Instrument panel of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Instrument panel of a motor vehicle, with a rigid base body (13) which has an opening (30) which can be closed by a rigid cover element (24) adjustable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a storage compartment (20) is accessible in an open position of the cover element (24), wherein the storage compartment (20) has a storage element (22) for holding objects, characterized by the fact that the storage element (22) is made of a flexible material, wherein the storage element (22) is designed such that the lid element (24) is loaded in the direction of the closed position by the storage element (22) in a position moved beyond the open position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, with a rigid base body which has an opening which can be closed by a rigid cover element adjustable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a storage compartment is accessible in an open position of the cover element, wherein the storage compartment has a storage element for receiving objects.

[0002] Such instrument panels are generally known from the prior art and typically have a rigid base body made of plastic, which has at least one opening for a storage compartment, also known as a glove compartment. The storage compartment is usually formed by a storage element, on which various objects can be placed and inserted into the compartment through the opening. To prevent unauthorized persons from looking into the compartment or removing objects, a cover element is arranged at the opening. This cover element is adjustable between an open and a closed position, i.e., it can be moved or pivoted. The storage element is usually made of a rigid material, such as plastic, and is either permanently attached to the base body or to the cover element.

[0003] DE 10 2017 105 315 A1 discloses a center console with a rigid base body which has an opening which can be closed by a rigid lid element adjustable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a storage compartment is accessible in an open position of the lid element, wherein the storage compartment is limited by two side walls made of a flexible material.

[0004] DE 35 10 405 A1 discloses an instrument panel with a rigid base body which has an opening which can be closed by a rigid cover element adjustable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a storage compartment is accessible in an open position of the cover element, wherein the storage compartment is limited by two side walls made of a flexible material.

[0005] In order to reduce energy consumption for the propulsion of motor vehicles, a wide variety of efforts are undertaken in the development process of motor vehicles to reduce the weight of the vehicle.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an instrument panel with a storage compartment which has the lowest possible weight.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0008] Because the storage tray is made of a thin, flexible material, its weight, and consequently that of the instrument panel, can be reduced. The tray itself has a minimal wall thickness, measured in millimeters. Furthermore, the flexible material has a relatively low density, which means that the load on the tray is relatively low when items are placed on it, allowing the tray to have relatively low stiffness and strength. This thinness and low density of the flexible material enable the tray to be lightweight while still reliably holding objects.

[0009] The storage element is designed such that the lid element, when moved beyond the open position, is biased by the storage element towards the closed position. This dampens the opening movement of the lid element, i.e., the stop during the opening movement of the lid element, with the flexible material acting as a spring. This eliminates the need for a conventionally used brake, particularly a silicone brake, thereby reducing the weight of the instrument panel.

[0010] Preferably, the storage element comprises a base section and two side sections, wherein the side sections and the base section are made of the flexible material. Thus, the entire storage element is made of a flexible material. When items are placed in the storage compartment, they rest on the base section.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the flexible material is a fabric. A fabric is a product woven, knitted, or crocheted from textile fibers and rolled into sheets. The fabric has a low density and therefore a particularly low weight. In this way, the weight of the storage element, and thus that of the instrument panel, can be reduced. Alternatively, the flexible material can also be made of a leather-like material, which also has a thin wall thickness and is particularly resistant to dirt and damage.

[0012] Preferably, the storage element has a mesh-like design. This allows the weight of the storage element to be reduced further. It also increases the flexibility of the storage element.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the storage element is made from a recycled material. For example, discarded fishing nets, which are usually made of plastic, can be reused to produce the storage element. In this way, the storage element can be manufactured cost-effectively and in an environmentally friendly manner.

[0014] Preferably, the storage element is rigidly connected to the lid element on one side and to the base body on the other, and is designed such that the storage element deforms when the lid element is moved between the open and closed positions. When the lid element is moved from the closed to the open position, the storage element deforms to create a pocket-like storage area. In the closed position, the storage element is deformed, for example, to close the storage area.

[0015] This provides an instrument panel with a reduced weight.

[0016] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.

[0017] The figure schematically shows a section of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle in a perspective view.

[0018] The figure shows a section of a passenger compartment 10 of a motor vehicle. An instrument panel 12 and a vehicle seat 14, i.e., a passenger seat, are arranged in the passenger compartment 10, whereby the instrument panel 12 and the vehicle seat 14 are also only shown in sections.

[0019] The instrument panel 12 has a storage compartment 20 in the area of ​​the vehicle seat 14. For this purpose, a base body 13 of the instrument panel 12 has an opening 30, which can be closed by a cover element 24 that can be moved between a closed and an open position. In the closed position of the cover element 24, the storage compartment 20 is closed and inaccessible from the passenger compartment 10. In an open position of the cover element 24, the storage compartment 20 is accessible from the passenger compartment 10, so that items can be placed in the storage compartment 20.

[0020] The displacement of the cover element 24 between the open and closed positions is enabled by a guide device (not shown in the figure), wherein the cover element 24 is guided translationally between the open and closed positions by the guide device. Alternatively, the cover element 24 can be rotatably mounted on the base body 13, so that the cover element 24 can be pivoted between the open and closed positions.

[0021] The cover element 24, like the base body 13, is made of a rigid material, in particular a plastic, and has a release lever 26 on one side facing the vehicle seat 14. The release lever 26 is operatively connected to a locking device 28, the locking device 28 comprising a slidably mounted locking element 29 that is spring-loaded into a locking position. In the closed position of the cover element 24, the locking element 29 projects into an opening (not shown) provided in the base body 13, thereby locking the cover element 24 in the closed position and preventing it from being moved to the open position.The release lever 26 is operatively connected to the locking element 29 in such a way that when the release lever 26 is actuated, the locking element 29 is retracted into an unlocking position against the spring preload, thereby unlocking the cover element 24 so that the cover element 24 can be moved into the open position.

[0022] A storage element 22 is provided for holding objects in the storage compartment 20. This element is rigidly connected to the lid element 24 on one side and to the base body 13 on the other. The storage element 22 is made entirely of a flexible material, allowing it to deform when the lid element 24 is moved between its two positions. The storage element 22 has two side sections 32 and a bottom section 34, which define a receiving area. An elastic band 40, 46 is arranged at each of the transitions from the bottom section 34 to the side sections 32 to shape the storage element 22. An elastic band 42, 44 is also provided at each of the ends of the side sections 32 opposite the bottom section 34.

[0023] The flexible material is made from a net-like fabric material, the fabric material being a secondary material and specifically made from recycled fishing nets.

[0024] In the closed position of the lid element 24, the storage element 22 is in a contracted or folded state. When the lid element 24 is moved from the closed position to the open position, the storage element 22 tightens, whereby the storage element 22 and the elastic bands 40, 42, 44, 46 are designed to be elastic such that, when the lid element 24 is moved beyond the open position, the storage element 22 and the bands 40, 42, 44, 46 exert a force in the direction of the closed position, thereby dampening the opening movement.

[0025] This provides the storage element 22, which can be manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner and is lightweight. This allows the weight of the instrument panel 12, and thus of the vehicle, to be reduced.

Claims

[1] Instrument panel of a motor vehicle, with a rigid base body (13) which has an opening (30) which can be closed by a rigid cover element (24) adjustable between a closed position and an open position, wherein a storage compartment (20) is accessible in an open position of the cover element (24), wherein the storage compartment (20) has a storage element (22) for holding objects, characterized by , that the storage element (22) is made of a flexible material, wherein the storage element (22) is designed such that the lid element (24) is loaded in the direction of the closed position by the storage element (22) in a position moved beyond the open position. [2] Instrument panel according to claim 1, characterized by, that the storage element (22) has a bottom section (34) and two side sections (32), wherein the side sections (32) and the bottom section (34) are made of the flexible material. [3] Instrument panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the flexible material is a fabric material. [4] Instrument panel according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the storage element (22) is designed in a net-like manner. [5] Instrument panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the storage element (22) is made from a secondary material. [6] Instrument panel according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the storage element (22) is firmly connected on the one hand to the lid element (24) and on the other hand to the base body (13) and is designed in such a way that the storage element (22) deforms when adjusted between the open position and closed position of the lid element (24).

Images