Motor vehicle center console.

Abstract

The invention relates to a central console (1) for a motor vehicle designed to occupy the space between two front seats of the vehicle, comprising a lower part (2) delimited by two lateral flanges (3) and a rear wall connecting the two flanges (3), the two flanges (3) being designed to extend between a dashboard (5) of the vehicle and the rear wall, the lower part (2) defining a storage volume (7) dimensioned to accommodate at least one cup holder (8), the console (1) further comprising an upper arch (10) designed to extend from the rear wall, above the lower part (2), when the console (1) is installed in a vehicle, and at a distance from the lateral flanges (3) to the dashboard (5), the arch (10) defining with at least one flange (3) at least one opening (11) allowing a cup (12), with its contents, to be inserted into the storage volume (7). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Central console of a motor vehicle.

[0001] The technical field concerns motor vehicle center consoles and vehicles equipped with such 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 users of a vehicle.

[0003] Generally, consoles comprise a body provided with covers for accessing a receptacle provided in the body, as well as an armrest articulated in rotation on the body around an adjustment axis, so as to be able to take several stable positions 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 into a position that is uncomfortable for the passenger or driver. Thus, the use of a cup holder is restrictive, uncomfortable and detracts from the aesthetics of the passenger compartment.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a central console allowing the use of a cup holder without degrading the comfort and / or aesthetics of the vehicle interior.

[0006] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a central console for a motor vehicle designed to occupy the space between two front seats of a motor vehicle, comprising a lower part delimited by two side plates and a rear wall connecting the two plates, the two plates being designed to extend between a dashboard of the vehicle and the rear wall, the lower part defining a storage volume sized to accommodate at least one cup holder, the console further comprising an upper arch designed to extend from the rear wall, above the lower part, when the console is installed in a vehicle, and at a distance from the side plates to the dashboard, the arch defining with at least one plate at least one lateral opening allowing a cup, with its contents, to be introduced into the storage volume.

[0007] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one central console according to the invention.

[0008] Thus, the central console according to the invention offers an innovative design, which satisfies the aesthetic expectations of customers and users of the vehicle according to the invention while offering the possibility of a cup holder which does not degrade the aesthetics and / or comfort of the passengers when a cup is placed in the cup holder. Indeed, the arch, which cannot be moved, frees up a lateral opening sufficient to allow a cup to be placed in the storage volume.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the arch moves away from the lower part towards the dashboard.

[0010] According to one possibility of the central console, the lower part has a sliding flap designed to close the storage volume.

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the upper arch widens from the dashboard towards the rear wall. This makes it possible to partially hide the opening from a passenger sitting in a front seat.

[0012] According to one possibility, the lower part has a width greater than that of the arch at the level of the dashboard.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the central console, the side plates form a flared storage volume opening towards each side opening. This makes it easier to insert a cup into the cup holder.

[0014] Advantageously, the storage volume also has a connection area allowing the connection of a mobile phone for recharging or data transfer.

[0015] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0016] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view from a vehicle seat of a central console according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a side view of a central console according to the invention;

[0018] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a top view of the lower part of the console of [Fig.2],

[0019] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0020] A central console 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to equip a motor vehicle according to the invention. The central console 1 is designed to occupy the space between two front seats of the motor vehicle.

[0021] The console 1 comprises a lower part 2, illustrated in [Fig. 3], delimited by two lateral flanges 3 and a rear wall 4 connecting the two flanges 3. The two flanges 3 are designed to extend between a dashboard 5 of the vehicle and the rear wall 4. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each flange 3 extends along a front seat. On each flange 3 decorative elements 6 are advantageously fixed in order to improve the visual appearance of the vehicle.

[0022] The lower part 2 defines a storage volume 7 sized to accommodate at least one cup holder 8, in this case two cup holders 8 illustrated in [Fig. 3]. Advantageously, each cup holder 8 is arranged on a removable plate 9 designed to be removed from the storage volume 7 in order to allow the user to access additional storage, not illustrated, arranged under the plate 9.

[0023] The console 1 further comprises an upper arch 10 designed to extend from the rear wall 4, above the lower part 2, when the console 1 is installed in a vehicle, and at a distance from the side plates 3 to the dashboard 5. The arch 10 defines with at least one plate 3, in this case with each plate 3, at least one lateral opening 11 allowing a cup 12, with its contents, to be inserted and extracted into the storage volume 7 or even the introduction of a can, not illustrated. By cup, it is understood an open container capable of containing a liquid to be drunk, generally taller than wide, of cylindrical or slightly flared shape, ordinarily without handle and without foot, with a capacity of the order of 25 to 50 cl. A can is a closed metal box containing a drink, with a capacity of between 15 cl and 50 cl.It is obvious that the introduction of the cup 12 must allow the contents to remain in the cup 12, when the latter is filled nominally. In other words, the introduction of the cup 12 through the opening 11 is possible by limiting the inclination of the cup 12 to a few degrees. For example, when the central console 1 is installed in a vehicle, the introduction of a cup 12 with a capacity of 50 cl is possible by limiting the inclination of the cup 12, measured by the angle formed between its central axis and the vertical axis, to 25° maximum, preferably 15° maximum.

[0024] In order to facilitate the introduction of the cup 12 through the opening 11, the lateral flanges 3 are shaped to give the volume 7 a flared shape opening towards each opening 11.

[0025] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the arch 10 widens from the dashboard 5 towards the rear wall 4. Thus, the storage volume 7 makes it possible to accommodate the cup 12 in the cup holder 8 in a vertical position, so that the cup 12 is at a distance from the arch 10. For this purpose, the distance between the arch 10 and the lower part 2, directly above the cup holder 8, is of the order of 20 cm, that is to say greater than the average height of a cup 12.

[0026] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, in particular figures 1 and 2, the lower part 2 has a width greater than that of the arch 10 at the level of the dashboard 5. This makes it easier to insert the cup 12.

[0027] Finally, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the arch 10 moves away from the lower part 2 in the direction of the dashboard 5. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the arch 10 is inclined vertically so that its end fixed to the dashboard 5 is at a height, measured relative to a floor 13 of the vehicle according to the invention, greater than that of the part of the arch 10 fixed to the rear wall 4.

[0028] Advantageously, the lower part 2 comprises a sliding flap 14 designed to close the storage volume 7.

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the storage volume 7 also has a connection area 15 allowing the connection of a mobile phone for the purpose of recharging it or transferring data. In this case, the connection area 15 has a plurality of so-called USB sockets 16.

[0030] Finally, the storage volume 7 can accommodate one or more areas 17 for placing objects distributed around each cup holder 8. Furthermore, in the vehicle according to the invention, the console 1 can be extended by a rear storage body 18, illustrated in [Fig.2], extending beyond the rear wall 4 towards the rear of the vehicle.

[0031] Thus, the central console 1 according to the invention offers an innovative design, which satisfies the aesthetic expectations of customers and users of the vehicle according to the invention while offering the possibility of a cup holder 8 which preserves the aesthetics and / or comfort of the passengers when a cup 12 is placed in the cup holder 8. Indeed, the arch 10, which cannot be moved, frees up a lateral opening 11 sufficient to allow a cup 12 to be placed in the storage volume 7.

[0032] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the central console 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. Central console (1) for a motor vehicle designed to occupy the space between two front seats of a motor vehicle, comprising a lower part (2) delimited by two side flanges (3) and a rear wall (4) connecting the two flanges (3), the two flanges (3) being designed to extend between a dashboard (5) of the vehicle and the rear wall (4), the lower part (2) defining a storage volume (7) sized to accommodate at least one cup holder (8), the console (1) further comprising an upper arch (10) designed to extend from the rear wall (4), above the lower part (2), when the console (1) is installed in a vehicle, and at a distance from the side flanges (3) to the dashboard (5), the arch (10) defining with at least one flange (3) at least one lateral opening (11) allowing a cup (12) to be inserted, with its content, in the storage volume.

2. Central console (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arch (10) moves away from the lower part (2) in the direction of the dashboard (5).

3. Central console (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower part (2) comprises a sliding flap (14) designed to close the storage volume (7).

4. Central console (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper arch (10) widens from the dashboard (5) towards the rear wall (4).

5. Central console (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower part (2) has a width greater than that of the arch (10) at the level of the dashboard (5).

6. Central console (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lateral flanges (3) form a flared storage volume (7) opening towards each lateral opening (11).

7. Central console (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the storage volume (7) also has a connection zone (15) allowing the connection of a mobile telephone for the purpose of recharging it or transferring data.

8. Motor vehicle comprising at least one central console (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7.

Images