IP Library Granted Patent US 12,304,276
Granted Patent B2
US 12,304,276 · App. 17/608,047 · Granted May 20, 2025

Slidable central console unit with air outlets connected to telescopic air duct

Inventors: Valentin Maier (Ispringen, DE); Christoph Menzel (Stuttgart, DE); Bernd Plocher (Rottenburg, DE); Benno Stamp (Stuttgart, DE)
Assignee: Daimler AG
B60H1/00542B60H1/00528B60H1/00535B60H1/00564B60R7/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,304,276
App. No.
17/608,047
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A central console unit for a vehicle includes a first partial unit that is fixedly connectable to the vehicle and a second partial unit shiftably connected in relation to the first partial unit to the first partial unit. The first partial unit has a first air guiding arrangement that is connectable to an air-conditioning device of the vehicle. The second partial unit has a second air guiding arrangement which is shiftably connected to the first air guiding arrangement at least in sections along the first air guiding arrangement. The second partial unit forms a central console for the vehicle.

Claims (20)

1. A central console unit ( 2 ) of a vehicle ( 1 ), comprising:

a first partial unit ( 2 . 1 ) that is fixedly connectable to the vehicle ( 1 ); and

a second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) shiftably connected in relation to the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 ) to the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 );

wherein the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 ) has a first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) that is connectable to an air-conditioning device of the vehicle ( 1 );

wherein the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) has a second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) which is shiftably connected to the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) along the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) to form an air guide through the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 );

wherein the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) forms a central console of the vehicle ( 1 );

wherein a section of the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) that is shiftable along the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) and a section of the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) along which the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) is shiftable form a shifting guide for shifting the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) in relation to the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 ) and also for supporting the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) forming the central console in relation to the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 );

wherein the shifting guide is integrated with the air guide such that both the air guide and the shifting guide are implemented by the section of the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) that is shiftable along the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) and the section of the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) along which the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) is shiftable;

wherein the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) has a first air guiding pipe ( 8 ), wherein the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) has a second air guiding pipe ( 9 ) which is shiftably connected to the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ) along the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ), wherein the second air guiding pipe ( 9 ) is shiftable along the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ) in a direction toward a front of the vehicle ( 1 ) beyond a front-most end of the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) that forms the central console of the vehicle ( 1 ) and beyond a rear-most end of an instrument panel ( 4 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ), wherein the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ) of the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) and the second air guiding pipe ( 9 ) of the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) are disposed below a portion of the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) that forms the central console such that the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ) and the second air guiding pipe ( 9 ) support the portion of the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) that forms the central console and form the shifting guide and the air guide, and wherein an air guiding channel ( 11 ) is connected to the second air guiding pipe ( 9 ) and extends from below the portion of the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) that forms the central console up through the portion of the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) that forms the central console.

2. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second air guiding pipe ( 9 ) is shiftable along an inside or along an outside of the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ).

3. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) has two first air guiding pipes ( 8 ) disposed one next to the other and in parallel to each other forming a first pipe system, wherein the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) has two second air guiding pipes ( 9 ) disposed one next to the other and in parallel to each other forming a second pipe system, and wherein the first pipe system and the second pipe system form the shifting guide and the air guide.

4. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a slide bearing or a roller bearing ( 10 ) is flanged on the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) and wherein the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ) is shiftably connected to the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 ) via the slide bearing or the roller bearing ( 10 ) flanged on the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ).

5. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a slide bearing or a roller bearing ( 10 ) is flanged on the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ) and wherein the second air guiding pipe ( 9 ) shiftably moves on the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ) via the slide bearing or the roller bearing ( 10 ) flanged on the first air guiding pipe ( 8 ).

6. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second air guiding arrangement ( 6 ) has an air outflow opening ( 7 ).

7. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the air outflow opening ( 7 ) is a lateral air outflow opening or a rear air outflow opening ( 7 ).

8. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a drive unit ( 12 ) for shifting the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ).

9. The central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the drive unit ( 12 ) comprises an electric engine ( 13 ) and a coupling rod ( 14 ), wherein the electric engine ( 13 ) is fixed to the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 ), and wherein the coupling rod ( 14 ) is coupled to the electric engine ( 13 ) and the second partial unit ( 2 . 2 ).

10. A vehicle ( 1 ), comprising:

an air-conditioning device; and

the central console unit ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first partial unit ( 2 . 1 ) is fixedly connected to the vehicle ( 1 ) and wherein the first air guiding arrangement ( 5 ) is connected to the air-conditioning device.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: DAIMLER AG
To: MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
Reel/Frame 072886/0467 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2021
From: MAIER, VALENTIN; MENZEL, CHRISTOPH; PLOCHER, BERND; STAMP, BENNO
To: DAIMLER AG
Reel/Frame 058155/0834 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 003 117.2 · May 2, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220227202A1 · Jul 21, 2022
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