Sliding connector unit for vehicle

Abstract

A sliding connector unit for a vehicle includes: a rail groove formed in a vehicle panel and extending in a longitudinal direction; a vehicle electrode portion; and a connecting portion including: a first side inserted into the track groove so that the connecting portion slides on the track groove; a second side exposed to an outer side of the vehicle panel; and a connector electrode portion disposed on a first side of the connection portion inserted into the track groove, and configured such that the connector electrode portion is in contact with the vehicle electrode portion to electrically connect the connection portion to the vehicle electrode portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sliding connector unit for a vehicle, which can be freely attached to or detached from an interior panel or an exterior panel of the vehicle, can perform a sliding movement, is electrically connected to the vehicle, can perform data communication, and can utilize various convenience devices. Background Art

[0002] With the development and use of autonomous vehicles, beyond the concept that a vehicle is a simple means of transportation, extensive research is being conducted on the utilization of the interior space of vehicles.

[0003] In conventional vehicles, convenience devices are only installed in fixed positions as originally designed and manufactured. However, in autonomous vehicles, as the moving range of seats increases and the usage range of the vehicle diversifies, the types of convenience devices that need to be installed or used also increase, making the installation positions of convenience devices need to be diversified.

[0004] However, since it is impossible to install convenience devices by pre - meeting countless requirements, in order to increase user convenience, a technology is needed in which the required devices can move and can exchange power or data between the vehicle and the devices at the required positions installed in the vehicle.

[0005] The information included in this background art of the present disclosure is only for enhancing the understanding of the general background of the present disclosure, and should not be regarded as an admission or any form of indication that this information constitutes the prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing a sliding connector unit for a vehicle, which is configured to be freely attached to or detached from an interior panel or an exterior panel of the vehicle, is configured to perform a sliding movement, is electrically connected to the vehicle, and is configured to perform data communication, and is constructed for using various convenience devices.

[0007] To achieve the above object, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a sliding connector unit for a vehicle, the sliding connector unit including: a track groove recessed along a vehicle panel and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle panel; a vehicle electrode portion provided on an inner surface of the track groove, extending together with the track groove in the longitudinal direction, and the vehicle electrode portion being electrically connected to a power source (such as a battery of the vehicle); and a connection portion including: a first side inserted into the track groove such that the connection portion slides on the track groove; a second side exposed outside the vehicle panel; and a connector electrode portion provided on the first side of the connection portion inserted into the track groove and configured such that the connector electrode portion contacts the vehicle electrode portion, thereby electrically connecting the connection portion to the vehicle electrode portion.

[0008] The track groove may be formed in an inner panel or an outer panel of the vehicle.

[0009] A weather strip may be provided on the track groove, the weather strip may cover the track groove to prevent water from seeping into the track groove, and the weather strip may extend in the longitudinal direction along the track groove.

[0010] When the connection portion slides on the track groove, the connection portion slides while deforming the weather strip.

[0011] A plurality of protrusions may be continuously formed in the track groove, a latching portion may protrude on the connection portion, and the connection portion may be configured to slide on the track groove while the latching portion sequentially crosses the plurality of protrusions on the track groove.

[0012] The plurality of protrusions of the track groove may be formed such that the plurality of protrusions of the track groove protrude from an upper surface and a lower surface of the track groove toward an inner space of the track groove, and the latching portion of the connection portion may protrude outward from an upper surface and a lower surface of the connection portion such that the latching portion may face the plurality of protrusions of the track groove.

[0013] The latching portions located at upper and lower portions of the connection portion may be supported by elastic portions such that the latching portions protrude upward and downward from the connection portion.

[0014] The vehicle electrode portion may be provided on a bottom surface of the track groove, and the connector electrode portion may be formed on a corresponding surface of the connection portion facing the bottom surface of the track groove.

[0015] An entrance of the track groove exposed on the vehicle panel may include: a starting portion having a width greater than a width of the connection portion; and an extending portion extending from the starting portion and having a width smaller than the width of the connection portion, the connection portion may be inserted into the track groove through the starting portion, and the connection portion may be latched in the extending portion, thereby preventing the connection portion from separating when the connection portion slides.

[0016] The starting portion of the track groove can be formed as an inclined surface such that the depth of the track groove gradually deepens.

[0017] The connection portion can include: an insertion portion that is inserted into the track groove and is provided with a connector electrode portion; an exposed portion located outside the track groove; and a neck portion that is provided to penetrate the entrance of the track groove and connect the insertion portion and the exposed portion to each other.

[0018] The second side of the connection portion can be located outside the track groove, and a convenience device can be connected to the second side of the connection portion.

[0019] The convenience device can be configured to exchange power or data with the vehicle through the connector electrode portion of the connection portion.

[0020] The convenience device can be any one of a holder, a controller, a lamp, a speaker, a storage box, and a display.

[0021] The vehicle panel can be any one of a door trim, a door panel, a fender panel, and a bumper pad.

[0022] In the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to the present disclosure, various convenience devices are set to be freely attached to or detached from the interior or exterior panel of the vehicle, set to be slidably movable, set to be electrically connected to the vehicle, and set to perform data communication, and the sliding connector unit is set to use various convenience devices.

[0023] The method and device of the present disclosure have other features and advantages that will be apparent from or more particularly set forth in the accompanying drawings incorporated herein and the following detailed description, which together are used to explain certain principles of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 are views exemplarily showing various situations in which the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a vehicle;

[0025] Figure 5 is a view exemplarily showing the track groove of the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 6 is a view exemplarily showing the electrical connection relationship of the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0027] Figure 7 is a view exemplarily showing a fastening structure of a sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrating the basic principles of the present disclosure. Specific design features of the present disclosure included herein (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes) are determined in part by the specific intended application and the use environment.

[0029] In the drawings, throughout several views of the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0030] Now, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail, and examples thereof are shown in the drawings and described below. Although the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the present disclosure to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the present disclosure is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.

[0031] Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments included in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the same or similar components will be denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and their repeated description will be omitted.

[0032] If it is determined that a detailed description of known technologies will obscure the exemplary embodiments of this specification, the detailed description of known technologies will be omitted. In addition, the drawings are merely intended to make the exemplary embodiments of this specification easier to describe, but the spirit and scope of this specification are not limited by the drawings. It should be understood that this specification is not limited to the specifically disclosed exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, but includes all variations, equivalents, and substitutions included within the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0033] Terms used herein including terms in a sequence such as “first” or “second” may be used to describe multiple elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component element from another component element.

[0034] As used herein, unless otherwise clearly indicated in the context, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are also intended to include the plural forms.

[0035] It should be understood that terms such as "including" and "having" are intended to indicate the presence of features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to exclude the possibility that one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

[0036] In the following description, the suffixes "module" and "section" of the constituent elements are selected and used only for the convenience of writing the following specification, and the suffixes themselves have no meaning or function.

[0037] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "in contact" with another component, it should be understood that the component can be directly connected or in contact with the other component, but there may be other components between the component and the other component. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly in contact" with another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements between the element and the other element.

[0038] Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 are views exemplarily showing various situations in which the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a vehicle, Figure 5 is a view exemplarily showing a rail groove of the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 6 is a view exemplarily showing an electrical connection relationship of the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 7 is a view exemplarily showing a fastening structure of the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] The sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a rail groove 300 formed by recessing a vehicle panel 120 and a vehicle panel 140, and the rail groove extends along its longitudinal direction; a vehicle electrode portion 301 provided on an inner surface of the rail groove 300 and extending along the longitudinal direction together with the rail groove 300, and the vehicle electrode portion is electrically connected to a power source (such as a battery of the vehicle); and a connection portion 500 including a first side inserted into the rail groove 300 such that the connection portion 500 is configured to slide on the rail groove 300, and the connection portion includes a second side exposed outside the vehicle panel 120 and the vehicle panel 140, and the connection portion further includes a connector electrode portion 520 provided on the first side of the connection portion 500 and inserted into the rail groove 300, and is configured such that the connector electrode portion 520 contacts the vehicle electrode portion 301 to electrically connect the connection portion 500 to the vehicle electrode portion 301.

[0040] The present disclosure provides a structure for installing convenience devices required for a vehicle. A track groove is formed in the vehicle, and a connection part is provided in the convenience device. In addition, the connection part of the convenience device is installed in the track groove of the vehicle and configured to slide freely. The position of the connection part is set to be fixed at a desired point, so that the convenience device can be moved to a desired point in the vehicle, installed at the desired point, and fixed to the desired point.

[0041] In addition, there may be a case where the convenience device does not require power. However, when the convenience device requires power, the convenience device is configured to operate by receiving power from the vehicle battery. In addition, the power of the convenience device is configured to be transmitted to the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle and the convenience device are configured to transmit data to each other and / or receive data from each other, so that more various convenience devices can be installed and used.

[0042] Therefore, in order to exchange power and data between the convenience device and the vehicle, a vehicle electrode part 301 is provided in the track groove 300 of the vehicle, and a connector electrode part 520 is provided in the connection part 500. The vehicle electrode part 301 is formed in a shape that extends together with the track groove 300 and is positioned inside the track groove 300, thereby preventing risks such as short circuits under normal circumstances. In addition, since the connector electrode part 520 of the connection part 500 is configured to be slidably movable in a state where the connector electrode part 520 is grounded (electrically connected) to the vehicle electrode part 301 of the track groove 300, the convenience device and the vehicle can always be in an electrically connected state.

[0043] Of course, when no electrode is provided in the connection part 500, the vehicle is not electrically connected to the convenience device, and only a simple sliding function and a position fixing function are provided. Further, in this case, unnecessary risks such as short circuits are prevented by disconnecting the circuit of the vehicle electrode part 301. The connection part 500 is internally connected to the convenience device through a circuit, and various existing internal circuits can be used. A detailed description of the connection part 500 will be omitted.

[0044] Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 are views exemplarily showing various situations where a sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a vehicle. First, Figure 1 shows a case where a convenience device is installed in the interior space of a vehicle. As Figure 1 shown, a track groove 300 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the interior panel 120 of the vehicle. In addition, various convenience devices 720 are installed in the track groove 300.Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in which a cup holder 720 as a convenience device is installed. A normal cup holder does not have to be connected by an electrode. However, when a refrigerating / heating cup holder is provided, the refrigerating / heating cup holder is configured to receive electric power required to perform refrigeration and heating from the vehicle and also configured to receive a control signal from the vehicle by connecting the vehicle electrode portion 301 and the connector electrode portion 520 to each other.

[0045] In Figure 2 shows a multi-controller 730, a speaker 740, and a lamp 750 as convenience devices 720 provided in the interior panel 120 of the vehicle. A user can fasten controllers, speakers, lamps, etc. to the rail grooves and can slide the controllers, speakers, lamps, etc., and then can fix the controllers, lamps, etc. to their desired positions. In addition, such controllers, speakers, lamps, etc. are configured to operate by using the power of the vehicle. It is necessary to make the convenience devices slidably movable. In addition, when considering dangerous situations such as collisions, it is also necessary to fix the convenience devices to the desired positions.

[0046] Figure 3 shows a case where the rail groove 300 is formed on the exterior panel 140 of the vehicle. Since various convenience devices are configured to be installed and used outside the vehicle, the rail groove 300 is configured to be installed outside the vehicle. However, in this case, since the rail groove 300 is exposed to the external environment, it is necessary to strengthen the watertightness, etc. inside the rail groove 300.

[0047] Figure 4 shows a state where a convenience device (lamp 750) is installed on Figure 3 the external rail groove 300 in Figure 4 In

[0048] Figure 5 is a view exemplarily showing a rail groove of a sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] The rail groove 300 can be formed in the interior panel 120 or the exterior panel 140 of the vehicle. The rail groove 300 is formed by recessing the vehicle panel and extends in its longitudinal direction. The connecting portion 500 is mounted on the rail groove 300 and configured to slide. In addition, in a state where the connecting portion 500 is connected to the rail groove 300, it is necessary to prevent the connecting portion 500 from separating from the rail groove 300 and to fix the connecting portion 500 at its desired position. To this end, the entrance of the rail groove 300 (starting portion 320 and extending portion 340) exposed on the vehicle panel is formed by a starting portion 320 having a width greater than the width of the connecting portion 500 and an extending portion 340 extending from the starting portion 320 and having a width less than the width of the connecting portion 500.

[0050] The rail groove 300 can be formed such that the width of the inner groove is uniform, while the width at the entrance of the rail groove exposed to the outside varies according to different points. The entrance of the rail groove 300 exposed to the outside can be formed by the starting portion 320 and the extending portion 340. As shown in the figure, the starting portion 320 corresponds to the entrance at the starting point of the rail groove 300, and the extending portion 340 can be regarded as the entrance of the extending portion of the rail groove 300. The extending portion 340 is formed to have a slit shape extending in the longitudinal direction when viewed from the outside thereof. In addition, even when the width of the starting portion 320 and the width of the extending portion 340 are different from each other, the width of the groove formed therein remains consistent.

[0051] The connecting portion 500 is initially inserted into the rail groove 300 through the starting portion 320. Therefore, since the starting portion 320 is formed such that the size of the starting portion is slightly larger than the size of the connecting portion 500, the user can easily insert the connecting portion 500 into the starting portion 320, thereby achieving the connection between the connecting portion 500 and the rail groove 300.

[0052] In addition, the connecting portion 500 is inserted into the rail groove 300 through the starting portion 320, and since the connecting portion 500 is snapped in the extending portion 340, the connecting portion 500 can be prevented from coming off during the sliding process. The extending portion 340 extends from the starting portion 320, and the width of the extending portion 340 is less than the width of the connecting portion 500, so that the connecting portion 500 inserted into the rail groove 300 and sliding does not move out of the outside of the rail groove. That is, the connecting portion 500 is connected to the rail groove 300 through the starting portion 320, and the connecting portion 500 is configured to be separated from the rail groove 300 through the starting portion 320, thereby preventing the connecting portion 500 from separating from the rail groove 300 at the position where the connecting portion 500 slides and is used.

[0053] In addition, the starting portion 320 of the track groove 300 may be formed as an inclined surface 322 such that the depth of the track groove 300 gradually deepens at this starting portion. Thus, when the connecting portion 500 is initially inserted into the track groove 300, the connecting portion 500 is naturally guided to the inside of the track groove 300 through the inclined surface 322, and the connecting portion 500 is configured to slide inside the track groove 300 without getting stuck in the extending portion 340.

[0054] Meanwhile, the vehicle electrode portion 301 is disposed inside the track groove 300, thereby preventing a short circuit from occurring due to foreign objects, water, etc. penetrating the vehicle electrode portion 301. When the track groove 300 is formed on the outer panel 140 of the vehicle, it is necessary to protect the vehicle electrode portion 301 inside the track groove 300 from rain, wind, etc. according to weather conditions. For this purpose, a weatherstrip 142 is provided on the track groove 300, and the weatherstrip 142 covers the track groove 300 to prevent water from seeping into the track groove 300, and the weatherstrip 142 may extend along the track groove 300 in the longitudinal direction. In addition, when the connecting portion 500 slides on the track groove 300, the connecting portion 500 slides while deforming the weatherstrip 142.

[0055] As Figure 5 shown, the weatherstrip 142 is installed above the track groove 300 and covers the track groove 300. The weatherstrip 142 is formed of a material such as rubber, and is formed such that the width of the weatherstrip 142 is wider than the entrance of the track groove 300, so that the inside of the track groove 300 is not exposed to the outside. Thus, even when the track groove 300 is formed on the outer panel 140 of the vehicle, electrical failures such as short circuits do not occur in the vehicle electrode portion 301 inside the track groove 300.

[0056] In addition, the weatherstrip 142 is formed of a material such as rubber configured to deform. Therefore, when the connecting portion 500 is in a state where the connecting portion 500 is installed in the groove 300, the connecting portion 500 deforms the weatherstrip 142 while sliding. In addition, in the state where the weatherstrip 142 is deformed, as Figure 7 shown, since the weatherstrip 142 covers the neck portion 502 of the connecting portion 500, the internal electrical connection portion can be protected.

[0057] Figure 6 is a view exemplarily showing the electrical connection relationship of the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 7 is a view exemplarily showing the fixing structure of the sliding connector unit for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] As Figure 7As shown, the connection part 500 can be formed by the following parts: an insertion part 503, which is inserted into the track groove 300 and is provided with a connector electrode part 520; an exposed part 501, which is located outside the track groove 300; and a neck part 502, which is arranged to pass through the entrance of the track groove 300 and connect the insertion part 503 and the exposed part 501 to each other. As described above, the width of the exposed entrance of the track groove 300 is smaller than the inner width of the track groove 300. Therefore, in the connection part 500, the insertion part 503 is located inside the track groove 300, the width of the neck part 502 is smaller than the width of the insertion part 503 and the width of the neck part 502 is equal to or smaller than the width of the entrance of the track groove 300. Therefore, most of the insertion part 503 of the connection part 500 is not exposed to the outside and is covered by the vehicle's panel, thereby protecting the structure inside the panel.

[0059] In addition, the exposed part 501 is connected to the neck part 502 of the connection part 500, and the connection part 500 is fastened to the convenience device through the exposed part 501, thereby ensuring the mobility of the convenience device and also safely protecting the internal electrical connection.

[0060] As Figure 6 shown, the vehicle electrode part 301 is arranged on the inner surface of the track groove 300, the vehicle electrode part 301 extends along the track groove 300 in the longitudinal direction, and the vehicle electrode part 301 is electrically connected to the vehicle's battery. In addition, the connector electrode part 520 of the connection part 500 contacts and is electrically connected to the vehicle electrode part 301. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the vehicle electrode part is shown as two lines of + and -, but lines for data communication, etc. can also be added. Since the vehicle electrode part 301 extends in the longitudinal direction of the track groove 300, the connector electrode part 520 always remains in contact with the vehicle electrode part 301 regardless of the location of the connection part 500.

[0061] In addition, a plurality of protrusions 302 are continuously formed in the track groove 300, and a latching part 540 protrudes on the connection part 500. Therefore, when the connection part 500 slides on the track groove 300, the connection part 500 is configured to slide while the latching part 540 sequentially crosses the protrusions 302 of the track groove 300.

[0062] The protrusion 302 of the track groove 300 is formed such that the protrusion 302 of the track groove 300 protrudes from the upper and lower surfaces of the track groove 300 toward the inner space of the track groove 300, and the engaging portion 540 of the connection portion 500 protrudes outward from the upper and lower surfaces of the connection portion 500 such that the engaging portion 540 can face the protrusion 302 of the track groove 300. In addition, the upper and lower engaging portions of the connection portion 500 can be supported by the elastic portion 560 (spring 560) such that the upper and lower engaging portions of the connection portion 500 protrude upward and downward with respect to the connection portion 500.

[0063] With this structure, when the connection portion 500 slides on the track groove 300, the engaging portion 540 is caught on the protrusion 302, whereby the connection portion 500 is temporarily fixed in stages. In addition, the engaging portion 540 includes a structure configured to retract inward with respect to the connection portion 500. Therefore, when the engaging portion 540 retracts, the engaging portion 540 moves to the next protrusion 302, thereby enabling sliding. Under normal circumstances, since the engaging portion 540 is supported by the spring 560 such that the engaging portion 540 protrudes outward, the engaging portion 540 remains in place without an external force. The elasticity of the spring 560 can be appropriately set as needed.

[0064] In addition, the vehicle electrode portion 301 can be provided on the bottom surface of the track groove 300, and the connector electrode portion 520 can be formed on the corresponding surface of the connection portion 500 facing the bottom surface of the track groove 300. In addition, the second side of the connection portion 500 can be located outside the track groove 300, and a convenience device can be connected to the second side of the connection portion 500. The convenience device is configured to exchange power or data with the vehicle through the connector electrode portion 520 of the connection portion 500.

[0065] As an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the convenience device can be any one of a holder, a controller, a lamp, a speaker, a storage box, and a display. In addition, the panel of the vehicle formed with the track groove can be an interior panel (such as a door trim and a bumper pad), or can be an exterior panel (such as a fender panel and a door panel).

[0066] According to the vehicle sliding connector unit of the present disclosure, various convenience devices are provided to be freely attached to or detached from the interior or exterior panel of the vehicle, to be slidably movable, to be electrically connected to the vehicle, and to perform data communication, and the sliding connector unit is configured to utilize various convenience devices.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle may be regarded as being based on a concept including various transportation means. In some cases, a vehicle may be interpreted as being based on a concept including not only various land transportation means (such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses) traveling on roads but also various transportation means such as airplanes, drones, ships, etc.

[0068] For ease of explanation and to accurately define the appended claims, referring to the positions of the features shown in the drawings, terms such as "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "front", "rear", "back", "inner side", "outer side", "inward", "outward", "inside", "outside", "inner", "outer", "inner", "outer", "forward", and "backward" are used to describe the features of the exemplary embodiments. It should be further understood that the term "connected" or its derivatives refer to both direct connection and indirect connection.

[0069] The term "and / or" may include combinations of multiple related listed items or any of the multiple related listed items. For example, "A and / or B" includes all three cases, namely "A", "B", and "A and B".

[0070] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, "at least one of A and B" may refer to "at least one of A or B" or "at least one of a combination of at least one A and at least one B". In addition, "one or more of A and B" may refer to "one or more of A or B" or "one or more of a combination of one or more A and one or more B".

[0071] In this specification, unless otherwise stated, singular expressions include plural expressions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0072] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it should be understood that terms such as "including" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude the possibility of adding or the presence of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0073] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, multiple components may be combined into one component with each other, or some components may be omitted.

[0074] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and their various alternatives and modifications. The scope of the present disclosure is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A sliding connector unit for a vehicle, the sliding connector unit comprising: A track groove, which is recessed along a vehicle panel and extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle panel; A vehicle electrode portion, which is disposed on an inner surface of the track groove and extends along the longitudinal direction together with the track groove, and the vehicle electrode portion is electrically connected to a power source of the vehicle; And A connection portion, the connection portion comprising: A first side inserted into the track groove such that the connection portion is arranged to slide on the track groove; A second side exposed outside the vehicle panel; A connector electrode portion, which is disposed on the first side of the connection portion inserted into the track groove, and is configured such that the connector electrode portion contacts the vehicle electrode portion to electrically connect the connection portion to the vehicle electrode portion.

2. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, Among them, The vehicle panel includes an inner panel and an outer panel, and Wherein, the track groove is formed in at least one of the inner panel and the outer panel of the vehicle.

3. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, wherein, A weather strip is provided on the track groove, the weather strip covers the track groove to prevent water from seeping into the track groove, and the weather strip extends along the track groove in the longitudinal direction.

4. The sliding connector unit according to claim 3, wherein The weather strip is installed between the vehicle panel and the second side of the connection portion.

5. The sliding connector unit according to claim 3, wherein, The connection portion deforms the weather strip while sliding on the track groove.

6. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, wherein, A plurality of protrusions are continuously formed in the track groove, a latching portion protrudes on the connection portion, and the connection portion is configured to slide on the track groove while the latching portion sequentially crosses the plurality of protrusions on the track groove.

7. The sliding connector unit according to claim 6, wherein, The plurality of protrusions of the track groove are formed such that the plurality of protrusions of the track groove protrude from an upper surface and a lower surface of the track groove toward an inner space of the track groove, and the latching portion of the connection portion protrudes outward from an upper surface and a lower surface of the connection portion, thereby causing the latching portion to face the plurality of protrusions of the track groove.

8. The sliding connector unit according to claim 7, wherein, The latching portions located at upper and lower portions of the connection portion are supported by elastic portions, so that the latching portions protrude upward and downward relative to the connection portion.

9. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, wherein, The vehicle electrode portion is disposed on a bottom surface of the track groove, and the connector electrode portion is formed on a corresponding surface of the connection portion facing the bottom surface of the track groove.

10. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, Among them, An entrance of the track groove exposed on the vehicle panel includes: a starting portion, the width of the starting portion being greater than the width of the connection portion; and an extending portion, the extending portion extending from the starting portion, and the width of the extending portion being less than the width of the connection portion, and Wherein, the connection portion is inserted into the track groove through the starting portion, and the connection portion is latched in the extending portion to prevent the connection portion from disengaging during sliding.

11. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, wherein, The starting portion of the track groove is formed as an inclined surface such that in the starting portion of the track groove, the depth of the track groove gradually increases.

12. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting portion includes: An insertion portion that is inserted into the track groove and is provided with the connector electrode portion; An exposed portion that is located outside the track groove; and A neck portion that is provided to pass through the entrance of the track groove and connect the insertion portion and the exposed portion to each other.

13. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, wherein, The second side of the connecting portion is located outside the track groove, and a convenience device is connected to the second side of the connecting portion.

14. The sliding connector unit according to claim 13, wherein, The convenience device is configured to exchange power or data with the vehicle through the connector electrode portion of the connecting portion.

15. The sliding connector unit according to claim 13, wherein, The convenience device is one of a holder, a controller, a lamp, a speaker, a storage box, and a display.

16. The sliding connector unit according to claim 1, wherein, The vehicle panel is one of a door trim panel, a door panel, a fender panel, and a bumper pad.

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