Dual access vehicle storage assembly
View Patent ↗A vehicle storage assembly can cover a vehicle storage area such as an interior console or a cargo box. The storage assembly can include a base and a lid. The lid can be opened from two sides to allow easy access for a driver and passengers to an interior storage compartment. The base includes at least two rods, which can act as axles for the lid to pivot about. The lid includes at least one rotation member or guide which can be released from the rod only when the lid is in a desired position, for example, a closed position. The lid can include a latch for each rod. The lid can have a lock to secure one or both of the latches with the lid in a closed position.
1. A storage compartment comprising:
a base comprising:
a first engagement rod, said first engagement rod disposed along a first side of said base and defining a generally cylindrical first pivot surface defining an axis and at least one release surface recessed from said first pivot surface;
a second engagement rod, said second engagement rod disposed along a second side of said base and defining a generally cylindrical second pivot surface defining an axis and at least one release surface recessed from said second pivot surface; and
a cover comprising:
a first side and a second side;
four rotation members, said rotation members configured to rotate about said engagement rods, two of said rotation members laterally displaced along each of the first side and the second side of the cover; and
at least one latch, the at least one latch configured to engage one of the engagement rods, wherein the at least one latch and at least one of the rotation members are combined into a single, integrated latch-rotation unit;
wherein the rotation member of the single, integrated latch-rotation unit comprises a pair of rotation arms spaced laterally apart and having the at least one latch located between the pair of rotation arms.
2. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least two rotation members and an equal number of latches are combined into more than one integrated latch-rotation units.
3. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein all four rotation members and four latches are combined into four, single integrated latch-rotation units.
4. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover has four sides.
5. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the engagement rods are metal.
6. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base is integrally formed with a vehicle.
7. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rotation members are adapted to decouple the cover from the engagement rods when the cover is in a first position.
8. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first position is an open position.
9. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of rotation members are adapted to inhibit decoupling of the cover from the engagement rods when the cover is in a second position.
10. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second position is a closed position.
11. A vehicle storage compartment comprising:
a first bracket member, the first bracket member having at least a surface attachment portion in connection with a wall, a pair of arm structures on opposite sides of the first bracket member extending away from the surface attachment portion, and a mounting member extending between the arm structures distal from the surface attachment portion;
a second bracket member, the second bracket member having at least a surface attachment portion in connection with a cover, and a hinge connection element, the hinge connection element configured to releasably retain the mounting member of the first bracket member,
wherein the first and second bracket member are configured to rotate with respect to one another from a closed to an open position;
wherein each of the first and second bracket members further comprise a latching element, the latching element on the first bracket member configured to releasably attach the latching element of the second bracket member when in the open position;
wherein the hinge connection element of the second bracket member comprises a pair of rotation flanges spaced laterally apart and having the latching element located between the pair of rotation flanges.
12. The vehicle storage compartment of claim 11 , wherein the mounting member is configured to be generally rounded.
13. The vehicle storage compartment of claim 11 , wherein the latching elements are configured to release from one another upon the application of force.
14. The vehicle storage compartment of claim 11 , wherein the hinge connection element comprises a spring or flexible biasing member configured to releasably retain the mounting member of the first bracket member.
15. The vehicle storage compartment of claim 11 , wherein the cover is generally square shaped and is connected to four first bracket members, the four first bracket members configured to releasably retain the mounting members of four second bracket members on a plurality of walls shaped generally similar to the cover.