Vehicle storage box

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle storage box (1) which comprises a lower layer storage space (2), an upper layer storage space (3) and a separating device (4) arranged between the lower layer storage space (2) and the upper layer storage space (3). According to the invention, the separating device (4) has at least one separating element (6) with a first arm (12) and a second arm (13), the second arm (13) being arranged perpendicularly to the first arm (12) and being fixedly connected to the first arm (12) by means of a joint (8). The at least one separating element (6) can be rotated about the joint (8) by means of the rotating mechanism (5) in such a way that the two arms (12) of the separating element (6) can be positioned between a horizontal position and a vertical position. The first arm (12) of the at least one separating element (6) extends in a horizontal position between the lower storage space (2) and the upper storage space (3) to occupy at least half of the width of the storage compartment (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle storage box according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Storage compartments in vehicles are designed to hold and store items of different designs and structural forms, such as beverage racks for holding beverage containers such as beverage bottles. Background Technology

[0003] DE 10 2008 029 259 A1 describes a housing element for a vehicle having a top-open housing for housing at least one container. The housing has at least one lateral clamping element and a rotatable support having two support portions rotatably connected to each other, the support portions being able to rotate relative to each other like an elbow.

[0004] Furthermore, US 2006 / 0037984 A1 discloses a fixing structure in a vehicle for accommodating containers of different sizes. For this purpose, a partition element with a second base plate is provided, which is positioned above a first base plate. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a vehicle storage box that can flexibly accommodate different items in a simple manner and has many advantageous features.

[0006] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a vehicle storage box having the features described in claim 1.

[0007] Advantageous improvements to the vehicle storage compartment according to the invention are part of the additional patent claims.

[0008] In the vehicle storage compartment according to the invention, the partition between the lower storage space and the upper storage space is composed of at least one rotatable partition element.

[0009] At least one rotatable dividing element has two arms that are arranged perpendicularly (orthogonally) to each other and are securely connected together by a joint.

[0010] Through the corresponding rotational movement of the separating element, the two arms of the at least one separating element are in a horizontal or vertical position. That is, if the first arm of the at least one separating element is in a horizontal position, then the second arm of the at least one separating element is in a vertical position, and vice versa.

[0011] Specifically, the first arm of the at least one dividing element is positioned horizontally between the lower and upper storage spaces of the storage box.

[0012] Here, the lengths of the two arms of the at least one partition element are selected according to the size of the storage box. In particular, the length of the first arm of the at least one partition element is selected such that when the first arm of the at least one partition element is in a horizontal position between the lower storage space and the upper storage space, it extends in the lateral direction (y direction) of the storage box, occupying at least half of the width of the storage box, and thereby forming a support surface between the lower storage space and the upper storage space.

[0013] For example, depending on the extension length and dimensions of the storage box, up to six such rotatable dividing elements can be provided as dividing devices between the lower and upper storage spaces. These dividing devices are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the storage box and rotate simultaneously and in the same direction by means of a rotating mechanism. When the first arm of these dividing elements is in a horizontal position between the lower and upper storage spaces, it extends in the lateral direction (y-direction) of the storage box, occupying at least half the width of the storage box, thereby forming a compact support surface between the lower and upper storage spaces.

[0014] The rotational movement of at least one rotatable separating element, which is particularly made of plastic, is preferably achieved by a joint having a plastic or metal shaft, for example by a rotary joint or a hinge of a corresponding design.

[0015] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, a spring-loaded mechanism is designed as the opening and / or closing mechanism, which fixes the two arms of the rotatable separating element at their respective end positions, i.e., on the one hand, the first arm of the separating element is in a horizontal position and the second arm of the separating element is in a vertical position, and on the other hand, the first arm of the separating element is in a vertical position and the second arm of the separating element is in a horizontal position.

[0016] Similarly, by using the spring-loaded mechanism as an opening mechanism, the two arms of the rotatable separator can also be released from their respective end positions.

[0017] Furthermore, a latching mechanism can be designed as a fastening mechanism to lock the two arms of at least one rotatable divider element in their respective end positions. For example, a latching element can be designed to latch each arm of at least one divider element onto the side wall of the storage compartment or into a groove in the side wall. That is, in the vertical position, the corresponding arm of at least one divider element is either pressed against the side wall of the storage compartment and locked there, or the side wall of the storage compartment receives the corresponding arm of at least one divider element, and the arm is locked there.

[0018] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, the rotation mechanism of at least one rotatable partition element can be activated by operating an operating element, for example, arranged adjacent to the storage box.

[0019] The operating element may be, for example, a push-button switch, a toggle switch, or a rotary switch, and is operated by a vehicle occupant to perform or activate rotational movement of at least one rotatable partition element between the horizontal and vertical positions of the two arms of the partition element and between the vertical and horizontal positions of the two arms of the partition element.

[0020] Therefore, when the first arm of at least one rotatable dividing element is in a horizontal position, a fixed partition and support surface, which serves as a separating device, is formed between the lower and upper storage spaces of the storage box in the first use position of the dividing device. When the first arm of at least one rotatable dividing element is in a vertical position, a large-capacity storage space in the storage box is provided in the second use position of the dividing device, which is formed along the vertical direction (z direction) of the storage box.

[0021] Thus, in the second use position of the dividing device, and therefore when the first arm of at least one rotatable dividing element is in the vertical position, the storage box can also accommodate large-sized and large-volume beverage bottles as beverage containers.

[0022] Preferably, the lower storage compartment of the storage box has a lateral access opening, so that the vehicle user can still access the items in the lower storage compartment of the storage box even when the first arm of at least one rotatable partition element is in a horizontal position.

[0023] Therefore, storage boxes can be placed in any suitable location inside the vehicle, especially in a location where the vehicle operator can easily and conveniently access items.

[0024] Preferably, the storage compartment is located in the vehicle's center console, armrest, or door panel.

[0025] With the vehicle storage box according to the present invention, the storage space provided by the storage box can be flexibly configured in a simple manner and can be switched between two usage positions, thereby easily adapting to the user's requirements and needs.

[0026] Other advantages, features, and details of the invention are set forth in the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the features and combinations thereof mentioned in the specification, and the features and combinations thereof mentioned and / or shown individually in the accompanying drawings, may be used not only in their respective combinations, but also in other combinations or individually. Attached Figure Description

[0027] in:

[0028] Figure 1A schematic diagram of a storage box with a rotatable divider is shown, with the divider in the first position.

[0029] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a storage box with the divider element in another location is shown.

[0030] Figure 3 A partial cross-sectional view of a storage box with rotatable dividers is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Figure 1 The storage compartment 1, schematically shown, is exemplarily formed in the center console 7 of a vehicle. Exemplarily, the storage compartment 1 extends approximately 150 mm to 200 mm in the longitudinal direction (x direction) and approximately 75 mm in the lateral direction (y direction).

[0032] The storage box 1 has a lower storage space 2 with a side access port 11 for the operator to use, and an upper storage space 3, which the operator can access from the top of the storage box 1.

[0033] The divider 4 is located between the lower storage space 2 and the upper storage space 3 of the storage box 1. The divider 4 consists of, for example, three rotatable divider elements 6 arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the storage box 1. These rotatable divider elements 6, for example, L-shaped, are designed as plastic injection molded parts and are made of, for example, thermoplastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material. Furthermore, a surface coating, such as a chrome-plated surface layer, can be applied to the plastic material of the rotatable divider elements 6, particularly for design or advertising purposes.

[0034] The three L-shaped or angular rotatable partition elements 6 each have a first arm 12 and a second arm 13, which are arranged perpendicularly to each other and rigidly connected to each other by a rotating joint 10.

[0035] according to Figure 1 The first arm 12 of the rotatable partition element 6 is in a horizontal position in the first use position, thereby forming a stable partition layer or support surface between the lower storage space 2 and the upper storage space 3 of the storage box 1.

[0036] With the help of the rotating mechanism 5, three L-shaped rotatable dividers 6, which are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the storage box 1, can rotate 90°.

[0037] Thus, the first arm 12 of the rotatable separating element 6 is from Figure 1 The horizontal position shown is rotated to the vertical position, while the second arm 13 of the rotatable separating element 6 is rotated from... Figure 1The vertical position shown is rotated to a horizontal position within the wall panel 8 of the storage box. As a result, the stable partition between the lower storage space 2 and the upper storage space 3 of the storage box 1 also disappears, thus forming a unified, expanded storage space in the storage box 1 in the second use position.

[0038] If the first arm 12 of the three rotatable partition elements 6 arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the storage box 1 is rotated 90° from the vertical position and thus rotated back to the horizontal position from the second use position, a stable partition layer between the lower storage space 2 and the upper storage space 3 of the storage box 1 is re-formed in the first use position.

[0039] Figure 2 The diagram shows the first arm 12 of the rotatable partition element 6 in a vertical position in the second use position, thereby eliminating the stable partition between the lower storage space 2 and the upper storage space 3 of the storage box 1. Figure 2 As can be seen, the first arm 12 of the rotatable dividing element 6 is positioned vertically by the side wall 8 of the storage box 1, and the first arm 12 of the rotatable dividing element 6 is locked in by the snap-fit ​​element of the fastening mechanism.

[0040] By forming a unified and expanded storage space in the storage box 1 in the vertical position of the first arm 12 of the rotatable dividing element 6, and thus in the second use position, the (large-capacity) beverage bottle 9 can also be accommodated unobstructed in the storage box 1.

[0041] from Figure 3 As can be seen, the rotating mechanism 5 is used to realize the rotation of the rotatable partition element 6 from the first use position (forming a stable partition layer between the upper storage space 3 and the lower storage space 2 of the storage box 1) to the second use position (forming a large-capacity storage space inside the storage box 1), and conversely, to realize the rotation from the second use position to the first use position through the rotating joint 10 acted upon by the rotating mechanism 5. In particular, the rotating mechanism 5 can also be implemented electrically or mechanically by means of a spring mechanism.

[0042] Figure 3 The left side of the image exemplarily shows a rotatable divider 6 with its first arm 12 in a vertical position and therefore in an upward-rotated position. The first arm 12 of this rotatable divider 6, for example, in a vertical position and therefore in an upward-rotated position, rests against the side wall 8 of the storage compartment 1, and engages and locks there. The second arm 13 of the rotatable divider 6 is located within the side wall 8 of the storage compartment 1 in its horizontal position, and similarly engages and locks there.

[0043] Figure 3 The right side of the image exemplarily shows a rotating divider element 6 with its first arm 12 in a horizontal position. The first arm 12 of this rotating divider element 6 thus forms a stable dividing layer between the upper storage space 3 and the lower storage space 2 of the storage box 1. The second arm 13 of the rotating divider element 6 rests against the side wall 8 of the storage box 1 in its vertical position and can also be engaged and locked therein.

Claims

1. A vehicle storage box (1) includes a lower storage space (2), an upper storage space (3), and a partition device (4) disposed between the lower storage space (2) and the upper storage space (3). Its features are, The separating device (4) has at least one separating element (6) comprising a first arm (12) and a second arm (13), wherein the second arm (13) is arranged perpendicularly to the first arm (12) and is fixedly connected to the first arm (12) by a joint (8). At least one of the separating elements (6) is rotatable about the joint (8) by means of a rotating mechanism (5) such that the two arms (12, 13) of the separating element (6) can be positioned between a horizontal position and a vertical position. And at least one of the first arms (12) of the partition element (6) extends to occupy at least half the width of the storage box (1) when it is in a horizontal position between the lower storage space (2) and the upper storage space (3).

2. The storage box (1) according to claim 1. Its features are, At least one of the first arms (12) of the partition element (6) and at least one of the second arms (13) of the partition element (6) can be locked to the side wall (8) of the storage box (1) by means of a fastening mechanism in their respective vertical positions.

3. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2. Its features are, At least one of the first arms (12) of the partition element (6) and at least one of the second arms (13) of the partition element (6) can be locked in the groove in the side wall (8) of the storage box (1) by means of a fastening mechanism in their respective vertical positions.

4. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Its features are, At least one of the separating elements (6) is made of plastic material.

5. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Its features are, An operating element is provided for operating the rotating mechanism (5).

6. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Its features are, The rotating mechanism (5) has a spring-loaded opening mechanism and / or closing mechanism.

7. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Its features are, When the first arm (12) of at least one of the partition elements (6) is in a vertical position, the storage box (1) is designed to accommodate at least one beverage bottle as a beverage container (9).

8. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Its features are, At least two of the partition elements (6) are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the storage box (1).

9. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Its features are, The lower storage space (2) of the storage box (1) has a side access opening (11).

10. The storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Its features are, The storage box (1) is located inside the vehicle's central control console (7).

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