Storage assembly for use in motor vehicle i.e. minivan type vehicle, has U-shaped framing element pivoted on fixed storage console between bottom position and top position for allowing element to maintain object positioned on console

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Advanced Automotive Storage Package

The present invention relates to an improved storage assembly for a motor vehicle. It also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such an improved storage assembly.

Motor vehicles are frequently equipped with storage consoles, or central consoles, located between the two front seats of the vehicle. These center consoles have lockers or storage bins in which the driver or passengers can easily deposit items. These objects are kept in place even in the event of sudden movements of the vehicle and remain easily accessible for the driver and passengers.

In minivan type vehicles, the space between the two front seats must be largely cleared to increase the feeling of space, facilitate communication between the front and rear passengers of the vehicle, or even promote movement between the first row. of seats and rear seats.

To leave this space free, the central console is reduced. It is therefore very low and has only shallow storage compartments or bins. Consequently, they can only contain a few objects, and bulky objects placed in these storage spaces risk coming out of them in the event of sudden movement of the vehicle. This reduced central console therefore does not satisfy the user.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a central console for a motor vehicle which offers satisfactory storage capacity for the users without cluttering the space between the two front seats of the vehicle.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear more clearly below, are achieved by a storage assembly in a motor vehicle, which comprises, according to the invention, a fixed storage console and at least one mounted framing element. pivoting on the console between a low position in which it rests on the console and a high position in which an end part opposite the pivot axis of the framing element is remote from the console, allowing the framing element to maintain an object placed on the console.

Preferably, the framing element, in its lower position, extends parallel to the upper surface of the console, and, in its upper position, forms a non-zero angle with the upper surface of the console.

Preferably, the framing element has a U-shape, and comprises two coaxial pivot links between the respective ends of its two branches and said console.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the storage assembly comprises two U-shaped framing elements, pivoting along parallel axes placed so that the respective ends of the branches of a first framing element are close to the respective ends of the branches of the second framing element.

Advantageously, the end of at least one of the branches of each of said frame elements has a toothed wheel portion centered on the pivot axis of the frame element, the toothed wheel portions of the two elements of the frame. frame being engaged with one another so as to link the pivoting of the two frame elements.

Preferably, the storage assembly comprises return means tending to bring the framing element into its high position.

Preferably, the return means comprise a torsion spring prestressed in the low position, located at the level of the pivot axis of the framing element.

Advantageously, the storage assembly comprises means for locking the framing element in its low position, and which can be unlocked manually.

According to one possible embodiment of the invention, the framing element is, in its lower position, resting on the upper surface of the storage console.

According to another possible embodiment of the invention, the framing element is, in its lower position, retracted into a groove of complementary shape of said storage console.

Preferably, the pivot axis of the framing element extends in a horizontal direction and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a storage assembly as described above.

It also relates to a framing element intended to equip a storage console to form a storage assembly in a motor vehicle, equipped with connecting elements allowing it to be pivotally mounted on the storage console, between a low position in a motor vehicle. which it rests on the console and, a high position in which an end part opposite the pivot axis of the framing element is remote from the storage console, allowing the framing element to maintain an object placed on the console.

Other aims, advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following description of two preferred embodiments, not limiting the subject matter of the scope of the present patent application, accompanied by drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a passenger compartment part of a motor vehicle comprising a fixed central console;

- Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the central console according to a first embodiment of the invention implementing a framing element, in which the framing element is in the low position;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the central console of Figure 3 in which the framing element is in the high position;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the central console according to a second embodiment of the invention implementing two framing elements, in which the framing elements are in the low position;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the central console of Figure 5 in which the framing elements are in the high position;

- Figure 7 is a schematic detail view of the ends of the framing elements implemented in the central console of Figure 5.

In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

In the following description, the direction designated as longitudinal is the direction corresponding to the axis of advance of the vehicle.

Figures 1 and 2 show the passenger compartment of a vehicle comprising a floor 12 on which are fixed two front seats 14 placed facing a dashboard 20. A central fixed console, or central console 30, is fixed to the floor 12 and extends over part of the space between the two front seats 14.

Storage bins 35, 36 and 37 are provided in the upper surface 31 of the central console 30.

The storage bin 35 has a substantially cylindrical shape so as to form a cup holder or bottle holder. The other storage bins 36 and 37 are larger, but their shallow depth only allows them to contain small items.

The central console 30 is equipped, according to the invention, with a framing element 4, having the shape of a U, or a horseshoe, linked to the console 30 by two coaxial pivot links located at the respective ends of the branches of the U.

This framing element 4 can take two positions. The first of these positions, called the low position, is shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this position, the framing element 4 is placed on the upper surface of the console 30 while partially surrounding the storage bins 35, 36 and 37. In this position, the framing element 4 forms a border extending on three sides of the console, helping to maintain in the console 30 the objects placed in one of these storage bins.

It should be noted that, according to a possible variant of the invention, not shown in the figures, the framing element may be, in its lower position, integrated at least partially in a groove of suitable shape, complementary to the shape of the framing element, formed in the upper surface 31 of the central console 30. In this way, the upper surface of this framing element 4 is in the same plane as the upper surface 31 of the central console 30.

The second position, called the high position of the framing element 4, is shown in FIGS. 4. The framing element 4 is, in this position, held partly away from the upper surface of the console 30, in forming an acute angle with this surface. In this position, a stopper (not shown) blocks the pivoting of the framing element 4 so as to prevent it from forming a more open angle with the upper surface of the console 30.

In this high position, the portion of the framing element 4 which is remote from the console 30 can help to maintain in position an object placed on the central console 30 and too bulky to be maintained by the edges of the storage bins.

Preferably, a return means of the torsion spring type is implemented at the level of at least one of the pivot connections between the console 30 and the framing element 4 so as to return the framing element 4. in its high position shown in Figure 3 and to maintain it in this high position. The passage from the high position to the low position is effected by the action of the user on the framing element, against the return force of this spring.

This spring is advantageously pre-stressed in the low position, and can be associated with a shock absorber, for example formed by a pinion rotating in a grease bath, making it possible to slow down the movement of the framing element during its passage from the low position. to the high position.

A locking hook 42 is provided on the framing element 4 so as to allow the attachment of this framing element to the upper surface of the central console 30 when the framing element 4 is in its lower position. Advantageously, this hook automatically locks on the central console 30 when the framing element 4 is brought into its lower position. On the other hand, an action by the user on this hook 42 allows it to be unlocked, which results in the automatic passage of the framing element 4 in the high position.

The structures of the return and locking means are not detailed, insofar as such return and locking means are well known to those skilled in the art.

According to a second embodiment represented by FIGS. 5 to 7, the storage assembly may comprise two framing elements 5 and 6 of the type described in connection with the first embodiment. In this case, the axes of the pivot links, placed at the ends of each of the branches of the framing elements are parallel and close to each other, such that the two framing elements 5 and 6, in their low position shown in Figure 5, form a frame completely surrounding a portion of the upper surface of the central console 30 on which they extend.

In this position, the framing elements 5 and 6 form a border surrounding the console, helping to maintain in the console 30 the objects placed in one of its storage bins. It is also possible, according to a variant not shown, that the framing elements 5 and 6 are, in their lower position, integrated at least partially in a groove of complementary shape formed in the upper surface 31 of the central console 30, of so that the upper surface of these framing elements 5 and 6 is in the same plane as the upper surface 31 of the central console 30.

In their high position, shown in Figure 6, the portions of the framing elements 5 and 6 which are remote from the console 30 can help to maintain in position an object placed on the central console 30 and too large to be held by the edges of storage bins. These framing elements allow a better retention of the object than in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, insofar as they frame the object both on the front and rear edges of the console 30.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing one end of one branch of each of the framing elements 5 and 6. These ends have pivot connections with the console 30 (not shown) around parallel axes of rotation, respectively. 51 and 61. In addition, these ends each have a toothed wheel portion, respectively 52 and 62, centered respectively on the axes 51 and 52, and in engagement with one another.

These toothed wheel portions allow the pivoting of the two frame elements 5 and 6 to be linked with respect to the console, so that these frame elements permanently form the same angle with respect to the console. Thus, the passage of one of the framing elements from its low position to its high position, or vice versa, causes the symmetrical movement of the other framing element.

These framing elements 5 and 6 can advantageously be equipped with return springs and locking means, in the same way as in the first embodiment presented. However, it is sufficient to equip one of the two framing elements with return or locking means.

It should be noted that the framing element 4 or the framing elements 5 and 6 can be provided independently of the vehicle. It is thus conceivable that they are installed as optional accessories on a console 30 pre-equipped to receive them.