Sliding Vehicle Storage Console for Front and Rear Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle storage console designs are bulky and inefficient, failing to provide adequate storage access for both front and rear passengers, especially in vehicles with limited space.

Innovation Solution

A compact storage console with a sliding housing that can be moved between two positions, allowing simultaneous access to storage compartments by both front and rear passengers, and featuring a foldable armrest unit to configure a tray for holding articles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a sliding mechanism or secondary storage compartment is provided on the centre console to make it accessible to second-row passengers, then accessibility for rear passengers is improved, but the centre console assembly becomes complex and bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for rear passengersVSAvoidcentre console assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage console is divided into a fixed central console portion and a movable sliding console portion. The sliding console can be independently moved by rear passengers to access storage compartments, while the fixed console remains stable and simple in structure. This segmentation allows rear accessibility without making the entire assembly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a telescopic sliding console is provided that extends behind the seat, then storage accessibility for rear passengers is improved, but the arrangement consumes more space and becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage accessibilityVSAvoidspace consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding console is designed to be movable along guide rails rather than fixed or telescopic. It can be dynamically positioned by users to access storage compartments at different locations. This dynamic design provides accessibility without requiring the console to extend significantly behind the seat, thus reducing space consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the storage console is arranged to be accessible only for front row passengers, then the structure remains simple and compact, but accessibility for rear row passengers is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidaccessibility for front and rear passengers
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is segmented into multiple independent storage compartments distributed along the console length. Front passengers can access compartments in the fixed console area, while rear passengers can access compartments in the sliding console area. This segmentation allows both groups to access storage simultaneously without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding console acts as an intermediary element between the fixed console and rear passengers. It provides a simple mechanical interface that rear passengers can operate to access storage, without requiring complex automated mechanisms or significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4349655B1A storage console for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 FAURECIA INDIA PTE LTD
  • EP4349655B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4349655B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4349655B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a storage console (100) for a vehicle. The storage console (100) has atleast one storage unit (110) arranged adjacent/beside a front row seat of the vehicle. The storage unit (110) is partially enclosed by a housing (200). The housing (200) is slidably arranged on the storage unit (110) to slide linearly along a longitudinal plane of the storage unit (110) between a first position (200a) and a second position. The housing (200) has a lid (220) for covering the storage unit (110). The lid (220) is moveable along with the housing (200) when the housing (200) moves between first position (200a) and second position. The lid (220) is movably arranged on a portion of the housing (200), in the first position (200a) of the housing (200) the lid (220) pivot around a pivotal axis to provide access to the storage unit (110).