The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2003
Kenneth Clark, Howell, MI (US);
Richard S. Duff, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Craig Flowerday, Holland, MI (US);
Kenneth Clark, Howell, MI (US);
Richard S. Duff, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Craig Flowerday, Holland, MI (US);
Johnson Controls Technology Company, Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
A low profile floor console for a vehicle includes a pair of end walls. In a lowered position, the console permits pass through between two spaced apart vehicle seats. When raised, fabric or netting attached, together with the end walls define a storage area. In the preferred embodiment, an add-on module fits over the raised end walls to provide a rigid storage area, and additional functionality, such as a tray, a power port, cup holders, change bins, and the like. The lid of the module may be configured for sliding or pivotal movement to allow access to the interior thereof. Also in the preferred embodiment, the floor console is constructed to trim out a parking brake assembly. In various alternate embodiments, the floor console end walls may be constructed to provide additional functionality, such as internal map pockets, and the console system may be arranged for use at different locations within the vehicle, such as in the cargo area. The add-on console modules may additionally provide a variety of functionality besides storage, such as a cooler, a kid's module, a baby module, an infotainment module, a work module, and the like. Two or more of the floor consoles of the present invention may be used between different seating rows within a vehicle or at other locations in the vehicle.