Central console forming a cantilevered assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a lower frame (2) and an upper frame (3) designed to form a central console of a motor vehicle, the lower frame (2) being suitable for being securely attached to a floor of the vehicle and is designed to enable the attachment, to two of its opposite sides (5), of a lateral flange that forms a lateral wall of the console, the lower frame (2) comprising a fastening interface (11) designed to enable the attachment of the upper frame (3) by forming a cantilevered assembly, the upper frame (3) extending between a front end (17), which is secured to a dashboard and positioned at a distance from the lower frame (2), and a rear end (19), which is arranged directly above the lower frame (2) in the central console, the upper frame (3) having a complementary interface (20) formed in a rear section (21) extending from the rear end (19) and designed to ensure attachment to the fastening interface (11).

Description

Description Title of the invention: Central console forming a cantilevered assembly.

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2308352 filed on August 2, 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The technical field relates to frames for forming a central console of a motor vehicle and motor vehicles comprising such central consoles.

[0002] Car manufacturers take great care to improve the comfort of their vehicles' passengers. Furthermore, for car manufacturers, the quality of their vehicles' finish, their aesthetic aspects, and the features offered are essential to stand out from other brands. In this context, the console, which provides storage solutions between the front seats, represents an important element of comfort and aesthetics for customers and vehicle users.

[0003] Generally, consoles have a body fitted with covers to access a receptacle provided in the body, as well as an armrest articulated in rotation on the body around an adjustment axis, so that several stable positions can be taken for adjusting the support height.

[0004] Among the storage solutions offered by consoles, it is common to find at least one cup holder, which requires opening at least one cover and / or raising the armrest in an uncomfortable position for the passenger or driver. Thus, the use of a cup holder is restrictive, uncomfortable and detracts from the aesthetics of the passenger compartment. Therefore, it is desirable to offer center consoles with an innovative design, allowing the use of a cup holder without degrading the comfort and / or aesthetics of the vehicle's passenger compartment. In this technical context, it is also desirable, for logistical reasons related to the assembly of the vehicle, to allow the installation of a center console placed and fixed in a single block during its assembly. This constraint obviously complicates the design of an innovative center console.Furthermore, it must be sufficiently robust to withstand the strong stresses generated during an impact suffered by the vehicle.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, an aim of the present invention is to provide a central console with an innovative design and allowing it to be installed as a single unit that can be fixed in the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide lower and upper frames for assembling a central console that is sufficiently robust to be able to be transported and handled as a single element before being fixed to the vehicle.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a lower frame designed to form, with an upper frame, a central console for a motor vehicle, the lower frame being designed to be secured to a floor of the vehicle and designed to allow the fixing, on two of its opposite sides, of a lateral flange intended to form a side wall of the central console, the lower frame comprising a fixing interface designed to allow the fixing of the upper frame by forming a cantilevered assembly.

[0008] The invention also relates to an upper frame designed to form, with a lower frame according to the invention, a central console, the upper frame extending between, on the one hand, a front end, designed to be secured to a dashboard of the vehicle, at a distance from the lower frame, and, on the other hand, a rear end designed to be arranged at least partly in line with the lower frame in the central console, the upper frame having a complementary interface provided in a rear zone extending from the rear end and designed to ensure attachment with the attachment interface.

[0009] The invention also relates to a central console comprising a lower frame according to the invention and an upper frame according to the invention fixed to each other, the fixing interface cooperating with the complementary fixing interface to ensure the fixing of the lower and upper frames.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a central console according to the invention, the front end of the upper frame of which is fixed to the dashboard.

[0011] Thus, the lower and upper frames allow the assembly of a central console with an innovative design, in which the frame The upper frame is cantilevered over the lower frame to free up space in which cups can be easily stored. Thanks to the cooperation of the fixing interface and the complementary interface, the central console assembly is sufficiently robust to allow the assembly to be handled and transported. Thus, the central console according to the invention, formed of the lower and upper frames, can be assembled as a single element on the vehicle.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixing interface comprises a bearing surface designed to be inserted into a fixing housing of the upper frame.

[0013] According to one possibility of the lower frame, it comprises at least one air duct designed to allow the circulation of an air flow coming from a ventilation system of the vehicle in which the central console is installed.

[0014] According to a possibility of the upper frame, the rear zone extends less than 30% of the distance between the rear and front ends, preferably less than 15% of the distance between the rear and front ends.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the upper frame comprises a device for recharging a mobile phone arranged at a distance from the rear end.

[0016] According to a possibility of the upper frame, it has a touch control device.

[0017] Advantageously, the upper frame has a closable storage area.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description which follows, given solely as a non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 shows a perspective view from a vehicle seat of a central console according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 shows a side view of the central console according to the invention of Figure 1;

[0021] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a lower frame and an upper frame according to the invention before their assembly;

[0022] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 shows a top view of a complementary fixing interface of the upper frame of Figure 3;

[0023] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 shows a top view of a fixing interface of the lower frame of Figure 3;

[0024] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0025] A central console 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, of a motor vehicle comprises a lower frame 2 according to the invention, illustrated in particular in figure 3, as well as an upper frame 3, illustrated in particular in figure 3. The central console 1 forms a robust assembly deliverable, in a single block, on a vehicle assembly line in order to be easily installed in a vehicle according to the invention.

[0026] The lower frame 2 is designed to be secured to a floor 4 of the vehicle. For this purpose, the lower frame 2 has, for example, screwing means, not illustrated, allowing it to be screwed, directly or indirectly onto an element of the floor 4 of the vehicle. The lower frame 2 is also designed to allow the fixing, on two of its opposite sides 5, of a lateral flange 6, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each intended to form a side wall of the central console 1. On each flange 6, decorative elements 7 are advantageously fixed in order to improve the visual appearance of the vehicle. The lower frame 2 also comprises at least one air duct, not visible in the figures, designed to allow the circulation of an air flow coming from a ventilation system of the vehicle in which the central console 1 is installed. A storage space 8 is also provided in the lower frame 2. Covering surfaces 9 are fixed on an upper face of the lower frame 2 in order to cover the lower frame 2, as well as a flap 10 making it possible to close the storage space 8.

[0027] The lower frame 2 has a fixing interface 11 designed to allow the fixing of the upper frame 3 by forming a cantilevered assembly, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

[0028] As illustrated in Figure 5, the fixing interface 11 comprises a bearing surface 12 designed to be inserted into a fixing housing 13 of the upper frame 3. Advantageously, the bearing surface 12 forms an extruded volume having a shape complementary to the fixing housing 13. Positioning and isostatic elements 14 project from the bearing surface 12 and allow the correct positioning of the upper frame 3 on the lower frame 2 by their insertion into complementary orifices provided in the upper frame 3. Finally, the bearing surface 12 comprises a plurality of nuts 15 secured to the bearing surface 12 to allow the screwing of fixing screws 16, illustrated in figure 4.

[0029] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the upper frame 3 extends between, on the one hand, a front end 17, designed to be secured to a dashboard 18 of the vehicle, at a distance from the lower frame 2, and, on the other hand, a rear end 19 designed to be arranged at least partly in line with the lower frame 2 in the central console 1.

[0030] The upper frame 3 has a complementary interface 20 formed in a rear zone 21 of the upper frame 3, extending from the rear end 19 and designed to ensure attachment with the attachment interface 11. Advantageously, the rear zone 21 extends over less than 30% of the distance D between the rear 19 and front 17 ends, preferably over less than 15% of the distance D between the rear 19 and front 17 ends. As illustrated in the figures, the rear zone 21 allows the upper frame 3 to rest in contact on the lower frame 2.

[0031] As illustrated in Figure 4, the complementary interface 20 is arranged in a fixing housing 13, receiving the bearing surface 12 when the central console 1 is assembled. In the console 1, the fixing interface 11 cooperates with the complementary fixing interface 20 to ensure the fixing of the lower 2 and upper 3 frames. For example, the fixing of the upper frame 3 on the lower frame 2 is carried out using the fixing screws 16 passing through a bottom wall 22 forming the bottom of the fixing housing 13. In Figure 4, the fixing housing 13 is hidden by the bottom wall 22. The fixing screws 16 are introduced into an opening 23 arranged in the upper frame 2 and accessible from above the central console 1, when the latter is mounted in the vehicle. Advantageously, the opening 23 is occupied by an accessory 24, illustrated in FIG. 1, concealing a storage area 25.

[0032] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, when the central console 1 is installed in the vehicle according to the invention, the front end 17 of the upper frame 3 is fixed to the dashboard 18. Similarly, the lower frame 2 is fixed, directly or indirectly to the floor 4 of the vehicle.

[0033] Advantageously, the upper frame 3 comprises a device 26 for recharging a mobile telephone arranged at a distance from the rear end 19. For example, the recharging device 26 is arranged in one half of the upper frame 3 comprising the front end 17. Such a recharging device 26 has, for example, a mat 27, on which a mobile telephone which is placed, has the possibility of being recharged by induction.

[0034] Advantageously, the upper frame 3 has a touch control device 28 allowing the user to control on-board systems of the vehicle according to the invention.

[0035] Finally, in the example illustrated in Figure 2, the central console 1 is backed by a rear console 29, illustrated in Figure 1, providing additional storage.

[0036] Thus, the lower 2 and upper 3 frames make it possible to assemble a central console 1 having an innovative design in which the upper frame 3 is mounted cantilevered on the lower frame 2 to free up a space 30 in which cups can be easily stored. Thanks to the cooperation of the fixing interface 11 and the complementary interface 20, the assembly of the central console 1 is sufficiently robust to allow its handling and transport.

[0037] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the upper and lower frames described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Lower frame (2) designed to form with an upper frame (3) a central console (1) for a motor vehicle, the lower frame (2) being designed to be secured to a floor (4) of the vehicle and designed to allow the fixing, on two of its opposite sides (5), of a lateral flange (6) intended to form a side wall of the central console (1), the lower frame (2) comprising a fixing interface (11) designed to allow the fixing of the upper frame (3) by forming a cantilevered assembly.

2. Lower frame (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing interface (11) comprises a bearing surface (12) designed to be inserted into a fixing housing (13) of the upper frame (3).

3. Lower frame (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one air duct designed to allow the circulation of an air flow coming from a ventilation system of the vehicle in which the central console (1) is installed.

4. Upper frame (3) designed to form with a lower frame (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3 a central console (1), the upper frame (3) extending between, on the one hand, a front end (17), designed to be secured to a dashboard (18) of the vehicle, at a distance from the lower frame (2), and, on the other hand, a rear end (19) designed to be arranged at least partly in line with the lower frame (2) in the central console (1), the upper frame (3) having a complementary interface (20) formed in a rear zone (21) extending from the rear end (19) and designed to ensure attachment with the attachment interface (11).

5. Upper frame (3) according to claim 4, characterized in that the rear zone (21) extends over less than 30% of the distance (D) between the rear (19) and front (17) ends, preferably over less than 15% of the distance (D) between the rear (19) and front (17) ends.

6. Upper frame (3) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises a device (26) for recharging a mobile telephone arranged at a distance from the rear end (19).

7. Upper frame (3) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a touch control device (28).

8. Upper frame (3) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a closable storage area (25).

9. Central console (1) comprising a lower frame (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3 and an upper frame (3) according to one of claims 4 to 8 fixed to each other, the fixing interface (11) cooperating with the complementary fixing interface (20) to ensure the fixing of the lower (2) and upper (3) frames.

10. Motor vehicle having a central console (1) according to claim 9, the front end (17) of the upper frame (3) of which is fixed to the dashboard (18).

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