Storage device for a vehicle

Abstract

Storage device for a vehicle. Storage device (10) for a vehicle comprising at least one wall (12) surrounding a central opening (18), characterized in that the wall (12) is made of at least one pseudo-elastic material and is reversibly deformable between a first position (14), in which the central opening (18) has a minimum diameter (D1), and at least a second position (16), in which the central opening (18) has an extended diameter (D2), the extended diameter (D2) being greater than the minimum diameter (D1), the wall (12) being deformed from the first position (14) to the second position (16) when an object (19), having a diameter greater than the minimum diameter (D1), is inserted into the central opening (18) and applies pressure to the wall (12). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Storage device for a vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device for a vehicle.

[0002] It is well known to provide storage devices, such as, among others, a cup holder, in a vehicle's passenger compartment. However, the sizes of containers available on the market, such as cups, bottles, or cans, are very diverse, making it difficult to provide a cup holder suitable for all sizes. One solution is to use a storage device large enough to accommodate a container of any size. For example, the storage device is large enough to accommodate the largest container commonly used by vehicle users.

[0003] However, if there is a difference between the size of the storage device and that of the container, it becomes difficult to keep the container in place. Furthermore, the container may be unstable, and the risk of spillage is high when the vehicle is in motion.

[0004] An objective of the invention is to provide a storage device that allows the object stored in the storage device to be held firmly while keeping the object stable for use in a vehicle.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a storage device of the aforementioned type, in which the wall is made of at least one pseudo-elastic material and is reversibly deformable between a first position, in which the central opening has a minimum diameter, and at least a second position, in which the central opening has an extended diameter, the extended diameter being greater than the minimum diameter, the wall being deformed from the first position to the second position when an object having a diameter greater than the minimum diameter is inserted into the central opening and applies pressure to the wall.

[0006] The storage device according to the invention ensures a tight hold, as the contact surface between the support wall and the item is improved. The use of a pseudo-elastic material that can be formed by additive manufacturing allows for very precise size adjustment. Indeed, the use of such a material ensures that the size of the storage device automatically adapts to the size of the object to be stored, so that the object is immobilized within the storage device.

[0007] According to particular embodiments, the storage device according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination:

[0008] - wherein the supporting wall comprises a plurality of adjacent polygons;

[0009] - each polygon of the plurality of adjacent polygons surrounds an opening a through-wall;

[0010] - each polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons comprises at least three branches made of pseudo-elastic material, at least one of the at least three branches forming a branch of an adjacent polygon;

[0011] - the storage device is a cup holder;

[0012] - each polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons has the shape of a triangle;

[0013] - the wall comprises a plurality of nodes, each node forming a vertex of minus two polygons;

[0014] - the extended diameter can increase by at least 30% compared to the diameter minimal; and

[0015] - at least one pseudo-elastic material is a shape memory polymer.

[0016] The invention also relates to a method for producing a storage device as described above, comprising the following steps:

[0017] - the supply of a pseudo-elastic material;

[0018] - the formation of a wall made of the pseudo-elastic material by manufacturing additive in order to obtain a static structure of the pseudo-elastic material, the wall surrounding a central opening, the static structure of the pseudo-elastic material corresponding to a first position of the wall in which the central opening has a minimum diameter; and

[0019] - programming the pseudo-elastic material of the wall by application of a stimulus to the static structure of the pseudo-elastic material in order to obtain a dynamic intelligent structure of the pseudo-elastic material corresponding to at least a second position in which the central opening has an extended diameter, the extended diameter being greater than the minimum diameter, the stimulus corresponding to a pressure on the wall.

[0020] The invention will be better understood from the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] - [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] is a view of the storage device according to the invention in a first position;

[0022] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a view of the storage device of [Fig.2] in a second position; and

[0023] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a diagram illustrating the production process of a storage device according to the invention.

[0024] With reference to figures 1 and 2, a storage device 10 according to the invention will now be described.

[0025] In the following description, the expression "approximately equal to" refers to a relationship of equality plus or minus 10%, preferably plus or minus 5%.

[0026] The storage device 10 can be any type of storage device. Advantageously, the storage device 10 is a cup holder in one embodiment given by way of example. Therefore, this embodiment given by way of example will be described in the remainder of the description.

[0027] The storage device 10 comprises at least one wall 12. The wall 12 is made of at least one pseudo-elastic material.

[0028] A pseudoelastic material is a material belonging to the family of smart materials, and more specifically to the family of shape-memory materials. Shape-memory materials are materials in which significant deformation can be induced and recovered by changes in temperature or stress, which corresponds to pseudoelasticity. In the context of the invention, only the pseudoelasticity effect is exploited. Indeed, a load or pressure on the pseudoelastic material will produce a stress on its internal structure. This stress will increase the size of the pseudoelastic material, as will be described in more detail below. Thus, the pseudoelastic material returns to its previous shape (hence, shape memory) after the applied load or pressure is removed.According to the invention, the pseudo-elastic material used to form the wall is one or more of the following materials: shape-memory polymers, shape-memory alloys, natural fibers, elastomers, composite hydrogel. Advantageously, the pseudo-elastic material is a shape-memory polymer.

[0029] In other words, the wall 12 is reversibly deformable between a first position 14, illustrated in [Fig. 1], and at least a second position 16, illustrated in [Fig. 2]. Furthermore, the wall 12 surrounds a central opening 18. Therefore, when an object, for example a cup 19, is inserted into the central opening 18, the wall 12 is deformed from the first position 14, in which the central opening has an initial shape, to the second position 16, in which the central opening has an extended shape, as will be described in more detail below.

[0030] For example, the central opening 18 has a cylindrical shape, for example, a frustoconical shape. Consequently, the diameter of the central opening 18 varies according to the height of the central opening 18. The central opening has, for example, a circular cross-section in planes perpendicular to the height of the central opening 18. Furthermore, the wall 12 has the same shape as the central opening 18 because the wall 12 surrounds the central opening 18. According to an alternative embodiment, the central opening has a parallelepiped shape, in which case the storage device comprises four walls 12 surrounding the central opening. In this case, the central opening has by example a rectangular cross-section in planes perpendicular to the height of the central opening 18.

[0031] For example, the cup 19 has a minimum height of approximately 70 mm. In the case of a cup holder, the storage device according to the invention is, for example, adapted to receive cups 19 having a diameter between a minimum diameter of approximately 60 mm and a maximum diameter of approximately 90 mm. For example, the diameter of the cup 19 corresponds to the largest diameter of the cup at any height.

[0032] The first position 14 corresponds for example to a position in which no load or pressure is applied to the wall 12.

[0033] In the first position 14, the central opening 18 has a minimum diameter Dl. For example, the minimum diameter DI corresponds to the largest diameter of the central opening, for any given height, when no cup 19 is inserted. The minimum diameter Dl is, for example, slightly smaller than the minimum diameter of a cup that can be received in the storage device.

[0034] The second position 16 corresponds to a position in which a cup 19 is inserted into the central opening 18. In the second position 16, the central opening 18 has an extended diameter D2, greater than the minimum diameter DL

[0035] In the second position 16, the cup 19 applies a load or pressure (not shown) on the wall(s) 12, which causes the wall(s) 12 to deform from the first position to the second position due to the nature of the pseudoelastic material used to form the wall(s) 12, since the cup 19 has a diameter greater than the minimum diameter DL

[0036] For example, in the second position 16, the shape of the wall 12 fully conforms to the shape of the cup 19 in order to ensure a very tight hold of the cup 19. In other words, the extended diameter of the central opening 18 in the second position 16 is equal to the diameter of the cup 19 received in the central opening 18. It is therefore understood that the storage device 10 can in fact adopt several second positions, depending on the size of the object introduced into the central opening 18.

[0037] Advantageously, the extended diameter D2 can increase by at least 30% compared with the minimum diameter Dl, so that the storage device can receive any cup whose diameter is in the range described above from 60 mm to 90 mm.

[0038] In one embodiment, the wall 12 consists of a single solid wall. Advantageously, however, the wall 12 comprises a plurality of adjacent polygons 20, each surrounding a through opening 21 extending through the wall 12. Each polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons 20 comprises at least three branches 22 made of pseudo-elastic material. In one embodiment In one embodiment, at least one of the at least three branches 22 of a polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons 20 also forms a branch of an adjacent polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons 20. In one embodiment, the shape of each polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons 20 is, for example, irregular. That is, the shape of each polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons 20 is not necessarily the same depending on its position in the wall 12. In one embodiment, the size of each polygon in the plurality of adjacent polygons 20 is, for example, also irregular. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the shape of each polygon in the plurality of polygons 20 is a triangle 26. It should be understood, however, that the shape of each polygon in the plurality of polygons 20 can be a rectangle, a rhombus, a pentagon, and so on.According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the shape of triangle 26 is, for example, irregular. In other words, the shape of triangles 26 is not necessarily the same depending on their position in wall 12. The size of triangle 26 is also irregular.

[0039] Advantageously, the wall 12 also comprises a plurality of nodes 28, each node forming a vertex of at least two of the polygons 20. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the nodes 28 each form a vertex of more than two polygons 20, these polygons surrounding the node 28.

[0040] Such a wall structure 12, with polygons 20 extending around the through openings 21, facilitates the deformation of the wall 12 between the first position 14 and the second position 16 and reduces the amount of pseudo-elastic material required for the production of the wall 12.

[0041] For example, the storage device 10 also includes a base 30 closing the central opening 18 on one side of the wall 12 at one end of the central opening 18 along the height of the wall 12. This base 30 is also made of a pseudo-elastic material and is, for example, formed of a plurality of polygons, each surrounding the through opening 21. The base is therefore deformable with the wall 12 between the first and second positions. When the cup 19 is received in the storage device 10, it is introduced into the central opening 18 via an upper end of the central opening 18 and pushed into the central opening 18 until its base comes into contact with the base 30 of the storage device 10.

[0042] When the pressure exerted on the wall 12 by the cup 19 is relieved by removing the cup 19, the wall 12 returns to its initial shape. In other words, when the cup 19 is removed from the storage device 10, i.e., when no more load or pressure is applied to the wall 12, the wall 12 moves from the second position 16 to the first position 14 due to the pseudo-elastic nature of the material. forming wall 12. This means that the deformation of wall 12 is totally reversible.

[0043] The storage device 10 according to the invention thus makes it possible to receive objects of many sizes while holding these objects tightly, thereby preventing any movement of the received object in the central opening relative to the storage device. In the case of a cup, the storage device, forming a cup holder, therefore limits the risk of the contents of the cup spilling or the cup falling out of the holder. Furthermore, when an object is removed from the storage device, the storage device returns to its initial position and is ready to receive another object, for example, one of a different size than the previous object received in the storage device.

[0044] A method according to the invention for producing the storage device 10 described above will now be described with reference to [Fig.3].

[0045] The production process for the storage device 10 comprises at least the following steps:

[0046] A- supply of the pseudo-elastic material,

[0047] B- formation of wall 12 made of pseudo-elastic material, and

[0048] C- programming of the pseudo-elastic material of wall 12.

[0049] During the formation step B, the wall 12 and, where applicable, the bottom 30, are formed by additive manufacturing. For example, additive manufacturing corresponds to the use of a multi-material 3D printer 32.

[0050] Additive manufacturing is carried out to obtain a static structure of the pseudo-elastic material. For example, the static structure of the pseudo-elastic material corresponds to a configuration where no load or pressure is applied to the pseudo-elastic material; that is, it corresponds to the storage device in the first position 14. For example, additive manufacturing is carried out to form branches of a given polygon from the plurality of polygons. Furthermore, additive manufacturing forms nodes that correspond to the vertices of at least two polygons. The vertex allows the polygons to be connected to each other.

[0051] This step allows the wall 12 surrounding the central opening 18 to be formed and, where applicable, the bottom 30. The static structure of the pseudo-elastic material corresponds to the first position 14 of the wall 12 in which the central opening 18 has the minimum diameter Dl, as illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0052] The next step C consists of programming the pseudo-elastic material of the wall (12) by applying a stimulus 34 to the static structure of the pseudo-elastic material. The stimulus 34 corresponds to an initial pressure or load on the wall 12.

[0053] In other words, step C consists of applying an initial pressure on the wall 12 when the wall 12 is in the first position 14.

[0054] The stimulus 34 is applied in order to obtain a dynamic intelligent structure of the pseudo-elastic material. The dynamic intelligent structure of the pseudo-elastic material corresponds to a second position 16 in which the central opening 18 has the extended diameter D2, as illustrated in [Fig. 3].

[0055] Thanks to the characteristics described above, in particular the application of the stimulus 34 on the pseudo-elastic material, the storage device 10 ensures a tight hold.

[0056] Indeed, the use of a pseudo-elastic material allows the extended diameter D2 to be adjusted to the diameter of the cup 19 in order to hold the cup 19. Therefore, the central opening 18 allows precise size adjustment while keeping the cup 19 stable for use in a vehicle (not shown).

[0057] In addition, the storage device 10, according to the invention, ensures a tight hold, because the contact surface between the storage device 10 and the cup 19 is improved by means of a structure such as the wall 12.

Claims

Demands

1. A storage device (10) for a vehicle comprising at least one wall (12) surrounding a central opening (18), characterized in that the wall (12) is made of at least one pseudoelastic material and is reversibly deformable between a first position (14), in which the central opening (18) has a minimum diameter (Dl), and at least a second position (16), in which the central opening (18) has an extended diameter (D2), the extended diameter (D2) being greater than the minimum diameter (Dl), the wall (12) being deformed from the first position (14) to the second position (16) when an object (19), having a diameter greater than the minimum diameter (Dl), is inserted into the central opening (18) and applies pressure to the wall (12).

2. Storage device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the support wall (12) comprises a plurality of adjacent polygons (20).

3. Storage device (10) according to claim 2, wherein each polygon of the plurality of adjacent polygons (20) surrounds a through opening (21) extending through the wall (12).

4. Storage device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein each polygon of the plurality of adjacent polygons (20) comprises at least three branches (22) made of pseudo-elastic material, at least one of the at least three branches (22) forming a branch of an adjacent polygon.

5. Storage device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage device (10) is a cup holder.

6. Storage device (10) according to claim 3, wherein each polygon of the plurality of adjacent polygons (20) has the shape of a triangle.

7. Storage device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wall (12) comprises a plurality of nodes (28), each node forming a vertex of at least two polygons.

8. Storage device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the extended diameter (D2) can increase by at least 30% compared with the minimum diameter (Dl).

9. Storage device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one pseudo-elastic material is a shape-memory polymer.

10. A method for producing a storage device (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the following steps: - supplying a pseudo-elastic material; - forming a wall (12) made of the pseudo-elastic material by additive manufacturing in order to obtain a static structure of the pseudo-elastic material, the wall (12) surrounding a central opening (18), the static structure of the pseudo-elastic material corresponding to a first position (14) of the wall (12) in which the central opening (18) has a minimum diameter (Dl);and - the programming of the pseudo-elastic material of the wall (12) by applying a stimulus (34) to the static structure of the pseudo-elastic material in order to obtain a dynamic intelligent structure of the pseudo-elastic material corresponding to at least a second position (16) in which the central opening (18) has an extended diameter (D2), the extended diameter (D2) being greater than the minimum diameter (D1), the stimulus (34) corresponding to a pressure on the wall (12).;

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