IP Library Granted Patent US 8,523,260
Granted Patent B2
US 8,523,260 · App. 13/538,066 · Granted Sep 3, 2013

Console storage retention structure

Inventors: Nicholas Spitler (Hudson, MI); Nobutaka Takeuchi (Farmington Hills, MI)
Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,523,260
App. No.
13/538,066
Granted
Sep 3, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a console for use in a vehicle. One embodiment comprises a compartment defined by a first wall and a second wall that are spaced apart from one another in a first direction, a first channel disposed adjacent to the first wall, the first channel defining an opening oriented in an upward direction and including first and second end surfaces spaced apart along the first channel, a retainer structure disposed within the first channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces and a tray member having an engagement structure configured to be received within the first channel. The tray member is positionable within the compartment such that the engagement structure is received within the first channel and engages the retainer structure to restrain movement of the tray member along the first channel toward both of the first end surface and the second end surface.

Claims (46)

1. A console for use in a vehicle, the console comprising:

a compartment defined by a first wall and a second wall that are spaced apart from one another in a first direction;

a first channel disposed adjacent to the first wall, the first channel defining an opening oriented in an upward direction and including first and second end surfaces spaced apart along the first channel;

a retainer structure disposed within the first channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces; and

a tray member having an engagement structure configured to be received within the first channel, wherein the tray member is positionable within the compartment such that the engagement structure is received within the first channel and engages the retainer structure to restrain movement of the tray member along the first channel toward both of the first end surface and the second end surface.

2. The console of claim 1 , further comprising:

the retainer structure included in a first pair of laterally spaced apart retainer structures disposed within the first channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces; and

the engagement structure included in a first pair of spaced apart engagement structures that are configured to be received within the first channel, wherein the tray member is positionable within the compartment in a first position where the first pair of engagement structures is received within the first channel and engages the first pair of retainer structures to restrain movement of the tray member along the first channel toward both of the first end surface and the second end surface.

3. The console of claim 2 , further comprising:

a second pair of laterally spaced apart retainer structures disposed within the first channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces,

wherein the tray member is positionable within the compartment in a second position where the first pair of engagement structures is received within the first channel and engages the second pair of retainer structures to restrain movement of the tray member along the first channel toward both of the first end surface and the second end surface.

4. The console of claim 3 , wherein the compartment is further defined by a third wall and a fourth wall that are spaced apart from one another in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein a first space is defined between the tray member and the third wall when the tray member is in the first position, and wherein a second space is defined between the tray member and the fourth wall when the tray member is in the second position.

5. The console of claim 1 , further comprising:

the retainer structure included in a plurality of laterally spaced apart retainer structures disposed within the first channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces; and

the engagement structure included in a plurality of spaced apart engagement structures configured to be received within the first channel,

wherein the tray member is positionable within the compartment such that each of the plurality of engagement structures is received within the first channel and engages at least one of the plurality of retainer structures to restrain movement of the tray member along the first channel toward both of the first end surface and the second end surface.

6. The console of claim 1 , wherein the tray member is positionable within the compartment such that the tray member is spaced apart from both the first and second end surfaces when the engagement structure is received within the first channel and engages the retainer structure.

7. The console of claim 1 , further comprising:

the retainer structure projecting from the first channel towards the opening, wherein an end portion of the retainer structure is positioned within the first channel and spaced from the opening.

8. The console of claim 1 , further comprising:

the retainer structure including a base portion projecting from a bottom surface of the first channel towards the opening and including a hooked end portion opposite the bottom surface and angularly offset from the base portion.

9. The console of claim 8 , wherein the retainer structure is a substantially J-shaped member.

10. The console of claim 1 , wherein the engagement structure includes an inner portion defining a cavity and the retainer structure defines a projection that is receivable within at least a portion of the cavity.

11. The console of claim 1 , wherein engagement of the engagement structure of the tray member with the retainer structure restrains movement of the tray member in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

12. A console for use in a vehicle, the console comprising:

a compartment defined by a first wall and a second wall that are spaced apart from one another in a first direction;

a first channel disposed adjacent to the first wall, the first channel defining an opening oriented in an upward direction and including first and second end surfaces spaced apart along the first channel;

a second channel disposed adjacent to the second wall, the second channel defining an opening oriented in an upward direction and including first and second end surfaces spaced apart along the second channel;

a plurality of retainer structures disposed within the first channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces of the first channel; and

a tray member having a plurality of engagement structures configured to be received within the first channel, with at least a portion of the tray member configured to be received within the second channel, the tray member is positionable within the compartment such that each of the plurality of engagement structures is received within the first channel and engages at least one of the plurality of retainer structures to restrain movement of the tray member along the first channel toward both of the first end surface of the first channel and the second end surface of the first channel.

13. The console of claim 12 , further comprising:

the plurality of retainer structures including a first pair of laterally spaced apart retainer structures disposed within the first channel and a second pair of laterally spaced apart retainer structures disposed within the first channel; and

the plurality of engagement structures including a first pair of spaced apart engagement structures configured to be received within the first channel;

wherein the tray member is positionable within the compartment in a first position where the first pair of engagement structures is received within the first channel and engages the first pair of retainer structures and is positionable within the compartment in a second position where the first pair of engagement structures is received within the first channel and engages the second pair of retainer structures.

14. The console of claim 13 , wherein the compartment is further defined by a third wall and a fourth wall that are spaced apart from one another in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein a first space is defined between the tray member and the third wall when the tray member is in the first position, and wherein a second space is defined between the tray member and the fourth wall when the tray member is in the second position.

15. The console of claim 13 , further comprising:

a third pair of laterally spaced apart retainer structures disposed within the second channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces of the second channel and a fourth pair of laterally spaced apart retainer structures disposed within the second channel and spaced from the first and second end surfaces of the second channel; and

the tray member having a second pair of spaced apart engagement structures configured to be received within the second channel,

wherein the second pair of spaced apart engagement structures of the tray member are disposed within the second channel and are engaged with the third pair of retainer structures when the tray member is in the first position, and wherein the second pair of spaced apart engagement structures of the tray member are disposed within the second channel and are engaged with the fourth pair of retainer structures when the tray member is in the second position.

16. The console of claim 12 , wherein the tray member is positionable within the compartment such that the tray member is spaced apart from both the first and second end surfaces of the first channel when each of the plurality of engagement structures is received within the first channel and engages at least one of the plurality of retainer structures.

17. The console of claim 12 , further comprising:

each of the plurality of retainer structures projecting from the first channel towards the opening defined by the first channel, wherein an end portion of each of the plurality of retainer structures is positioned within the first channel and spaced from the opening defined by the first channel.

18. The console of claim 12 , further comprising:

each of the plurality of retainer structures including a base portion projecting from a bottom surface of the first channel towards the opening defined by the first channel and including a hooked end portion opposite the bottom surface and angularly offset from the base portion.

19. The console of claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of retainer structures are substantially J-shaped members.

20. The console of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement structures includes a respective inner portion defining a cavity and each of the plurality of retainer structures defines a projection that is receivable within at least a portion of the corresponding cavity.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2013
From: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 031440/0936 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2012
From: SPITLER, NICHOLAS; TAKEUCHI, NOBUTAKA
To: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 028514/0392 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2012
From: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 028514/0447 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12718334 · Mar 5, 2010
Related Publication 20120261936A1 · Oct 18, 2012