Support for automotive vehicle cabin accessories with quick locking and electrical connection

Abstract

Automobile vehicle cab accessory support comprising a fixed part for connection to the vehicle (2), and a movable accessory support part (8) locking onto this fixed part (2) by an assembly movement along an axis (A) towards a forward direction (AV), with an electrical connection to pins, this movable part (8) having an axially sliding rod moving rearward in the assembly movement by bearing on the fixed part (2) while compressing a return spring, and triggering at the end of the assembly movement a radial movement of fingers of the movable part (8) which ensures both its axial locking in the fixed part (2) and an electrical contact bearing of the movable part (8) on the electrical pins. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE INTERIOR ACCESSORY SUPPORT A QUICK LOCKING AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick-locking motor vehicle interior accessory holder comprising an electrical connection, as well as a motor vehicle equipped with this accessory holder.

[0002] A type of accessory support known for a motor vehicle interior, notably described in document FR-A1-3131718, comprises a main accessory fixed in the interior, including on each side a connection interface for receiving a first supplementary accessory. Each supplementary accessory has a connection interface on two opposite faces, thus allowing a second supplementary accessory to be stacked on top of the first.

[0003] Thus, from a particular location on the vehicle which has sufficient resistance and is safe, receiving the main accessory, it is possible to attach several other accessories to the same location.

[0004] In particular, accessories such as a cup holder, a lamp or a small bin can be securely fixed in specific locations that are unlikely to cause problems, thus avoiding placing them in locations that could hinder maneuvers such as near the gear lever, limit ventilation of the passenger compartment such as in front of air vents, or cause injury by disrupting the deployment of an airbag in the event of an accident.

[0005] The connecting interfaces have tenons or grooves on one face that cooperate with grooves or tenons on the other part. This requires one end of the tenon to be fitted into the groove, followed by lateral sliding of the accessory to retract the tenon into the groove, thus fully securing the accessory. These maneuvers can be relatively difficult to perform, particularly in a moving vehicle, or in the case of a support fixed to a slightly flexible element such as a seat back.

[0006] Moreover, this type of connection does not allow for the electrical supply of the accessory by the vehicle's on-board network, which can be useful for connecting in particular a heated or cooled cup holder, an additional fan, an electric lamp or an ambient light.

[0007] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0008] To this end, it proposes a support for motor vehicle interior accessories comprising a fixed part for connection to the vehicle, and a movable part for supporting accessories which locks onto this fixed part by an assembly movement along an axis towards a forward direction with a connection to electrical terminals, this support being remarkable in that the movable part comprises an axial rod sliding backwards in the assembly movement by pressing on the fixed part by compressing a return spring, and by triggering at the end of the assembly movement a radial movement of fingers of the movable part which ensures both its axial locking in the fixed part, and the pressing of electrical contacts of the movable part on the electrical terminals.

[0009] An advantage of this accessory support is that by a simple and rapid movement comprising only the axial advance of the moving part in the centering of the fixed part, at the end of the stroke the triggering of the fingers which spread radially which simultaneously ensures the holding of this moving part and its supply of electrical current.

[0010] By selecting specific and secure locations within the vehicle for installing the fixed part to accommodate accessories, different types of accessories, including powered electrical equipment, can be successively installed and connected to this same fixed part. This ensures both ease of use and vehicle personalization. In particular, low-cost, sparsely equipped vehicles can be equipped to allow for the installation of various optional accessories, thereby enhancing the vehicle's value.

[0011] The accessory support according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other.

[0012] Advantageously, the fixed part has a centering around the axis of the moving part, forming a collar having a cavity of larger diameter in front which receives the fingers locking in front of this collar.

[0013] In this case, advantageously the fingertips have an electrical contact which comes to the end of locking by pressing on the electrical pads.

[0014] Advantageously, the moving part includes a pivot centered on the axis receiving inside the sliding rod, which pivots by triggering the radial movement of the fingers.

[0015] Advantageously, the sliding rod has a radial index forming a rotational block of this rod relative to the moving part, which during the assembly movement slides first in an axial groove of the pivot, then in a transverse groove during locking with a rotational movement of this pivot under the effect of a release of a rotational spring.

[0016] Moreover, advantageously the pivot includes a radial lever which comes out of the moving part through a transverse window, allowing the rotation spring to be compressed.

[0017] Advantageously, the front end of the pivot has a transverse plate comprising cams which, when locking, radially press the fingers outwards.

[0018] In this case, advantageously the fingers are guided radially in windows of the moving part.

[0019] Alternatively, the ends of the fingers may have axial teeth which fit into an internal toothing of the fixed part.

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with an accessory support comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, notable in that the electrical studs are powered by the vehicle's on-board network.

[0021] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig.1] presents an accessory support assembled according to the invention;

[0023] [Fig.2] is a rear view of the fixed part of this support;

[0024] [Fig.3] shows the movable part of this support with the fingers successively retracted and out;

[0025] [Fig.4] shows the inside of this moving part before assembly;

[0026] [Fig.5] shows the interior of this moving part after assembly

[0027] [Fig.6] is a bottom view of the movable part with the fingers extended; and

[0028] [Fig.7] presents a variant comprising positioning teeth at the ends fingers.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a generally circular accessory support, centered on an axis A having a forward direction AV, comprising a fixed cylindrical part 2 which remains permanently fixed to a surface of the vehicle's passenger compartment 4 at locations ensuring stability and safety. An electrical harness 6 exiting from the front face of the fixed part 2 is connected to the vehicle's electrical system to supply the support with an electrical current.

[0030] A cylindrical movable part 8 fitted into the fixed part 2 by an axial pressure forward to lock automatically, has a transverse rear face 12 receiving an accessory centered on a stud 14 protruding from this face, which has rear electrical contacts 32 for supplying the accessory fixed on it.

[0031] The movable part 8 comprises a radially elongated lever 16, extending through a transversely elongated window 18 to pivot about the axis A, having a length protruding slightly from the fixed part 2, which allows the mobile part to be detached by a movement opposite to the pivoting P of this arm in the window.

[0032] By fixing the movable part 8 behind an accessory, a simple forward push of the assembly on the fixed part 2 ensures at the end of the stroke an automatic locking which holds the accessory and forms the connection to the harness 6. Its disassembly is done simply and quickly, without tools, by an inverted pivoting P of the lever 16 unlocking the movable part 8 which then allows the accessory to be removed with this part.

[0033] Fig. 2 shows the fixed part 2 comprising on its rear face 28 a circular cavity 20 having a large diameter 22 having on its bottom a central circular pin 30, and on its cylindrical surface two electrical contacts 24 which are connected to the bundle 6. The rear face 28 of the fixed part 2 has a reduced bore compared to the diameter of the cavity 20, forming a collar 26 which partially closes this cavity.

[0034] Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the moving part 8 comprising a rear cylindrical housing 42 fitted and fixed on a front cylindrical housing 40.

[0035] The front cylindrical housing 40 has three rectangular windows 44, distributed equally around the perimeter and limited towards the rear by the front face of the rear housing 42, each receiving a locking finger 46.

[0036] An axial pivot 50 fixed in the rear housing 42, having an axial bore 52, has a rear end forming the stud 14 protruding from this housing, the radial lever 16 fitted in the transverse window 18, and has on one side an axial groove 54 opening into this bore, which terminates towards the rear by a transverse groove 56.

[0037] A rod 58 sliding axially in the bore 52 has a radial cylindrical index 60 having an end that is fitted into an axial groove inside the rear housing 42 so as to maintain a constant angular position in this housing. A helical extraction spring 62 located behind the sliding rod 58 bears against a shoulder in the bore 52 to exert a permanent forward pressure on this rod.

[0038] A rotation spring 64 arranged in front of the pivot 50 bears against this housing to exert a pivoting force P continuously on the pivot.

[0039] The front face of the pivot 50 comprises a transverse plate 70 including three angularly distributed cams 72, each positioned behind a finger 46. Before assembly of the moving part 8, these fingers remain within their window 44 without protruding from the contour of the front housing 40. After a pivoting movement P of the pivot 50, the fingers are pressed to expel them from the windows. The front end 74 of the sliding rod 58 extends forward of the plate with cams 70.

[0040] The operation of the accessory support is as follows. An operator axially presses the movable part 8 equipped with its accessory onto the fixed part 2 in a forward assembly movement, inserting the front housing 40 into the cavity 20 with centering by the collar 26.

[0041] During this assembly movement, the front end 74 of the rod 58 bears against the central pin 30 of the cavity 20, which causes this rod to retract by compressing the extraction spring 62. This results in the index 60 of the rod 58 sliding in the axial groove 54.

[0042] At the end of the assembly movement, the index 60 of the sliding rod 58 reaches the transverse groove 56 of the pivot 50, which allows the rotation spring 64 to apply the pivoting movement P to this pivot, without rotating the rear housings 40, 42 linked together, which maintain a fixed angular position relative to the rod. This results in a rotation of the plate 70 linked to the pivot 50, each of its cams 72 pushing back a finger 46 which slides in its window 44. In the same movement, the radial lever 16 linked to the pivot 50 pivots in the transverse window 18 of the rear housing 42.

[0043] At the end of rotation of the plate 70 the end of each finger 46 is in radial support at the bottom of the cavity 20, with an axial blockage under the inlet collar 26 of this cavity 28 which automatically locks the assembly of the moving part 8, and a support of the end contacts 34 of the fingers 46 on the electrical pads 24.

[0044] The moving part 8 has an angular indexing relative to the fixed part 2 which, when introduced into this fixed part, imposes an angular position in order to obtain the support of each finger 46 equipped with its contact 34 on an electrical pad 24 arranged radially at the bottom of the cavity 20.

[0045] It should be noted that the pads 24 of the fixed part 2, which are permanently supplied with an electric current and arranged radially at the bottom of the cavity 20 under the collar 26, are protected by not allowing easy access, which avoids risks of incidents.

[0046] Fig. 7 presents, as an alternative, axial teeth 80 formed on the ends of the fingers 46, which fit into a corresponding internal toothing 82 formed on the side of the cavity 20 in order to ensure precise positioning of these fingers.

[0047] The dismantling of the accessory with its moving part 8 is done by an inverse movement of the pivoting P of the radial lever 16 having an end protruding from the fixed part 2 which is easily accessible, by compressing the rotation spring 64 which gives a withdrawal towards the axis A of the fingers 44 linked to their cams 72.

[0048] At the end of the pivoting motion, the index 60 of the sliding rod 58 is positioned opposite the axial groove 54, which allows the extraction spring 62 to push on this rod. The front end of the rod 74 bears against the central pin 30 of the fixed part 2 to automatically push back the movable part 8.

[0049] Both rapid mounting of the accessory is achieved by a simple axial forward pressure on this accessory equipped with the movable part 2, and simple removal is achieved by operating only the radial lever 16.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle interior accessory support comprising a fixed part for vehicle connection (2), and a movable part for accessory support (8) locking onto this fixed part (2) by an assembly movement along an axis (A) towards a forward direction (AV), with a connection to electrical terminals (24), characterized in that the movable part (8) has an axial rod (58) sliding backward in the assembly movement by pressing on the fixed part (2) by compressing a return spring (62), and at the end of the assembly movement triggering a radial movement of fingers (46) of the movable part (8) which ensures both its axial locking in the fixed part (2), and an electrical contact (34) of the movable part (8) on the electrical terminals (24).

2. Accessory support according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed part (2) has a centering (26) around the axis (A) of the movable part (8), forming a collar having towards the front a cavity (20) of higher diameter which receives the fingers (46) locking in front of this collar.

3. Accessory support according to claim 2, characterized in that finger ends (46) have an electrical contact (34) which comes to the end of locking by pressing on the electrical pads (24).

4. Accessory support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part (2) has a pivot (50) centered on the axis (A) receiving inside the sliding rod (58), which pivots by triggering the radial movement of the fingers (46).

5. Accessory support according to claim 4, characterized in that the sliding rod (58) has a radial index (60) forming a rotational lock of this rod (58) relative to the movable part (8), which during the assembly movement slides first in an axial groove (54) of the pivot (50), then in a transverse groove (56) when locking with a rotational movement of this pivot (50) under the effect of a release of a rotation spring (64).

6. Accessory support according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pivot (50) comprises a radial lever (16) which extends from the movable part (8) by a transverse window (18), allowing compression of the rotation spring (64).

7. Accessory support according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the front end of the pivot (50) comprises a transverse plate (70) including cams (72) which, when locked, radially press outwards the fingers (46).

8. Accessory support according to claim 7, characterized in that the fingers (46) are guided radially in windows (44) of the movable part (8).

9. Accessory support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends of the fingers (46) have axial teeth (90) which fit into an internal toothing (92) of the fixed part (2).

10. Motor vehicle equipped with an accessory support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical studs (24) are powered by the vehicle's on-board network.

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