Vehicle console

Abstract

To provide a vehicle console which enables improvement of convenience of a table.SOLUTION: A vehicle console 20 is provided adjacent to vehicle seats 12, 13 in a width direction of the vehicle seats 12, 13 and includes: a console body 21; an armrest 40 which is provided so as to be slidable relative to the console body 21; and a table 50 housed in the armrest 40. The armrest 40 is configured so as to be slidable, independently from the table 50, between a first position where the armrest 40 houses the table 50 and a second position which is located at the rear relative to the first position in a front-back direction of the vehicle seats 12, 13 and where the armrest 40 exposes the table 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle console.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an armrest. This armrest includes a storage recess and a lid that can open and close an opening at the upper part of the storage recess. A table is assembled to the lid. The table is configured to be switchable between a storage position where it is housed inside the lid and a use position where it slides forward from the storage position and is exposed from the lid.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in recent years, vehicle consoles have functional components such as a small item storage area for placing items and a cup holder in front of the armrest. When applying the above-described conventional armrest to such a console, for example, the following problems occur. That is, since switching the table from the storage position to the use position is realized by sliding the table forward, it becomes difficult to switch to the use position when the table interferes with an item. Therefore, there is a risk that the convenience of the table will decrease.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle console that can improve the convenience of a table.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] Each aspect of a vehicle console for solving the above problems will be described. [Aspect 1] A vehicle console provided adjacent to a vehicle seat in the width direction of the vehicle seat, comprising a console body, an armrest slidably provided with respect to the console body, and a table housed inside the armrest, wherein the armrest is configured to slide independently of the table between a first position housing the table and a second position located further back than the first position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat, exposing the table.

[0007] With the above configuration, the armrest slides independently of the table from the first position to the second position, exposing the table from the armrest. Therefore, even if there are items or other objects in front of the armrest in the first position, the table can be easily switched from a stored state where it is housed inside the armrest to a usable state where it is exposed from the armrest. Thus, the convenience of the table can be improved.

[0008] [Aspect 2] A vehicle console according to [Aspect 1], comprising a lid including the armrest and the table, wherein the console body has an opening on the upper surface of the console body and a recess through which articles can be inserted and removed, and the lid is rotatably provided between a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening.

[0009] With the above configuration, when the lid is in the open position, items can be inserted and removed through the opening of the recess. When the lid is in the closed position, items are held in a stored state within the recess. Therefore, the console body can be given the function of storing items.

[0010] [Aspect 3] The vehicle console according to [Aspect 2], wherein the lid is configured to rotate between the closed position and the open position regardless of whether the armrest is in a position between the first position and the second position.

[0011] With the above configuration, the lid can be rotated between the closed and open positions regardless of the position of the armrest. Therefore, the convenience of the vehicle console can be improved compared to, for example, a case where the lid can only be rotated between the closed and open positions when the armrest is in a predetermined position between the first and second positions.

[0012] [Aspect 4] The vehicle console according to [Aspect 2] or [Aspect 3], wherein the lid is rotatably supported on the console body about an axis extending in the width direction and is provided with a hinge member that rotates about the axis to allow the lid to rotate between the closed position and the open position, and the armrest is slidably supported in the front-rear direction by the hinge member.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the lid can be rotated between the closed and open positions by a hinge member that is rotatably supported on the console body about an axis extending in the width direction. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, the hinge member supports the armrest so that it can slide in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the number of parts in the lid can be reduced compared to the case where a separate member for supporting the armrest is provided in the lid.

[0014] [Aspect 5] The vehicle console according to [Aspect 4], wherein the table is supported by the hinge member.

[0015] According to the above configuration, the armrest and table are each supported by hinge members. Therefore, the number of parts in the lid can be further reduced compared to the case where separate members supporting the armrest and table are provided on the lid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the convenience of tables can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a vehicle console. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the table is exposed for the vehicle console of Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a state where the lid is rotated from the state of Figure 4 to the open position. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the table is pulled forward from the state of Figure 3.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle console will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle 10 is defined as the front, and the reverse direction as the rear. Also, the up-down direction means the up-down direction of the vehicle 10, and the left-right direction is the vehicle width direction and coincides with the left-right direction when the vehicle 10 is moving forward.

[0019] <Vehicle console 20> As shown in FIG. 1, in the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10, a pair of vehicle seats 12 and 13 as front seats are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The right vehicle seat 12 functions as a driver's seat, and an occupant (driver) sits here. The left vehicle seat 13 functions as a passenger seat, and an occupant (passenger) sits here.

[0020] The vehicle seats 12 and 13 are positioned with their seatbacks facing forward. The front-to-back direction of the vehicle seats 12 and 13, when positioned in this manner, coincides with the front-to-back direction of the vehicle 10. In addition, the width direction of the vehicle seats 12 and 13 coincides with the left-to-right direction.

[0021] Between the vehicle seats 12 and 13, a vehicle console (also called a center console, floor console, etc.) 20 is installed, which functions as a box-shaped storage area. In other words, the vehicle console 20 is provided adjacent to each of the vehicle seats 12 and 13 in the left-right direction.

[0022] In the following explanations of the various parts of the vehicle console 20, the central part in the left-right direction (the width direction of the vehicle seats 12 and 13) will be used as the reference point. Within the left-right direction, the direction approaching the center will be referred to as "inside," "inward," or "inner side," while the direction moving away from the center will be referred to as "outside," "outward," or "outer side."

[0023] The vehicle console 20 comprises a console body 21 and a lid 30. The following provides a detailed explanation of each component. <Console Unit 21> As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the console body 21 is a component of the skeletal structure of the vehicle console 20, and is formed, for example, from a resin material, in a shape that is more elongated in the front-to-back direction than in the left-to-right direction.

[0024] The left and right sides of the console body 21 are formed by outer wall portions 22. Inner wall portions 23 are formed at spaced-apart locations on the inside of each outer wall portion 22. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a recess 25 with an opening 25a is provided between the two inner wall portions 23 on the upper surface 21a of the console body 21. The recess 25 allows items to be inserted and removed through the opening 25a.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a recess 26 is provided between the two inner wall portions 23 at a location adjacent to the recess 25 in front, with an opening 26a on its upper surface 21a. Small items and other objects can be inserted into and removed from the recess 26 through the opening 26a. The area of ​​the opening 26a is smaller than the area of ​​the opening 25a. Furthermore, the volume of the recess 26 is smaller than the volume of the recess 25.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an upper wall portion 24 is formed in a large portion of the area between the upper ends of adjacent outer wall portions 22 and inner wall portions 23, in the front-to-back direction. <Lid 30> As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lid 30 is attached to the console body 21 and opens and closes the opening 25a, and includes a hinge member 31, an armrest 40, and a table 50. Hereafter, the position in which the lid 30 closes the opening 25a will be referred to as the closed position (see Figure 1), and the position in which the lid 30 opens the opening 25a will be referred to as the open position (see Figure 6).

[0027] <Hinge member 31> As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the hinge member 31 comprises a base portion 32 and a support portion 37. The base portion 32 has a bottom plate portion 33 at its bottom, which has a rectangular shape in plan view. The bottom plate portion 33 constitutes the bottom surface of the lid 30.

[0028] The base portion 32 has a pair of side plate portions 34 on both sides in the left-right direction (see Figure 2). An inner lateral rail 35 is formed on the upper part of the inner surface of each side plate portion 34, having an inner lateral guide groove 35a that extends in the front-rear direction. Each inner lateral guide groove 35a is open toward the inside.

[0029] On the lower part of the outer surface of each side plate portion 34, there are multiple locations in the front-to-back direction, for example, two locations, each having a projection 36 that protrudes outward. As shown in Figure 3, the support portion 37 is connected to the rear end of the bottom plate portion 33. The support portion 37 is rotatably supported on the console body 21 about an axis 38 extending in the left-right direction. More specifically, the support portion 37 is supported between the two inner wall portions 23 of the console body 21.

[0030] The hinge member 31 rotates around the axis 38 via the support portion 37, thereby allowing the lid 30 to rotate between a closed position and an open position. A latch mechanism 39 is provided below the front of the base 32. The latch mechanism 39 is configured to lock the lid 30 to the console body 21 when the lid 30 is in the closed position, thereby restricting the rotation of the lid 30 around the axis 38. The latch mechanism 39 is also configured to allow the lid 30 to rotate around the axis 38 when the lock is released.

[0031] <Armrest 40> As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the frame of the armrest 40 comprises an armrest inner 41 and an armrest outer 44 that covers the armrest inner 41. A pad 45 is placed on top of the armrest outer 44. Furthermore, the armrest outer 44 and the pad 45 are covered with a surface material 46.

[0032] The armrest inner 41 has a pair of side plates 42 on both sides in the left-right direction (see Figure 2). An outer lateral rail 43 is formed on the lower part of the inner surface of each side plate 42, having an outer lateral guide groove 43a that extends in the front-rear direction. Each outer lateral guide groove 43a is open toward the inside. The projection 36 of the hinge member 31 is inserted into each outer lateral guide groove 43a. As a result, the armrest 40 is supported by the hinge member 31 so that it can slide in the front-rear direction.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the armrest 40 is configured to slide between a first position and a second position (see Figure 4) which is further back than the first position in the front-rear direction, by changing the relative position of the projection 36 with respect to the outer transverse guide groove 43a in the armrest inner 41.

[0034] In the first position, almost the entire armrest 40 is positioned above the base 32 of the hinge member 31 (see Figure 3). In the second position, the front part of the armrest 40 is positioned above the rear part of the base 32 (see Figure 5).

[0035] Here, Figures 6 and 7 show the state in which the lid 30 is rotated from the closed position to the open position when the armrest 40 is in the second position. The armrest 40 and the console body 21 are configured so that they do not interfere with each other when the lid 30 rotates around the axis 38, regardless of whether the armrest 40 is in any position between the first and second positions (see Figure 7). As a result, the lid 30 can rotate between the closed position and the open position regardless of whether the armrest 40 is in any position between the first and second positions.

[0036] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the table 50 comprises an upper table 51 and a lower table 52 arranged vertically relative to each other, and is formed by joining the two.

[0037] Table 50, in a plan view, has a rectangular shape with dimensions greater in the front-to-back direction than in the left-to-right direction. On both the left and right sides of the table 50, there are protrusions 53 that project outward.

[0038] The projection 53 is inserted into the inner lateral guide groove 35a of the inner lateral rail 35. This causes the table 50 to be supported by the hinge member 31. As shown in Figure 3, the table 50 is positioned almost entirely above the base 32.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the table 50 is configured to be switchable between a retracted state in which it is housed inside the armrest 40 and a usage state in which the upper surface exposed from the armrest 40 is made available as a table surface (see Figure 4).

[0040] When the table 50 is in the retracted state, it is housed between the armrest 40 and the base 32 of the hinge member 31. The entire table 50 is covered from above by the armrest 40 in the first position (see Figure 3). When the table 50 is in use, the rear of the table 50 is covered by the armrest 40 in the second position, and the front of the table 50 is exposed (see Figure 5). As described above, in this embodiment, the switching between the retracted state and the use state of the table 50 is performed by the armrest 40 sliding between the first and second positions independently of the table 50.

[0041] Next, the effects and advantages of this embodiment will be described. (1) The vehicle console 20 is equipped with an armrest 40 that is slidably mounted on the console body 21.

[0042] With this configuration, the occupant can rest their elbow on the armrest 40, thereby reducing the burden on the shoulder that supports the arm. (2) The armrest 40 is configured to slide independently of the table 50 between a first position that accommodates the table 50 and a second position that is further back than the first position in the front-rear direction and exposes the table 50.

[0043] With this configuration, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the armrest 40 slides independently of the table 50 from the first position to the second position, thereby exposing the table 50 from the armrest 40. Therefore, even if there are items or other objects in front of the armrest 40 in the first position, the table 50 can be easily switched from a stored state where it is housed inside the armrest 40 to a usable state where it is exposed from the armrest 40. Thus, the convenience of the table 50 can be improved.

[0044] (3) The console body 21 has an opening 25a on its upper surface 21a, and a recess 25 through which articles can be inserted and removed. The lid 30 is rotatably provided between a closed position that closes the opening 25a and an open position that opens the opening 25a.

[0045] With this configuration, when the lid 30 is in the open position, items can be inserted and removed through the opening 25a of the recess 25. When the lid 30 is in the closed position, items are held in a stored state within the recess 25. Therefore, the console body 21 can be given the function of storing items.

[0046] (4) The lid 30 is configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position regardless of whether the armrest 40 is in a position between the first position and the second position. With this configuration, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the lid 30 can be rotated between the closed and open positions regardless of the position of the armrest 40. Therefore, the convenience of the vehicle console 20 can be improved compared to, for example, a case where the lid 30 can only be rotated between the closed and open positions when the armrest 40 is in a predetermined position between the first and second positions.

[0047] (5) The lid 30 is rotatably supported on the console body 21 about an axis 38 extending in the left-right direction, and is equipped with a hinge member 31 that rotates around the axis 38, allowing the lid 30 to rotate between a closed position and an open position. The armrest 40 is slidably supported in the front-rear direction by the hinge member 31.

[0048] With this configuration, the lid 30 can be rotated between the closed and open positions by a hinge member 31 that is rotatably supported on the console body 21 around an axis 38 extending in the left-right direction. Furthermore, with this configuration, the hinge member 31 supports the armrest 40 so that it can slide in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the number of parts in the lid 30 can be reduced compared to a case where a separate member is provided on the lid 30 to support the armrest 40 in a slidable manner.

[0049] (6) The table 50 is supported by the hinge member 31. With this configuration, the armrest 40 and the table 50 are each supported by the hinge member 31. Therefore, the number of parts in the lid 30 can be further reduced compared to the case where separate members for supporting the armrest 40 and the table 50 are provided on the lid 30.

[0050] (7) A recess 26 is provided adjacent to the recess 25 in front of it, with an opening 26a on the upper surface 21a. With this configuration, small items or other objects can be placed inside the recess 26 through the opening 26a. In other words, the recess 26 can be used, for example, as a small item storage compartment.

[0051] <Example of changes> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0052] The table 50 may be configured to slide between the storage position shown in Figure 1 and a usage position (see Figure 8) that is forward of the storage position in the front-rear direction, by changing the position of the projection 53 relative to the inner lateral guide groove 35a.

[0053] With this configuration, as shown in Figure 8, by grasping the front end of the table 50 in the storage position and pulling it forward, the front part of the table 50 is exposed from the armrest 40 in the first position. Therefore, the upper surface of the front part of the table 50 can be used as a table surface. Furthermore, with the above configuration, by pulling the table 50 to the extended position, the opening 26a of the recess 26 is closed by the front part of the table 50. Therefore, the recess 26 can be provided with a function for storing small items.

[0054] The table 50 may be fixed to the hinge member 31. The table 50 is not limited to being supported by the hinge member 31. A separate member may be provided to support the table 50 relative to the lid 30.

[0055] The armrest 40 is not limited to being supported by the hinge member 31 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. A separate member may be provided to support the armrest 40 relative to the lid 30. Even in this case, the armrest 40 only needs to be configured to slide independently of the table 50 between the first position and the second position.

[0056] The lid 30 may be configured to rotate from the closed position to the open position only when the armrest 40 is in a predetermined position between the first position and the second position.

[0057] The recess 25 may be omitted from the console body 21. In this case, the lid 30 is not limited to being rotatable between a closed position and an open position by a hinge member 31, as illustrated in this embodiment. For example, the lid 30 may be mounted to the console body 21 in a non-rotatable manner without the hinge member 31. Even in this case, the armrest 40 only needs to be configured to slide in the front-rear direction between a first position and a second position.

[0058] The recessed portion 26 may be omitted from the console body 21. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10... Vehicles 11...Vehicle compartment 12, 13… Vehicle seats 20... Vehicle console 21…Console unit 21a…Top surface 22…Outer wall part 23…Inner wall part 24...Top wall part 25…recess 25a...Opening 26…recess 26a...Opening 30... Lid 31…Hinge component 32...Base 33…Bottom plate part 34…Side plate part 35...Inner lateral rail 35a...Internal lateral guide groove 36… protrusion 37...Support part 38…Axis line 39...Latch mechanism 40... Armrest 41... Armrest inner 42...Side plate part 43...Outer horizontal rail 43a... External transverse guide groove 44... Armrest Outer 45... pad 46…Skin material 50... Table 51… Upper Table 52...Lower Table 53… protrusion

Claims

1. A vehicle console provided adjacent to the vehicle seat in the width direction of the vehicle seat, A console body having an opening on its top surface and a recess through which articles can be inserted and removed, The console comprises an armrest slidably mounted on the console body, and a lid including a table housed inside the armrest, The lid is rotatably supported on the console body about an axis extending in the width direction, and further comprises a hinge member that rotates the lid between a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening by rotating about the axis. The armrest and the table are supported by the hinge member. The armrest is configured to slide independently of the table between a first position that houses the table and a second position that is located further back than the first position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat and exposes the table. Vehicle console.

2. The lid is configured to rotate between the closed position and the open position regardless of whether the armrest is in the position between the first position and the second position. A vehicle console according to claim 1.

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