FOLDABLE STORAGE COMPARTMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE

Abstract

A storage compartment (4) for a trim element of a motor vehicle comprising a fixed part (5) integrated into the trim element and a movable part (6) that can be moved between a closed position in which it is close to the fixed part (5) and an open position (OP) in which it is away from the fixed part (5), said movable part (6) comprising a panel (6a) and an extendable element (6b) positioned between said panel (6a) and the fixed part (5). The panel (6a) of the movable part (6) comprises at least one hinge separating the panel (6a) into at least two portions movable relative to each other, and the storage compartment (4) comprises a closing mechanism (12) for the movable part (6) onto the fixed part (5). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 2B

Description

Title of the invention: FOLDABLE STORAGE COMPARTMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to storage for motor vehicles and more particularly to door storage pockets for motor vehicles.

[0002] A motor vehicle includes various types of internal storage, including storage located on the vehicle doors. These may include a compartment directly embedded in the door.

[0003] However, certain areas within a motor vehicle have limited space and cannot accommodate traditional storage compartments. This is particularly true of the area on the inside of a motor vehicle door located between the rear bench seat and the front seats.

[0004] Today, some storage pockets are designed to be flexible. However, the solutions offered are neither sufficiently optimal in terms of storage volume nor aesthetically pleasing. Description of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a solution that addresses the aforementioned problems.

[0006] The invention therefore relates to a storage compartment for a trim element of a motor vehicle, comprising a fixed part integrated into the trim element and a movable part that can be moved between a closed position in which it is brought closer to the fixed part and an open position in which it is moved away from the fixed part. The movable part comprises a panel and an extendable element positioned between the panel and the fixed part. The panel of the movable part includes at least one hinge separating the panel into at least two portions that are movable relative to each other. The storage compartment includes a mechanism for closing the movable part onto the fixed part.

[0007] Advantageously, the fixed part includes a shoulder on which the upper portion of the panel of the moving part is superimposed, when said moving part is in the closed position.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the fixed part includes a portion hollowed out towards the trim element, intended to enlarge the storage compartment.

[0009] Advantageously, the extensible organ comprises an elastic material.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the panel of the moving part includes several hinges.

[0011] Advantageously, the hinge includes a panel folding line.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the hinge is inclined so that the moving part is more open at one end of the panel than at the other end of the panel.

[0013] Advantageously, the closing mechanism includes a magnet.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the trim element is a motor vehicle door.

[0015] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a storage compartment as defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] 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:

[0017] - The [Fig. 1] represents an example of a motor vehicle;

[0018] - Figure [Fig. 2A] is a schematic representation of a storage pocket in closed position of a motor vehicle door;

[0019] - Fig. 2B is a schematic representation of a storage pocket in open position of a motor vehicle door; and

[0020] - Figure 3 is a chronological representation of the opening of a pocket of stored in an intermediate open position. Detailed description

[0021] In [Fig. 1], a motor vehicle designated by the numerical reference 1 is shown. The motor vehicle 1 is inscribed in an orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z. The X axis designates the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, the Y axis designates the transverse direction oriented to the left of the vehicle 1 viewed from the front, along the X direction, and the Z axis designates the vertical direction, oriented upwards of the vehicle 1. The motor vehicle 1 comprises a door 2 which has an inner face 3 and a storage pocket 4, said storage pocket 4 being integrated into the inner face 3 of the door 2.

[0022] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 2A, 2B and 3, the storage pocket 4 comprises a fixed part 5 integrated into the door 2 of the motor vehicle 1 and a movable part 6 that can be moved between a closed position PF in which it is brought closer to the fixed part 5 and an open position PO in which it is moved away from the fixed part 5.

[0023] Thus, when the movable part 6 is in the closed position PF, the storage compartment 4 is in the closed position PF and is not accessible by a user and when the movable part 6 is in the open position PO, the storage compartment 4 is in the open position PO and is accessible by the user.

[0024] As illustrated in [Fig.2B], the movable part 6 comprises a panel 6a and an extendable member 6b positioned between the panel 6a and the fixed part 5.

[0025] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the panel 6a of the movable part 6 is a solid plate substantially comprising the shape of a truncated right triangle. The panel 6a thus comprises a first horizontal side oriented along the X-axis, a second vertical side oriented along the Z-axis, and a third side inclined between the first and second sides, the vertex of the right triangle between the first and third sides being truncated.

[0026] The panel 6a includes two hinges 7, 8 allowing said panel 6a to be separated into three movable portions 9, 10, 11 relative to each other.

[0027] The hinges 7, 8 each include a folding line of the panel 6a. Indeed, the panel 6a of the movable part 6 includes two folding lines, thus allowing it to be folded into three distinct portions 9, 10, 11.

[0028] In other words, the panel 6a comprises a first upper portion 9, a second intermediate portion 10, and a third lower portion 11. The first upper portion 9 is separated from the second intermediate portion 10 by a first fold line 7, and the second intermediate portion 10 is separated from the third lower portion 11 by a second fold line 8. The first portion 9 is movable relative to the second and third portions 10 and 11, the second portion 10 is movable relative to the first and third portions 9 and 11, and the third portion 11 is movable relative to the first and second portions 9 and 10. The third portion 11 is connected to the fixed part 5 of the storage compartment 4 by an assembly means comprising stitching and / or gluing. Alternatively, the panel 6a is made of the same material as the fixed part 5 of the storage compartment.In this embodiment, the third portion 11 is connected to the fixed part 5 of the storage compartment 4, for example, by a film hinge type connection.

[0029] Panel 6a advantageously comprises a plastic material.

[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the fold lines 7, 8 are inclined so that the movable part is more open at one end of panel 6a than at the other end. In other words, when the movable part 6 is in the open position, the end of panel 6a comprising the second side of the right triangle is more open than the end of panel 6a comprising the truncated vertex; that is, the storage compartment 4 is more accessible at the level of the second side of the right triangle oriented along the Z axis only at the level of the truncated vertex.

[0031] The fixed part 5 comprises a shoulder 5a machined into a fixed plate of the fixed part and a recessed portion 5b extending towards the door 2 of the motor vehicle 1. The recessed portion 5b allows for an enlarged storage compartment 4. When the movable part 6 is in the closed position PF, the first upper portion 9 of the panel 6a is perfectly aligned with the shoulder 5b of the fixed part 5 so that the inner face 3 of the door 2 is smooth when the storage compartment 4 is in the closed position PF, i.e., when it is not accessible. In the closed position PF, the panel 6a is continuous with the inner face 3 of the door 2.

[0032] The extendable member 6b of the movable part 6 is connected on one side to the lower third portion 11 of the panel 6a of the movable part 6 and on the other side to an internal lateral surface of the recessed portion 5b of the fixed part 5. The extendable member 6b allows the movable part 6 to adapt to a maximum open position PO. Indeed, the extendable member 6b is capable of widening to enlarge the space of the storage compartment 4.

[0033] Advantageously, the expandable element 6b comprises an elastic material. By way of example, the expandable element 6b comprises an elastic material.

[0034] The storage compartment 4 further includes a closing mechanism 12 of the movable part 6 on the fixed part 5. According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the closing mechanism 12 includes a magnet.

[0035] Figure 3 illustrates the opening of the storage compartment 4 as a function of time T. The first drawing at T0 of Figure 3 shows the storage compartment 4 in the closed position PF. The first upper portion 9 of the movable part 6 is thus superimposed on the shoulder 5a of the fixed part 5. The second drawing at T1 of Figure 3 illustrates the folding of the first upper portion 9 of the panel 6a of the movable part 6, and the third drawing at T2 illustrates the folding of the second intermediate portion 10 of the panel 6a of the movable part 6. As illustrated in the fourth drawing at T3 of Figure 3, the folded panel 6a thus allows the user access to the storage compartment 4 and, in particular, to the recessed portion 5b of the fixed part 5 of the storage compartment 4. The user can therefore store objects in the storage compartment 4.

[0036] If the user wishes to further enlarge the storage compartment 4, the panel 6a of the movable part 6 can be pulled to engage the extendable member 6b. The user can, for example, wedge an object between the movable part 6 and the fixed part 5 of the storage compartment 4, the extendable member 6b allowing to ensure a spring function so that the object is properly held in storage compartment 4.

[0037] Of course, the invention remains within the scope of the invention even if the storage compartment 4 has a different composition. It is thus possible to design a storage compartment 4 comprising a panel 6a with a single hinge 7, 8. It is also possible for the hinge to include a seam and / or pintles. The number of hinges varies depending, in particular, on the size of the storage compartment 4 and especially on the size of the panel 6a of the movable part 6.

[0038] The storage compartment 4, which folds thanks to hinges 7, 8, creates an aesthetic effect when opened and closed, while being totally invisible when closed.

[0039] The description was made for a trim element corresponding to a door panel. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the trim element could also be, for example, a seat, a center console or a dashboard.

Claims

Demands

1. Storage compartment (4) for a trim element of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a fixed part (5) integrated into the trim element and a movable part (6) movable between a closed position (PF) in which it is brought closer to the fixed part (5) and an open position (PO) in which it is moved away from the fixed part (5), said movable part (6) comprising a panel (6a) and an extendable member (6b) positioned between said panel (6a) and the fixed part (5), characterized in that the panel (6a) of the movable part (6) comprises at least one hinge (7, 8) separating the panel (6a) into at least two movable portions (9, 10, 11) relative to each other and in that the storage compartment (4) comprises a closing mechanism (12) of the movable part (6) on the fixed part (5).

2. Storage compartment (4) according to claim 1, wherein the fixed part (5) includes a shoulder (5a) on which is superimposed the upper portion (9) of the panel (6a) of the movable part (6), when said movable part (6) is in the closed position (PF).

3. Storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the fixed part (5) includes a recessed portion (5b) in the direction of the trim element, intended to enlarge the storage compartment (4).

4. Storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the expandable member (6b) comprises an elastic material.

5. Storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the panel (6a) of the movable part (6) comprises several hinges (7, 8).

6. Storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hinge (7, 8) includes a folding line of the panel (6a).

7. Storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the hinge (7, 8) is inclined so that the movable part (6) is more open at one end of the panel (6a) than at the other end of the panel (6a).

8. Storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the closing mechanism (12) includes a magnet.

9. Storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the trim element is a motor vehicle door (2) (1).

10. Vehicle (1) comprising a storage compartment (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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