle, the collapsible storage compartment comprising:
a rigid inner bin including an inner side wall and an inner base wall, the inner side wall connected around a periphery of the inner base wall, the inner side wall including a plurality of connection points and a saddle portion, the plurality of connection points projecting outward from the inner side wall to connect the inner bin to the door trim panel, the saddle portion inset from an outer edge of the inner side wall and extending upward from a bottom of the inner side wall; an outer bin including a flexible hinge, a rigid outer base wall and an attachment collar, the flexible hinge connected to a first edge, a second edge and a third edge of the outer base wall, a fourth edge of the outer base wall free floating and spaced apart from the inner bin to permit access to an interior of the storage compartment, the flexible hinge connected to and positioned between the rigid outer base wall and the attachment collar, the attachment collar received into the saddle portion to connect the outer bin to the inner bin, the flexible hinge including one or more flex points to permit the hinge to flex inward and toward the inner base wall causing the outer base wall to move toward the inner base wall when the outer base wall is moved from a deployed position to a stowed position; and wherein the outer base wall has a height that is less than a height of the inner base wall to define an access opening to permit access to a storage volume located between the inner base wall and the outer base wall.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Lee Toure
• Mazur Lorin A
• Gaw Jr William D

Classifications

• B60R7/046 Primary

  mounted on door · CPC title

• B60R5/045

  collapsible or transformable · CPC title

• B60R7/005

  Nets or elastic pockets tensioned against walls or backrests · CPC title

• B60R7/08

  Disposition of racks, clips {, holders, containers} or the like {for supporting specific articles (B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R21/055 Primary

  Padded {or energy-absorbing} fittings {, e.g. seat belt anchors (sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80)} · CPC title