Prince Corporation

Scott S Bainbridge

David J Spykerman

Nathan W Young

Russell P Shafer

James Theodore Hotary

David B Busch

Jay M Frankhouse

Dale J Frye

Robert B Bieri

John K Barlow

An apparatus for holding containers in a vehicle includes a base attachable to a vehicle, and a container holder member movably attached to the base for forming a container holder aperture over the base. An ashtray receptacle and an ashtray cover are integrated into the base, and one or two container holder members are movably mounted to the base on either side of the ashtray receptacle. The container holder members are extendable to form a container holder aperture over tile ashtray receptacle with the ashtray cover supporting the bottom of a container placed in the container holder aperture. The container holder members are also retractable to a storage position in the base for aesthetics. The base can be modular and retrofittably installed into a storage compartment in an existing vehicle armrest or console, or can be installed as original equipment. The container holder members are pivotally mounted on the ashtray cover, and are pivotable about a 90.degree. arc for movement between a storage position and a storage arm supporting position on the base. In another embodiment, a double container holder that extends longitudinally along the upper surface of an armrest or console. The double container holder pivots about an axis that extends through the container holder apertures defined by the container holder so that the container holder remains positioned over the armrest/console at all times.

Compact container holder

A console includes a housing which attaches to the underlying frame of a seat and moves with the seat such that it positions the console in fixed relationship to the occupant of the seat as the seat may be moved to different positions for different passengers or drivers. In one embodiment, the housing is L-shaped to provide storage along one side of the seat as well as along the front. In one embodiment the side of the housing includes an adjustable strap for holding articles such as a briefcase, purse or satchel to the side of the console. At least one storage bin which may or may not be covered is positioned for access from above.

Console

A container holder includes a support having a recess therein, a cover assembly pivotally mounted to the support member and adapted to cover the recess and provide at least a portion of a container support floor when in an open position. In a preferred embodiment the support member includes a floor which is aligned with the floor of the cover assembly to support a container thereon. In a preferred embodiment also, a pair of collapsable arms extend from the cover assembly and move between a use position for supporting the sides of a container and a collapsed stored position in the recess when the cover assembly is in a closed position.

Container holder

An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory such as an overhead console to a vehicle opening such as a sunroof opening includes a pair of spaced, opposed mounting sockets being adjustable with respect to one another to span and engage opposite lower edges of the vehicle opening. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the sockets is mounted on a rail which is telescopically adjustable with respect to the other socket and an incrementally adjustable locking mechanism allows the sockets to be finally locked into compression for removably holding the console in place. The sockets, in a preferred embodiment, include concave sockets with relatively thin upper members to engage the sunroof opening without interfering with its normal operation.

Overhead console for a vehicle with a sunroof

A switch assembly includes a housing with facing mounting surfaces on which opposed facing switches are mounted. In one embodiment, three spaced generally planar mounting members extended between end supports with actuating levers extending in the two spaces between each of the horizontally extending mounting members. Mounted in facing relationship on opposing surfaces are switches such that an actuating lever extending into a space between the opposing surfaces engage a first switch when moved in a first direction and a second switch when moved in a second direction. The actuating levers are, in the preferred embodiment, pivotally coupled by axles means to end walls supporting the switch mounting members so that they can be moved in first and second directions for actuating the associated first or second switch with each of the levers. The intermediate partition member or wall can include one or more switches on both upper and lower surfaces while the lower member or floor can contain a single one or a row of switches as can the inside of the top surface. As a result there can exist four switches in vertical alignment, while the elongated planar support members can similarly carry a plurality of horizontally spaced switches. Such an arrangement, therefore, provides for vertical and horizontally stacking of switches with the levers being mounted on offset pivot axles and coupled to relatively elongated actuating bars for ease of operation.

Growing community of inventors

Byron Center, MI, United States of America

Scott S Bainbridge