Instrument panel subassembly for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dashboard subassembly comprising a dashboard crossbeam, a dashboard body rigidly fitted to the crossbeam and a storage device comprising a hollow box which is open at its rear end and protrudes forward from the body through a cut-out provided in the body, the box comprising an upper wall (23) with a receiving aperture (23A) for receiving a housing (31) of a lighting module (30) for being powered by a power cable (5) equipped at one of its ends with a connector (6), the body having a through opening (15) configured above the cut-out (23A) so as to enable the end of the cable to pass through the body from rear to front; the body comprising on its front surface a first guide ramp (16) configured for guiding the end of the power cable up to the receiving aperture.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application claims priority from French application 2005518 filed on May 25, 2020, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates generally to the problem of assembling a lighting module of a storage device of the glove box or empty pocket type and integrated in a dashboard subassembly of a motor vehicle.

[0003] The present application is particularly intended to provide a dashboard subassembly whose dashboard body is equipped with an auxiliary part for assisting in the assembly of such a lighting module. BACKGROUND

[0004] The dashboard subassembly of a motor vehicle generally comprises a dashboard crossbeam, a dashboard body rigidly assembled to the crossbeam and a number of other elements, among which in particular a storage device of the glove box or empty pocket type rigidly assembled to the dashboard body and to the crossbeam.

[0005] Such a storage device generally comprises a hollow box having an access opening at its rear end and projecting forward from the dashboard body through a cutout provided in this body, and a small door assembled on a lower wall of the box and pivotally hinged about a transverse axis between a closed position in which it closes the access opening and an open position which enables access to the interior of the box through the opening.

[0006] In addition, the dashboard subassembly to which the box is integrated and the small door of the storage device are generally preassembled in a first workshop, then transported to the final assembly line of the vehicle to be fixed there to the body structure of the vehicle.

[0007] These storage devices are also generally equipped with a lighting module comprising a housing snapped on a receiving orifice provided in an upper wall of the box and powered by an electrical cable coupled to a direct current power source, such as the battery of the vehicle.

[0008] The housing of the lighting module comprises a light source inserted on an electrical circuit whose closure is controlled by the opening of the cover of the storage device so as to cause the recess to be illuminated only when the cover is in the open position.

[0009] To this end, the lighting module generally comprises a push rod protruding from the rear end of the housing and passing through the outer profile of the access opening against which the cover is folded in its closed position, the push rod being slidable along a translation axis between a retracted position and an outgoing position, the push rod being urged by a spring towards the outgoing position.

[0010] When the cover occupies its closed position, the cover constrains the push rod in the retracted position in the compressed state of the spring. Once the cover is opened, the spring rebounds the push rod in its outgoing position, in which the push rod actuates a switch for controlling the closure of the circuit.

[0011] After the installation of the dashboard subassembly on the vehicle, the electrical wiring of the various equipment present on this subassembly, in particular the lighting module of the storage device, is then carried out manually by an operator.

[0012] The operator thus needs to wire the power supply cable of the storage device transversely along the rear surface of the dashboard body, which is oriented towards the passenger compartment, and to pass the free end of this power supply cable, equipped with a connector, through the receiving orifice provided in the upper wall of the box.

[0013] Since the box of the storage device protrudes forwards from the dashboard body, the power supply cable needs to pass through the dashboard body beforehand at the position of the opening provided in this body, which means that the introduction of the end of this power supply cable through the receiving orifice needs to be carried out blindly by the operator by manipulating the part of the cable further away from this end. SUMMARY

[0014] The present invention thus aims to improve the situation.

[0015] To this end, the present invention provides a dashboard subassembly comprising a dashboard crossbeam, a dashboard body rigidly fitted on the crossbeam and a storage device comprising a hollow box open at its rear end and protruding forwards from the dashboard body through a cutout provided in the body, the box comprising an upper wall having a receiving orifice for receiving a housing of a lighting module for being powered by a power supply cable equipped with one of the ends of a connector, the dashboard body having a through opening configured above the cutout so as to enable the passage of the end of the cable equipped with the connector from rear to front through the body;

[0016] characterized in that said dashboard body comprises, on a front face thereof, a first guide ramp configured for guiding the end of the power supply cable, equipped with the connector, until a receiving aperture provided in an upper wall of the box.

[0017] Thus, the presence of such a guide ramp makes it easier for the operator in charge of assembling the lighting module to blindly perform the passage of the end of the power supply cable of this lighting module through the receiving aperture provided in the upper wall of the box.

[0018] The dashboard sub-assembly according to the application has the following preferred features:

[0019] - the first guide ramp is disposed vertically below the passage opening and has a descending slope descending in the direction of the receiving aperture;

[0020] - the descending slope of the first ramp has an inclination comprised between 30° and 45° with respect to the vertical;

[0021] - the rear end of the hollow box is edged by a peripheral band fixed on the outer contour of the cutout against the rear face of the dashboard body, an upper portion of the band being equipped with an aperture provided for the passage of a push rod protruding from the housing of the lighting module;

[0022] - the dashboard body comprises, on a front face thereof, a second guide ramp configured for guiding the free end of the push rod until the aperture when the housing of the lighting module is assembled on the receiving aperture provided in the upper wall of the box;

[0023] - the second guide ramp is configured to be plumb with the rear end of the upper wall of the box at the position of the aperture and has a descending slope descending towards the rear, the descending slope opening at the top of the aperture onto the front face of the upper portion of the peripheral band of the box;

[0024] - the descending slope of the second ramp has an inclination comprised between 30° and 45° with respect to the horizontal;

[0025] - the aperture has an elongated shape oriented vertically; and / or

[0026] - the dashboard body is composed of at least one insert injection molded on the basis of a thermoplastic polymer.

[0027] The application also relates, in a second aspect, to a motor vehicle comprising such a dashboard sub-assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] The presentation of the application will become clearer from the detailed description that follows, given by way of illustration and not of limitation, and from the attached drawings, wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 a partial perspective view of the rear three-quarters of a dashboard subassembly of a motor vehicle according to the application is shown;

[0030] Figure 2 an enlarged view of the front surface of the upper part of the peripheral profile of the cut-out of the dashboard body for receiving the box of the lighting device is shown;

[0031] Figure 3 a partial perspective view of the dashboard subassembly is shown, which illustrates a first assembly step for assembling the lighting module on the box of the lighting device;

[0032] Figure 4 a partial perspective view of the dashboard subassembly is shown, which illustrates a second assembly step for assembling the lighting module on the box of the lighting device;

[0033] Figure 5 a partial perspective view of the dashboard subassembly is shown, which illustrates a third assembly step for assembling the lighting module on the box of the lighting device;

[0034] Figure 6 a partial sectional view of the dashboard subassembly is shown, which likewise illustrates a third assembly step for assembling the lighting module on the box of the lighting device;

[0035] Figure 7 a partial perspective view of the dashboard subassembly is shown, which illustrates a fourth and final assembly step for assembling the lighting module on the box of the lighting device; and

[0036] Figure 8 a partial sectional view of the dashboard subassembly is shown, which likewise illustrates a fourth assembly step for assembling the lighting module on the box of the lighting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1 a partial view of a dashboard subassembly 1 for assembly on an assembly line of a motor vehicle is shown.

[0038] In the description that follows, by convention, the terms "upper", "lower", "longitudinal" and "transverse" are defined with respect to the assembly position of the dashboard subassembly 1 in the vehicle.

[0039] The terms "front" and "rear" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another element according to the axial direction of the vehicle, which is oriented along the normal direction of movement of the vehicle.

[0040] As Figure 1 indicated above, the dashboard subassembly 1 comprises a dashboard crossbeam 2 comprising a main tube 3 made of steel, which is intended to be fixed by means of its two end portions on the dashers of the front lateral wings of the body structure of the vehicle, so as to extend transversely above the feet of the driver and the front passengers over the entire width of the vehicle.

[0041] The dashboard subassembly 1 further comprises a dashboard body 10 made of plastic material, which is rigidly fitted on the dashboard crossbeam 2 by means of a metal fixing support 4.

[0042] In this example, the dashboard body 10 is composed of a first main insert 11 and a second insert 12 of smaller dimensions, which is rigidly fixed to the upper portion of the main insert 11 by screwing.

[0043] Each of the two inserts 11, 12 is injection molded on the basis of a thermoplastic polymer optionally reinforced with natural and / or synthetic fibers, such as polyurethane (PUR), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[0044] Still with reference to Figure 1 , the dashboard subassembly 1 further comprises a storage device 20 of the glove compartment or empty pocket type, which is rigidly fitted on the crossbeam 2 and on the main insert 11 of the dashboard body 10.

[0045] The storage device 20 comprises a hollow rigid box 21 in the form of a substantially parallelepiped, which delimits an internal storage cavity and is fitted so as to pass through a rectangular cutout 13 provided in the right portion of the main insert 11 of the dashboard body 10 (see Figure 2 ).

[0046] The box 21 comprises an access opening 22, which opens onto the rear surface of the main insert 11 of the dashboard body 10 turned towards the passenger compartment, an upper wall 23 and a lower wall 24, which are opposite to each other, two lateral walls 25, 26, which are opposite to each other and which couple the upper wall 13 and the lower wall 24, and a bottom wall 27, which is opposite to the access opening 22.

[0047] The rear end portions of the upper wall 23 and of the lateral walls 25, 26 are edged by a peripheral band 28, which is fixed by screwing against the rear surface of the main insert 11 on the outer profile of the cutout 13 for receiving the box 21.

[0048] The storage device 20 also comprises a small door (not shown on the drawings for better visibility) fitted to be pivotally hinged about a transverse axis on the rear end of the lower wall 24 of the box 21 between a closed position, in which it closes the access opening 22 by resting against the peripheral band 28, and an open position enabling access to the recess through the same opening 22.

[0049] After the dashboard subassembly 1 has been placed on the vehicle, the operator has to carry out the electrical wiring by wiring a plurality of power supply cables (coupled with a direct current power supply, such as the vehicle battery) transversely along the rear surface of the dashboard body 10, in order to power the various electrical equipment preassembled on the subassembly, as well as other electrical equipment subsequently assembled on the final assembly line of the vehicle, in particular the lighting module 30 of the storage device 20, which is provided to be snapped on a rectangular receiving aperture 23A provided in the upper wall 23 of the box 21 (see Figure 3 and Figure 4 ).

[0050] With reference to Figure 4 , the lighting module 30 comprises a substantially parallelepipedal casing 31 which houses a light source (not visible) inserted in an electrical circuit whose opening and closure are controlled by a push rod 32 which protrudes from the rear end of the casing 31 and is fitted to slide movable along a translation axis between a retracted position, in which the circuit is closed, and an outgoing position, in which the circuit is open and the push rod is urged by a spring 33 towards the outgoing position, as Figure 6 and Figure 8 can be seen.

[0051] As shown in Figure 1 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the push rod 32 is intended to pass, in the assembled configuration of the lighting module 30, through an elongated hole 29 which is oriented vertically and is provided in the upper portion of the peripheral band 28, so that the small door of the storage device 20 constrains the push rod in the retracted position in the compressed condition of the spring 33 when the small door occupies its closed position.

[0052] Since the assembly of the lighting module 30 is performed from the inside of the storage recess 21, in particular for accessibility reasons, the operator has to be able to pre-insert, via the receiving aperture 23A, into the storage recess the end of the power supply cable 5 of the module 30 equipped with the junction connector 6.

[0053] The box 21 of the storage device 20 projects forward from the dashboard body 10, through the opening 15 applied in the raised element 14 of the main insert 11 of the body 10, which is above the cut-out 13 for receiving the box 21 (see Figures 1 to 3 ), so as to enable the end of the power supply cable 5 equipped with the connector 6 to pass through the dashboard body 10.

[0054] As Figure 2 can be seen, the opening 15 is arranged slightly upstream of the receiving aperture 23A for receiving the lighting module 30, taking into account the wiring direction S of the power supply cable 6 (here from the left side of the vehicle to the right side of the vehicle).

[0055] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate, the main insert 11 of the dashboard body 10 comprises, on its front face (which is oriented opposite the passenger compartment), a first guide ramp 16 configured for guiding the end of the power supply cable 5 equipped with the connector 6 until the receiving aperture 23A provided in the upper wall 23 of the box 21.

[0056] Since it is arranged vertically below the opening 15, the first guide ramp 16 has a descending slope descending in the direction of the receiving aperture 23A, the inclination of which with respect to the vertical is preferably between 30° and 45°.

[0057] As Figure 3 illustrate, since the power supply cable 5 has a great flexibility, when the operator passes the end of the power supply cable equipped with the connector 6 through the opening 15, the end is bent almost vertically under the drive of the mass of the connector 6 and the connector 6 comes into contact with the ramp 16.

[0058] The operator then only has to 5 gradually push the power supply cable through the opening 15 to cause the end of the power supply cable with the connector 6 to slide along the ramp 16 and then to be inserted through the receiving aperture 23A of the upper wall 23 of the box 21, as Figure 4 illustrate.

[0059] As Figure 4 illustrate, the operator can from here connect the connector 6 with the rear end of the housing 31 of the lighting module 30 by introducing his two hands inside the box 21.

[0060] Since the connector 6 and the push rod 32 project rearward from the housing 31 of the lighting module 30, as Figure 4 illustrate, in order to be able to introduce the housing 31 into the receiving aperture 23A, the operator is forced to position the (inclined by an inclination of approximately 45° with respect to the horizontal) lighting module 30 so that the aperture 23A is aligned with the free end of the push rod 32 oriented toward the aperture 23A.

[0061] In order to guide the wiring up to the elongated hole 29 of the free end of the pusher 32, after the passage of this end through the aperture 23A, the main insert 11 of the dashboard body 10 comprises on its front surface a second guide ramp 17 configured to be perpendicular to the rear end of the upper wall 23 of the box 21 at the position of the hole 29 and having a descending slope descending towards the rear, which opens at the top of the hole 29 to the front surface of the upper portion of the peripheral band 28 of the box 21.

[0062] The inclination of the descending slope of the second guide ramp 17 with respect to the horizontal is preferably comprised between 30° and 45°.

[0063] When the lighting module 30 passes through the aperture 23A from rear to front in a tilted sliding movement, the free end 32A of the pusher 32 comes into contact with the second ramp 17.

[0064] As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown above, the continuation of the introduction movement of the lighting module 30 causes the compression of the pusher 32 against the second ramp 17, which continues until the lower portion of the front edge of the housing 31 reaches a stop against the front edge of the receiving aperture 23A.

[0065] Next, the operator has to pivot the front portion of the lighting module 30 upwards around the front edge of the receiving aperture 23A, to cause the free end 32A of the pusher 32 to slide along the second ramp 17 and up to the upper end of the elongated hole 29.

[0066] As soon as the free end 32A faces the upper end of the hole 29, the pusher 32 relaxes while passing through the hole and adopts its outgoing position.

[0067] It is noted that the elongated shape of the hole 29 facilitates the insertion of the pusher 31.

[0068] From this, the operator has to continue the upwards pivoting of the front portion of the lighting module 30 around the front edge of the receiving aperture 23A, to cause the housing 31 of the lighting module to snap in the aperture 23A.

[0069] From this, the lighting module 30 occupies Figure 7 and Figure 8 the assembled configuration shown above.

[0070] According to an embodiment variant not shown, the guide ramp can be differently configured. The dashboard body can also be constituted by a single one-piece part.

Claims

1. An instrument panel subassembly comprising an instrument panel crossbeam (2), an instrument panel body (10) rigidly mounted on the instrument panel crossbeam (2), and a storage device (20) comprising a hollow housing (21) having an opening at its rear end and protruding forward from the instrument panel body (10) through a cutout (13) provided in the instrument panel body (10), the housing (21) comprising an upper wall (23) having a receiving aperture (23A) for receiving a housing (31) of an illumination module (30) for being powered by a power cable (5) having a connector (6) at one of its ends, the instrument panel body (10) having a through opening (15) disposed above the cutout (13) to allow the end of the power cable (5) equipped with the connector (6) to pass through the instrument panel body (10) from rear to front. Its features are, The instrument panel body (10) includes a first guide ramp (16) on its front surface, the first guide ramp being configured to guide the end of the power supply cable (5) equipped with the connector (6) up to a receiving port (23A) provided in the upper wall (23) of the housing (21).

2. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first guide ramp (16) is positioned vertically below the through opening (15), and the first guide ramp has a descending ramp that descends toward the receiving opening (23A).

3. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The descending ramp of the first guide ramp (16) has an inclination between 30° and 45° relative to the vertical direction.

4. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The rear end of the housing (21) is edged by a peripheral band (28) that abuts against the rear surface of the instrument panel body (10) and is fixed to the outline of the cutout (13). The upper part of the peripheral band (28) is provided with a hole (29) for a push rod (32) to pass through, which protrudes from the housing (31) of the lighting module (30).

5. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The instrument panel body (10) includes a second guide ramp (17) on its front surface, the second guide ramp being configured to guide the free end of the push rod (32) to the hole (29) when the housing (31) of the lighting module (30) is fitted onto the receiving port (23A) provided in the upper wall (23) of the housing (21).

6. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second guide ramp (17) is configured to be perpendicular to the rear end of the upper wall (23) of the housing (21) at the location of the hole (29), and the second guide ramp has a descending ramp that descends to the rear and extends at the top of the hole (29) to the front surface of the upper part of the peripheral band (28) of the housing (21).

7. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The descending ramp of the second guide ramp (17) has an inclination between 30° and 45° relative to the horizontal direction.

8. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that, The hole (29) has an elongated shape oriented vertically.

9. The instrument panel sub-assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The instrument panel body (10) is composed of at least one insert (11, 12), which is based on thermoplastic polymer injection molding.

10. A motor vehicle, characterized in that, The motor vehicle includes an instrument panel subassembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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