Fragrancing system for fragrancing an interior of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a fragrancing system for fragrancing an interior of a motor vehicle, wherein: the interior of the vehicle has at least one interior part which is movable such that, when transformed from a first condition to a second condition, it at least temporarily exposes a cavity, and the transformation produces an air flow in the cavity; and a fragrance support is arranged such in the cavity that it is activated by the air flow and fragrance molecules are emitted toward the exterior of the cavity.

Description

[0001] Fragrance system for scenting the interior of a vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a fragrance system for fragrance-dispensing an interior of a vehicle.

[0003] There are already car air fresheners designed to create a pleasant scent throughout the vehicle interior. There are already systems that emit a scent through the vehicle's air conditioning system. Passive scenting systems that continuously emit scent are also known.

[0004] However, there is still room for improvement in the area of ​​scenting the interior of a vehicle.

[0005] Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fragrance system for fragrance-dispensing a vehicle interior. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] A fragrance system for fragrance-dispensing an interior of a vehicle is proposed, wherein at least one interior part is present in the interior of the vehicle, which is movable in such a way that it releases a cavity at least briefly upon transformation from a first state to a second state, and wherein an air flow is generated in the cavity by the transformation, wherein a fragrance carrier is arranged in the cavity in such a way that it is activated by the air flow and releases fragrance molecules to the outside of the cavity.

[0007] In one embodiment, it is provided that a chamber is further provided in the cavity in which the fragrance carrier is placed, wherein the chamber is formed such that it is closed on all sides in the first and second state, and during the transformation at least briefly releases an opening towards the interior of the vehicle such that the air flow penetrates and flows over the fragrance carrier, activates it and the released fragrance molecules flow outside the chamber and the cavity.

[0008] In one embodiment, it is provided that the region of the chamber which at least briefly releases an opening towards the interior of the vehicle during the transformation is covered by the interior part in the first and / or second state or has a cover which is open during the transformation.

[0009] In one embodiment, the interior part is a steering wheel that can transform its shape.

[0010] In one embodiment, it is provided that the interior part is a steering wheel, a headrest, an entertainment device, a support in the region of a seat, and wherein the second state is a changed position and / or a position that is visible and / or usable for an occupant or a position that is no longer visible and / or usable for the occupant.

[0011] In one embodiment, it is provided that the fragrance carrier is a solid with fragrance molecules therein that can be activated by the air flow, comprising at least one polymer, or wherein the fragrance carrier is a material impregnated with a fragrance.

[0012] In one embodiment, the chamber is designed such that the fragrance carrier arranged therein can be replaced or refilled. Furthermore, a vehicle is proposed, comprising the fragrance system for fragrance-dispensing an interior of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle is a fully automated or autonomous vehicle.

[0013] In one embodiment, it is provided that the vehicle additionally has one or more means which are designed for the optical and / or acoustic staging of the release of fragrance molecules provided by the fragrance system according to predetermined criteria.

[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing, which illustrate details of the invention, and from the claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or in combination in a variant of the invention.

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a steering wheel in a first state.

[0017] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a steering wheel during transformation and the scenting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a steering wheel in a second state.

[0019] In the following descriptions of the figures, the same elements or functions are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0020] The proposed scenting system is designed to provide a temporary scenting of a portion of a vehicle's interior. The temporary scenting occurs while an interior part 1 of the vehicle transforms from a first to a second state. The transformation of interior parts (in the figure, only a steering wheel 1 is shown as an interior part) is particularly possible in vehicles with automation level 4 (fully automated driving) and higher. From this level, (certain) driving tasks can be delegated, allowing the driver to concentrate on other tasks.

[0021] Thus, for example, the steering wheel 1 can be lowered into the dashboard 2, as schematically shown in Figure 2, or protrude from it again. A seat can also be rotated, and the headrest and other supports such as armrests and / or footrests can be adjusted compared to their previous positions. Thus, a transformation occurs in which either the position of the interior component changes, which can be the case, for example, with a transformation of a headrest or another support, or the interior component moves from a position visible and / or usable by an occupant to a position no longer visible and / or usable by the occupant.

[0022] The interior part itself can also be transformed. For example, steering wheel 1 can be geometrically transformed, i.e., take on a different shape.

[0023] In both types of transformation, at least one cavity 20 is created during the transformation from the first to the second state, which briefly opens toward the interior of the vehicle. Otherwise, this cavity is covered by the interior part I (either by the entire interior part or by parts of it).

[0024] For the purposes of this description, a state before the transformation, as shown in Figure 1, in which the steering wheel 1 is visible and usable by a passenger, is referred to as the first state, and a state after the transformation, as shown in Figure 3, in which the steering wheel 1 is no longer visible and / or usable by a passenger, is referred to as the second state. Alternatively, the second state is a state in which the position or shape of the interior part has merely changed.

[0025] The cavity 20 created during the transformation can be used to briefly scent the interior. For this purpose, a fragrance carrier 30 can be placed in the cavity 20 such that the fragrance carrier 30 is activated by the air current 40 created by the transformation (as shown by the arrows in Figure 2), i.e., it releases fragrance molecules through the air current 40. The fragrance carrier 30 is to be arranged in the cavity 20 such that the released fragrance molecules flow through the air current 40 into the interior, ideally toward the occupant. Both the air current 40 and the fragrance stream 41 are marked with arrows 40, 41 in Figure 2.

[0026] Figure 2 also shows a chamber 21 arranged in the cavity 20. This can be provided if the cavity 20 itself does not form a chamber, i.e. opens into an area not facing the interior, e.g. behind the dashboard 2. Here it would be possible for fragrance molecules released due to temperature fluctuations, for example, to be unnecessarily wasted even without transformation. For this reason, a chamber 21 can be provided which forms a closed space except during transformation, i.e. is closed on all sides. This space is formed in such a way that fragrance molecules released without transformation, e.g. due to temperature fluctuations, are held in the chamber 21 and are only released during transformation. This means that the chamber 21 is either covered (fully or partially) by the interior part in the area facing the interior, or has its own lid which is opened during transformation.This can be done together with the interior part, or the lid can be controlled separately. The fragrance molecules can then flow into the vehicle's interior during the transformation (and only then) (fragrance flow 41).

[0027] The fragrance carrier 30 can be a solid containing fragrance molecules that can be activated by an air stream 40. Polymers are particularly suitable for this purpose. However, the fragrance carrier 30 can also be a material impregnated with a fragrance.

[0028] In one embodiment, the fragrance carrier 30 is arranged such that it can be replaced or refilled. This can be achieved, for example, by stopping the transformation when the cavity 20 becomes visible. This can be done, for example, by a workshop, so that the fragrance carrier 30 can also be replaced or fragrance refilled during servicing. The proposed fragrance system is a passive fragrance system, meaning that only the air flow 40 is required to release fragrance molecules.

[0029] The direction in which the air flow 40 flows into the cavity 20 or the chamber 21 and in which the fragrance flow 41 flows out of the cavity 20 or the chamber 21 depends on many factors, e.g., the shape of the cavity 20 or the chamber 21, the shape and / or type of the fragrance carrier 30, the placement of the fragrance carrier 30, but also the dynamics and direction of the transformation. An optimal air and fragrance flow 40, 41 can therefore be determined based on all influencing factors, e.g., by means of a flow simulation.

[0030] The following interior components can be advantageously used to scent the interior, provided they can be transformed: steering wheel, headrest, entertainment system, and seat support. Interior components located near the occupant's head are particularly advantageous, as they can then better perceive the fragrance.

[0031] The transformation and thus also the fragrance stream 41 can also be accompanied by an optical and / or acoustic presentation, provided that the vehicle is equipped with appropriate optical and / or acoustic means and corresponding control.

[0032] It is advantageous if the vehicle is a fully automated or autonomous vehicle.

[0033] Reference symbol

[0034] 1 steering wheel (interior part)

[0035] 2 Dashboard

[0036] 20 cavity in 2

[0037] 21 chamber in 20

[0038] 30 fragrance carriers

[0039] 40 airflow to 21

[0040] 41 fragrance stream from 30

Claims

Claims: Scenting system for scenting the interior of a vehicle, wherein at least one interior part (1) is present in the interior of the vehicle, which is movable in such a way that it at least briefly releases a cavity (20) during a transformation from a first state to a second state, and wherein an airflow (40) is generated in the cavity (20) by the transformation, wherein a scent carrier (30) is arranged in the cavity (20) in such a way that it is activated by the airflow (40) and releases scent molecules outside the cavity (20).A scenting system according to claim 1, wherein a chamber (21) is further provided in the cavity (20) in which the scent carrier (30) is placed, the chamber (21) being configured such that it is closed on all sides in the first and second states, and during the transformation at least briefly opens an opening towards the interior of the vehicle such that the airflow (40) enters and flows over the scent carrier (30), activating it and causing the released scent molecules to flow outside the chamber (21) and the cavity (20). A scenting system according to claim 2, wherein the area of ​​the chamber (21) which during the transformation at least briefly opens an opening towards the interior of the vehicle is covered by the interior part (1) in the first and / or second state or has a cover that is open during the transformation.A scenting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior part (1) is a steering wheel (1) that can transform its shape. A scenting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interior part (1) is a steering wheel (1), a headrest, an entertainment device, a support in the area of ​​a seat, and wherein the second state is a changed position and / or a position visible and / or usable by an occupant or a position no longer visible and / or usable by the occupant. A scenting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scent carrier (30) is a solid containing scent molecules that can be activated by the airflow (40), comprising at least one polymer, or wherein the scent carrier is a material impregnated with a scent. A scenting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scent carrier (30) is arranged such that it can be replaced or refilled. A vehicle comprising a scenting system for scenting the interior of the vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a fully automated or autonomous vehicle. A vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the vehicle additionally comprises one or more means configured for the optical and / or acoustic staging of the release of scent molecules provided by the scenting system according to predetermined criteria.

Images