Claims:We Claim:
1. A storage compartment 100 arranged on a carrier surface 200 of a vehicle interior (not shown), wherein the storage compartment 100 comprising:
a receptacle 10 configuring a storage space 30, the receptacle 10 is upwardly and inclinedly extending from the carrier surface 200;
an enclosure 20 is telescopically surrounding the receptacle 10 partly or completely;
an armrest member 22 arranged to the enclosure 20, and the armrest member 22 covers the storage space 30 of the receptacle 10 and the armrest member 22 is positioned parallel to the carrier surface 200,
Wherein when the enclosure 20 is telescopically slid away from the carrier surface 200, the storage space 30 of the receptacle 10 is expanded, and the armrest member 22 is adjusted vertically and horizontally.

2. The storage compartment 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage compartment 100 is a central console of the vehicle interior.

3. The storage compartment 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier surface 200 is a floor of the vehicle interior or a portion of a vehicle seat.

4. The storage compartment 100 as claimed in claim 1, the armrest member 22 is having a cushioning surface configured thereon for enhancing the comfort of the armrest.
5. The storage compartment 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure 20 is having sidewalls 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and the armrest member 22 is hinged to at least a sidewall of the sidewalls 20a, 20b, 20c & 20d.

6. The storage compartment 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the armrest member 22 is movable to a first position 22a for restricting the access of the storage space 30 (covering) and the armrest member 22 is movable to a second position 22b for providing the access of the storage space 30.

7. The storage compartment 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage compartment 100 includes a latching mechanism 50 arranged between the receptacle 10 and the enclosure 20 for latching the enclosure 20 to the receptacle 10.

8. The storage compartment 100 as claimed in claim 5, wherein the latching mechanism 50 includes:
a guiding rod 52 mounted on the receptacle 10 in the direction of extension 12 of the receptacle 10;
a sliding member 54 extending from the enclosure 20, the sliding member 54 is slidably arranged on the guiding rod 52; and
a latching member 56 arranged with the sliding member 54, and the latching member 56 is adapted to latch the sliding member 54 with the guiding rod 52, thereby latching the enclosure 20 to the receptacle 10 and the latching member 56 is connected to an operating member, the operating member is operated to unlatch the latching member 56.

9. The storage compartment 110 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the armrest member 22 includes a tray assembly 60 arranged thereon and the tray assembly 60 is rotatable with reference to the armrest member 22 and the tray assembly 60 included two are more tray members 60a, 60b foldable on a tray member 60a of the tray members 60a, 60b, 60c.

10. The storage compartment 110 as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tray members 60a & 60b are unfolded in one or more directions 200a for configuring a tray thereon 70.
, Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage compartment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Generally, vehicles interiors are provided with storage compartments on consoles or any such carrier surfaces of the vehicle interior. These storage compartments provide storage space for keeping articles therein. The existing storage compartments cannot able to provide variable storage space therein to a user.

[0003] Further, seats of the vehicle are provided with armrest members for providing “armrest” provision to occupants of the seat. In the existing vehicles, the armrest members and the storage compartments are configured in different locations (positions). Therefore, the armrest members and the storage compartments consume space separately and individually in the vehicle interiors.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a storage compartment, which overcomes from the problems of the prior art.

Objects of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior, and the storage compartment also provides an armrest thereon.

[0007] Yet an object of the present invention is to provide a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior for providing a variable storage space therein.

[0008] One more object of the present invention is to provide a storage compartment with an armrest which is adjustable vertically and horizontally.

[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior, which is simple in construction and operation.

Summary of the invention

[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided with a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior. The carrier surface may be a floor of the vehicle interior or a portion of a vehicle seat. The storage compartment may be a central console of the vehicle interior. The storage compartment may include a receptacle, an enclosure and an armrest member. The receptacle may be configuring a storage space therein. The receptacle may be upwardly and inclinedly extending from the carrier surface.

[0011] The armrest member may be arranged to/on the enclosure. The armrest member is positioned parallel to the carrier surface. The armrest member may cover the storage space of the receptacle. The armrest member may provide an armrest thereon when the armrest member is at a first position. The armrest member may be moved to the first position for restricting the access of the storage space of the receptacle. Further, the armrest member may be having a cushioning for enhancing the comfort of the armrest. Similarly, the armrest member may be moved to a second position for providing access to the storage space.

[0012] Further, the enclosure may be telescopically surrounding the receptacle partly or completely. The enclosure may be having sidewalls, and the armrest member is hinged to a sidewall of the sidewalls. When the enclosure is telescopically slid away from the carrier surface, the storage space of the receptacle is expanded. Further, the armrest member is adjusted vertically and horizontally.

[0013] Furthermore, the storage compartment may include a latching mechanism arranged between the receptacle and the enclosure. The latching mechanism latches the enclosure to the receptacle. The latching mechanism may include a guiding rod, a sliding member and a latching member. The guiding rod may be mounted on the receptacle in the direction of extension of the receptacle. The sliding member may be extending from the enclosure. The sliding member may be slidably arranged on the guiding rod.

[0014] The latching member may be arranged with the sliding member. The latching member may be adapted to latch the sliding member with the guiding rod, thereby latching the enclosure to the receptacle. The latching member may be connected to an operating member (not shown). The operating member is operated to unlatch the latching member.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the armrest member may include a tray assembly arranged thereon. The tray assembly may be rotatable with reference to the armrest member. The tray assembly may include two are more tray members foldable on a tray member of the tray members. The tray members are unfolded in one or more directions for configuring a tray thereon.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The advantages and features of the present invention will be understood better with reference to the following detailed description of some embodiments of the impact energy absorber and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which;

[0017] Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior with an enclosure of the storage compartment at a collapsed position in accordance with the present invention ;

[0018] Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the storage compartment shown in figure 1 with the enclosure at an extended position in accordance with the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 shows an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior in accordance with the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 shows another isometric view the storage compartment shown figure 3 with a tray assembly of the storage compartment at a rotated position;

[0021] Figure 5 shows another isometric view the storage compartment shown figure 4 with unfolded tray members of the tray assembly ;

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0025] The present invention provides a storage compartment arranged on a carrier surface of a vehicle interior. The storage compartment provides storage space for keeping the article therein. The storage compartment can also be configured as armrest support to a user (occupant).

[0026] Referring now to figures 1 and 2, various views of a storage compartment 100 arranged on a carrier surface 200 of a vehicle interior (not shown) in accordance with the present invention are illustrated. In this embodiment, the carrier surface 200 is a floor of the vehicle interior. In an alternative embodiment, the carrier surface 200 is a portion of a vehicle seat or any such vehicle interior unit. In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the storage compartment 100 is arranged in a case 300 of the vehicle interior. In an embodiment, the storage compartment 100 is a central console of the vehicle interior.

[0027] The storage compartment 100 includes a receptacle 10, an armrest member 22 and an enclosure 20. The receptacle 10 configures a storage space 30 therein. In the shown embodiment in figures 1 & 2, the receptacle 10 is configured with a rectangular cross-section. In the alternative embodiments (not shown), the receptacle can be configured with a circular or a polygon cross-section. Further, the receptacle 10 is upwardly and inclinedly extending from the carrier surface 200.

[0028] The armrest member 22 is arranged to the enclosure 20. In the shown embodiment in figures 1 & 2, the armrest member 22 is hinged to the enclosure 20. In an alternative embodiment, the armrest member 22 can be slidably arranged on the enclosure 20. More specifically, the enclosure 20 is having sidewalls 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d and the armrest member 22 are hinged to at least one sidewall 20a or 20b or 20c or 20d of the sidewalls 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d. Further, the armrest member 22 is positioned parallel to the carrier surface 200. The armrest member 22 covers the receptacle 10. More specifically, the armrest member 22 covers the storage space 30 of the receptacle 10.

[0029] The armrest member 22 is movable between a first position 22a and a second position 22b. The armrest member 22 is movable to a first position 22a (refer figure 1) for restricting the access of the storage space 30 of the receptacle 10. More specifically, the armrest member 22 is moved to the first position 22a for closing the opening 14 (refer figure 2) of the receptacle 10, thereby restricting the access of the storage space 30. The armrest member 22 acts as a lid for the receptacle 10 when the armrest member 22 is at the first position 22a.

[0030] Also, when the armrest member 22 is at the first position 22a, the armrest member 22 can be utilized as “armrest” by a user. The phrase “armrest” here refers to a provision of armrest support provided to the user. The receptacle 10 is arranged near a seat of the vehicle interior for providing an “armrest provision” to a user (occupant). The armrest member 22 provides this provision when the armrest member 22 is in the first position 22a. Further, the armrest member 22 is having a cushioning surface (not shown) configured thereon for enhancing the comfort of the “armrest”.
[0031] Similarly, the armrest member 22 is movable to the second position 22b (figure 2) for providing access to the storage space 30. More specifically, when the armrest member 22 is moved to the second position 22b, the opening 14 is accessible to the user to utilize the storage space 30 the receptacle 10 through the opening 14.

[0032] Further, the enclosure 20 is telescopically arranged on the receptacle 10. The enclosure 20 is telescopically surrounding the receptacle 10 partly or completely. In the embodiments shown in figure 1 & 2, the enclosure 20 is surrounding the receptacle 10 to close the opening 14 of the receptacle 10. The side walls 20a, 20b, 20c or 20d are partly or completely surrounding the receptacle walls 10a, 10b, 10c & 10d.

[0033] Furthermore, when the enclosure 20 is telescopically slid away from the carrier 200, the storage space 30 of the receptacle 10 is expanded. Also, the armrest member 22 is adjusted vertically and horizontally. In the shown embodiments in figures 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, the enclosure 20 is slid from a collapsed position 100a to an extended position 100b. The collapsed position 100a is a position at which the enclosure 20 is near or on to the carrier surface 200, as shown in figure 1. The extended position 100b here refers to a position in which the enclosure 20 is away from the carrier surface 200 and also from the collapsed position 100a.

[0034] Further, the storage compartment 30 includes a latching mechanism 50 (refer figure 2). The latching mechanism 50 is arranged between the receptacle 10 and the enclosure 20. The latching mechanism 50 is arranged to latch the enclosure 20 with the receptacle 10. In an embodiment, the latching mechanism 50 includes a guiding rod 52, a sliding member 54 and a latching member 56. The guiding rod 52 is a cylindrical rod. The guiding rod 52 is mounted on the receptacle 10 in the direction of extension 12 of the receptacle 10. The direction of extension 12 here refers to a direction in which the receptacle 10 is extending from the carrier surface 200.

[0035] The sliding member 54 is extending from the receptacle 10. More specifically, the sliding member 54 is extending from a side wall 20c of the enclosure 20. The sliding member 54 is slidably arranged on the guiding rod 52. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to configure geometry of the guiding rod 52 and the sliding member 54 for enabling the sliding movements of the sliding member 54 on the guiding rod 52.

[0036] The latching member 56 is arranged with the sliding member 54. The latching member 56 is adapted to latch the sliding member 54 with the guiding rod 52, thereby latching the enclosure 20 to the receptacle 10. In the shown embodiments, the latching member 56 can latch the enclosure 20 to the receptacle 10 at the collapsed position 100a or at the extended position 100b or any other intermediate positions between the collapsed position 100a and the extended position 100b as shown in figures 1 and 2.

[0037] Further, the latching member 56 is connected to an operating member (not shown). The operating member is a lever or a switch. The operating member is operated to unlatch the latching member 56, thereby unlatching the enclosure 20 from the receptacle 10. The unlatching of the latching member 56 facilitates relative sliding movements of the enclosure 20 on the receptacle 10. The user can operate the operating member for unlatching the enclosure 20 with the receptacle 10 and extend or compress the enclosure 20 on the receptacle 10 by sliding the enclosure 20 away and towards the carrier surface 200. Therefore, the storage compartment 100 provides variable storage space 30 to the user.

[0038] Referring now to figures 3, 4 & 5, various views of an alternative embodiment of a storage compartment arranged on the carrier surface 200 of the vehicle interior. In these embodiments, shown in figures 3, 4 & 5, the storage compartment is referred to as a storage compartment 110. In the storage compartment 110, the armrest member 22 includes a tray assembly 60. The tray assembly 60 is arranged thereon. The tray assembly 60 is arranged to facilitate rotational movements of the tray assembly 60 on the armrest member 22, as shown in figure 4. The tray assembly 60 can be rotated to a rotated position 64b from a non-rotated position 64a

[0039] A corner hinge arrangement 62 between the tray assembly 60 and the armrest member 22 facilitates rotational movements of the tray assembly 60 on the armrest member 22 between the rotated positions 64b from the non-rotated position 64a. Configuring such corner hinges and such related arrangements are obvious to a person skilled in the art. The tray assembly 60 is rotatable with reference to the armrest member 22. When the tray assembly 60 is at the non-rotated position 64a, the tray assembly 60 provides an armrest thereon.

[0040] Further, the tray assembly 60 includes a locking member (not shown) for locking the tray assembly 60 either at the non-rotated position 64a (refer figure 3) or at the rotated position 64b (refer figure 4&5). The locking member is a locking pin or knob or any such obvious locking members.

[0041] Furthermore, the tray assembly 60 includes two tray members 60a & 60b or more. In the shown embodiment, the tray assembly 60 includes two tray members 60a & 60b. The two tray members 60a & 60b, are foldable on a tray member 60a of the tray members 60a & 60b. Hinge arrangements (not numbered) between the tray members 60a & 60b facilitates folding movements of the tray members 60a & 60b. The tray members 60a & 60b are unfolded in a direction 200a or more directions for configuring a tray 70 thereon. The direction 200a is along an X-direction or the length direction of the storage compartment 110.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment, the direction 200a can be along Y-direction (width direction) or in a Z-direction (height direction) of the storage compartment 110. The tray 70 can be utilised for keeping articles thereon or also for resting arms of the user. The user can unfold and fold the tray members 60a & 60b according to his/her needs for increasing and decreasing the surface area of the tray 70 for keeping the article accordingly or any such utilities.

[0043] Therefore, the present invention has the advantage of providing the storage compartment 100 & 110 for storing articles. Further, the storage compartment 100 & 110 also provides an armrest. Furthermore, the storage compartment 100 & 110 provides a variable storage space 30 therein. The storage compartment 100 & 110 provides an armrest, which is adjustable vertically and horizontally. Also, the storage compartment 100 & 110 is simple in construction and simple in operation.

[0044] 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 utilise 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.