Dashboard body of a motor vehicle passenger compartment and assembly comprising such dashboard body

Abstract

Dashboard body of a motor vehicle passenger compartment dashboard and assembly comprising such a dashboard body. The invention relates to a dashboard body (1) of a motor vehicle passenger compartment dashboard, said dashboard body defining a structural part of said dashboard and being designed to support a center console of said passenger compartment. According to the invention, the dashboard body comprises a mounting interface (11) for an air conditioning duct from a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, consisting of a cutout in said dashboard body (1) and comprising an inlet portion (13) adapted to allow passage of said air conditioning duct and a receiving portion (15) adapted to hold said air conditioning duct in position when said air conditioning duct is inserted into said mounting interface (11). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Dashboard body of a motor vehicle passenger compartment and assembly comprising such dashboard body technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the automotive field, and concerns a dashboard body of a motor vehicle passenger compartment dashboard and an assembly comprising such a dashboard body. Previous technique

[0002] The passenger compartment of a motor vehicle typically includes a dashboard in which are integrated, for example, a steering wheel, an on-board computer, one or more storage spaces, ventilation flaps for the ventilation system, one or more front safety airbags, etc.

[0003] To this end, the dashboard comprises a dashboard body, defining a structural part of the dashboard, to which the various interior components are attached. In particular, the interior comprises a center console that is attached to the lower part of the dashboard body.

[0004] At the rear of the board body relative to the passenger compartment is mounted, in particular, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device (not shown), a device frequently referred to by the acronym "HVAC" (English acronym for "Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning").

[0005] An air conditioning duct is arranged at the output of the HVAC, having a first end connected to the HVAC and a second end fixed to the dashboard body and connected to the central console of the passenger compartment.

[0006] The air conditioning duct is fixed to the board body by means of fixing screws and / or fir tree pins.

[0007] Mounting the air conditioning duct on the board body is relatively complex to implement, particularly due to the relatively small size of the screws and / or pine dowels, consequently increasing the cost of carrying out this step. Description of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to this end relates to a dashboard body for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, said dashboard body defining a structural part of said dashboard, said dashboard body being designed to support a central console of said passenger compartment and being notable in that it comprises a mounting interface for a air conditioning duct from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of said motor vehicle, said fixing interface consisting of a cutout of said board body comprising an inlet portion adapted to allow passage of said air conditioning duct and a receiving portion adapted to hold said air conditioning duct in position when said air conditioning duct is inserted into said fixing interface

[0009] Thus, by providing a board body comprising an interface for fixing an air conditioning duct from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device of said motor vehicle, said fixing interface consisting of a cutout in the board body comprising an introduction portion adapted to allow the passage of said air conditioning duct and a receiving portion adapted to hold said air conditioning duct in position, the need to fix the air conditioning duct to the board body by means of fixing screws and / or fir tree pins as is the case in the prior art is eliminated.

[0010] In this way, the mounting of the air conditioning duct on the board body is greatly simplified compared to the prior art and the cost of carrying out this step is reduced.

[0011] According to optional features of the board body according to the invention: - said receiving portion of said cut has a shape complementary to the cross-section of said air conditioning duct; - said introductory portion extends along a lateral edge of said board body; - said receiving portion includes a main cut-out substantially circular and two lateral cut-outs extending from said main cut-out outside said main cut-out.

[0012] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a board body and an air conditioning duct from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device of said motor vehicle, notable in that said board body is according to the invention and in that said air conditioning duct is fixed to said board body by said fixing interface.

[0013] According to optional features of the assembly according to the invention: - said air conditioning duct is fixed to said board body at one of its ends; - said air conditioning duct comprises a tubular hollow body and at least two lateral ribs extending from said tubular hollow body to the outside of said tubular hollow body; - said air conditioning duct has a flat section arranged at said end fixed to said board body; - said air conditioning duct is fitted into said fixing interface. Brief description of the drawings

[0014] Other features, objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] shows a body of a dashboard of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

[0016] [Fig.2] is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of an air conditioning duct that can be fixed to the board body of the invention.

[0017] [Fig.3] shows an assembly comprising the board body according to the invention and the air conditioning duct.

[0018] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV of [Fig.3].

[0019] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view along line VV of [Fig.3], on which is also represented a console conduit. Description of the implementation methods

[0020] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions are designated by the same reference.

[0021] Reference is made to [Fig.1] showing a body of board 1 of a passenger compartment dashboard of a motor vehicle.

[0022] The dashboard body 1 defines a structural part of the dashboard and is designed to receive various interior components.

[0023] In particular, the board body 1 receives a central console 2 (visible in [Fig.5]) fixed to the board body 1 at the level of two orifices 3, 5 of the board body 1 intended for receiving fixing elements of the central console on the board body 1.

[0024] Behind the body of board 1 relative to the passenger compartment is mounted an HVAC (not shown).

[0025] An air conditioning duct 7, visible in figures 2 to 5, runs from the HVAC so as to supply a console duct 9 (visible in [Fig.5]) belonging to the central console 2 fixed to the board body 1.

[0026] According to the invention, the board body 1 has a fixing interface 11 for the air conditioning duct 7 adapted to allow the fixing of the air conditioning duct 7 onto the board body 1.

[0027] The fixing interface 11 consists of a cutout in the board body 1, that is to say that the cutout is made directly in the board body 1.

[0028] Thus, the fixing interface 11 is formed directly by cutting the board body.

[0029] The mounting interface 11 includes an inlet portion 13 adapted to allow the passage of the air conditioning duct 7 and a receiving portion 15 adapted to hold the air conditioning duct 7 in position when the air conditioning duct 7 is inserted into the mounting interface 11 via the inlet portion. Furthermore, the receiving portion 15 is adjacent to the inlet portion 13 and directly accessible from the inlet portion 13.

[0030] Thus, once the air conditioning duct 7 is in position in the fixing interface 11 of the board body 1, the air conditioning duct 7 is held in a fixed position relative to the board body 1 without requiring the addition of additional fixing elements.

[0031] In one embodiment, the inlet portion 13 of the fixing interface 11 extends over a lateral edge 17 of the board body, i.e. the inlet portion 13 opens outwards from the board body 1. This makes it easier to insert the air conditioning duct 7 until it reaches its final position in the receiving portion 15.

[0032] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the cut is made at the level of a lower part 19 of the body of the board 1.

[0033] In one embodiment, the cutout has a shape complementary to that of the air conditioning duct 7.

[0034] The receiving portion 15 of the fastening interface 11 includes, for example, a main cutout 21, which may, for example, have a circular shape, and two lateral cutouts 23, 25 extending from the main cutout 21 outside the main cutout 21.

[0035] When the main portion 15 has such a geometry, the air conditioning duct 7 can, for example but not limited to, be made by a "twin sheet" type manufacturing process which allows the simultaneous thermoforming of two plastic sheets.

[0036] Reference is made to [Fig.2], which is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of the air conditioning duct 7 that can be fixed to the body of board 1 of the invention.

[0037] The air conditioning duct 7 has a first end 27 connected directly or indirectly to the HVAC and a second end 29 intended to be connected to the console duct 9 (visible in [Fig.5]) so as to allow its supply.

[0038] The air conditioning duct 7 comprises a tubular hollow body 31. The shape of the cross-section of the air conditioning duct 7 and the shape of the receiving portion 15 of the mounting interface of the board body 1 are complementary. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the air conditioning duct 7 has a substantially circular cross-section.

[0039] When the air conditioning duct 7 is made by a "twin sheet" type manufacturing process, the air conditioning duct 7 has two lateral ribs 33, 35 which extend from the tubular hollow body 31 to the outside of the tubular hollow body 31.

[0040] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the lateral ribs 33, 35 are arranged horizontally relative to each other.

[0041] Reference is made to [Fig.3] showing an assembly 37 comprising the board body 1 and the air conditioning duct 7, the view being centered on the fixing interface 11 of the board body 1.

[0042] When the air conditioning duct 7 is mounted on the board body 1, the air conditioning duct 7 is fixed to the board body 1 by the fixing interface 11.

[0043] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the second end 29 of the air conditioning duct 7 is fixed to the board body 1 only by means of the receiving portion 15 of the fixing interface 11.

[0044] Also, when the air conditioning duct 7 has the lateral ribs 33, 35, the presence of the lateral ribs 33, 35 makes it possible to reinforce the fixing of the air conditioning duct 7 in the fixing interface 11.

[0045] Indeed, the insertion of the lateral ribs 33, 35 into the complementary lateral cutouts 23, 25 of the fixing interface 11 makes it possible to constrain the air conditioning duct 7 inside the fixing interface 11, thus limiting the risk of untimely movement of the air conditioning duct relative to the body of the board 1.

[0046] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the air conditioning duct 7 has a flat 39 arranged at the second end 29 of the air conditioning duct 7, that is to say at the end of the duct that can be fixed to the body of the board 1.

[0047] The flat 39 extends for example all around the air conditioning duct 7.

[0048] Reference is made to [Fig.4], which is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV of [Fig.3].

[0049] When the air conditioning duct 7 is fixed to the body's fixing interface 11 of plate 1, the flat 39 extends outside the main cut 21.

[0050] When the central console 2 (visible in [Fig. 5]) is fixed to the board body 1, the central console 2 presses the flat 39 of the air conditioning duct 7 against the lower part 19 of the board body 1 in which the cutout for the fixing interface 11 is made.

[0051] Reference is made to [Fig.5], which is a cross-sectional view along line VV of [Fig.3], on which the console conduit 9 has also been shown.

[0052] The presence of the flat surface 39 allows, when the center console 2 is fixed to the dashboard body 1, the console duct 9 to be pressed against the air conditioning duct 7, thus making the assembly formed by the air conditioning duct 7 airtight and through the console duct 9, without the need for an additional sealing gasket to ensure a seal between the air conditioning duct 7 and the console duct 9.

[0053] In one embodiment, the console conduit 9 can be formed by assembling an upper half-shell with a lower half-shell, defining the central console frame 2.

[0054] The air conditioning duct 7 can be mounted in the mounting interface 11 by insertion, so that after mounting the air conditioning duct 7 is inserted into the mounting interface 11.

[0055] The air conditioning duct 7 is held in the board body 1 by means of the shape of the cutout of the fixing interface 11. The fixing of the air conditioning duct 7 in the assembly 37 becomes definitive when the center console 2 is fixed on the board body 1.

[0056] As will be understood, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of this board body and of this assembly comprising such a board body, described above solely by way of illustrative examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Board body (1) of a motor vehicle passenger compartment dashboard, said board body (1) defining a structural part of said dashboard, said board body (1) being designed to support a center console (2) of said passenger compartment and being characterized in that it comprises a fixing interface (11) for an air conditioning duct (7) from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device of said motor vehicle, said fixing interface (11) consisting of a cutout in said board body (1) comprising an inlet portion (13) adapted to permit the passage of said air conditioning duct (7) and a receiving portion (15) adapted to hold said air conditioning duct (7) in position when said air conditioning duct (7) is inserted into said fixing interface (11).

2. Board body (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said receiving portion (15) of said cutout has a shape complementary to the cross section of said air conditioning duct (7).

3. Board body (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said inlet portion (13) extends over a lateral edge (17) of said board body (1).

4. Board body (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said receiving portion (15) comprises a substantially circular main cutout (21) and two lateral cutouts (23, 25) extending from said main cutout (21) outside of said main cutout (21).

5. Assembly (37) comprising a board body (1) and an air conditioning duct (7) from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning device of said motor vehicle, characterized in that said board body (1) is according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and in that said air conditioning duct (7) is fixed to said board body (1) by said fixing interface (11).

6. Assembly (37) according to claim 5, characterized in that said air conditioning duct (7) is fixed to said board body (1) at one of its ends.

7. Assembly (37) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said air conditioning duct (7) comprises a hollow body tubular (31) and at least two lateral ribs (33, 35) extending from said tubular hollow body (31) to the outside of said tubular hollow body (31).

8. Assembly (37) according to claim 6 or according to claim 6 combined with one of claims 5 or 7, characterized in that said air conditioning duct (7) has a flat (39) arranged at said end fixed on said board body (1).

9. Assembly (37) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said air conditioning duct (7) is fitted into said fixing interface (11).

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