Vehicle equipped with a modular glove box

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) comprising a dashboard (4) and a glove box (6) located inside said dashboard (4). According to the invention, the glove box (6) is mounted in the dashboard (4) in a translational position between a stowed position in which it is completely included in said dashboard (4) and an extended position in which it protrudes from said dashboard (4) to approach a passenger who would be seated behind the dashboard (4), a support shelf (20) being mounted in a translational position on the glove box (6) between a retracted position in which it is included in said glove box (6) and an extended position in which it protrudes from said glove box (6) to approach a passenger who would be seated behind the dashboard (4), and being mounted in a rotational position in a direction that brings it closer to a central and longitudinal axis (X) of the vehicle and therefore to the other passenger.Figure for the abridged version: Fig.8.

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle equipped with a modular glove box

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle equipped with a modular glove box.

[0002] In order to understand the positioning of the various parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is made with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards. The notions "front" and "rear" are indicated in relation to the conventional direction of movement of the vehicle towards the front or towards the rear.

[0003] Currently, an axis of development for certain vehicles consists of: -on the one hand, create an office for the driver who may have to work while the vehicle is stationary, in particular by increasing the number of support areas capable of holding horizontally objects such as, for example, a laptop, an electronic tablet or a pad of paper, and - on the other hand, improve the comfort of the passenger sitting next to the driver by offering him several possibilities for supporting objects directly and easily accessible.

[0004] However, it remains very difficult to meet this dual requirement, because the storage spaces available in the vehicle remain very rare. For example, a glove box is one of these very useful storage spaces in the vehicle, allowing the storage of various everyday objects such as, for example, keys, a smartphone, various paper documents, spare bulbs, etc. However, such a glove box, which is positioned inside a dashboard, remains difficult to access and would force the driver and / or passenger to engage in awkward and tiring manipulations, for example to directly view a laptop screen placed in said glove box or to grab an object inside it.

[0005] A vehicle according to the invention is capable of implementing horizontal storage supports from a glove box already present in the vehicle.

[0006] The subject of the invention is a vehicle comprising a dashboard and a glove box placed inside said dashboard.

[0007] According to the invention, the glove box is mounted in the dashboard with first sliding means allowing said glove box to pass through a translational movement from a stowed position for which it is completely included in said dashboard to a deployed position for which it projects from said dashboard to move closer to a passenger who would be seated behind the dashboard, a support shelf being mounted on the glove box with second sliding means allowing said support shelf to pass through a translational movement from a stowed position for which it is included in said glove box to a deployed position for which it protrudes from said glove box to move closer to a passenger who would be seated behind the dashboard. The glove box is similar to a box having a rear opening which can for example be closed by a closing flap allowing access to said glove box, and which is able to emerge from the dashboard towards the rear. In this way, the glove box can be available in three horizontal support configurations: - the glove box is in the stowed position and the shelf is in the extended position, - the glove box is in the deployed position and the shelf is in the stowed position, - the glove box is in the deployed position and the shelf is in the extended position.

[0008] It is important to specify that the translational movement of the glove box and the translational movement of the support shelf are completely independent, the translational movement of one having no influence on the translational movement of the other. The translational movements of the glove box and the support shelf are preferably carried out manually. However, according to another embodiment of the invention, these movements can be motorized and are then triggered by a control element controlling a motorization. Advantageously, the shelf is made of plastic. Preferably, the shelf has a rectangular shape. Advantageously, an upper and horizontal surface of this shelf has different reliefs to stabilize the position of different objects that would be stored thereon. In this way, this shelf can for example act as a cup holder or a smartphone holder.

[0009] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the first sliding means are arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle to allow the glove box to slide along said longitudinal axis X.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the first sliding means involve at least one telescopic arm comprising a fixed rail secured to a structural element of the vehicle placed under the dashboard, and a movable rail mounted to slide along the fixed rail and secured to the glove box, said telescopic arm extending along a horizontal and longitudinal axis X of the vehicle. In this way, the glove box will move directly closer to the passenger who will be seated behind the glove box next to the driver.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the second sliding means are arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle to allow the support shelf to slide on the glove box along said axis X. In this way, the shelf will move directly closer to the passenger who will be seated behind the glove box next to the driver. If the glove box already slides along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, the sliding of the shelf following the same axis, will create a resulting horizontal support of large dimension, which can be fully exploited, either by the driver, or by the passenger who will be seated next to said driver.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the second sliding means involve at least one groove belonging to one of the two elements constituted by the glove box and the support shelf, said second sliding means involving at least one pin sliding in said at least one groove and belonging to the other element.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the support shelf is placed above the glove box and is inscribed in a horizontal plane, the sliding of said shelf on the glove box taking place in a horizontal plane. In this way, the support shelf will be placed at an ideal height, to allow the driver and / or a passenger who would be seated next to said driver to place an object on it and possibly handle it if it is for example a laptop or a smartphone.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the shelf is mounted in rotation on the glove box around a vertical axis, and is able to move from a first position for which it is aligned with the glove box along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, to a second position for which it projects from said glove box along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. This additional possibility of movement materialized by this rotation in a horizontal plane, further increases the possibilities of use of the support shelf, which can ultimately occupy a large plurality of positions. Depending on the current needs encountered by a person (driver or passenger) in terms of supporting objects, said shelf can thus be positioned as precisely as possible in relation to said person.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the amplitude of rotation of the shelf to move from the first position to the second position is greater than or equal to 90°. According to an alternative embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention, the shelf can occupy a plurality of positions between the first position and the second position, each position corresponding to an identifiable notch holding said shelf in the position considered.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the rotation of the support tablet can only be carried out after having placed said support tablet in the extended position. The rotation of the tablet constitutes an additional possibility of movement, once it has been placed in the extended position.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the rotation of the support tablet between the first position and the second position is carried out in a direction which brings the tablet closer to a central and longitudinal axis X of the vehicle. This rotation of the tablet tends to recenter the tablet in the vehicle by bringing it closer to the driver. In this way, the driver will be able to benefit from a fully accessible support tablet without having to engage in awkward and tiring contortions.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the glove box has an upper wall provided with an opening which is hidden when the support shelf is in the retracted position, said opening being uncovered when the shelf is in the extended position. Thanks to the presence of this opening placed in an upper wall of the glove box, the assembly constituted by the glove box and the shelf comprises an additional storage space. Indeed, this opening can be either blind and in this case it creates a surface recess in which small objects can be stored, or through and in this case it allows larger objects to be stored which can then pass through this opening and rest on a bottom of the glove box.

[0019] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of being able to transform the glove box into a horizontal support intended to carry different objects, thanks to judicious kinematics of said glove box and a support shelf fixed to said glove box. This horizontal support has the advantage of being modular, thanks to a simple and rapid movement of the support shelf on the glove box and this, in several directions. A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of being able to create a complete and ergonomic office for the driver, and a comfortable living space for the passenger by implementing for him an extended horizontal support allowing him to store various directly accessible objects.

[0020] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0021] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a front area of ​​a passenger compartment of a vehicle according to the invention, the glove box being in the stowed position and the shelf being in the extended position,

[0022] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a front area of ​​a passenger compartment of a vehicle according to the invention, the glove box being in the deployed position and the shelf being in the extended position,

[0023] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a front area of ​​a passenger compartment of a vehicle according to the invention, the glove box being in the deployed position and the support shelf having undergone a movement after having reached the extended position,

[0024] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view from another angle of the front area of ​​the [Fig.3], a laptop being placed on the support shelf.

[0025] [Fig.5] represents a schematic perspective view of a dashboard of a vehicle according to the invention, the glove box being in the stowed position,

[0026] [Fig.6] represents a schematic perspective view of a dashboard of a vehicle according to the invention, the glove box being in the deployed position and the support shelf being placed on said glove box,

[0027] [Fig.7] represents a schematic perspective view of a dashboard of a vehicle according to the invention, the glove box being in the deployed position and the support shelf being translated towards the rear,

[0028] [Fig.8] represents a schematic perspective view of a dashboard of a vehicle according to the invention, the glove box being in the deployed position and the support shelf being rotated after having been placed in the extended position,

[0029] [Fig.9] represents a perspective view of a glove box of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0030] [Fig. 10] represents a perspective view of a support shelf of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0031] [Fig. 11] represents a perspective view of an assembly consisting of a glove box and a support shelf, said support shelf being translated on said glove box,

[0032] [Fig. 12] represents a sectional view of a pin of the support shelf inserted into a groove of an upper wall of a glove box of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0033] [Fig. 13] represents a sectional view of the pin of [Fig. 12], after a 90° rotation of the support shelf relative to the glove box of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, a vehicle 1 according to the invention comprises a front row of seats, comprising a driver's seat 2 and a passenger seat 3 placed next to said driver's seat 2, said two seats 2, 3 being separated from each other by a central console 5 extending on a floor along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle 1. This vehicle 1 also comprises a dashboard 4 in the form of a wall extending in front of the driver's seat 2 and the passenger seat 3, along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle 1.

[0035] A vehicle 1 according to the invention has the particularity of having a glove box 6, which is movable in translation along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle 1, and a support shelf 20 which is mounted in translation on said glove box 6, also along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle.

[0036] Referring to figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the glove box 6 is composed of a housing delimited by: -two vertical and parallel side walls 7, extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, - a vertical front wall joining the two vertical side walls 7 while being perpendicular to them, - a horizontal bottom joining the two vertical side walls 7 and the front wall vertical, - an upper wall 8 extending in a horizontal plane XY and joining the two vertical side walls 7 and the vertical front wall, said upper wall being provided with a through opening 9, - a rear opening 10 inclined relative to a vertical and transverse plane YZ of the vehicle 1, and intended to be in the continuity of the dashboard 4 when the glove box 6 is in a stored position in the dashboard 4, said opening 10 allowing access to the interior of the glove box 6, - a closing panel 11 mounted to rotate about a horizontal and transverse axis Y of the vehicle, between a closing position in which it closes the opening 10 and an opening position in which it extends horizontally and allows access to the interior of the glove box 6 through said opening 10.

[0037] Referring to Figures 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the glove box 6 is mounted in translation in the dashboard 4 by means of two telescopic arms 12 extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and each placed against a vertical lateral wall 7 of the housing constituting the glove box 6. More precisely, each telescopic arm 12 comprises a fixed rail 13 secured to a structural element of the vehicle placed in the dashboard 4, and a movable rail 14 mounted to slide along the fixed rail 13, and to which the glove box 6 is secured. Each movable arm 13 is secured to a vertical lateral surface of the housing constituting the glove box 6. The fixed rail 13 and the movable rail 14 of each telescopic arm 12 are horizontal and extend along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle.

[0038] Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the glove box 6 can occupy a stowed position in which it is completely included in the dashboard 4, without emerging from it. For this stowed position, the movable rail 14 and the fixed rail 13 of each telescopic arm 12 are superimposed.

[0039] Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, the glove box 6 can occupy a deployed position for which it has slid backwards from the stowed position, to protrude from the dashboard 4 towards the passenger who would be seated just behind the glove box 6. For this deployed position, the movable rail 14 of each telescopic arm 12 has slid along the fixed arm 13 backwards. In the deployed position, the glove box 6 creates a protrusion at the rear of the dashboard 4.

[0040] Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the support shelf 20 has a generally rectangular shape, and is mounted in translation on the glove box 6 by coming into contact with the upper wall 8 of said glove box 6. This support shelf 20 may have particular reliefs to support specific objects and may also serve as a cup holder. The translational mounting of the support shelf 20 on the glove box 6 is carried out on the basis of the following characteristics: -referring to [Fig.9], the upper wall 8 of the glove box 6 comprises a rectilinear groove 15, extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle while being placed next to the opening 9, and a cylindrical pin 19 placed next to said opening 9 on the other side of the groove 15, - referring to [Fig. 12], the groove 15 comprises an open surface area 16 and a deep area 17 in communication with said surface area 16, the width of the deep area 17 being greater than the width of the surface area 16, - referring to [Fig. 13], the surface area 16 and the deep area 17 of the groove 15 have been widened at a rear end 18 of the groove 15, - referring to [Fig. 10], the support shelf 20 comprises a rectilinear slot 30 and a profiled pin 21. Referring to figures 10, 12 and 13, the profiled pin 21 is elongated, and has a foot 22 extended by an enlarged head 23, said profiled pin 21 being secured to the support shelf 20 by means of its foot 22.

[0041] The support shelf 20 is mounted on the glove box 6 so that: -the profiled pin 21 of the support shelf 20 is inserted into the groove 15, in such a way that the enlarged head 23 is placed in the deep zone 17 and the foot 22 is placed in the superficial zone 16. This insertion is carried out so that a longitudinal axis of the profiled pin 21 is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the groove 15, -the cylindrical pin 19 of the upper wall 8 of the glove box 6 is inserted into the rectilinear slot 30 of the support shelf 20, - the rectilinear groove 15 of the upper wall 8 of the glove box 6 is parallel to the rectilinear slot 30 of the shelf 20.

[0042] In this way, referring to [Fig.5], the support shelf 20 can occupy a retracted position on the glove box 6, for which it is placed on the upper wall 8 of the glove box 6 by closing the opening 9 of said upper wall 8. In this position, the support shelf 20 is included in the glove box 6, without protruding from it.

[0043] Referring to Figures 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 11, the support shelf 20 can occupy an extended position on the glove box 6, for which it has slid backwards from the retracted position, to project from said glove box 6 towards the rear thereof by means of a simultaneous movement of the profiled pin 21 in the groove 15 and of the cylindrical pin 19 in the rectilinear slot 30 of the support shelf 20.

[0044] To summarize, the assembly consisting of the glove box 6 and the support shelf can be available in several configurations: - Referring to [Fig.5], a configuration for which the glove box 6 is in the stowed position, and the support shelf 20 is in the retracted position, - Referring to [Fig.l], a configuration for which the glove box 6 is in the stowed position, and the support shelf 20 is in the extended position, -Referring to Figures 2 and 6, a configuration for which the glove box 6 is in the deployed position, and the support shelf 20 is in the extended position, -Referring to [Fig.7], a configuration for which the glove box 6 in the deployed position, and the support shelf 10 is in the extended position.

[0045] When the glove box 6 is in the deployed position, the closing panel 11 can be in an open position for which it extends in a horizontal plane XY as is for example illustrated in Figures 2 and 6. In this case, it will constitute an additional horizontal support element, on which objects can be placed. If, in addition, the support shelf 20 is in the extended position, it will then uncover the opening 9 of the upper wall 8 of the glove box 6. It then becomes possible to store large objects by passing them through this opening 9 and resting them on the closing panel 11 or on the bottom of the glove box 6.

[0046] Referring to figures 3, 4, 8 the particular translational mounting of the support shelf 20 on the glove box 6, will allow said support shelf 20 to be able to pivot in a horizontal plane XY around a vertical axis. Indeed, referring to figures 10 and 12, when the support shelf 20 is going to be translated towards the rear from its retracted position to reach the extended position, the profiled pin 21 will slide in the groove 15 until reaching the rear end 18 of the groove 15. Referring to [Fig. 13], since the surface zone 16 and the deep zone 17 of the groove 15 have been widened at this rear end 18, the support shelf 20 can be rotated around the profiled pin 21 arrived at this rear end 18.The cylindrical pin 19 being placed at the exit of the rectilinear slot 30 when the support shelf 20 is in the extended position, it cannot then prevent the support shelf 20 from pivoting around the profiled pin 21 located at the rear end 18 of the groove 15. The support shelf 20 can pivot with a maximum amplitude which is greater than or equal to 90°. Preferably, the rotation of the support shelf 20 from its extended position is carried out in a direction which brings it closer to a central and longitudinal axis of the vehicle 1, in other words which brings it closer to the driver, or to another passenger of the vehicle. In the present description the driver is also assimilated to a passenger of the vehicle. It is important to specify that the rotation of the support shelf 20 can only be carried out once said shelf 20 has reached the extended position.Once the support tablet 20 has reached an ideal position, for example for the driver as illustrated in [Fig. 4], a laptop 21 can then be placed on said support tablet 20 to create a desk for use by the driver.

[0047] Referring to [Fig. 10], the support tablet 20 may for example be provided with a push button 32 intended to deactivate locking means of said tablet 20 so that it can move from the retracted position to the extended position. Generally speaking, in the context of a vehicle according to the invention, whether for the glove box 6 or for the support shelf 20, conventional locking means are implemented to fix said support shelf 20 and said glove box 6 in a given position. It is indeed necessary to be able to prevent the support shelf 20 and the glove box 6 from being deployed anarchicly in translation and / or in rotation, at each relief or bend that the vehicle 1 could encounter.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle (1) comprising a dashboard (4) and a glove box (6) placed inside said dashboard (4), characterized in that the glove box (6) is mounted in the dashboard (4) with first sliding means (12, 13, 14) allowing said glove box (6) to pass through a translational movement from a stowed position for which it is completely included in said dashboard (4) to a deployed position for which it projects from said dashboard (4) to move closer to a passenger who would be seated behind the dashboard (4), and in that a support shelf (20) is mounted on the glove box (6) with second sliding means (15, 19, 21,30) allowing said support shelf (20) to pass through a translational movement from a retracted position for which it is included in said glove box (6) to an extended position for which it protrudes from said glove box (6) to move closer to a passenger who would be seated behind the dashboard (4).,

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sliding means (12, 13, 14) are arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle to allow the glove box (6) to slide along said longitudinal axis X.

3. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first sliding means involve at least one telescopic arm (12) comprising a fixed rail (13) secured to a structural element of the vehicle placed under the dashboard (4), and a movable rail (14) mounted to slide along the fixed rail (13) and secured to the glove box (6), and in that said telescopic arm (12) extends along a horizontal and longitudinal axis X of the vehicle.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second sliding means (15, 19, 21, 30) are arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle to allow the support shelf (20) to slide on the glove box (6) along said axis X.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second sliding means involve at least one groove (15, 30) belonging to one of the two elements constituted by the glove box (6) and the support shelf (30), and in that said second sliding means involve at least one pin (19, 21) sliding in said at least one groove (15, 30) and belonging to the other element.

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support shelf (20) is placed above the glove box (6) and is inscribed in a horizontal plane, and in that the sliding of said support shelf (20) on the glove box (6) is carried out in a horizontal plane.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support shelf (20) is mounted in rotation on the glove box (6) around a vertical axis, and is able to move from a first position for which it remains included in the glove box (6), to a second position for which it projects from said glove box (6) along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle.

8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the rotation of the support shelf (20) can only take place after having placed said support shelf (20) in the extended position.

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the rotation of the support shelf (20) between the first position and the second position takes place in a direction which brings it closer to a central and longitudinal axis X of the vehicle.

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the glove box (6) has an upper wall (8) provided with an opening (9) which is hidden when the support shelf (20) is in the retracted position, and in that said opening (9) is uncovered when the support shelf (20) is in the extended position.

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