Device for supporting objects on the dashboard of a motor vehicle

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention generally relates to devices for supporting one or more objects in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

[0002] It relates in particular to such a support device intended to be mounted above the dashboard of such a motor vehicle. [Earlier technique]

[0003] Passengers in vehicles, particularly automobiles, are increasingly demanding internal storage spaces capable of holding all kinds of objects or accessories, such as sunglasses, electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets, cups, bottles, cards and / or documents, pens, coins, etc.

[0004] Storage devices such as glove boxes or storage compartments are generally installed in the dashboard and / or the trim panels of the side doors of the vehicle in order to accommodate some of these objects or accessories.

[0005] Due to their location, such storage spaces do not allow the driver (or even the front passenger) to use the objects placed there during journeys.

[0006] Also known, in particular from documents WO 2014 / 095613 A1 and FR 2 804 916 A1, are support devices which can be removably attached to the dashboard of the vehicle or to an air vent of the ventilation system and which are intended, for example, to accommodate a portable electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet or a container such as a cup or a can.

[0007] Also known, in particular from international patent application WO 2006 / 095064, are support devices for such portable electronic devices comprising a support block for the electronic device, a suction cup for attachment to the front windshield of the motor vehicle, and a connecting arm between the support block and the suction cup. Such a support device also comprises an articulation consisting of a connecting ball joint arranged between the arm and the attachment means: this ball joint allows the support block and therefore the portable electronic device to be oriented according to the user's wishes.

[0008] Also known from US20090224016 A1 is a device that attaches to the windshield frame of a golf cart or all-terrain vehicle used as a secure mounting device for a propane heater and propane cylinder.

[0009] All these added devices often integrate poorly into the vehicle's interior and significantly affect the level of quality perceived by users, particularly when they do not receive any objects or when they are connected via a particularly unsightly power cable to the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket to power an electronic device.

[0010] Furthermore, since the number of locations for installing these added support devices is limited in the front part of the passenger compartment, front seat passengers do not have the possibility of having within reach all of the objects or accessories that they would like to use during the journey of the vehicle.

[0011] This issue particularly concerns vehicles equipped with driver assistance modes capable of completely relieving the driver in certain situations (for example when the vehicle is traveling on roads with separate carriageways) so that the driver is not required to keep their eyes fixed on the road and can attend to other activities (making telephone calls, watching a film, launching a video game on a computer or a touchscreen tablet, reading a book or magazine, etc.). [Statement of the invention]

[0012] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0013] To this end, it proposes a support assembly for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, comprising at least one support device comprising support means for at least one object or accessory also comprising a rigid reception bar provided with a tubular body and designed to extend transversely along and above the dashboard of said vehicle, each at least said support device further comprising attachment means allowing it to be mounted in a removable manner on said reception bar, characterized in that the outer face of said tubular body has an electrically conductive ground strip extending along said reception bar and at least one electrically conductive power supply strip extending along said reception bar away from said ground strip and capable of delivering a direct supply voltage,at least one said support device comprising electrical power supply means comprising an electrically conductive ground track and an electrically conductive power supply track provided on said attachment means and each being connected by a respective conductor to a corresponding terminal of an electrical power supply connector, said ground and power supply tracks being furthermore capable of coming into contact respectively with said ground strip and with a said power supply strip when said support device is mounted on said reception bar.,

[0014] By providing an adequate number of support devices mounted removably on the reception bar, the support assembly according to the invention thus allows the front passengers of a motor vehicle to freely position, within reach of their hands and across the entire width of the dashboard, a multitude of objects and / or accessories, which they can then use during journeys made by this vehicle.

[0015] According to preferred characteristics of said support assembly according to the invention: the outer face of said tubular body has several said power supply strips spaced apart from each other and capable of delivering different DC power supply voltages; said DC power supply voltage(s) delivered by said power supply strip(s) are less than or equal to 10 volts; said tubular body of the receiving bar comprises an electrically insulating thermoplastic substrate on the outer face of which said power supply strips are integrated by a plastronic process; said receiving bar also comprises an indexing protrusion projecting radially outwards and along said tubular body, the two outer faces of said protrusion being capable of each cooperating in abutment with a corresponding element of the attachment means of each said support device so as to lock its angular positioning with respect to said receiving bar;said attachment means of each support device comprise a clamp comprising two elongated branches arranged opposite each other and connected by a spring so as to be able to pivot relative to each other around an axis perpendicular to their respective directions of elongation, said branches comprising clamping portions defining jaws capable of gripping said tubular body to ensure the fixing of a said support device on said reception bar; said branches are each molded from an electrically insulating thermoplastic polymer; and / or said ground and power supply tracks are each integrated by a plastronic process at the jaw of a corresponding branch of said clamp.;

[0016] The invention also aims, in a second aspect, at a motor vehicle comprising such a support assembly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: [ Fig 1 ] represents a simplified perspective view of the front part of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising an object support assembly according to the invention comprising a reception bar extending transversely along and above the dashboard of this vehicle and several support devices fixedly mounted in a removable manner on this reception bar; [ Fig 2 ] is a simplified perspective view illustrating the attachment of one end of the reception bar of the support assembly according to the invention to the structure of the vehicle; [ Fig 3 ] represents an enlarged sectional and perspective view of the docking bar of the support assembly of the figure 1 ; [ Fig 4 ] is an enlarged perspective view of one of the support devices fixedly and removably mounted on said docking bar of the support assembly of the figure 1 ; [ Fig 5 ] represents an enlarged perspective view of the attachment clip of one of the support devices for electronic devices provided with electrical supply means intended to allow the recharging of said device; and [ Fig 6 ] is an enlarged perspective view from another angle of the attachment clamp of the figure 5 . [Detailed description]

[0018] There figure 1 represents a simplified view of the front part of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a support assembly 1 according to the invention, intended to receive various objects and / or accessories.

[0019] In the following description and by convention, the terms "front", "rear", "lower", "upper", "longitudinal" and "transverse" will be defined in relation to the mounting position of a support assembly in the vehicle.

[0020] In reference to this figure 1 , the support assembly 1 comprises a rigid reception bar 100 intended to extend transversely along and above the dashboard 2 of the vehicle, as well as at least one support device 200, 300, 400, 500 for one or more objects or accessories fixedly mounted in a removable manner on this reception bar 100.

[0021] As illustrated on the figure 2 , each end of this rigid reception bar 100 is intended to be rigidly fixed to a respective end of the dashboard crossmember 3 of the vehicle by means of a corresponding connecting flange 4.

[0022] In reference to the figure 3 , the reception bar 100 comprises a tubular body 110 provided with a metallic tubular frame 111 covered with an electrically insulating thermoplastic substrate 112 (for example made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC), the latter being advantageously coated with a layer 113 of anti-scratch varnish.

[0023] The tubular body 110 of the bar 100 has on the rear portion of its outer face four electrically conductive supply strips 114, 115, 116, 117 extending in a staggered manner above and apart from each other over the entire length of this bar 100.

[0024] This tubular body 110 further has on the front portion of its outer face an electrically conductive ground strip 118 also extending over the entire length of the bar 100.

[0025] Advantageously made of copper, these conductive strips 114, 115, 116, 117, 118 are preferably integrated on the outer face of the insulating substrate 112 by a plastronic process, more commonly referred to by the English acronym MID (for “Molded Interconnect Device”).

[0026] Alternatively, these strips can also be affixed to the outer face of the substrate 112 by gluing or ultrasonic welding.

[0027] The power supply conductive strips 114, 115, 116, 117 are capable of delivering different DC power supply voltages advantageously less than or equal to 10 volts (so as not to represent any danger for the passengers of the vehicle in the event of contact with the bar 100) and adapted to different types of electronic devices (for example, 4.5 V for strip 114, 5 V for strip 115, 6 V for strip 116 and 9 V for strip 117).

[0028] To do this, they are connected, for example via a harness of electrical cables and a printed circuit board of the PCB type (for "Printed Circuit Board" in English) not visible in the figures and inserted between one of the ends of the bar 100 and the corresponding connecting flange 4, to a direct current converter integrated for example into the intelligent service box (BSI) of the vehicle and capable of converting the voltage of the battery of this vehicle in 12V into different suitable direct supply voltages.

[0029] Also advantageously made of copper, the conductive ground strip 118 is connected, for example via an electric cable and said printed circuit board, to a ground connection of the vehicle constituted for example by a stud or a metal nut welded onto one of the sheets of the body structure of the vehicle.

[0030] An insulating pad is further advantageously inserted between the second end of the bar 100 and the corresponding metal connecting flange 4 in order to avoid any risk of short circuit.

[0031] This reception bar 100 also includes an indexing protrusion 120 with an I-shaped section projecting radially downwards from the outer face of its tubular body 110 and over the entire length of the latter.

[0032] This protrusion 120 is provided with a metal frame 121 whose upper end is fixed by weld points to that 111 of the tubular body 110, this frame 121 being advantageously coated with a layer 122 of anti-scratch varnish.

[0033] As illustrated on the figure 1 , each of the support devices 200, 300, 400, 500 comprises support means for at least one object or accessory 210, 310, 410, 510 as well as attachment means 220 making it possible to ensure its attachment in a removable manner on the reception bar 10.

[0034] Intended to fixedly support an electronic device of the Smartphone type, the support means 210 of the device 200 comprise, for example, two mobile clamping wedges with adjustable transverse spacing capable of laterally gripping said device.

[0035] Designed to support a container such as a cup or a can, the support means 310 of the device 300 comprise, for example, a receiving ring defining a passage opening for said container.

[0036] Intended to receive, for example, pencils, pens, glasses and other various objects, the support means 410 of the device 400 comprise, for example, a cylindrical receptacle of the pencil holder type.

[0037] Designed to securely support an electronic device of the tablet type, the support means 510 of the device 500 comprise, for example, two mobile clamping wedges with adjustable transverse spacing capable of laterally gripping said device as well as two other mobile clamping wedges with adjustable vertical spacing capable of vertically gripping said device.

[0038] The attachment means of each of these support devices 200, 300, 400, 500 are identical and consist in this case of a “clothes peg” type clamp 220.

[0039] In reference to the figure 4 showing the support device 300 in the configuration mounted on the reception bar 100, this clamp 220 comprises a first elongated branch 221 and a second elongated branch 222 arranged opposite each other and connected by a spring 223, so as to be able to pivot relative to each other around an axis perpendicular to their respective directions of elongation.

[0040] These two branches 221, 222 are advantageously each molded from an electrically insulating thermoplastic polymer such as Polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA) or Polyacetal (POM) optionally reinforced with natural and / or synthetic fibers.

[0041] The support means 210, 310, 410, 510 of each device 200, 300, 400, 500 are carried permanently or removably by the outer face of one of the branches 221, 222 of the clamp 220.

[0042] Advantageously and in order to reduce manufacturing costs and improve the mechanical strength of the support devices, their support means are at least partially made in a single piece with one of the branches 221, 222 of the clamp 220.

[0043] In reference to the figures 5 et 6 representing enlarged views of a clamp 220 alone from two different viewing angles, each branch 221, 222 comprises a gripping portion 221A, 222A, a clamping portion 221B, 222B defining a jaw 224 provided with two lateral jaws 224A, 224B of shape and dimension complementary to those of the tubular body 110 of the reception bar 100, as well as an intermediate portion 221C, 222C connecting these gripping and clamping portions.

[0044] In the absence of external stress, the clamp 220 is able to occupy a closed clamping position in which its two clamping portions 221B, 222B are held in contact with each other by the return force exerted by the spring 223.

[0045] Under the effect of simultaneous manual pressure on the gripping portions 221A, 222A tending to bring them closer to each other against the return force of the spring 223, the clamp 220 is able to occupy an open position in which its two clamping portions 221B, 222B are separated.

[0046] To place a support device such as 200, 300, 400 or 500 on the reception bar 100, one of the front passengers of the vehicle must first pinch the gripping portions 221A, 222A of the two branches 221, 222 of its clamp 220, so as to hold it in the open position.

[0047] He must then position this clamp 220 directly above the tubular body 110 of the reception bar 100, then slide it downwards until the jaws 224 of the clamping portions 221B, 222B surround this body 110. The passenger can then release the clamp 220 so as to cause it to close and the body 110 of the bar 100 to be clamped between the jaws 224 of the clamp 220.

[0048] In reference to the figure 4 , it will be noted that the inner edges of the lower ends of the lateral jaws 224A, 224B of each jaw 224 of the clamp 220 rest in abutment against a corresponding face of the indexing protrusion 120 of the reception bar 100, so as to guarantee that the support device is held in a predefined position of use while avoiding any risk of untimely rotation of the latter around this bar 10.

[0049] The support devices 200 and 500 intended to support electronic devices further comprise electrical supply means intended to enable the recharging of these electronic devices in the vehicle.

[0050] As illustrated on the figures 5 et 6 , these electrical supply means include: an electrically conductive power supply track 225 extending between the two lateral jaws of the jaw 224 of the first branch 221 of the clamp 220, so as to come into contact with a corresponding power supply conductive strip 114, 115, 116 or 117 of the docking bar 100 when the support device 200, 500 is mounted on the latter; an electrically conductive ground track 226 extending between the two lateral jaws of the jaw 224 of the second branch 222 of the clamp 220, so as to come into contact with the ground conductive strip 118 of the docking bar 100 when the support device 200, 500 is mounted on the latter; an electrical power supply connector not shown (for example, of the female USB type) and arranged on the support means 210, 510;and an electrical connecting cable comprising a first conductor 227 connecting the electrically conductive power supply track 225 to a first terminal of this connector, and a second conductor 228 connecting, via the spring 223, the electrically conductive ground track 226 to a second terminal of this connector. ;

[0051] Advantageously made of copper, the conductive tracks 225, 226 are preferably each integrated on a respective branch 221, 222 of the clamp 220, at the level of the jaws 224, and by a plastronic process, more commonly designated by the English acronym MID (for “Molded Interconnect Device”).

[0052] Alternatively, these tracks 225, 226 can also be affixed to the panels 221, 222 of the clamp 220 by gluing or ultrasonic welding.

[0053] It will also be noted that the abutting cooperation of the inner edges of the lower ends of the lateral jaws 224A, 224B of each jaw 224 of the clamp 220 with a corresponding face of the protrusion 120 of the receiving bar 100 makes it possible to guarantee the maintenance of electrical contact on the one hand between the power supply track 225 and the corresponding power supply strip 114, 115, 116 or 117, and on the other hand between the ground track 226 and the ground strip 118.

[0054] According to embodiment variants not shown, the frame of the tubular body of the reception bar can be made of a thermoplastic material such as Polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA) or Polyacetal (POM) possibly reinforced with natural and / or synthetic fibers. Such a frame being electrically insulating, this tubular body is then devoid of the electrically insulating substrate.

[0055] According to other embodiment variants not shown, the number and configuration of the support devices may be different.

[0056] The attachment means of each support device may, for example, consist of elastically deformable clips capable of snapping removably onto the reception bar.

[0057] The support means may also be shaped differently to accommodate other types of objects and / or accessories.

[0058] According to still other embodiments not shown, the reception bar may have a different number of power strips (for example, one, two or three) and the associated power supply voltages may also differ.

Claims

1. A support assembly (1) for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one support device (200; 300; 400; 500) comprising support means (210; 310; 410; 510) for at least one object or accessory; also comprising a rigid landing bar (100) having a tubular body (110) and provided to extend transversely along and above the instrument panel (2) of said vehicle, each at least said support device (200; 300; 400; 500) also comprising means of attachment (220) enabling it to be removably mounted on said docking bar (100), characterized in that the outer face of said tubular body (110) has an electrically ground-conducting lamella (118) extending along said docking bar (100) and at least one electrically conductive supply lamella (114, 115, 116, 117) extending along said docking bar (100) away from said ground slat (118) and capable of delivering a DC supply voltage, at least a support device (200; 500) comprising means of electrical supply comprising an electrically ground-conducting track (226) and an electrically conductive power track (225) provided on said means of attachment (220) and each connected by a respective conductor (228, 227) at a corresponding terminal of a power supply connector, said ground (226) and power (225) tracks being further capable of coming into contact with said ground blade (118) and with said power blade (114, 115, 116 or 117) respectively when said support device (200; 500) is mounted on said docking bar (100).

2. Support assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer face of said tubular body (110) has several so-called supply lamellae (114, 115, 116, 117) separated from each other and capable of delivering different DC supply voltages.

3. A support assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the said DC supply voltage(s) delivered by the said supply lamellae (114, 115, 116, 117) are less than or equal to 10 volts.

4. Support assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said tubular body (110) of the docking bar (100) comprises an electrically insulating thermoplastic substrate (112) on the outer face of which said supply slats (114, 115, 116, 117) are integrated by a plastronic process.

5. Support assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said docking bar (100) also comprises an indexing protrusion (120) projecting radially outwards and along said tubular body (110), the two outer faces of said protrusion (120) being capable of each cooperating in stopping a corresponding element (224) of the means of attachment (220) of each said support device (200; 300; 400; 500) so as to lock its positioning opposite said home bar (100).

6. Support assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said means of attachment of each support device (200; 300; 400; 500) comprise a clamp (220) comprising two elongated branches (221, 222) arranged opposite each other and connected by a spring (223) so as to be able to rotate one in relation to the other about an axis perpendicular to their respective directions of elongation, said arms (221, 222) comprising clamping portions (221B, 222B) defining jaws (224) capable of enclosing said tubular body (110) to ensure the attachment of said support device (200; 300; 400; 500) to said docking bar (100).

7. Support assembly (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said limbs (221, 222) are each molded from an electrically insulating thermoplastic polymer.

8. Support assembly (1) according to Claims 1 and 7, characterized in that said ground (226) and supply tracks (225) are each integrated by a plastronic method at the jaw of a corresponding branch (221, 222) of said forceps (220).

9. A motor vehicle comprising a support assembly (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8.