IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,232,785
Granted Patent B1
US 10,232,785 · App. 15/845,059 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Tubular console and systems therefor

Inventors: Gary D. Mullen (Plymouth, MI); Dennis Sartorello (Cologne, DE); Anthony Ligi, Jr. (Chelsea, MI); Stephen Neal Jacobsen (Plymouth, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60R7/04B60H1/00028B60N2/5628B60R7/08B60R16/03B62D25/142B60H2001/002B60N3/101B60R2011/0008B60R2011/0059
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,232,785
App. No.
15/845,059
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A motor vehicle console comprises a pair of exposed parallel tubular members operably coupled with a motor vehicle structure and an instrument panel. Each of the tubular members has a connector section, a forward horizontal section, an intermediate section extending rearwardly in at least partially an upward direction; and a rearward horizontal section, wherein each forward horizontal section is disposed below the rearward horizontal section, and a mount operatively coupled with the forward horizontal section.

Claims (29)

1. A motor vehicle console comprising:

a pair of exposed parallel tubular members operably coupled with a motor vehicle structure and an instrument panel, each of the tubular members having a connector section, a forward horizontal section, an intermediate section extending rearwardly in at least partially an upward direction; and a rearward horizontal section, wherein each forward horizontal section is disposed below the rearward horizontal section; and

a mount operatively coupled with the forward horizontal section.

2. The motor vehicle console of claim 1 , wherein the connector section is operably coupled with the instrument panel at a first forward end and the connector section is operably coupled with the forward horizontal section at a second opposed rearward end.

3. The motor vehicle console of claim 1 , wherein an HVAC system is housed within the instrument panel and the connector section is operably coupled with the HVAC system.

4. The motor vehicle console of claim 3 , wherein the connector section, forward horizontal section, intermediate section, and rearward horizontal section of each of the pair of exposed parallel tubular members form a substantially continuous and integral interior cavity extending longitudinally relative the motor vehicle, and the pair of exposed parallel tubular members further comprise an airflow vent.

5. The motor vehicle console of claim 4 , wherein each of the rearward horizontal sections terminate in a distal end and the airflow vent is disposed on each of the distal ends.

6. The motor vehicle console of claim 4 , wherein each of the pair of tubular members are operably coupled one to the other at a distal end of each of the pair of tubular members by a transverse member.

7. The motor vehicle console of claim 6 , wherein the airflow vent is disposed on the transverse member.

8. The motor vehicle console of claim 7 , further comprising a pair of corners formed by the distal end of each of the rearward horizontal sections of each of the pair of tubular members and the transverse member and the airflow vent is disposed on each of the corners.

9. The motor vehicle console of claim 4 , further comprising a storage bin disposed proximate at least one of the pair of tubular members and the pair of tubular members further comprise an airflow vent in fluid communication with an interior of the storage bin.

10. The motor vehicle console of claim 9 , wherein the airflow vent in fluid communication with an interior of the storage bin further comprises a closure to selectively close the airflow vent.

11. The motor vehicle console of claim 9 , wherein the storage bin is disposed transversely between the pair of tubular members and each of the rearward horizontal sections of the pair of tubular members further comprise an airflow vent in fluid communication with the interior of the storage bin.

12. The motor vehicle console of claim 1 , wherein a data transmission network or electrical power supply is housed within the instrument panel, the connector section is operably coupled with the data transmission network or electrical power supply, the connector section, forward horizontal section, intermediate section, and rearward horizontal section of each of the pair of exposed parallel tubular members form a substantially continuous and integral interior cavity extending longitudinally relative the motor vehicle, and an access outlet to the data transmission network or electrical power supply is disposed on the pair of tubular members.

13. The motor vehicle console of claim 12 , wherein each of the rearward horizontal sections terminate in a distal end and the access outlet to the data transmission network or electrical power supply is disposed on each of the distal ends.

14. The motor vehicle console of claim 12 , wherein each of the pair of tubular members are operably coupled one to the other at a distal end of each of the pair of tubular members by a transverse member and the access outlet to the data transmission network or electrical power supply is disposed on the transverse member.

15. The motor vehicle console of claim 12 , wherein an accessory is mounted to the pair of tubular members and the access outlet to the data transmission network or electrical power supply is disposed on the accessory.

16. The motor vehicle console of claim 14 , wherein an accessory is mounted to the transverse member and the access outlet to the data transmission network or electrical power supply is disposed on the accessory.

17. A motor vehicle console comprising:

a mount operably coupled with a floorboard of a motor vehicle; and

a pair of exposed parallel tubular members operably coupled with an instrument panel, wherein an HVAC system, a data transmission network, or electrical power supply is housed within the instrument panel, wherein:

each of the tubular members have a connector section, a forward horizontal section, an intermediate section extending rearwardly in at least partially an upward direction; and a rearward horizontal section, wherein each forward horizontal section is disposed below the rearward horizontal section relative to a horizontal plane and is operatively coupled with the mount; and

the connector section, forward horizontal section, intermediate section, and rearward horizontal section of each of the pair of exposed parallel tubular members form a substantially continuous and integral interior cavity extending longitudinally relative the motor vehicle from which access to the HVAC system, a data transmission network, or electrical power supply may be obtained.

18. A motor vehicle console comprising:

a mount operatively coupled with a floorboard of a motor vehicle; and

a pair of exposed parallel tubular members operably coupled with an instrument panel, each of the tubular members having a connector section, a forward horizontal section, an intermediate section extending rearwardly in at least partially an upward direction; and a rearward horizontal section, wherein each forward horizontal section is disposed below the rearward horizontal section and is operatively coupled with the mount;

wherein an HVAC system, a data transmission network, or electrical power supply is housed within the instrument panel and the connector section is operably coupled with the instrument panel at a first forward end and the connector section is operably coupled with the forward horizontal section at a second opposed rearward end.

19. The motor vehicle console of claim 18 , wherein the connector section, forward horizontal section, intermediate section, and rearward horizontal section of each of the pair of exposed parallel tubular members form a substantially continuous and integral interior cavity extending longitudinally relative the motor vehicle, and the pair of exposed parallel tubular members further comprise an airflow vent in fluid communication with the HVAC system.

20. The motor vehicle console of claim 19 , wherein the pair of exposed parallel tubular members further comprise an access outlet to a data transmission network or electrical power supply, and a seal disposed between the connector section operably coupled with the instrument panel at the first forward end and a connector on the instrument panel to seal the integral interior cavity at a location in which a data transmission line or electrical power supply line extends into the interior cavity.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2017
From: MULLEN, GARY D.; SARTORELLO, DENNIS; LIGI, ANTHONY, JR; JACOBSEN, STEPHEN NEAL
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 044421/0128 →
Cited By (4)
US 12,194,961 US 12,235,055 US 12,365,216 US 12,722,708