Vehicle console box structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle console box structure that ensures a wide width for the vehicle console box while avoiding interference between the vehicle console box and the rail cover provided on the front seat. [Solution] The vehicle console box structure 1a is configured to include: a slide rail 4 provided below the seat surfaces 18 of the left and right front seats 2 and 3 in the vehicle, which supports the left and right front seats 2 and 3 so as to be slidable in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction; rail covers 19 provided on the left and right front seats 2 and 3, which bulge out in the vehicle width direction and extend in the front-rear direction to cover the slide rail 4; and a vehicle console box 1, which is arranged in a separated region R formed by the left and right front seats 2 and 3 being separated from each other in the vehicle width direction, and which has a curved recess 21 formed on its side that extends in the front-rear direction and faces the rail cover 19 from the vehicle width direction to avoid interference with the rail cover 19.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a console box structure for vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] A console box structure for vehicles is known in which a console box for vehicles is arranged between the left and right front seats in a vehicle. Further, it is common for the front seats to be configured to be slidable back and forth.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a console box for vehicles arranged between the left and right front seats, which can store a box tissue even when the distance between the left and right front seats is narrow.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a technique of providing a rail cover that covers a slide rail for supporting a front seat slidably back and forth on the front seat.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the technique of Patent Document 1, the console box for vehicles can store articles of a certain size even when the distance between the left and right front seats is narrow, but there is no perspective of avoiding interference between this rail cover and the console box for vehicles when providing a rail cover on the front seat as in the technique of Patent Document 2. Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2, there is no special consideration regarding the relationship between the front seat and the console box for vehicles.

[0007] The technology disclosed herein has been developed in view of the circumstances described above, and aims to provide a vehicle console box structure that can ensure a wide width for the vehicle console box while avoiding interference between the vehicle console box and the rail cover provided on the front seat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One vehicle console box structure of the present disclosure comprises: slide rails provided below the seat surfaces of the left and right front seats in a vehicle and supporting the left and right front seats so as to be slidable in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction of the vehicle; rail covers provided on the left and right front seats, extending in the longitudinal direction so as to bulge in the vehicle width direction and cover the slide rails; and a vehicle console box arranged in a spaced-out region where the left and right front seats are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and having a curved recess formed on its side that extends in the longitudinal direction and faces the rail cover from the vehicle width direction to avoid interference with the rail cover. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The vehicle console box structure of this disclosure makes it possible to ensure a wide width for the vehicle console box while avoiding interference between the vehicle console box and the rail cover provided on the front seat. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows a vehicle console box structure as disclosed herein. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the vehicle console box structure and the right seat slid to its furthest forward position. [Figure 3] This figure shows a cross-sectional view of the relationship between the rail cover of the right seat and the vehicle's console box in the state shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This figure shows a plan view of the relationship between the rail cover of the right seat and the vehicle's console box in the state shown in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle console box. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle's console box along line B-B'. [Figure 7] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle console box. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] In all drawings of this application, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is illustrated by arrows Fw (Forward) and Bw (Backward), the left-right direction in the vehicle width direction is illustrated by arrows Lw (Leftward) and Rw (Rightward), and the up-down direction of the vehicle is illustrated by arrows Uw (Upward) and Dw (Downward).

[0012] A vehicle console box structure according to one aspect of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] In the notation in Figure 1, the bidirectional arrows Fw-Bw indicate the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the bidirectional arrows Lw-Rw indicate the lateral direction of the vehicle. In Figure 1, the vehicle console box 1 in the vehicle console box structure 1a of this disclosure is positioned in a separated region R formed by the left front seat 2 and the right front seat 3 of the vehicle being separated in the vehicle width direction. The left front seat 2 and the right front seat 3 are supported by slide rails 4 and are slidable in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction.

[0014] The left front seat 2 has a configuration that is roughly symmetrical to the right front seat 3 with respect to a virtual plane that bisects the separation region R in the vehicle width direction. In the following description, the right front seat 3 will be referred to simply as the front seat 3, as appropriate, when describing the left front seat 2 and the right front seat 3.

[0015] The slide rail 4 is a concave strip extending in the front-rear direction and is fixed to the floor member 5 of this vehicle shown virtually. By slidably coupling the slide member 6 on the front seat 3 side to the slide rail 4, the front seat 3 is slidably supported by the slide rail 4.

[0016] Referring also to the external perspective view of the vehicle console box 1 in FIG. 2, the vehicle console box 1 includes a console box body 9 that defines a storage portion 10 for storing articles. The console box body 9 includes a lower lower half 7 fixed to the floor member 5 and an upper half 8 coupled on the lower half 7. The storage portion 10 is a space between the lower half 7 and the upper half 8.

[0017] The vehicle console box 1 in this example is used such that articles are put in and taken out from the storage portion 10 through an article storage opening 11 formed on the side surface of the console box body 9 while the lower half 7 and the upper half 8 are coupled.

[0018] The vehicle console box 1 and the front seat 3 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. 2 is a view showing the vehicle console box 1 and the right front seat 3 at the most forward position where it is slid. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of a part of the right front seat 3 and the vehicle console box 1. FIG. 4 is a view showing the right front seat 3 and the vehicle console box 1 at the position of FIG. 2. In the notations of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the bidirectional arrow Fw-Bw indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the bidirectional arrow Lw-Rw indicates the left-right direction of the vehicle. Although the bidirectional arrow Fw-Bw does not appear in FIG. 3, the back side (Bw) is on the back side of the paper, and the front side (Fw) is on the front side of the paper.

[0019] The vehicle console box 1 includes a top plate 12 that is attached to the console box main body 9 so as to cover the upper part of the console box main body 9, that is, the upper part of the upper half 8. The top plate 12 has a recessed portion 13 that is recessed downward, opposite to the upper side. The recessed portion 13 is recessed downward from the left and right side edges 14 that are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction of the top plate 12 and extend in the front-rear direction, and a bottom opening 15 is formed in the central portion between the left and right side edges 14. The top plate 12 can take a form called a top surface garnish with appropriate decoration on the upper surface.

[0020] Also, the vehicle console box 1 includes a tray 16 that covers the top plate 12. That is, it includes a tray 16 that is fitted into the recessed portion 13 of the top plate 12 from above and covers the bottom opening 15 portion. The tray 16 is fitted into the top plate 12 and forms the bottom 17 of the recessed portion 13 in appearance. Since the bottom opening 15 is blocked by the fitted tray 16, it is not directly visible. The tray 16 has a planar first tray portion 16a forming a relatively shallow recessed bottom and a planar second tray portion 16b forming a relatively deep recessed bottom, which are connected in a form continuous from the rear side to the front side in the front-rear direction. That is, the rear-side first tray portion 16a is connected to the front-side second tray portion 16b. The first tray portion 16a is configured, for example, to be suitable for placing a smartphone.

[0021] The tray 16 is fitted into the top plate 12 and forms the bottom 17 of the recessed portion 13. The tray 16 has a planar first tray portion 16a forming a relatively shallow recessed bottom and a planar second tray portion 16b forming a relatively deep recessed bottom, which are connected in a form continuous from the rear side to the front side in the front-rear direction. That is, the rear-side first tray portion 16a is connected to the front-side second tray portion 16b. The first tray portion 16a is configured, for example, to be suitable for placing a smartphone. The second tray portion 16b is configured, for example, to be suitable for accommodating small items.

[0022] A rail cover 19 is provided at a position lower than the seat surface 18 of the right front seat 3, extending in the front-rear direction so as to bulge in the vehicle width direction and cover the slide rail 4. Similarly, a rail cover 19 is also provided on the left front seat 2 side. The upper surface of the rail cover 19 is shaped to be relatively wide at the intermediate position in the front-rear direction, and an operation switch 20 for performing operations related to the seat is located in this wide portion.

[0023] Referring to Figure 3, on the side of the vehicle console box 1, a recess 21 is formed on the side that extends in the front-rear direction and faces the rail cover 19 from the vehicle width direction, and is curved to avoid interference with the rail cover 19. The recess 21 is formed by a shape change such that the distance in the vehicle width direction between the two sides of the vehicle console box 1 is narrowest at the intermediate position M as it moves from the lower position L on the floor member 5 side which forms the floor surface of the vehicle, through the upper intermediate position M, and then to the upper position U further above.

[0024] The upper half 8 of the vehicle console box 1 has a tapered inclined portion 23 that forms the upper part of the recess 21, with the spacing in the vehicle width direction gradually decreasing from the upper position U to the middle position M.

[0025] The lower half 7 of the vehicle console box 1 has a widening inclined portion 25 that forms the lower part of the recess 21, with the spacing in the vehicle width direction gradually increasing from the middle position M to the lower position L.

[0026] Referring to Figure 4, the vehicle console box 1 has a narrowed width section 22 in which the spacing in the vehicle width direction at the upper position U, as described with reference to Figure 3, narrows from the front to the rear in the longitudinal direction. The narrowed width section 22 is mainly formed in the rear part of the upper half 8 of the vehicle console box 1, and its rear end position is approximately coincident with the rear end position of the top plate 12.

[0027] The narrowed width portion 22 is formed in a part of the vehicle console box 1 that has a positional relationship with the rail cover 19 in the longitudinal direction when the front seat 3 is in the foremost position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In short, the rear part of the upper part of the vehicle console box 1 forms a relatively narrow narrowed width portion 22.

[0028] Therefore, even when the front seat 3 is in the foremost position in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the rail cover 19 and the vehicle console box 1 do not interfere with each other. Consequently, the portion of the vehicle console box 1 in front of the narrowed section 22 can be designed to be relatively wide. This makes it possible to secure a larger capacity in the tray 16 and storage section 10.

[0029] The vehicle console box 1 will be further described with reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle console box 1 from the upper left of the vehicle. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view BB' of the vehicle console box 1 in Figure 5. Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle console box 1 in Figure 5 with the top plate 12 and tray 16 removed. In the notation of Figures 5, 6, and 7, the bidirectional arrow Fw-Bw indicates the front-to-back direction of the vehicle, and the bidirectional arrow Lw-Rw indicates the left-to-right direction of the vehicle. Note that the bidirectional arrow Lw-Rw is not shown in Figure 6, but Rw is at the back of the page and Lw is at the front of the page.

[0030] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the upper half 8 is superimposed on the lower half 7 and joined by a connecting portion 27 to form an integrated console box body 9. The connecting portion 27 is divided into a front connecting portion 27a on the front-rear side of the vehicle console box 1 and a rear connecting portion 27b on the rear-rear side. The upper half 8 has an upper opening forming portion 28 in the tapered inclined shape 23 between the front connecting portion 27a and the rear connecting portion 27b, which is formed by receding in a concave shape from the position where its side faces the lower half 7.

[0031] Therefore, the upper half 8 has an arch shape spanning between the front joint 27a and the rear joint 27b. The lower half 7 has a lower opening forming portion 29 in the widening inclined shape portion 25 between the front joint 27a and the rear joint 27b, which is recessed in a concave shape from the position where its side faces the upper half 8.

[0032] The upper opening forming portion 28 and the lower opening forming portion 29 form the storage opening 11 for items in the vehicle console box 1. The lower half 7 is supported by a support bracket 30, which is partially connected to the vehicle floor member 5 and the other part is connected to the top surface member 26.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6, the upper half 8 is provided with a bottom member 24 located at the lower end, connecting the left and right tapered inclined sections 23. The lower half 7 is provided with a top member 26 located at the upper end, connecting the left and right widening inclined sections 25. The front joint 27a is positioned lower than the rear joint 27b. That is, the upper half 8 has a shape in which the front bottom member 24 corresponding to the front joint 27a is lower than the rear bottom member 24 corresponding to the rear joint 27b. For this reason, even when routing wiring from the lower part of the front instrument panel (not shown) to the upper half 8 through a hole in its front wall, it is easy to secure a wiring route and the wiring work is also easy.

[0034] The configurations and their effects in each aspect of the vehicle console box structure 1a of this disclosure are summarized below.

[0035] (1) The vehicle console box structure 1a of the present disclosure comprises: slide rails 4 provided below the seat surfaces 18 of the left and right front seats 2 and 3 in the vehicle and supporting the left and right front seats 2 and 3 so as to be slidable in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction; rail covers 19 provided on the left and right front seats 2 and 3, extending in the longitudinal direction so as to bulge in the vehicle width direction and cover the slide rails 4; and a vehicle console box 1 positioned in a separated region R formed by the left and right front seats 2 and 3 being separated from each other in the vehicle width direction, with a recess 21 formed on its side that extends in the longitudinal direction and faces the rail cover 19 from the vehicle width direction so as to avoid interference with the rail cover 19.

[0036] In the vehicle console box structure 1a described in (1) above, a curved recess 21 is formed on the side of the vehicle console box 1 to avoid interference with the rail cover 19. Therefore, while ensuring a wide spacing in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle console box 1, interference between the vehicle console box 1 and the rail cover 19 provided on the front seats 2 and 3 can be avoided.

[0037] (2) In one embodiment of the vehicle console box structure 1a described in (1) above, the vehicle console box 1 has a recess 21 formed by a change in the distance between the two sides in the vehicle width direction, which increases from a lower position L on the vehicle floor (floor member 5 forming the floor) side, through an upper middle position M, and further upward to an upper position U, with the middle position M being the narrowest. The vehicle console box 1 has a narrowed section 22 in the vehicle width direction at the upper position U, which narrows from the front to the rear in the longitudinal direction. The narrowed section 22 is formed in a portion of the vehicle console box 1 that has a positional relationship with the rail cover 19 in the longitudinal direction when the front seat 3 is in the foremost position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0038] In the vehicle console box structure 1a described in (2) above, the rear upper part of the vehicle console box 1 forms a relatively narrow, retractable section 22. Therefore, even when the front seat 3 is in its foremost position in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the rail cover 19 and the vehicle console box 1 do not interfere with each other. Consequently, the part of the vehicle console box 1 in front of the retractable section 22 can be designed to be relatively wide. This makes it possible to increase the capacity of the tray 16 and the storage section 10.

[0039] (3) In one embodiment of the vehicle console box structure 1a described in (2) above, the vehicle console box 1 is configured to have an upper half 8 on the upper position U side and a lower half 7 on the lower position L side, the upper half 8 has a tapered inclined shape portion 23 that forms the upper part of the recess 21 with a shape in which the distance in the vehicle width direction gradually decreases from the upper position U to the middle position M, and a bottom surface member 24 that is located on the lower end side of the upper half 8 and connects the left and right tapered inclined shapes portion 23, the lower half 7 has a widening inclined shape portion 25 that forms the lower part of the recess 21 with a shape in which the distance in the vehicle width direction gradually increases from the middle position M to the lower position L, and a top surface member 26 that is located on the upper end side of the lower half 7 and connects the left and right widening inclined shapes portion 25, and a connecting portion 27 is provided that connects the bottom surface member 24 of the upper half 8 and the top surface member 26 of the lower half 7.

[0040] In the vehicle console box structure 1a described in (3) above, the vehicle console box 1 is composed of a console box body 9 formed by joining a lower half 7 and an upper half 8 at an intermediate position M. At the intermediate position M where the lower half 7 and the upper half 8 are joined, the top surface member 26 of the lower half 7 and the bottom surface member 24 of the upper half 8 are joined at a joint 27. As a result, the rigidity of the vehicle console box 1 at the intermediate position M is strengthened by the joint 27 where the bottom surface member 24 and the top surface member 26 are joined. Consequently, although the vehicle console box 1 as a whole has a shape that is narrowed by the recess 21 in the cross-sectional view of Figure 3, it has sufficient load-bearing characteristics in the vertical direction. Furthermore, because the rigidity of the joint 27 is high, rigidity that can withstand stress from various directions as well as vertically can be ensured.

[0041] (4) In one embodiment of the vehicle console box structure 1a described in (3) above, the connecting portion 27 is divided into a front connecting portion 27a on the front-rear side of the vehicle console box 1 and a rear connecting portion 27b on the rear-rear side. The upper half 8 has an upper opening forming portion 28 formed in a narrowed inclined shape 23 between the front connecting portion 27a and the rear connecting portion 27b, with the side surface recessed in a concave shape from the position facing the lower half 7. The lower half 7 has a lower opening forming portion 29 formed in a widening inclined shape 25 between the front connecting portion 27a and the rear connecting portion 27b, with the side surface recessed in a concave shape from the position facing the upper half 8. The upper opening forming portion 28 and the lower opening forming portion 29 form an opening 11 for storing items in the vehicle console box 1. The lower half 7 is supported by a support bracket 30, part of which is connected to the vehicle floor member 5 and the other part is connected to the top surface member 26.

[0042] In the vehicle console box structure 1a described in (4) above, the upper half 8 of the vehicle console box 1 is provided in an arch shape, spanning between the front joint 27a and the rear joint 27b. Furthermore, the front joint 27a and the rear joint 27b that support the arch-shaped upper half 8 are supported by a support bracket 30 connected to the vehicle's floor member 5. Therefore, the load from above the upper half 8 of the vehicle console box 1 is reliably received. In addition, since it has a storage compartment 10, it is convenient for placing items there. Furthermore, when putting items in or taking them out of the storage compartment 10, when the user puts their hand into the item storage opening 11 from diagonally above the vehicle console box 1, the intermediate part of the upper half 8 in the front-rear direction is widely open upward by the upper opening forming part 28, making it easier to put in and take out the hand. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] L…lower position M…Medium position U…Top position 1...Vehicle console box 1a...Console box structure for vehicles 2…Left front seat 3…Right front seat 4…Slide rail 5…Flooring materials 6…Sliding member 7...Lower Half 8… Upper Half 9…Console box body 10...Storage section 11…Opening for storing items 12... Tabletop 13… recessed area 14…Side edge 15…Bottom opening 16...Tray 16a...First tray section 16b...Second tray section 17...bottom 18...Seat 19... Rail cover 20...Operation switch 20 21…recess 22…Reduced width part 23... Aperture inclined shape section 24…Bottom component 25... Widening and sloping section 26…Top surface component 27...Joining part 27a…Front joint part 27b…Rear joint part 28...Upper opening forming part 29…Lower opening forming part 30…Support bracket

Claims

1. A slide rail is provided below the seat surface of the left and right front seats in the vehicle and supports the left and right front seats so that they can slide in a front-to-back direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction, The rail covers provided on the left and right front seats extend in the front-rear direction, bulging out in the vehicle width direction and covering the slide rails, A vehicle console box is positioned in a spaced-out region where the left and right front seats are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and has a curved recess formed on its side that extends in the front-rear direction and faces the rail cover from the vehicle width direction to avoid interference with the rail cover, A vehicle console box structure comprising the following components.

2. The aforementioned vehicle console box is formed such that the distance between the two sides in the vehicle width direction changes from a lower position on the vehicle floor side, through a higher middle position, and then to an even higher upper position, with the middle position being the narrowest point. The aforementioned vehicle console box has a narrowing section in the vehicle width direction at the upper position, where the spacing narrows from the front to the rear in the front-rear direction. The vehicle console box structure according to claim 1, wherein the reduced width portion is formed in a portion of the vehicle console box that has a positional relationship with the rail cover such that the front seats are in the foremost position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and the front seats are in the positional relationship with the rail cover in the front-rear direction.

3. The aforementioned vehicle console box is configured to have an upper half on the upper position side and a lower half on the lower position side. The upper half has a tapered inclined shape portion that forms the upper part of the recess, with the spacing in the vehicle width direction gradually decreasing from the upper position to the middle position, and a bottom surface member located on its lower end side and connecting the left and right tapered inclined shapes portion. The lower half has a widening inclined shape portion that forms the lower part of the recess, with the spacing in the vehicle width direction gradually increasing from the middle position to the lower position, and a top surface member located on its upper end side and connecting the left and right widening inclined shapes portion. The vehicle console box structure according to claim 2, wherein a connecting portion is provided for connecting the bottom surface member of the upper half and the top surface member of the lower half.

4. The aforementioned coupling portion is divided into a front coupling portion on the front-rear side of the vehicle console box and a rear coupling portion on the rear-rear side, respectively. The upper half has an upper opening forming portion formed in the tapered inclined shape between the front joint portion and the rear joint portion, with the side surface recessed from the position facing the lower half. The lower half has a lower opening forming portion in the widening inclined shape between the front joint portion and the rear joint portion, where the side surface is recessed from the position facing the upper half. The upper opening forming portion and the lower opening forming portion form an opening for storing items in the vehicle console box. The vehicle console box structure according to claim 3, wherein the lower half is supported by a support bracket, one part of which is connected to the floor member of the vehicle and the other part of which is connected to the top member.

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