AUTOMOBILE STORAGE BOX INCLUDING TWO ANGLED LID LIDERS AND TWO ROTATING AXES

Abstract

A storage box (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a fixed structure including an external frame (6) and a storage compartment, and two right-angled lids (3) capable of assuming a closed (PF) and an open position. Each right-angled lid (3) includes two control mechanisms (8) located on either side of the lid (3), each having a lower bar and an upper bar for opening and closing the right-angled lids (3) about two axes of rotation such that the vertical surface (5a, 4b) and the frame of the structure (2) of the box (1) have identical gaps when the right-angled lids (3) are in the closed (PF) and open positions. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 1A

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE STORAGE CASE COMPRISING TWO LEG-SHAPED LIDERS AND TWO ROTATIONAL AXES technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to storage for motor vehicles and more particularly to storage boxes comprising right-angled lids.

[0002] Today, automotive storage boxes with right-angled lids generally include a rotation axis allowing them to move between a closed position and an open position.

[0003] However, in certain housing configurations, the right-angled lids rotating around an axis of rotation may collide with the fixed structure of the storage case. Indeed, the rotation of a right-angled lid around an axis of rotation does not allow for a constant clearance relative to the structure of the storage case, regardless of the position of said lid. Description of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a solution that addresses the aforementioned problems.

[0005] The invention therefore relates to a storage box for a motor vehicle comprising a fixed structure including an external chassis and a storage compartment, and two right-angled lids capable of adopting a closed position in which the right-angled lids each include a horizontal upper surface and a vertical lateral surface and in which the storage compartment is not accessible, and an open position in which the right-angled lids each include a horizontal lower surface and a vertical lateral surface and in which the storage compartment is accessible.Each L-shaped cover includes two control mechanisms located on either side of the cover, each comprising a lower bar and an upper bar designed to cause the L-shaped covers to open and close around two axes of rotation such that the vertical surface and the chassis of the housing structure have identical gaps when the L-shaped covers are in the closed and open positions.

[0006] Advantageously, the storage case includes two planes of symmetry.

[0007] According to one embodiment, each control mechanism includes a support plate fixed to one end of the cover.

[0008] Advantageously, the lower bar comprises two ends, one end being connected to the support plate of the control mechanism and the other end being connected to the structure of the storage case.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the upper bar comprises two ends, one of the ends being connected to the support plate of the control mechanism and the other of the ends being connected to the external chassis of the storage case.

[0010] Advantageously, each support plate of the control mechanism includes a slot suitable for allowing movement of the cover driven by the lower bar.

[0011] According to one embodiment, each control mechanism is electrically powered by a motor which drives one end of one of the bars of the control mechanism.

[0012] Advantageously, each control mechanism includes stops suitable for precisely stopping the cover in the open and closed position.

[0013] According to one embodiment, each control mechanism includes a constant force spring.

[0014] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a storage box as defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] - Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a storage case in position closed;

[0017] - Fig. IB is a perspective view of a storage case in position open;

[0018] - The [Fig.2A] is a cross-sectional view of a storage case in the closed position;

[0019] - The [Fig.2B] is a cross-sectional view of a storage case in the open position;

[0020] - Figure 3 is a front view of a storage case in the closed position; and

[0021] - Fig. 4 is a front view of a storage case in the closed position according to a different embodiment from the view in [Fig.3]. Detailed description

[0022] Figures IA and IB show a storage box for a motor vehicle designated by the numerical reference 1. The motor vehicle is in an orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z. The X axis designates the front-to-back longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis designates the transverse direction oriented towards the left of the vehicle viewed from the front, along the X direction, and the Z axis designates the vertical direction, oriented towards the top of the vehicle.

[0023] The storage case 1 comprises a fixed structure 2 and two right-angled lids 3 capable of assuming a closed position PF and an open position PO. When the right-angled lids 3 are in the closed position PF, they each comprise an upper horizontal surface 4a and a lateral vertical surface 5a. The upper horizontal surfaces 4a of the lids 3 are in contact to form a smooth horizontal lid when the lids 3 are in the closed position PF. When the right-angled lids 3 are in the open position PO, they each comprise a lower horizontal surface 5b and a lateral vertical surface 4b.

[0024] The fixed structure 2 comprises an external frame 6 and an internal storage compartment 7, in which the user can store equipment. The structure 2 also comprises an internal part located between the storage compartment 7 and the lids 3.

[0025] According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the storage case 1 is a longitudinal parallelepiped with axis X comprising a front face and a rear face. The case 1 includes a longitudinal plane of symmetry and a transverse plane of symmetry.

[0026] Each right-angled cover 3 includes a pair of control mechanisms 8 located longitudinally on either side of said cover 3. In particular, the storage box 1 includes two right-angled covers 3 and two pairs of control mechanisms 8 positioned symmetrically on either side of a longitudinal section of the box 1. The control mechanisms 8 of a pair are also positioned symmetrically on either side of a cross-section of the storage box 1.

[0027] As illustrated in [Fig. 2A], when the right-angled covers 3 are in the closed position PF, the storage compartment 7 is not accessible to the user, and the storage box 1 is therefore in the closed position PF. Conversely, as illustrated in [Fig. 2B], the storage compartment 7 is accessible when the right-angled covers 3 are in the open position PO. In this configuration, the storage box 1 is therefore also in the open position PO.

[0028] The upper horizontal surfaces 4a of the housing 1 in the closed position PF become the lateral vertical surfaces 4b of the housing 1 in the open position PO, and the lateral vertical surfaces 5a of the housing 1 in the closed position PF become the lower horizontal surfaces 5b of the housing 1 in the open position PO. In the open position PO, the lower horizontal surfaces 5b are below the storage compartment 7.

[0029] The vertical lateral surfaces 4b, 5a of the covers 3 include a vertical gap El along the Z direction and a transverse gap E2 along the Y direction with the structure 2 of the housing 1.

[0030] The pair of control mechanisms 8 allows the opening and closing of the cover 3 to be controlled. Each control mechanism 8 includes a bar for this purpose. lower 9 and an upper control bar 10. The storage case 1 thus includes four control bars 9, 10 for opening and closing the lids 3 at its front face, as illustrated in [Fig.3], and four control bars 9, 10 for opening and closing the lids 3 at its rear face.

[0031] The upper bars 10 and lower bars 9 are intended to control the opening and closing of the right-angled covers 3 around two axes of rotation so that the vertical surface 4b, 5a and the chassis 6 of the structure 2 of the housing 1 include an identical vertical gap El and transverse gap E2 when the right-angled covers 3 are in the closed position PF and in the open position PO.

[0032] The control mechanisms 8 further each include a support plate 11 fixed to one end of the cover 3, connected to the horizontal and vertical surfaces 4a, 5a, 4b, 5b of the cover 3. More specifically, the storage case 1 includes two support plates 11 at its front face and two support plates 11 at its rear face.

[0033] The lower bar 9 of the control mechanism 8 comprises two ends, a first end 9a being connected to the support plate 11 and a second end 9b being connected to the structure 2 of the storage box 1, more specifically to the internal part of the structure 2 of the box 1.

[0034] The upper bar 10 of the control mechanism 8 comprises two ends, a first end 10a being connected to the support plate 11 and a second end 10b being connected to the structure 2 of the storage case 1, more specifically to the external chassis 6 of the structure 2 of the case 1.

[0035] The ends 9b, 10b of the lower 9 and upper 10 bars connected to the structure 2 of the storage box 1 are fixed and provide two axes of rotation for the lids 3. The ends 9a, 10a of the lower 9 and upper 10 bars connected to the support plate 11 are movable and allow the movement of the support plate 11 and the lid 3 around the axes of rotation created by the fixed ends 9a, 10b of the bars 9, 10. The ends 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b of the bars 9, 10 include pivot joints.

[0036] The support plates 11 each include a slot 12 suitable for allowing movement of the cover 3 driven by the lower bar 9.

[0037] According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the storage box 1 is electrically powered by a motor. The control mechanism thus comprises a motor and a gear system 13, the motor being mounted on the external frame 6 of the structure 2 of the box 1. The gear system 13 is fixed to the second end 10b connected to the external frame 6 of the upper bar 10. The motor is capable of driving the gear system, which in turn drives the upper bar 10. When the bar The upper bar 10 is in motion, it causes a rotation of the support plate 11 around the axis of rotation created by the end 10b of the upper bar 10 connected to the external chassis 6 of the housing 1. The lower bar 9 is thus driven and the slot 12 of the support plate 11 allows the rotation of said plate 11 despite the fixed end 9b of the lower bar 9 connected to the structure 2 of the housing 1.

[0038] Finally, the play of the control bars 9, 10 causes a particular movement of the assembly comprising a pair of support plates 11 and the cover 3, making it possible to avoid collisions with the surrounding parts and in particular to keep vertical gaps El and transverse gaps E2 constant with the structure 2 of the storage case 1.

[0039] The movement of the assembly comprising a pair of support plates 11 and the cover 3 therefore first performs a vertical translation upwards of the vehicle, then a rotation around the two axes of rotation and a vertical translation downwards of the vehicle.

[0040] The control mechanism 8 further includes stops 14 suitable for precisely stopping the cover 3 in the open position PO and in the closed position PF.

[0041] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], the storage case 1 also includes constant force springs 15. In particular, each control mechanism 8 includes a constant force spring 15 for maintaining uniform tension during the operation of the gear system 13. The constant force springs 15 also help to absorb vibrations induced by the movement of the gear systems 13.

[0042] In another embodiment of the storage case 1, it includes a double pressure system 16 which allows manual opening and closing of said case 1. The user applies a first pressure to the lids 3 to open them and a second pressure to close them.

[0043] Of course, we do not depart from the scope of the invention when the storage box 1 has a different composition. It is thus possible to design a storage box 1 in which the motor is positioned on the internal part of the structure 2 and drives the lower bar 9.

[0044] The storage box 1 thus allows the lids 3 to be opened and closed without collision with the surrounding structure and provides constant gaps El, E2 between said lids 3 and said surrounding structure, regardless of the open position PO or closed position PF of the storage box 1.

[0045] The storage box 1 is preferably integrated into an interior vehicle element, such as a center console, a door panel, a seat.

Claims

Demands

1. A storage box (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a fixed structure (2) including an external frame (6) and a storage compartment (7), and two right-angled covers (3) capable of assuming a closed position (PF) in which the right-angled covers (3) each include an upper horizontal surface (4a) and a lateral vertical surface (5a) and in which the storage compartment (7) is not accessible, and an open position (PO) in which the right-angled covers (3) each include a lower horizontal surface (5b) and a lateral vertical surface (4b) and in which the storage compartment (7) is accessible,characterized in that each right-angled cover (3) comprises two control mechanisms (8) located on either side of the cover (3) and each comprising a lower bar (9) and an upper bar (10) intended to cause the right-angled covers (3) to open and close about two axes of rotation such that the vertical surface (5a, 4b) and the chassis (6) of the structure (2) of the housing (1) have identical gaps (E1, E2) when the right-angled covers (3) are in the closed position (PF) and in the open position (PO).

2. Storage case (1) according to claim 1, which comprises two planes of symmetry.

3. Storage case (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each control mechanism (8) comprises a support plate (11) fixed to one end of the cover (3).

4. Storage case (1) according to claim 3, wherein the lower bar (9) comprises two ends (9a, 9b), one of the ends (9a) being connected to the support plate (11) of the control mechanism (8) and the other of the ends (9b) being connected to the structure (2) of the storage case (1).

5. Storage case (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the upper bar (10) comprises two ends (10a, 10b), one of the ends (10a) being connected to the support plate (11) of the control mechanism (8) and the other of the ends (10b) being connected to the external chassis (6) of the storage case (1).

6. Storage case (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein each support plate (11) of the mechanism control (8) includes a slot (12) suitable for permitting movement of the cover (3) driven by the lower bar (9).

7. Storage case (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which each control mechanism (8) is electrically powered by a motor which drives one of the ends (9b, 10b) of one of the bars (9, 10) of the control mechanism (8).

8. Storage case (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each control mechanism (8) includes stops (14) capable of precisely stopping the lid (3) in the open and closed position (PO, PF).

9. Storage case (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each control mechanism (8) includes a constant force spring (15).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a storage box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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