U.S. patent application number 14/488386 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-17 for article storage assembly and vehicle storage console including the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. Invention is credited to SCOTT HOLMES DUNHAM, KRISTIN ANN HELLMAN, ANNETTE LYNN HUEBNER, BERNARD GERARD MARCHETTI.
Application Number | 20160075274 14/488386 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54362139 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160075274 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUEBNER; ANNETTE LYNN ; et
al. |
March 17, 2016 |
ARTICLE STORAGE ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE STORAGE CONSOLE INCLUDING THE
SAME
Abstract
An article storage assembly of a vehicle includes a storage
pocket with an illumination colorant, and an attachment unit for
detachably connecting the storage pocket to an interior part of the
vehicle such that the storage pocket is connected to the interior
part in a first position and is separate from the interior part in
a second position.
Inventors: |
HUEBNER; ANNETTE LYNN;
(WHITE LAKE, MI) ; HELLMAN; KRISTIN ANN; (WALLED
LAKE, MI) ; DUNHAM; SCOTT HOLMES; (REDFORD, MI)
; MARCHETTI; BERNARD GERARD; (ROCHESTER HILLS,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54362139 |
Appl. No.: |
14/488386 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/510 ;
296/37.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2011/0005 20130101;
F21Y 2115/10 20160801; B60R 2011/0045 20130101; B60R 2011/0007
20130101; F21W 2106/00 20180101; B60R 7/04 20130101; B60Q 3/225
20170201; F21K 9/64 20160801; B60R 11/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60Q 3/02 20060101
B60Q003/02; B60R 7/04 20060101 B60R007/04; B60R 11/00 20060101
B60R011/00; F21K 99/00 20060101 F21K099/00 |
Claims
1. An article storage assembly of a vehicle, comprising: a storage
pocket including an illumination colorant; and an attachment unit
for detachably connecting the storage pocket to an interior part of
the vehicle such that the storage pocket is connected to the
interior part at a first position and is separate from the interior
part at a second position.
2. The article storage assembly of claim 1, wherein the
illumination colorant of the storage pocket includes a
phosphorescent material.
3. The article storage assembly of claim 1, wherein the
illumination colorant includes a rylene dye.
4. The article storage assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
light emitting diode (LED) in communication with the illumination
colorant.
5. The article storage assembly of claim 1, wherein the interior
part of the vehicle includes a cavity such that the storage pocket
is at least partially receivable within the cavity in a third
portion.
6. The article storage assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage
pocket is rotatable about two different axes of the attachment
unit.
7. The article storage assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage
pocket includes a number of compartments.
8. The article storage assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage
pocket includes a base and cover, and the cover includes the
illumination colorant.
9. The article storage assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment
unit includes a frame supporting the storage pocket for insertion
into or detachment from the interior part of the vehicle.
10. A storage console of a vehicle, comprising: a housing; and a
storage pocket including an illumination colorant and being
detachably supported on the housing.
11. The storage console of claim 10, wherein the housing further
includes a cavity to at least partially receive the storage
pocket.
12. The storage console of claim 11, further comprising an
attachment unit positioned between the storage pocket and the
housing.
13. The storage console of claim 12, wherein the storage pocket is
connected to the attachment unit along a longitudinal axis of the
attachment unit.
14. The storage console of claim 12, wherein the storage pocket
rotatable about two different axes of the attachment unit.
15. The storage console of claim 11, wherein the illumination
colorant includes at least one of a phosphorescent material and a
rylene dye.
16. The storage console of claim 11, further comprising a light
emitting diode (LED) in communication with the illumination
colorant.
17. An article storage assembly of a vehicle, comprising: a storage
pocket including an illumination colorant; an attachment unit for
detachably connecting the storage pocket to an interior part of the
vehicle such that the storage pocket is connected to the interior
part in a first position, is separate from the interior part in a
second position, and at least partially received within a cavity of
the interior part in a third position; and a light emitting diode
in communication with the illumination colorant.
18. The article storage assembly of claim 17, wherein the
illumination colorant of the storage pocket includes at least one
of a phosphorescent material and a rylene dye.
19. The article storage assembly of claim 17, wherein the storage
pocket is rotatable about two different axes of the attachment
unit.
20. The article storage assembly of claim 17, wherein the storage
pocket includes a number of compartments.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosed invention relates generally to an article
storage assembly and a vehicle storage console including the
same.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In present days, motorists and their passengers often find
it desirable to have handy a variety of documents such as credit
cards, bank cards, employee badges, parking tickets, cash currency,
sticky notes and store coupons. Most vehicles provide onboard a
variety of storage compartments such as storage bins and consoles.
However, these compartments tend to be relatively too general in
storage purpose and too deep in storage size such that a user often
needs to take time investigating the whereabouts of a particular
item before being able to successfully retrieve it from a pile. The
search often becomes even more difficult when the item to be
retrieved is of relatively small size such as the cards and
documents mentioned herein above.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,632 B2 discloses a card holding
structure and vehicle console box including the same, wherein the
card holding structure is disclosed to include a base plate, a
holding member and a step-like member.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides
an article storage assembly for a vehicle, including a storage
pocket with an illumination colorant, and an attachment unit for
detachably connecting the storage pocket to an interior part of the
vehicle such that the storage pocket is connected to the interior
part in a first position and is separate from the interior part in
a second position.
[0005] In another or more embodiments, the present invention
provides a storage console of a vehicle, including a housing, and a
storage pocket having an illumination colorant and being detachably
supported on the housing.
[0006] One or more advantageous features as described herein will
be readily apparent from the following detailed description of one
or more embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For a more complete understanding of one or more embodiments
of the present invention, reference is now made to the one or more
embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying
drawings and described below wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustratively depicts a perspective view of an
article storage assembly for use in a vehicle according to one or
more embodiments;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustratively depicts another view of the article
storage assembly referenced in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3A illustratively depicts an enlarged, partial view of
the article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 3B illustratively depicts a cross-sectional view of an
interior part of the vehicle to receive the article storage
assembly referenced in FIG. 3A;
[0012] FIG. 4 illustratively depicts yet another view of the
article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 5 illustratively depicts yet another view of the
article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 or FIG.
4;
[0014] FIG. 6 illustratively depicts yet another view of the
article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or
FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 7A illustratively depicts yet another view of the
article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG.
5, or FIG. 6;
[0016] FIG. 7B illustratively depicts a perspective view of the
article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 7A;
[0017] FIG. 8A illustratively depicts yet another view of the
article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG.
5, FIG. 6, or FIG. 7A; and
[0018] FIG. 8B illustratively depicts a cross-sectional view of the
article storage assembly referenced in FIG. 8B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] As referenced in the FIGS. 1 to 6, the same reference
numerals are used to refer to the same components. In the following
description, various operating parameters and components are
described for different constructed embodiments. These specific
parameters and components are included as examples and are not
meant to be limiting.
[0020] The present invention in one or more embodiments is
advantageous in providing illuminated, detachable storage pockets
for storing articles such as relatively thin articles including
credit cards, gift cards, cash currency, sticky notes, parking
tickets and business cards. The storage pockets thus provided may
be quickly located via colorant-mediated illumination upon
activation with energy available from a vehicle environment and be
removed with complete detachment from the vehicle environment as
needed. Once detached, the entire storage pocket may function as a
carry-on item to accompany the user in any subsequent trips. In
addition, and to provide enhanced operational ease, the storage
pocket may be designed as rotatable in several different
directions, such as axially rotatable, pivotally twistable, or
circularly fan-out-able. Furthermore, the illumination colorant may
be in communication with any suitable light emitting diodes (LED)
that are optionally energized and activated via energies available
from the vehicle environment.
[0021] In one or more embodiments, and as illustratively depicted
in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an article storage assembly generally shown
at 100 includes a storage pocket 102 with an illumination colorant
(not shown), and an attachment unit 104 for detachably connecting
the storage pocket 102 to an interior part 106 of a vehicle (not
shown). In this design, the storage pocket 102 is connected to the
interior part 106 in a first position as illustratively depicted in
FIG. 1, and is separate and detached from the interior part in a
second position as illustratively depicted in FIG. 2.
[0022] The vehicle as mentioned herein may be any residential,
commercial, governmental or military vehicles, and may be of any
make, style or shape.
[0023] Although the interior part 106 of the vehicle is
illustratively depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 as a location or space
near a central console of the vehicle, the specific location for
the interior part 106 of the vehicle as mentioned herein does not
have to be limited, and in fact may be of any interior location or
space available from within the vehicle. Other non-limiting
examples of these suitable locations for the interior part 106
include the instrument panel, the door compartments, the seatback
pockets, the backseat console, the trunk area, and any other
suitable interior trims.
[0024] Referring back to FIG. 1, the storage pocket 102 is shown
connected to the interior part 106 via the attachment unit 104. As
is detailed herein elsewhere in relation to FIG. 3, the storage
pocket 102 may rotate about the attachment unit 104 along direction
"W1" to provide enhanced ease for access and retrieval.
[0025] FIG. 3A illustratively depicts an enlarged perspective view
of the article storage assembly 100 referenced in FIG. 1 and FIG.
2. In certain embodiments, and as illustratively depicted in FIG.
3A, the attachment unit 104 is an elongated rod supporting the
storage pocket 102. The storage pocket 102 may be, via the
attachment unit 104, lowered into and hence at least partially
received within a cavity 310 of the interior part 106. Accordingly
the storage pocket 102 may be completely received within the cavity
310 when needed. FIG. 4 illustratively depicts a view of the
article storage assembly 100 as fully stowed away wherein the
storage pocket 102 is received within the cavity 310.
[0026] To provide additional ease in locating the storage pocket
102, the article storage assembly 100 may further include, as
illustratively depicted in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4, an indicator tab
308, which optionally includes an illumination colorant same to or
different from the illumination colorant included in the storage
pocket 102. The indicator tab 308 may be of the same or different
width dimension in relation to the storage pocket 102, and may be
of any suitable shape and texture. The general direction is that
the indicator tab 308 may function as a locator or as a handle to
assist one in locating and grabbing the storage pocket 102,
particularly when the latter is in a fully recessed position such
as the one shown in FIG. 4.
[0027] The cavity 310 may be positioned anywhere in or around the
interior part 106, or any other place or location available within
the vehicle as mentioned herein elsewhere. In particular, the
cavity 310 may be part of a central console 506 referenced herein
later in FIG. 5 and as a particular example of the interior part
106, or may be positioned external and/or next to the central
console 506. FIG. 1 in view of FIG. 4 shows that the cavity to at
least partially receive the storage pocket 102 may be located on a
side wall of the interior part 106. FIG. 5 shows that the cavity to
receive at least a portion of the storage pocket 102 may be a
housing 516 of the central console 506.
[0028] Referring back to FIG. 3A, and in view of FIG. 3B which
illustratively depicts a cross-sectional view of the cavity 310
referenced in FIG. 3A, a guiding tunnel generally shown at 350 is
provided. The guiding tunnel 350 includes first, second and third
sections indicated at 351, 352 and 353, respectively. One or more
gliding tunnels 350 may be configured within the cavity 310 as
needed. In operation, the attachment unit 104 along with the
storage pocket 102 moves through the first section 351 and then
enters the second section 352 after passing a tension neck 354.
Within the second section 352, the attachment unit 104 may freely
rotate along direction "W1". Downstream of the second section 352
is a second tension neck 355 which the attachment unit 104 passes
through prior to its entry into the third section 353. The tension
necks 354 and 355 are designed and configured such that certain
force may need to be applied for the attachment unit 104 to move
there-through. Thus this provides the second section 352 as a
somewhat default position for the attachment unit 104. Accordingly
accidental or unintended relocation of the attachment unit 104 to
and from the first section 351 or to and from the third section 353
may be effectively avoided.
[0029] When a passenger or driver desires to take the documents or
cards with him/her, he/she may pull and detach the article storage
assembly 100 from the interior part 106 of the vehicle. With the
continued pulling, the attachment unit 104 may reach and rest in
the second section 350, at which the storage pocket 102 may rotate
about the direction "W1" as mentioned herein elsewhere.
[0030] To further facilitate the storing and retrieval of the
storage pocket 102 into and out from the cavity 310, the storage
pocket 102 may further be configured as semi-rigid. For instance,
the storage pocket 102 may include a back 312 and a cover 322,
wherein the back 312 is sturdy enough to sustain the force needed
to drive down or up the attachment unit 104 into and out from the
cavity 310. The back 312 may be of any suitable sizes and
dimensions relative to the cover 322. In certain embodiments, the
back 312 may just be a rib-like elongated structure to help the
storage pocket 102 stay upright and be rigid enough for the pulling
and pushing actions exerted thereupon. In addition, the back 312
may be formed of a rigid material such as a hard plastic, a metal
or glass; and the cover 322 may be formed of a relatively softer
material such as soft plastic, leather, paper or anything suitable
for the purpose. In addition, the cover 322 may be made see-through
or clear to assist with locating a particular item in the storage
pocket 102.
[0031] In the event that the storage pocket 102 does include a
relatively hard back like the back 312 and a relatively soft cover
like the cover 322, majority if not all of the illumination
colorant may be included in the relatively soft cover. This may be
more practical when the illumination colorant needs to be co-molded
into forming the storage pocket 102.
[0032] Although only one storage pocket 102 is shown attachable to
the attachment unit 104, more storage pockets 102 may be
concurrently attached to the attachment unit 104 either alongside
to one and another, or arranged in a fan-out configuration,
dependent upon the particular space available from the cavity
310.
[0033] In certain other embodiments, and as illustratively depicted
in FIG. 5, the storage pocket 102 may be recessed into a housing
516 of the central console 506, which is a particular example of
the interior part 106 mentioned herein elsewhere. In this design,
LED lights 514 may be positioned also within the housing 506 to
energize the illumination colorant in the storage pocket 102.
[0034] As described herein, a feature of the storage pocket 102
common to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 is the illumination colorant
included in the storage pocket 102. The illumination colorant may
include one or more illumination dyes, one or more illumination
pigments, or both. The term "illumination" refers to a quality of
the colorant being able to emit lights of certain wave lengths when
excited or have been previously excited by an energy source, which
include one or more LED lights. The illumination may be based on
fluorescence and/or phosphorescence, referring further to emission
of light by a substance upon excitation with energy such as light
or electrical energy.
[0035] Without wanting to be limited to any particular theory, it
is believed that the light emitted from the energy source such as
the LED lights excites or activates the illumination colorant to
give away illumination, and in particular visible light. Due to the
need for an energy source such as the LED lights, which themselves
need to be powered by, for instance, a battery or an electrical
circuit connection, the vehicle provides a readily available source
for the electrical power, the LED lights, and hence the possibility
of generating the colored illumination from the storage pocket 102.
In other words, the article storage assembly 100 works
synergistically with a vehicle environment where the former draws
operating energy from the latter and the latter is enhanced in
functionality when coupled with the former.
[0036] In addition, the illumination colorant may be designed
and/or configured to give out illumination in a time-delayed
fashion such that the illumination result from the illumination
colorant occurs even after the source of excitation energy has been
removed from the illumination colorant. This is particularly useful
and advantageous, as detailed herein elsewhere, for the storage
pocket to be locatable even after the vehicle has been turned off
and hence the excitation energy for the illumination colorant on
the storage pocket has thus been removed.
[0037] The excitation energy source such as the LED light may stay
on for a length of time needed to charge the illumination colorant
contained either in or on the storage pockets. The excitation
energy source may be turned off periodically once the illumination
colorant is fully charged; however once the excitation energy
source is turned off, the illumination given off by the
illumination colorant may show reduction in intensity. Therefore,
it may be desirable under certain circumstances to keep the
excitation energy source on the entire time. If some decay of
illumination or reduction of illumination intensity is acceptable,
then the excitation energy source may be periodically switched on
and off as long as the vehicle is running. The timing by which the
excitation energy source is turned on and off may be determined by
the illumination intensity of the illumination colorant as
desirable.
[0038] It might be possible that the illumination colorant
continues to give off illumination when the energy source is turned
off or disconnected from the illumination colorant, such as what
occurs when certain materials give off illumination in a
time-delayed fashion as detailed herein elsewhere. A practical use
of the article storage assembly 100 as described herein according
to one or more embodiments is that the user, upon turning on the
engine of the vehicle, may quickly locate the storage pocket 102
via the illumination given off therefrom. This makes locating the
storage pocket 102 and hence the contents therein almost
effortlessly as the illumination may be automatically coupled with
the excitation energy source such as the LED lights, which are then
in line coupled with a power source readily available upon an
ignition event. This method of storing certain items such as
parking tickets and entry access cards particularly useful as these
items usually need to stay in the vehicle although conventionally,
they are easily misplaced. Now with the article storage assembly
100, locating and using these items are made less burdensome and
more practical. An add-on benefit, as mentioned herein elsewhere,
is the storage pocket 102 itself, or optionally along with the
attachment unit 104, may be readily detached from the vehicle all
together and be used as a carry-on item.
[0039] The illumination colorant as mentioned herein refers to a
material that may exhibit relatively intense light absorption, and
may include one or more dyes and/or pigments as suitable. The
illumination colorant may work to emit light in a suitable
wavelength, and particularly in the visible range of 400 to 700
nanometers. In particular, and when a time-delayed illumination as
detailed herein elsewhere is desirable, the illuminant colorant may
include phosphors along with dyes. Without wanting to be limited to
any particular theory, it is believed that the phosphors act in a
process called phosphorescence where light energy is absorbed by
the phosphors and is released relatively slowly in the form of
light even after the removal of the excitation source.
[0040] The use of phosphorescent materials in or as the
illumination colorant is advantageous at least because
phosphorescent materials readily store light when the light is
available, and is capable of subsequently emitting light at a time
when the excitation source is removed. Additionally, phosphorescent
materials can be recharged when exposed to light or other
electromagnetic wave. Without wanting to be limited to any
particular theory, it is further believed that phosphorescent
materials store and re-emit light because of their unusual property
of trapping electrons in a higher state of movement. As light comes
in contact with the material, light photons are transferred to the
material and give some of their energy to the electrons within it,
causing the electrons to move to a higher energy state around their
nucleus. Phosphorescent materials trap their electrons in a higher
energy state for minutes or even hours. Phosphorescent materials
may also be relatively inexpensive and may be applied in the form
of a powder, gel, liquid, and/or gas. In certain particular
instances, the illumination colorant may include zinc sulfide
and/or strontium aluminate as the phosphorescent material.
[0041] Phosphorescent material as detailed herein elsewhere may be
a good component to the illumination colorant when time-delayed
illumination is desirable. However, the illumination colorant does
not necessarily have to include a phosphorescent material and may
include any other illumination material that emits light. In
addition, the illumination colorant may be natural, synthetic or
both. Other than or in addition to the phosphorescent material, the
illumination colorant may include a dye material that is based on
perylene framework. In certain particular embodiments, the
illumination colorant includes one or more of perylene maroon,
perylene violet, perylene black and perylene red. In certain other
particular embodiments, the illumination colorant includes rylene
dye, which may also be referred as poly (peri-naphthalene) or
"PPN."
[0042] Referring back to FIG. 3A and FIG. 5 where the LED lights
314 and 514 are shown to be positioned, the illumination colorant
in the storage pocket 102 may be activated by the LED lights
intermittently. Such programmed excitation is believed to provide
an energy efficient way of activating the illumination colorant
such as rylene dye enough to allow storage pocket 102 to glow or
stay glowing for a period in the dark.
[0043] As described herein elsewhere, the attachment unit 104 is
shown as an elongated rob supporting the storage pocket 102 along
its longitudinal axis. The shape and the orientation of the
attachment unit 104 may be varied as necessary to carry out its
function of supporting the storage pocket 102 and enabling the
latter's movement and rotation. For instance, and as illustratively
depicted in FIG. 6, the storage pocket 102 may be supported on an
attachment unit 504 via an end thereof such that the storage pocket
102 may rotate along direction "W3" and may move along direction
"W4" by moving along with the attachment unit 504. In certain
particular embodiments, movement flexibility of the storage pocket
102 may further be enhanced by making the attachment unit 504
flexible, foldable, retractable or bendable along its longitudinal
axis.
[0044] Referring back to FIG. 6, when not in use, the storage
pocket 102 may be stowed away into a housing such as the housing
506 by folding, retracting, or bending the attachment unit 504. In
this configuration, the attachment unit 504 essentially functions
as a key chain to secure a location for the storage pocket 102
while maintaining a reasonable level of flexibility in where the
storage pocket 102 may be temporarily positioned.
[0045] The storage pocket 102 itself is not necessarily limited to
any size, shape, or material. The storage pocket 102 may include or
be formed of natural materials such as paper, leather or cotton, or
synthetic materials such as polymers and plastics. A practical
consideration as with any other pockets is the storage pocket 102
may be made transparent, for instance, via the use of certain
papers or polymeric plastics. Another practical consideration as
with any other pockets is the storage pocket 102 may further
include its own compartments or sub-pockets so as to accommodate
various articles. The sub-pockets may be positioned alongside to
each other or may be provided with a fan-out configuration. The
storage pocket 102 may itself include a zipper, buttons or adhesive
strips to temporally close up the pocket when in travel.
[0046] The illumination colorant may be included in the storage
pocket 102 via any suitable methods. For instance, the illumination
colorant may be applied to the storage pocket 102 after the latter
has been pre-formed, or may be mixed with the raw material for
forming the storage pocket 102. In particular, the illumination
colorant may be coupled to a polymer via chemical bonds and
thereafter the illumination colorant-bound polymer is processed to
form the storage pocket 102.
[0047] In one or more embodiments, and as illustratively depicted
in FIG. 7A, one or more storage pockets 102 may be incorporated
into or installed onto an instrument panel 710. At a closed
position, each of the storage pockets 102 may be fully retracted
into and received within an interior of the instrument panel 710.
The storage pockets 102 may be detached from the instrument panel
710 and a perspective view of the storage pocket 102 as detached
from the instrument panel 710 is illustratively depicted in FIG.
7B.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 7B, the storage pocket 102 may include a
back 712 similar to the back 312 mentioned herein elsewhere. Items
702 to be stored, such as credit cards or gift cards, may be
arranged onto the back 712 via for instance common point "E" for
fan-out like pivoting connection. Optionally, the storage pocket
102 may further include a cover (not shown) which works along with
the back 702 to provide an enclosure for the items 702. Optionally
also, the back 702 and/or the back 702 along with its cover may be
sectioned to form individual pockets for the items 702.
[0049] In one or more embodiments, and as illustratively depicted
in FIG. 8A, the storage pocket 102 may be provided as movable into
and out from the interior part 106 such as a console armrest. As
provided, the storage pocket 102 includes a back 812 and a cover
similar to the back 312 and the cover 322 respectively mentioned
herein elsewhere. Items 802 such as credit cards, shopping cards
and parking tickets may be laid flat between the cover 822 and the
back 812.
[0050] Referring back to FIG. 8A and further in view of FIG. 8B,
illumination device 814 such as LED lights may be employed inside
of the interior part 106 such as the console armrest. When parts of
the storage pocket 102, such as the cover 822 thereof, are
configured to include one or more illumination colorant as
mentioned herein elsewhere, the illumination device 814 may work to
activate the illumination colorant which then gives off
illumination in dark whenever as desirable. A reflector 840 is
optionally employed to enhance concentration of energy from the
illumination device 840 to the storage pocket 102.
[0051] In one or more embodiments, the disclosed invention as set
forth herein provides an advantageous article and method for
storing and locating certain items in association with a vehicular
environment. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from
such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that
various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein
without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *