Storage assembly for vehicle center console

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9738227-B2
Application number	US-201514964936-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 30, 2013
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A storage assembly for positioning between vehicle seats, includes an enclosable compartment that has opposing longitudinal sidewalls and opposing lateral sidewalls that are connected to the opposing longitudinal sidewalls to define an interior volume. A plurality of retention features are spaced along an upper edge of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing lateral sidewalls. A hanging storage module has a rigid panel suspended in the interior volume and a pair of support elements protrudes horizontally from opposing ends of the rigid panel to removably engage a corresponding pair of the plurality of retention features on a select one of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing longitudinal sidewalls. The rigid panel has a side portion configured to vertically hold at least one object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage assembly for a vehicle center console, comprising:
an enclosable compartment having a floor and sidewalls arranged around the floor to define an interior volume;
notches spaced along upper edges of all the sidewalls; and
a hanging storage module having a body portion suspended in the interior volume and a pair of support elements protruding horizontally from opposing sides of the body portion to removably engage a corresponding pair of the notches.

2. The storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a first panel and a second panel attached with opposing flexible sides to define an expandable storage pocket.

3. The storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes a rigid panel and at least one pocket on a side surface of the rigid panel.

4. The storage assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a power source arranged proximate the floor, wherein the at least one pocket is configured to hold a portable electronic device that electrically couples with the power source to charge a battery of the portable electronic device.

5. The storage assembly of claim 4 , wherein the power source includes an inductive charger that is positioned to create an electromagnetic field about the at least one pocket for charging the portable electronic device.

6. The storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hanging storage module includes an elongated member extending between the pair of support elements that is adjustable between a first length and a second length to span across the interior volume at various locations.

7. The storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the notches are spaced on the sidewalls to receive multiple the hanging storage modules in a select one of a longitudinal orientation and a lateral orientation.

8. The storage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an LED coupled with a bottom portion of each of the notches, wherein the support elements include a translucent portion extending along a top edge of the body portion for receiving light from the LED and emitting the light from an exterior surface of the translucent portion.

9. The storage assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a lid pivotally coupled proximate the upper edge of the sidewall and movable between a closed position that substantially encloses the interior volume and an open position that illuminates the light source.

10. The storage assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vertical tab slidably coupled with a groove formed along a top edge of the body portion, wherein the vertical tab includes a friction element to retain the vertical tab at a select position along the groove.

11. A storage assembly for positioning between vehicle seats, comprising:
an enclosable compartment that includes opposing longitudinal sidewalls and opposing lateral sidewalls connected to the opposing longitudinal sidewalls to define an interior volume;
a plurality of retention features spaced along an upper edge of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing lateral sidewalls; and
a hanging storage module having a rigid panel suspended in the interior volume and a pair of support elements protruding horizontally from opposing ends of the rigid panel to removably engage a corresponding pair of the plurality of retention features on a select one of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing lateral sidewalls, wherein the rigid panel has a side portion configured to vertically hold at least one object.

12. The storage assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a lid pivotally coupled proximate a rear portion of the enclosable compartment and movable between a closed position that substantially encloses the interior volume and an open position; and
a light source coupled with each of the plurality of retention features, wherein the support elements include a translucent portion for receiving light from the light source and emitting the light from an exterior surface of the translucent portion.

13. The storage assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a magnetic reed switch arranged adjacent to each light source; and
a magnet on at least one of the support elements that aligns with at least one of the magnetic reed switches to illuminate the light source proximate the magnet to transmit light to the translucent portion.

14. A storage assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a compartment having an edge on opposing longitudinal and opposing lateral sidewalls surrounding a cavity;
retention features disposed on the edge; and
an elongated member having first and second ends removably coupled with the retention features on opposite sides of the cavity, wherein the elongated member is adjustable between first and second lengths to span between opposing lateral sidewalls and opposing longitudinal sidewalls.

15. The storage assembly of claim 14 , wherein the elongated member is adjustable from the first length configured to span between opposing longitudinal side walls and the second length configured to span between opposing lateral side walls.

16. The storage assembly of claim 15 , wherein the elongated member includes a first section slidably coupled with a second section to adjust the length of the elongated member.

17. The storage assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first section has the first end and the second section having the second end.

18. The storage assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a rigid panel having a side portion with a storage pocket and a top portion coupled with the elongated member to hang in the cavity.

19. The storage assembly of claim 14 , wherein the storage assembly is for a vehicle center console.

20. The storage assembly of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle storage assembly is positioned between vehicle seats.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Hellman Kristin Ann
• Sakarian Artur
• Welch Ryan
• Dunham Scott H
• Salter Stuart
• Gardner Cornel

Classifications

• B60Q3/78

  for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges · CPC title

• B60R7/04 Primary

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

• B60R7/08 Primary

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

• B60Q3/225

  Small compartments, e.g. glove compartments · CPC title

• B60R11/0252

  for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks · CPC title