Carrier arrangement for holding a mobile multimedia device in a vehicle and corresponding vehicle

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-socket support arrangement suitable for also holding a portable multimedia device in a vehicle. The multimedia device may be a smartphone or a tablet. State of the art

[0002] In the state of the art, we know the document US5180089 describing an arrangement for a display screen which is mounted sliding relative to a horizontal rail and this screen is carried by a pivot perpendicular to the direction of the rail. This display screen is movable only in a horizontal plane and consequently, it is not able to adapt to the different fields of vision of passengers or drivers of different sizes, nor to prevent, by an adequate orientation, the appearance of reflections on the screen.Document FR2829979 describes an arrangement for a display element mounted movably relative to a vehicle dashboard which is located in the field of vision of a driver, in which the display element is carried by a support rod whose base is slidably mounted in a substantially horizontal rail secured to the dashboard, the support rod comprises at least one connecting rod, which is interposed between the display element and the base, and of which a first end, facing the base, and a second end, facing the display element, comprise first and second respective bearings with axes parallel to that of the rail, to allow the tilting of the display element and its movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the rail.

[0003] This arrangement shows that the display element is mounted in a cantilevered position, and has the disadvantage of being sensitive to vibrations and unstable when a user touches a touchscreen. These arrangements also show that the screens are placed relatively far from the users. They must rest their gaze on the screen to read it properly, which is detrimental to vehicle driving and safety.

[0004] Document WO 2010 / 034943 discloses a fixing device for fixing a device to an element of a vehicle passenger compartment, such as a portable navigation device on a steering subassembly, said fixing device comprising a fixing lug capable of being connected to the passenger compartment element and further comprising a receptacle comprising holding means capable of holding the device, characterized in that the receptacle is removably connected by connection-disconnection-reconnection means to the fixing lug so that the receptacle can be removed from the fixing lug without tools. Statement of the invention

[0005] The aim of the invention is therefore to propose an ergonomic device fixing solution in all situations.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a support arrangement, as defined in claim 1, adapted to hold a portable multimedia device in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, said support being fixed to an arm, said arm extending from a tube guiding the steering column.

[0007] Preferably, the support is fixed to the arm by clipping.

[0008] Advantageously, the support includes a series of USB type sockets or other type of power supply.

[0009] According to the present invention, the support comprises a cavity formed from its upper wall.

[0010] According to the present invention, the cavity has inclined transverse front and rear walls.

[0011] According to the present invention, the cavity has in its bottom a through passage close to the front inclined wall.

[0012] According to the present invention, a shutter is pivotally mounted, in the open position the shutter rests on the rear inclined wall of the cavity, in the closed position the shutter closes the cavity.

[0013] According to the present invention, the cavity has in its bottom a through passage close to the front inclined wall.

[0014] According to one variant, the flap has an appendage in the form of a rectangular plate arranged in a radial projection, oriented towards the front. According to another variant, the appendage is extended by a substantially cylindrical swelling at its free end.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a support arrangement fixed to an arm extending from the guide tube of the steering column according to the aforementioned characteristics. Brief description of the figures

[0016] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear clearly on reading the description below, given for information purposes with reference to the appended drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the arrangement of a support for a multimedia device, according to the invention; [ Fig.2 ] THE figures 2 And 3 are respectively an enlarged view of the support on which the multimedia device is held and a profile view of the support on which a multimedia device is held, according to the invention. Fig.3 ] There figure 3 is a view of the support according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig.4 ] There figure 4 is a side view of the support on which the multimedia device is fixed by the clamp of a support element on a fin of said support. Detailed description of the invention

[0017] There figure 1is a schematic perspective view of the arrangement of a support 1 of a multimedia device, according to the invention. The support 1 is mounted on an arm 2 extending from a tube 3 of the steering column 4 of the vehicle. The steering column 4 is actuated by the steering wheel 5, it is guided near the steering wheel 5 outside the dashboard 6 by a tube 3 whose exterior can be of square, circular or other shape. The support 1 is of substantially parallelepipedal shape, it comprises on its front face a series of USB 8 or other type sockets so as to connect a cable for recharging the battery of a multimedia device and / or control buttons for example of a heating ventilation unit. The upper wall 9 comprises an arrangement for accommodating a multimedia device such as for example a smartphone.This arrangement is materialized by a substantially rectangular cavity 10 comprising a flap 11 mounted to rotate and inclined towards the rear, provided with a rectangular-shaped appendage 16. A more in-depth description of the support 1 will be given below using the . figures 2 And 3 .

[0018] [ Fig.2 ] THE figures 2 And 3 are respectively an enlarged view of the support 1 on which the multimedia device, not shown, is held and a profile view of the support on which a multimedia device 15 is shown, according to the invention. More particularly the figure 2shows the support 1 with a part of the arm 2. The base 12 of the flap 11 resting on the inclined rear edge 13 of the rectangular cavity 10. The flap 11 has an appendage 16 projecting radially on its front face. This rectangular-shaped appendage 16 has a bulge 17 along its free end, as shown more particularly in the figure 3. It is understood that the back of the smartphone 15 comes to rest on this appendage 16 while the lower end of the smartphone 15 comes to abut against the slightly inclined front wall 18 of the cavity 10. In addition, a through opening 19 is provided in the bottom wall 20 of the cavity 10, sized for the passage of a power cable 21. Advantageously, the male USB socket 22 of the cable can be connected to the female USB socket 23 on the front face of the support 1 so the length of the power cable 21 can be considerably reduced. When the smartphone 15 is not present, the flap 11 is articulated at its base by a pivot connection 24 and it can be folded down according to the arrow 27 on the upper wall of the support 1 to form a uniform surface providing good perceived quality.For this purpose, when closing the flap 11, the appendage 16 engages freely in the passage 25 provided for the passage of the cable 21 provided for the power supply of the smartphone 15. Usefully, a clip 26 placed on the front of the lower wall of the support 1 makes it possible to retain the power supply cable 21.

[0019] [ Fig.4 ] There figure 4 is a side view of the support 1 on which the multimedia device 15 is fixed by the crocodile-type clamp 31 of a support element 30 independent of the support 1. This support element 30 is fixed on the one hand on the appendage 16, emerging from the flap 11, provided at its free end with a swelling 17 and on the other hand on the lateral edges of the smartphone 15 by a jaw system 32 approaching each other under the effect of elastic means. In this way, the smartphone 15 is securely fixed on the support 1 and does not risk falling accidentally during movements of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Support arrangement (1) adapted to hold a portable multimedia device (15) in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, in which said support (1) is configured to be fixed on an arm (2), said arm (1) extending from a tube (3) guiding the steering column (4), in which the support (1) comprises a cavity (10) formed from its upper wall, in which the cavity (10) comprises inclined transverse front (18) and rear (13) walls, and in which the cavity (10) comprises in its bottom a passage (19) passing through near the inclined front wall (18), and in which a flap (11) is pivotally mounted, in the open position the flap (11) comes to bear on the inclined rear wall (13) of the cavity (10), in the closed position the flap (11) closes the cavity (10).

2. Support arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (1) is fixed to the arm (2) by clipping.

3. Support arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support (1) comprises a series of sockets (8) of the USB type or other type of power supply.

4. Support arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flap (11) comprises an appendage (16) in the form of a rectangular plate arranged in radial projection, oriented towards the front.

5. Support arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 4, characterized in that the appendage (16) is extended by a substantially cylindrical bulge (17) at its free end.

6. A vehicle comprising a support arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 fixed to an arm extending from the guide tube (2) of the steering column (4).