ARRANGEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD AND A DIGITAL SCREEN

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement of a dashboard of a motor vehicle and a digital screen.

[0002] In the automotive sector, the dashboard is mounted to a structural crossmember, transversely within the passenger compartment, extending from the inner side of the windshield to the front of the driver and front passenger seats. The dashboard may include, on the driver's side, a digital display showing driving information; in its central section, a digital display for controlling various vehicle parameters, climate control, and navigation; and on the passenger side, one or two additional digital displays. These displays may be touchscreens.

[0003] The area of ​​the dashboard closest to the inside of the windshield, known as the dashboard panel or cowl, must be clear of any potentially dangerous elements for safety reasons, particularly in the event of a pedestrian head-on collision. Indeed, the head of a pedestrian struck by the front of a vehicle can dent the windshield and could then strike this dangerous component.

[0004] However, there is a demand for interior configurations where the digital screens are positioned further forward on the dashboard, closer to the windshield. These screens would then pose a risk in the event of a pedestrian head-on collision.

[0005] DE 10 2016 200 902 A1 discloses an arrangement of a dashboard of a motor vehicle and a digital display.

[0006] The invention aims to provide a dashboard and digital screen arrangement, meeting the safety needs of a pedestrian against a so-called "pedestrian head impact".

[0007] To this end, the invention provides an arrangement of a dashboard of a motor vehicle and a digital screen comprising a display face and an opposing back, an opposing upper edge and a opposing lower edge.

[0008] The said arrangement includes: at least one first screen guide element attached to the back of the screen, at least one fixing bracket having a substantially vertical upper part, having a predetermined height, attached to the lower edge of the screen, and a lower fixing part receiving a fixing element, a structural wall of the dashboard supporting the screen and having at least one second guide element for said first guide element and at least one frangible area receiving the lower fixing part of said screen fixing bracket.

[0009] The second guide element extends at a substantially inclined angle to the vertical and close to the back of the screen, and it includes a lower travel portion available over a predetermined distance. Furthermore, the second guide element is extended below by a substantially vertical structural wall portion, itself extended below by a horizontal structural wall portion spaced from the lower edge of the screen at least along the substantially vertical upper portion of the mounting bracket.

[0010] A safety space is defined between said vertical and horizontal wall parts and at the rear of the upper fixing bracket part, to receive at least the lower part of the screen when at least one frangible zone is broken during an impact touching the screen, said screen being guided downward at least towards said safety space by said first and second guiding means along the available lower part of the second guiding means.

[0011] The term "frangible" zone, also sometimes called "fusible" zone, means that the zone is capable of breaking under stress, for example by breaking or tearing under stress.

[0012] The terms "front" and "rear" refer to the front and rear of the motor vehicle.

[0013] In the event of a pedestrian head impact, the impact transmitted to the top of the screen causes a violent force to break at least one of the mounting tabs in the frangible area where the tab is fixed. Simultaneously, the guide elements will cause the screen to descend at least along the available lower travel of the second guide element, down to at least the safety zone, or even lower. This arrangement thus allows digital screens to be installed closer to the windshield than in prior art designs, while still meeting safety requirements, particularly in the event of a pedestrian head impact. Preferably, the available lower travel over a predetermined distance (J) of the second guide element is such that this predetermined distance (J) is substantially equal to the height (H) of the substantially vertical upper part of the mounting tab.

[0014] Advantageously, the at least first guiding element of the screen, attached to the back of the screen, is a guide roller, and the at least second guiding element of the first guiding element is a guide groove that receives the roller. These guiding means also facilitate the installation of the screen, as explained later in the description of an example and the accompanying figures.

[0015] Preferably, the horizontal structural wall portion spaced from the lower edge of the screen includes a rearward-facing projecting portion that is included in the at least frangible zone, and said fixing tab includes a substantially horizontal portion, between the lower and upper portions of said tab, bearing on said projecting portion.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one frangible zone comprises weakened, thinned, and / or material-free portions of the structural wall surrounding the portion of the structural wall receiving the lower part of the fastening bracket. Preferably, the portion of the structural wall receiving the lower part of the fastening bracket, surrounded by these weakened wall portions, projects backward. The frangible zone can thus break along its entire perimeter in its weakened portions, and this portion of the structural wall for fastening is also easily accessible to an operator.

[0017] Advantageously, the arrangement includes a screen cover extending over at least a portion of the structural wall in front of the screen and projecting beyond the display face of the screen. Preferably, the screen cover is press-fitted to the structural wall. In a particular application, the screen cover is press-fitted to the upper lateral portion of at least one guide groove.

[0018] This screen cover aesthetically conceals the open portion of the front of the screen while protecting it, particularly the back of the screen, from the heat behind the windshield. Furthermore, it provides initial protection to the head of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle with a screen positioned close to the windshield.

[0019] Advantageously, the first and second guide elements secure the screen body to the structural wall. Indeed, particularly if the screen is large, the mounting brackets attached to the bottom edge of the screen might require additional vertical support to reinforce the screen's vertical attachment to the structural wall. Specifically, the first guide element attached to the screen is fixed approximately halfway up the screen.

[0020] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a dashboard supporting at least one digital screen, and comprising at least one arrangement of the dashboard and the digital screen as described above.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a general schematic perspective view of an arrangement of a dashboard and a digital screen according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 ] is a longitudinal sectional view AA of the arrangement between the screen and the dashboard of the figure 1 . [ Fig. 3 ] is a detailed, perspective, top-down view of part of the arrangement shown in the preceding figures. Fig. 4 ] is a detailed, perspective, top-down view of another part of the arrangement shown in figures 1 And 2 . [ Fig. 5 ] is a perspective view of a classic orthonormal XYZ coordinate system of a motor vehicle.

[0022] The orientations expressed in the description of the figures are given with reference to an orthonormal XYZ coordinate system of a motor vehicle according to the figure 5 , in which X represents the longitudinal direction, oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle, Y the transverse direction oriented towards the right of the vehicle, and Z the vertical direction oriented towards the top of the vehicle in its usual position, resting on its wheels.

[0023] The orientations of the described arrangement therefore refer to these orientations, with the terms "front" and "rear" also being indicated in reference to the front and rear of the motor vehicle.

[0024] There figure 1 represents an arrangement of a dashboard of a motor vehicle comprising a structural wall 1 and a digital screen 2 according to the invention, located at the front of the dashboard, near the windscreen P, the panel 5 of the dashboard being located between said arrangement and the windscreen.

[0025] The structural wall 1 of the dashboard is transverse and fixed to the dashboard cross member T. It supports the screen 2 which is fixed to it by two fixing tabs 21, 21' in frangible areas 3, 3'.

[0026] There figure 2 represents the arrangement in longitudinal section in the XZ plane, at the level of a fixing bracket 21 along the axis AA mentioned in Fig. 1 .

[0027] The digital screen 2 has an opposing display face 200 and back 201, an opposing upper edge 202 and lower edge 203 ( Fig. 2 ), the display face 200 being turned towards the front seats of the passenger compartment (not shown).

[0028] Two guide rollers 20, 20' of the screen, attached to the back 201 of the screen, are indicated by dotted lines on the figure 1 .

[0029] One of the 20 rolls is visible on the figure 2 in section, fixed to the back 201 of the screen 2. The structural wall 1 of the dashboard, supporting the screen 2, includes a guide groove 10 receiving said roller 20.

[0030] With reference to the Fig. 3 In detail, this guide groove 10 extends close to the back 201 of the screen and has an inclined direction relative to the vertical. The groove 10 is delimited by a rear wall 102 slightly inclined relative to the vertical, proximal to the back 201 of the screen, and by two front walls 101, 101' spaced in the transverse direction (Y) from each other and which each have an orientation parallel to the rear groove wall 102.

[0031] The structural wall extends into the lower part of the groove 10 by a substantially vertical structural wall portion 103, the latter being extended by a substantially horizontal structural wall portion 104 extending lower than the lower edge 203 of the screen 2.

[0032] The frangible zone 3 of said structural wall is located in the lower part of said structural wall, below the lower edge 203 of the screen 2. It includes through openings 30 which weaken this zone 3 of the structural wall due to the lack of material. Said openings 30 are arranged in a rectangular shape occupying the lower part of the structural wall, including the horizontal structural wall portion 104 and a rearward-projecting section of the mounting wall 105, making it accessible to an operator, and to which the screen's mounting bracket 21 is attached. The frangible zone 3 also covers a structural wall portion 106 with a substantially V-shaped cross-section extending downward from the mounting wall portion 105.

[0033] The fixing bracket 21 includes a vertical upper part 210, the upper end of which is fixed to the lower edge 203 of the screen 2. It further includes a lower fixing part 211 fixed in the frangible zone 3 of said structural wall 1. Said bracket 21 includes a horizontal central part 212 which is located between its vertical upper part 210 and its lower fixing part 211 and which rests on the portion 1040 projecting towards the rear of the horizontal structural wall part 104, inside the frangible zone 3, i.e. in the inner zone delimited by through-weakening openings 30.

[0034] The upper vertical part 210 of the fixing bracket has a height H. The upper vertical part 210 of the bracket thus keeps the bottom of the screen away from the substantially horizontal structural wall part104.

[0035] The guide groove 10 includes a lower travel portion available over a distance J, also called the "lower travel clearance," leaving a portion to be traveled by the roller 20, this distance J being equal to the height H of the bracket. The arrangement of the structural wall described, as well as the other roller 20' and the other fixing bracket 21' of the screen, is similar to that just described.

[0036] This fixing of the screen by the fixing tabs 21, 21' and the configuration of the structural wall, in particular its substantially vertical parts (103 for tab 21) and its substantially horizontal parts (104 for tab 21) extending lower than the lower edge 203 of the screen 2, create a safety space E under the lower part of the screen.

[0037] Furthermore, the upper edge 202 of the screen is covered by a screen cover 4 that extends over a portion of the structural wall at the front of the screen and overhangs the display face 200 of the screen. This screen cover 4 is held securely in place by a clip 40 at the upper lateral end of the guide grooves (respectively for the two rollers 20, 20'). The screen cover has a flat shape in an inclined plane rising from its proximal front edge of the windshield towards the screen.

[0038] The main function of the screen cover 4 is to conceal technical areas. Additionally, the screen cover 4 is designed to reduce injuries in the event of a pedestrian collision.

[0039] Indeed, in the event of an accident with a pedestrian, the impact on the screen cover 4 of the screen 2 is reflected on the top of the screen, and as a result the fixing tabs 21, 21' will press on the frangible areas 3 in which they are fixed and cause these areas to break, and simultaneously the rollers 20, 20' will travel the lower path set (of distance J) of the guide grooves, causing the release of the screen 2 with a descent of the screen of at least the height H (and the distance J of the path set of grooves) into the safety space E, or even lower.

[0040] In the event of an impact, screen 2 is thus moved out of harm's way of posing a danger to the head of a pedestrian who might be struck. The screen cover initially protected the pedestrian's head.

[0041] The layout also allows for the installation of digital screens closer to the windshield, compared to previous designs, while respecting safety conditions, particularly in the event of a "pedestrian head collision".

[0042] Furthermore, this arrangement, particularly through the use of guide rollers, fixed approximately along the Z (vertical) axis in the middle of the screen's back, which fit into corresponding guide grooves in the structural wall, allows for easy screen mounting. The mounting brackets, according to the described configuration, are oriented towards the display face 200 and are therefore easily accessible for attachment to the structural wall. An operator can thus mount screen 2 by taking screen 2, equipped with guide rollers 20, 20' and mounting brackets 21, 21', and inserting rollers 20, 20' from top to bottom into their respective guide grooves (arrow M on Fig. 2The mounting brackets 21 and 21' butt against the horizontal sections of the structural wall while also engaging in the respective frangible mounting zones 3 and 3'. The guide rollers and grooves also help to secure the upper part of the screen to the structural wall, providing even better support for the screen, in addition to that provided by the mounting brackets.

[0043] The invention has been described for a screen equipped with two guide rollers; however, this number is not limiting. The number of guide elements (rollers, guide grooves associated with the rollers) depends on the size of the screen.

[0044] Furthermore, several digital screens can be installed in the same arrangement on the structural wall according to the same arrangements as the one just described.

Claims

1. Arrangement of a dashboard of a motor vehicle and of a digital screen (2) having a display face (200) and a back (201) on opposite sides, and an upper edge (202) and a lower edge (203) on opposite sides, said arrangement comprising: - at least one first guide element (20, 20') for the screen, said first guide element being secured to the back of the screen, - at least one fastening bracket (21), characterized in that the at least one fastening bracket has a substantially vertical upper part (210), having a predetermined height (H), secured to the lower edge (203) of the screen, and a lower fastening part (211) receiving a fastening element (22), and in that the arrangement further comprises - a structural wall (1) of the dashboard supporting the screen (2) and having at least one second guide element (10) for said first guide element (20) and at least one frangible region (3, 3') receiving the lower fastening part (211) of said fastening bracket of the screen, said second guide element (10) extending so as to be substantially inclined with respect to the vertical and in the vicinity of the back of the screen, having a lower path part available over a predetermined distance (J), and said second guide element (10) being extended downwardly by a substantially vertical structural wall part (103) extended downwardly by a horizontal structural wall part (104) spaced apart from the lower edge (203) of the screen along at least the substantially vertical upper part (210) of the fastening bracket, a safety space (E) being defined between said vertical (103) and horizontal (104) wall parts and to the rear of the upper fastening bracket part (210) for receiving at least the lower part of the screen therein when the at least one frangible region (3, 3') is broken in the event of an impact to the screen, said screen being guided downwards at least towards said safety space (E) by said first (20) and second (10) guide means along the available lower path part of the second guide means (10).

2. Arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lower path part available over a predetermined distance (J) of the second guide element is such that this predetermined distance (J) is substantially equal to the height (H) of the substantially vertical upper part (210) of the fastening bracket.

3. Arrangement according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said at least first guide element (20, 20') for the screen, which is secured to the back of the screen, is a guide roller, and said at least one second guide element (10) for said first guide element is a guide groove receiving the roller.

4. Arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal structural wall part (104) spaced apart from the lower edge (203) of the screen comprises a rearwardly projecting part (1040) that is included in the at least one frangible region (3), and said fastening bracket (21) comprises a substantially horizontal part (212), between the lower and upper parts of said bracket, bearing against said projecting part (1040).

5. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one frangible region (3, 3') comprises weakened structural wall portions (30), which have a reduced thickness and / or are devoid of material, surrounding a structural wall part receiving the lower fastening part (211) of the fastening bracket.

6. Arrangement according to Claim 5, characterized in that the structural wall part (105) receiving the lower fastening part (211) of the fastening bracket surrounded by said weakened wall portions (30) projects rearwardly.

7. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a screen cover (4) extending above at least part of the structural wall in front of the screen and projecting beyond the display face (200) of the screen, said screen cover (4) preferably being forcibly held on the structural wall.

8. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said first (20) and second (10) guide elements hold the body of the screen on the structural wall.

9. Motor vehicle having a dashboard supporting at least one digital screen (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one arrangement of the dashboard and of the digital screen according to any one of Claims 1 to 8.