Upholstery element with storage compartment with removable lid

Abstract

Trim element with storage compartment with movable cover The present invention relates to a trim element (10) comprising a storage compartment (14) and a cover (16). The storage compartment (14) comprises an upper rail (24) and a lower rail (26) separate from the upper rail (24), the upper rail (24) comprising a single guide path (28), the lower rail (26) comprising an inclined portion (34), the inclined portion (34) forming an angle (α) with the guide path (28). The cover (16) comprises a first guide element (44) cooperating with the upper rail (24), a second guide element (46) adapted to cooperate with the upper rail (24), and a third guide element (48) cooperating or adapted to cooperate with the lower rail (26). The second guide element (46) is adapted to be disengaged from the upper rail (24). Figure for abstract: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: Upholstery element with storage compartment with movable lid

[0001] The present invention relates to a trim element comprising a storage compartment and a cover, the storage compartment defining a receiving volume having an opening, the cover being adapted to at least partially cover the opening of the receiving volume.

[0002] For example, it is known to connect the cover to the storage compartment by a pivot connection.

[0003] The cover is thus movable between an open position, in which a storage volume is accessible, and a closed position, in which the storage volume is not accessible.

[0004] However, such an example of a cover does not have the desired modularity here. In particular, in the open position, the cover is likely to hinder a user who wishes to have access to the storage volume. Furthermore, such a cover generally does not allow anything to be placed on it.

[0005] Another possibility is to provide a clip-on element, which can be removed to gain access to the storage volume, without the cover remaining attached to the compartment.

[0006] However, there is a risk of losing the clip-on element.

[0007] The aim of the invention is then to propose a trim element with a storage compartment with a permanent and movable cover so as to allow increased access to a storage volume.

[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to a trim element comprising a storage compartment and a cover, the storage compartment defining a receiving volume having an opening, the cover being adapted to partially cover the opening of the receiving volume, characterized in that the storage compartment comprises at least one upper rail and at least one lower rail distinct from the at least one upper rail, the or each upper rail comprising a single guide path, the or each lower rail comprising an inclined portion, the inclined portion forming an angle with the guide path, the cover comprising at least one first guide element cooperating with the or each upper rail, at least one second guide element capable of cooperating with the or each upper rail, and at least one third guide element cooperating or capable of cooperating with the or each lower rail,the at least one second guide element being capable of being disengaged from the corresponding upper rail.

[0009] The cover remains secured to the storage compartment by the cooperation of the first guide element with the upper rail and the third guide element with the lower rail. The disengagement of the second guide element allows the engagement of the third guide element in the inclined portion, so that the cover moves into a position, in which the cover is arranged in the receiving volume.

[0010] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the filling element comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0011] - the at least one third guide element cooperates with the or each rail lower,

[0012] - the guide path comprises a downstream portion, the inclined portion forming with the downstream portion an angle less than 90°;

[0013] - the or each lower rail comprises a parallel portion, the parallel portion extending parallel to and opposite a downstream portion of the guide path;

[0014] - the guide path further comprises an upstream portion, the upstream portion and the downstream portion having between them an offset in a direction perpendicular to the upstream portion;

[0015] - the cover is movable between three positions: a first position in which the cover allows a first partial access to the receiving volume through a first side of the cover, a second position in which the cover allows a second partial access to the receiving volume through a second side of the cover, and a third position in which the cover is arranged in the receiving volume;

[0016] - in the second position, the second guide element is engaged in the corresponding upper rail, and, wherein, in the third position, the second guide element is disengaged from the corresponding upper rail and the third guide element is in the inclined portion;

[0017] - in the second position, the third guide element is in the portion parallel ;

[0018] - the or each lower rail comprises a common portion, the common portion extending parallel to and opposite an upstream portion of the guide path;

[0019] - in the first position, the third guide element is arranged in the common portion;

[0020] - the first guide element and the second guide element cooperate or are able to cooperate with the corresponding upper rail on either side of the cover, the third guide element being arranged on the same side as the second guide element; and / or

[0021] - the second guide element projects in a transverse direction, the second guide element being capable of being disengaged from the upper rail by a disengagement system, the disengagement system comprising a pivot capable of pivoting about a pivot axis perpendicular to the transverse direction Y, the or each second guide element being integral with the pivot.

[0022] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a packing element according to a exemplary embodiment, wherein the cover is moved between a first position and a second position,

[0024] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic view of the packing element of [Fig.l], in which the cover is moved between the first position and a third position,

[0025] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an enlarged view of part A in [Fig.l], and

[0026] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic view of an example of a system of disengagement of the second guide element.

[0027] An example of a trim element 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0028] The trim element 10 is, for example, a central console.

[0029] The trim element 10 extends, for example, partially under an armrest 12.

[0030] The armrest 12 is, for example, fixed.

[0031] Alternatively, the armrest 12 is, for example, movable in rotation around a pivot arranged at an end portion, for example rear.

[0032] The term “rear” here refers to the usual meaning in a vehicle.

[0033] The trim element 10 comprises a storage compartment 14 and a cover 16.

[0034] The storage compartment 14 defines a receiving volume 18 having an opening 20.

[0035] The storage compartment 14 here comprises at least one, here two, side walls 22.

[0036] The two side walls 22 delimit the edges of the receiving volume in a transverse direction Y.

[0037] The storage compartment 14, here the two side walls 22, comprises at least one upper rail 24 and at least one lower rail 26.

[0038] More particularly here, each side wall 22 comprises an upper rail 24 and a lower rail 26.

[0039] The or each upper rail 24 comprises a single guide path 28, that is to say that an element engaged in one or each upper rail 24 has no alternative in the path followed in the corresponding upper rail, outside the direction of travel of the guide path.

[0040] The guide path 28 comprises a downstream portion 30.

[0041] The guide path 28 further comprises an upstream portion 32.

[0042] The downstream portion 30 and the upstream portion 32 are adjacent and communicate with each other.

[0043] The downstream portion 30 and the upstream portion 32 extend one another.

[0044] Here, the guide path 28 consists of the downstream portion 30 and the upstream portion 32.

[0045] The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are here chosen arbitrarily according to a so-called longitudinal direction X, here perpendicular to the transverse direction Y.

[0046] Here, for example, downstream corresponds to rear, and upstream to front, in the usual sense in a vehicle.

[0047] The upstream portion 32 and the downstream portion 30 extend mainly in directions parallel to each other.

[0048] The downstream portion 30 extends mainly in the longitudinal direction X.

[0049] More particularly, the downstream portion 30 is straight and extends in the longitudinal direction X.

[0050] The upstream portion 32 extends mainly in the longitudinal direction X.

[0051] More particularly, the upstream portion 32 is straight and extends in the longitudinal direction X.

[0052] The upstream portion 32 and the downstream portion 30 have, for example, an offset between them, shown in [Fig.3], in a direction perpendicular to the upstream portion 32, here in a direction called vertical Z.

[0053] The offset is here such that the upstream portion 32 is closer to the common portion 36, described below, than the downstream portion 30 in the vertical direction Z.

[0054] In an embodiment not shown, the offset between the upstream portion 32 and the downstream portion 30 is achieved by an inclined and / or arched intermediate portion, so as not to generate a hard point.

[0055] The offset is, for example, strictly less than half the dimension of the upstream portion 32 in said direction.

[0056] The dimension of the upstream portion 32 along said direction Z is, for example, equal to the dimension of the downstream portion 30 along said direction Z.

[0057] Alternatively, the upstream portion 32 and the downstream portion 30 do not have any offset between them. The upstream portion 32 and the downstream portion 30 are aligned, so that they extend directly in continuity with each other without offset.

[0058] The or each lower rail 26 comprises an inclined portion 34.

[0059] The inclined portion 34 forms an angle α with the guide path 28.

[0060] More particularly, the inclined portion 34 forms with the downstream portion 30 an angle a less than 90°, more particularly between 30° and 60°

[0061] The inclined portion 34 extends opposite the downstream portion 30 in a direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and here perpendicular to the transverse direction Y.

[0062] The or each lower rail 26 further comprises a common portion 36.

[0063] The common portion 36 extends parallel to and opposite the upstream portion 32.

[0064] In the example shown, the or each lower rail further comprises a parallel portion 38, the parallel portion 38 extending parallel to and opposite the downstream portion 30.

[0065] The distance between the parallel portion 38 and the downstream portion 30 in the direction Z is equal to the dimension between the common portion 36 and the upstream portion 32 in the direction Z.

[0066] The parallel portion 38 has with the common portion 36 an offset similar to that between the downstream portion 30 and the upstream portion 32, visible in [Fig.3].

[0067] The cover 16 is adapted to partially cover the opening 20 of the receiving volume 18.

[0068] The cover 16 comprises a main body 40.

[0069] The main body 40 is, for example, a cup.

[0070] The main body 40 has, for example, a recess 42 or a housing for receiving object(s), for example a telephone, keys, a card, etc.

[0071] The recess 42 is, for example, capable of receiving one or more fingers of a user wishing to move the cover 16, as will be described later.

[0072] The cover 16 comprises at least one first guide element 44 cooperating with the or each upper rail 24, at least one second guide element 46 capable of cooperating with the or each upper rail 24, and at least one third guide element 48 cooperating with the or each lower rail 26.

[0073] More particularly, the cover 16 comprises a first guide element 44 for each upper rail 24, a second guide element 46 for each upper rail 24, and a third guide element 48 for each lower rail 26.

[0074] The guide elements here each form a projection of the cover 40 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, here in the transverse direction Y.

[0075] The first guide element(s) and the second guide element(s) cooperate or are capable of cooperating with the corresponding upper rail 24 on either side. other of the cover 16, more particularly in a direction called elongation d of the cover 16.

[0076] The direction of elongation is perpendicular to the transverse direction Y.

[0077] The third guide element(s) is (are) arranged, relative to the cover 16, on the same side as the corresponding second element.

[0078] Here, the or each third guide element 48 is arranged under one or the second guide element 46 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation d, and here perpendicular to the transverse direction Y.

[0079] The or each second guide element 46 is arranged between one or the third guide element 48 and the cover 16.

[0080] The guide elements 44, 46, 48 are, for example, protrusions of the cover, here of the main body 40 or integral with the main body, adapted to cooperate with the corresponding rail.

[0081] More particularly, the first and third guide elements 44, 48 are, for example, made of the same material as the main body 40 or fixed to the main body 40.

[0082] The or each second guide element 46 is secured to the main body 40 by means of a disengagement system described below.

[0083] The second guide element 46 is capable of being disengaged from the corresponding upper rail 24, more particularly by a disengagement system 50.

[0084] An example of a disengagement system 50 is shown in [Fig.4].

[0085] The disengagement system 50 comprises a pivot 52 capable of rotating around a pivot axis perpendicular to the transverse direction Y, and here also perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the cover d.

[0086] The pivot 52 is, for example, manually actuable by a user, for example by means of a rotary button.

[0087] The rotary knob is, for example, movable in rotation about the pivot axis between an engagement position of the at least one second guide element and a disengagement position of the at least one second guide element.

[0088] In an embodiment not shown, the pivot 52 can be manually actuated by a user via a button moving in translation in the direction of opening of the storage compartment, here in the longitudinal direction X.

[0089] Alternatively, the pivot 52 is, for example, electronically actuable.

[0090] The or each second guide element 46 is integral with the pivot 52, here by means of a part 54.

[0091] Each second guide element 46 extends between a free end 56 adapted to cooperate with the corresponding upper rail 24 and a linked end 58.

[0092] The linked end 58 is secured to the part 54, for example by means of a pivot 60.

[0093] The pivot 60 has a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot 52.

[0094] The linked ends 58 of the two second guide elements 46 are here secured to the part 54 opposite one another with respect to the pivot 52, more particularly along a straight line, hereinafter called the opposition straight line.

[0095] Part 54 is, for example, a cam.

[0096] The cam here has an elongated shape, more particularly along the opposition line d'.

[0097] When the or each second guide element 46 cooperates with the corresponding upper rail 24, the opposition line d'extends in a first opposition direction, for example parallel to the elongation direction d. The rotary button is then, for example, in the engagement position of the at least one second guide element.

[0098] To disengage the or each second guide element 46 from the corresponding upper rail 24, the pivot 52 is rotated about the pivot axis, for example by moving the rotary knob into the disengagement position of the at least one second guide element.

[0099] The direction of rotation of the pivot 52 to disengage the or each second guide element 46 is such that the linked end 58 of the or each guide element 46 moves away from the corresponding upper rail 24.

[0100] Thus, the free end 56 is extracted from said corresponding upper rail 24, and the second guide element 46 no longer cooperates with the upper rail.

[0101] Alternatively, the disengagement system is different. For example, the second guide element 46 is defined by a retractable pin.

[0102] The cover 16 is movable, relative to the storage compartment 14, between three positions: a first position (visible at the top in [Fig.l] and at the top in [Fig.2]), a second position (visible at the bottom of [Fig.l]), and a third position (visible at the bottom of [Fig.2]).

[0103] In the first position, the cover 16 allows a first partial access to the receiving volume 18 via a first side of the cover 16, more particularly along the longitudinal direction X, more particularly via the downstream side of the cover 16.

[0104] In the example with an armrest 12, this first access is, for example, limited or even prevented by the armrest 12, as shown in [Fig.l], so that the contents of the storage volume are protected.

[0105] The recess 42 is accessible, so that one or more objects can be deposited.

[0106] In the first position, the or each third guide element 48 is arranged in the common portion 36 of the corresponding lower rail 26.

[0107] The or each first guide element 44 cooperates in the corresponding upper rail, here in the upstream portion 32.

[0108] In the first position, the or each first guide element 44 is, for example, arranged at an upstream end of the corresponding upper rail.

[0109] The or each second guide element 46 cooperates or not with the corresponding upper rail.

[0110] In the second position, the cover 16 allows a second partial access to the receiving volume via a second side of the cover 16, here opposite the first side of the cover in the longitudinal direction X, more particularly via the upstream side of the cover.

[0111] In the example with an armrest 12, the cover 16 is, for example, arranged between the armrest 12 and the storage volume 18 in the second position.

[0112] In the second position, the or each second guide element 46 cooperates with the corresponding upper rail, more particularly in the downstream portion 30.

[0113] In the second position, the or each second guide element 46 is, for example, arranged at a downstream end of the corresponding upper rail.

[0114] In the second position, the third guide element 48 is in the parallel portion 38.

[0115] The or each first guide element 44 is arranged in the corresponding upper rail.

[0116] In the third position, the cover 16 is arranged in the receiving volume 18.

[0117] In the third position, the or each second guide element 46 is disengaged from the corresponding upper rail 24, and the or each third guide element 48 is in the inclined portion 34 of the corresponding lower rail 26.

[0118] The or each third guide element 48 is, for example, arranged at one end of the inclined portion 34 opposite the upper rail.

[0119] The or each first guide element 44 is arranged in the corresponding upper rail.

[0120] In the third position, the or each first guide element 44 is, for example, arranged at the downstream end of the corresponding upper rail.

[0121] An example of a method of using a packing element as described above will now be described.

[0122] The cover 16 is, for example, in the first position.

[0123] Moving the cover from the first position to the second position comprises the following consecutive steps:

[0124] - if this is not already the case, engagement of the or each second element of guide 46 with the corresponding upper rail, here via the disengagement system, for example by rotating the rotary knob into the engagement position, then

[0125] - movement of the cover 16.

[0126] The movement of the cover 16 is, for example, implemented manually by a user, for example with the insertion of one or more fingers into the recess 42.

[0127] The movement is, for example, achieved by applying a force to the cover 16 from upstream to downstream.

[0128] The first and second guide elements 44, 46 guide the movement of the cover along the upper rail.

[0129] The or each third guide element 48 is then driven into the corresponding parallel portion 38, in which the third guide element is guided.

[0130] The movement of the cover from the second position to the first position corresponds to a movement of the cover 16 opposite to the movement described during the reverse movement.

[0131] Moving the cover from the first position to the third position comprises the following consecutive steps:

[0132] - if this is not already the case, disengagement of the or each second element guide rail 46 with the corresponding upper rail, here via the disengagement system, for example by rotating the rotary knob into the disengagement position, then

[0133] - movement of the cover 16.

[0134] The movement of the cover 16 is, for example, implemented manually by a user, for example with the insertion of one or more fingers into the recess 42.

[0135] The movement is, for example, achieved by applying a force to the cover 16 from downstream to upstream.

[0136] The first guide element(s) 44 guide(s) the movement of one side of the cover 16 along the upper rail.

[0137] The other side of the cover is not guided by the second guide element(s).

[0138] The or each third guide element 48 is then driven, here from the common portion 36, into the corresponding inclined portion 34, in which the third guide element is guided.

[0139] More particularly here, when the cover 16 is moved downstream, the or each third guide element 48, at the outlet of the common portion 36, comes into abutment against the wall delimiting the upper surface of the inclined portion 34, because of the offset.

[0140] In the absence of cooperation between the or each second guide element and the corresponding upper rail, the or each third guide element 48 is not guided towards the parallel portion 38, so that the or each third guide element 48 is guided towards the inclined portion 34, more particularly with the pressure exerted by the user at the recess and / or gravity.

[0141] Alternatively, in particular in the absence of an offset as described above, the guidance from the common portion 36 to the inclined portion 34 is solely driven, for example by gravity and / or the pressure exerted by the user at the recess.

[0142] Thus, the or each third guide element 48 engages in the inclined portion 34, then is guided in the inclined portion 34 of the lower rail.

[0143] The movement of the cover from the third position to the first position corresponds to a movement of the cover 16 opposite to the movement described during the reverse movement.

[0144] In an alternative embodiment, the movement of the cover between the different positions is electronically controlled and actuated automatically, for example following the selection of a desired position by the user on a human-machine interface.

[0145] In an alternative embodiment not shown, the lower rail does not include a parallel portion.

[0146] The cover then comprises, for example, a system for disengaging the third guide element from the lower rail, for example a disengagement system as described previously for the second guide element.

[0147] To move from the first position to the second position, the or each second guide element is then engaged with the corresponding upper rail, while the or each third guide element is disengaged from the corresponding lower rail.

[0148] To move from the first position to the third position, the or each second guide element is then disengaged from the corresponding upper rail, while the or each third guide element is engaged with the corresponding lower rail.

Claims

Claims

1. A trim element (10) comprising a storage compartment (14) and a cover (16), the storage compartment (14) defining a receiving volume (18) having an opening (20), the cover (16) being adapted to partially cover the opening (20) of the receiving volume (18), characterized in that the storage compartment (14) comprises at least one upper rail (24) and at least one lower rail (26) separate from the at least one upper rail (24), the or each upper rail (24) comprising a single guide path (28), the or each lower rail (26) comprising an inclined portion (34), the inclined portion (34) forming an angle (a) with the guide path (28), the cover (16) comprising at least one first guide element (44) cooperating with the or each upper rail (24), at least one second guide element (46) capable of cooperating with the or each upper rail (24),and at least one third guide element (48) cooperating or capable of cooperating with the or each lower rail (26), the at least one second guide element (46) being capable of being disengaged from the corresponding upper rail (24).,

2. A packing element according to claim 1, wherein the guide path (28) comprises a downstream portion (30), the inclined portion (34) forming with the downstream portion (30) an angle of less than 00°.

3. A trim element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each lower rail (26) comprises a parallel portion (38), the parallel portion (38) extending parallel to and opposite a downstream portion (30) of the guide path (28).

4. A packing element according to claim 3, wherein the guide path (28) further comprises an upstream portion (32), the upstream portion (32) and the downstream portion (30) having an offset between them in a direction perpendicular to the upstream portion (32).

5. A packing element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cover (16) is movable between three positions: a first position in which the cover (16) allows a first partial access to the receiving volume (18) via a first side of the cover (16), a second position in which the cover (16) allows a second partial access to the receiving volume (18) by a second side of the cover (16), and a third position in which the cover (16) is arranged in the receiving volume (18).

6. A trim element according to claim 5, wherein, in the second position, the second guide element (46) is engaged in the corresponding upper rail (24), and, wherein, in the third position, the second guide element (46) is disengaged from the corresponding upper rail (24) and the third guide element (48) is in the inclined portion (34).

7. A packing element according to claims 3 and 6, wherein, in the second position, the third guide element (48) is in the parallel portion (38).

8. A trim element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the or each lower rail (26) comprises a common portion (36), the common portion (36) extending parallel to and opposite an upstream portion (32) of the guide path (28).

9. A packing element according to claim 8 and any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein, in the first position, the third guide element (48) is arranged in the common portion (36).

10. A trim element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first guide element (44) and the second guide element (46) cooperate or are capable of cooperating with the corresponding upper rail (24) on either side of the cover (16), the third guide element (48) being arranged on the same side as the second guide element (46).

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