Motor vehicle passenger compartment partition device.

Abstract

The invention relates to a partition device (1) for a vehicle passenger compartment (2), the device (1) comprising a mounting bracket (4) designed to allow the device (1) to be mounted in the passenger compartment (2), the device (1) comprising a partition portion (7), movable around the bracket (4) between at least two distinct and stable equilibrium positions, the partition portion (7) being extended by at least one lateral extension (9), connecting the partition portion (7) to the bracket (4), each lateral extension (7) being designed, on the one hand, to guide the movement, initiated at least by a user, of the partition portion (7) between its two equilibrium positions by elastic deformation of the extension (9) and, on the other hand, to maintain the partition portion (7) in each equilibrium position into which the partition portion (7) is brought by the user,the device (1) being devoid of a hydraulic or electrical actuator for the movement of the separating part (7). (Figure 1),

Description

Title of the invention: Device for separating the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

[0001] The technical field relates to separation devices, vehicle passenger compartments including such a separation device and motor vehicles having such a passenger compartment.

[0002] Automobile manufacturers take great care to improve passenger comfort in their vehicles. Furthermore, for automobile manufacturers, the quality of their vehicles' finish, their aesthetic appeal, and the features offered are essential to differentiate themselves from other brands. Moreover, environmental considerations, and in particular the growth of motor vehicle use, encourage manufacturers to reduce the weight of their vehicles.

[0003] It is in this context that car manufacturers are constantly seeking to improve the interiors of their vehicles in order to provide their customers with new features or to improve existing ones.

[0004] To ensure passenger safety in the event of an accident, it is common practice to equip the passenger compartment with a partition between the luggage compartment and the rest of the passenger compartment. In some cases, such a partition is removable. This type of removable partition requires the implementation of numerous techniques, primarily involving the assembly of several parts of a mechanism to deploy the partition and / or secure it. For example, a deployable partition will be attached to a hinge with screws. Furthermore, to ensure the partition remains in the desired position, several technical solutions, such as locks or hooks, must be implemented. Finally, to facilitate movement or return the partition to its initial position, actuators such as springs or cylinders may be necessary.

[0005] Besides the required complexity, several defects make these solutions unsatisfactory.

[0006] First, a primary drawback arises from the significant increase in the number of parts required to perform the function, which leads to an increase in mass. Second, some of the parts used, such as actuators, have consequences for reliability and ease of repair. Furthermore, a large number of parts increases the cost and complexity of manufacturing. Indeed, several shaping processes may be necessary (plastic extrusion, injection molding, machining, drilling, etc.), complicating the production of parts on an industrial scale.

[0007] Finally, the diversity of the parts required generally implies a diversity of materials used, greatly limiting the possibility of recycling existing solutions.

[0008] Thus, there is a need for a solution to simplify the deployment of a separation, minimizing the number of parts and the diversity of materials used and in particular avoiding the use of mechanical and / or hydraulic actuators.

[0009] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a separation device that eliminates the need for actuators to deploy a partition between the luggage compartment and the rest of the passenger compartment.

[0010] To this end, the present invention relates to a partition device for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, the device comprising a mounting bracket designed to allow the device to be mounted in the passenger compartment, the device comprising a partitioning part, movable around the bracket between at least two distinct equilibrium positions, in which the partitioning part is in stable equilibrium, the partitioning part being extended by at least one lateral extension, connecting the partitioning part to the bracket, each lateral extension being designed, on the one hand, to guide the movement, initiated at least by a user of the device, of the partitioning part between its two equilibrium positions by elastic deformation of the lateral extension and, on the other hand, to maintain the partitioning part in each equilibrium position into which the partitioning part is brought by the user,The device lacks a hydraulic or electrical actuator for moving the separating part.

[0011] The invention also relates to a vehicle passenger compartment comprising at least one separation device according to the invention, characterized in that each support is fixed so that one of the equilibrium positions of the separating part allows two zones of the passenger compartment to be separated, a second equilibrium position positioning the separating part along a wall of the passenger compartment.

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

[0013] Thus, the separation device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a passenger compartment according to the invention that can be separated into two distinct zones. Indeed, the separation device according to the invention, through the implementation of each lateral extension, allows a portion of the separation to be deployed and retracted to delimit the luggage compartment, for example, from the rest of the passenger compartment. This implementation has the advantage of using elastic deformation of each extension instead of the use of an actuator.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the device, each lateral extension is formed from the material of the separating part. Thus, the device according to the invention also makes it possible to limit the number of parts and materials required for the manufacture of the device according to the invention.

[0015] According to one possibility, each lateral extension is made of the same material as the support.

[0016] According to one possibility, the support is made of the same material as the passenger compartment.

[0017] According to one embodiment, each lateral extension is connected to the separating part and / or to the support by a flexible connection made by at least one thinning of material.

[0018] According to one possibility, the separating part forms a panel or frame designed to accommodate and tension a net.

[0019] According to one possibility of the passenger compartment, the separating part allows a luggage compartment to be delimited.

[0020] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a view of a motor vehicle passenger compartment according the invention showing a luggage compartment delimited by the separating part of a device according to the invention mounted in the vehicle;

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a view of a motor vehicle according to the invention showing the luggage compartment of [Fig. 1], the separating part of the device being in a retracted position;

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

[0024] A partition device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to equip a passenger compartment 2 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, illustrated in the figures. The device 1 is designed to delimit and / or separate a trunk 3 of the passenger compartment 2, designed to hold luggage, from the rest of the passenger compartment 2, that is to say, the part of the passenger compartment 2 reserved for passengers. The partition device 1 is also suitable for use in a commercial vehicle.

[0025] The device 1 according to the invention comprises a mounting bracket 4 designed to allow the device 1 to be mounted in the passenger compartment 2. The bracket 4 forms, for example, a base intended to be fixed to the floor of the trunk 3 by extending along a seat back 5, visible in [Fig. 2], and along the side walls 6 of the trunk 3. In one embodiment, the bracket 4 is integral with the floor of the trunk 3, the side walls 6, and / or the ceiling. Thus, in such an embodiment, no screws or other fasteners are required to secure the device 1 to the vehicle.

[0026] The device 1 includes a separating portion 7, illustrated in the figures, designed to delimit and / or separate the trunk 3 from the rest of the passenger compartment 2. The separating portion 7 is, for example, formed by a panel 8. Alternatively, the separating portion 7 is formed by a frame and optionally by a net stretched by the frame. The separating portion 7 is movably mounted around the support 4 between at least two distinct equilibrium positions, in which the separating portion 7 is in stable equilibrium. In the described embodiment, a first equilibrium position, illustrated in [Fig. 1], designated as the deployed position, positions the separating part 7, when the device 1 is mounted in the passenger compartment 2, to separate two areas of the passenger compartment 2, in this case the trunk 3 from the rest of the passenger compartment 2. In the first equilibrium position, the separating part 7 extends substantially perpendicularly to the floor of the trunk 3. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the first equilibrium position is the deployed position.2], a second equilibrium position, distinct from the first position and designated as the retracted position, positions the separating part 7 along a wall of the passenger compartment 2, in this case along the floor of the trunk 3. .

[0027] Alternatively, in the second equilibrium position, the separating part 7 extends along the ceiling of the passenger compartment 2 or along a side wall 6 of the passenger compartment 2, in particular of the trunk 3. Thus, the deployment of the separating part 7 takes place, in this case, from the ceiling of the passenger compartment 2 or from a side wall 6 of the passenger compartment 2.

[0028] The separating portion 7 is extended by at least one lateral extension 9, connecting the separating portion 7 to the support 4. In this case, the device 1 comprises two lateral extensions 9 arranged on each side of the separating portion 7. In the illustrated example, each extension 9 connects the separating portion 7 to a portion of the support 4 extending along a lateral wall 6. On the one hand, each lateral extension 9 is designed to guide the movement, initiated by at least one user of the device 1, of the separating portion 7 between its two equilibrium positions by elastic deformation of the lateral extension 9. On the other hand, each extension 9 is designed to maintain the separating portion 7 in each equilibrium position into which the separating portion 7 is brought by the user.

[0029] Device 1 is devoid of an actuator, i.e., a hydraulic or electric cylinder or a spring for the movement of the separating part 7.

[0030] Each extension 9 is formed from the material of the separating portion 7. Advantageously, each extension 9 is also formed from the material of the support 4. Thus, the device 1 is a single piece. Advantageously still, the device 1 is made from a single material, for example, a polypropylene-based material. Advantageously, the device 1 according to the invention is obtained by a 3D printing process, in particular of plastic material. For example, a polypropylene filament is used to print in three dimensions (3D) the device 1 according to the invention. Alternatively, the device 1 is obtained by a plastic injection molding process.

[0031] Each lateral extension 9 is connected to the separating portion 7 and to the support 4 by a flexible joint 10 formed by at least one thinning 11 of material. In the example illustrated in the figures, each flexible joint 10 is shown as solid and continuous, but other variations can be considered, in particular discontinuous flexible joints and / or joints interrupted by one or more holes in order to modify the behavior during the guidance of the separating portion 7. In the example illustrated in the figures, each lateral extension 9 consists of one or more triangular plates 12 articulated together and / or folded. Each lateral extension 9 has a specific geometry allowing deformation and storage of elastic energy during a first phase of the movement of the separating portion 7. The stored elastic energy is then released in a second phase of the movement of the separating portion 7.Also, the movement of the separating part 7 requires an energy input supplied, for example, by the user of the device 1.

[0032] Each lateral extension 9 is designed to allow reversibility of the movement of the separating part 7, so that the user can initiate a movement from any one of the equilibrium positions to the other equilibrium position.

[0033] In the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the separating part 7 moves from the first equilibrium position, shown in [Fig.1], to the second equilibrium position, shown in [Fig.2], by a rotation along one of its edges 13 which connects the separating part 7 to the support 4 by means of a flexible link 10.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the effort required to initialize and / or move the separating part 7 from one equilibrium position to another equilibrium position depends on the starting equilibrium position.

[0035] Thus, the separation device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a passenger compartment 2 that can be separated into two distinct zones, i.e., allowing the luggage compartment 3 to be isolated from the rest of the passenger compartment 2. Indeed, the separation device 1 allows the separation portion 7 to be deployed and retracted by means of each lateral extension 9, through elastic deformation of each extension 9, instead of using an actuator. Furthermore, the separation device 1 reduces the number of parts and materials required for manufacturing the device 1 according to the invention, since each extension 9, and in this case the support 4, is made of the same material as the separation portion 7.

[0036] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the separation device described above, which is given only as an example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without going outside the scope and boundaries of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A partition device (1) for a motor vehicle passenger compartment (2), the device (1) comprising a mounting bracket (4) designed to allow the device (1) to be mounted in the passenger compartment (2), the device (1) comprising a partition portion (7), movably mounted around the bracket (4) between at least two distinct equilibrium positions, in which the partition portion (7) is in stable equilibrium, the partition portion (7) being extended by at least one lateral extension (9), connecting the partition portion (7) to the bracket (4), each lateral extension (7) being designed, on the one hand, to guide the movement, initiated at least by a user of the device (1), of the partition portion (7) between its two equilibrium positions by elastic deformation of the lateral extension (9) and, on the other hand, to maintain the partition portion (7) in each equilibrium position into which the partition portion (7) is brought by the user,the device (1) being devoid of a hydraulic or electrical actuator for the movement of the separating part (7).

2. Separation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each lateral extension (9) comes from the material with the separating part (7).

3. Separation device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each lateral extension (9) comes from the material with the support (4).

4. Separation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each lateral extension (9) is connected to the separating part (7) and / or to the support (4) by a flexible connection (10) made by at least one thinning (11) of material.

5. Separation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the separating part (7) forms a panel (8) or a frame designed to accommodate and tension a net.

6. Vehicle passenger compartment (2) comprising at least one separation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each support (4) is fixed so that one of the equilibrium positions of the separating part (7) allows two areas of the passenger compartment (2) to be separated, a second equilibrium position positioning the separating part (7) along a wall of the passenger compartment (2).

7. Vehicle passenger compartment (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the separating part (7) allows a luggage compartment (3) to be delimited.

8. Motor vehicle having a passenger compartment (2) according to claim 6 or 7.

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