Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Chae An

Jonathan Joseph Quijano

Vikram Chopra

James Lee Belanger

Benjamin Warren Penner

Robert Anthony Porcs

Kerry Scott Zellner, Jr

Stefan Young

A vehicle console assembly includes a console housing including a storage compartment including a floor, a front wall, a rear wall and opposite side walls that extend between the front wall and the end wall defining a storage volume. A device charging tray includes a floor, a front wall, a rear wall and opposite side walls that extend between the front wall and the rear wall defining a storage volume. The device charging tray includes a raised support boss that extends out of the floor at the front wall. The raised support boss reduces a distance between the floor and an edge of the front wall. The raised support boss is located to support a mobile computing device positioned within the storage volume of the device charging tray spaced from the floor.

Vehicle console assemblies with device charging trays including electronic device support features

A cup holder assembly for a console assembly of a vehicle includes a cover, a housing, a light source, a support frame, and a light emitting assembly. The cover includes an exterior surface, an opposite interior surface, and an opening extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The housing includes an open ended receptacle. The housing is connected to the interior surface of the cover such that the opening permits access to the open ended receptacle. The support frame is connected to at least one of the cover and the housing. The light emitting assembly is positioned between the interior surface of the cover and the support frame. The light emitting assembly is oriented to emit light outwardly away from the exterior surface of the cover.

Cup holder assemblies having light emitting assemblies for console assemblies of vehicles

An automobile console assembly comprising a center console housing, a lid assembly that mechanically interfaces with the console housing. The lid assembly is moveable relative to the console housing between an open configuration and a closed configuration. An adhesive buffer strip passes between the console housing and the lid assembly with the lid assembly in the closed configuration.

Console assemblies with lid assembly damping features

An instrument panel assembly having structure designed to restrict the motion of a panel member of the instrument panel assembly in certain situations, such as airbag deployment is disclosed. A panel member is secured to the instrument panel main body. A primary alignment post extends from the back surface of the panel member and includes a retention notch. The retention notch catches on a first edge of a first aperture of the instrument panel and restricts the motion of the panel member when a force of the second type is applied.

Datum to provide additional retention force

An instrument panel assembly and method for assembling an instrument panel assembly are provided. The instrument panel assembly and method of assembling is configured so as to center a front face of an electrical component within a second opening of a cover. The method and instrument panel assembly utilize a deformable rib configured to set the angular position of the front face of the electrical component by adjusting an alignment hole of a bracket to fit the widened rib. Thus, the instrument panel may be manufactured in a repeatable manner so as to allow for the mass production of instrument panel assemblies wherein the front face of the electrical component is centered with respect to the second opening of the cover.

Instrument panel assembly and method of assembling an instrument panel assembly

An illuminating apparatus and method for an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle including, in combination, a panel, a manual operation element mounted to the panel, and a hidden light source mounted behind the panel providing indirect light directed along a path extending downwardly across a visible surface of the panel through an aperture in the panel. A bezel can be associated with the manual operation element. The bezel can define an edge with a reflective surface. The bezel is located on the visible surface of the panel within the path of indirect light. The edge reflects indirect light from the hidden light source to be visible to occupants of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Interior automotive components with illuminated reflective surface

An instrument panel assembly for a motor vehicle includes a panel member, a first conduit, a second conduit and a gasket disposed between the first and second conduit. The panel member has a vent for directing air toward a window in the vehicle. The first conduit has a first end that provides air to the vent and a second end with a peripheral wall forming an inlet. The second conduit has an outlet that provides air to the inlet and a flange that extends outwardly from the outlet and includes a support surface that supports a gasket for sealing an interface between the outlet and the inlet. The second conduit has a lip that extends outwardly from the support surface of the flange and supports the gasket to prevent deformation of the gasket during assembly of the first conduit and second conduit.

Motor vehicle instrument panel assembly having a conduit with a gasket support lip

An instrument panel is provided for use in a vehicle interior. The instrument panel includes an outer surface, a vent and a step. The vent is arranged along the outer surface to direct forced air toward a specific area of a window in the vehicle. The step is formed along the outer surface of the instrument panel to promote formation of a turbulent buffer that reduces adhesion between air exiting the vent and the outer surface.

Instrument panel vent

An instrument panel assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first component, a second component and a frame. The first component has a first aperture. The second component has a second aperture. The frame has a main wall. The frame includes a generally cylindrical boss extending outwardly from the main wall. The boss has an outer surface. The boss has a bore aligned with the first aperture of the first component to receive a fastener therethrough to secure the first component to the frame. The boss extends through the second aperture of the second component such that the outer surface locates the second component relative to the frame along a plane generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the boss. The second component is disposed between the first component and the frame so as to be constrained along the longitudinal axis of the boss.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Chae An