Device for hooking an object in a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (40) for attaching an object to a wall (52), the system comprising a male element (50) attached to the wall and a female element (1) configured to be assembled with the male element (50), the female element (1) being rigidly connected to an object, the system being characterised in that: - the male element (50) comprises a head (54) which emerges from the wall (52) and which comprises a first collar (56) extending over at least part of the periphery of the head (54), and - the female element (1) comprises a main body (2) provided with three claws (10a-c), connected to a prestressed return member (30) allowing the claws (10a-c) to move relative to the main body (2) and to grip the collar (56) of the male element (50) so as to assemble the female element (1) with the male element (50), by alternating between a closed position and an open position.

Description

[0001] Title of the invention: device for attaching an object in a vehicle

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of devices for attaching small objects or various items to a wall or partition, in particular in the passenger compartment or trunk of a motor vehicle.

[0004] Technological background

[0005] There are many known devices for attaching objects or items to the passenger compartment or trunk of a motor vehicle. These devices allow, for example, cup holders, bottle holders, telephone holders or any other object to be attached to visible interior walls of motor vehicles. These attachment devices can thus allow objects such as those mentioned above to be stored, make them easily accessible to a user, or prevent these objects from being thrown around the vehicle during an accident or sudden braking.

[0006] Fixed hooks or rings can, for example, facilitate the storage and transport of objects in the vehicle. However, these attachment devices must withstand demanding mechanical constraints. The wall on which the attachment device is fixed may also prove insufficiently strong in view of the forces multiplied by the overhangs and lever arms generated by the device and its manipulation by the user. Indeed, the attachment walls are generally 2.5 mm thick polypropylene skins, which are subject to "pulling" or tearing phenomena.

[0007] Summary of the invention

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to propose a system for fixing an object to a wall of a motor vehicle which is simple and economical to use while making it possible to hold the object in such a way that it is easily accessible to a user and is not thrown during an accident or sudden braking of the vehicle.

[0009] The present invention thus relates to a system for fixing an object to a wall, said system comprising a male element fixed to the wall and a female element configured to be assembled with said male element, the female element being secured to an object, said system being characterized in that:

[0010] - the male element comprises a head which emerges from the wall and which comprises a first collar extending over at least part of the periphery of said head, and

[0011] - the female element comprises a main body provided with three claws connected to a pre-stressed return member allowing said claws to be movable relative to the main body and to be able to grip the collar of the male element so as to assemble the female element with the male element, while passing alternately between a closed position and an open position.

[0012] The system thus ensures the attachment of an object to a wall of the vehicle in a solid and reversible manner. The user can then attach an object, such as a telephone holder or a cup holder, to the male part previously fixed to a wall of the vehicle, in such a way as to have the object at his disposal without the risk of it being thrown into the vehicle during an accident or sudden braking.

[0013] Once the female element is assembled with the male element, these two elements are closely associated so that there is no play between them and thus avoid noise and / or overhangs which could weaken the system.

[0014] The three claws are movable between an open position and a closed position, the transition from one position to another being made by actuating the pre-stressed return member. The closed position (or rest position) corresponds to the initial position adopted by the female element when it is not fixed to the male element and also the position adopted when the claws close around the collar of the male element after the female element and the male element are assembled. This closed position corresponds to the position adopted by the claws when the pre-stressed return member is not compressed or deformed. The open position is the position adopted by the claws in order to be able to assemble the female element and the male element. In this open position, the claws are spread apart in order to be able to pass around the collar of the male element and then to close around the collar, adopting the closed position.This position corresponds to the position adopted by the claws when the pre-stressed return member is compressed or deformed. The claws can adopt the open position either when the user acts on the pre-stressed return member, thus causing the claws to move apart from each other, or when the user causes the claws to move apart, for example by forcibly pushing the female element against the head of the male element, and the moving apart of the claws then causes the pre-stressed return member to deform. Once the claws have passed beyond the collar, they close spontaneously thanks to the pre-stressed return member which returns to its initial position.

[0015] The pre-stressed return member, which is preferably a spring, allows the claws to close to adopt the closed position spontaneously as soon as no pressure is exerted on the claws and / or on the pre-stressed return member.

[0016] The main body of the female element serves as a support for the claws which are movable relative to the main body.

[0017] The collar may extend over a portion of the periphery of the head or over the entire periphery of the head of the male element. The collar forms one or more rims emerging from the head and which serve as a hook for the claws which envelop this or these rims to close behind. When the collar partially surrounds the periphery, it may form a single rim which extends so that all the claws can hook onto it, or several rims, for example one rim for each claw.

[0018] Other features of the invention which may be taken alone or in combination are described below.

[0019] The female element may comprise a transmission part allowing the deformation of the prestressed return member to cause the mobility of the claws and vice versa. The transmission part thus makes it possible to link the deformation of the prestressed return member and the mobility of the claws. Preferably, pressure on the transmission part causes a movement of said part, preferably a translational movement of said part relative to the main body, and this movement induces a deformation of the prestressed return member and an opening movement of the claws. The pressure may be exerted by a user

[0020] Thus, according to a first mode of use, pressure exerted on the transmission part allows the claws to open and the pre-stressed return member to be deformed to assemble the female element to the male element. Then, once the female element is assembled with the male element, releasing the pressure exerted on the transmission part allows the pre-stressed return member to spontaneously return to its initial position, thereby driving the transmission part, which also returns to its initial position. The transmission part then drives the claws, which close around the collar.During the deformation of the prestressed return element causing the mobility of the claws and vice versa, a first and a second claw can perform a translation separating them from each other along a first axis E1 perpendicular to an axis D1 of deformation of the prestressed return element and a third claw can perform a movement along a second axis E2 parallel to the axis of deformation of the prestressed return element.

[0021] The three claws thus open simultaneously on the basis of the deformation of the prestressed return member, two claws in a first direction but in opposite directions and the third in a second direction, so as to open, between the claws, a space which can accommodate the head of the male element.

[0022] The axes E1 and E2 define in particular the overall direction of opening of the claws which move outwards from the main body, the claws preferably moving in a movement including a translation.

[0023] The D1 axis defines the direction of deformation of the prestressed return member which is preferably compressed along a rectilinear axis.

[0024] Each claw may comprise a pin, the first pin of the first claw being able to be inserted into a first groove of the transmission part, the second pin of the second claw being able to be inserted into a second groove of the transmission part and the pin of the third claw being able to be inserted into an orifice of the transmission part, the grooves and the orifice making it possible to set the claws in motion according to the movements of the transmission part, and therefore of the prestressed return member. The two grooves and the orifice make it possible to simply associate the movement of the transmission part (and therefore the deformation of the prestressed return member) and the movement of the claws, via the pins. The three pins thus each constitute a guide member for the claw and a cooperation element between the claws and the transmission part.Preferably, the grooves have a notch at one end to lock the claws in the closed position. Thus, the pins can only come out of the housing to slide in the groove when a force exerted by the user on the projecting part of the housing of the transmission part is applied to compress the prestressed return member. This prevents the claws from opening easily in the event of an impact.

[0025] During the deformation of the prestressed return member causing the mobility of the claws and vice versa, the first and second pins can slide respectively along the first and second grooves, and the third pin can be driven in translation by the transmission part along the axis E2. According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second grooves extend in divergent directions and diagonally relative to the axis E1. Thus, the movement of the transmission part makes it possible to move the pins away from the center of the main body or, on the contrary, to bring them closer to the center, by sliding the pins along the grooves.

[0026] The third pin being inserted into an orifice of the transmission part, it directly follows the movement of the transmission part.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the transmission part moves along the axis D1 and allows, during the deformation of the prestressed return member, to move the pins away from the center of the main body and thus to open the claws.

[0028] The claws may be "C"-shaped pieces, preferably formed in one piece, comprising a first segment and a second segment parallel to each other and a third segment connecting the first and second segments, the third segment being perpendicular to the other two segments. The claws thus have an optimized rigidity which allows them, when the female element is assembled to the male element, to resist the tearing forces which may be exerted on the claws due for example to the weight of the object or for example to the pressure exerted by an occupant who accidentally leans on them.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the third segment passes through the main body and the first segment then extends over a first face of the main body, the second segment extending along a second face of the main body opposite the first face. The third pin can be arranged on the second segment and emerge from the latter. Thus, when the transmission part drives the pins in its movement, the force exerted on the pins makes it possible to move the claws, and in particular allows the first segment to move away from the main body to open the claws.

[0030] The first segment may constitute the gripping portion of the claw which is configured to grip the male element by extending behind the collar of said element. Thanks to the rigidity of the entire claw, which is permitted in particular by its “C” shape, the first segment does not deform and the angle between the first and third segments on the one hand, and between the second segment and the third segment on the other hand, are not modified, even when the object to be fixed is heavy. The claws then firmly hold the female element to the male element, thus avoiding any play which could cause noise and / or damage the object when the assembly is subjected to vibrations due to the rolling of the support vehicle.

[0031] The transmission part may include a pusher that emerges from the body of the female element and it may be possible to deform the pre-stressed return member by exerting pressure on the pusher. It is thus easy for the user to actuate the pusher in order to open the claws so as to assemble the female element to the male element or, on the contrary, to dissociate the female element from the male element. When the user no longer exerts pressure on the pusher, the transmission part returns to its initial position and the pre-stressed return member also.

[0032] The female element may include a member for attachment to an object. This attachment member may be a housing for the passage of a screw, a hook, a magnet, or any type of member allowing the female element to be temporarily or permanently attached to an object.

[0033] According to a second object, the invention relates to a female element for producing the system according to the first object of the invention. The female element may have the various characteristics described above concerning the female element of the system according to the first object of the invention.

[0034] According to a third subject, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a system according to the first subject of the invention. Brief description of the figures

[0035] The following description with reference to the attached drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the attached figures:

[0036] [fig. 1] Figure 1 is a schematic and sectional view of a system according to an embodiment of the invention in which the female element is assembled to the male element;

[0037] [fig. 2a] Figure 2a is a schematic and perspective view of a first face of the main body of the female element of the system according to an embodiment of the invention provided with the claws;

[0038] [fig. 2b] Figure 2b is a schematic and perspective view of a second face of the main body of the female element of figure 2b;

[0039] [fig. 3] Figure 3 is a schematic and perspective view of a claw;

[0040] [fig. 4a] Figure 4a is a schematic and perspective view of the second face of the main body of the female element of figures 2a and 2b provided with the transmission part;

[0041] [fig. 4b] Figure 4b is a schematic and perspective view of a first face of the main body of the female element of the system according to an embodiment of the invention provided with the claws; said claws being in an open position,

[0042] [fig. 5a] Figure 5a is a schematic and perspective view of an inner face of a cover of the main body of figures 1a and 1b;

[0043] [fig. 5b] Figure 5b is a schematic and perspective view of the rear face of the main body of figures 1a and 1b closed by the cover of figure 5a;

[0044] [fig. 6a] Figure 6a is a schematic and perspective view of a first step of the method of assembling the female element of figures 5a and 5b to the male element of the system according to the invention, the female element being fixed to an object;

[0045] [fig. 6b] Figure 6b is a schematic and perspective view of the system in which the female element and the male element are assembled.

[0046] Description of embodiment(s)

[0047] In the figures, and unless otherwise provided, identical elements will bear the same reference signs. As illustrated in Figure 1, a system 40 for fixing an object to a wall 52 according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a male element 50 fixed to the wall 52 and a female element 1 assembled with said male element 50, the female element 1 being able to be secured to an object.

[0048] The male element 50 comprises a head 54 which emerges from the wall and which comprises a first collar 56 extending over at least a portion of the periphery of said head. In this embodiment, the first collar 56 extends over the entire periphery of the head. In this embodiment, the male element 50 comprises a second collar 58 by which the male element 50 is pressed against the wall 52. A male element 50 which can be assembled with the female element 1 described in the present invention is described in patent application FR2203604.

[0049] The female element 1 comprises a main body 2 provided with a first claw 10a, a second claw 10b and a third claw 10c. The claws 10a-c are connected to a prestressed return member (not visible in FIG. 1) which allows said claws 10a-c to be movable relative to the main body 2 and to be able to grip the collar 56 of the male element 50 so as to assemble the female element 1 with the male element 50, by passing alternately between a closed position and an open position. In FIG. 1, the female element 1 is assembled to the male element 50 and the claws 10a-c are in the closed position by being inserted into a groove formed by the first and second collars 56 and 58.

[0050] Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the female element 1 without a prestressed return member. In this figure, the female element 1 comprises only a main body 2 as well as the three claws 10a-c.

[0051] The main body 2 comprises a first face 2a or front face, and a second face 2b or rear face. In this embodiment, the main body 2 is a hollow part of substantially square shape and whose angles are beveled. The rear face 2b is a generally hollow face which comprises a housing 6 formed by two tabs 6a and 6b for receiving a prestressed return member. The front face 2a is a face comprising a relief forming a crown surrounding a main housing 8 for receiving the male element 50. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the three claws 10a-c (or 10) are identical and everything described for one claw also applies to the other two claws. The claws 10 are “C”-shaped parts which have a first segment 12 and a second segment 14 parallel to each other as well as a third segment 16 connecting the first and second segments 12 and 14.The third segment 16 is substantially perpendicular to the segments 12 and 14, which means that the third segment 16 forms an angle of 90° ± 10° with the first and second segments 12 and 14.

[0052] As illustrated in Figures 2a, 2b and 4b, the claws 10a-c are positioned on either side of the main body 2 and are arranged so that the third segment 16 passes through the main body 2. The first segment 12 is then positioned against the front face 2a of the main body to form the gripping part of the claw 10a which will allow the male element 50 to be gripped. The second segment 14 is positioned against the rear face 2b of the main body and will be used for the mobility of the claws.

[0053] As seen in Figure 1, the “C” shape of the claw gives it optimized stability allowing it to resist tensile forces. The first segment 12 has an inner end 12a which is inserted between the first collar 56 and the second collar 58 of the male element 50 during assembly with the female element. An outer end 12b is inserted into the crown of the main body to form a continuous surface when the claws 10a-c are in the closed position.

[0054] The claws comprise a pin 18 positioned on the second segment 14 and which emerges towards the outside of the “C”. The pin 18 has the function of allowing the mobility of the claw as described below.

[0055] As illustrated in Figure 4a, the female element 1 comprises a transmission part 20 which is positioned against the rear face 2b of the main body 2. The transmission part 20 comprises a first groove 22a and a second groove 22b in which the pins 18a and 18b of the first and second claws 10a and 10b are inserted and along which the pins 18a and 18b can slide. The transmission part 20 also comprises an orifice 23 in which the third pin 18c is inserted. The cooperation between the transmission part 20 and the pins 18 will allow the mobility of the claws 10a-c so as to assemble the female element and the male element as described later. The first groove 22a and the second groove 22b respectively comprise at one of their ends a first notch 25a and a second notch 25b which make it possible to block the pins 18a and 18b when no force is applied to compress the spring 30.When the sliding of the pins 18a and 18b is blocked, the first and second claws 10a and 10b are blocked in the closed position.

[0056] The first and second grooves 22a and 22b extend in divergent directions relative to the axis of movement of the transmission part 20, which allows the first and second claws 10a and 10b to move, to allow the opening of these claws, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the transmission part 20.

[0057] Furthermore, the transmission part 20 comprises a recess 24 for receiving a prestressed return member 30, which is a spring in this embodiment. For this, the transmission part comprises a rod 26 which is inserted into the spring 30 and which makes it possible to compress the spring 30 in the housing 6 of the main body 2. The spring 30 is compressed during assembly so as to ensure a sufficient return force making it possible to close the claws 10a-c after assembly of the female element 1 and the male element 50.

[0058] In this embodiment, the transmission part 20 comprises a pusher 28 which makes it possible to translate the transmission part 20 against the main body 2. The pusher 28 overcomes the recess 24 and makes it possible to compress the spring 30 when a user exerts pressure on it, by translating the transmission part along an axis D1 which is also the compression axis of the spring 30. When the pressure on the pusher 28 is released, the return force allows the spring 30 to return to its initial position by making the transmission part 20 perform an inverse translation which then returns to its initial position called rest.

[0059] As illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b, the main body 2 comprises a cover 32 which allows the female part 1 to be closed by clipping against the rear face 2b of the main body 2 by means of the four clips 34. The cover allows the cooperation mechanism between the transmission part 20, the spring 30 and the pins 18 of the claws 10 to be protected.

[0060] The cover 32 has a central orifice 36 which surrounds a conduit 19 allowing the female element 1 to be attached to an object. In this embodiment, the conduit 19 allows the passage of a screw for attaching the female element 1 to any type of object. According to other embodiments, the female element 1 can be attached to an object by other types of attachment member.

[0061] The fastening system 40 operates simply and quickly by changing the position of the claws 10a-c between an open position and a closed position, the transition from one position to another being done by actuating the pusher 28. The closed position (or rest position) corresponds to the initial position adopted by the female element 1 when it is not fixed to the male element 50 and it also corresponds to the position adopted when the claws 10a-c close around the collar 56 of the male element 50 after the female element 1 and the male element 50 are assembled. This closed position corresponds to the position adopted by the claws 10a-c when the spring 30 is not compressed or deformed. The open position is the position adopted by the claws 10a-c in order to be able to assemble the female element 1 and the male element 50.In this open position, the claws 10a-c are spread apart so that they can pass around the collar 56 of the male element and then close around the collar 56, adopting the closed position. This position corresponds to the position adopted by the claws 10a-c when the spring 30 is compressed or deformed.

[0062] As illustrated in Figure 4b, the claws 10a-c can adopt the open position when the user acts on the spring 30, for example by exerting pressure on the pusher 28, thus causing a movement of the transmission part 20 and therefore a separation of the claws 10a-c relative to each other,

[0063] When the spring 30 is compressed, the first and second claws 10a and 10b move along a first axis E1 and in two opposite directions, the axis E1 being perpendicular to the compression axis D1 of the spring 30. This movement is permitted by the orientation of the grooves 22a and 22b which extend along divergent axes forming an angle of approximately 45° with the axis D1. The third claw moves along a second axis E2 parallel to the deformation axis of the prestressed return element since the third pin 18c is inserted into an orifice 23 of the transmission part 20 and therefore directly follows the movement of the transmission part 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, an object such as a cup holder can be fixed with the fixing system according to the embodiment which has just been described.The male element 50 is positioned in a wall 52 of a motor vehicle and the female element 1 is fixed for example on a cup holder. The cup holder 60 can thus be fixed to the wall 52 by positioning the female element 1 opposite the male element 50 as in Figure 6a then pushing the female element 1 against the male element to force the opening of the claws 10 or by exerting pressure on the pusher 28 to open the claws. Once the female element 1 is assembled with the male element 50, the pressure can be released so that the claws 10a-c close around the collar 56.

[0064] The cup holder 60 is then securely and firmly fixed to the wall 52 and is accessible to a user without the risk of being thrown in the event of a vehicle impact. The fixing of the cup holder 60 is however reversible and the cup holder can be easily detached from the wall by exerting pressure on the pusher 28 to open the claws 10a-c and thus separate the female element 1 and the male element 50.

Claims

Claims

1. System (40) for fixing an object to a wall (52), said system comprising a male element (50) fixed to the wall and a female element (1) configured to be assembled with said male element (50), the female element (1) being secured to an object, said system being characterized in that: - the male element (50) comprises a head (54) which emerges from the wall (52) and which comprises a first collar (56) extending over at least part of the periphery of said head (54), and - the female element (1) comprises a main body (2) provided with three claws (10a-c), connected to a prestressed return member (30) allowing said claws (10a-c) to be movable relative to the main body (2) and allowing them to grip the collar (56) of the male element (50) so as to assemble the female element (1) with the male element (50) and this, by passing alternately between a closed position and an open position.

2. Fixing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the female element (1) comprises a transmission part (20) allowing the deformation of the prestressed return member (30) to cause the mobility of the claws (18a-c) and vice versa.

3. Fastening system according to claim 2, characterized in that during the deformation of the prestressed return element (30) causing the mobility of the claws (10a-c) and vice versa, a first and a second claw (10a and 10b) perform a movement along a first axis E1 perpendicular to an axis D1 of deformation of the prestressed return element (30) and a third claw (10c) performs a movement along a second axis E2 parallel to the axis of deformation of the prestressed return element (30).

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that each claw (10a-c) comprises a pin (18a-c) and in that the first pin (18a) of the first claw (10a) is inserted into a first groove (22a) of the transmission part (20), the second pin (18b) of the second claw (10b) is inserted into a second groove (22b) of the transmission part (20) and the third pin (18c) of the third claw (10c) is inserted into an orifice (23) of the transmission part (20), the grooves (22a and 22b) and the orifice (23) allowing the claws (10a-c) to be set in motion according to the movements of the transmission part (20), and therefore of the prestressed return member (30).

5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that during the deformation of the prestressed return member (30) causing the mobility of the claws (10a-c) and vice versa, the first and second pins (18a and 18b) slide respectively along the first and second grooves (22a and 22b), and the third pin (18c) is driven in translation by the transmission part (20) along the axis E2 or drives the transmission part (20) in translation along the axis E2.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the claws (10a-c) are “C”-shaped parts comprising a first segment (12) and a second segment (14) parallel to each other and a third segment (16) connecting the first and second segments (12 and 14), the third segment (16) being perpendicular to the other two segments.

7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the third pin (18c) is arranged on the second segment (14) and emerges from the latter.

8. System according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the first segment (12) constitutes the gripping part of the claw (10a-c) which is configured to grip the male element (50) by extending behind the collar (56) of said element.

9. System according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the transmission part (20) comprises a pusher (28) which emerges from the main body (2) of the female element (1) and in that it is possible to deform the prestressed return member (30) by exerting pressure on the pusher (28).

10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the female element (1) comprises a member for attachment to an object.

11. Female elements (1) for producing a fixing system (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Motor vehicle comprising a fixing system (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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