Glove compartment for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a glove compartment (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (12) and a through-opening (14) directed toward an occupant, which can be closed by a cover element (16) that can be pivoted downwards in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle and that can be opened and closed on a base element (18) of the housing (12) via a pivoting mechanism (22). Provision is made here for a flat support element (20) to be arranged on the base element (18), which rests flatly on the base element (18) and is designed to cover the pivoting mechanism (22) upwards in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle, and which extends as far as the pivotable cover element (16) and rests on the latter.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a glove compartment for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] According to the prior art, glove compartments for motor vehicles are disclosed, comprising a housing and a through-opening oriented towards an occupant. The through-opening is closed by a cover element that pivots downwards in the upward direction of the vehicle and can be opened and closed via a pivoting mechanism on a base element of the housing. Such glove compartments are disclosed, for example, in DE 20 2022 104 455 U1 and also, for example, in DE 102021 131 759 A1.

[0003] RU 2 265 530 C1 discloses a glove compartment for a dashboard in which a box-shaped lid is pivotally mounted on a pivot axis arranged on the rear wall and can be tilted downwards, so that a gap is created between the outer surface of the rear wall of the lid and an adjacent surface.

[0004] However, there is a problem that objects inserted into the glove compartment, especially along the lid element, may collide with the swivel mechanism, for example, or fall into a gap between the base element and the lid element, thus blocking the glove compartment from closing.

[0005] The object of the invention is to further develop a glove compartment in such a way that the insertion of objects can be carried out particularly smoothly.

[0006] This problem is solved by means of a glove compartment with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description of advantages, and the description of figures.

[0007] A first aspect of the invention relates to a glove compartment for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, comprising a housing and a passage opening oriented towards the occupant, which can be closed by a lid element that pivots downwards in the upward direction of the vehicle. The lid element is arranged on a base element of the housing so that it can be opened and closed via a pivoting mechanism, for example a hinge element.

[0008] To solve the problem of the invention, it is provided according to the invention that a flat support element is arranged on the base element, resting flat on the base element and designed to cover the pivoting mechanism upwards in the vehicle's vertical direction, extending up to and resting on the pivotable top element. This means that the pivoting mechanism is covered by the arrangement of the support element, so that an object inserted into the glove compartment, and thus into the housing, through the opening does not collide with the pivoting mechanism or become inserted into a gap between the base element of the housing and the slightly lower top element. This gap or offset is created by the pivoting mechanism and is therefore to be covered by the support element.

[0009] Furthermore, according to the invention, a leading edge of the support element, aligned with the access opening, is guided along an inner contour of the cover element. The support element, located inside the housing, is attached to the base element on one side and guided along the cover element on the other, thus facilitating the easy closing of the cover element. During the opening of the cover element, the support element should remain on or connected to the cover element, so that, regardless of the position of the cover element, objects can be inserted without becoming caught in or being forced into the gap between the base and cover elements.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support element is permanently connected to the housing. This means that the support element is attached to the sides of the base element by means of connecting elements, for example, by screws or adhesive bonds. This ensures that the support element is not displaced when the lid element is moved or opened, and that it does not fall into the gap between the base and lid elements. In an alternative embodiment, however, the support element can also be detachably connected, for example, by hook-and-loop fasteners, so that it can be removed for repairs or when replacing the lid element, or when access to the pivoting mechanism is necessary, without requiring damage or complicated procedures.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support element is designed to be elastic, in particular made of a rubber material. This ensures that the support element remains in continuous contact with the lid element during movement of the lid and does not impede the pivoting of the lid element. This elastic design thus allows the support element to react flexibly to different movements of the lid, thereby enabling reliable support and trouble-free operation of the pivoting mechanism.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a leading edge of the support element, aligned with the access opening, is guided along an inner contour of the cover element. The support element, located inside the housing, is attached to the base element on one side and guided along the cover element on the other, thus facilitating the easy closing of the cover element. During the opening of the cover element, the support element remains on or connected to the cover element, allowing objects to be inserted regardless of the cover element's position, without them becoming caught or being forced into the gap between the base and cover elements.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a front edge of the support element, aligned with the access opening, is tapered and provides a stepless transition to an inner contour of the lid element. Similar to the previously mentioned embodiment of the glove compartment, the front edge is tapered, meaning it comes to a point, thus providing a stepless transition with the inner contour. This ensures that when objects are inserted along the inner contour of the lid element, they do not collide with an edge or the front edge of the support element, thereby preventing insertion and potentially causing the support element to bend, further hindering the insertion of the object.

[0014] Finally, in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support element is provided to rest at least partially against the side walls of the housing. In this embodiment, the support element is designed to cover not only the area above the pivoting mechanism or above the gap, but also areas on the side walls where, for example, openings or elements of the pivoting mechanism may be located. These could, for example, also prevent the easy insertion of objects into the housing, meaning that the support element now covers not only a surface of the base element, but also the side walls.

[0015] In summary, a glove compartment is proposed in which a flexible insert mat can be placed as a support element, thus improving the usability of the glove compartment. This prevents blockage by a hinge or swivel mechanism when inserting items. Furthermore, it also prevents items from falling out if not properly inserted and from getting caught between the bottom and top panels.

[0016] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0017] This shows: Fig. 1. a design of a glove compartment according to the state of the art; and Fig. 2. A design of a glove compartment with an integrated support element.

[0018] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of a glove compartment 10 for a motor vehicle according to the prior art. Such a glove compartment comprises a housing 12 and a through-opening 14 oriented towards the occupant, which can be closed by a cover element 16 that pivots downwards in the vehicle's vertical direction Z. The cover element 16 can be opened and closed on a base element 18 of the housing 12 via a pivoting mechanism. Fig. Figure 1 shows, on the one hand, the closed position of the glove compartment 10 and, on the other hand, a problem in which an object 17 is wedged between the base element 18 of the housing 12 and the lid element 16. This illustrates that inserting objects 17 into glove compartments with associated pivoting mechanisms 22 can lead to collisions between the respective objects 17, thus making the interior space 12a of the housing 12 less than optimally usable.

[0020] To address this problem, the following will be discussed Fig. 2 a solution is presented which improves the insertion of items 17 into the glove compartment 10.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a glove compartment design 10 for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, with a design similar to that in Fig. 1. The housing 12 and the access opening 14, oriented towards the occupant, are also shown. The access opening 14 can also be closed by a cover element 16 that pivots downwards in the vehicle's vertical direction Z and can be opened and closed via an associated pivoting mechanism 22 on the base element 18 of the housing 12.

[0022] However, it is provided that a flat support element 20 is arranged on the base element, which rests flat on the base element and is designed to cover the pivoting mechanism 22 upwards in the vehicle's vertical direction, extending to the pivoting top element 16 and also resting on it. The support element 20 is specifically designed as an insert mat, so that a gap between the base element 18 and the top element 16, and thus also the associated pivoting mechanism 22, is covered. This support element 20 is either fixedly or detachably connected to the housing and also includes a leading edge 20a oriented towards the access opening, which is tapered and provides a stepless transition to an inner contour 16a of the top element 16.

[0023] Furthermore, the front edge 20a of the support element 20 can be guided along the inner contour 16a of the cover element 16, so that when the cover element 16 is adjusted between closing and opening, the insertion of objects 17 by the front edge 20a is not prevented. Due to the elastic design of the support element 20, or the elastic flexible insert mat, the front edge 20a can rest continuously on the cover element 16, thus enabling a stepless transition and guidance along the inner contour 16. Finally, it is also possible, but in the Fig.Figure 2 does not show that the support element rests at least partially against the side walls of the housing, so that elements of the adjustment mechanism 20 or other elements of the glove compartment 20 located in the area of ​​the corners of the housing, as well as openings, are also covered by the support element, thus simplifying the insertion of the object 16 into the housing 12. This provides a larger usable volume for the glove compartment, so that not only is the insertion of objects 17 simplified, but larger objects 17 can also be inserted.

Claims

[1] Glove compartment (10) for a motor vehicle with a housing (12) and a through-opening (14) oriented towards an occupant, which can be closed by a lid element (16) that pivots downwards in the vehicle's vertical direction (z), which can be opened and closed on a base element (18) of the housing (12) via a pivoting mechanism (22), wherein a flat support element (20) is arranged on the base element (18), which lies flat on the base element (18) and is designed to cover the pivoting mechanism (22) upwards in the vehicle's vertical direction (z) and extends to and rests on the pivoting lid element (16), characterized by , that a front edge (20a) of the support element (20) aligned towards the access opening (14) can be guided along an inner contour (16a) of the cover element (16). [2] Glove compartment (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the support element (20) is permanently or detachably connected to the housing side. [3] Glove compartment (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the support element (20) is elastically designed. [4] Glove compartment (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a front edge (20a) of the support element (20) aligned with the access opening (14) is tapered and provides a stepless transition to an inner contour (16a) of the cover element (16). [5] Glove compartment (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the support element (20) rests at least partially against the side walls of the housing (12).

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