Bistable equipment for a passenger compartment

Abstract

The invention relates to equipment (1) for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, comprising a first part (2) forming a cavity (3), the equipment (1) comprising a second part (11) designed to form a shutter, the second part (11) having a first stable state, in which the second part (11) closes the cavity (3), and a second stable state in which the cavity (3) is at least partially open towards the exterior of the cavity (3), said second part (11) being made as one piece from a sheet of material that is folded and cut to form a diaphragm (12) comprising a plurality of blades (13) that can be moved by folding in order to switch the second part (11) between the first and second states.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Bistable passenger compartment equipment.

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2411859 filed on October 30, 2024, the content of which (text, drawings, and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The technical field relates to passenger compartment equipment and motor vehicles featuring such passenger compartment equipment.

[0002] Automakers pay close attention to improving passenger comfort in their vehicles. Furthermore, for automakers, the quality of their vehicles' finish, their aesthetic appeal, and the features offered are essential to differentiate themselves from other brands. Finally, environmental considerations, and in particular the rise of electric vehicles, are driving manufacturers to reduce the weight of their vehicles. Therefore, automakers are constantly seeking to improve vehicle interiors to offer customers new features or enhance existing ones, while striving to reduce the complexity, weight, and production costs of these interiors.

[0003] In this context, several types of interior fittings incorporate a shutter. Firstly, ventilation systems generally include an air duct ending in a shutter to control the airflow exiting the duct. Secondly, shutters can be used to secure a shape in a given position, such as holding a cup in a cup holder.

[0004] Regardless of their application, shutters always require a large number of parts and the implementation of complex mechanisms for their articulation and to maintain them in a predetermined position. Shutters are therefore very often a source of complexity. Furthermore, a large number of parts inevitably increases manufacturing costs on an industrial scale.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution to simplify fittings equipped with at least one shutter.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide interior equipment featuring a simple-to-assemble shutter.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a passenger compartment equipment for a motor vehicle, comprising a first part forming a cavity, the equipment comprising a second part designed to form a shutter, the second part having a first stable state, in which the second part closes the cavity, and a second stable state in which the cavity is at least partly open to the outside of the cavity, the second part being a single piece and formed from a sheet of material folded and cut to form a diaphragm having a plurality of blades movable by folding to switch the second part between the first and second states.

[0008] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one interior equipment according to the invention.

[0009] Thus, the equipment according to the invention provides a cavity closure while remaining simple to assemble. Indeed, the second part, which forms the closure, is a single piece made from a single sheet of folded and cut material, like a kirigami. This second part exhibits two stable states, and the change of state simply involves moving the strips by folding and unfolding them. The cabin equipment according to the invention is therefore free from the complexity introduced by the large number of parts and the mechanisms required for the joints of the components in conventional fittings.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the passenger compartment equipment, the first part comprises at least one monobloc element having at least one fold enabling the formation of a bistable fold having at least two stable conformations.

[0011] Depending on the possibility of the cabin equipment, each monobloc element forms a bistable origami unfolding in a preferred direction.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the first part forms a helical structure that unfolds and / or folds by folding, the structure being composed of connected polygons, the folding taking place along at least part of their edges.

[0013] Depending on one possibility, the first and / or second parts are made of a sheet of plastic material, preferably polypropylene.

[0014] According to a first embodiment, the equipment forms an air conditioning vent, the cavity of the first part forming part of a ventilation duct, the second part allowing the ventilation duct to be at least partially closed in its first state, or at least partially opened in its second state.

[0015] According to a second embodiment, the cabin equipment forms a cup holder, the first part being designed to accommodate a cup, the second part allowing, in its first state, to clamp a cup placed in the first part.

[0016] Advantageously, when the first part forms a helical structure that unfolds and / or folds by folding, the structure being composed of connected polygons, the foldings occurring along at least part of their edges, the cavity is designed to accommodate the cup when deployed.

[0017] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 represents a main view drawing of a passenger compartment equipment according to the invention, the first part of which is shown in a first and a second conformation;

[0019] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 represents a sheet of views of sheets allowing the formation of the first and second parts of the passenger compartment equipment of Figure 1;

[0020] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0021] A passenger compartment equipment 1 according to the invention, illustrated in figure 1, is designed to equip a motor vehicle.

[0022] Equipment 1 comprises a first part 2 forming a cavity 3. As illustrated in Figure 1, the first part 2 comprises at least one monolithic element 4 with a plurality of folds 5. The folds 5 allow for the formation of a bistable origami with at least two stable conformations C1, C2, illustrated in Figure 1: a first conformation C1 in which the monolithic element 4 is folded and a second conformation C2 in which the monolithic element 4 is unfolded. Each monolithic element 4 forms, for example, a bistable origami unfolding along a preferred direction DP, illustrated in Figure 1. As an example, the first part 2 forms a helical structure 6 unfolding and / or folding by folding, the structure 6 being composed of connected polygons 7, the foldings taking place along at least part of their edges 8. Such a structure 6 is, for example, known as a Kresling tower.

[0023] Advantageously, the second part 11 consists of a sheet 9a made of plastic material, preferably polypropylene. The sheet 9a has a plurality of folds 5, each illustrated by a dotted line in Figure 2. Optionally, two opposite ends 10 of the sheet 9a are joined together by gluing.

[0024] Equipment 1 also includes a second part 11 designed to form a shutter. The second part 11 has a first stable state, illustrated in Figure 1, in which the second part seals the cavity 3, and a second stable state, not illustrated, in which the cavity 3 is at least partially open to the outside of the cavity 3.

[0025] The second part 11 is monobloc and formed from a sheet 9b of material folded and cut to form a diaphragm 12 having a plurality of blades 13 movable by folding to switch the second part 11 between the first and second states.

[0026] Advantageously, sheet 9b forms a kirigam i. Sheet 9b is, for example, made of plastic material, preferably polypropylene. As illustrated in Figure 2, sheet 9b has a plurality of folds 5, shown as dashed lines in Figure 2. Sheet 9b also has at least one cutout 14, each shown as a solid line in Figure 2.

[0027] According to a first embodiment, the passenger compartment equipment 1 forms an air conditioning vent, the cavity 3 of the first part 2 forming part of a ventilation duct. In this case, the second part 11 allows the ventilation duct to be at least partially closed in its first state, or at least partially opened in its second state.

[0028] According to a second embodiment, the passenger compartment equipment 1 forms a cup holder, the first part 2 being designed to hold a cup (not shown), the second part 11 allowing, in its first state, a cup placed in the first part 2 to be clamped. Advantageously then, when the first part 2 is formed of the helical structure 6 composed of the polygons 7 articulated along at least part of their edges 8, cavity 3 is designed to accommodate the cup when deployed.

[0029] Finally, the first part 2 advantageously presents openings 15 independent of the folds 5 to allow, for example, the fixing and / or introduction of components into the cavity 3. Furthermore, to facilitate the assembly of the ends 10 of the sheet 9a, one of the ends 10 is, for example, provided with a tab 16, illustrated in figure 2, forming a gluing surface.

[0030] Thus, the equipment 1 offers a shutter for a cavity 3 while remaining simple to assemble. Indeed, the second part 11, which forms a shutter, is a single piece made from a single sheet 9b of folded and cut material, like a kirigam i. This second part 11 exhibits two stable states, and the change of state simply involves moving the slats 13 by folding and unfolding. The cabin equipment 1 according to the invention is therefore free from the complexity introduced by the large number of parts and the mechanisms required for the joints of the parts in conventional fittings.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the passenger compartment equipment described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Cabin equipment (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a first part (2) forming a cavity (3), the equipment (1) comprising a second part (11) designed to form a shutter, the second part (11) having a first stable state, in which the second part (11) closes the cavity (3), and a second stable state in which the cavity (3) is at least partly open to the outside of the cavity (3), the second part (11) being a single piece and formed of a sheet (9b) of material folded and cut to form a diaphragm (12) having a plurality of blades (13) movable by folding to tilt the second part (11) between the first and second states.

2. Cabin equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part (2) comprises at least one monobloc element (4) having at least one fold (5) enabling the formation of a bistable fold having at least two stable conformations (C1, C2).

3. Cabin equipment (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each monobloc element (4) forms a bistable origami unfolding along a preferred direction (DP).

4. Cabin equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first part (2) forms a helical structure (6) which unfolds and / or folds by folding, the structure (6) being composed of connected polygons (7), the folding taking place along at least a part of their edges (8).

5. Cabin equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first (2) and / or second (11) parts are made of a sheet (9a, 9b) of plastic material, preferably polypropylene.

6. Cabin equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it forms an air conditioning vent, the cavity (3) of the first part (2) forming part of a ventilation duct, the second part (11) allowing the ventilation duct to be closed at least partially in its first state, or opened at least partially in its second state.

7. Cabin equipment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it forms a cup holder, the first part (2) being designed to accommodate a cup, the second part (11) allowing, in its first state, to clamp a cup placed in the first part (2).

8. Cabin equipment (1) according to claim 7, in combination with claim 4, characterized in that the cavity (3) is designed to accommodate the cup when deployed.

9. Motor vehicle having at least one passenger compartment equipment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

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