Vehicle storage device with a hinged lid and safety mechanism to prevent unintentional opening in the event of an impact

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2108186 filed on July 28, 2021.

[0002] The present invention relates in general to storage devices, in particular for central consoles of motor vehicles, comprising a housing with a lid mounted pivoting on this housing between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said cavity, as well as a double push mechanism capable of locking said lid in the closed position.

[0003] The invention relates in particular to such a storage device equipped with a mechanism to prevent unintentional opening in the event of impact. [Previous technique]

[0004] Such a double push mechanism (commonly referred to by the English term "push push") typically includes a heart-shaped cam with a catch area and a follower finger provided respectively on the cover and on the case or vice versa.

[0005] In the closed position of the lid, the finger is held against the cam's engagement area by means of a spring acting at the level of the flap's rotation axis.

[0006] An initial push exerted on the lid by the user causes the follower finger to be released from the cam's attachment area and the lid to open under the action of the spring.

[0007] From this open position, a second push on the cover to a position slightly beyond its closed position causes the follower finger to move and again lock into the cam's engagement area, thus ensuring that the cover is locked in its closed position.

[0008] However, in the event of a collision, the acceleration forces experienced by the vehicle may cause the cover to accidentally unlock and open under the action of the spring.

[0009] We know from patent application US2015 / 144631 of a storage device for the center console of an automobile comprising a lid mounted pivoting about a first transverse axis on a housing between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said cavity, as well as a safety mechanism allowing the opening of the lid to be blocked in the event of longitudinal acceleration so as to prevent the unintentional opening of said lid.

[0010] We know from French patent application FR 3 077 836 A1 filed by the applicant, a storage device for the central console of a motor vehicle comprising a lid mounted pivoting around a first transverse axis on a housing between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said cavity, as well as first elastic return means urging said lid towards said open position.

[0011] The device also includes a double push mechanism capable of locking said cover in the closed position, as well as a safety mechanism comprising a pendulum mounted to pivot around a second transverse axis on a side wall of the case and equipped with a weight capable of driving by inertia the movement of said pendulum when said case undergoes acceleration in a longitudinal direction.

[0012] The pendulum includes a locking device designed to cooperate against an element of said cover when said housing is subjected to said longitudinal acceleration so as to prevent the unintentional opening of said cover.

[0013] The safety mechanism also includes a protruding stop on the side wall of the case against which the pendulum rests in the absence of external stresses acting on the case.

[0014] Such a safety mechanism proves particularly effective in preventing the unintentional opening of the storage device.

[0015] However, in use, this type of device generates numerous unwanted noises caused by relative micro-displacements between the stop and the pendulum during the vehicle's rolling phases. [Description of the invention]

[0016] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0017] To this end, it proposes a storage device for motor vehicles comprising a lid mounted pivoting around a first transverse axis on a housing between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said cavity, first elastic return means urging said lid towards said open position, a double push mechanism capable of locking said lid in the closed position, as well as a safety mechanism comprising a pendulum mounted pivoting around a second transverse axis on said housing and being equipped with a weight capable of driving by inertia the displacement of said pendulum when said housing undergoes acceleration in a longitudinal direction,said pendulum comprising a locking element designed to cooperate against an element of said cover when said housing is subjected to said longitudinal acceleration so as to prevent the unintentional opening of said cover. Said safety mechanism also includes secondary elastic return means that bring said pendulum to a rest position in which it rests against a first stop formed on said housing, and said pendulum is centered with respect to the median vertical longitudinal plane of said housing.

[0018] Thanks to the presence of these second elastic return means, the storage device according to the invention makes it possible to avoid micro-displacements of the pendulum during the rolling phases of the vehicle which are sources of parasitic noises.

[0019] According to preferred characteristics of said storage device according to the invention: said second elastic return means comprise at least one elastically deformable tab connected at one end to said housing and whose other free end rests against a bearing surface provided on said pendulum; said tab is molded in one piece from plastic with an element of said housing; said second elastic return means comprise a clothespin-type torsion spring mounted on said second transverse axis; said locking member consists of a hook whose free end is provided to cooperate against the upper face of a tab formed on said cover to prevent its unintentional unlocking when said housing is subjected to said longitudinal acceleration;said safety mechanism further includes a second stop also provided on said housing and arranged so as to limit the pivoting stroke of said pendulum when said housing is subjected to said longitudinal acceleration; said cover includes a main wall and two lateral cheeks by means of which it is pivotally mounted on said housing, said double thrust mechanism including a connecting rod pivotally mounted on one side of said housing around a third transverse axis, said connecting rod carrying a follower finger capable of traveling along a cam track provided on one of said cheeks and encircling a substantially heart-shaped cam having at one of its longitudinal ends a concave hooking area;and / or said cover comprises a guide comb having a crenellated profile consisting of a plurality of notches separated by rectangular recesses, said notches being nested in arc-shaped guide tracks formed on said housing outside said storage cavity and centered on said first transverse pivot axis of the cover.

[0020] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a central console of a motor vehicle comprising at least one such storage device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of several embodiments, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings, on which: [ Fig 1 ] represents a perspective view of a storage device for a motor vehicle's center console according to the invention, equipped with a safety mechanism against unintentional opening of the lid in the event of an impact; Fig 2 ] is a perspective view of the storage device according to the invention from another angle; [ Fig 3 ] represents a cross-sectional view along a vertical longitudinal plane of the storage device according to the invention; [ Fig 4 ] is a partial perspective cross-sectional view of the front part of the storage device according to the invention showing the pendulum of the safety mechanism against unintentional opening of the lid in the rest position; and [ Fig 5 ] is a view similar to the figure 4 but illustrating the operation of the safety mechanism against unintentional opening of the lid when the case undergoes forward longitudinal acceleration. [Detailed description]

[0022] THE figures 1 And 2 represent a storage device 1 intended to be integrated into a central console not shown of a motor vehicle.

[0023] We define, with respect to the vehicle, a direct orthogonal XYZ coordinate system comprising three axes perpendicular to each other in pairs, namely: a horizontal longitudinal axis X, parallel to the ground and oriented according to the general direction of movement of the vehicle; a horizontal transverse axis Y, also parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the X axis; and a vertical axis Z, perpendicular to the ground as well as to the horizontal XY plane.

[0024] In the description that follows, and by convention, the terms "front", "rear", "lower", "upper", and "lateral" will be taken in relation to a motor vehicle in normal rolling position.

[0025] The terms "external" and "internal" will be used to define the relative position of an element with reference to the median longitudinal plane of the storage device 1. The element closest to this plane will thus be described as internal, as opposed to the other element further from this same plane, which will be described as external.

[0026] The storage device 1 comprises a housing 10 including a main body 11 defining a storage cavity delimited by a front wall 12, a rear wall 13, two side walls 14, 15 and a bottom wall 16.

[0027] Equipped on top with an access opening not visible in the figures and allowing users to introduce all kinds of objects into this cavity such as for example bottles or cans, the body 11 also includes an external peripheral rim 17 bordering the upper edges of the front 12, rear 13 and side 14, 15 walls.

[0028] The housing 10 also includes a decorative frame 18 fixedly snap-fitted onto the outer peripheral rim 17, and a curved guide panel 19 extending to the front of the front wall 12 of the body 11 to which it is rigidly snap-fitted.

[0029] In addition to the housing 10, the storage device 1 includes a cover 20 comprising a main wall 21 having a substantially rectangular shape complementary to that of the access opening, and two side cheeks 22, 23 extending vertically downwards from the two side edges of this main wall 21 and from the external side of the side walls 14, 15 of the housing 10.

[0030] Each of these side cheeks 22, 23 is pivotally mounted around a respective transverse shaft 24, 25 of axis A extending from the outer face of a corresponding side wall 14, 15 of the housing 10.

[0031] The cover 20 is thus able to pivot relative to the housing 10 around this transverse axis A between a closed position in which its main wall 21 completely blocks the access opening of this housing 10 so as to block access to the storage cavity, and an open position not shown where this main wall 21 extends substantially perpendicularly to this same opening so as to allow access to this storage cavity.

[0032] Elastic return means 26 continuously pull the lid 20 towards its open position. As illustrated in the figures 1 And 3, these return means are here constituted by a clothespin-type torsion spring 26 comprising a helical portion 26A mounted on the shaft 24 and two angularly spaced radial branches 26B extending from the two ends of this helical portion 26A, being attached respectively to the side wall 14 of the housing 10 and to the side cheek 22 of the cover 20 (only the radial branch 26B attached to this cheek 22 being visible on the figure 3 ).

[0033] As illustrated on the figures 4 And 5 , the cover 20 also includes a guide comb 27 rooted along the front edge of the lower face of its main wall 21 and projecting out of the front of the latter.

[0034] The front end of this guide comb 27 has a crenellated profile consisting of a plurality of crenellations 28 separated by rectangular notches 29.

[0035] These slots 28 are nested in circular arc guide tracks 30 formed in the front part of the housing 10 in front of the storage cavity and centered on the pivot axis A of the cover 20.

[0036] More specifically, and as illustrated on the figure 5 , these guide tracks 30 extend from the front edge 17A of the outer peripheral rim 17 of the housing 10 and continue along the guide panel 19.

[0037] During the pivoting of the cover 20 between its open and closed positions, the slots 28 of the comb 27 move along the tracks 30 so as to limit the transverse micro-movements of this cover 20 which generate parasitic noises and to avoid any risk of blocking this cover 20 by butting against the housing 10.

[0038] The storage device 1 also includes a double-push mechanism (commonly referred to by the English term "push push") comprising a connecting rod 31 (visible on the figure 2 ) extending from the external side of the side wall 14 of the housing 10 and whose rear end is pivotally mounted on this housing 10 around a transverse axis B.

[0039] As illustrated on the figure 3 , the front end of the connecting rod 31 carries a follower finger 32 oriented transversely and able to move along a cam track 33 formed in a recess on the inner face of the side cheek 22 of the cover 20.

[0040] This cam track 33 surrounds a substantially heart-shaped cam 34 having at its front end a concave attachment zone.

[0041] The cam track 33 further includes at its front end a guide nose 35 formed by a ramp inclined downwards and backwards to a substantially horizontal stop shoulder (these directional indications being given for the closed position of the cover 20).

[0042] In the locked position of the lid 20 and as illustrated on the figure 3 , the rear end of the follower finger 32 is held against the cam 34 attachment area by the elastic return force generated by the spring 26.

[0043] A first push P exerted on the top of the rear end of the cover 20 by the user causes the follower finger 32 to be released from this cam 34 attachment area and its beveled front end to slide against the nose ramp 35, causing a slight pivoting of the connecting rod 31 and the upward movement of its follower finger 32.

[0044] As soon as the pushing effort ceases, the cover 20 opens under the action of the spring 26 (the follower finger 32 then traveling along the upper edge of the cam track 33 passing over the heart cam 34).

[0045] From this open position, a second push on the top of the rear end of the cover 20 to a position slightly beyond the closed position causes the follower finger 32 to move along the lower edge of the cam track 33 passing under the heart cam 34 until it comes to rest against the shoulder of the nose 35.

[0046] As soon as the pushing effort ceases, the cover 20 pivots slightly to its closed position where the rear end of the follower finger 32 again locks into the hooking area of ​​the core cam 34 and locks this cover 20 in this closed position.

[0047] The storage device 1 further includes a safety mechanism against the unintentional opening of the cover 20 when the case 10 undergoes a forward-directed longitudinal acceleration, for example during a rear-end collision.

[0048] Indeed, when the housing 10 is subjected to such acceleration while the cover 20 is in its closed position, the inertia of the latter can cause it to pivot against the restoring force of the spring 26 and the release of the follower finger 32 from the hooking area of ​​the cam 34, so as to cause the unintentional opening of the cover 20.

[0049] With reference to figures 1 , 4 And 5 , the safety mechanism includes a pendulum 36 mounted to pivot about a transverse axis C on the upper part of the guide panel 19 of the housing 10.

[0050] Advantageously produced from a single piece of thermoplastic material, this pendulum 36 is equipped with a weight 37 arranged in its upper part located above its pivot axis C.

[0051] The pendulum 36 also includes an L-shaped locking hook 38 arranged above the pivot axis C of this pendulum 36 and whose free end is provided to cooperate in buttock with the upper face of a lug 39 provided on the guide comb 27 of the cover 20 (between two notches 29 and in place of a slot 28) to prevent its unintentional unlocking when the case 10 undergoes a forward longitudinal acceleration, as will be explained in detail below.

[0052] In order to avoid any risk of the lid 20 becoming wedged, it should be noted that the pendulum 36 is advantageously centered with respect to the median vertical longitudinal plane of the device 1.

[0053] The safety mechanism also includes elastic return means 40 which continuously pull the pendulum 36 towards a rest position illustrated by the figure 4 and in which a protruding chin 41 at the rear of the upper part of this pendulum 36 rests against a first stop 42 provided on the guide panel 19 of the case 10.

[0054] These elastic return means in this case include at least one elastically deformable tongue 40 connected at one end to the guide panel 19 and whose other free end rests against a support surface 43 provided on the pendulum 36 near its pivot axis C.

[0055] The tab 40 is advantageously made from a single piece of plastic molding with the guide panel 19 of the housing 10.

[0056] Alternatively, these elastic return means can be different and for example consist of a clothespin-type torsion spring mounted on the pivot axis C.

[0057] The presence of these elastic return means prevents the generation of parasitic noises caused by relative micro-displacements between the stop 42 and the pendulum 36 during the rolling phases of the vehicle.

[0058] The restoring force of these second elastic means will of course be adapted so that it does not oppose the pivoting of the pendulum when the case undergoes a sufficiently large longitudinal acceleration forward, in particular in the event of a rear collision.

[0059] Advantageously, the safety mechanism further includes a second stop 44 also provided on the guide panel 19 of the housing 10 and arranged so as to limit the pivoting stroke of the pendulum 36 when such a longitudinal acceleration occurs in order to prevent the locking hook 38 from exerting a longitudinal pushing force on the tab 39 of the cover 20.

[0060] We will now describe the functioning of the prevention system with reference to the figure 5 .

[0061] When the case 10 of the storage device 1 undergoes a longitudinal acceleration forward while the cover 20 is locked in its closed position, the inertia of the weight 37 of the pendulum 36 causes its upper part to pivot backwards.

[0062] The free end of its locking hook 38 then comes to be positioned just above the tab 39 provided on the guide comb 27 of the cover 20, so as to prevent the latter from pivoting backwards against the return force of the spring 26 and from unlocking.

[0063] It should be noted on this occasion that in the case where the housing 10 undergoes a longitudinal acceleration directed towards the rear, for example during a front collision, the cover also remains locked in the closed position by the blocking against the stop of the follower finger 32 in the hooking area of ​​the heart cam 34.

[0064] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the double push mechanism can for example be shaped differently.

Claims

1. stowage device (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a cover (20) mounted to pivot about a first transverse axis (A) on a housing (10) between an open position giving access to a stowage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said cavity, first elastic reminder means (26) urging said cover (20) towards said open position, a double thrust mechanism capable of locking said cover (20) in a closed position, and a safety mechanism comprising a pendulum (36) mounted to pivot about a second axis transverse (C) on said housing (10) and being provided with a weight (37) capable of driving by inertia the displacement of said pendulum (36) when said housing (10) undergoes an acceleration in a longitudinal management, said pendulum (36) comprising a standstill member (38) designed to cooperate in abutment with an item (39) of said lid (20) when said housing (10) is subjected to said longitudinal acceleration so as to prevent the unintentional opening of said lid (20) ; said safety mechanism also comprises second elastic reminder means (40) urging said pendulum (36) towards a rest position in which it rests against a first stop (42) provided on said housing (10), wherein said pendulum (36) is centred facing the median vertical longitudinal drawing of said housing (10).

2. stowage device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said second elastic reminder means comprise at least one elastically deformable tongue (40) connected by one of its ends to said housing (10) and whose second free end rests against a bearing surface (43) provided on said pendulum (36).

3. stowage device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said tongue (40) is moulded in a single component of plastic material with an item (19) of said casing (10).

4. stowage device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said second elastic reminder means comprise a torsion spring of the clothes clip type mounted on said second transverse axis (C).

5. stowage device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the said standstill member consists of a hook (38), the free end of which is designed to cooperate in abutment with the upper face of a lug (39) provided on the said cover (20) in order to prevent its unintentional unlocking when the said housing (10) is subjected to a said longitudinal acceleration.

6. stowage device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the said safety mechanism further comprises a second stop (44) also arranged on the said housing (10) and arranged so as to limit the pivoting travel of the said pendulum (36) when the said housing (10) is subjected to a said longitudinal acceleration.

7. stowage device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the said cover (20) comprises a main wall (21) and two lateral cheeks (22, 23) by means of which it is mounted so as to pivot on the said housing (10), the said double-thrust mechanism comprising a connecting rod (31) mounted so as to pivot on one side of the said housing (10) about a third transverse axis (B), the said connecting rod (31) carrying a follower finger (32) capable of circulating along a cam path (33) provided on one (22) of said cheeks (22, 23) and surrounding a substantially heart-shaped cam (34) provided at one of its longitudinal ends with a concave fastening zone.

8. stowage device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the said cover (20) comprises a guide comb (27) having a crenellated profile consisting of a plurality of timeslots (28) separated by rectangular notches (29), the said timeslots (28) being interleaved in circular arc guide tracks (30) provided on the said housing (10) outside the said stowage cavity and centred on the said first transverse pivot axis (A) of the cover (20).

9. Motor vehicle central console, characterised in that it comprises at least one stowage device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9.