System for fastening an electrically driven device in a motor vehicle interior

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle equipment, and more specifically concerns the fixing to a motor vehicle dashboard of various elements which must be electrically powered, such as an electrical outlet, a telephone charger, a refrigerated cup holder, etc.

[0002] Publication FR2833541A1 discloses a fixing system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] The invention is based on the observation that it is now necessary to offer the occupants of a motor vehicle flexibility and ease in the use of various portable or mobile accessories that they have and which require an electrical power supply.

[0004] The invention thus aims to propose a fixing system allowing the fixing of accessories and modules which must be electrically powered.

[0005] For this purpose, the invention relates to a fixing system for fixing an adapter module in a motor vehicle passenger compartment, the fixing system comprising: a fixing rail, comprising a hollow body of elongated shape, intended to be fixed to a trim element of a motor vehicle, such as a dashboard, the body comprising two conductors arranged respectively along an upper end and a lower end of a cavity provided within the body, the cavity communicating with an opening extending along the body;at least one adapter module, the adapter module being configured to be removably attached to the mounting rail, the adapter module comprising a body and two movable contacts, movable in rotation relative to the body between an engagement position in which they allow the adapter module to be attached to the mounting rail by inserting the movable contacts through the opening, the movable contacts then being arranged within the cavity of the mounting rail, and a fixing position, not allowing the movable contacts to be extracted from the cavity and in which a first end of each movable contact is in contact with the corresponding conductor of the mounting rail and electrically connected thereto, thus allowing the adapter module and the mounting rail to be electrically connected. ;

[0006] By means of a fixing rail that can be integrated into a trim element of a motor vehicle interior, the fixing system according to the invention offers vehicle occupants great flexibility for fixing one or more accessories that must be both fixed and electrically connected, such as an electrical outlet, a portable electronic device charger, etc. By providing that the fixing to the fixing rail and the electrical connection are carried out by means of the same elements, namely the movable contacts, the invention makes it possible to fix and electrically connect an accessory simply and quickly. By providing that the conductors of the fixing rail are arranged within an internal cavity of the fixing rail, accessible only through an opening whose distance between the two edges will be advantageously reduced, the conductors are inaccessible and are protected by the front face of the rail.The system according to the invention thus has a very high level of security. In one embodiment, each movable contact is secured to a respective rotary arm, the rotary arms being secured to a control lever mounted so as to rotate in the body of the adapter module.

[0007] In one embodiment, the control lever has two opposite ends emerging from the body through a respective slot.

[0008] In one embodiment, each movable contact has a second end disposed in the body of the adapter module and configured to contact a respective internal conductor when the movable contacts are in the attachment position.

[0009] In one embodiment, the body of the adapter module includes a partially open cage, inside which the movable contacts are retracted when in the engaged position, the cage being configured to be inserted inside the cavity via the opening.

[0010] In one embodiment, the body of the fixing rail comprises, on a rear wall delimiting the cavity, a groove arranged in line with the opening, into which the cage is partially inserted when the adapter module is fixed to the fixing rail.

[0011] In one embodiment, when the adapter module forms an electrical outlet base, each internal conductor of the body is electrically connected to a respective terminal.

[0012] In one embodiment, the conductors of the fixing rail each comprise a flexible strip and / or are mounted on an elastic return system comprising, for example, a plurality of springs.

[0013] In one embodiment, the body of the adapter module comprises a system for indexing the control lever in a position corresponding to the fixing position of the movable contacts and / or in a position corresponding to the engagement position of the movable contacts.

[0014] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a fixing system conforming to that defined above, the fixing rail being fixed in a vehicle interior trim element, such as a dashboard, a door panel or a console, the conductors of the fixing rail being connected to an on-board electrical network of the vehicle.

[0015] The present invention will be better understood from reading the following detailed description, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a partial view of a motor vehicle interior comprising, the vehicle being equipped with a fixing system in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a perspective view of an adapter module and a portion of mounting rail, with the adapter module not connected to the mounting rail. Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 is a partial view of the mounting rail on which the adapter module of the figure 1 is connecting. [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 is a partial view of the mounting rail on which the adapter module of the figure 1 is connected [ Fig. 5 ] There figure 5 is a sectional view of the mounting rail on which the adapter module of the figure 1 is connecting. [ Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 a sectional view of the mounting rail on which the adapter module of the figure 1 is connected. [ Fig. 7 ] There figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the lever in the engaged position. Fig. 8 ] There figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the lever in the connected position.

[0016] There figure 1 partially represents a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 comprises a dashboard 10. The dashboard 10 is equipped with a fixing system 2 according to the invention, making it possible to simultaneously fix on a fixing rail 3 one or more adapter modules, such as the adapter module 4 forming an electrical socket for powering a portable or nomadic electronic device, such as a laptop computer.

[0017] The following is described in relation to the figures 2 à 8 , the operation of the fixing system according to the invention.

[0018] There figure 2 is a perspective view of the adapter module 4 of the figure 1 not coupled to the fixing rail 3 of which only a section is shown.

[0019] The fixing rail 3 comprises a hollow body 30. The body 30 comprises a front face 30a and a rear face 30b. The body 30 comprises on its front face an opening 32 extending along the fixing rail 30 and communicating over its entire length with a cavity 34 formed inside the body 30. The cavity 34 is delimited in particular by a front wall 34a and by a rear wall 34b. A groove 34c is formed in the rear wall 34b, in line with the opening 32. The opening 32 and the groove 34c have similar dimensions and are shaped to receive a portion of the adapter module 4 when the latter is connected to the fixing rail 30, as described in more detail below. The opening 32 has a distance between its two edges that is reduced compared to the dimension of the cavity 34 measured in the same direction.

[0020] At an upper end of the cavity 34 is arranged a first electrical conductor 36. At a lower end of the cavity 34 is arranged a second electrical conductor 38. In the example the first and second contacts 36, 38 are mounted on springs 36b, 38b.

[0021] As visible on the figures 3 à 6 , The adapter module 4 comprises a body 40. The body 40 comprises a first part, or front part 40a, used for fixing and electrically connecting the adapter module 4 to the fixing rail 30, and a second part, or rear part 40b, which is a functional part, and which forms in the example an electrical socket base.

[0022] The body 40 is secured on its front part 40a to a cage 42, forming a projection from the body 40 and configured to be inserted into the opening 32 and into the groove 34c when the adapter module 4 is fixed to the fixing rail 30. The cage 42 makes it possible in particular to ensure the positioning of the adapter module on the fixing rail 3

[0023] The cage 42 is partially open, and configured to contain two movable contacts 44, 46, movable in rotation between an engagement position (visible on the figures 3 And 5 ), in which they are retracted inside the cage 42 and can thus be inserted into the cavity 34 through the opening 32, and a fixing position (visible on the figures 4 And 6), in which they are deployed outside the cage 42 to be in contact respectively with one of the conductors 36, 38 of the fixing rail 3. In the example, a rotation of 90° makes it possible to move from the engagement position to the fixing position and vice versa.

[0024] Each movable contact 44, 46 is mounted on a respective rotary arm 48a, 48b each secured to a rotary control lever 48. The lever 48 is arranged inside the body 40 and comprises two operating ends 48c, 48d, accessible for manipulation by a user, these ends emerging from the body 40 through a respective slot 50a, 50b provided in the body 40. Each movable contact 44, 46 comprises a first end 44a, 46a intended to be in contact and electrically connected with the corresponding conductor 36, 38 of the fixing rail 3.

[0025] Each movable contact 44, 46 comprises a second end 44a, 46b, arranged within the body 40 and arranged in the example on the control lever 48, and intended to be in contact and electrically connected with a respective internal conductor 52a, 54a, when the movable contacts are in the fixing position, as visible on the figure 8 Advantageously, the second ends 44b, 46b of the movable contacts 44, 46 are configured not to be electrically connected to the internal conductors 52a, 54a when the movable contacts are in the engaged position, as shown in the figure 7 . Preferably, the internal conductors 52a, 54a comprise a contact portion forming a flexible strip.

[0026] In the example of the figures, in which the adapter module 4 forms an electrical socket base, each internal conductor 52a, 54a is respectively electrically connected to one of two electrical terminals 52, 54 of the socket, as visible in the figures 7 et 8 .

[0027] The mounting rail and adapter module 4 configuration allow for a simple and secure connection.

[0028] As visible on the figures 3 à 6 , it is simply required, to fix an adapter module 4 on the fixing rail 3, that the movable contacts 44, 46 are in their engagement position. The movable contacts 44, 46 being in this position, it is then sufficient to approach the adapter module 4 to the fixing rail 3 and to insert the cage 42 of the body 40 into the opening 32 of the fixing rail 3, until the cage 42 is at the bottom of the groove 34c arranged in line with the opening 32. The adapter module 4 is then attached to the fixing rail, and it is sufficient to rotate the control lever 48 by 90°, to bring the movable contacts 44, 46 into their fixing position. In this position, as visible on the figures 4 And 6, the movable contacts 44, 46 are in contact with the conductors 36, 38 of the fixing rail 3, thus ensuring an electrical connection between the fixing rail 3 and the adapter module 4. The fixing of the adapter module 4 on the fixing rail 3 is also ensured. The mounting of the conductors 36, 38 on an elastic return system makes it possible to ensure locking of the movable contacts 44, 46 in the fixing position. Alternatively or in addition, it is possible to provide indexing of the position of the control lever 48, for example by means of an indexing system comprising a spring-mounted ball. To remove the adapter module 4 from the fixing rail 3, it is simply sufficient to turn the control lever 48 in the opposite direction, in order to move the movable contacts 44, 46 to their engagement position, then to remove the adapter module 4.

[0029] The fixing system described above makes it possible to easily and simply ensure the fixing and electrical connection of an adapter module to the fixing rail. By providing that the electrical contacts 36, 38 of the fixing rail 3 are housed within the cavity 34, these conductors are made inaccessible to a user. Advantageously, the opening 32 will be sized to prevent a user from inserting a finger therein. The system according to the invention therefore has both great flexibility and great ease of use, while ensuring a high degree of safety for users.

Claims

1. Fastening system (2) for the fastening of an adapter module in a vehicle passenger compartment (1), the fastening system (2) comprising: - a fastening rail (3), comprising a hollow body (30) of elongated shape, intended to be fastened to a trim element of a motor vehicle (1), such as a dashboard (10), the body (30) comprising two conductors (36, 38) arranged respectively along an upper end and a lower end of a cavity (34) made within the body (30), the cavity (34) communicating with an opening (32) extending along the body (30); - at least one adapter module (4), the adapter module (4) being configured to be removably fixed to the fastening rail (3), the adapter module comprising a body (40) and two movable contacts (44, 46), characterized in that the two movable contacts (44, 46) are movable in rotation relative to the body (40) between an engagement position in which they make it possible to adhere the adapter module (4) to the fastening rail (3) by inserting the movable contacts (44, 46) through the opening (32), the movable contacts (44, 46) are then arranged within the cavity (34) of the fastening rail (3), and a fastening position, which does not allow extraction of the movable contacts (44, 46) from the cavity (34) and in which a first end (44a, 46a) of each movable contact (44, 46) is in contact with the corresponding conductor (36, 38) of the fastening rail (3) and electrically connected thereto, thus making it possible to electrically connect the adapter module (4) and the fastening rail (3).

2. Fastening system (2) according to the preceding claim, in which each movable contact (44, 46) is integral with a respective rotary arm (48a, 48b), the rotary arms (48a, 48b) being integral with a control lever (48) mounted so as to be movable in rotation in the body (40) of the adapter module (4).

3. Fastening system (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the control lever (48) comprises two opposite ends (48c, 48d) emerging from the body (40) through a respective slot (50a, 50b).

4. Fastening system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, in which each movable contact (44, 46) comprises a second end (44b, 46b) arranged in the body (40) of the adapter module (40) and configured to be in contact with a respective internal conductor (52a, 54a) when the movable contacts (44, 46) are in the fastening position.

5. Fastening system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the body (40) of the adapter module (4) comprises a partially open cage (42), inside which the movable contacts (44, 46) are retracted when they are in the engagement position, the cage (42) being configured to be inserted inside the cavity (34) via the opening (32).

6. Fastening system (2) according to the preceding claim, in which the body (30) of the fastening rail (3) comprises, on a rear wall (34b) delimiting the cavity (34), a groove (34c) arranged in line with the opening (32), in which the cage (42) is partially inserted when the adapter module (4) is fastened to the fastening rail (3).

7. Fastening system (2) according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which, when the adapter module (4) forms an electrical socket base, each internal conductor (52a, 54a) of the body (40) is electrically connected to a respective terminal (52, 54)8. A fastening system (2) according to claim 1, in which the conductors (36, 38) of the fastening rail (3) each comprise a flexible strip and / or are mounted on a resilient return system comprising, for example, a plurality of springs (36 a, 38 a).

9. Fastening system (2) according to one of Claims 2 to 8, in which the body (40) of the adapter module (4) comprises a system for indexing the control lever (48) in a position corresponding to the position for fastening the movable contacts (44, 46) and / or in a position corresponding to the position for engaging the movable contacts (44, 46).

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a fastening system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, the fastening rail (3) being fastened in a trim element (10) of the passenger compartment of the vehicle (1), such as a dashboard, a door panel or a bracket, the conductors (36, 38) of the fastening rail (3) being connected to an electrical network on board the vehicle (1).