Slideable tray with cord retention feature

A moveable tray assembly comprising:

• a motor vehicle with a center console, said center console having a compartment and a moveable panel covering said compartment when in a closed position and uncovering said compartment when in an open position, said compartment having an electrical outlet, said moveable panel having a front end and back end, said back end having a slot extending a predefined distance towards said front end and providing an opening into said compartment when said moveable panel is in said closed position;
• and
• an electronic cable having an outlet end located under said moveable panel and within said compartment and a device end located above said moveable panel, said electronic cable located within said slot;
• said slot having a width, said width greater than a diameter of said electronic cable and less than an outer dimension of said device end, said moveable panel with said slot operable to hold said device end of said electronic cable above said moveable panel when said moveable panel moves between said closed position to said open position.

A process for electronically connecting a portable electronic device to a motor vehicle, the process comprising:

• providing a portable electronic device;
• providing a motor vehicle with a console having:
• a compartment with an electrical outlet;
• a moveable panel with a first end, a second end and a planar portion extending between the first end and the second end, the planar portion dimensioned for the portable electronic device to lay flat thereon, the moveable panel operable to move between a closed position that covers the compartment and an open position that uncovers the compartment;
• the second end having a slot extending towards the first end a predefined distance, the slot having a width such that the electronic cable can fit therethrough and the connector end cannot fit therethrough;
• providing an electronic cable having an outlet end and a device end;
• plugging the outlet end of the electronic cable into the electrical outlet of the compartment;
• placing the electronic cable in the slot with the device end located above the slot;
• plugging the device end of the electronic cable into the portable electronic device and placing the electronic device onto the planar portion of the moveable panel