Overhead console assembly

An overhead console assembly, for use within a vehicle comprising:

• a housing defining a first compartment, the compartment having an access opening;
• a lid for covering the access opening;
• a first hinge latch, mounted to the lid, having a first hinge element selectively moveable between a first hinging position hingedly engaging the housing and a first retracted position free from the housing;
• a second hinge latch, mounted to the lid spaced apart from the first hinge latch, having a second hinge element selectively moveable between a second hinging position hingedly engaging the housing and a second retracted position free from the housing;
• the lid being pivotable about the first hinge element, thereby exposing the access opening in a first manner, when the first hinge element is in the first hinging position and the second hinge element is in the second retracted position;
• and
• the lid being pivotable about the second hinge element, thereby exposing the access opening in a second manner, when the second hinge element is in the second hinging position and the first hinge element is in the first retracted position.

An overhead console assembly, for installation within a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• an assembly housing for mounting against the interior roof of the motor vehicle, the assembly housing defining a first compartment, the first compartment bounded by first and second spaced apart generally vertical walls, each said wall having a lower edge defining first and second compartment wall openings;
• a dual-sided access compartment, houseable in the first compartment between the first and second walls, the dual-sided access compartment including:
• first connection means for latching and pivotally attaching the dual-sided access compartment towards the lower edge of the first wall;
• and
• second connection means for latching and pivotally attaching the dual-sided access compartment towards the lower edge of the second wall;
• activation of a chosen one of the first and second connection means permitting the dual-sided access compartment to pivot open about the remaining connection means thereby providing access from the first or second side of the dual-sided access compartment.

An overhead console assembly, for installation within a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• an assembly housing for mounting against the interior roof of the motor vehicle, the assembly housing defining a first compartment;
• a container for receiving a user article, houseable within the first compartment, including:
• a lid hingedly attached to the assembly housing for movement between open and closed dispositions, the lid having an upper-most surface and a lower-most surface;
• first and second side members, disposed parallel to one another and spaced apart, a lower edge of each side member attached to the upper-most surface of the lid, each side member defining a stair-step profile having a riser portion;
• a transverse member, connecting each riser portion of the first side member to a corresponding riser portion of the second side member, a lower edge of the transverse member being attached to the upper-most surface of the lid;
• a latch mechanism for retaining the lid in a closed disposition against the assembly housing and for permitting the lid to be hinged open;
• and
• a damper mechanism, connecting the lid to the assembly housing, for slowing the rate at which the lid traverses from the closed disposition to the open disposition when unlatched;
• a sub-compartment, sized for receiving the user article, being defined by the upper-most surface of the lid, the side members and the transverse member, the sub-compartment having an open top;
• the damper mechanism protecting the user article in the sub-compartment from dislodgment while the lid is placed in an open disposition;
• the open top of the sub-compartment facing upwardly when the lid is in the open disposition, so as to retain the user article therein by force of gravity;
• wherein the assembly housing further defines a third compartment for housing a lamp assembly, the overhead console assembly further including:
• a retractable and aimable lamp assembly, houseable in the third compartment in the assembly housing, the lamp assembly including:
• a lamp head;
• a lamp socket disposed within the lamp head and adapted to receive electricity;
• and
• a collapsible flexible bellows having a first end attached to the third compartment, a second end attached to the lamp head, and a length therebetween, for disposing the lamp head a variable distance from the third compartment as the bellows is extended or contracted by a user;
• the bellows, when collapsed, permitting the lamp assembly to be stowed within the compartment, and permitting, when extended, the lamp head to be aimed over a substantially 360? range.

An overhead console assembly, for installation within a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• an assembly housing for mounting against the interior roof of the motor vehicle, the assembly housing defining a first compartment;
• a container for receiving a user article, houseable within the first compartment, including:
• a lid hingedly attached to the assembly housing for movement between open and closed dispositions, the lid having an upper-most surface and a lower-most surface;
• first and second side members, disposed parallel to one another and spaced apart, a lower edge of each side member attached to the upper-most surface of the lid, each side member defining a stair-step profile having a riser portion;
• a transverse member, connecting each riser portion of the first side member to a corresponding riser portion of the second side member, a lower edge of the transverse member being attached to the upper-most surface of the lid;
• a latch mechanism for retaining the lid in a closed disposition against the assembly housing and for permitting the lid to be hinged open;
• and
• a damper mechanism, connecting the lid to the assembly housing, for slowing the rate at which the lid traverses from the closed disposition to the open disposition when unlatched;
• a sub-compartment, sized for receiving the user article, being defined by the upper-most surface of the lid, the side members and the transverse member, the sub-compartment having an open top;
• the damper mechanism protecting the user article in the sub-compartment from dislodgment while the lid is placed in an open disposition;
• the open top of the sub-compartment facing upwardly when the lid is in the open disposition, so as to retain the user article therein by force of gravity;
• and
• a foam pad mounted to the assembly housing at a position overlying the open top of the sub-compartment, such that when the lid is in the closed disposition, the foam pad lies against the open top of the sub-compartment, protecting and retaining any user article therein.

An overhead console assembly, for installation within a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• an assembly housing for mounting against the interior roof of the motor vehicle, the assembly housing defining a first compartment;
• a container for receiving a user article, houseable within the first compartment, including:
• a lid hingedly attached to the assembly housing for movement between open and closed dispositions, the lid having an upper-most surface and a lower-most surface;
• first and second side members, disposed parallel to one another and spaced apart, a lower edge of each side member attached to the upper-most surface of the lid, each side member defining a stair-step profile having a riser portion;
• a transverse member, connecting each riser portion of the first side member to a corresponding riser portion of the second side member, a lower edge of the transverse member being attached to the upper-most surface of the lid;
• a latch mechanism for retaining the lid in a closed disposition against the assembly housing and for permitting the lid to be hinged open;
• and
• a damper mechanism, connecting the lid to the assembly housing, for slowing the rate at which the lid traverses from the closed disposition to the open disposition when unlatched;
• a sub-compartment, sized for receiving the user article, being defined by the upper-most surface of the lid, the side members and the transverse member, the sub-compartment having an open top;
• the damper mechanism protecting the user article in the sub-compartment from dislodgment while the lid is placed in an open disposition;
• the open top of the sub-compartment facing upwardly when the lid is in the open disposition, so as to retain the user article therein by force of gravity;
• and
• a writing instrument clasping member attached to an outwardly facing surface of the transverse member.

An overhead console assembly, for installation within a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• an assembly housing for mounting against the interior roof of the motor vehicle, the assembly housing defining a first compartment and a second compartment for concealably retaining a remote control unit for a garage door opener, the remote control unit having a pushbutton for activating the unit;
• a container for receiving a user article, houseable within the first compartment, including:
• a lid hingedly attached to the assembly housing for movement between open and closed dispositions, the lid having an upper-most surface and a lower-most surface;
• first and second side members, disposed parallel to one another and spaced apart, a lower edge of each side member attached to the upper-most surface of the lid, each side member defining a stair-step profile having a riser portion;
• a transverse member, connecting each riser portion of the first side member to a corresponding riser portion of the second side member, a lower edge of the transverse member being attached to the upper-most surface of the lid;
• a latch mechanism for retaining the lid in a closed disposition against the assembly housing and for permitting the lid to be hinged open;
• and
• a damper mechanism, connecting the lid to the assembly housing, for slowing the rate at which the lid traverses from the closed disposition to the open disposition when unlatched;
• a sub-compartment, sized for receiving the user article, being defined by the upper-most surface of the lid, the side members and transverse member, the sub-compartment having an open top;
• the damper mechanism protecting the user article in the sub-compartment from dislodgment while the lid is placed in an open disposition;
• the open top of the sub-compartment facing upwardly when the lid is in the open disposition, so as to retain the user article therein by force of gravity;
• a removable lid, sized to cover the second compartment, including an upper-most surface, a bottom-most surface, and pushbutton means for transmitting force situated on the lid, the bottom-most surface of the lid being substantially flush with the assembly housing when the lid covers the second compartment;
• means for removably attaching the lid to the assembly housing for closing the second compartment;
• and
• means for releasably securing the remote control unit against the inner-most surface of the lid;
• the remote control unit being secured against the lid such that pressure upon the pushbutton means for transmitting force causes the pushbutton on the remote control unit to activate the remote control unit, allowing activation of the remote control unit without opening the lid.