Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.

Johnson Controls Technology Company

Other

Randy Len Arendsen

Adam R Gofton

Tyler Tucker Grab

Rick A Anderson

Thomas Scott Hodgson

James Lucien Diem

Bryan L Thieme

Bryan Todd Jones

Dennis Jack VanHouten

Rodney J Tindall

Mark John Bussis

Steven M Spoerre

Eric Charles Asselin

Theron J Hicks

Chad Wernicke

Michael D Verkaik

Michael H Weiss

Kathleen M Pacheco

Art Vonderwell

A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a base comprising a bin; a cover moveable from a closed to an open position through an unlatched position; and a mechanism moveable to an extended position to prevent the cover from opening when subjected to an inertial force. The mechanism may hold the cover in a blocked position partially uncovering the bin. The mechanism may be re-set by opening the cover. The mechanism may comprise a blocker to prevent the cover from moving from the unlatched position to the open position. The cover may comprise a cam surface configured to move the blocker to re-set the mechanism and allow the cover to open. The cover may comprise an interface/bottom surface accessible when the cover is blocked by the mechanism. The component may comprise a console; storage compartment; instrument panel; floor console; or center console.

Vehicle interior component

A vehicle interior component comprising a cover rotatably coupled to a base at a pivot joint is disclosed. The component may comprise a mechanism comprising a projection engaging a first surface when the cover is closed and engaging a ramp as the cover is rotated between closed and open positions. The pivot joint may comprise an axle to provide an axis of rotation. The pivot joint may comprise the projection on the axle. One of the projection and the ramp may slide along the other as the cover opens and/or closes. The mechanism may comprise a cam surface and a follower. The base and/or cover may flex at the pivot joint. The cover may comprise a door, bin or sunglass bin. The component may comprise a console, center stack/console, floor console, overhead console, instrument panel, door panel, etc.

A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a bin coupled to a base and a seat comprising a tab to retain a shaft in an aperture for rotation of the bin. The tab may contact the shaft along a plane adjacent to the shaft. The tab may retain/apply a force to the shaft at a tangent of the shaft. The tab may contact a protrusion in response to engagement of the shaft and tab. The tab may comprise a set of opposing sides; one side may contact the shaft; the other side may contact the protrusion. The tab may extend from the base in an extended direction; the tab may contact the shaft along a plane aligned with the extended direction; the tab may apply force to the shaft transverse to the extended direction. The tab may rotate when engaged with the shaft.

A vehicle interior component comprising a cover rotatably coupled to a base is disclosed. The component may comprise a mechanism comprising a feature on the base and a feature on the cover. When the cover is closed, the feature on the cover may axially align with the feature on the base. The feature on the base may disengage the feature on the cover when the cover opens and may engage the feature on the cover when the cover closes. The mechanism may comprise a cam mechanism comprising a cam surface and a follower. The mechanism may comprise a pivot joint. The pivot joint may comprise a set of projections to provide an axis of cover rotation. The pivot joint may comprise a projection and a ramp. The component may comprise a console, center stack/console, floor console, overhead console, instrument panel, door panel, etc.

A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a base, a shaft, a seat for the shaft and a bin installed in the base for rotation relative to the base between closed and open positions. The bin may be installed by coupling of the shaft to the seat. The seat may comprise an aperture for the shaft and a tab to retain the shaft in the aperture for rotation of the bin by rotation of the shaft. The tab may comprise at least one of a flange; a flexible tab; a guide. The tab may comprise a flexible projection to retain the shaft into the aperture of the seat. The seat may comprise a slot; the tab may comprise a flexible guide adjacent the slot to nest the shaft in the aperture. The bin may comprise a sunglass holder; the component may comprise an overhead console.

A switch mechanism for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The switch mechanism may comprise a slide within a carrier, at least one pin movable within the slide to center the slide in the carrier and a spring to move the pin within the slide. The pin may comprise a protrusion movable against the slide to guide pin movement. The slide may comprise a rib; the protrusion may slide against the rib to guide pin movement. The rib may comprise two ribs; the protrusion may move between the two ribs. The spring may be contained within an opening in the slide; the rib may extend beyond the opening. The pin may comprise first and second guides to slide along first and second slide walls to guide pin movement. The vehicle interior component may be at least one of a console, an overhead console, a vehicle system actuator, a sunroof actuator.

Switch mechanism for a vehicle interior component

An assembly configured to be installed in a vehicle interior is disclosed. The assembly may comprise a base configured for attachment at the attachment point in the vehicle interior and a component coupled to the base configured for movement relative to the base from (a) a storage (or shipping) position wherein the attachment feature is accessible for attachment of the base to the vehicle interior to (b) an installed (or pivot) position wherein the component blocks the attachment feature. The component may comprise a set of members or tabs configured to move from a biased position to retain the component in the storage position to a deflected position to allow movement of the component from the storage position to the installed position. The member may comprise a recess and/or ribs configured to facilitate retention of the component in the storage position. The base may comprise a set of guides and a set of notches; the component may comprises a set of protrusions or pins configured so that the component may slide within guides as the component is moved between the storage position (e.g. in the recesses) and the installed position (e.g. in the notches). The base and the component may be shipped together and installed into the vehicle interior as a unit; the component may be movable from the storage/shipping position to the installed/pivot position after installation into the vehicle interior. The component may pivot or rotate relative to the base in use. The component may comprises a cover, a lens, a button, a door, a cover with lens, a lens assembly, a door on a hinge, a cover on a hinge, etc. A method of installing a console providing a base and a cover providing a lens to a vehicle interior is also disclosed.

Console assembly

A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a housing comprising a tab and a cover coupled to the housing for movement between a closed position and an open position. The tab may exert a force against the cover when closed. The tab may be integrally formed with the housing. The tab may comprise a first portion coupled to the housing and a second portion comprising an arcuate protrusion to exert the force against the cover. The component may comprise a latch to secure the cover to the housing when closed. The tab may prevent latch disengagement. The tab may comprise a leaf spring. The component may comprise a biasing member coupled to the housing to exert a force against the cover through the tab when the cover is closed. The component may comprise a storage assembly, a sunglass bin or a console.

A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The vehicle interior component is an overhead console assembly for a vehicle interior. The overhead console may comprise a bezel/base and a storage member coupled to the bezel. The storage member is configured to move between a retracted/closed position and an extended/open position. The bezel provides a resilient member to aid/facilitate installation/attachment of the storage member to the bezel.

A console assembly including a frame and a door is disclosed. The door includes a storage compartment in which an article may be stored. The door is coupled to the frame for movement to the frame between a closed position in which the storage compartment is inaccessible, an opened position in which the storage compartment is accessible to store or remove the article and an intermediate position between the closed position and the opened position. The console assembly further includes a spring coupled to the frame and/or the door and a cam surface on the frame or the door that engages the spring. The spring is compressed by the cam surface when the door is in the opened position to move the door toward the intermediate position.

Lighting devices for a vehicle are disclosed that can include a light emitting diode and control circuitry for the light emitting diode. Also disclosed are circuits for a light emitting diode. Additionally, a method of forming a lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device, circuits, and method can be used, for example, to illuminate the interior of a vehicle.

Lighting devices

A visor mounting assembly includes a detent spring extending over an end of a visor rod projecting through a mounting bracket and engaging a detent on an end of the visor rod to detent the visor when moved from a front windshield position to a side window position at a location allowing clearance of a side curtain air bag. A detent spring includes a pair of orthogonally integrally joined U-shaped members defining vertically spaced horizontally extending floors, each having apertures aligned for receiving a visor rod end and vertically extending walls coupled to the horizontally extending floors for engaging the sides of a visor rod extending through apertures. One assembly includes a visor rod with a keyed end for lockably receiving a stop member which cooperates with a visor mounting bracket when the visor is moved from a front windshield position to a side window position, limiting its movement.

Growing community of inventors

Zeeland, MI, United States of America

Randy Len Arendsen