# US 2025/0083733 A1 · Device and system for retracting a control console of a vehicle in an emergency > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0083733 A1 - Document ID: US20250083733A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/823,809 - Filed: 2024-09-04 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-07 - Assignees: Ree Automotive Ltd - Applicants: Ree Automotive Ltd - Inventors: Daniel BAREL; Ido GURY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250083733A1 ## CPC - B62D 1/183: adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access - B62D 1/197: {incorporating devices for preventing ingress of the steering column into the passengers space in case of accident} - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A retractable console system for a vehicle, which may include: a control console; a linkage coupled to the control console; an actuator coupled to the linkage, the actuator may: lock the linkage and the control console coupled thereto in an operational position; and upon detection of an emergency, abruptly unlock and cause the linkage and the console coupled thereto to move from the operational position to a non-operational emergency position by releasing energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A retractable console system for a vehicle, the system comprising: a control console; a linkage coupled to the control console; an actuator coupled to the linkage, the actuator being configured to: lock the linkage and the control console coupled thereto in an operational position; and upon detection of an emergency, abruptly unlock and position the linkage and the console coupled thereto in a non-operational emergency position by releasing energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the linkage and the control console coupled thereto are movable between a plurality of operational positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control console comprises a steering wheel, a control panel or both. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is couplable to a chassis of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the linkage and the console coupled thereto are movable with respect to the actuator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the linkage and the console coupled are movable in a longitudinal direction with respect to a chassis of a vehicle, a transverse direction with respect to the chassis of the vehicle or both. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the linkage and the control console coupled thereto are movable in a linear motion, a rotational motion or both. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein in the non-operational emergency condition, the control console is disposed closer to a front end of the vehicle, a side of the vehicle or both than in the operational position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the detection of the emergency is by an emergency detection system of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises: a housing having a hollow interior, the housing being couplable to a chassis of the vehicle; a first member disposed within the hollow interior of the housing, the first member having a hollow interior; a second member partly disposed within the hollow interior of the first member, the second member being coupled to the linkage; and a detaining mechanism to lock the first member to prevent the first member from moving with respect to the housing; wherein upon the detection of the emergency, the detaining mechanism unlocks the first member and moves the first member in a longitudinal direction with respect to the housing and to carry the second member in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the second member is movable within the hollow interior of the first member in the longitudinal direction to allow the linkage and the control console coupled thereto to move between a plurality of operational positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein carrying the second member by the first member in the longitudinal direction causes the linkage and the control console coupled thereto to move from the operation position to the non-operational emergency condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the detaining mechanism comprises: a spring disposed within the housing interior; and a retaining mechanism to: lock the first member in a position so as to preload the spring; and upon the actuation, unlock the first member to cause the preloaded spring to release to push and cause the first member to move in the longitudinal direction with respect to the housing to carry the second member in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises: a plurality of balls protruding into the hollow interior of the housing through a plurality of holes formed on a lateral surface of the housing, the balls locking the first member in the position; a sleeve surrounding a longitudinal portion of the housing and covering the holes to prevent the balls from moving externally to the hollow interior of the housing through the holes; and a solenoid surrounding a longitudinal portion of the sleeve, wherein upon the actuation, the solenoid causes the sleeve to move in the longitudinal direction with respect to the housing to uncover the holes and allow the balls to move externally to the hollow interior of the housing through the holes to unlock the first member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a chemical reactor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising: a chassis; an emergency control system comprising: a sensor for detecting an emergency state, and a transmitting unit to transmit a signal indicative of the emergency state; and the retractable console system according to claim 1, wherein the actuation of the actuator of the retractable console system is caused by the signal indicative of the emergency state. ### Claim 17 A device for retracting a control console of a vehicle, the device comprising: a housing having a hollow interior, the housing being couplable to a chassis of a vehicle; a first member disposed within the hollow interior of the housing, the first member having a hollow interior; a second member partly disposed within the hollow interior of the first member, the second member being couplable to a linkage, the linkage being coupled to the control console; and a detaining mechanism to lock the first member; wherein upon detection of an emergency, the detaining mechanism unlocks the first member and moves the first member to move in a longitudinal direction with respect to the housing and to carry the second member in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the first member allows a movement of the second member within the hollow interior of the first member within a predefined movement range. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein carrying the second member by the first member in the longitudinal direction causes the control console to move from an operational position to a non-operational emergency position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the linkage is rotatably couplable to a fixed structure of a chassis of the vehicle along a rotation axis to allow the linkage and the control console coupled thereto to move between a plurality of operational positions and from an operational position of the plurality of operational positions to a non-operational emergency position in a rotational motion about the rotation axis.