Dashboard frames and components.

Abstract

The invention relates to a frame (1) for a dashboard of a motor vehicle designed to allow the assembly of a central console on the dashboard, the frame (1) comprising first fixing means (7), designed to allow the fixing of the frame (1) to a support of the dashboard, and second fixing means (8), designed to allow the fixing of the central console to the frame (1), the frame (1) further comprising at least one opening (10), each designed to be arranged opposite a clipping orifice provided in the support, when the frame (1) is fixed on the support, to allow the fixing of a facade on the support and the frame (1). The invention also relates to a facade and a support forming a structure and a dashboard. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Dashboard frames and components.

[0001] The technical field concerns the frames, supports and dashboard fronts for producing a dashboard, as well as the vehicles equipped with such dashboards.

[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] In this context, an innovative central console is proposed, forming an arch connecting the dashboard to a central armrest and which frees up storage space under the arch in order, for example, to allow the use of a cup holder without degrading the comfort and / or the aesthetics of the vehicle interior. This new concept of central console requires a specific frame making it possible to secure the console to the dashboard. However, the presence of such a frame at the dashboard level poses problems related to the finishing of the dashboard. In particular, it is necessary to be able to fix a trim panel capable of masking the frame and this panel must be of reduced dimensions to comply with the style constraints.Furthermore, car manufacturers know how to predict the behavior of the various trim elements of a passenger compartment as they age and have established rules of good practice to be followed to ensure adequate resistance to aging. These good practices require, in particular, fixing points for trim elements with a maximum spacing between two fixing points. In addition, it is desirable that a trim element be fixed to one or two other parts at most.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution making it possible to offer an innovative central console, in the form of an arch connected to a dashboard, free from visual defects with a front panel of reduced dimensions and nevertheless respecting the rules of good practice, capable of resisting aging.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, an aim of the present invention is to provide a frame, a support on which the frame is fixed and a front panel capable of masking the frame to form an innovative dashboard free from visual defects.

[0008] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a frame for a dashboard of a motor vehicle designed to allow the assembly of a central console on the dashboard, the frame comprising first fixing means, designed to allow the fixing of the frame to a support of the dashboard, and second fixing means, designed to allow the fixing of the central console to the frame, the frame further comprising at least one opening, each designed to be arranged opposite a clipping orifice provided in the support, when the frame is fixed on the support, to allow the fixing of a facade on the support and the frame.

[0009] The invention also relates to a dashboard structure comprising a dashboard support and a frame according to the invention, fixed to the support using the first fixing means, the structure comprising at least one clipping orifice provided in the support, arranged opposite an opening in the frame, to allow the fixing of a facade to the support and the frame.

[0010] The invention also relates to a dashboard front panel designed to be fixed to a dashboard structure according to the invention to form a dashboard, the front panel comprising a fixing interface designed to allow the front panel to be fixed to the frame and the support by cooperating with at least one opening and one orifice of the dashboard structure.

[0011] The invention further relates to a dashboard comprising a dashboard structure according to the invention and a front panel according to the invention, fixed to the dashboard structure, the frame being hidden by the front panel.

[0012] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a dashboard according to the invention.

[0013] Thus, the frame and the support according to the invention make it possible to form a dashboard structure according to the invention capable of fixing the central console to the dashboard using the first and second fixing means. The structure is then capable of receiving a facade according to the invention to mask the frame. The fixing of the facade is made possible on the support thanks to each opening provided in the frame. Thus, each opening makes it possible to increase the fixing possibilities of a facade by controlling the maximum interval. Thus, the frame, the structure and the facade allow to obtain an innovative dashboard that respects the rules of good practice in terms of aesthetics and resistance to aging.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the structure, it comprises a fixing clip held between the support and the frame, the fixing clip being partly introduced into a clipping orifice and designed to allow the clipping of a fixing lug through the opening and into the clipping orifice.

[0015] According to one possibility of the facade, the fixing interface comprises at least one fixing tab forming a hook.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the facade, it further comprises guide means designed to guide the positioning of the facade on the dashboard structure by cooperating with complementary guide means provided on the structure.

[0017] Advantageously, the facade fixing interface further comprises additional fixing means designed to allow the facade to be fixed to the support, outside the frame. Thus, the additional means allow the facade to be fixed to the support, outside the frame.

[0018] 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:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a partial perspective view of a frame according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a board structure of edge according to the invention obtained using a dashboard support and the frame of [Fig.l], as well as the facade according to the invention before its assembly;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a view of a fixing interface of a facade according to the invention;

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a cross-sectional view of a dashboard according to the invention.

[0023] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0024] A frame 1 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 1], is designed to form, with a dashboard support 2 according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, a dashboard structure 3 of a motor vehicle, illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The structure 3 makes it possible to form, with a front panel 4, illustrated in [Fig. 3], a dashboard 5 illustrated in [Fig. 4].

[0025] The frame 1 is designed to allow the assembly of a central console 6, partially illustrated in [Fig.2], on the dashboard 5. For this purpose, the frame 1 comprises first fixing means 7, designed to allow the fixing of the frame 1 to the support 2 of the dashboard 5 and second fixing means 8, designed to allow the fixing of the central console 6 to the frame 1. In the example illustrated in the figures, the first fixing means 7 comprise fixing screws 9 allowing the screwing of the frame 1 into the support 2. The first 7 and second 8 fixing means are arranged respectively on two planes inclined relative to each other.

[0026] The frame 1 further comprises at least one opening 10, each designed to be arranged opposite a clipping orifice 11 provided in the support 2, when the frame 1 is fixed to the support 2. Each opening 10 allows the facade 4 to be fixed to the support 2 and the frame 1.

[0027] The front panel 4, for its part, extends between an external face 12, forming the face visible to a passenger of the vehicle of the dashboard 5, and an internal face 13, opposite the external face 12 and invisible when the front panel 4 is mounted on the structure 3. The front panel 4 comprises a fixing interface 14, projecting from the internal face 13 and designed to allow the fixing of the front panel 4 on the frame 1 and the support 2 by cooperating with at least one opening 10. In the example illustrated in the figures, the fixing interface 14 comprises at least one fixing lug 15 forming a hook.

[0028] The dashboard structure 3 according to the invention comprises the dashboard support 2 and the frame 1, fixed to the support using the first fixing means 7. The structure 3 comprises at least one clipping orifice 11 formed in the support 2 and arranged opposite an opening 10 of the frame 1, to allow the front panel 4 to be fixed to the support 2 and the frame 1. Thus, the fixing interface 14 of the front panel 4 also cooperates with the orifice 11 arranged opposite the opening 10, when fixing the front panel 4. In order to fix the front panel 4, the structure 3 comprises a fixing clip 16, illustrated in [Fig. 4], held between the support 2 and the frame 1. In the structure 1, the clip 16 is partly introduced into a clipping orifice 11 and is designed to receive a fixing lug 15 of the facade 4 in order to allow the latter to be clipped through the opening 10 and the clipping orifice 11.The clip 16 is, for example, made of a stamped metal sheet. The fixing by the fixing clip 16 is obtained by an elastic deformation of the clip 16 during the introduction of the fixing tab 15 into the fixing clip 16.

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the Facade 4 further comprises guide means 17 designed to guide the positioning of the facade 4 on the dashboard structure 3 by cooperating with complementary guide means 18 arranged on the structure 3. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 3], the guide means 17 comprise, for example, a plurality of pins 19 having a cross section in the form of a cross. The complementary guide means 18 comprise, for their part, at least one guide slot 20, each shaped to cooperate with a pin 19. Thus, a pin 19 inserted into a corresponding guide slot 20 makes it possible to constrain the movements of the facade 4.

[0030] The fixing interface 14 of the facade 4 further comprises additional fixing means 21 designed to allow the fixing of the facade 4 on the support 2, outside the frame 1. Such additional means 21 comprise, for example, at least one fixing lug 15 arranged in an area of ​​the support 3 distant from the frame 1 fixed on the support 3, when the facade 4 is fixed on the support 3.

[0031] Finally, the dashboard 5 comprises the dashboard structure 3 and a facade 4 fixed to the structure 3 so that the frame 1 is masked by the facade 4.

[0032] Thus, the frame 1 and the support 2 according to the invention make it possible to form the structure 3 according to the invention capable of fixing the central console 6 to the dashboard 5 thanks to the first 7 and second fixing means 8. The structure 3 is then capable of receiving the front panel 4 to mask the frame 1. The fixing of the front panel 4 is made possible on the support 3 thanks to each opening 10 provided in the frame 1. Thus, each opening 10 makes it possible to increase the possibilities of fixing the front panel 4 by controlling the maximum interval between two fixing points. Thus, the frame 1, the structure 3 and the front panel 4 make it possible to obtain an innovative dashboard 5 which complies with the rules of good practice in terms of aesthetics and resistance to aging.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the frame, the support and / or the facade described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the framework and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Frame (1) for a dashboard (5) of a motor vehicle designed to allow the assembly of a central console (6) on the dashboard (5), the frame (1) comprising first fixing means (7), designed to allow the fixing of the frame (1) to a support (2) of the dashboard (5), and second fixing means (8), designed to allow the fixing of the central console (6) to the frame (1), the frame (1) further comprising at least one opening (10), each designed to be arranged opposite a clipping orifice (11) formed in the support (2), when the frame (1) is fixed on the support (2), to allow the fixing of a facade (4) on the support (2) and the frame (1).

2. Dashboard structure (3) comprising a dashboard support (2) and a frame (1) according to claim 1, fixed to the support (2) using the first fixing means (7), the structure (1) comprising at least one clipping orifice (11) formed in the support (2), arranged opposite an opening (10) of the frame (1), to allow the fixing of a facade (4) on the support (2) and the frame (1).

3. Dashboard structure (3) according to claim 2, characterized in that the structure (3) comprises a fixing clip (16) held between the support (2) and the frame (1), the fixing clip (16) being partly introduced into a clipping orifice (11) and designed to allow the clipping of a fixing lug (15) through the opening (10) and into the clipping orifice (11).

4. A dashboard fascia (4) designed to be attached to a dashboard structure (3) according to claim 2 or 3 to form a dashboard (5), the fascia (4) comprising a fixing interface (14) designed to allow the fascia (4) to be attached to the frame (1) and the support (2) by cooperating with at least one opening (10) and one orifice (11) of the dashboard structure (3).

5. Facade (4) according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing interface (14) comprises at least one fixing lug (15) forming a hook.

6. Facade (4) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it further comprises guide means (17) designed to guide the positioning of the facade (4) on the dashboard structure (3) by cooperating with complementary guide means (17) arranged on the structure (3).

7. Facade (4) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the fixing interface (14) of the facade (4) further comprises additional fixing means (20) designed to allow the fixing of the facade (4) on the support (2), outside the frame (1).

8. Dashboard (5) comprising a dashboard structure (1) according to claim 2 or 3 and a facade (4) according to one of claims 4 to 7, fixed to the dashboard structure (3), the frame (1) being masked by the facade (4).

9. Motor vehicle having a dashboard (5) according to claim 8.

Images