INDUCTIVE SMARTPHONE CHARGER NEAR A MOTOR VEHICLE DASHBOARD

Abstract

INDUCTION SMARTPHONE CHARGER CLOSE TO A MOTOR VEHICLE DASHBOARD The present invention relates to a front central console (8) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising: - an upper control panel (16), intended to extend towards the front and towards the top of the motor vehicle, and to be connected to a dashboard (6) of said motor vehicle, remarkable in that said front central console further comprises: - a frame (14) forming at a front end (16.1) of the upper control panel a box (14.1) receiving an induction smartphone charger (18), said box comprising at least one front opening straddling a lower wall (14.2) and a side wall (14.7) of the box. (Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: SMARTPHONE CHARGER BY INDUCTION CLOSE TO A MOTOR VEHICLE DASHBOARD Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly the field of the passenger compartment of motor vehicles. Prior art

[0002] Conventionally, stylistic constraints often dictate the configuration and arrangement of storage spaces in the passenger compartment of motor vehicles. One of the current trends in the design of certain modern motor vehicles is the use of upwardly inclined central consoles, creating a cockpit effect in the passenger compartment, which is appreciated by motorists.

[0003] However, this type of central console generally has the disadvantage of being bulky and compromising ease of access to the various storage spaces in the passenger compartment. In addition, the ergonomics of use of the electronic equipment that can be arranged on said console is also often compromised.

[0004] Published patent document JP 2013237286 A discloses a front center console of a motor vehicle, extending longitudinally forward and upward to join an upper portion of the dashboard of said motor vehicle, the center console comprising control means arranged in line with holes passing entirely through a thickness of said console.

[0005] However, the architecture and layout of the central console proposed by the document do not make it possible to effectively overcome the drawbacks cited above, thus the solution disclosed by the document presents a margin for improvement in order to optimize the ergonomics of use and maximize the storage space. Statement of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a simple and economical solution making it possible to improve the ergonomics of use of the electronic equipment of the motor vehicle, while ensuring ease of access to the storage spaces in the passenger compartment.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a front central console for a motor vehicle, comprising: - an upper control panel, intended to extend forward and upward of the motor vehicle, and to be connected to a dashboard of said vehicle at the motor vehicle, characterized in that said front center console further comprises: - a framework forming, at a front end of the upper control panel, a housing for receiving a smartphone induction charger, said housing comprising at least one front opening straddling a lower wall and a side wall of the housing.

[0008] Advantageously, the smartphone induction charger is parallelepipedal and comprises at least one lower edge occupying the at least one front opening.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the at least one front opening comprises at least two front openings respectively disposed on a left side wall and / or on a right side wall of the housing.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the at least one front opening is adjacent to a front wall of the box.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the frame comprises positioning openings on the lower wall of the box, crossed by lugs extending from a lower face of the induction smartphone charger.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the frame comprises at least one cooling opening on the lower wall of the box.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the frame comprises at least one rear opening on the lower wall of the box, crossed by an electrical connection cable of the induction smartphone charger.

[0014] According to one embodiment, said central console further comprising: - an upper trim arranged above the frame and comprising a lowered smartphone reception area above the induction smartphone charger; and - a lower trim placed below the frame.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the frame comprises reinforcing ribs extending between an outer face of the box and an upper peripheral contour of said frame, said upper peripheral contour forming an upper edge for bearing the trims against said frame.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a dashboard; - a central armrest forming a rear console; - a front central console connecting the central armrest to the dashboard; remarkable in that said front central console is according to the invention.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the front central console comprises a longitudinal V-shaped section comprising an upper part and a lower part which are both directly fixed to the dashboard at two separate fixing points, said upper part comprising the upper control panel.

[0018] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that the arrangement of the charger in the box of the frame of the front central console makes it possible to minimize the size of the latter in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, by minimizing the size of said front central console at a front end of the upper control panel, and this while bringing the induction smartphone charger closer to the dashboard in order to improve the ergonomics of its use by the occupant.

[0019] The various openings in the box cooperating with the shapes of the induction smartphone charger make it possible to locally minimize the thickness of the frame of the upper control panel in order to free up sufficient space under the charger to facilitate access to various storage spaces in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a front central console according to the invention, fixed to a dashboard of said motor vehicle;

[0021] [Fig.2] represents a sectional view along the axis AA passing longitudinally an upper control panel of the front central console of [Fig.l], which includes an induction smartphone charger close to the dashboard;

[0022] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a fixing frame of the console central front to the dashboard, said frame comprising a box intended to receive the induction smartphone charger;

[0023] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of the frame showing an exterior face of the box crossed by lugs of the induction smartphone charger. Detailed description

[0024] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a passenger compartment 4 of a motor vehicle 2 comprising a front central console 8 according to the invention.

[0025] The motor vehicle 2 comprises a dashboard 6 and a central armrest 12 at a rear portion of the front central console 8, thus forming a rear console. The vehicle 2 also comprises an upper control panel 16 arranged downstream of a hand rest 10, said panel 16 allowing the occupants of the vehicle to control, among other things, an infotainment device (not shown) which may be arranged at the dashboard 6. In this regard, the upper control panel 16 may comprise a touch-sensitive area.

[0026] Preferably, the hand rest 10 is arranged downstream of the central armrest 12 in an intermediate position between the dashboard 6 and said central armrest 12, so as to receive the palm of a hand of an occupant of the motor vehicle 2 when the central armrest 12 receives an elbow of the occupant.

[0027] The front central console 8 comprises a longitudinal V-shaped section comprising an upper part 16 (corresponding to the upper control panel) and a lower part 11 which are both directly fixed to the dashboard 6 at two separate fixing points 16.1 and 11.1.

[0028] The upper control panel 16 extends towards the front and upwards of the motor vehicle up to the connection of the latter to the dashboard 6. In this respect, said panel 16 comprises a fixing frame (not visible in [Fig.l]) on which are fixed, preferably by clipping, upper 16.2 and lower 16.3 trims of the upper control panel 16. The frame being fixed, preferably by screwing, to the dashboard 6.

[0029] The upper part 16 and the lower part 11 of the front central console 8 have a transverse recess 13 crossing the central console 8 in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle 2, and the lower part 11 preferably forms a flared profile towards the dashboard 6, and comprises different storage spaces, including cup holders 15 opening into the transverse recess 13.

[0030] The upper control panel 16 preferably comprises an induction smartphone charger 18 arranged as close as possible to a front end 16.1 of said panel 16. Such an arrangement of the charger, also close to the dashboard 6, makes it possible to improve the ergonomics of use of said charger 18 by the occupant of the motor vehicle 2.

[0031] In this configuration, and in order to facilitate access to the storage spaces and the cup holders 15 at the level of the transverse recess 13, the upper part 16 of the front central console 8 must be as thin as possible so as to free up sufficient space under the charger in order to facilitate access to the cup holders 15.

[0032] Advantageously, the front central console 8 of the invention proposes an arrangement of the charger 18 in the frame which makes it possible to ensure a local thickness E at the front end 16.1 of the upper control panel 16, which is as small as possible.

[0033] The design of the fixing frame as well as the arrangement of the induction smartphone charger in the latter will be detailed in depth in this description.

[0034] [Fig.2] represents a sectional view along the axis AA passing longitudinally through the upper control panel 16 of [Fig.1].

[0035] The induction smartphone charger 18 can be seen arranged within the frame 14 in a dedicated box 14.1. Advantageously, the design of the box 14.1 makes it possible to minimize the size of the upper control panel 16 as much as possible. to the right of its end 16.1, which makes it possible to free up sufficient space below at the level of the transverse recess 13 to facilitate access to the storage spaces, while bringing the charger 18 closer to the dashboard 6 to make its use more ergonomic for the occupant of the motor vehicle 2.

[0036] In this regard, the box 14.1 comprises a lower wall 14.2 on which is positioned a lower face 18.2 of the charger 18 advantageously comprising lugs 18.3 extending from said lower face 18.2 and passing through corresponding positioning openings 14.3 on the lower wall 14.2.

[0037] Preferably, the upper trim 16.2 comprises a lowered zone 16.4 for receiving the smartphone above the charger 18, said zone 16.4 being able to receive a mat or a wall for receiving the smartphone.

[0038] Advantageously, the lugs 18.3 make it possible to ensure positioning of the charger 18 in the box 14.1, and at least two clips (not shown), and more preferably four clips arranged on the lateral faces of the charger 18 make it possible to ensure that said charger 18 is held in position in the frame 14.

[0039] The box 14.1 further comprises other openings making it possible to ensure optimization of the space receiving the charger 18, in particular by ensuring compensation and adaptation to the shapes of said charger 18, while maintaining suitable rigidity of the assembly. These openings are better visible in Figures 3 and 4.

[0040] In this configuration, the charger 18 comprises a front end 18.1 arranged at most 20 mm from the dashboard 6, in particular relative to the corresponding fixing point 16.1. While the upper control panel 16 comprises a longitudinal section narrowing towards the dashboard 6, with the trims 16.2 and 16.3 which preferably have two profiles converging towards the fixing point 16.1 corresponding to the dashboard 6.

[0041] Advantageously, the local thickness E of the upper control panel 16 presented in a direction that is substantially vertical or inclined at most 30° relative to the vertical, between the two trims 16.2, 16.3 and at the end 18.1 of the charger 18, is equal to at most 40% more than a thickness e of said end 18.1 of the smartphone charger 18.

[0042] Preferably, the local thickness E is equal to at most 50 mm, and more preferably to approximately 45 mm. While the thickness e of the charger 18 corresponds to approximately 30 mm (including the lug 18.3).

[0043] [Fig. 3] represents a perspective view of the box 14.1 of the frame 14, the latter advantageously comprising one or more front openings 14.4 arranged longitudinally on a front half of the box 14.1.

[0044] Preferably, each front opening 14.4 straddles the lower wall 14.2 and one of the left 14.5 or right 14.6 side walls of the box 14.1. This confi guration advantageously makes it possible to compensate for protruding edges which may extend from the charger 18 in order to submerge the latter at the front openings 14.4.

[0045] Preferably, the box 14.1 is provided with four front openings 14.4, two of which straddle the lower wall 14.2 and the left side wall 14.5, and two others on the lower wall 14.2 and the right side wall 14.6. One opening 14.4 among each pair of openings 14.4 is located at a corresponding front corner of the box 14.1, adjacent to a front wall 14.7 of said box 14.1.

[0046] It can be seen in [Fig.3] that the frame 14 comprises at its front end a plate 19 for fixing to the dashboard, by means of fixing screws 20 passing through ears 19.1.

[0047] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of the frame 14 showing an outer face 14.8 of the box 14.1.

[0048] The front openings 14.4 also include a front opening 14.4 straddling the lower wall 14.2 and the front wall 14.7.

[0049] The protruding edges 18.4 of the charger 18 are visible through the front openings 14.4, this allows a few millimeters to be saved and thus the size of the upper control panel in the passenger compartment to be reduced as much as possible.

[0050] Preferably, the box 14.1 comprises cooling openings 14.9 on the lower wall 14.2 allowing the dissipation of the heat which can be released from the charger 18 and thus ensuring the ventilation needs of the latter. Said box 14.1 further comprises, on the lower wall 14.2, one or more rear openings 17 for the passage of at least one electric cable 18.5 of the charger 18.

[0051] The lower wall 14.2 preferably comprises an orifice 21 for fixing ambient lighting of the frame 14 and / or the transverse recess below the upper control panel.

[0052] The frame 14 comprises reinforcing ribs 23 extending from the outer face 14.8 of the box 14.1 and an upper peripheral contour 25 of said frame 14, said upper peripheral contour 25 forming an upper edge 25 for supporting the trims against the frame 14. For this purpose, clipping means 22 and 24 are mounted on the upper edge 25 and allow the respective fixing of the lower trim and the upper trim.

[0053] Advantageously, the arrangement of the charger 18 in the frame 14 of the front central console of the invention makes it possible to minimize the size of the latter in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, while maintaining a rigidity allowing it to withstand stresses which may exceed 40 DaN in the vertical direction and 25 DaN in the transverse direction.

Claims

Claims

1. Front central console (8) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising: - an upper control panel (16), intended to extend forward and upward of the motor vehicle (2), and to be connected to a dashboard (6) of said motor vehicle (2), characterized in that said front central console (8) further comprises: - a frame (14) forming, at a front end (16.1) of the upper control panel (16), a box (14.1) receiving an induction smartphone charger (18), said box (14.1) comprising at least one front opening (14.4) straddling a lower wall (14.2) and a side wall (14.5, 14.6, 14.7) of the box (14.1).

2. Central console (8) according to claim 1, in which the at least one front opening (14.4) comprises at least two front openings (14.4) arranged respectively on a left side wall (14.5) and / or on a right side wall (14.6) of the box (14.1).

3. Central console (8) according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the at least one front opening (14.4) is adjacent to a front wall (14.7) of the box (14.1).

4. Central console (8) according to one of claims 1 and 3, in which the frame (14) comprises positioning openings (14.3) on the lower wall (14.2) of the box (14.1), crossed by lugs (18.3) extending from a lower face (18.2) of the induction smartphone charger (18).

5. Central console (8) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the frame (14) comprises at least one cooling opening (14.9) on the lower wall (14.2) of the box (14.1).

6. Central console (8) according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the frame (14) comprises at least one rear opening (17) on the lower wall (14.2) of the box (14.1), crossed by an electrical connection cable (18.5) of the induction smartphone charger (18).

7. Central console (8) according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: - an upper trim (16.2) arranged above the frame (14) and comprising a lowered area (16.4) for receiving the smartphone above the induction smartphone charger (18); and - a lower trim (16.3) arranged below the frame (14).

8. Central console (8) according to claim 7, wherein the frame (14) comprises reinforcing ribs (23) extending between an outer face (14.8) of the housing (14.1) and an upper peripheral contour (25) of said frame (14), said upper peripheral contour (25) forming an upper support edge for the trims (16.2, 16.3) against said frame (14).

9. Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a dashboard (6); - a central armrest (12) forming a rear console; - a front central console (8) connecting the central armrest (12) to the dashboard (6); characterized in that said front central console (8) is according to one of claims 1 to Q

10. O. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 9, wherein the front central console (8) comprises a longitudinal V-shaped section comprising an upper part (16) and a lower part (11) which are both directly fixed to the dashboard (6) at two separate fixing points (16.1, 11.1), said upper part (16) comprising the upper control panel (16).

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