VEHICLE WITH STORAGE SPACE FOR PORTABLE FUNCTIONAL DEVICES

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having storage space for portable functional equipment.

[0002] In order to better understand the positioning of the various parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is carried out with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0003] In a non-exhaustive manner, the portable functional equipment covered by the storage space of a vehicle according to the invention may include safety equipment such as a danger warning triangle or a fluorescent vest, and equipment intended to improve the conditions of use of said vehicle such as a scraper or cloths.

[0004] Currently, these portable functional devices are often stored in the vehicle in a somewhat haphazard manner, where there are limited spaces available or inaccessible corners. While driving, these functional devices, which are not necessarily securely attached to the vehicle, are likely to move and make noise each time the vehicle begins a turn or undergoes a sudden braking or acceleration phase. In addition, these devices may end up under luggage or goods loaded in the trunk of the vehicle, and it is then necessary to remember that they are present in the trunk.

[0005] DE10118425A discloses a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] A vehicle according to the invention has a storage space which has been fitted out in an existing room of said vehicle and the entire volume of which is not used.

[0007] The invention relates to a vehicle, with the characteristics of claim 1, comprising a tailgate mounted to pivot between a closed position in which it closes a rear trunk of said vehicle and an open position in which it allows access to said rear trunk, said tailgate comprising a panel and a box constituting an internal covering of said tailgate and which is fixed to said panel.

[0008] According to the invention, a storage gallery extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle is arranged in the box, being closed by the panel, the two ends of said storage gallery considered along said transverse axis Y each opening onto the outside of said box. Generally, the tailgate panel is metallic and the internal trim is made of plastic. This internal trim has a certain thickness to, for example, house a windshield wiper motor. However, part of this trim has a volume, which is not used. A storage gallery is thus arranged in this trim part to create additional storage space in the vehicle. This storage gallery, which has been arranged in the internal trim of the tailgate, is partially closed by the tailgate panel and is similar to a channel passing right through the trim.The cross-section of this channel may be constant or variable along said channel. This storage gallery creates additional storage space in the vehicle, the dimensions and location of which within said vehicle make it particularly suitable for storing safety objects such as a warning triangle or a fluorescent vest. Rags or a scraper may also be stored in this gallery. It is thus sufficient to open the tailgate to have access to this storage gallery. The two ends of the storage gallery which open onto the two sides of the trim may either remain open or be closed by trims similar to covers. The cross-section of the storage gallery may have any shape, for example, being circular, rectangular or diamond-shaped.

[0009] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the storage gallery has a cross-section of constant dimension over its entire length. It thus makes it possible to maintain the structure of the cladding homogeneous and symmetrical, giving said structure a balanced robustness.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the cross-section of the storage gallery is rectangular in shape. This is an example of a storage gallery shape which is particularly suitable for a vehicle according to the invention, but which is in no way limiting. Such a configuration is favorable to the use of parallelepiped storage boxes, which would be introduced into the storage gallery after having been loaded with objects.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each of the two ends of the gallery considered along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle is closed by a trim which is fixed to the box and which makes it possible to retain the objects which would be stored in said storage gallery. These trims constitute elements for retaining the objects which would be loaded into the storage gallery. Preferably, these trims are made of plastic material so as not to weigh down the vehicle too much. They can be fixed to the box for example using screws, rivets or by clipping.

[0012] According to a possible feature of the invention, the trims are fixed to the box by clipping. This method of fixing does not require any tools, the installation or removal of these trims can be carried out manually, without any particular effort.

[0013] According to a possible feature of the invention, the hubcaps are perforated to allow the filling state of the storage gallery to be seen. The fact of being perforated allows the hubcaps not to significantly increase the mass of the vehicle. Thanks to these perforated hubcaps, an individual can see the contents of the storage gallery through them.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the vehicle comprises at least one storage box intended to be housed in the storage gallery, said storage box being intended to store objects. For this configuration, the objects to be stored are not introduced directly into the storage gallery, but are placed beforehand in a box before being stored in the storage gallery. This storage box makes it possible to store objects in a more orderly and therefore more controlled manner, by preventing them from moving randomly in the storage gallery. Preferably, the storage box has a cross-section slightly smaller than that of the storage gallery, so that it can slide in said storage gallery, limiting play with it. Advantageously, this storage box is stored in the storage gallery while being completely closed.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the vehicle comprises two storage boxes intended to be housed simultaneously in the storage gallery, said storage gallery comprising a dividing wall extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the storage gallery and intended to create two compartments in the storage gallery to each receive a storage box. These two storage boxes can have the same length, or be of different lengths. Thus, if the two storage boxes have the same length, the dividing wall will occupy a central position in the storage gallery, and if they are of different lengths, the dividing wall will occupy an eccentric position in said storage gallery. The two compartments are created on either side of the dividing wall.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the partition wall is pivotally mounted in the box and can move from a closed position in which it extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the storage gallery, to an open position in which it retracts into said storage gallery by extending parallel to said longitudinal axis. In this way, the storage gallery is very flexible in use, because it can have only one compartment extending over its entire length, or have two separate compartments of shorter length.

[0017] The invention also relates to a rear trunk hatch, with the characteristics of claim 10, for producing a vehicle according to the invention.

[0018] According to the invention, the tailgate comprises a panel and a box constituting a covering for said tailgate and which is fixed to said panel, a storage gallery being arranged in the box and being closed by the panel, said storage gallery passing through the box and opening on each side of the latter onto the outside of said box.

[0019] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of having additional storage space thanks to a simple and judicious structural readjustment of an already existing part. As a result, it was not necessary to add an additional part in the vehicle to obtain this storage space which would be a source of additional cost and space. This storage space has the advantage of being easily accessible, without tools and without resorting to complicated and restrictive manipulations.

[0020] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a perspective view of a rear area of a vehicle according to the invention, showing the tailgate in an open position, [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a side view of the tailgate of the figure 1 , [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 is a perspective and exploded view of a first side of a tailgate trim of a vehicle according to the invention, [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 is a perspective view of a second side of a tailgate trim of a vehicle according to the invention, the two storage boxes being in a first configuration, [ Fig. 5 ] There figure 5 is a perspective view of the second side of the cladding of the figure 4 , the two storage boxes being in a second configuration, [ Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 is a perspective view from another angle of the first side of the cladding of the figure 3 , [ Fig. 7 ] There figure 7 is a perspective view of an area of a tailgate trim of a vehicle according to the invention showing a retaining trim attached to said trim, [ Fig. 8 ] There figure 8 is a perspective view of a retaining cap.

[0021] Referring to the figures 1 et 2 , a vehicle 1 according to the invention comprises a tailgate 2 allowing access to a rear trunk 3 of the vehicle 1. This tailgate 2 is schematically made up of two substantially planar segments 4, 5, a first segment 4 of which carries a rear window 6 and a second segment 5 of which is solid. These two segments 4, 5 are in continuity with each other and inclined relative to each other. This tailgate 2 is mounted to rotate about a transverse axis of rotation 7 Y of the vehicle passing through an edge of the first segment 4. This tailgate 2 can thus pass from a closed position for which the first segment 4 is placed above the second segment 5, which extends in a substantially vertical plane, to an open position as illustrated in figures 1 et 2 , for which the second segment 5 extends in a substantially horizontal plane while being placed above the first segment 4.

[0022] The second solid segment 5 has an enlarged metal panel 8 dictating the dimensions of said second segment 5, and an internal covering 9 in the form of a box fixed to an internal surface of said metal panel 8, the dimensions of this covering 9 being smaller than those of the metal panel 8.

[0023] This internal cladding 9 which is visible on the figures 3 à 8 , is in the form of a plastic shell schematically presenting a main wall 10 bordered by two lateral sections 11, 12 extending perpendicular to said main wall 10, said two lateral sections 11, 12 being parallel and separated.

[0024] To obtain a vehicle 1 according to the invention, the internal cladding 9 has been modified so as to reveal a storage gallery 13, delimited by two flat and parallel walls 14, 15, joining the two lateral sections 11, 12 of the internal cladding 9. These two flat and parallel walls 14, 15 extend perpendicular to the main wall 10 of the internal cladding 9, and perpendicular to the two lateral sections 11, 12 of said internal cladding 9. With respect to the vehicle, the storage gallery 13 extends along a transverse axis Y of said vehicle. This storage gallery 13 is also delimited by the main wall 10 of the internal cladding 9. This storage gallery 13 opens onto the two lateral sections 11, 12 of the internal cladding 9 and therefore has two open ends at the level of said two lateral sections 11, 12.When the internal cladding 9 is fixed to the metal panel 8 of the second segment 5 of the tailgate 2, the storage gallery 13 is delimited by said metal panel 8. The storage gallery 13 has a longitudinal axis which extends between the two lateral sections 11, 12 of the internal cladding 9 and has a rectangular cross-section. This rectangular shape of the cross-section is particularly suitable for a vehicle 1 according to the invention, but is in no way limiting for said vehicle; other shapes such as triangular or circular may also be suitable. The storage gallery 13 has a separating wall 16 extending inside said gallery 13 while being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof. This separating wall 16 is flat and of small thickness, and materializes a cross-section of the storage gallery 13.Once the internal cladding 9 is mounted on the metal panel 8, this separating wall 16 completely closes the storage gallery 13. Preferably, the separating wall 16 occupies a central position in the storage gallery 13, and makes it possible to separate two identical compartments 17, 18 of said storage gallery 13. According to an alternative embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention, the separating wall 16 is pivotally mounted in the storage gallery 13, between an open position for which it is stored against one of the two flat walls 14, 15 delimiting said gallery 13, and a closed position for which it closes this gallery 13 by extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof. In the open position, the separating wall 16 extends parallel to the flat walls 14, 15 delimiting the storage gallery 13.

[0025] Referring to the figures 3 , 4 , 7 et 8 , the two ends of the storage gallery 13 are each closed by a trim 19 which is fixed to the internal trim 9. This trim 19 has a dual function: improve the visual appearance of the tailgate 2 by removing the two unsightly end openings of the storage gallery 13, ensure retention of objects which would be stored inside the storage gallery 13, in particular when the vehicle 1 approaches a bend or undergoes a marked braking or acceleration phase.

[0026] Referring to the figures 7, 8 , each trim 19 has two parallel lateral segments 20, 21, connected to each other by a connecting segment 22 joining two ends of said lateral segments 20, 21 while being perpendicular to them. A bar 23 parallel to the connecting segment joins central zones of the two lateral segments 20, 21. All the segments 20, 21, 22 of the trim 19 as well as the bar 23 are rectilinear. A fixing lug 24 originating on the connecting segment 22 and extending perpendicular to said connecting segment 22, carries a fixing clip 25 extending perpendicular to said fixing lug 24.

[0027] Referring to the figure 7 , the trim 19 is fixed by clipping into the internal trim 9 of the second segment 5, so as to extend parallel to the separating wall 16 of the storage gallery 13, and therefore perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said storage gallery 13. By its design, the trim 19 is perforated, and once it has been fixed to the internal trim 9, it closes the storage gallery 13 while allowing an individual to directly view through said trim 19 the loading state of said storage gallery 13. According to another alternative embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention, this trim 19 is solid and acts as a cover for closing the loading gallery 13. The fixing of the trim 19 to the internal trim 9 is carried out by means of the clip 25 which is inserted into an opening of said internal trim 9.The objects that can be stored in the storage gallery 13 can, for example, be a warning triangle, a safety vest or rags. These objects can either be directly stored in the storage gallery 13, or be previously stored in two separate storage boxes 26, 27, before said boxes 26, 27 are directly inserted into said storage gallery 13.

[0028] Referring to the figures 3 , 4 , 5 And 6, each of the storage boxes 26, 27 is parallelepipedal in shape and comprises a receiving body 28 and a cover 29, said cover 29 fitting onto the receiving body 28 to close it. These storage boxes 26, 27 are elongated and have a rectangular cross-section whose dimensions are smaller than those of the storage gallery 13. The storage boxes 26, 27 are first filled with the various objects to be stored, then are then returned to the storage gallery 13 by sliding until they come into abutment against the partition wall 16. Once the storage boxes 26, 27 have been placed in the storage gallery 13, the trims 16 are fixed to the internal covering 9 to prevent said boxes 26, 27 from coming out of said storage gallery 13.

[0029] For a vehicle 1 according to the invention, different configurations can be obtained: The partition wall 16 can occupy a central or eccentric position in the storage gallery 13, making it possible to obtain respectively two identical compartments or two compartments of different sizes. The partition wall 16 is pivotally mounted in the storage gallery 13 and can retract into it, so that said gallery defines only one compartment. The objects to be stored can be directly inserted into the storage gallery 13, or be previously stored in storage boxes 26, 27 before these are inserted into said storage gallery 13.

Claims

1. Vehicle (1) comprising a tailgate (2) pivotingly mounted between a closed position in which it closes a rear luggage compartment (3) of said vehicle and an open position in which it gives access to said rear luggage compartment (3), said tailgate (2) including a panel (8) and a shell (9) forming an internal lining of said tailgate (2) and which is fastened to said panel (8), a storage area (13) extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle is formed in the shell (9) and closed off by the panel (8), characterized in that each of the two ends of said storage area (13), considered along said transverse axis Y, opens on the outside of said shell (9).

2. Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the storage area (13) has a cross section of constant dimension over its entire length.

3. Vehicle according to Claim 2, characterized in that the cross section of the storage area (13) is rectangular.

4. Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the two ends of the storage area (13), considered along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, is concealed by a trim element (19) that is fastened to the shell (9) and used to hold objects stored in said storage area (13).

5. Vehicle according to Claim 4, characterized in that the trim elements (19) are snap-fastened to the shell (9).

6. Vehicle according to either of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the trim elements (19) are perforated to enable the filling state of the storage area (13) to be seen.

7. Vehicle according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes at least one storage box (26, 27) intended to be housed in the storage area (13), and in that said storage box (26, 27) is intended to store objects.

8. Vehicle according to Claim 7, characterized in that the vehicle includes two storage boxes (26, 27) intended to be housed simultaneously in the storage area (13), and in that said storage area (13) comprises a partition wall (16) extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the storage area (13) and intended to create two compartments (17, 18) in the storage area (13), each receiving a storage box (26, 27).

9. Vehicle according to Claim 8, characterized in that the partition wall (16) is pivotingly mounted in the shell (9) and can be moved from a closed position, in which it extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the storage area (13), to an open position in which it is retracted into said storage area (13) and extends parallel to said longitudinal axis.

10. Tailgate (2) of a rear luggage compartment (3) for a vehicle (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, including a panel (8) and a shell (9) forming a lining of said tailgate (2) and which is fastened to said panel (8), a storage area (13) being formed in the shell (9) and closed off by the panel (8), characterized in that said storage area (13) passes through the shell (9) and opens on both sides thereof on the outside of said shell (9).