Automotive accessory mounting kit

Abstract

The invention relates to an accessory mounting assembly for a motor vehicle interior, comprising: - a base (14) adapted to be fixed to an interior trim panel of said motor vehicle interior; - a connecting member (18) having a first end (26) adapted to be connected to an interior accessory, and a second end (30) adapted to be mounted on said base to connect said accessory to said interior trim panel. Said base (14) has a sliding profile (16), while said second end (30) of said connecting member (18) has a tenon adapted to engage with said profile (16). Said tenon is adapted to be moved translationally within said profile (16) to adjust the position of said accessory relative to said interior trim panel. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Automotive vehicle accessory mounting assembly

[0001] The present invention relates to an accessory fixing assembly in a motor vehicle passenger compartment.

[0002] It is known to improve the comfort of the passenger compartment of motor vehicles in order to promote their attractiveness and interest.

[0003] This comfort goes hand in hand with the motorist's ability to customize the passenger compartment to their liking. They want to be able to easily access a variety of accessories. This includes, for example, their mobile phone, tablet, lamp, cup holder, and many other items.

[0004] It is obviously impossible for motor vehicle manufacturers to foresee in advance, for each vehicle, the fixing elements that should be installed on the interior trim walls of the vehicle to satisfy the desire of motorists, nor indeed the exact position of these elements in the passenger compartment.

[0005] However, it is known to install specific bases in the interior trim panel of vehicles in predefined positions in order to engage connecting elements linked to the desired accessory. The connecting elements then have at one of their ends a specific attachment adapted to cooperate with the bases in order to be held in a fixed position.

[0006] The bases are, for example, tubular with a rectangular cross-section, while the attachment of the connecting elements has a complementary cylindrical shape to be engaged inside the tubular base. The attachment is, for example, equipped with elastic retaining tabs that engage in lateral holes made in the tubular base. The connecting element is thus held locked onto the base, and the accessory can then be held in a fixed position along the inner trim wall. Unlocking the connecting element is easy, and it can thus be replaced by another connecting element linked to a different accessory.

[0007] However, the position of the base on the interior trim panel is predefined. It is therefore impossible to modify the position of an accessory without providing connecting elements of varying lengths and shapes.

[0008] Also, a problem which arises and which the present invention aims to solve is to provide a fastening assembly which allows the position of an accessory in the passenger compartment to be adjusted with a single type of fastening member.

[0009] In order to solve this problem, an accessory mounting assembly for use in a motor vehicle interior is proposed, comprising:

[0010] - a base adapted to be attached to an interior trim panel of said passenger compartment of motor vehicle;

[0011] - a connecting element having a first end suitable for being connected to a interior accessory, and a second end adapted to be mounted on said base to connect said accessory to said interior trim wall.

[0012] Said base includes a profile forming a slide, while said second end of said connecting member includes a tenon adapted to engage in said profile; and said tenon is able to be driven in translation in said profile to adjust the position of said accessory relative to said inner trim wall.

[0013] Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the implementation of a sliding profile to form the base, and a tenon at the second end of the connecting member, which tenon is adapted to slide inside the sliding profile. In this way, the position of the connecting member can be adjusted to hold the attached accessory in the desired position. It is therefore unnecessary to provide other connecting members of different dimensions.

[0014] According to the invention, said profile advantageously comprises a base wall and two opposing wings curved towards each other. Thus, the tenon engages between the two curved wings. And it is then free to move translationally between these two wings.

[0015] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said profile has an isosceles trapezoidal cross-section. In other words, the two flanges are inclined towards each other at the same angle of less than 90° with respect to the bottom wall.

[0016] Also, the tenon advantageously has, according to the invention, a generally trapezoidal prismatic shape. The tenon has dimensions and a shape adapted to the cross-section of the profile so that it can slide easily within it. Preferably, the tenon has a straight isosceles trapezoidal cross-section so as to form a dovetail-type mechanical connection with the profile of the base. The tenon is then mounted inside the profile in a captive manner. Consequently, the connecting element is also captive. Thanks to such an assembly, the accessories retain their position and do not detach from the trim panel during an impact to the vehicle.

[0017] According to a particularly advantageous feature of the invention, the fastening assembly includes a locking device for preventing the tenon from translating within the profile. The tenon is thus moved in translation within the sliding profile to adjust the position of the connecting member and the attached accessory to the desired position. The locking device is then actuated to prevent the tenon from translating within the profile.

[0018] Naturally, the locking device can be deactivated to release the tenon again and move it in translation inside the profile and adjust it in another position.

[0019] Preferably, the locking device comprises a locking piece mounted inside the tenon, the locking piece being adapted to be driven out of the tenon to bear against the profile. The tenon thus has a recess opening outwards, and the locking piece is installed in the recess so that it can be driven outwards from the tenon and bear against the profile. In this way, the frictional forces between the locking piece and the profile are sufficiently large to prevent the tenon from translating relative to the profile in the desired position.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking device comprises a control rod extending from the first end of the locking piece within the connecting member, so as to be able to control the locking piece outside of the tenon. For example, the rod has helical elements adapted to drive the locking piece in translation when it is driven in rotation. According to another example, the locking piece itself has helical elements, and the rod is linked to it in translation and rotation. These helical elements are then adapted to cooperate with other elements of the tenon.

[0021] Advantageously, the locking piece is driven in translation against the bottom of the profile.

[0022] Preferably, the locking piece has a free end provided with an elastomer coating in order to increase the friction force with the profile.

[0023] According to a particularly advantageous feature of the invention, said locking device comprises an operating handle located at said first end of said connecting member and integral with said control rod for rotating said control rod. According to an embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned helical elements of the rod have a predefined pitch enabling the control rod to be rotated by a single quarter turn to bring the locking piece against the profile and lock the tenon in translation.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, said operating handle comprises a square plate. The square plate is then adapted to be able to be connected to the various accessories provided for the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0025] Advantageously, said first end of said connecting member is substantially flat and square. Also, the square plate forming the operating handle has substantially the same dimensions as the first end of the connecting member. And furthermore, it extends into a position very close to the first end, while the four edges of the plate come respectively to the right of the four edges of the first end of the connecting member.

[0026] In other words, the end of the control rod extends substantially in projection at the center of the first end of the connecting member, and the end of the control rod is embedded in the center of the square plate.

[0027] In this way, when the square plate is rotated a quarter turn to actuate the locking piece, the four edges of the plate remain aligned with the four edges of the first end of the connecting member. Thus, the fastening assembly retains the same shape regardless of its position.

[0028] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0029] [Fig-1] is a schematic perspective view of a fastening assembly accessory conforming to the invention;

[0030] [Fig.2] is a schematic right-sectional view of the object in [Fig.1] along the plane II-II;

[0031] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of an element represented on the [[Fig.2]);

[0032] [Fig.4] is a schematic detail view of the object of [Fig.2] in a first state ;

[0033] [Fig.5] is a schematic detail view of the object of [Fig.2] in a second state; And,

[0034] [Fig.6] is a schematic perspective view of an implementation method of the accessory mounting assembly illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0035] Figure 1 shows, from the front, a door panel 10. It includes an interior trim 12 adapted to extend opposite the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The interior trim 12 also defines a wall on which a base 14 is installed. The base 14 includes a profile 16 adapted to form a slide, as will be explained below.

[0036] In the profile 16, a connecting member 18 is mounted, which is adapted to be mounted movable in translation along the direction of the profile 16. Also, the connecting member 18, which with the base 14 forms the fixing assembly according to the invention, is intended to receive an accessory as will be explained below.

[0037] We will first refer to [Fig.2] to describe the method of connection between the connecting member 18 and the base 14 via the profile 16.

[0038] The profile 16 has a bottom wall 20 and two opposing flanges 22, 24. The two flanges 22, 24 form the same angle with the bottom wall 20, which angle is less than 90°. For example, this angle is between 60° and 80°.

[0039] As regards the connecting member 18, it is formed in a T shape. It has a flat head 26 substantially square forming an upper end, and a foot 28 defining a lower end 30.

[0040] The lower end 30 of the foot 28 is cut into an isosceles trapezoidal prism to form a tenon adapted to engage inside the profile 16. Such an assembly is a mechanical connection known as a "dovetail joint".

[0041] Thus, the lower end 30 has a large face 32 extending against the bottom wall 20 of the profile 16, and two opposite lateral faces 34, 36 extending respectively against the two opposite flanges 22, 24. The two opposite lateral faces 34, 36 are thus inclined at the same angle with respect to the large face 32, which same angle is less than 90° and is for example between 60° and 80° just like the two flanges 22, 24 of the profile 16.

[0042] Thus, the external section of the tenon, i.e. the lower end 30 of the foot 28, and the internal section of the profile 16, are substantially the same, except for functional clearance, so that the lower end 30 of the foot 28 can slide in the profile 16.

[0043] Also, the lower end 30 forming a tenon has a recess 38 opening into the large face 32 opposite the bottom wall 20 of the profile 16.

[0044] The assembly of fixings according to the invention includes a locking device which allows precisely the lower end 30 of the foot 28 forming a tenon in the profile 16 to be locked in translation.

[0045] The locking device includes a locking piece 40 installed inside the recess 38. The locking piece 40 is connected in rotation and translation with one end of a control rod 42, which control rod 42 extends through the connecting member 18 to open out of the flat head 26. The other end of the control rod 42 is integral with a square plate 44 forming an operating handle.

[0046] In addition, the lower end 30 of the foot 28 has a shoulder 46 located at the bottom of the recess 38. And the shoulder 46 has at least two first diametrically opposed helical ramps not shown.

[0047] And the locking piece 40, of cylindrical symmetry, has a bearing face 48 that is flush with the large face 32 of the lower end 30 of the foot 28, and opposite it, a circular band 50 that is opposite the shoulder 46. The circular band 50 extends around the end of the rod 42 engaged in the locking piece 40. And, the circular band 50 of the locking piece 40 is provided with at least two second diametrically opposed helical ramps adapted to cooperate with the first two helical ramps of the shoulder 46.

[0048] Also, it will be observed that the square plate 44 and the flat head 26 of the connecting member 18 have between them an elastic washer 52 extended around the control rod 42.

[0049] Figure 3 shows the T-shaped connecting member 18 and its foot 28 surmounted by its square flat head 26. The square plate 44, which forms the operating member, is also shown. It will be observed that the square plate 44 has the same dimensions as the flat head 28. Furthermore, the square plate 44 and the flat head 28 are held in a fixed position relative to each other, forming a single block with a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, as will be explained below, the square plate 44 can be rotated a quarter turn relative to the flat head 28 without altering the configuration of this single block.

[0050] The large face 32 of the lower end 30 of the foot 28 is also found, into which the recess 38 opens. Also, at the level of the large face 32, the locking piece 40 and its bearing face 48 extend from the recess 38.

[0051] Figs. 4 and 5, to which reference will now be made, show in detail the mode of cooperation of the connecting member 18 and the profile 16 in two different states, a first state in which the connecting member is free in translation with respect to the profile 16 and a second state in which it is held in a fixed position with respect to the profile 16.

[0052] Thus, we find on [Fig.4] the lower end 30 of the foot 28 of the connecting piece 18 and forming a tenon, engaged inside the profile 16, between the two wings 22, 24. We find partially the rod 42 linked in rotation and translation to the locking piece 40.

[0053] Also, the bearing face 48 of the locking piece 40 comes flush with the large face 32. It therefore extends in relation to the bottom wall 20 of the profile 16. Under these conditions, the lower end 30 forming a tenon is free in translation along a direction perpendicular to the plane of [Fig.4].

[0054] When the rod 42 is rotated a quarter turn by means of the plate 44, the two second helical ramps of the circular band 50 of the locking piece 40 cooperate with the first two helical ramps of the shoulder 46, so that the locking piece 40 is driven in translation outwards from the recess 38. Simultaneously, the elastic washer 52 is compressed and the plate 44 approaches the flat head 26.

[0055] The locking piece 40 is then driven until its bearing face 48 is pressed against the bottom wall 20 of the profile 16, as illustrated in [Fig. 5]. In this position, the lower end 30, forming a tenon, is then held in a fixed position inside the profile 16 by the friction forces between the bearing face 48 and the bottom wall 20.

[0056] Preferably, the bearing face 48 is covered with an adhesive coating. This coating may be a layer of an elastomeric polymer material, for example polyurethane.

[0057] In this state of the locking piece 40, the plate 44, despite its quarter turn, remains opposite the square flat head 26, forming a single block of general right parallelepiped shape as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0058] Thus, this single block forms an attachment capable of cooperating with the wall of an accessory so that the latter can be connected to the connecting member 18.

[0059] We find on [Fig.6] the door panel 10 in perspective and the base 14 fitted with the profile 16 forming a slide.

[0060] Also, [Fig. 6] shows a cup holder 54, which conceals the connecting member 18 to which it is attached. To achieve this, the wall of the cup holder 54 has two opposing lateral slides (not shown) and an upper crossbar connecting the two slides. In this way, the plate 44 and the square flat head 26 are engaged in the two opposing slides so that the cup holder 54 is attached to them.

[0061] Thus, thanks to the possibility of adjusting the connecting member 18 along the profile 16 as illustrated above, the position of the cup holder 54 along the door panel 10 can be adjusted.

[0062] Such an adjustment possibility is not limited to a cup holder but can be extended to any other type of holder. This applies to mobile phone holders, tablet holders, or any other comfort feature in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

[0063] Naturally, the implementation of such a fastening assembly is not limited to door panels 10, but can be extended to the vehicle console, headrests, or any other support.

Claims

Demands

1. An accessory fixing assembly in a motor vehicle interior, comprising: - a base (14) adapted to be fixed to an interior trim panel of said motor vehicle interior; - a connecting member (18) having a first end (26) suitable for being connected to an interior accessory (54), and a second end (30) adapted for being mounted on said base to connect said accessory to said interior trim panel; characterized in that said base (14) has a profile (16) forming a slide, while said second end (30) of said connecting member (18) has a tenon adapted to engage with said profile (16); and in that said tenon is suitable for translation within said profile (16) to adjust the position of said accessory relative to said interior trim panel.

2. Accessory fixing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said profile (16) has a bottom wall (20) and two opposing wings (22, 24) curved towards each other.

3. Accessory fixing assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said profile (16) has an isosceles trapezoidal section.

4. Accessory fixing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said tenon has a general trapezoidal prismatic shape.

5. Accessory fixing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a locking device (40, 42, 44) for locking said tenon in translation in said profile (16).

6. Accessory fixing assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said locking device comprises a locking piece (40) mounted inside said tenon, said locking piece being adapted to be driven out of said tenon to come into forceful contact with said profile (16).

7. Accessory fastening assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that said locking device comprises a control rod (42) extending into said connecting member (18) of said first end (26) to said locking piece (40) in order to be able to control said locking piece outside of said tenon.

8. Accessory fixing assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that said locking device comprises an operating handle (44) located at said first end (26) of said connecting member (18) and integral with said control rod (42) to drive said control rod into rotation.

9. Accessory fixing assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that said operating handle comprises a square plate.

10. Accessory fixing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said first end of said connecting member is substantially flat and square.

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