Apparatus, system, and method for vehicle center console with removable retaining feature for a mobile device

1 . An apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a body having a wall and a flexible contacting surface extending from the wall in a first direction, the wall extends laterally between and to a first end of the body and a second end of the body, and the wall extends perpendicular to a lateral direction between and to a first side of the body and a second side of the body;

a first retaining feature extending from the wall in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first retaining feature points in the second direction; and

a second retaining feature extending from the wall in the second direction, the second retaining feature located at least partially between the first retaining feature and the second side of the body, the second retaining feature includes a hook having a first portion that extends away from the wall in the second direction and a second portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the first portion such that the second retaining feature points substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first clip feature extending from the first portion of the second retaining feature, the first clip feature is spaced apart from the wall and configured to secure a vehicle panel between the wall and the first clip feature.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first retaining feature includes a tab extending away from the wall in the second direction and a second clip feature extending from the tab of the first retaining feature, the second clip feature is spaced apart from the wall and configured to secure a vehicle panel between the wall and the second clip feature.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first retaining feature further includes a pull tab that extends away from the wall in the second direction.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first retaining feature further includes a third clip feature disposed opposite the tab from the second clip feature and the third clip feature is spaced apart from the wall and configured to secure the vehicle panel between the wall and the third clip feature.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first retaining feature is laterally offset from the second retaining feature.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to be suspended from a vehicle panel using the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible contacting surface defines a cavity disposed between the flexible contacting surface and the wall.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wall defines a planar surface.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature are configured to suspend the body from a vehicle panel such that installation of the retaining features positions the flexible contacting surface to extend toward and bias a mobile device against a mobile-device resting surface; and

with the second retaining feature disposed at least partially in a first aperture of the vehicle panel, the body and the first retaining feature are configured to rotate together about the second retaining feature and a lateral axis of the body to install the first retaining feature into a second aperture of the vehicle panel.

11 . A vehicle center console, comprising:

a first surface configured to receive a mobile device thereon;

a second surface facing the first surface and having a first aperture and a second aperture, and the mobile device is configured to be received between the first surface and the second surface;

a mobile device retaining apparatus mounted to the second surface, the mobile device retaining apparatus including:

a body having a wall and a flexible contacting surface extending from the wall toward the first surface in a first direction, the wall extends laterally between and to a first end of the body and a second end of the body, and the wall extends perpendicular to a lateral direction between and to a first side of the body and a second side of the body;

a first retaining feature extending from the wall through the first aperture in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first retaining feature points in the second direction; and

a second retaining feature extending from the wall through the second aperture in the second direction, the second retaining feature located at least partially between the first retaining feature and the second side of the body, the second retaining feature includes a hook having a first portion that extends away from the wall in the second direction and a second portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the first portion such that the second retaining feature points substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

12 . The vehicle center console of claim 11 , wherein the flexible contacting surface is configured to press the mobile device against the first surface.

13 . The vehicle center console of claim 11 , further comprising a first clip feature extending from the first portion of the second retaining feature, the first clip feature is spaced apart from the wall and configured to secure a vehicle panel between the wall and the first clip feature.

14 . The vehicle center console of claim 11 , wherein the first retaining feature includes a tab extending away from the wall in the second direction and a second clip feature extending from the tab of the first retaining feature, the second clip feature is spaced apart from the wall and configured to secure a vehicle panel between the wall and the second clip feature.

15 . The vehicle center console of claim 14 , wherein the first retaining feature further includes a pull tab that extends away from the wall in the second direction.

16 . The vehicle center console of claim 11 , wherein the flexible contacting surface defines a cavity disposed between the flexible contacting surface and the wall.

17 . A method comprising:

placing a first retaining feature of an apparatus through a first aperture disposed in a vehicle panel, the first retaining feature extending in a first direction through the vehicle panel;

with the first retaining feature of the apparatus disposed at least partially in the first aperture, rotating the apparatus about the first retaining feature and an axis oriented perpendicular to the first direction, to move a second retaining feature toward a second aperture disposed in the vehicle panel;

moving the second retaining feature through the second aperture, the second retaining feature including a hook having a portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the first direction, to position the vehicle panel between a clip feature of the second retaining feature and a wall of the apparatus; and

positioning a flexible contacting surface of the apparatus to extend from the vehicle panel, and the flexible contacting surface and the first retaining feature are located on opposite sides of the vehicle panel.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising positioning the flexible contacting surface of the apparatus to extend toward a mobile device resting surface.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising positioning the vehicle panel between a clip feature of the first retaining feature and the wall of the apparatus.