Console fitted for motor vehicle

Abstract

Vehicle console (C) comprising a body which comprises an arrangement comprising a cavity (1) made in a free part of said console body and opening towards the outside of said console body, and a connection zone (10), which is located at the bottom of said cavity (1), comprising at least one first connector (11), and which is delimited by a circular-shaped wall (100) provided with a plurality of locking elements (101, 102, 103, 104), said first connector (11) being secured to one of said locking elements (101), and said connection zone (10) being capable of receiving a functional module provided with a connector complementary to said first connector (11) and another plurality of locking elements complementary to said locking elements of said connection zone of the console, said complementary connector being secured to one of the locking elements of said other plurality of complementary locking elements,so that said connection area (10) of the console and said functional module connect and lock together. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Console fitted for a motor vehicle

[0001] The invention relates to a console for a motor vehicle comprising a connection cavity including a connector and capable of receiving a functional module including a connector complementary to the connector of the console for connecting thereto. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising said console and a functional module capable of connecting thereto.

[0002] Most motor vehicle consoles, particularly the central consoles between two row 1 seats, have access to the upper part, but the lower parts are very little used, the passage of the air ducts internally as well as the movement of the front seats limit the opportunities. The console in the lower part is used as a cover for technical components, particularly various ducts and the dashboard crossbar support stand.

[0003] The aim of the invention is to propose an arrangement of a console, suitable for various types of console, even for consoles incorporating a cover for technical components.

[0004] To this end, the invention provides a vehicle console comprising a body which includes an arrangement comprising: - a cavity made in a free part of said console body and opening towards the outside of said console body, and - a connection zone, which is located at the bottom of said cavity, comprising at least a first connector, and which is delimited by a circular-shaped wall provided with a plurality of elongated locking elements comprising hollow and raised parts, arranged spaced apart from each other and along the circumferential surface of said circular-shaped wall, said first connector being secured to one of said locking elements. Said connection zone is capable of receiving a functional module provided with a connector complementary to said first connector and another plurality of elongated locking elements comprising hollow and raised parts, complementary to said locking elements of said connection zone of the console, said complementary connector being secured to one of the locking elements of said other plurality of complementary locking elements,so that said connection area of ​​the console and said functional module connect and lock together by a translational movement in order to match their respective locking elements then by a rotational movement to lock the locking elements matched together and that at the end of rotation said first connector and said respective complementary connector of the connection area of ​​the console and of the module connect together.

[0005] In particular, the console body is of elongated shape, in particular of generally parallelepipedal shape.

[0006] The circular-shaped wall may be a discontinuous circular-shaped wall with a generally self-enclosed shape. Preferably, it is of continuous circular shape.

[0007] Preferably, said first connector of the connection zone of the console is an electrical and / or data connector, in particular of the USB type, and more preferably of the USB-C type.

[0008] As a reminder, the USB field concerns the connection of computer peripherals to a host in accordance with the USB standard (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or, in French, “Bus Universel en Série”).

[0009] Advantageously, said first connector of the connection zone of the console is mounted, at one end of the cable, in a prismatic-shaped socket so that the base of the smaller dimensions of the prism is on the proximal side of the free end of said connector. This end is the free end of said first connector when the latter is not connected to the complementary connector of the module. The shape of the socket facilitates the connection between the connectors to be connected, in particular their guidance.

[0010] Preferably, said first connector of the connection zone of the console is mounted, at one end of the cable, in a sleeve made of flexible material. In particular, the sleeve is made of silicone. This flexibility facilitates the guiding of the connector.

[0011] Preferably, the socket is prismatic in shape and made of flexible material.

[0012] The term "sleeve" means the envelope which hides and protects the junction between an electrical and / or data transport cable and a connector itself.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said plurality of locking elements arranged spaced from each other and along the circumferential surface of said circular-shaped wall, is arranged along the inner circumferential surface of said circular-shaped wall.

[0014] Advantageously, said cavity opens laterally towards the outside of said console body. More particularly, the cavity is located in the lower part of the console. Such an arrangement is easy to access.

[0015] The invention also relates to a console-functional module assembly comprising a console as described above, and a functional module comprising a connection base provided with at least one connector complementary to the at least first connector of the connection zone, and provided with another plurality of locking elements of elongated shape comprising hollow and raised parts, complementary to the locking elements of said connection zone of the console, said complementary connector being secured to one of the locking elements. locking of said other plurality of locking elements. Said functional module connects and locks in said connection area of ​​the console by a translational movement in order to match said locking elements of said other plurality of locking elements with said locking elements of said connection area of ​​the console and then by a rotational movement following the circumference of the respective circular-shaped walls of the connection area of ​​the console and the connection base of the module, in order to lock the respective locking elements of the console and the module together and that at the end of rotation said first connector and said respective complementary connector of the connection area of ​​the console and the connection base of the module connect together.

[0016] Preferably, said first connector of the connection area of ​​the console is an electrical and / or data connector, in particular of the USB type, preferably of the USB-C type, and said complementary connector of the connection base of the functional module is an electrical and / or data connector, in particular of the USB type, preferably of the USB-C type. One is a male connector and the other a female connector.

[0017] Advantageously, said first connector of the connection zone of the console and said complementary connector of the connection base of the functional module are each mounted respectively in a socket of prismatic shape and / or of flexible material, and so that the base of smaller dimensions of the respective prism of each connector socket is on the side of the connection with the other connector. This facilitates the guiding of one connector towards the other during the rotational movement to connect them together.

[0018] Advantageously, one of the connectors is fixed in a hollow part of a locking element, the connection face of said connector being clear, and said hollow part being framed by at least a first face of a circular wall (of the connection zone of the console or of the connection base of the module) and a second face of a raised part of a locking element, opposite said first face, said first and second faces extending at least partially along the direction of the circumference of said circular-shaped wall of the connection zone of the console and / or of the connection base of the module and being spaced substantially parallel to each other, to form guiding faces of the other connector towards said connector fixed in said hollow part of a locking element. This thus facilitates the guiding of one connector towards the other during the rotational movement to connect them together.

[0019] In particular, the longest guide face is that of the circular wall, it is the main guide wall of the complementary connector towards said first connector thus fixed.

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a console or a console-functional module assembly as described above. In particular, said console is a central console located between two seats of the vehicle.

[0021] Advantageously, said first connector of the connection zone is connected to one end of a cable, the other end of which is connected to at least one electrical power supply of the vehicle, in particular to an electric battery of the vehicle.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of several particular embodiments of the invention, given for informational but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings in which

[0023] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a console for a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0024] [Fig.2] is a partial view of the arrangement of the console shown in [Fig. 1].

[0025] [Fig.3] is an enlarged view of a portion of [Fig.2].

[0026] [Fig.4] represents a protective element of the arrangement of the console shown in the previous figures.

[0027] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of an assembly comprising the console shown in [Fig.1] and the protective element of the arrangement of the console shown in [Fig.4], according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0028] [Fig.6A] is a perspective view of an assembly comprising the console shown in [Fig.1] and a functional light module according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0029] [Fig.6B] is a perspective view of the functional module of [Fig.6A].

[0030] [Fig.7A] is a perspective view of an assembly comprising the console re presented in [Fig.l] and an audio functional module according to another particular embodiment of the invention.

[0031] [Fig.7B] is a partial exploded, perspective view of the audio functional module of [Fig.7A].

[0032] [Fig. 1] represents a console for a motor vehicle comprising an elongated body, of generally parallelepiped shape, which comprises an arrangement forming a basic arrangement useful for different applications. This basic arrangement comprises a cavity made in a free part of said console body so that it opens laterally towards the outside of said console body. This basic arrangement further comprises a connection zone 10 made at the bottom of this cavity 1. The cavity is located in the lower part of the console.

[0033] Said connection zone 10 is delimited by a circular wall 100 forming a ring, and which is provided with a plurality of elongated locking elements comprising recessed and raised parts, as illustrated in [Fig.2], and which may be designated hereinafter as a set of locking notches. According to the example, said set of locking notches comprises four notches 101, 102, 103, 104, arranged spaced from each other and following the inner circumferential surface of the ring. A male connector 11 of the USB-C type is secured to one of said notches 101.

[0034] As explained in more detail below, said connection zone 10 is capable of receiving a mobile, preferably rechargeable, or otherwise “nomadic” functional module, such as for example those shown in Figures 6A-6B or Figures 7A-7B. Said functional module comprises a connection base comprising a female connector connecting to the male connector 11 of the connection zone 10 and another plurality of elongated locking elements comprising hollow and raised portions, of shapes complementary to said locking elements of said connection zone of the console. This other plurality of locking elements of the module may also be designated hereinafter as locking notches complementary to the locking notches of the connection zone 10.The respective locking elements of the console and the module are configured so as to fit together following a translational movement of the module towards the connection zone 10 and to lock together following a rotational movement of the module. One of the notches of the module houses the female connector and has a function of guiding the male connector, so as to connect them together at the end of rotation during locking.

[0035] With reference to Figures 4 and 5, said connection area 10 of the console, when it is not used to connect a functional module thereto, is protected by a protective cover 12 shown alone in [Fig.4]. Said protective cover 12 has a circular shape. It comprises a disc 125 covering the connection area 10 and supported by a base ring 120. Said ring 120 has a diameter smaller than that of the disc 125 of the protective cover and adapted to be inserted into the ring 100 of the connection area 10.Said crown 120 is provided with four external locking notches distributed along its circumference, of shapes complementary to the internal locking notches of the connection zone and arranged in such a way, after a translational movement of the protective cover to fit the notches of the connection zone 10 into those of the protective cover, to lock together by turning the base crown 120 of the protective cover 12 in the ring 100 of the connection zone 10. Only two locking notches 121, 122 of the protective cover 12 are visible in [Fig.4].

[0036] The cavity 1 can be further arranged by installing a cavity closing wall, of suitable shape, to retain objects in the cavity, allowing the use this cavity 1 as storage. This wall is, according to the example, a partial closing wall of the base of the cavity, in the form of a net 15 as shown in [Fig.5]. This closing wall is removable so that it can be removed to use the connection zone 10.

[0037] As indicated above, the connection area 10 can be used to connect a functional module thereto.

[0038] The male connector 11 comprises a plug 110 of the USB-C type which is connected to one end of a cable which is in particular electrically powered by the vehicle, the junction between the cable and the plug being surrounded by a socket 111. This socket 111 is rigidly fixed in the locking notch which is proximal to it 101. It has a prismatic shape with a rectangular base and is made of a flexible material, in particular silicone, so as to facilitate the adjustment of the connection of the male connector 11 with a female connector of a functional module. The USB plug connection portion 110 of the male connector 11 and the prismatically shaped socket 111 pass into the locking notch under the protruding portion of the inner wall of the ring 100 delimiting the locking notch, following an inner wall portion of the ring 100 of the connection area 10 to come out of the notch so that it is accessible.

[0039] With reference to Figures 6A and 6B, the connection zone 10 is capable of receiving a portable functional light module 13, which is a rechargeable lamp shown alone in [Fig.6B], according to a particular embodiment of a console-functional module assembly. This module 13 is generally cylindrical and comprises a connection base 130 comprising a female connector 135 comprising a USB socket into which the plug 110 of the male connector 11 of the connection zone 10 of the console can be connected. Said USB socket is mounted connected to one end of a cable, the junction between the cable and the socket being surrounded by a prismatic-shaped socket with a rectangular base and made of a flexible material, in particular silicone, so as to facilitate the adjustment of the connection of the female-male connectors. This cable is in particular connected to electric accumulators (also called “rechargeable batteries”).The face 1300 of the connection base 13 is housed in the connection zone 10 of the console when the module is fixed there, the opposite face 136 of the module being the visible face which lights up when the lamp is in operation.

[0040] Said connection base 130 of the module 13 comprises locking notches 131, 132, 133, 134 which are of complementary shapes to those of the locking notches of the connection zone 10 of the console so as to be matched to fit together when the base 130 of the module is turned in the ring 100 of the connection zone 10 of the console. One 131 of the locking notches of the module houses the female connector 135 which is fixed in the hollow part of said notch delimited on three faces by walls in relief relative to the bottom of the notch, the connection face of the socket of the female connector being clear. Two of the raised walls which delimit the hollow of the notch define on one side a first face 1311, that of the circular wall of the module, and a second face 1312, that of a raised part of the locking element. These two faces are substantially parallel to each other and follow the direction of the circumference of the cylindrical base of the module to form guide faces 1311, 1312 of the male connector 11 of the console, and more particularly the face of the circular wall which is the longest 1311, which facilitates its guidance for its connection to the female connector 135 of the module.The flexibility and prismatic shape of the sockets which envelop the cable-connector junctions, respective cables of the male 11 and female 135 connectors, facilitate the guiding of the male connector, in particular along the longest raised wall 1311, and therefore the guiding of that of its plug 110 towards the socket of the female connector 135 of the module. The base of smaller dimensions of the respective prism of each connector socket is on the side of the connection with the other connector, to form a “funnel” and thus facilitate the guiding of the connection between the connectors.

[0041] The module fits and locks by a translational movement (arrow Fl) followed by a rotational movement (arrow F2) in order to align its locking notches with those of the console and then lock them together, and at the end of rotation the male-female USB-C connectors connect together.

[0042] Once the lamp 13 is connected ([Fig.6A]), its rechargeable battery can be recharged from the vehicle's battery, when the vehicle is moving for example. The lamp can thus be used autonomously.

[0043] With reference to figures 7A and 7B, the connection zone 10 is capable of receiving a portable audio functional module 14, which is a rechargeable audio speaker shown alone in [Fig.7B], according to another particular embodiment of a console-functional module assembly.

[0044] This audio module 14 comprises a connection base 140, similar to the connection base 130 of the light module which has just been described, and connects to the connection zone 10 of the console also in a similar manner. This connection base 140 and its connection to the console will thus be described briefly. Said connection base 140 comprises four locking elements, called locking notches (only two 1401, 1404 being visible in [Fig.7B]), which are of shapes complementary to those of the locking notches of the connection zone 10. One of the locking notches 1401 houses a female connector 144 comprising a USB socket mounted at one end of a cable in a prismatic and flexible socket, made of silicone, and into which the plug 110 of the male connector 11 of the connection zone 10 of the console can be connected. The base of smaller dimensions of the respective prism of each connector socket is on the side of the connection with the other connector, to form a "funnel" and thus facilitate the guidance of the connection between the connectors.

[0045] As described for the previous lamp module, the audio module fits and locks by a translation-rotation movement in order to align its locking notches with those of the console and to lock them together, and at the end of rotation the male 11 - female 144 USB-C connectors connect and in particular allow the charging of the electric accumulators 142 located in the enclosure.

[0046] According to the example, the audio speaker comprises a closed horn 141 extending the connection base 140. The speaker is inserted into the cavity 1 of the console, however the horn does not touch the walls of the cavity so that the entire speaker can rotate along its connection base 140 when locking the locking notches and connecting the male-female connectors, which facilitates rotation of the module comprising a flared horn shape with a triangular tip.

[0047] Inside this horn 141 are the electric accumulators 142 and an exciter 143. In a manner known per se, the latter 143, which is arranged in contact with a wall forming a cover 1410 which closes the horn, transmits the sound by vibration of the material. It is the material in which the waves are transmitted which becomes the membrane. The exciter will vibrate the enclosure which transmits these vibrations to the console body via the locking notches, thus it is the entire console body which enters into resonance.

[0048] The speaker, once charged, can be used independently.

[0049] It can also double the audio system of the motor vehicle.

[0050] According to another example of application, this system can diffuse a second sound source in the vehicle. For example, the system can diffuse a sound similar to a thermal engine exhaust sound while the vehicle is electrically powered. The system can, for example, capture surrounding sounds by transmitting a wave canceling out unwanted noise.

[0051] The invention proposes an arrangement of a console in the lower part of the console which has been little used until now. Such an arrangement is easy to access and offers numerous uses.

[0052] The invention is however not limited to the functional modules presented; any functional module, in particular a portable module, comprising a connection base similar to those described may be suitable.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle console (C) comprising a body which has an arrangement comprising: - a cavity (1) made in a free part of said console body and opening out towards the outside of said console body, and - a connection zone (10), which is located at the bottom of said cavity (1), comprising at least one first connector (11), and which is delimited by a circular-shaped wall (100) provided with a plurality of locking elements (101, 102, 103, 104) of elongated shape comprising hollow and raised parts, arranged spaced apart from each other and following the circumferential surface of said circular-shaped wall, said first connector (11) being secured to one of said locking elements (101), and said connection zone (10) being capable of receiving a functional module (13, 14) provided with a connector (135, 144) complementary to said first connector (11) and another plurality of locking elements (131, 132, 133, 134, 1401,1404) of elongated shape comprising hollow and raised parts, complementary to said locking elements of said connection zone of the console, said complementary connector (135, 144) being secured to one of the locking elements (131, 1401) of said other plurality of complementary locking elements, so that said connection zone (10) of the console and said functional module (13, 14) connect and lock together by a translational movement in order to match their respective locking elements then by a rotational movement to lock the locking elements matched together and that at the end of rotation said first connector (11) and said respective complementary connector (135, 144) of the connection zone (10) of the console and of the module (13, 14) connect together.

2. Console according to claim 1, characterized in that said first connector (11) of the connection area of ​​the console is an electrical and / or data connector, in particular of the USB type, preferably of the USB-C type.

3. Console according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said first connector (11) of the connection zone of the console is mounted, at one end of the cable, in a socket (111) of prismatic shape and / or made of flexible material and such that the base of smaller dimensions of the prism is on the proximal side of the free end of said connector.

4. Console according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said plurality of locking elements (101, 102, 103, 104) arranged spaced from each other and along the circumferential surface of said circular-shaped wall (100), is arranged along the inner circumferential surface of said circular-shaped wall.

5. Console according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said cavity (1) opens laterally towards the outside of said console body, and preferably in the lower part of the console.

6. Console-functional module assembly comprising a console (C) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and a functional module (13, 14) comprising a connection base (130, 140) provided with at least one complementary connector (135, 144) to the at least first connector of the connection zone (10), and provided with another plurality of locking elements (131, 132, 133, 134, 1401, 1404) of elongated shape comprising hollow and raised parts, complementary to said locking elements (101, 102, 103, 104) of said connection zone (10) of the console, said complementary connector (135, 144) being secured to one of the locking elements (131, 1401) of said other plurality of locking elements, said functional module (13,14) connecting and locking in said connection area (10) of the console by a translational movement in order to match said locking elements of said other plurality of locking elements with said locking elements (101, 102, 103, 104) of said connection area (10) of the console and then by a rotational movement following the circumference of the respective circular-shaped walls of the connection area (10) of the console and of the connection base (130, 140) of the module, in order to lock the respective locking elements of the console and of the module together and that at the end of rotation said first connector (11) and said complementary connector (135, 144) respective of the connection area (10) of the console and of the connection base (130, 140) of the module (13, 14) connect together.

7. Assembly according to claim 6, said first connector (11) of the connection zone (10) of the console being an electrical and / or data connector, in particular of the USB type, preferably of the USB- type C according to claim 2, and said complementary connector (135, 144) of the connection base of the functional module is an electrical and / or data connector, in particular of the USB type, preferably of the USB-C type, and one being a male connector and the other a female connector.

8. Assembly according to one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that said first connector (11) of the connection zone (10) of the console and said complementary connector (135, 144) of the connection base (130, 140) of the functional module are mounted respectively each in a prismatic-shaped socket and / or made of flexible material, and so that the base of smaller dimensions of the respective prism of each connector socket is on the side of the connection with the other connector.

9. Assembly according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that one of the connectors (11, 135, 144) is fixed in a hollow part of a locking element, the connection face of said connector being clear, and said hollow part being framed by at least a first face (1311) of a circular wall and a second face (1312) of a raised part of a locking element, opposite said first face, said first (1311) and second (1312) faces extending at least partially in the direction of the circumference of said circular wall (100) of the connection zone (10) of the console and / or of the connection base (130, 140) of the module and being spaced substantially parallel to each other, to form guide faces (1311, 1312) of the other connector towards said connector fixed in said hollow part hollow of a locking element.

10. Motor vehicle comprising a console according to any one of claims 1 to 5, or a console-functional module assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 9, and in particular said console is a central console located between two seats of the vehicle.

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