Design device for a vehicle and method for variable design

Abstract

Design device (1) for variable, area-by-area design of a vehicle interior, comprising: - a cover layer (2) as visible interior trim, - at least one guide body (3) that is flexible to a predefinable extent, - at least one movable connecting element (4) for connecting the cover layer (2) to the guide body (3), - a carriage (5) with a number of contour elements (5.1), wherein the carriage (5) is coupled to the guide body (3) at least sectionally, and - a rail guide (6) along which the carriage (5) is arranged to be movable, characterized by: - ​​an endless traction cable (8) deflected by means of pulleys (7), which is coupled to the carriage (5) and a drive unit (9), and - the drive unit (9) with a gearbox, wherein, in the event of a movement of the carriage (5) generated by means of the drive unit (9), at least one of the contour elements (5.1) creates a protrusion (A) of the cover layer (2), wherein- the carriage (5) slides along the guide body (3),- the carriage (5) comprises three contour elements (5.1), one of which is centrally arranged and is higher than the two outer ones, and- the protrusion (A) is created by means of the centrally arranged contour element (5.1) and the two outer contour elements (5.1) pull the cover layer (2) into its original position.

Description

The invention relates to a design device for the variable, area-by-area design of a vehicle's interior. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the variable, area-by-area design of a vehicle's interior using such a design device. DE 10 2004 059 874 A1 discloses a motor vehicle interior trim part with a carrier and a skin and with controllable means for reversibly changing a distance between the carrier and the skin. From DE 10 2018 202 212 A1, a trim device, particularly for a vehicle interior, is known, comprising a flexibly deformable trim part, an actuator device associated with the rear of the trim part, and a plurality of actuator elements connected to the trim part and at least one actuator for moving the actuator elements. The trim part is formed in one piece and divided by separating slots into flexibly connected trim elements, with at least some of the trim elements each having an actuator element assigned to them. The trim elements can be moved by the actuator elements from a first position, in which the trim elements form an at least substantially continuous surface, to at least a second position, in which the trim part forms a receptacle for storing objects. Furthermore, US patent 2007 / 0267876 A1 discloses a deformable vehicle component that uses at least one active material to change at least one property in response to an activation signal. The change in at least one property is a change in a shape dimension, shape orientation, expansion, contraction, morphing, tensile strength, flexural modulus, or a combination thereof. The change in at least one property is reversible. DE 10 2019 114 822 A1 describes an interior trim arrangement for limiting legroom in the interior of a motor vehicle. The interior trim arrangement comprises a cushion facing the legroom for lateral stabilization of a leg, wherein the cushion has at least one inflatable air cushion, a control valve connected to the at least one air cushion for changing the filling volume of the at least one air cushion, at least one motion sensor for detecting acceleration and / or yaw rate of the motor vehicle, and a control unit connected to the control valve and the at least one motion sensor for actuating the control valve. Depending on the measurement data detected by the at least one motion sensor, the control unit adjusts the filling volume of the at least one air cushion to at least partially compensate for acceleration-induced displacement of the leg.The dynamic control of the filling volume of at least one air cushion, depending on the currently occurring acceleration forces, keeps the leg comfortably in position. Furthermore, DE 10 2006 013 968 A1 describes a system and a method for selecting and adjusting seat-related functions in a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, for a vehicle seat. The system comprises a frame, a support, and several shape-changing elements between the frame and the support. A 4-way switch is also provided for selecting and adjusting the seat-related functions, in particular by selecting and adjusting the shape-changing elements. Furthermore, DE 10 2019 006 692 A1 discloses a design device for the variable design of a vehicle interior. The design device comprises at least one variable surface device, wherein the at least one variable surface device is electrically controllable and is configured to generate a variable three-dimensional contour on a design surface of the at least one variable surface device, which faces the vehicle interior, depending on the electrical signal. The generic patent DE 10 2018 133 585 A1 describes a device for a vehicle. The device comprises at least one deformable, flat cover, a carrier for attaching the cover to a component of the vehicle, and a guide body by which at least one section of the cover is held on the carrier, forming at least one bulge. Furthermore, the guide body is slidable along the carrier for positioning the at least one bulge. DE 10 2006 015 546 A1 describes an arrangement for moving a cargo cover element of a motor vehicle when opening and / or closing a cargo compartment flap or door of the motor vehicle. At least two guide devices and a drive unit are provided for guiding and driving the at least one cargo cover element in the D-pillar of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, at least one drive unit and at least one guide device are arranged in each D-pillar trim element and / or in each D-pillar of the motor vehicle. The invention is based on the objective of providing a design device for the variable, area-by-area design of at least one interior of a vehicle and a method for the variable, area-by-area design of the interior of the vehicle. The object is achieved according to the invention by a design device which has the features specified in claim 1 and by a method which has the features specified in claim 4. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. A design device for the variable, area-by-area design of a vehicle's interior comprises: - a cover layer as visible interior trim, - at least one guide body flexible to a predefinable extent, - at least one movable connecting element for connecting the cover layer to the guide body, - a carriage with a number of contour elements, wherein the carriage is coupled to the guide body at least partially, and - a rail guide along which the carriage is movably arranged. According to the invention, the design device comprises: - an endless pull cable deflected by means of pulleys, which is coupled to the carriage and a drive unit, and - the drive unit with a gearbox, wherein, when the carriage is moved by means of the drive unit, at least one of the contour elements creates a protrusion of the cover layer. According to the invention, the carriage slides along the guide body. According to the invention, the slide comprises three contour elements, one of which is centrally arranged and exceeds the height of the two outer ones. According to the invention, the protrusion is created by means of the centrally arranged contour element, and the two outer contour elements pull the top layer into its original position. Using such a sophisticated design device, a geometrically variable, and in some areas innovatively dynamic, interior trim can be created. This gives vehicle users the opportunity to customize at least parts of the vehicle's interior themselves through individual programming. It is also conceivable to use the design device to move and position elements of the vehicle's outer skin. For example, the movement of a vehicle's trim panel, particularly when lowering the convertible top, can simulate the movement of a water wave. The same effect can be achieved by opening and / or closing a trunk lid, a convertible top compartment lid, and / or adjusting side mirrors. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the variable, area-by-area design of an interior of a vehicle by means of a design device. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a design device for variable, area-by-area design; Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the design device without guide body and cover layer; Figure 3 schematically shows a sectional view of the design device; Figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the design device; and Figure 5 schematically shows a perspective view of the design device according to Figure 4 with an additional static cladding part. Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a design device 1 for the variable, area-by-area design of an interior of a vehicle (not shown in detail). It is generally known that the interior trim of a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, can have relatively high-quality surfaces, which can give the interior a high-quality, sporty or classic look, depending on preference. In particular, the demands on vehicle interiors, especially with regard to perceived value and functionality, are constantly increasing against the backdrop of automated driving and shared vehicles. The following describes design device 1 for creating an appealing and innovative interior, in which an interior trim, i.e., a cover layer 2 designated with respect to design device 1, not only lined the interior statically, i.e., remaining motionless, but can also change its geometry, thus enabling dynamic effects. These dynamic effects can depend on external conditions and circumstances. For an automated and / or shared vehicle, this can result in elements of various adaptations. The top layer 2 of the design device 1 is stretched as an interior lining in the interior of the vehicle. The design device 1 comprises the top layer 2, a guide body 3, a connecting element 4, a slide 5, which can also be called a glider, with a number of contour elements 5.1, a rail guide 6, a pull rope 8 deflected by means of pulleys 7 and a drive unit 9 with a gearbox not shown in detail. The cover layer 2, i.e., the interior lining, is visible to a vehicle occupant and comprises an elastic fabric. The guide body 3 comprises a thermoplastic material, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, wherein the connecting element 4 for the movable connection between the guide body 3 and the cover layer 2 is arranged between the guide body 3 and the cover layer 2. The connecting element 4 comprises a material, in particular a textile structure, and / or a thermoplastic material. According to the present embodiment, the slide 5 comprises three contour elements 5.1, one of which is centrally arranged and extends beyond the height of the two outer ones. In particular, the slide 5 comprises at least one thermoplastic material, in particular a class of polyoxymethylenes. The rail guide 6, on which the slide 5 is movably arranged, comprises, for example, aluminum, steel, and / or plastic.The traction cable 8 runs around the deflection pulleys 7, is endless, and comprises, for example, steel, with the traction cable 8 being coupled to both the carriage 5 and the drive unit 9. The deflection pulleys 7 also comprise polyoxymethylene. The design device 1 is shown in Fig. 2 in a perspective view without the cover layer 2, the guide body 3 and the connecting element 4, with Fig. 3 showing a sectional view of the design device 1 in the area of ​​a contour element 5.1 of the slide 5. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the design device 1 and Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the design device 1 according to Fig. 4 with an additional static cladding part 10. The carriage 5 is pushed onto the rail guide 6 in the longitudinal direction x, wherein the carriage 5 is fixed to the rail guide 6 by a corresponding design in such a way that the carriage 5 cannot detach from the rail guide 6 in the transverse direction y and in the vertical direction z. As described above, the slide 5 is made of a thermoplastic material, which allows for a positive-locking connection, particularly by clipping the slide 5 onto the guide body 3. Alternatively or additionally, the slide 5 can be pushed onto the guide body 3 according to its shape and that of the guide body 3. The material of the guide body 3 allows the slide 5 to slide relatively easily. The guide body 3 is relatively stiff, i.e., more rigid, yet still flexible, than the connecting element 4 between the cover layer 2 and the guide body 3, which encompasses the textile structure and / or the thermoplastic material. The connecting element 4 is securely enclosed by the guide body 3, which may be injection-molded onto the connecting element 4. The sled 5 is made of a relatively abrasion-resistant material, in particular of at least one thermoplastic material, which slides largely without hindrance both along the rail guide 6 and along an underside of the cover layer 2. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the rail guide 6, the deflection rollers 7 and the drive unit 9 are mounted and fixed on a base plate 11. Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows a lateral cover for the connecting element 4, the guide body 3, and part of the slide 5, realized by means of individual fabric elements 12. The fabric elements 12 are arranged, and in particular attached, to the underside of the cover layer 2. Alternatively or additionally, individual fabric elements 12 can also be realized by fabric elements 12 attached to the rail guide 6 and / or the base plate 11, which have a predetermined elasticity and bending stiffness. As shown in Fig. 5, a kinematic partial covering or cladding of the design device 1, which can be represented by means of the material elements 12, can be integrated into the static cladding part 10. As described above, the top layer 2 is stretched as interior cladding inside the vehicle. When the drive unit 9 is activated, which drives the pull rope 8, the carriage 5, coupled to the pull rope 8, moves along the rail guide 6, thus changing the position of the protrusion A of the surface layer 2, which is created in particular by the central contour element 5.1. This creates a dynamic surface area that moves like a water wave. As soon as the drive unit 9 is activated and the pull rope 8 moves, the carriage 5 is moved along the rail guide 6. In particular, the two outer contour elements 5.1 pull the cover layer 2 into its original position, whereas the protrusion A is created by means of the centrally arranged contour element 5.1. The contour element(s) 5.1 on the slide 5 can be designed in different ways, resulting in different protrusions A. The drive unit 9 is installed in a embodiment of the design device 1 at a predetermined distance to the rail guide 6 and the other components, so that the noise generated during the operation of the drive unit 9 is not perceived as disturbing by the occupants of the vehicle. Furthermore, the drive unit 9, which is designed in particular as an electric motor, can be soundproofed. The base plate 11 of the design device 1 is arranged in particular in the areas where no kinematics of the design device 1 are arranged, so that it is not affected by the base plate 11. In one possible embodiment of the design device 1, the movement of lowering the convertible top in a vehicle designed as a convertible can be visually represented as a wave to emphasize its dynamic nature. In other inventive embodiments, a moving wave can also be depicted on an outer skin of the vehicle when a trunk lid, a convertible top compartment lid, and / or the side mirrors are opened and / or closed. Using the design device 1, a geometrically variable, innovatively dynamic interior trim can be created. An occupant of the vehicle, in particular a vehicle user, has the possibility of customizing the interior and / or controlling the movements of elements of the vehicle's exterior through individual programming.

Claims

Design device (1) for variable, area-by-area design of a vehicle interior, comprising: - a cover layer (2) as visible interior trim, - at least one guide body (3) that is flexible to a predefinable extent, - at least one movable connecting element (4) for connecting the cover layer (2) to the guide body (3), - a carriage (5) with a number of contour elements (5.1), wherein the carriage (5) is coupled to the guide body (3) at least sectionally, and - a rail guide (6) along which the carriage (5) is arranged to be movable, characterized by: - ​​an endless traction cable (8) deflected by means of pulleys (7), which is coupled to the carriage (5) and a drive unit (9), and - the drive unit (9) with a gearbox, wherein, in the event of a movement of the carriage (5) generated by means of the drive unit (9), at least one of the contour elements (5.1) creates a protrusion (A) of the cover layer (2), wherein- the carriage (5) slides along the guide body (3),- the carriage (5) comprises three contour elements (5.1), one of which is centrally arranged and is higher than the two outer ones, and- the protrusion (A) is created by means of the centrally arranged contour element (5.1) and the two outer contour elements (5.1) pull the cover layer (2) into its original position. Design device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover layer (2) comprises at least a predefinable elastic fabric, the connecting element (4) comprises at least a fabric and / or at least a thermoplastic material, the guide body (3) comprises at least a thermoplastic material and the slide (5) comprises at least a thermoplastic material. Design device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pull rope (8) comprises aluminium and / or steel. Method for variable, area-by-area design of a vehicle interior by means of a design device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that - by means of the traction cable (8) driven by means of the activated drive unit (9) a movement of the carriage (5) along the rail guide (6) is initiated and - by means of the movement of the carriage (5) at least one protrusion (A) of the cover layer (2) is produced in the interior of the vehicle according to a position of the number of contour elements (5.1) arranged on the carriage (5).

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