Fastening assembly for securing a portable electronic instrument in a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support assembly (100) for receiving a portable electronic instrument (99) having a screen. The assembly (100) includes a housing comprising: a recess (7); a wall having a viewing opening so that a user can see the screen; and a wall opposite to the wall having the viewing opening, the opposite wall including a fixed engagement (73). The support assembly (100) includes an adapter pad (10) removable relative to the housing for insertion into the recess such that when the adapter pad is inserted into the recess, it defines a cavity within the recess, the volume of which is smaller than the volume of the recess.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French application 2009945, filed on September 30, 2020, the contents of which (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This invention relates to a support assembly for supporting a portable electronic instrument with a display screen. The invention also relates to a support assembly for use in a motorized vehicle, the support assembly including a fixing member that allows the support assembly to be fixed to and detached from the vehicle's interior equipment (e.g., a seat or dashboard). The invention further relates to a vehicle that includes the support assembly according to the invention. Background Technology

[0003] The use of portable electronic devices (such as digital tablets and / or smartphones) is now widespread. This advantageously allows for the safe and comfortable use of these devices in motor vehicles (especially for front-seat passengers) and in environments different from those of vehicles. Various models of portable electronic devices exist, which are rectangular in shape, but their length, width, and thickness vary considerably depending on the model. Therefore, there is a need for support components that can be adapted to the different sizes of these devices to support them.

[0004] Document FR2917354 describes a device capable of supporting and maintaining a portable electronic instrument in a readable position within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The device includes mechanisms for securing the portable electronic instrument and maintaining it in a visible position. The securing and maintaining mechanisms can hold instruments of varying sizes. However, the mechanisms discussed involve several complex parts (e.g., gears and / or sliding arms and / or resilient restoring elements) that are relatively difficult to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, occasional practicality difficulties and unreliable securing mechanisms may contribute to the portable electronic instrument falling out. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to improve upon the existing situation by providing a component for securing portable electronic instruments, which securely holds the portable electronic instruments in a visible position, is easy to manufacture, easy to use, inexpensive to manufacture, and compatible with portable instruments of different sizes.

[0006] The present invention also aims to provide a component that enables portable electronic instruments to be fixed in a visible position in motorized vehicles and other environments.

[0007] The present invention also relates to a means of transport that includes such a support element.

[0008] This invention relates to a support assembly for receiving a portable electronic instrument with a screen. The assembly includes a housing comprising a recess and a wall having a viewing opening to allow a user to see the screen. The support assembly includes a removable adapter pad relative to the housing, the adapter pad being inserted into the recess to define a receptacle within the recess when inserted, the receptacle having a volume smaller than the recess volume.

[0009] Thus, advantageously, the adapter pad can reduce the size of the receiving cavity in the recess of the housing, so that when the size of the instrument is smaller than the size of the recess, the size of the receiving cavity thus constructed is adapted to the size of the portable electronic instrument.

[0010] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the adapter pad includes a primary pad, the primary pad including a base in the form of a rectangular plate, the base having a flange having a thickness H relative to the base, the flange extending along three sides of the base portion, thereby forming three inner flanges oriented toward the interior of the base.

[0011] Therefore, the adapter gasket includes a primary gasket that can reduce the size of the receiving cavity of the recess according to the thickness of the primary gasket and the size of the flanges on the three sides of the primary gasket.

[0012] According to the present invention, the adapter gasket further includes an intermediate gasket formed in the form of a U-shaped plate or a rectangular plate, the intermediate gasket being configured to extend on the base of the primary gasket, wherein the outer edge of the U-shaped or rectangular part of the intermediate gasket contacts the three inner edges of the flange of the primary gasket.

[0013] Thus, the adapter pad includes a component that can modify the thickness of the adapter pad and thereby modify the available thickness dimension of the receiving cavity in the recess.

[0014] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the adapter gasket includes a secondary gasket formed in the form of a U-shaped plate, the secondary gasket extending over the intermediate gasket 3 and contacting the three inner edges of the flange of the primary gasket.

[0015] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the adapter gasket includes a three-stage gasket forming an L-shaped plate, the three-stage gasket extending on the primary gasket or the intermediate gasket, the outer edge of the three-stage gasket (the outer edge of the branch of the L-shaped member) located on the side where the obtuse angle of the L-shaped member is located, and contacting two of the consecutive inner edges of the U-shaped member formed by the secondary gasket.

[0016] Therefore, due to the presence of the primary gasket and / or the intermediate gasket and / or the secondary gasket and / or the tertiary gasket, the size of the receiving cavity in the recess is adapted to correspond to the length, thickness and width of the instrument to be received, and is adapted to center the instrument to be received in the recess so as to maintain the instrument to be received and align the screen with the position of the visible opening.

[0017] According to the invention, the housing includes: a lateral opening located on one of the lateral edges of the housing perpendicular to a wall including a visible opening, the lateral opening providing access to the cavity; and a wall capable of sealing the lateral opening, the wall being movable to allow free access to the cavity.

[0018] Therefore, the adapter pad and the instrument can be inserted through the side opening.

[0019] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the housing includes a stop portion, and the adapter pad includes a cutout that engages with the stop portion so that once the adapter pad is inserted into the cavity, it prevents the adapter pad from sliding out of the cavity.

[0020] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the secondary gasket, the tertiary gasket, the intermediate gasket, and the primary gasket are made of a foam-type material.

[0021] Thus, due to the foam material, different gaskets can mitigate vibration and / or impact, and allow for gapless insertion of instruments, due to the possible compression of the foam in the receiving cavity defined by the gaskets.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a transport vehicle comprising a support assembly according to the invention, the assembly comprising a wall opposite to a wall having a visible opening, the opposite wall comprising a fixed engagement portion, and the transport vehicle comprising a fixing member capable of engaging with the fixed engagement portion of the assembly.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a means of transport comprising an instrument panel, a support assembly according to the invention, and a fixing member for fixing to the instrument panel capable of engaging with a fixing joint of the support assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which other aspects and advantages of the invention will become clearer:

[0025] - Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the support component 100 according to the present invention.

[0026] - Figure 2 This is a view of the primary gasket 5.

[0027] - Figure 3 This is a view of variant 6 of the primary gasket.

[0028] - Figure 4 This is an "exploded" view of the primary gasket 5, intermediate gaskets 3 and 4, secondary gasket 1, and tertiary gasket 2.

[0029] - Figure 5 This is a view of the closed wall 75 of the side opening 74 of the housing 7 and the adapter gasket 10 relative to the side opening 74.

[0030] - Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a portable electronic instrument 99, which is inserted into an adapter pad 10.

[0031] - Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view of the cavity of the housing 7, which has an adapter gasket 10 and a portable electronic instrument inserted into the cavity of the housing. Detailed Implementation

[0032] In the following description, the term "comprising" is synonymous with "including" and is non-limiting, allowing for the presence of other elements or components in the housing of the portable electronic instrument, in a support device for supporting such housing, or in a related fastening assembly for securing the portable electronic instrument. Of course, the term "comprising" includes the term "consisting of". In different figures, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar elements.

[0033] Figure 1 A general view of a support assembly 100 for supporting a portable electronic instrument 99 is shown. This assembly is intended for use in motorized vehicles and any other transport environment, or in a room, or for any other household use.

[0034] Component 100 includes a housing 7. The housing 7 includes a so-called front wall 71 having a visible opening, and a so-called rear wall 72 opposite to the visible wall 71.

[0035] The housing 7 is essentially a rectangular box, wherein the length and width of the front or rear wall are significantly greater than the distance between the front and rear walls, for example, having a ratio from 10 to 50 or even from 50 to 100. In variations, the corners of the housing have a rounded shape, resembling "suitcase corners." Figure 1 As shown, the length L of the housing is defined as the dimension from the lateral opening 74 of the housing to the opposite side. The thickness ep is defined as the dimension from the rear wall of the housing toward the front wall of the housing. The width dimension l is perpendicular to both the length L and the thickness ep.

[0036] A support assembly 100 is used to receive a portable electronic instrument 99 having a screen. The assembly includes a housing comprising: a recess 7; a wall 71 having a viewing opening to allow viewing of the screen; and a wall 72 opposite to the wall having the viewing opening, the opposite wall including a fixed engagement portion 73; characterized in that the support assembly includes an adapter 10 removable relative to the housing, the adapter 10 being inserted into the recess to define a cavity within the recess, the volume of which is smaller than the volume of the recess.

[0037] The housing 7 also includes lateral openings 74 located on sides of the housing perpendicular to the front and rear walls. The length of the housing L is defined as the dimension from the openings of the housing to the opposite side. The thickness ep is defined as the dimension from the rear wall of the housing toward the front wall of the housing. The width dimension l is perpendicular to both the length and thickness dimensions.

[0038] The cavity in housing 7 is used to receive an instrument (e.g., a mobile phone or tablet). Many models of such portable electronic instruments exist, and their dimensions vary considerably depending on the model. The adapter gasket 10 defines a volume smaller than the volume of the cavity by defining a recess within the cavity. The size of the cavity defined by the adapter gasket is selected such that the portable electronic instrument is held within the cavity without gaps.

[0039] The adapter shim 10 is inserted into the cavity 7. The adapter shim is modularly defined, allowing for the creation of different sizes of the internal cavity of the cavity according to the portable electronic instrument to be received.

[0040] After the adapter pad 10 is inserted into the cavity 7, or at the same time as the insertion, the cavity is capable of receiving a portable electronic instrument 99.

[0041] In a variant of the invention, when used in a vehicle, the housing 7 includes a fixing engagement 73 on its rear wall for securing to a fixing component for attachment to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In a particular variant, the support assembly 100 is secured to the instrument panel of the vehicle by a fixing component that connects the fixing engagement 73 to a portion of the instrument panel.

[0042] Figure 2 A primary gasket 5 according to the invention is shown. The primary gasket 5 includes a base 51 in the form of a rectangular plate having four sides and a flange 52. The flange 52 extends perpendicularly to the base 51 at its periphery and has a thickness H relative to the base 51. The flange 52 extends from the base 51 toward a front wall having a visible opening.

[0043] The flange 52 extends along three consecutive sides of the base portion, thereby defining a U-shaped primary cavity RP that extends between the inner edge of the flange 52 and a flangeless side 53. Side 53 is a so-called free side and corresponds to the so-called free edge of the gasket. The free side 53 is positioned as close as possible to the lateral opening 74 of the cavity in the housing, which allows the portable electronic device to be inserted into the cavity defined by the primary gasket 5 through the lateral opening 74 when introduced after the adapter gasket 10.

[0044] In a variation of the invention, the flange 52 extends partially along three sides of the base 51. In another variation, the flange 52 extends over all three sides of the base 51.

[0045] In the variant, the adapter gasket includes only the primary gasket 5.

[0046] In a particular variant of the invention, the adapter gasket 10 includes only another variant 6 of the primary gasket, such as... Figure 3 As shown, this other variation includes a base 61 in the form of a rectangular plate and a flange 62, which extends perpendicularly to the base 61 on the side furthest from the lateral opening 74 of the housing when the primary gasket 6 is in the position inserted into the cavity of the housing 7. The flange 62 extends from the base 61 toward the wall 71 having a visible opening.

[0047] In a variation of the invention, the adapter gasket includes an intermediate gasket 34 forming a rectangular plate, the intermediate gasket resting on the base 51 of the primary gasket 5, and three consecutive edges of the intermediate gasket contacting the three inner edges of the flange 52 of the primary gasket 5. In another variation of the invention, the intermediate gasket is formed into a U-shaped plate, the U-shaped plate resting on the base 51 of the primary gasket 5, with the outer edge of the U-shape contacting the three inner edges of the flange 52 of the primary gasket 5.

[0048] The intermediate spacer 34 is formed by assembling two plates 3 and 4. Plate 3 is U-shaped. Plate 4 is rectangular and contacts the three inner edges of the U-shape formed by plate 3. Plate 4 can be detached from plate 3 via a pre-cut brittle line. Plates 3 and 4 have the same thickness.

[0049] In a variation of the invention, the adapter gasket 10 includes a secondary gasket 1 formed in the shape of a U-shape, the secondary gasket extending on the plate 3 of the intermediate gasket 34 and contacting the three inner edges of the flange 52 of the primary gasket 5. Opposite branches of the U-shape of the plate 1 rest on opposite branches of the U-shape of the plate 3, one opposite branch of the plate 1 having the same width as the plate 3, and the other opposite branch of the plate 1 having a width less than the width of the plate 3. The branches at the base of the U-shape of the plate 1 have a length less than the length of the branches at the base of the U-shape of the plate 3.

[0050] In a variant of the invention, the adapter gasket 10 includes a tertiary gasket 2 forming an L-shaped plate, the tertiary gasket forming a plate of the same thickness as the plate 1. The plate 2 can be detached from the plate 1 via pre-cut brittle lines. In the assembled position, the plates 1 and 2 form a plate extending over an intermediate gasket 34 composed of assembled plates 3 and 4, or over a variant of the intermediate gasket composed of a single plate 3. The outer edge of the L-shaped tertiary gasket 2 contacts two of the inner edges of the U-shaped piece formed by the secondary gasket 1.

[0051] The assembled gaskets 1 and 2 thus form a U-shaped gasket, each of the opposite branches of the U-shaped gasket having the same width as one of the opposite branches of the U-shaped member of the plate 3, on which the U-shaped gasket rests.

[0052] Figure 4 The adapter gasket 10 according to the present invention is schematically shown. The adapter gasket modularly includes a primary gasket 5 and / or a secondary gasket 1 and / or a tertiary gasket 2 and / or intermediate gaskets 3, 4.

[0053] The adapter pad 10 may consist of a single plate 5 in a first variation, a single plate 6 in another variation, a combination of plates 1 and 2 and 3 and 5 in another variation, a combination of plates 1 and 3 and 4 and 5 in another variation, or a combination of plates 3 and 4 and 5 in yet another variation. Thus, the adapter pad can be adapted to portable electronic instruments of various sizes (so many widths, lengths, or thicknesses of different portable electronic instruments) through its modular design.

[0054] In the variant, such as Figure 6 As illustrated, combinations of different gaskets, such as primary gaskets and / or secondary gaskets and / or tertiary gaskets and / or intermediate gaskets, are selected such that the portable electronic instrument 99 is flush with the adapter gasket, which corresponds to the thickness of the portable electronic instrument 99 being equal to the inner thickness of the cavity created by the adapter gasket 10.

[0055] In a variation of the invention, the outer thickness of the adapter pad 10 corresponds to the thickness of the base 51 plus the inner thickness of the cavity, and is equal to the thickness of the recess.

[0056] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the support assembly 100 according to the invention is shown. The stop portion 76 of the housing engages with a cutout 56 in the adapter gasket 10. In a variant of the invention, the cutout 56 is located at the free edge of the primary gasket 5 of the adapter gasket 10 on the side where the lateral opening 74 is located.

[0057] Each of the plates constituting the different gaskets is made of a foam-type material. The choice of this foam material gives the gaskets flexibility and the ability to absorb vibrations and even impacts. The flexibility of the foam-type material also compensates for possible dimensional manufacturing tolerances.

[0058] In a variation, the material used to manufacture the gasket can be plastic or an elastomer.

[0059] In the variant, the foam is a foam with closed unit cavities.

[0060] In a variant, the foam is made of cross-linked polyethylene.

[0061] Foams with closed cell cavities retain their mechanical properties for a longer period of time than foams with open or semi-open cell cavities.

[0062] In the first variation, the foam is dark-colored, preferably black. The gasket is thus invisible.

[0063] In an embodiment of the present invention, the density of the foam is between 45 kg / m³. 3 With 150kg / m 3 between.

[0064] The intermediate gasket plate 3 is inserted into the primary gasket 5 by engaging with the flange 52 of the primary gasket 5, and rests on the base 51 of the primary gasket 5. Plate 3 is initially assembled with plate 4. Plate 34 can also be inserted into the primary gasket 5 by engaging with the flange 52, and rests on the base 51 of the primary gasket 5.

[0065] Once detached from plate 4, plate 3 can also be inserted into primary gasket 5 by engaging with flange 52, and rest on the base of primary gasket 5 and in contact with plate 3.

[0066] The secondary gasket 1 is inserted into the primary gasket 5 by engaging with the flange 52, and rests on the plate 3.

[0067] The choice of flexible materials, including foam, plastic, or elastomer types, imparts the necessary flexibility to the different gaskets for placement via snap-fit.

[0068] Figure 5 This is an external view of the housing on the side where the lateral opening 74 is located. In a variation of the invention, the housing includes a lateral opening 74 on one of the lateral edges of the housing, the lateral opening providing access to the cavity. A closing wall 75 blocks the lateral opening 74 in the use position. The wall 75 is also movable to allow free access to the cavity, thereby allowing insertion of the adapter pad 10 and / or portable electronic instrument 99. In the open position, the wall 75 is pivotable and releases access to the lateral opening 74, thereby providing access to the cavity of the housing.

[0069] In the first variant, the lateral wall 75 includes a flexible line located at the junction of the lateral wall and the front wall near the lateral opening 74, the flexible line extending along the length of the lateral opening 74. This flexible line allows the wall 75 to pivot relative to the flexible line, thereby making the lateral opening 74 accessible so that the adapter pad 10 and / or portable electronic instrument 99 can be inserted into the recess of the housing 7.

[0070] In a variation of the invention, the lateral wall 75 is equipped with a mechanism having a pivot axis and an elastic recovery member to re-close the lateral opening 74.

[0071] In a variation of the invention, the housing includes a stop 76, and the adapter pad includes a cut 56, which, once inserted into the cavity, engages with the stop 76 to ensure that the adapter pad remains in the cavity and prevents the adapter pad from sliding out of the cavity.

[0072] In a particular variant of the invention, the stop 76 includes a protruding pin extending from the rear wall of the housing toward the interior of the housing, and the cutout 56 includes a recess located at the free edge of the primary gasket 5. When the adapter gasket 10 is inserted into the cavity of the housing 7, the protruding pin engages the adapter gasket by inserting into the recess and prevents sliding from the lateral opening 74. Figure 7 The stop portion 76 of the housing 7 is shown schematically.

[0073] In a variant, housing 7 also includes openings arranged on a lateral side perpendicular to the front or rear wall, the openings being used to allow wired power or signal connections to pass through.

[0074] In a variation of the invention, the support assembly 100 further includes a flexible outer shell for enclosing the housing 7. The flexible outer shell includes openings corresponding to apertures in the housing, which are used for wired connections, visibility of the screen, and securing the joint 73. The flexible outer shell includes flexible walls and is secured to the housing 7 by partially enclosing it after the adapter pad 10 is inserted into the recess of the housing 7 and after the portable electronic instrument 99 is inserted into the recess of the housing 7. The flexible outer shell also includes a flexible sealing wall 85 that at least partially seals the lateral opening 74 of the housing 7 and re-covers the movable wall 75 to prevent the adapter pad 10 and the instrument 99 from undesirably leaving the housing 7, especially during impacts or manipulations of the support assembly 100.

[0075] In a variation of the invention, the flexible shell is made of an elastomer (e.g., an EPDM-type elastomer) or a flexible plastic material.

[0076] The present invention also relates to a means of transport comprising a support assembly 100 according to the present invention.

[0077] In a variation of the invention, the means of transport for land, rail, or air transport includes a support assembly 100 according to the invention and a fixing component capable of engaging with a fixing joint 73 of the housing 7 of the support assembly 100.

[0078] In another variation of the invention, the vehicle is a motorized vehicle and includes a support assembly 100 according to the invention and a fixing member for fixing to the dashboard that can cooperate with the fixing joint 3 of the housing 7 of the support assembly 100.

Claims

1. A support assembly (100) for receiving a portable electronic instrument (99) having a screen, the support assembly (100) including a housing (7) comprising: A recessed cavity having a wall (71) with a visible opening to allow a user to see the screen, characterized in that the support assembly (100) includes an adapter pad (10) removable relative to the housing (7), the adapter pad being inserted into the recessed cavity to define a cavity within the recessed cavity when the adapter pad (10) is inserted into the recessed cavity, the volume of the cavity being smaller than the volume of the recessed cavity. The adapter pad (10) includes: - Primary gasket (5), the primary gasket includes a base (51) in the form of a rectangular plate, the base having a flange (52) having a thickness H relative to the base, the flange extending along three of the sides of the base (51), the flange thereby forming three inner flanges oriented toward the interior of the base (51); - An intermediate gasket is formed in the form of a U-shaped plate (3) or a rectangular plate (4), the intermediate gasket being configured to extend on the base (51) of the primary gasket (5), while the outer edge of the U-shaped or rectangular part of the intermediate gasket contacts the three inner edges of the flange (52) of the primary gasket (5); - A secondary gasket (1) is formed in the form of a U-shaped plate, the secondary gasket extending over the intermediate gasket and contacting the three inner edges of the flange (52) of the primary gasket (5); - A three-stage gasket (2) is formed in the form of an L-shaped plate, the three-stage gasket extending on the primary gasket (5) or the intermediate gasket, the outer edge of the three-stage gasket being located on the side of the obtuse angle of the L-shape and contacting two of the inner edges of the U-shape formed by the secondary gasket (1).

2. The support component (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The housing (7) includes: a lateral opening (74) located on one of the lateral edges of the housing perpendicular to a wall (71) including a visible opening, the lateral opening providing access to the cavity; and a wall (75) capable of sealing the lateral opening, the wall being movable to allow free access to the cavity.

3. The support component (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The housing (7) includes a stop (76), and the adapter pad (10) includes a cut (56) that engages with the stop (76) so that once the adapter pad (10) is inserted into the cavity, it prevents the adapter pad from sliding out of the cavity.

4. The support component (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The secondary gasket (1), the tertiary gasket (2), the intermediate gasket, and the primary gasket (5) are made of foam-type material.

5. A means of transport comprising a support assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the support assembly (100) comprising a wall (72) opposite to a wall (71) having a visible opening, the opposite wall (72) comprising a fixed engagement (73), the means of transport comprising a fixing member capable of engaging with the fixed engagement (73) of the support assembly (100).

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, the vehicle comprising a support assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a fixing member for fixing to the dashboard capable of engaging with a fixing joint (73) of the support assembly.

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