Storage unit comprising a movable storage element

Abstract

Storage device comprising a movable storage element. The storage device (1) comprises a body (2) defining an interior volume (6) accessible through an access opening (10) and a lid (14), comprising an internal surface (20) and an external surface (22), said lid (14) being movable relative to the body (2) between a closed position and an open position. The storage device further comprises a storage element (4) having an upper edge (28). The storage element (4) is movable relative to the body (2) between a retracted position, in which the upper edge (28) extends back from the external surface (22) of the lid (14) when the lid (14) is in the closed position, and an extended position, in which the upper edge (28) is flush with the external surface (22) of the lid when the lid (14) is in the open position. Figure for the abbreviation: 4

Description

Title of the invention: Storage device comprising a movable storage element

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device for a vehicle, of the type comprising a body defining an interior volume accessible through an access opening and a cover, comprising an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, said cover being movable relative to the body between a closed position, in which the cover closes said access opening, and an open position, in which the cover is spaced from the access opening, the storage device further comprising a storage element arranged in the interior volume and defining a storage volume accessible through an upper opening delimited by at least one upper edge.

[0002] It is known to provide storage devices, such as a cup holder, a storage compartment or the like, in a trim element, such as a center console or a dashboard or the like. Such storage devices define a storage volume suitable for receiving objects, such as a container in the case of a cup holder.

[0003] When the storage device is not in use, it is known to mask the storage volume with a cover making the storage volume inaccessible from outside the storage device when the cover is in the closed position. In this position, the cover extends into an opening for access to the storage volume and when the cover is moved into an open position, the cover is moved away from the opening so as to free access to the storage volume.

[0004] Such an arrangement, however, creates an offset between the external surface of the trim element surrounding the opening in which the lid is housed in the closed position and the upper edge of the storage volume in order to leave sufficient space available for receiving the lid in the closed position. Indeed, it is preferable for the external surface of the lid to extend in continuity with the external surface of the trim element surrounding the storage device in order to improve the appearance of the trim element in the closed position of the lid. The offset between the external surface and the upper edge of the storage volume, however, degrades the aesthetics of the trim element when the lid is in the open position. In addition, small objects or dust are likely to become lodged in the space created by the offset, which can cause difficulties in placing the lid in the closed position.

[0005] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a storage device having a satisfactory appearance in all positions of the cover and protecting the interior volume of the storage device.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a storage device of the aforementioned type, in which the storage element is movable relative to the body between a retracted position, in which the upper edge extends back from the external surface of the cover when the cover is in the closed position, and a deployed position, in which the upper edge is flush with the external surface of the cover when the cover is in the open position, the storage element being forced towards the deployed position.

[0007] Thus, in the open position of the lid, the storage element automatically moves into the deployed position, in which the upper edge is flush with the external surface of the lid, thus eliminating the offset linked to the space occupied by the lid in the closed position. The appearance of the storage device is thus improved in the open position and small objects or dust cannot become lodged in this space when the lid is in the open position.

[0008] The storage device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, considered alone or in any technically conceivable combination:

[0009] - the body comprises at least one rail extending against at least a portion of the edge of the access opening, the cover being movable in translation in said rail between the closed position and the open position, the storage element masking said rail from the outside of the body in the deployed position of said storage element,

[0010] - the storage element is forced towards the cover in the closed position, said cover providing a passage to the access opening when it moves from the closed position to the open position, the storage element moving in said passage when it moves from the retracted position to the deployed position,

[0011] - the storage device comprises at least one constraint element extending between the storage element and the body, said constraining element constraining the storage element towards the deployed position,

[0012] - the body comprises a bottom wall opposite the access opening, the element of stress extending between the bottom wall and a bearing surface of the storage element, said stress element being compressed in the retracted position and relaxing when the storage element passes from the retracted position to the deployed position,

[0013] - the body comprises at least one guide bar extending between the bottom wall and the edge, the storage element comprising at least one slider mounted movable in translation on said guide bar between the retracted position and the deployed position, said slider defining the support surface, the constraint element extending around said guide bar between the bottom wall and said bearing surface,

[0014] - the storage element comprises a housing extending in the vicinity of the upper opening, one end of the cover extending into said housing in the open position of the cover and the deployed position of the storage element,

[0015] - the storage device comprises a device for locking the element of storage in the retracted position, said locking device being operable between a locked position, in which the locking device holds the storage element in the retracted position, and an unlocked position, in which the locking device releases the storage element to move to the extended position, said locking device being actuated from the locked position to the unlocked position by the cover as it moves from the closed position to the open position,

[0016] - the locking device is actuated from the unlocked position to the position locked by the storage element when it moves from the deployed position to the retracted position,

[0017] - the storage element is a cup holder or a vehicle storage compartment.

[0018] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0019] [fig. 1] - [fig.l] is a schematic perspective representation of a storage device according to the invention, the cover being in the closed position,

[0020] [fig.2] - [fig.2] is a schematic perspective representation of part of the storage device of [fig.l],

[0021] [fig.3] - [fig.3] is a schematic perspective representation of the device of storage of [fig.l], the cover being in the open position,

[0022] [fig.4] - [fig.4] is a schematic perspective representation of part of the storage device of [fig.3], and

[0023] [fig.5] - [fig.5] is a schematic perspective representation of part of the storage device of [fig.4].

[0024] With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, a storage device 1 is described comprising a body 2 and a storage element 4.

[0025] The body 2 defines an interior volume 6 delimited by one or more walls of the body 2, including at least one external wall 8, forming the external surface of the body 2, that is to say the surface of the body 2 facing the outside of the storage device 1. By interior volume 6 is meant a volume extending inside the body 2 and closed by the wall or walls thereof. The external wall 8 is for example visible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle or is provided with a covering which is visible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The body 2 is for example formed by a vehicle trim element body receiving the storage device 1, such as a central console body, dashboard, door panel or other. Alternatively, the body 2 is distinct from a trim element body and is mounted thereon by being for example received in an opening of the trim element body.

[0026] The outer wall 8 comprises at least one access opening 10 passing through the outer wall 8 and communicating with the interior volume 6. The access opening 10 is delimited by at least one edge 12 formed by a portion of the outer wall 8. The access opening 10 may have any suitable shape, such as a rectangular shape as shown in the figures, an oblong or circular shape or other. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, in which the storage device 1 is used to receive containers as will be described later, the access opening 10 is made in an upper outer wall 8 facing the ceiling of the vehicle when the storage device is mounted in a vehicle. It is however understood that the access opening 10 could be made in a side wall, depending on the use of the storage device 1.

[0027] When the storage device 1 is not in use for receiving an object, the access opening 10 may be closed by a cover 14 to prevent access to what is in the interior volume 6 through the access opening 10 from outside the storage device 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cover 14 is thus movable relative to the body 2 between a closed position (Figs. 1 and 2), in which the cover 14 extends into the access opening 10 and closes it, and an open position (Figs. 3 and 4) in which the cover 14 is spaced from the access opening 10 so that the interior volume 6 is accessible from outside the storage device 1 through the access opening 10.

[0028] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the cover 14 is formed by a sliding curtain in the opening and relative to the body 2 between the closed position and the open position. The cover 14 slides for example along the length of the access opening 10 in the case of a rectangular or oblong opening. For this purpose, the cover 14 is mounted in at least one rail 16 guiding the sliding of the cover 14 between the closed and open positions. The rail 16 extends in the sliding direction of the cover 14 along the access opening 10. For this purpose, the rail 16 extends for example in the interior volume 6 of the body 2 against one of the external edges 12 delimiting the access opening 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Such positioning of the rail 16 makes it invisible from outside the storage device 1 when the cover 14 is in the closed position.While such a rail 16 is however usually visible from the outside when the cover is in the open position, the invention makes it possible to make it invisible also in . open position which improves the appearance and operation of the storage device 1 as will be described in more detail later.

[0029] The rail 16 has for example the shape of a groove extending along an edge 12 and open towards the access opening 10 in order to slidably receive a lateral end 18 of the cover 14, as shown in [fig.2]. Such a groove is delimited by a first branch extending against the edge 12, a second branch extending substantially parallel to the first branch and spaced from the edge and by a bottom joining the first branch and the second branch. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the body 2 comprises two rails 16 extending on either side of the access opening 10 along two opposite external edges 12 and slidably receiving the two opposite lateral ends 18 of the cover 14.

[0030] In the open position, the cover 14 retracts for example into a side wall of the body 2 different from the wall in which the access opening 10 is made. For this purpose, the curtain forming the cover 14 is deformable and can thus follow a curved path between the wall in which the access opening is made and the side wall in which the curtain retracts in the open position, as visible in [fig.5]. Such an arrangement makes it possible to limit the size of the storage device 1 by not requiring an extensive space to house the cover 14 in the open position in the wall in which the access opening 10 is made.

[0031] The cover 14 comprises an inner surface 20 and an outer surface 22 opposite the inner surface 20. In the closed position, the inner surface 20 covers a portion of the interior volume 6 of the body while the outer surface 22 faces the outside of the storage device 1 and is thus visible from the outside thereof. For this purpose, it is advantageous for the outer surface 22 of the cover 14 to be flush with the edge 12 of the opening in order to improve the appearance of the storage device 1 in the closed position of the cover 14, as shown in [fig.l]. By "flush" is meant that the outer surface 22 extends substantially at the same level as the edge 12. Thus, the distance separating the outer surface 22 from the edge does not exceed, for example, 5 mm, preferably 2 mm at the portion of the outer surface which is adjacent to the edge 12.More particularly, the distance separating the external surface 22 from the edge does not exceed the thickness of the external wall 8 of the body 2. In other words, the external surface of the storage device and the external surface 22 of the cover are substantially continuous in the closed position of the cover 14 and there is no large break between these two surfaces. According to a particular embodiment more particularly visible in [fig.2], the external surface 22 of the cover 14 extends substantially in the same plane as the first branch of the rails 16 at least at the level. parts of the external surface 22 of the cover 14 which are adjacent to the rails 16.

[0032] The storage element 4 extends into the interior volume 6 of the body 2 and defines a storage volume 24 arranged to receive and hold one or more objects. Thus, the storage volume 24 is for example shaped to receive a container, such as a cup, can, bottle or other, when the storage device is a cup holder, or to receive small objects, such as coins, keys, a mobile phone or other, when the storage device is a pocket emptier. It is understood that the storage volume 24 can have any suitable shape depending on the intended use of the storage device. In the case of a cup holder as shown in the figures, the storage volume 24 has for example a substantially cylindrical shape and is closed on one side by a bottom 26 and open on the other by an upper opening 26.In the case of a storage compartment, the storage volume 24 has, for example, a substantially parallelepiped shape and is also closed on one side by a bottom and open on the other by an upper opening. The upper opening 26 is delimited by at least one upper edge 28 which extends around at least a portion of the upper opening 26. As indicated previously, other shapes of storage volume can be envisaged, as long as this storage volume is accessible by an upper opening delimited by at least one upper edge. The upper opening 26 and the upper edge 28 extend opposite at least a portion of the access opening 10 of the body 2 so that the upper opening 26 and the storage volume 26 are accessible by the access opening 10 when the cover 14 is in the open position and are masked by the cover 14 when it is in the closed position.

[0033] The storage element 4 is movable relative to the body between a retracted position (Figs. 1 and 2) and a deployed position (Figs. 3 to 5).

[0034] In the retracted position, the storage element 4 is spaced away from the access opening 10 of the body 2 so that the upper edge 28 extends back relative to the external surface 22 of the cover 14 and relative to the edge 12 of the access opening 10. The upper edge 28 is in particular sufficiently spaced away from the access opening 10 so that the cover 14 can slide in the rails 16 to the closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In other words, in the retracted position, the upper edge 28 extends substantially in the same plane as the second branch of the rails 16 or is spaced away from this second branch on one side thereof opposite the groove forming the rails 16.Thus, in the retracted position, the storage element 4 does not extend opposite the rails 16 and leaves sufficient space between the upper edge 28 and the edge 12 for the cover 4 to be able to slide between the storage element 4 and the wall of the body 2 in which the access opening 10 is made. The storage element 4 is placed in the retracted position when the cover 4 is in the . closed position or in an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position. In the retracted position, the upper edge 28 of the storage element 1 is for example applied against the internal surface 20 of the cover 4 as shown in [fig.2].

[0035] In the deployed position, the storage element 4 is brought closer to the access opening 10 so that the upper edge 28 is flush with the external surface 22 of the cover 14. By "flush" is meant that the upper edge 28 extends substantially at the same level as the external surface 22 of the cover 14. Consequently, according to the embodiment in which the external surface 22 of the cover 14 is flush with the edge 12 of the access opening, the upper edge 28 is also flush with the edge 12 in the deployed position of the storage element. Thus, the distance separating the upper edge 28 from the edge does not exceed, for example, 5 mm, preferably 2 mm at the level of the part of the upper edge 28 which is adjacent to the edge 12. More particularly, the distance separating the upper edge 28 of the storage element from the edge does not exceed the thickness of the external wall 8 of the body 2.In other words, the outer surface of the storage device and the upper edge 28 of the storage element 4 are substantially continuous in the deployed position of the storage element 4 and there is no large break between these two surfaces. According to a particular embodiment more particularly visible in [fig. 4], the upper edge 28 of the storage element 4 extends substantially in the same plane as the first branch of the rails 16 at least at the level of the parts of the upper edge 28 of the storage element 4 which are adjacent to the rails 16. In other words, in the deployed position, the upper edge 28 extends substantially in the plane occupied by the outer surface 22 of the cover 14 when the latter is in the closed position. The storage element 4 is placed in the deployed position when the cover 14 is in the open position.In other words, when the cover 14 is moved into the open position, it clears a passage in the access opening 10 and the storage element moves into this cleared passage as it moves from its retracted position to its extended position.

[0036] In the deployed position, the storage element 4 masks the part of the interior volume 6 of the body 2 which would normally be visible through the access opening 10 when the cover is in the open position if the storage element 4 were not in the deployed position. There is thus no visible space between the edge 12 and the upper edge 28, which improves the appearance of the storage device 1 in the open position of the cover 14 and prevents small objects or dust from getting lodged between the storage element 4 and the wall of the body 2 in which the access opening 10 is made, which could degrade the appearance of the storage device 1 or even impair its operation. Thus, according to the embodiment in which the body 2 comprises one or two rails 16 allowing the cover 4 to slide, the storage element 4 storage 4 hides the rails 16 in the deployed position and prevents any object from entering the groove(s) forming the rail(s) 16 while the cover is in the open position while such an object would be likely to prevent the proper operation of the cover 14 to move it between the open and closed positions. Furthermore, it is preferable from an aesthetic point of view that the rail(s) 16 are not visible through the access opening 10 from the outside of the storage device 1 when the cover 14 is in the open position. Thus, in the storage device according to the invention, the rail(s) 16 are invisible from the outside of the storage device in the closed position and in the open position of the cover 14.

[0037] According to an embodiment more particularly visible in [fig. 5], the storage element 4 comprises a housing 30 receiving one end of the cover 14 when the cover 14 is in the open position and the storage element 4 is in the deployed position. Such a housing 30 extends in the vicinity of the upper opening 26 and is for example formed by a hollow in the upper edge 28 so that the external surface 22 of the cover 14 extends substantially in the same plane as the upper edge 28 at the end of the cover 14 which extends into the housing 30 in the open position of the cover 14 and the deployed position of the storage element 4. Thanks to such an arrangement, the storage device has a particularly satisfactory appearance in these positions, as visible in [fig. 4].

[0038] The movement of the storage element 4 between the retracted position and the deployed position is a translational movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the access opening 10 extends and, where appropriate, relative to the sliding direction of the cover 14 between the open and closed positions. For this purpose, the storage element 4 comprises, for example, at least one slider 32 mounted to move in translation on a guide bar 34 extending in the interior volume 6 of the body 2 in the sliding direction of the storage element 4 between the retracted and deployed positions, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The guide bar 34 extends, for example, between the edge 12 and a bottom wall 36 of the body 2 which extends opposite the wall in which the access opening 10 is made relative to the interior volume 6.According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the storage element 4 comprises two sliders 32 mounted in a sliding manner on two guide bars 34 extending into the interior volume 6 on either side of the storage element 4.

[0039] The storage element 4 is further constrained towards its deployed position. In other words, the storage element 4 is subjected to a constraint force which tends to move it towards the deployed position when it is in the retracted position. At this In effect, the storage device 1 comprises at least one constraint element 38 constraining the storage element 4 towards the deployed position. Such a constraint element 38 is for example formed by a spring extending between a bearing surface 40 of the storage element 4 and the bottom wall 36 of the body 2, the constraint element 38 being compressed in the retracted position of the storage element 4 and relaxing when the storage element 4 passes from the retracted position to the deployed position. The bearing surface 40 is for example formed on a slider 32 and the spring is for example mounted around a guide bar 34 on which this slider 32 slides so that the guide bar 34 guides the compression and relaxation of the constraint element 38. According to one embodiment, two constraint elements 38 are provided and extend around the two guide bars 34 of the body 2.The constraining element(s) 38 allow the storage element to automatically move from the retracted position to the deployed position when the cover 14 moves from the closed position to the open position.

[0040] According to a particular embodiment, the storage device further comprises a locking device (not shown) for locking the storage element 4 in the retracted position. Such a locking device is arranged to hold the storage element 4 in the retracted position when the locking device is in a locking position. The locking device is operable between the locked position and an unlocked position, in which the locking device releases the storage element 4 so that it can move to the deployed position under the effect of the constraint element(s) 38. The actuation of the locking device is for example carried out by the cover 14 when it moves from the closed position to the open position and reaches the open position.Thus, the movement of the storage element 4 from the retracted position to the extended position is triggered when the cover 14 reaches the open position. The locking device is furthermore, for example, operable from the unlocked position to the locked position by the storage element 4 when it moves from the extended position to the retracted position. Thus, the locking device is placed in the locked position when the storage element 4 reaches the retracted position.

[0041] When the storage volume 24 is not in use or when the objects it contains are stored, the cover 14 is placed in the closed position so as to hide the storage volume 24 from the outside of the storage device 1. When the storage volume 24 is to be made available, a user actuates the cover 14 to move it from the closed position to the open position, for example by using a gripping element 42 provided for this purpose. When the cover 14 reaches the open position, it actuates the locking device which moves from the locked position to the unlocked position and the storage element 4 then moves from the retracted position to the deployed position under the effect of the constraint force. Alternatively, the storage element 4 moves from the retracted position to the deployed position simply by opening the cover 4 and the constraint force without the intervention of a locking device. When a user wishes to close the cover 4, the user presses, for example, on the storage element 4 to move it from the deployed position to the retracted position, in which it is held by virtue of the locking device moving to the locked position when the storage element 4 reaches the retracted position. The user can then move the cover 14 from the open position to the closed position, for example by means of the gripping element 42.Alternatively, the storage element 4 is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position by moving the cover 14 from the open position to the closed position, for example by providing an actuating slope in the housing 30, the cover sliding on this slope when it is moved from the open position to the closed position and pushing the storage element 4 towards the retracted position.

[0042] The storage device according to the invention is thus simple and reliable to use, in particular thanks to the positioning of the storage element 4 in the deployed position when the cover 14 is in the open position. The storage device 1 has been described with a cover 14 formed by a curtain movable in translation between the closed and open positions. It is however understood that the invention could be adapted to a cover movable in rotation between these positions.

Claims

Claims

1. Storage device (1) for a vehicle comprising a body (2) defining an interior volume (6) accessible through an access opening (10) and a cover (14), comprising an inner surface (20) and an outer surface (22) opposite the inner surface (20), said cover (14) being movable relative to the body (2) between a closed position, in which the cover (14) closes said access opening (10), and an open position, in which the cover (14) is spaced from the access opening (10), the storage device further comprising a storage element (4) arranged in the interior volume (6) and defining a storage volume (24) accessible through an upper opening (26) delimited by at least one upper edge (28), characterized in that the storage element (4) is movable relative to the body (2) between a retracted position,wherein the upper edge (28) extends back from the outer surface (22) of the cover (14) when the cover (14) is in the closed position, and an extended position, wherein the upper edge (28) is flush with the outer surface (22) of the cover when the cover (14) is in the open position, the storage element (4) being biased towards the extended position.,

2. A storage device according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) comprises at least one rail (16) extending against at least a portion of the edge (12) of the access opening (10), the cover (14) being movable in translation in said rail (16) between the closed position and the open position, the storage element (4) masking said rail (16) from outside the body (2) in the deployed position of said storage element (4).

3. A storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage member (4) is biased towards the cover (14) in the closed position, said cover (14) releasing a passage to the access opening (10) when it passes from the closed position to the open position, the storage member (4) moving in said passage when it passes from the retracted position to the extended position.

4. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one constraining element (38) extending between the storage element (4) and the body (2), said constraining element (38) constraining the storage element towards the deployed position.

5. A storage device according to claim 4, wherein the body (2) comprises a bottom wall (36) opposite the access opening (10), the constraint element (38) extending between the bottom wall (36) and a bearing surface (40) of the storage element (4), said constraint element (38) being compressed in the retracted position and relaxing when the storage element (4) passes from the retracted position to the deployed position.

6. Storage device according to claim 5, wherein the body (2) comprises at least one guide bar (34) extending between the bottom wall (36) and the edge (12), the storage element (4) comprising at least one slider (32) mounted movable in translation on said guide bar (34) between the retracted position and the deployed position, said slider (32) defining the bearing surface (40), the constraint element (38) extending around said guide bar (34) between the bottom wall (36) and said bearing surface (40).

7. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the storage element (4) comprises a housing (30) extending adjacent the upper opening (26), one end of the cover (14) extending into said housing (30) in the open position of the cover (14) and the deployed position of the storage element (4).

8. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a device for locking the storage element (4) in the retracted position, said locking device being actuable between a locked position, in which the locking device holds the storage element (4) in the retracted position, and an unlocked position, in which the locking device releases the storage element (4) to move to the extended position, said locking device being actuated from the locked position to the unlocked position by the cover (14) as it moves from the closed position to the open position.

9. A storage device according to claim 8, wherein the locking device is actuated from the unlocked position to the locked position by the storage member (4) as it moves from the extended position to the retracted position.

10. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the storage element (4) is a vehicle cup holder or storage compartment.

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