WALL-MOUNTED EQUIPMENT WITH OBJECT RETAINING ZONE, FOR A SYSTEM

Abstract

A piece of equipment (ES) is part of a system (S) and comprises a wall (PE) having a first zone (Z1) made of a first material having a first chosen elasticity and having at least a second zone (Z2) having a shape analogous to the shape of an object with at least one dimension, chosen from the width and the height, smaller than a dimension of the object, so as to allow the object to be forcibly housed and retained by compression along this dimension by this first material. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: WALL-MOUNTED EQUIPMENT WITH OBJECT RETAINING ZONE, FOR A SYSTEM Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to systems comprising at least one piece of equipment capable of receiving at least one object transportable by a user, and more specifically to such equipment. State of the art

[0002] Certain systems, such as certain vehicles (possibly automobiles), include at least one component comprising at least one surface capable of holding at least one object that can be carried by a user. By way of illustration, when the system constitutes a vehicle, this component may be a dashboard, and the object may be a mobile phone.

[0003] Currently, the object can be coupled to the wall of the equipment either directly, by insertion into a small dedicated housing (or "well") defined in this wall, or indirectly, by coupling a support device attached to a sub-part of the wall (which can be an attached device) and coupling the object to this support device.

[0004] In the first alternative (well), when the object is a mobile phone, part of its screen is housed in the well and therefore obscured. Furthermore, this only allows for a single orientation (of the "portrait" type) of the object.

[0005] In the second alternative (support device), the sub-part of the equipment wall becomes obstructed, and a function performed by this sub-part may be affected. This is the case, for example, when this sub-part is a vent. Furthermore, the user of the object must purchase this support device (which must be perfectly adapted to the aforementioned sub-part), and this support device must be permanently present in the system. In addition, when the system is a vehicle, vibrations and shocks induce small displacements of the object relative to the equipment wall, which is inconvenient for the user and can sometimes cause noise. Incidentally, it should be noted that in a vehicle, the vent fins, which allow for the coupling of a support device, tend to disappear, thus eliminating a coupling sub-part.

[0006] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0007] It proposes in particular for this purpose equipment intended to be part of a system and comprising at least one wall.

[0008] This equipment is characterized by the fact that its wall comprises at least a first zone made of a first material having a first chosen elasticity and comprising at least a second zone having a shape homologous to a shape of an object with at least one dimension, chosen from a width and a height, less than a dimension of this object, so as to allow a forced housing of the object and a retention of the latter by compression along this (each) dimension by this first material.

[0009] Thus, it is now possible to accommodate and maintain an object without the latter moving in a place on a wall which is visible to at least one user and which allows one of its faces to be seen in its entirety, and without the user of the object being obliged to use an added coupling device.

[0010] The equipment according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0011] - in a first embodiment, the first zone may be an integral part of the wall;

[0012] - in a second embodiment, the wall may comprise at least a first housing delimiting a reception area for the first zone (which is then an insert);

[0013] - the second zone may be empty or made of a second material having a second elasticity chosen and greater than the first elasticity in order to allow indentation when the object is forced into place;

[0014] - in the presence of the second previous alternative (second material), the second zone can be an integral part of the wall;

[0015] - as an alternative and also in the presence of the second preceding alternative (second material), the first zone may include at least one second dwelling defining a reception area for the second zone;

[0016] - the wall may comprise two second zones of generally rectangular shape, perpendicular to each other, together defining a cross shape to allow the object to be securely housed according to two orientations perpendicular to each other;

[0017] - the first zone may include, at the interface with the second zone, at least one recess allowing partial housing of a user's fingertip for the purpose of extracting the object from the second zone;

[0018] - it can constitute a dashboard of a system constituting a vehicle.

[0019] The invention also proposes a system comprising at least one piece of equipment of the type presented above.

[0020] For example, this system can be a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type. Brief description of the figures

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0022] [Fig. 1] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a front view from the passenger compartment side, a part of an example of a motor vehicle passenger compartment comprising an example of an embodiment of equipment according to the invention constituting a dashboard,

[0023] [Fig.2] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view, a first example of the realization of a first insert-type zone, intended to be part of a wall of equipment according to the invention, and comprising a second housing containing a second zone, and

[0024] [Fig.3] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view, a second example of the realization of a first insert-type zone, intended to be part of a wall of equipment according to the invention, and comprising a second housing containing two second zones. Detailed description of the invention

[0025] The invention aims in particular to provide equipment ES intended to be part of a system S and comprising at least one PE wall capable of accommodating an object transportable by a user.

[0026] In what follows, system S is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be a motor vehicle, and more specifically a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of system. It relates to any system comprising at least one component having at least one wall capable of receiving at least one object transportable by a user. Consequently, the invention relates to vehicles (land, sea (or river), or air), devices (possibly consumer), installations (possibly industrial), and buildings.

[0027] In figures 1 to 3, the direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle S, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is the transverse direction of the vehicle S, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is the vertical direction of the vehicle S, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0028] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a portion of a system S comprising an example of an embodiment of equipment ES according to the invention. In this illustrative example, the system S constitutes a motor vehicle and the equipment ES constitutes a dashboard installed in a passenger compartment H. It should be noted that within a vehicle The ES equipment could also be a console, a seat back (or bench) or an armrest, for example.

[0029] According to the invention, the PE wall comprises on its front face FV (oriented towards the users of the system S) at least one first zone ZI and at least one second zone Z2. It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 1], the PE wall comprises only one first zone ZI (here dedicated to the driver of the vehicle S and therefore offset to the left with respect to the median plane (in the case of left-hand drive)). However, the first zone ZI could be centered on the median plane, or the PE wall could comprise a first zone ZI dedicated to the driver of the vehicle S and therefore offset to the left with respect to the median plane, and another first zone ZI dedicated to the front passenger of the vehicle S and therefore offset to the right with respect to the median plane.

[0030] Each first zone Z1 is made of a first material exhibiting a first elasticity chosen, and comprises at least one second zone Z2 having a shape analogous to the shape of an object to be housed. It should be noted that in the examples illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1 to 3, each second zone Z2 has a generally rectangular shape analogous to the general rectangular shape of an object constituting a mobile phone (possibly of the "smartphone" type). However, a second zone Z2 may have other shapes adapted to other types of objects than a mobile phone.

[0031] Here, "first elasticity el" refers to the fact that the first material has a first chosen modulus of elasticity. It should be noted that the modulus of elasticity is equal to the stress experienced divided by the elastic deformation undergone in the presence of this stress.

[0032] The shape of (each) second zone Z2 has at least one dimension, chosen from the width 11 and the height hl, which is less than one dimension of the object, so as to allow a forceful housing of this object and a retention of the latter by compression along this (each) dimension by the first material of the first zone ZI.

[0033] In other words, at least one dimension of a second zone Z2 is (slightly) smaller than the corresponding dimension of the object to be accommodated, so that once the object is placed in this second zone Z2 it is compressed (or compressed) by the first material of the first zone ZI which surrounds it due to its first elasticity el. Therefore, if the object has a width 12 and a height h2, we have 11 < 12 and / or hl < h2.

[0034] It should be noted that in order to optimize the holding of the object in a second zone Z2, it is preferable that the width 11 and height hl of the latter (Z2) be slightly less respectively than the width 12 and height h2 of the object.

[0035] Thanks to the invention, an object can now be received and held without moving, without noise, in a place in a PE wall of an ES equipment which is in the sight of at least one user, which allows to see in full one of its faces (for example that including a display screen in the case of a mobile phone), which does not restrict the visibility of the driver, and without the user of the object being obliged to use (and possibly carry) an added coupling device.

[0036] For example, the first zone ZI can be an integral part of the PE wall. This first embodiment can notably be obtained by multiple injection molding. For example, in the case of an ES dashboard, a (relatively) rigid material (and therefore with low elasticity compared to the first elasticity el) can be used to produce the main part of the PE wall (without each first zone Zl), and then each first zone ZI can be added to this main part using the first material having the first elasticity el.

[0037] In a second embodiment, illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 1], the PE wall may include at least one first housing L1 which defines a space for the first zone Z1. The latter (Z1) thus constitutes an insert initially made from the first material (having the first elasticity e1), and then subsequently integrated into the corresponding first housing L1 of the PE wall. This integration can be achieved by press fitting, bonding, welding, or clipping. The advantages of this second embodiment will be explained later.

[0038] It should be noted that the (every) second zone Z2 can be empty (or devoid of matter).

[0039] But alternatively, and as illustrated non-exhaustively in Figures 1 to 3, the Each second zone Z2 can be made of a second material with a second elasticity e2 chosen to be greater than the first elasticity el (i.e., e2 > el), allowing it to be compressed when the object is forcibly inserted. It is understood that, due to this high second elasticity e2, each second zone Z2 can be easily deformed, and in particular compressed by "crushing" when the object is placed by pressure exerted by the user against its front face. This compression persists as long as the user does not remove the object from the second zone Z2, because the object is held in place by the compression exerted by the first material of the first zone Z1 that surrounds it.

[0040] This arrangement advantageously provides surface continuity at the front face FV of the PE wall, thus streamlining the latter (PE). It should be noted that the front face of the second zone Z2 is not necessarily at the same level as the front face of the first zone Z1. In fact, it could be slightly recessed, particularly to facilitate insertion and / or its localization on the PE wall.

[0041] For example, when a second zone Z2 is made of a second material, it can be an integral part of the PE wall. This first embodiment can notably be achieved by multiple injection molding, as mentioned above. For example, in the case of an ES dashboard, a (relatively) rigid material (and therefore with low elasticity compared to the first elasticity e1) can be used to make the main part of the PE wall (without each first zone Z1), then each first zone Z1 can be added to this main part using the first material having the first elasticity e1, and then at least one second zone Z2 can be added to each first zone Z1 (in a dedicated housing that it comprises) using the second material having the second elasticity e2.

[0042] In order to facilitate the return of a second zone Z2 to its initial shape (before being dented by an object), after the removal of this object, the equipment ES (or its wall PE) may optionally include an electric heating device installed behind this second zone Z2. Such an electric heating device is connected to a power supply network of the system S (for example, the on-board network of a vehicle).

[0043] In a second embodiment, illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the first zone Zl may include at least one second housing L2 which defines a space for the associated second zone Z2. The latter (Z2) thus constitutes an insert initially made of the second material (having the second elasticity e2), and then integrated into the corresponding second housing L2 of a first zone Zl (whether the latter (Zl) is an integral part of the PE wall or a separate insert). This integration can be achieved by press fitting, bonding, welding, or clipping.

[0044] When at least the first zone Zl is a removable insert and it includes a second zone whose shape is not suitable for an object of the user, it is possible to replace it with another first zone Zl including at least another second zone Z2 whose shape is suitable for that object.

[0045] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 3], the PE wall can comprise two second zones Z2, generally rectangular in shape and perpendicular to each other, together defining a cross shape. This advantageously allows for the object to be securely held in place in two perpendicular orientations. It will be understood that the two second zones Z2 share a common central portion and can be considered as together defining a third zone with a cross shape (particularly when it is made of the second material (insert or injection)). A portrait or landscape orientation can thus be chosen.

[0046] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, the (each) first zone Z1 may comprise, at the interface with the second zone Z2 associated, at least one recess RD which allows partial housing of a fingertip of the user for the purpose of extracting the object from this second zone Z2. This makes it easier to remove the object from a second zone Z2.

[0047] It should also be noted, although not shown in the figures, that the ES equipment (or its PE wall) may optionally include a device enabling the object installed in a second zone Z2 to be recharged. Such a device may, for example, be an inductive charging device installed behind (or in) the PE wall or behind a second zone Z2 and connected to a power supply network of the system S (for example, the on-board network of a vehicle). Alternatively, this device may, for example, be a USB port connector (“Universal Serial Bus”) housed in a first zone ZI and opening into an associated second zone Z2 so as to allow its coupling to the corresponding connector of the object. This variant is usable when the second zone Z2 is empty (without a second material).

Claims

Demands

1. Equipment (ES) suitable for being part of a system (S) and comprising at least one wall (PE), characterized in that said wall (PE) comprises at least a first zone (Z1) made of a first material having a first elasticity chosen and comprising at least a second zone (Z2) having a shape homologous to a shape of an object with at least one dimension, chosen from a width and a height, less than a dimension of said object, so as to allow for the forced housing of said object and its retention by compression along said dimension by said first material, said wall (PE) comprising two second zones (Z2) of generally rectangular shape, perpendicular to each other and together defining a cross shape in order to allow for the forced housing of said object along two orientations perpendicular to each other.

2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said first zone (Zl) is an integral part of said wall (PE).

3. Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said wall (PE) comprises at least one first housing (Ll) delimiting a reception space for said first zone (Zl).

4. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said second zone (Z2) is made of a second material having a second elasticity chosen and greater than said first elasticity in order to allow indentation when said object is forcibly housed.

5. Equipment according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, characterized in that said second zone (Z2) is an integral part of said wall (PE).

6. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said first zone (Z1) comprises at least one second dwelling (L2) delimiting a reception area for said second zone (Z2).

7. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said first zone (Z1) includes at the interface with said second zone (Z2) at least one recess (RD) allowing partial housing of a user's finger end for the purpose of extracting said object from said second zone (Z2).

8. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it constitutes a dashboard of a system constituting a vehicle.

9. System (S), characterized in that it comprises at least one piece of equipment (ES) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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