IP Library Granted Patent US 7,543,871
Granted Patent B2
US 7,543,871 · App. 11/615,267 · Granted Jun 9, 2009

Center console

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,543,871
App. No.
11/615,267
Filed
Dec 22, 2006
Granted
Jun 9, 2009
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3612
USPC
296/24.34
Abstract

A center console for a instrument panel includes a housing having a display region and an actuation mechanism associated with the housing. The actuation mechanism permits movement of the housing relative to the instrument panel.

Claims (26)

1. A center console for an instrument panel, the center console comprising:

a housing having a display region;

an actuation mechanism associated with said housing and operable to selectively translate said housing away from the instrument panel and to rotate said display region about a vertical axis between a first use position and a second use position; and

a locking mechanism operable to selectively prevent translation and rotation of said housing relative to said instrument panel.

2. The center console of claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a storage compartment rotatable with said housing relative to the instrument panel.

3. The center console of claim 1 , wherein said actuation mechanism includes at least one rail that facilitates translation of said housing relative to the instrument panel.

4. The center console of claim 3 , wherein said at least one rail includes a pivot that permits rotation of said housing relative to said at least one rail and the instrument panel.

5. The center console of claim 1 , wherein the said display region includes at least one control device.

6. The center console of claim 5 , wherein said at least one control device includes controls for at least one of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, an audio system, and a global positioning system.

7. The center console of claim 1 , further comprising a wire harness extending from the instrument panel to said housing to supply said housing with at least one of power and data.

8. The center console of claim 1 , wherein said actuation mechanism includes a pivot that permits rotation of said housing relative to the instrument panel.

9. An instrument panel for a vehicle having a driver seat and a passenger seat, the instrument panel comprising:

a center console having a display that is selectively translatable towards and away from the instrument panel and rotatable about a vertical axis between a first use position adjacent to the driver seat and a second use position adjacent to the passenger seat; and

a locking mechanism that selectively prevents movement of said display relative to the instrument panel.

10. The instrument panel of claim 9 , wherein said center console includes at least one storage space selectively movable with said center console relative to the instrument panel.

11. The instrument panel of claim 9 , further comprising a wire harness extending from the instrument panel to said center console to supply said center console with at least one of power and data.

12. A vehicle comprising:

an instrument panel; and

a passenger seat;

an instrument panel opposing said driver seat and said passenger seat;

a center console having a display, said center console being translatable towards said driver seat and said passenger seat and away from said instrument panel and rotatable about a vertical axis between a first use position adjacent to said driver seat and a second use position adjacent to said passenger seat; and

a locking mechanism operable to selectively prevent movement of said center console relative to said instrument panel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising at least one rail that facilitates translation of said center console between said first use position and said second use position.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein said at least one rail includes a pivot that permits rotation of said center console relative to said at least one rail and said instrument panel.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising a wire harness extending from said instrument panel to said center console to supply said center console with at least one of power and data.

16. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein said center console includes at least one storage space selectively movable with said center console relative to said instrument panel.