SUPPORT DEVICE FOR EQUIPMENT OF DIFFERENTIABLE TYPES ONCE SUPPORTED

Abstract

A support device (SD) comprises a first part (P1) fixedly attached to a wall, and a second part (P2) fixedly attached to the first part (P1) and defining a housing (H) suitable for selectively receiving N pieces of equipment of N different types and having the same first dimension along a first direction but N different second dimensions along a second direction, with N ≥ 2. This housing includes at least N-1 elements (EL1-EL3) suitable for being masked by at least one piece of equipment but not by at least one other piece of equipment in order to allow visual determination of the type of equipment received. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING EQUIPMENT OF DIFFERENTIABLE TYPES ONCE SUPPORTED Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to support devices which are intended to support equipment and to be attached to a wall. State of the art

[0002] In many technical fields, such as for example that of vehicles, possibly automobiles, equipment (possibly electrical or electronic) must be coupled to a wall via a support device fixedly attached to the latter.

[0003] Some of these support devices comprise a first part designed to be fixedly attached to a wall, and a second part fixedly attached to the first part and defining a housing designed to accommodate equipment to be supported. This is, for example, the case of the support device described in document EP-B1 2928713.

[0004] This type of support device is practical because it allows the first part to be fixedly attached to the receiving wall, then optionally at least one electrical harness to be coupled to the first part, then the second part to be fixedly attached to the first part, then a predefined piece of equipment to be fixedly attached to this second part, and optionally each electrical harness to this equipment. However, when several pieces of equipment of different types need to be coupled to the same wall or to different walls of the same system, it is necessary to provide as many specific support devices as there are types of equipment to be coupled. This proves costly, both in terms of design and production (especially when each second part is made by molding and therefore can only be produced in a specific mold).Furthermore, this complicates inventory management and increases congestion on production lines. In addition, when equipment types differ in size along a certain spatial direction, it can happen that a piece of equipment is coupled to an incorrect support device and therefore installed in the wrong place within a system, subsequently requiring disassembly and reassembly, potentially numerous (in case of late detection), and thus time-consuming and costly.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a support device comprising a first part suitable for being fixedly attached to a wall, and a second part fixedly attached to the first part and defining a housing suitable for receiving equipment to be supported and having first and second dimensions along first and second directions respectively.

[0007] This support device is characterized by the fact that the housing of the second part is suitable for selectively receiving N equipment of N different types and having the same first dimension and N different second dimensions, with N > 2, and includes at least Nl elements suitable for being masked by at least one piece of equipment but not by at least one other piece of equipment in order to allow a visual determination of the type of equipment received in the housing.

[0008] Thus, a technician installing equipment on the wall can immediately see if he has coupled the correct type of equipment to the support device used, and in case of error he can immediately replace it with the correct type of equipment, which advantageously avoids subsequent dismantling and reassembly.

[0009] The support device according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0010] - the housing in the second room can be adapted to selectively receive three equipment of different types and having three different second dimensions, and may include at least first and second elements, the first element being suitable for not being masked by a first piece of equipment having a smaller second dimension and for being masked by second and third pieces of equipment, and the second element being suitable for not being masked by the second piece of equipment having an intermediate second dimension and for being masked by the third piece of equipment having a larger second dimension;

[0011] - in the presence of the first option, the housing of the second room may include a third element which is designed to be unmasked by the third piece of equipment;

[0012] - each element can be arranged in the form of a through hole defined in a main wall of the second room which contributes to the definition of the dwelling;

[0013] - in the presence of electrical or electronic equipment, the first part may include at least one first fixing interface suitable for allowing the fixing of at least one bundle of at least one electrical cable suitable for electrically powering and / or controlling the equipment received in the housing;

[0014] - in the presence of electrical or electronic equipment, the second part can include at least one second mounting interface suitable for allowing a fixing at least one bundle of at least one electrical cable suitable for electrically powering and / or controlling the equipment received in the dwelling;

[0015] - the second part may include a main wall participating in the definition of the housing and equipped with at least two slats designed to exert pressure on the equipment received in the housing in order to ensure planar support and prevent it from vibrating in the latter;

[0016] - the second part can be fixedly attached to the first part by screwing and / or clipping;

[0017] - the second part can be arranged so as to allow a fixed joining of each piece of equipment by screwing and / or clipping;

[0018] - the first part may include a pre-retaining tab suitable for being inserted into a corresponding pre-holding slot of the second piece to ensure pre-holding of the latter during a phase of joining to the first piece.

[0019] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, comprising at least one wall to which is fixedly attached at least one support device of the type presented above and supporting equipment.

[0020] For example, this wall can be an apron installed at an interface between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Brief description of the figures

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a top view, part of an example of a vehicle apron to which is attached an example of an embodiment of a support device according to the invention supporting a third electronic device,

[0023] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front, the support device of [Fig.1] before its attachment to a vehicle apron and before any equipment is fixedly attached to it,

[0024] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear, the support device of [Fig.1] before it is attached to a vehicle apron and before any equipment is fixedly attached to it, and

[0025] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, the first part of the support device of figures 1 to 3 before the second part is attached to it. Detailed description of the invention

[0026] The invention aims in particular to provide a support device DS intended to be fixedly attached to a wall PS and to receive and selectively support one of N equipment EQn of N different types, with N>2 and n=1N.

[0027] In what follows, the PS wall is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be part of a motor vehicle, such as a car. However, the invention is not limited to this application. It relates to any wall, whether or not it is part of a system, such as a vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air), an installation (possibly of an industrial type), a building, or an appliance (possibly a household appliance).

[0028] Furthermore, in what follows, by way of non-limiting example, the PS wall is considered to be a firewall of a motor vehicle (here a car) installed at an interface between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0029] In figures 1 to 4, the direction X is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0030] In the preceding and following text, the terms "front" and "rear" are defined with respect to the front end of the vehicle. Therefore, the front portion of a component is intended to be located closer to the front end of the vehicle than the rear portion of that same component. Similarly, the front face of a part is oriented towards the front end of the vehicle, while the rear face of that same part is oriented towards the rear end of the vehicle.

[0031] Figure [1] schematically illustrates part of an example of a wall PS (here a motor vehicle apron) to which is attached an example of an embodiment of a support device DS according to the invention which supports an equipment EQ3 (here a third, n = 3).

[0032] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, a support device DS, according to the invention, comprises first PI and second P2 pieces fixedly joined together.

[0033] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the first part PI is designed to be fixedly attached to a wall PS. This fixed attachment can be achieved, for example, by screwing with at least two screws (or bolts) (not visible) passing through corresponding through holes TT1 defined in the first part PI and optionally threaded. For example, these screws (or bolts) can be welded to the rear face of the wall PS, or they can pass through dedicated and corresponding through holes. defined in this wall PS. Note that in the example illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the first part PI includes three through holes TT1 intended to be passed through by three screws (or bolts) respectively. However, the number of through holes TT1 or screws (or bolts) in the first part PI can take any value greater than or equal to two.

[0034] In one embodiment, the through holes TT1 can each house a rubber piece (or stud) intended to be passed through by a screw and to filter vibrations from the vehicle.

[0035] For example, the first part PI can be made of metal (possibly steel). But this is not mandatory. Indeed, it could, for example, be made of a resistant and rigid plastic, synthetic, or composite material.

[0036] The second part P2 is fixedly attached to the first part PI and defines a housing LE which is suitable for selectively receiving one of N equipment EQn (n = 1 to N) of N different types because they have the same first dimension (or width) along a first direction (here the transverse direction Y) and N different second dimensions (or heights) along a second direction (here the vertical direction Z), with N > 2.

[0037] It will be understood that at any given moment the LE housing of a second room P2 can only receive a single piece of equipment EQn to support, having a type chosen from among the N different types.

[0038] In the following, by way of non-limiting example and as illustrated in Figure 1, each EQn device is considered to be a high-performance computer (HPC). Therefore, each EQn device is considered to be electronic. However, this is not mandatory. An EQn device could be electrical, or neither electronic nor electrical.

[0039] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, the LE housing comprises at least Nl ELk elements which are designed to be masked by at least one EQn equipment but not by at least one other EQn equipment in order to allow a visual determination of the type of EQn equipment which it (LE) receives.

[0040] It will be understood that concealing or not concealing a particular ELk element located in the LE housing immediately allows a technician, who is installing an EQn device on the PS wall via a DS support device, to determine whether they have connected the correct type of EQn device to this DS support device. In case of an error, the incorrect type of EQn device can be immediately replaced with the correct type of EQn device, thus advantageously avoiding potentially numerous subsequent disassemblies and reassemblies (in case of late detection).

[0041] For example, the LE housing in the second room P2 can be adapted to selectively receive three devices EQn (N = 3, n = 1 to 3) of three different types and having three different second dimensions (here, heights), and can include at least two first ELI (k = 1) and second EL2 (k = 2) elements. It is assumed here that the first device EQ1 (n = 1) has the smallest second dimension among the three types, the third device EQ3 (n = 3) has the largest second dimension among the three types, and the second device EQ2 has a second dimension intermediate between those of the first EQ1 and third EQ3 devices. In this case, the first ELI element is adapted to be unmasked by a first device EQ1, and to be masked by second EQ2 and third EQ3 devices, and the second EL2 element is adapted to be unmasked by the second device EQ2 and to be masked by the third device EQ3.

[0042] It will be understood that in the embodiment described above, the first ELI element is placed at a first level (here along the vertical Z direction) which is lower than the second level (here along the vertical Z direction) at which the second EL2 element is placed. Consequently, when a first EQ1 device is correctly installed in the LE housing, its upper end is positioned below the first level, making the first ELI and second EL2 elements visible (or unmasked). Now, when a second EQ2 device is correctly installed in the LE housing, its upper end is positioned above the first level and below the second level, making the first ELI element invisible (or masked) and the second EL2 element visible (or unmasked).

[0043] As illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 3], the LE housing of the second room P2 can also include a third element EL3 (k = 3) which is designed to be unmasked by the third equipment EQ3.

[0044] It will be understood that the third element EL3 is placed at a third level (here along the vertical direction Z) which is higher than the second level (here along the vertical direction Z) at which the second element EL2 is placed. Consequently, when a third device EQ3 is correctly installed in the LE housing, its upper end is placed below the third level, which makes the first ELI and second EL2 elements invisible (or masked) and the third element EL3 visible (or not masked).

[0045] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 and 3, each element ELk can be arranged as a through hole defined in a main wall PP of the second part P2, which contributes (majority) to defining the housing LE. It will be understood that once a device EQn is correctly installed in the housing LE, the rear face of the main wall PP is positioned opposite the front face of this device EQn.

[0046] But in an alternative embodiment each element ELk could, for example, be a mark (or a drawing or even an alphanumeric sign) defined in or on the main wall PP, and possibly with at least one color (possibly bright).

[0047] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 to 4. When the EQn equipment is electrical or electronic, the first part PI may include at least one first mounting interface IF1 suitable for attaching at least one FC harness of at least one electrical cable suitable for powering and / or controlling the EQn equipment housed in the LE compartment. For example, and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, each first mounting interface IF1 may be in the form of at least one through hole, possibly adapted for clipping, screwing, or the passage of a cable tie (possibly in a closed loop). Also, for example, and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, each first mounting interface IF1 may be defined as a first mounting tab PF1 or a pre-retaining tab PPM (which will be discussed later), which is mounted on (or protrudes from) the main wall PP of the second part P2.It should be noted that each first fixing tab PF1 or pre-retaining tab PPM can optionally be attached, for example by welding, to the rear face of the first part PI. But alternatively, it could be an integral part of the latter (PI).

[0048] Preferably, in the presence of these first fixing interfaces IF1, the first part PI is first fixedly attached to the wall PS, then the first fixing interfaces IF1 are used to couple at least one bundle FC to the first part PI. Next, the second part P2 is fixedly attached to the first part PI.

[0049] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 and 3, when the equipment EQn is electrical or electronic, the second part P2 may include at least one second fixing interface IF2 which is suitable for allowing the fixing of at least one FC bundle of at least one electrical cable suitable for electrically supplying and / or controlling the equipment EQn which is received in the LE housing.

[0050] For example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, each second fastening interface IF2 may be in the form of at least one through hole, optionally adapted for clipping or screwing or for the passage of a link (possibly in a closed loop). Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, the second fastening interfaces IF2 may be defined in second fastening tabs PF2 and at least one lateral tab PL2, which are erected on (or project from) the main wall PP of the second part P2. It should be noted that at least one of the lateral tabs PL2 may also optionally serve for the lateral support (here along the transverse direction Y) of the equipment EQn which is received in the LE housing. Similarly, at least one of the PF2 mounting tabs can also be used for the lower positioning (here along the vertical Z direction) of the EQn equipment received in the LE housing. In this case, the second PF2 mounting tabs that contribute to the lateral or lower positioning also contribute to defining the LE housing.

[0051] After the installation of an EQn device in the LE housing, the FC harness(es) can then be coupled to the second part P2 via the second IF2 fixing interfaces.

[0052] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 and 3, the main wall PP of the second part P2 can be provided with at least two LAV fins designed to exert pressure on the equipment EQn received in the housing LE in order to ensure planar support and prevent it from vibrating within the housing (LE). It will be understood that these LAV fins are partially projecting on the rear face of the main wall PP so that they can be compressed by the front face of the equipment EQn, thus allowing the latter (EQn) to have planar support and not vibrate. It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 3], the main wall PP comprises four LAV fins distributed on its rear face, so as to optimize planar support and the anti-vibration effect. However, the number of LAV fins can be any value greater than or equal to two.

[0053] It will also be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 and 3, that in order to take into account a dimensional tolerance of the EQn equipment, each LAV slat can be defined in a through hole in the main wall PP so that it can be partially pushed into this through hole by the front face of an EQn equipment if necessary.

[0054] It should also be noted that the second part P2 can be fixedly attached to the first part PI by screwing and / or clipping. This is notably the case in the example illustrated, but not limited to, Figures 2 to 4. Indeed, in this example, the first part PI includes two screws VS that protrude from its rear face (being welded) and pass through two corresponding through holes defined in the second part P2. Nuts are screwed onto these screws on the rear face of the second part P2 before the installation of equipment EQn in the LE housing. It should be noted that the screws VS could also be attached separately, and in this case, the first part PI must include two through holes through which the screws VS pass.Furthermore, in this example the second part P2 includes on its front face at least one clipping tab PC fitted with a head passing through a corresponding clipping through hole defined in the first part PI in order to ensure a clipping coupling of the second part P2 to the first part PL. Clipping is advantageous because it makes it easier. The screwing operations of the VS screws. But we could do without such a coupling by clipping, and have only a fixed fastening by screwing.

[0055] Also to facilitate the tightening of the screws VS, and as illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, the first part PI may include a pre-holding tab PPM designed to be inserted into a corresponding pre-holding slot FPM in the second part P2. This pre-holding tab PPM is arranged to provide pre-holding of the second part P2 to the first part PI during its attachment to the latter (PI). To this end, the pre-holding tab PPM may include a protrusion PR which, after passing through the pre-holding slot FPM, is positioned substantially against the rear face of the second part P2.

[0056] It should also be noted that the second part P2 can be arranged to allow each EQn component to be fixed in place by screwing and / or clipping. In the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 3], the second part P2 includes a threaded hole TF intended to cooperate with a fixing screw to immobilize the EQn component once it is installed in the LE housing in the correct position.

[0057] It should also be noted that the second part P2 may also include in the two lateral tabs PL2 lateral housings LL1 and LL2 designed to receive protrusions of the equipment EQn, so that the latter (EQn) is correctly positioned vertically (Z) and transversely (Y). But this is not mandatory.

[0058] Also, for example, the second part P2 can be made of a resistant and rigid plastic, synthetic, or composite material. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, it could, for example, be made of metal (possibly steel or aluminum).

Claims

Demands

1. Support device (DS) comprising a first part (PI) suitable for being fixedly attached to a wall (PS), and a second part (P2) fixedly attached to said first part (PI) and defining a housing (LE) suitable for receiving equipment (EQn) to be supported and having first and second dimensions along first and second directions respectively, characterized in that said housing (LE) is suitable for selectively receiving N equipment (EQn) of N different types and having the same first dimension and N different second dimensions, with N > 2, and comprises at least Nl elements (ELk) suitable for being masked by at least one piece of equipment (EQn) but not by at least one other piece of equipment (EQn') in order to allow a visual determination of the type of equipment (EQn) received in said housing (LE).

2. Support device according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing (LE) is suitable for selectively receiving three pieces of equipment (EQn) of different types and having three different second dimensions, and comprises at least first (ELI) and second (EL2) elements, said first element (ELI) being suitable for being unmasked by a first piece of equipment (EQ1) having a smaller second dimension and for being masked by second (EQ2) and third (EQ3) pieces of equipment, and said second element (EL2) being suitable for being unmasked by said second piece of equipment (EQ2) having an intermediate second dimension and for being masked by said third piece of equipment (EQ3) having a larger second dimension.

3. Support device according to claim 2, characterized in that said housing (LE) comprises a third element (EL3) suitable for not being masked by said third equipment (EQ3).

4. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each element (ELk) is arranged in the form of a through hole defined in a main wall (PP) of said second part (P2) which participates in the definition of said housing (LE).

5. A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the presence of electrical or electronic equipment (EQn), said first part (PI) comprises at least one first fastening interface (IF1) suitable for allowing fastening of at least one bundle (FC) of at least one electrical cable suitable for electrically powering and / or controlling the equipment (EQn) received in said housing (LE).

6. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the presence of electrical or electronic equipment (EQn), said second part (P2) comprises at least one second fixing interface (IF2) suitable for allowing the fixing of at least one bundle (FC) of at least one electrical cable suitable for electrically supplying and / or controlling the equipment (EQn) received in said housing (LE).

7. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said second part (P2) comprises a main wall (PP) participating in the definition of said housing (LE) and provided with at least two slats (LAV) suitable for exerting pressure on the equipment (EQn) received in said housing (LE) in order to ensure planar support and prevent it from vibrating in the latter (LE).

8. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said second part (P2) is fixedly attached to said first part (PI) by screwing and / or clipping.

9. Support device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said second part (P2) is arranged so as to allow fixed attachment of each piece of equipment (EQn) by screwing and / or clipping.

10. Vehicle comprising at least one wall (PS), characterized in that it comprises at least one support device (DS) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, fixedly attached to said wall (PS) and supporting equipment (EQn).