Door panel comprising improved storage

Abstract

The invention relates to a door panel (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - an inner support panel (12) composed of a lower portion (18) provided with at least one lower cut-out (20), and an upper portion (24) - a safety box (14) having a cavity (36) bounded laterally by a longitudinal bottom wall (38), at the bottom by a lower horizontal wall (42), at the rear by a transverse rear wall (40), and at the front by deformable cones (34) in the event of a side impact, a horizontal support element (16) characterised in that the safety box (14) comprises walls (54, 56, 58, 66, 68) so as to define an upper recess (48) above the cones (34) and a lower recess (50) in front of the cavity (36), wherein the two recesses (48, 50) are in communication with one another.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Door panel with improved storage

[0002] The invention relates to a motor vehicle door panel comprising:

[0003] - an interior load-bearing panel composed of a lower part provided with at least one lower cutout and an upper part set back outwards relative to the lower part, the two lower and upper parts being connected to each other by an intermediate part comprising a longitudinal opening,

[0004] - a safety box having a cavity delimited laterally by a longitudinal bottom wall, at the bottom by a lower horizontal wall, at the rear by a transverse rear wall and at the front by cones which are deformable in the event of a side impact, the box being arranged against the lower part of the carrier panel and under the intermediate part, its cavity being arranged at least partially opposite the lower cut-out of the carrier panel, forming a lower storage bin,

[0005] - a horizontal support element arranged on the intermediate part of the load-bearing panel and above the safety box, the support element comprising a hole.

[0006] In the door panels there are empty areas, located in the safety box, around the side impact cones which are not used.

[0007] In order to overcome these drawbacks, the invention relates to a door panel which provides additional storage without significantly modifying the architecture of the panel.

[0008] To this end, the invention proposes a door panel of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the safety box comprises walls so as to define an upper housing above the cones and a lower housing in front of the cavity, the two housings communicating with each other.

[0009] According to other characteristics of the invention:

[0010] The upper housing is defined by a longitudinal bottom wall, a first horizontal wall arranged above the cones and a second horizontal wall located opposite the first horizontal wall and a transverse rear end wall, located at a distance from the horizontal walls, so as to form an upper opening opening into the longitudinal opening of the intermediate part and into the hole in the support element, and a lower opening.

[0011] The lower housing is defined by a first wall perpendicular to the bottom wall of the cavity extending vertically or obliquely along rear cones among the cones and a second vertical or oblique wall located opposite the first vertical or oblique wall, a lower end of the second vertical or oblique wall being located at a distance from the lower wall of the box, so that the lower housing and the lower tray are communicating.

[0012] The first horizontal wall of the upper housing and the first wall of the lower housing are continuous with each other and in that the rear transverse wall of the upper housing and the second wall of the lower housing form a continuity.

[0013] The upper housing has an additional access formed by an opening delimited by front ends of the horizontal walls and a front edge of the bottom wall, the opening being accessible only when the door is in the open position.

[0014] The support element has a hatch for access to the upper housing through its upper opening.

[0015] The upper housing includes a valve capable of occupying a vertical position in which it closes the upper housing at the rear ends of the horizontal walls.

[0016] The upper housing includes a valve capable of occupying a horizontal position in which it closes the lower opening of the upper housing.

[0017] The upper housing comprises a valve capable of occupying a horizontal position in which it closes the upper opening and a vertical position in which it closes the upper housing at the rear ends of the horizontal walls.

[0018] A portion of the carrier panel opposite the lower housing has cutouts so that the contents of the lower housing can be seen.

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings in which

[0020] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a door panel according to the invention.

[0021] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the panel of Figure 1 assembled.

[0022] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a view of a detail of Figure 2.

[0023] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a first variant of the invention

[0024] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a schematic view of a second variant of the invention.

[0025] In the following description, we will take, without limitation, a longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientation indicated by the trihedron L,V,T of figures 1 to 5.

[0026] Identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numbers.

[0027] With the exception of the specific elements of the driving position, the vehicle presents a general symmetry with respect to a median longitudinal plane.

[0028] As described in Figure 1, a panel 10 of a door (not shown) of a motor vehicle (not shown) is mainly composed of a carrier panel 12, facing the interior of the vehicle, a safety box 14 and a support element 16 forming an armrest.

[0029] The carrier panel 12 has a lower part 18, provided with a lower cutout 20 for access to a lower tray 22 and an upper part 24, the main plane of which is set back outwards relative to the lower part 18. The lower 18 and upper 24 parts are connected to each other by an intermediate part 26 comprising a longitudinal opening 28 extending over a large part of the length of the intermediate part 26. The intermediate part 26 also comprises an access 29 located at the front of the carrier panel 12 and extending along a transverse plane.

[0030] The carrier panel 12 is also provided with a pull handle 30 formed by a support 300 and a covering element 302, a lower end 304 of the support 300 being connected to the intermediate part 26 and an upper end 306 being connected to the upper part 24.

[0031] The upper part 24 has a rim 240, facing the outside of the vehicle, under which a longitudinal reinforcing element 32 is inserted.

[0032] The support element 16 has a substantially horizontal face 160 intended to be arranged on the intermediate part 26 so as to cover the longitudinal opening 28.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the support element 16 is provided with a hole 17 which can be closed by a hatch 19.

[0034] The safety box 14 comprises a panel of general longitudinal orientation 33.

[0035] It comprises, in the front part of this panel 33, cones 34 with a transverse axis, facing towards the inside of the vehicle. There are three of them here. Two cones 342 and 344 are arranged vertically one above the other at the front of the safety box 14. A third cone 340 is arranged behind the upper cone 342.

[0036] The 34 cones are designed to crush in the event of a side impact to protect the vehicle's occupants.

[0037] The safety box 14 also has a cavity 36 delimited by a longitudinal bottom wall 38, at the front by the cones 34, at the rear by a rear transverse wall 40 and at the bottom by a lower horizontal wall 42.

[0038] When the safety box 14 is mounted on the carrier panel 12, the cavity 36 is located opposite the cutout 20 of the lower part 18 of the carrier panel 12.

[0039] The box 14 is mounted in a conventional manner on the carrier panel by means of fixing clips (not shown) carried by the carrier panel 12 passing through orifices 44 provided in a vertical peripheral edge 46 of the box 14.

[0040] The safety box 14 also has additional housings: an upper housing 48 and a lower housing 50 defined by walls provided on the panel 33 and facing the carrier panel 12.

[0041] The upper housing 48 is delimited by a bottom wall 52 forming part of the panel 33, by a first horizontal wall 54 extending, along the horizontally aligned cones 340 and 34234, by a second horizontal wall 56 extending above the first horizontal wall 54 and by a rear transverse wall 58. The rear wall 58 is located at a distance from a rear end 540 of the first horizontal wall 54 and from a rear end 560 of the second horizontal wall 56 so as to form a lower opening 60 and an upper opening 62.

[0042] The upper opening 62 opens into the longitudinal opening 28 of the intermediate part 26 and into the hole 17 made in the support element 16.

[0043] A front edge 520 of the bottom wall 52, the front end 542 of the first horizontal wall 54 and the front end 562 of the second horizontal wall 56 delimit an opening 64 opening into the access 29 formed in the intermediate part 26 of the carrier panel 12.

[0044] The upper housing 48 thus has a mainly horizontal orientation.

[0045] The lower housing 50 is delimited by the bottom wall 38 of the cavity 36, by a first oblique wall 66 running along the cones 342 and 344 and by a second oblique wall 68, located opposite the first oblique wall 66.

[0046] The first oblique wall 66 has an upper end 660 which is connected to the rear end 540 of the first horizontal wall 54 and a lower end 662 connected to a transverse rim 70 carried by a front edge 330 of the main panel 33 of the box 14.

[0047] The second oblique wall 68 has an upper end 680 which is connected to the rear wall 58 and a lower end 682 which is located at a distance from the lower wall 42 of the cavity 36.

[0048] An upper end 500 of the lower housing 50 therefore opens into the lower opening 60 of the upper housing 48 and a lower end 502 of the lower housing 50 opens into the cavity 36.

[0049] Thus, a user can store an object in several ways depending on its shape, size or use.

[0050] For example, he can slide it through the upper opening 62 of the upper storage 48 after having lifted the hatch 19 of the support element 16. If the object is large, such as an umbrella for example, it can be inserted into the lower housing 50 by passing through the lower opening 60 of the upper housing 48. The user can easily retrieve it by pulling it from the upper opening 62. If the object is small and falls to the bottom of the lower storage 50, the user can then easily retrieve it by passing through the lower tray 20.

[0051] The user can also store an object by sliding it through the access 29 of the support element 16 after opening the vehicle door. It is not necessary to provide a closing flap, because, once the door is closed, access to the access 29 is then closed. This therefore makes it possible to store an object that is not needed when the vehicle is moving or to place a valuable item out of sight and safely when the vehicle is parked.

[0052] As shown in Figure 4, according to a first variant of the invention, a valve 72 is arranged in the upper housing 48 at the rear ends 540 and 560 of the horizontal walls 54 and 56. This valve 72 is articulated around a lower transverse axis and can thus occupy a vertical position in which it separates the upper housing 48 and the lower housing 50 and a horizontal position in which it closes the lower opening 60.

[0053] The valve 72 can also occupy a horizontal position opposite to that of closing the lower opening 60 so as to allow full use of the two housings 48 and 50.

[0054] In the case where a user wants to store a long object, such as an umbrella for example, in the upper housing 48, he introduces it through the opening 64 and presses the flap 72 to move it into a horizontal position.

[0055] Means for returning and blocking the valve may be provided, as well as gripping means to facilitate handling of the valve 72. In the embodiment described here, the valve 72 is in the vertical position by default.

[0056] In a second variant, the valve 72 is pivotally mounted around a transverse axis carried by a front edge of the upper opening 62 of the upper housing 48 and can thus occupy a first horizontal position in which it closes the upper opening 62 and a second vertical position in which it closes the upper housing 48 and separates it from the lower housing 50.

[0057] The door panel according to the invention therefore makes it possible to optimize storage by using the wasted spaces in the vehicle while limiting modifications to its architecture and the complexity of its manufacturing process. This arrangement is therefore simple and inexpensive in design.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Door panel (10) of a motor vehicle comprising: - an interior carrier panel (12) composed of a lower part (18) provided with at least one lower cutout (20) and an upper part (24) set back outwards relative to the lower part (18), the two lower and upper parts (18, 24) being connected to each other by an intermediate part (26) comprising a longitudinal opening (28), - a safety box (14) having a cavity (36) delimited laterally by a longitudinal bottom wall (38), at the bottom by a lower horizontal wall (42), at the rear by a transverse rear wall (40) and at the front by deformable cones (34) in the event of a lateral impact, the box (14) being arranged against the lower part (18) of the carrier panel (12) and under the intermediate part (26), its cavity (36) being arranged at least partially opposite the lower cutout (20) of the carrier panel (12) forming a lower storage bin (22), - a horizontal support element (16) arranged on the intermediate part (26) of the carrier panel (12) and above the safety box (14), the support element (16) comprising a hole (17), characterized in that the safety box (14) comprises walls (54, 56, 58, 66, 68) so as to define an upper housing (48) above the cones (34) and a lower housing (50) in front of the cavity (36), the two housings (48, 50) communicating with each other.

2. Door panel (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper housing (48) is defined by a longitudinal bottom wall (52), a first horizontal wall (54) arranged above the cones (34) and a second horizontal wall (56) located opposite the first horizontal wall (54) and a transverse rear end wall (58), located at a distance from the horizontal walls (54, 56), so as to form an upper opening (62) opening into the longitudinal opening (28) of the intermediate part (26) and into the hole (17) of the support element (16), and a lower opening (60) opening into the lower housing (50).

3. Door panel (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower housing (50) is defined by a first wall (66) perpendicular to the bottom wall (38) of the cavity (36) extending vertically or obliquely along rear cones (340, 344) among the cones (34) and a second vertical or oblique wall (68) located opposite the first vertical or oblique wall (66), a lower end (682) of the second vertical or oblique wall (68) being located at a distance from the lower horizontal wall (42) of the box (14), so that the lower housing (50) and the lower tray (22) are communicating.

4. Door panel (10) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the first horizontal wall (54) of the upper housing (48) and the first wall (66) of the lower housing (50) are continuous with each other and in that the rear transverse wall (58) of the upper housing (48) and the second wall (68) of the lower housing (50) form a continuity.

5. Door panel (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the upper housing (48) has an additional access (29) formed by a opening (64) delimited by front ends (542, 562) of the horizontal walls (54, 56) and a front edge (520) of the bottom wall (52), the opening (64) being accessible only when the door is in the open position.

6. Door panel (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (16) comprises an access hatch (19) to the upper housing (48) via its upper opening (62).

7. Door panel (10) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the upper housing (48) comprises a valve (72) capable of occupying a vertical position in which it closes the upper housing (48) at the rear ends (540, 560) of the horizontal walls (54, 56).

8. Door panel (10) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the upper housing (48) comprises a valve (72) capable of occupying a horizontal position in which it closes the lower opening (60) of the upper housing (48).

9. Door panel (10) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the upper housing (48) comprises a valve (72) capable of occupying a horizontal position in which it closes the upper opening (62) and a vertical position in which it closes the upper housing (48) at the rear ends (540, 560) of the horizontal walls (54, 56).

10. Door panel (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a part of the carrier panel (12) opposite the lower housing (50) comprises cutouts (74) so ​​as to be able to see the contents of the lower housing (50).

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