CENTER CONSOLE FOR A VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a center console for a vehicle, comprising at least one holder for holding an emergency hammer, and to a vehicle with a center console.

[0002] A vehicle's center console typically runs from a knee area between two front footwells at the rear to between two front seats. Such center consoles can be designed in a variety of ways and usually include at least one functional unit, such as a cup holder or the like.

[0003] CN 210 970 890 U discloses a holder for an emergency hammer for a vehicle, wherein the holder has a receiving body for receiving the emergency hammer and a sensor unit for detecting and indicating the absence of the emergency hammer in the holder.

[0004] The CN 2 05 239 375 U shows a holder for an emergency hammer, which is attached to the side of a vehicle center console.

[0005] DE 202 20 953 U1 discloses an arrangement of an emergency hammer and a wall mount, particularly for use in public transport or in public spaces, wherein coupling means are provided for coupling the emergency hammer to the wall mount. The coupling means comprise connecting means that allow removal of the coupling means or the emergency hammer only after the coupling means and / or the connecting means have been broken.

[0006] JP 5 773 778 B2 discloses a center console for a vehicle having a lockable chamber in which an emergency hammer is arranged, which is held in the chamber by means of a holder.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of storing an emergency hammer within a passenger compartment of a vehicle in a stable position as well as freely and easily accessible.

[0008] According to the invention, the object is achieved by a center console having the features of claim 1.

[0009] It should be noted that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any technically reasonable manner and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures.

[0010] According to the invention, the holder comprises a handle holding unit with an upwardly open recess for at least partially receiving a handle of the emergency hammer and a head holding unit arranged transversely of the center console at a distance from the handle holding unit and having an upwardly open recess for at least partially receiving a hammer head of the emergency hammer, wherein the emergency hammer arranged on the holder is pretensioned by means of at least one pretensioning element in the direction of a rest position, in which at least one retaining projection of the handle holding unit and / or the head holding unit, which extends to the rear and partially closes the recess at the front at the top, at least partially covers the handle or the hammer head at the top. As a result, the emergency hammer is held in its rest position by the holder in such a way that the emergency hammer cannot detach itself from the holder, even in the event of an extreme event.The emergency hammer can only be released from the holder if the emergency hammer is first displaced towards the rear in the longitudinal direction of the center console against the action of the pretensioning unit, so that the handle or hammer head of the emergency hammer is no longer covered at the top by the holding projection. The pretensioning unit can have at least one spring element for its function. The handle holding unit and / or the head holding unit can have at least one guide contour with which the emergency hammer is guided when attached to the holder and / or when removed from the holder, so that attaching or removing the emergency hammer is made easier and more intuitive. The movement for removing or attaching the emergency hammer can, for example, be a combination of a linear movement of the emergency hammer and a rotational movement of the emergency hammer.

[0011] The holder is preferably designed such that the emergency hammer is mounted on the holder silently while the vehicle is moving. Furthermore, the holder is preferably designed such that the emergency hammer cannot detach itself from the holder due to the inertial forces acting on it, even in the event of an extreme event.

[0012] Preferably, the holder is designed such that a handle of an emergency hammer arranged on the holder extends transversely across the center console. This allows the handle of the emergency hammer to be grasped intuitively and easily by hand to remove the emergency hammer from the receiving space. This is particularly advantageous if the holder is designed such that the emergency hammer can only be released from the holder after a certain force is applied.

[0013] The center console according to the invention can be installed, in particular, in a vehicle in the form of a motor vehicle, for example, a passenger car or commercial vehicle. Such a vehicle therefore represents a further aspect of the invention. A center console according to the invention together with an emergency hammer arranged thereon also represents an aspect of the invention.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the holder is arranged in a receiving space in the center console that is permanently open at the side and is freely accessible from the outside. The emergency hammer is thus ergonomically arranged in the receiving space or center console of the vehicle, i.e. in an area of ​​the passenger compartment that is very easily accessible for a person sitting in the front seat of the vehicle, even if the person is strapped into the front seat with a seatbelt. Because the receiving space in the center console is permanently open, it is not necessary to open a flap to access the emergency hammer. In the event of an extreme event, this could be made difficult or impossible by deformation of vehicle components, so that in the worst case scenario the emergency hammer would not be accessible. Instead, the emergency hammer is arranged from the outside orArranged in the receiving space so that it is freely accessible from outside the center console, namely via a side opening in the receiving space, through which a person sitting in a front seat, on whose side of the center console the side opening is located, can see into the open receiving space and see the emergency hammer. The person can therefore move their hand purposefully and quickly towards the emergency hammer in order to grab the emergency hammer, remove it from the receiving space and use it to break a window of the vehicle. The center console or its receiving space can also have such a side opening on both sides, so that both a person sitting in the driver's seat and a person sitting in the front passenger seat can reach for the emergency hammer. In any case, the emergency hammer is arranged in a visible position within the receiving space of the center console and does not interfere with the technical function of the center console.

[0015] The holder for holding the emergency hammer is preferably arranged completely within the receiving space of the center console, so that the emergency hammer arranged on the holder is also arranged completely within the receiving space.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the bracket is manufactured at least partially monolithically with a base body of the center console that defines the receiving space. This greatly reduces the need for mounting separate bracket components on the rest of the center console, simplifying the manufacture of the center console and making the center console more robust with the bracket. Alternatively, it is also possible to manufacture the bracket completely separately and attach it to the rest of the center console, for example, using mechanical fasteners.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the holder is arranged in a front end area of ​​the receiving space of the center console, which is accessible via side openings. A person sitting in the front seat of the vehicle can directly see this front area of ​​the receiving space, which simplifies grasping the emergency hammer.

[0018] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims and the following description of the figures. It shows: Fig. 1 is a schematic and perspective view of an embodiment of a center console according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic and perspective view of the Fig. 1 shown emergency hammer; Fig. 3a-cschematic sectional views of the Fig. 1shown center console with different positions of the emergency hammer; Fig. 4a-c a perspective view of the emergency hammer in the receiving space of the center console with a section through the handle holding unit as in the Figures 3a to c; Fig. 5a-c a perspective view of the emergency hammer in the receiving space of the center console with a section through the headrest unit correlating to the Figures 3a to c; Fig. 6 an enlarged sectional view according to Figure 3a ; and Fig. 7 an enlarged sectional view according to Figure 5a

[0019] In the different figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a schematic and perspective representation of an embodiment of a center console 1 according to the invention for a vehicle not shown.

[0021] The center console 1 has a receiving space 2 which is permanently open on both sides and is arranged within a base body 3 of the center console 1, on which a lateral opening 13 is formed on each side, via which the receiving space 2 is permanently open on the side.

[0022] In addition, the center console 1 has a holder 4 for holding an emergency hammer 5, which is arranged in the receiving space 2 of the center console 1, visible from the outside and freely accessible. In particular, the holder 4 is arranged in a front end region of the receiving space 2 of the center console 1, which is accessible via the side openings 13. The holder 4 is designed such that a handle 6 of the emergency hammer 5 arranged on the holder 4 extends in a transverse direction of the center console 1.

[0023] The emergency hammer 5 also has a hammer head 7, which can be struck against a window of the vehicle in order to break it if necessary. Between the hammer head 7 and the handle 6, the emergency hammer 5 has a tapered transition section 8. The tapered transition section 8 is also advantageous in terms of easier gripping during release, which leads to Figures 3a to 3c will be described later.

[0024] The holder 4 has a handle holding unit 9 and a head holding unit 10 arranged at a distance from the handle holding unit 9 in the transverse direction of the center console 1. The handle holding unit 9 has a recess 11, which is open upwards with respect to a vertical direction of the center console 1 and in the direction of the head holding unit 10, for at least partially receiving the handle 6, and into which the handle 6 is partially inserted. The head holding unit 10 has a recess 12, which is open upwards with respect to the vertical direction of the center console 1 and in the direction of the handle holding unit 9, for at least partially receiving the hammer head 7, and into which the hammer head 7 is partially inserted. The handle holding unit 9 and the head holding unit 10 are at least partially manufactured monolithically with the base body 3 of the center console 1, which delimits the receiving space 2.

[0025] On the handle holding unit 9 and the head holding unit 10, a rigid retaining projection 15 is formed which extends to the rear and partially closes the respective recess 11 or 12 at the front, thereby partially encompassing or covering the handle 6 or the hammer head 7 in the rest position of the emergency hammer 5. As a result, the emergency hammer 5 cannot be moved vertically upwards out of the recesses 11 and 12 in order to release the emergency hammer 5 from the center console. Instead, the emergency hammer 5 can only be released from the center console 1 by a rotational movement according to the arrow 14 shown, as will be described below with reference to the Figs. 3a to 3c The holder 4 has at least one Figs. 3a to 3c shown pretensioning element 20, with which the emergency hammer 5 is pretensioned in the direction of the rest position.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a schematic and perspective view of the Fig. 1shown emergency hammer 5. In particular, the handle 6 and the hammer head 7 are shown in full. The hammer head 7 has a cylindrical impact element 16 which is cast into the remaining hammer head 7, wherein the emergency hammer 5 can otherwise be made of a plastic. The impact element 16 has a conical impact tip 17 which can be brought into contact with a disc to be struck. The head holding unit 10, in particular for the hammer head 7 with impact tip 17, is preferably shaped such that for a Figures 3a to 3c corresponding free space exists for the rotational movement described.

[0027] The Figures 3a-c show schematic sectional views of the Fig. 1 shown center console 1 with different positions of the emergency hammer 5. The sectional views show longitudinal sections of the center console 1 in the area of ​​the handle holding unit 9. In the Figures 4a to cis a perspective view of the emergency hammer 5 in the receiving space 2 of the center console 1 with a section through the handle holding unit 9, wherein the representation of the Figures 3a to c with the Figures 4a to c correlate with each other.

[0028] As in Figure 3a and 4a As can be seen, a handle holding projection 18 extending in the transverse direction of the center console 1 is arranged on a base of the recess 11 and engages in a holding recess 19 extending in the longitudinal direction of the emergency hammer 5 on its handle 7. As a result, the handle 7 is secured in the longitudinal direction of the center console 1 to the handle holding unit 9. The holding projection 15 prevents the handle 6 from automatically lifting off the handle holding projection 18.

[0029] In the recess 11 there is also arranged a pre-tensioning element 20 with an L-shaped cross section, with which the handle 6 can be moved into the Fig. 3a and Fig. 4ashown position is pre-tensioned, so that the handle 7 and therefore also the emergency hammer 5 as a whole does not move according to the Fig. 1 shown arrow relative to the center console 1 and thus cannot detach itself from the center console 1 while the vehicle is moving or in the event of an extreme event.

[0030] In Fig. 3b and 4b the handle 6 has already been pivoted around the handle holding projection 18 according to arrow 21, whereby the holding projection 15 no longer covers the handle 6 at the top, and the handle 6 is therefore released from the holding projection 15. In the process, the pre-tensioning element 20 has been elastically deformed against its pre-tensioning direction. From this position of the handle 6 or emergency hammer 5 relative to the center console 1, the handle 6 or emergency hammer 5 can be moved diagonally upwards and out of the recess 11 at the rear, which allows the user intuitive handling of the emergency hammer 5. This position is shown in Figure 3c and 4c shown.

[0031] This movement sequence is particularly advantageous when the emergency hammer 5 is removed from the receiving space 2 blindly, i.e. without looking. Once the emergency hammer 5 has been removed from the recess 11, the pre-tensioning element 20 automatically deforms back into the Figure 3a shown state. The emergency hammer 5 is then arranged in the recess 11 by reversing the previously described steps.

[0032] In the Figures 5a to c a perspective view of the emergency hammer 5 in the receiving space 2 of the center console 1 with a section through the head support unit 10 and the hammer head 7 with impact element 16, wherein the movement sequence with the Figures 3 to c correlated.

[0033] As in Figure 5aAs can be seen, the recess 12 is open at the bottom so that the hammer head 7, in particular its impact element 1 with impact tip 17, can be accommodated. The hammer head 7 is locked in the recess 12 and held securely in position by means of the retaining projection 15. The pre-tensioning element 20 is also visible. The hammer head 7 with its impact element 16 can rotate freely, i.e. without hindrance, since the head holding unit 10 offers sufficient space, as shown in Figures 4b and 4c The movement sequence is as in the Figures 3a to c described to which reference is made.

[0034] In Figure 6 is an enlargement of the sectional view from Figure 3a shown. The pretensioning element 20 rests on one side of the handle 6 and presses the emergency hammer 5, i.e. the handle 6, against opposite contact points of the handle holding unit 9, so that the emergency hammer 5 is held securely in position together with the holding projection 15.

[0035] In Figure 7is an enlargement of the sectional view from Figure 5a shown. The pre-tensioning element 20 rests on one side of the hammer head 7 and, together with the retaining projection 15, ensures that the emergency hammer 5 is also held securely in position on the head side. List of reference symbols

[0036] 1Center console 2Holding space 3Base body 4Holder 5Emergency hammer 6Handle 7Hammer head 8Transition section 9Handle holding unit 10Head holding unit 11Recess at 9 12Recess at 10 13Side opening at 3 14Arrow 15Holding projection 16Impingement element 17Strike tip 18Handle holding projection 19Holding recess 20Pre-tensioning element 21Arrow

Claims

1. Centre console (1) for a vehicle, having at least one holder (4) for holding an emergency hammer (5), characterized in that the holder (4) has a handle-holding unit (9) with an upwardly open recess (11) for at least partially receiving a handle (6) of the emergency hammer (5) and a head-holding unit (10) arranged in the transverse direction of the centre console (1) at a distance from the handle-holding unit (9) with an upwardly open recess (12) for at least partially receiving a hammer head (7) of the emergency hammer (5), wherein the emergency hammer (5) arranged on the holder (4) is preloaded by means of at least one preloading element (20) in the direction of an inoperative position, in which at least one holding projection (15) of the handle-holding unit (9) and / or of the head-holding unit (10) extending on the rear side and partially closing the recess (11) or the recess (12) on the front side at the top at least partially upwardly covers the handle (6) or the hammer head (7).

2. Centre console (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the holder (4) is freely accessible from the outside in a laterally permanently open receiving chamber (2) in the centre console (1).

3. Centre console (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holder (4) is at least partially produced monolithically with a main body (3) of the centre console (1), the main body delimiting the receiving chamber (2).

4. Centre console (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (4) is arranged in a front-side end region of the receiving chamber (2) of the centre console (1), said receiving chamber being accessible via lateral openings (13).

5. Vehicle having a centre console (1) according to one of the preceding claims.