Claims:We Claim:
1. A Storage box (100) for a vehicle interior, comprising:
a housing (13);
a movable element (10) arranged on the housing (13) and movable between a closed position (200) and an open position (300);
wherein the movable element (10) has a wall portion (11a) and two flap elements (11b, 11c) arranged at opposite sides of the wall portion (11a),
wherein in the closed position (200) of the movable element (10), the wall portion (11a) and the two flap elements (11b, 11c) surround a part of the housing (13) and in the open position (300) the wall portion (11a), the two flap elements (11b, 11c), a part of a top surface 15a of the housing (13) and an end wall (15b) of the housing configures a storage module (101) therebetween.

2. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein the two flap elements (11b, 11c) of the movable element (10) are arranged parallel to each other and is extending perpendicular from the wall portion (11a) of the movable element (10).

3. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein the movable element (10) is pivotable on a pivot axis (20), the pivot axis is transverse to the housing (13).

4. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein an arcuate guiding slot (600) is arranged on at least one of the flap elements (11b, 11c) of the moving element (10), the arcuate guiding slot (600) is arced around the pivot axis (20), the arcuate guiding slot (600) is having at least two stoppers (601) configured therein for holding and locking the moving element (10) in the closed position (200) or in the open position (300) by a plunger (602).

5. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein a holding strap (150a , 150b) for holding and /or gripping a beverage article (151a , 151b) is provided in the movable element (10).

6. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein each of the flap elements (11b,11c) has an extending member (12b, 12c) for expanding a storage space (102) of the storage module (101) when the movable element (10) is in open position (300).

7. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claims 1 and 6, wherein a channel (500) having multiple detents (501) is arranged on the housing (13) to move and lock the extending members (12b) and (12c) of the flap elements (11b and 11c) for expanding the storage space (102) of the storage module (101).

8. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position, (200) the wall portion (11a) of the movable element (10) covers an opening space (15) of the housing (13).

9. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein the movable element (10) is slidable in a direction parallel or perpendicular to the top surface (15a) of the housing between the closed position (200) and the open position (300).

10. The storage box (100) for a vehicle interior according to claim 1, wherein an end wall (15b) of the housing (13) is pivotable on a second pivot axis (P2) for providing a passage between the storage module (101) and a space (102) within the housing (13).
, Description:Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a storage box for a vehicle interior. More specifically, the present invention relates to a simple arrangement for arranging a supplementary storage module for keeping articles therein.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Some existing storage boxes of vehicle interiors, such as central consoles are provided with a lid to cover and to close a housing of the storage box. The construction elements for creating storage space, in particular additional storage space in or to such a storage box are bulky and may consume much space in the vehicle interior. Therefore, there is a need for a simple arrangement for arranging a storage module for keeping articles therein, which storage module overcomes the problems of the prior arts.

Objects of the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to propose a storage box which overcomes the drawback explained above.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy to use and easy to operate storage box with a supplementary storage module.
[0005] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a structurally simple means of folding and opening a supplementary storage module.

[0006] One more object of the present invention is to avoid unwanted space consumption in the vehicle interior by a secondary storage module.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a storage box for a vehicle interior having a housing, a movable element that is arranged on the housing and that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The movable element has a wall portion and two flap elements arranged at opposite sides of the wall portion. The flap elements are leg portions of the movable element. The movable element in closed position surround a part of the housing and in the open position the wall portion and the two flap elements of movable element forms a side walls of a storage module, for which the storage module, a part of a top surface of housing forms a base and an end wall of the housing becomes a further side wall of the storage module. The two flap elements of the movable element are arranged parallel to each other and is extending perpendicular to the wall portion of the movable element.

[0008] In an embodiment, the movable element is pivotable on a pivot axis that is parallel to the top surface of the housing, specifically is transverse to the housing. An arcuate guiding slot is arranged on at least one of the flap elements of the moving element around the pivot axis, the arcuate guiding slot may have stoppers for holding and locking the moving element in the closed position or in the open position by a plunger which can be release from the stoppers of the arcuate guiding slot manually or by an electric motor enabling the moving element to move in between the closed position and the open position.

[0009] One or more holding strap can be provided in the movable element for holding and griping a beverage article(s) therein. The holder can be made of flexible strip for accommodating different size of articles therein. The flap elements may have an extending member for expanding the storage space of the storage module when the movable element is in open position. A channel having multiple detents is arranged on the housing to move and lock the extending members of the flap elements for expanding the storage space of the storage module.

[0010] In the closed position, the wall portion of the movable element may cover an opening space of the housing.

[0011] In another embodiment, the movable element is slidable in a direction parallel or perpendicular to a top surface of the housing between the closed position and the open position. The end wall of the housing can be pivotable on a second pivot axis for providing a passage between the storage module and a space within the housing.

[0012] The storage box can be a central console with a lid / an armrest to cover and close the space of the housing. The central console housing can be of L-shaped.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when reading the detailed description given below, purely by way of example and in a non-limitative manner, referring to the following figures:

[0014] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a storage box for a vehicle interior is shown, where the storage box is a central console with a moving element in a closed position;

[0015] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the storage box where the moving element is in a partially open position;

[0016] Figure 3 and 4 shows a perspective view of the storage box where the moving element is in an open position to configure a storage module;

[0017] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a part of the storage box of the figure 1, where an arcuate guiding slot having stoppers are shown;

[0018] Figure 6 shows another perspective view of the storage box of the figure 3 or 4, where a holding strap holding and gripping a beverage article is shown,

[0019] Figure 7 shows another perspective view of the storage box of the figure 3 or 4, where a channel on the housing having detents are shown,

[0020] Figure 8 shows another perspective view of the storage box of the figure 3 or 4, where an extended parts of a flap elements of the moving element is shown in extended position,

[0021] Figure 9a and 9b shows a perspective view of the storage box, where the arcuate guiding slot having stoppers arranged on the leg portion of the moving element and channel having detents arranged on the housing are shown,

[0022] Figure 10 shows another perspective view of the storage box of another embodiment, where a flap elements of the moving element folds into a slot-like recess of the housing,

[0023] Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the storage box, where an opening space on a top surface of the housing is shown,

[0024] Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a storage box with a moving element in an open position,

[0025] Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a storage box with a moving element in an open position, and

[0026] Figure 14 and 15 shows a perspective view of the storage box where a pivoting feature of an end wall of the housing is shown.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0027] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising, "having, "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
[0028] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “an” and “a” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0029] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0030] Referring now to figures 1 to 4, a storage box (100) for a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In the present embodiment, the storage box (100) is a central console. The central console has an armrest (30) as lid body to close a storage space (102) of the housing (13). The housing (13) is of L-shape with a top surface (15a) and an end wall (15b) are at an angle to each other. In an embodiment, the top surface (15a) is a horizontal surface and the end wall (15b) is vertical surface of the housing (13). A movable element (10) is arranged on the housing (13) and is movable between a closed position (200) and an open position (300). The movable element (10) has a wall portion (11a) and two flap elements (11b) and (11c). The flap elements (11b) and (11c) are leg portions of the movable element (10). The two flap elements (11b) and (11c) are arranged parallel to each other and are extending perpendicular from the wall portion (11a) of the moving element (10). In the closed position (200) of the movable element (10) the wall portion (11a) and two flap elements (11b, 11c) surround a part of the housing (13) (as shown in figure 1) and in the open position (300) the wall portion (11a) and the two flap elements (11b, 11c) of movable element (10) forms a side walls of a storage module (101), for which the storage module (101), the top surface (15a) of the housing (13) forms a base and the end wall (15b) of the housing (13) forms a further side wall of the storage module (101) (as shown in figure 3 or 4).

[0031] In the present embodiment, the movable element (10) is pivotable on a pivot axis (20) that is parallel to the top surface (15a) of the housing, specifically is transverse to the housing as shown in figure 5). The pivot axis (20) is formed by a hinge or pin. An arcuate guiding slot (600) is arranged on the leg portion (11a) or / and the leg portion (11b) of the moving element (10) around pivot axis (20), the arcuate guiding slot (600) having at least two stoppers (601) for holding and locking the moving element (10) in the closed position (200) or in the open position (300) by a plunger (602). The moving element (10) can be moved manually or by an electric motor (not shown) thereby disengaging the plunger (602) from the arcuate guiding slot (600) and thus enabling the moving element (10) to move in between the fold (200) and open position (300). Any other locking meaning such as hook slot arrangement, snap fit or magnetic lock (not shown) can also be used for holding and locking the moving element (10) in the closed position (200) or in the open position (300).

[0032] A holding strap (150a / 150b) for holding and griping a beverage articles (151a / 151b) are provided in the movable element (10). The holding strap is made of flexible material to accommodate different size of articles (as shown in figure 6). The wall portion (11a) is pivotable on a first pivot axis P1 for creating a table top surface (45) for keeping article therein (as shown in figure 6).

[0033] Referring to figure 7, 8, 9a, 9b, the flap elements (11b) and (11c) has an extending members (12b and 12c) for expanding the storage space (102) of the storage module (101) when the movable element (10) is in open position (300) (as shown in figure 8). A biasing member (120) is arranged for moving or sliding the extending members (12b) between the extending and non-extending position. In the extending position, the extending member (120) slides over the flap elements (11b) and (11c) and slides away from the housing (13) to expand the storage space (102). When the extending members (12b) are in non-extending position, the extending members (12b) overlaps over the flap elements (11b) and (11c). A channel (500) having multiple detents (501) is arranged on the housing (13) to move and lock the extending members (12a) and (12b) of the flap elements (11b and 11c) for expanding the storage space (102) of the storage module (101). In the extending position of the extending members (12a) and (12b) as shown in figure 8, the extending members (12a) and (12b) engages with the multiple detents (501) and locks thereby.

[0034] In another embodiment (as shown in figure 10), the housing (13) is made of double layer to form a slot-like recesses (140) such that the flap elements (11b) and (11c) of moving element (10) in the closed position (100) is folded into the slot-like recess (140) of the housing (13) (as shown in figure 10). In the closed position (200) the wall portion (11a) of the movable element (10) forms a part of an interior wall section of the housing (13) to cover an opening space (15) provided on a top surface (15a) of the housing (13). The opening space (15) is used to hold articles like a tablet (110) in open position of the moving element (10) (as shown in figure 11).

[0035] Now referring to figure 12, a second embodiment of a storage box (100) for a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. A moving element (10) is arranged on a housing (13) of the storage box (100) and is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the top surface (15a) of the housing (10) (as shown by an Up-Down arrow) from a closed position (200) to an open position (300) for configuring a storage module (101) (figure 12 illustrate only the open position (300) of moving element (10) according to the second embodiment).

[0036] Now referring to figure 13, a third embodiment of a storage box (100) for a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. A moving element (10) is arranged on a housing (13) of the storage box (100) and is slidable in a direction parallel to the top surface (15a) of the housing (13) (as shown by an Right-Left arrow) from a closed position (200) to an open position (300) for configuring a storage module (101) (figure 12 only illustrate the open position (300) of moving element (10) according to the third embodiment).

[0037] Referring to figures 14 and 15, the end wall (15b) of the housing (13) is pivotable on a second pivot axis (P2) which pivots on to the top surface (15a) of the housing (13) for providing a passage between the storage module (101) and the storage space (102) covered by a lid which is the armrest 30.

[0038] Therefore, the present invention has an advantage of providing a supplementary storage module for a vehicle for placing articles therein. The supplementary storage module is having a simple and compact arrangement.

[0039] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.