Patent Application
20170324853
This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to an apparatus for storing and deploying a cell phone that may be fully and seamlessly integrated into the interior of a motor vehicle.
The use of cell phones and smart phones by the consuming public is wide spread. Cell phones and cell phone charging cables are currently the two most commonly carried items by users of motor vehicles. Thus, providing consumers with a modular storage feature that is easily accessible to occupants of the vehicle is a very important step towards embracing global technology.
A large percentage of the cell phone storage solutions that are offered today are aftermarket and do not integrate seamlessly into the motor vehicle environment. Studies have indicated that the drivers who use their devices in motor vehicles rate the front row cup holders in the center console as a preferred device storage location even if alternate compartments are provided.
This document relates to a new and improved apparatus dedicated to storing and deploying a cell phone from many drivers' most desired location in a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a retractable cell phone tray that conveniently holds the cell phone at a desired angle when in a deployed position and is also easily retracted into a storage position where the cell phone is hidden within the center console. Advantageously, the apparatus also supports integrated wireless inductive charging of smart phone devices through an inductive charging module.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, an apparatus is provided for storing and deploying a cell phone. That apparatus comprises a guide track, a carriage displaceable along the guide track between a storage position and a deployed position and a drive element. The drive element displaces the carriage from the storage position to the deployed position. In addition, a damping mechanism is provided to ensure that the carriage moves along the guide track with a smooth motion.
The damping mechanism may include a first gear rack carried on the guide track and a first pinion mounted for rotation on the carriage. Further, the damping mechanism may include a second gear rack carried on the guide track and a second pinion mounted for rotation on the carriage. The second gear rack may be opposed to the first gear rack.
The carriage may include a cell phone tray that receives and holds the cell phone. That cell phone tray may include an inductive cell phone charger so that a smart cell phone may be charged in both the storage position and the deployed position. The cell phone tray may also include an integral angled cover. The integral angled cover may fit flush with a surface of a center console of a motor vehicle when the carriage is in the storage position.
The drive element may comprise a spring such as a constant force spring. That constant force spring may be connected at a first end to the guide track and at a second end to the carriage.
Still further, the apparatus may include a push-push locking mechanism for locking the carriage in the storage position.
Stated another way, the apparatus for storing and deploying a cell phone may comprise a guide track, a carriage displaceable along the guide track between a storage position and a deployed position and a spring for displacing the carriage from the storage position to the deployed position. Further, the apparatus may include a push-push locking mechanism for locking the carriage in a storage position.
In such an embodiment, the spring may comprise a constant force spring having a first end connected to the guide track and a second end connected to the carriage.
In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the apparatus for storing and deploying a cell phone. As it should be realized, the apparatus is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the apparatus as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the apparatus and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the apparatus for storing and deploying a cell phone, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
Reference is now made to
More specifically, the guide track 14 comprises two opposed rails 22, 24 and two cross-members 26, 28 that are fixed to the console or other support structure. The carriage 16 includes a slider 30 that is generally rectangular in shape and has a central opening 32 so that the slider may be received over the guide track 14 with the opposed lugs 33 on the slider sliding along outwardly opening channels 35 in the two rails 22, 24. See
In addition, the carriage 16 includes a cell phone tray 34 that is pivotally connected by pins (bistable hinges) 36 to the slider 30. As best illustrated in
An inductive cell phone charger 42 is carried on the rear face of the cell phone tray 34 (see
As illustrated in
As best illustrated in
As best illustrated in
The damping mechanism 20 includes a first gear rack 58 carried on the rail 22 and a second, opposed gear rack 60 carried on the rail 24. A first pinion 62 is mounted by stub shaft 64 to the slider 30. Similarly, a second pinion 66 is mounted a stub shaft 68 to the slider 30. The first pinion 62 engages with the teeth of the first gear rack 58 while the second pinion 66 engages with the teeth of the second rack 60.
A push-push locking mechanism 74 of a type known in the art functions to lock the carriage 16 in the storage position illustrated in
When one wishes to deploy the carriage 16 in order to gain access to the cell phone 12 held on the cell phone tray 34 and concealed in the compartment 50 within the center console 48, one pushes down on the cover 44 and then releases the cover. This unlatches the locking mechanism 74 and allows the constant force spring 18 to drive the carriage 16 from the storage position illustrated in
As the carriage 16 rises toward the deployed position, the weight of the cell phone tray 34 and the cell phone 12 causes the cell phone tray 34 to pivot forward about the pivot pins 36 until the carriage reaches the fully deployed position and the beveled support 52 at the end of the integral angled cover 44 engages and rests on the top surface 46 of the center console 48 as illustrated in
When one subsequently wishes to displace the carriage 16 from the deployed position back to the stowed position illustrated in
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
