DE102013022349B4 - Interior component for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Interior component of a vehicle with- a basic body (1) designed as a center console;- a pivoting body (3) designed as a cover, which can be pivoted relative to the basic body (1) from a basic position into at least one other position;- one in the pivoting body (3) provided and with the pivoting body (3) pivotable electrical device (7), in particular a heating device; and- an interface (9) for supplying the electrical device (7) with electrical current, the interface (9) comprising a first element which is stationary relative to the base body (1) and a second element which pivots with the pivoting body (3), wherein the first and the second element are designed for contactless energy transmission at least in the basic position, characterized in that the first element or the second element is designed as a switch and the switch can be actuated in the basic position by bringing the first and second element into contact in order to switch the flow of electricity.

Description

The present invention relates to interior components for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles. However, use in other vehicles such as air and water vehicles is also conceivable. In particular, the invention relates to the power supply of an electrical device that is provided in a pivoting body of the interior component, which can be pivoted relative to a base body. In particular, the present invention relates to an interior component having the features in the preamble of claim 1.

Interior components, for example in the form of armrests in the center console, the rear console and the interior door paneling, are known in the prior art. These armrests are usually adjustable and for this purpose pivotable about a pivot axis. Furthermore, these armrests can often also serve as a cover for a storage compartment underneath, for which purpose the pivotability is used.

For reasons of comfort, such armrests are increasingly heated. For this purpose, current systems consist of a heating mat integrated into the armrest or the cover (swivel body), which is supplied with power via a permanently attached electrical cable. The cable must be routed through and out of the swivel body into the base body below (e.g. the center console). By pivoting the pivoting body, the cable is subjected to tensile, bending and buckling loads at the transition from the pivoting body to the base body. These acting forces can damage the cable and thus lead to a failure of the power supply. Likewise, the need to design the swivel body and base body appropriately for the cable restricts the design with regard to other requirements such as strength, rigidity, etc. Furthermore, this cable is a disruptive factor in the pivoting behavior of the pivoting body and disrupts the overall visual appearance. In particular, the partial visibility of the cabling is often objected to.

DE 43 22 811 A1 discloses in this context a transmission device in vehicles with which electrical signals are transmitted via plug connectors with transformer coupling. For example, one part of the connector is attached to the vehicle door and the other part of the connector is attached to another part of the body. This enables reliable signal transmission in vehicle doors that are pivotally mounted on hinges, with the two parts of the connector remaining in a predetermined, closely adjacent spatial relationship even when the door is pivoted, which ensures intensive coupling.

DE 10 2009 044 729 A1 shows a system for the transmission of electrical energy from a wall to a wing hingedly attached to this wall about a hinge axis, comprises primary electronics that convert a mains voltage into a primary voltage for applying to the primary coil, which is suitable for inductive coupling in the secondary coil to produce a To generate secondary voltage, and with secondary electronics, which converts the secondary voltage into an electrical operating voltage suitable for an electrical energy store and/or for an electrical consumer.

DE 10 2011 086 387 B3 discloses a cover, flap or bending element for a motor vehicle with at least one pivot element and at least one hinge for articulated attachment of the pivot element. The hinge has a first, fixed hinge half and a second hinge half which can be pivoted about the first hinge half and which is connected to the pivot element. The second hinge half has a sliding contact which is electrically connected to a functional element arranged in or on the swivel element. The first hinge half comprises at least one electrical current-carrying contact rail, which is in an electrically current-conducting active connection with the sliding contact in at least one position of the pivoting element. The sliding contact is arranged so that it can be moved both radially and axially relative to the contact rail.

DE 10 2007 005 737 A1 relates to a headrest system for a vehicle seat, in which a motor serving to swivel the headrest is integrated in the headrest. A cable harness is laid in the backrest of the seat, to which the headrest can be coupled with the aid of a plug connector, which is arranged at the free end of a retaining rod and in the seat backrest and has at least two contact elements. The contact elements of the plug connectors are designed to be rotationally symmetrical with respect to their joining direction or with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the retaining rod.

DE 103 05 681 A1 shows a table top which can be arranged in a vehicle interior and which can be pivoted about a table top pivot axis relative to the base part between a basic position and at least one adjustment position. At least one electrical device can be arranged directly or indirectly on the tabletop, with the electrical device being directly or indirectly connected to a vehicle electrical system for a power supply is connectable. Between the tabletop and the base part, a sliding contact element is provided between the vehicle electrical system and the at least one electrical device to establish an electrical sliding contact, which is connected on the one hand to the vehicle electrical system and on the other hand to the at least one electrical device, preferably by means of one electrical line connection, is electrically connected.

DE 10 2012 018 261 A1 shows a swivel joint arrangement for a vehicle seat in a passenger car. The vehicle seat comprises a seat element, a backrest and an electrical consumer which is integrated in an upholstery of the vehicle seat. The swivel joint arrangement is designed to swivel the backrest into different positions about a swivel axis relative to the seat element, the swivel joint arrangement comprising an axis about which the backrest is arranged so that it can swivel.

The JP 2001-57 744 A discloses an electromagnetic induction system for energizing an electrical element housed in a door, the door being hinged in a vehicle body and pivotable about a predetermined axis of rotation.

The DE 2009 044 729 A1 discloses a system for transmitting electrical power from a wall to a wing hingedly attached to that wall.

The DE 10 2006 039 808 A1 discloses a device for the inductive transmission of energy with a primary coil and covering means.

The DE 43 22 811 A1 discloses a device, particularly in vehicles, for wired transmission of electrical signals.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to further develop an interior component of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that a failure of the power supply can be prevented even over a longer period of time and a freer geometric design and thus improved optics is possible.

This object is achieved by an interior component with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments can be found in the dependent claims.

The basic idea of the present invention is to replace the previously used power supply by means of a cable with wireless, preferably contactless, energy transmission. There can be two basic variants, one in which power transmission is only guaranteed when the swivel body is in a basic position, with a cover, for example the closed position, or another in which the power supply is guaranteed in any swivel position .

Accordingly, the present invention proposes an interior component of a vehicle with a base body and a pivoting body. The base body can be, for example, the center console, a rear console, a door lining or other interior components. If necessary, a storage compartment can be integrated in the base body, which is closed by the pivoting body, which in this case is designed as a cover. Since the pivoting body can be pivoted relative to the base body from a basic position into at least one other position, access to the storage compartment can be made possible. In this example, the basic position would preferably be the closed position of the lid. In addition or as an alternative, it is also conceivable for the pivoting body to have an upper side which faces away from the base body or the storage compartment opening and is designed as an armrest. The angular position of the armrest can be adjusted by pivoting the pivoting body. Furthermore, an electric device is provided in the swing body and swingable with the swing body. This means that when the pivoting body is pivoted, the electrical device moves together with the pivoting body relative to the base body. For example, the electrical device can be a heater. The heating device can be designed, for example, in the form of a heating mat. However, other electrical devices are also conceivable, such as a status display for the closed or open center armrest. An interface is provided in order to supply the electrical device with electrical power. According to the invention, this interface has a first element that is stationary relative to the base body and a second element that is stationary relative to the pivoting body, that is, pivots with the pivoting body. In other words, the first element and the second element undergo a relative movement when the pivoting body is pivoted.

According to the invention, the first and the second element are designed for contactless energy transmission for power transmission. The configuration of the invention is selected such that contactless energy transmission is ensured at least in the basic position, for example with the lid closed, while no energy transmission takes place in another position, for example with the lid open. As contactless energy transmission, inductive, capacitive and electromagnetic energy transmission are possible.

However, inductive energy transmission is preferred. For this purpose, the first element has a primary coil and the second element has a secondary coil. For energy transmission, the magnetic field of the primary coil acts on the secondary coil to generate electricity and induces a voltage in the secondary coil. Current flows through the load (electrical equipment). The primary and secondary coils can be arranged in such a way that the magnetic field of the primary coil acts on the secondary coil only in the basic position, ie for example when the lid is closed. Thus, the secondary coil can preferably be arranged on an edge of the swivel body away from a swivel axis. This edge only comes close to the base body in the basic position, in which the primary coil is arranged in a complementary manner. In the example of a lid, it would be preferable to provide the coils in the area of the lid closure or the lid latch. As a preferred example, the secondary coil could be provided in the area of a latching hook, while the primary coil can be provided in the area of a latching recess into which the latching hook engages.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, however, the primary and secondary coils are arranged in the area of the pivot axis, so that the magnetic field of the primary coil acts on the secondary coil, regardless of the position of the pivot body, in order to induce a voltage. For example, the primary and secondary coils can be arranged in the area of the pivot axis or the hinges, particularly in areas in which the pivoting body and the base body rotate relative to one another, but the surfaces of the two elements always remain at the same distance from one another and face one another. It is also conceivable, for example, to design a joint pin, about which the pivoting body can be pivoted, as one of the coils and the region around a recess into which the pin engages rotatably as the other of the two coils.

According to an alternative design, the first and the second element can touch at least in the basic position for power transmission. Here, too, “at least in the basic position” means that the first and second element are electrically conductive and electrical contact is ensured at least in the basic position, while the current transmission can be interrupted when the pivoting body is pivoted into another position.

For this purpose, the first and the second element are designed, preferably as electrically conductive contacts, which rest against one another at least in the basic position. There is preferably a loose contact between the two elements for this purpose. In other words, they touch each other at least in the basic position. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the first and second element engage in one another in the basic position. What is essential, however, is that the contact is then detachable by pivoting the pivoting body.

Furthermore, it can be preferred that the first or the second element is designed as a switch and the switch can be actuated in the basic position by bringing the first and second elements into contact in order to switch the current flow. One advantage of this configuration is that several states can be reported back, so that, for example, the determination of the current position of the center armrest can be transmitted to an output device that is provided inside the vehicle or from a separate output device.

According to an alternative embodiment and in order to ensure power supply in any pivoting position of the pivoting body, it may be preferred that the second element slides in electrical contact with the first element and along the first element when the pivoting body is pivoted. For example, in a specific embodiment, the first element can be provided on a tear bar of the lid, which prevents the lid from being able to be opened beyond a maximum position. This tear bar is guided in a link in the base body. Electrically conductive contacts that are curved along the pivoting path can be provided in this connecting link, on which corresponding pads or dome-shaped contacts on the rupture bar slide in each case. The tear-off bar can be formed in the shape of a part of a circle and can extend over the edge of the base body, so that the tear-off bar does not touch the edge of the base body and still fulfills its function as a tear-off bar.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable to arrange the first and the second element in the area of the pivot axis and to design them, for example, as a pin and sleeve, so that the two elements engage with one another, with one element rotating relative to the other element while maintaining an electrical contact, for example the pin in the sleeve or vice versa.

• 1 eine schematische Querschnittsansicht eines Interieurbauteils gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform zeigt;
• 2 eine perspektivische Teilansicht einer alternativen Ausführungsform eines Interieurbauteils zeigt;
• 3 einen Teillängsschnitt einer noch weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung schematisch darstellt; und
• 4 einen Teillängsschnitt einer noch weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung schematisch darstellt.

Further advantages and features of the present invention, which can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the above features, can be found in the following description of some embodiments. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

• 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an interior component according to a first embodiment;
• 2 shows a perspective partial view of an alternative embodiment of an interior component;
• 3 schematically illustrates a partial longitudinal section of yet another embodiment of the present invention; and
• 4 schematically illustrates a partial longitudinal section of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

In the different representations, the same reference numbers identify the same or comparable elements. The present invention is described in the exemplary embodiments based on a storage compartment cover in a center console of a motor vehicle, which also serves as an armrest. However, this is just one example of a wide variety of use cases.

So shows 1 a base body 1 in the form of a center console in which a storage compartment 2 is arranged. The storage compartment is closed by a cover, the swivel body 3 . In the closed position, the basic position as shown in 1 is shown, the pivoting body 3 has an underside 4 facing the storage compartment 2 and an upper side 5 facing away from the storage compartment. The top 5 is used here as an armrest.

The pivoting body can be pivoted about a pivot axis 6 relative to the base body 1 in the direction of the double arrow S in order to move the pivoting body 3 into the closed basic position, as shown in FIG 1 shown to bring or to open the swivel body 3 or lid and to allow access to the storage compartment 2.

In order to be able to heat the surface 5, which serves as an armrest, a heating mat is integrated into the pivoting body 3 as an electrical device 7. When the pivoting body 3 is opened or pivoted about the pivot axis 6, the electrical device 7 also pivots about the pivot axis 6.

The electrical device 7 is supplied with electrical power via an interface 9 . For this purpose, the interface 9 has a first element 10 that is stationary relative to the base body 1 and a second element 11 that is stationary relative to the pivoting body 3 or pivots with the pivoting body 3 . The second element 11 is connected to the electrical device 7 via an electrical line 8 . The same applies to the first element 10, which is connected to the electrical system of the motor vehicle via a further electrical line 12.

At the in 1 illustrated embodiment, the first element 10 is the primary coil and the second element 11 is the secondary coil of an inductive system, so that the interface 9 is designed for inductive energy transmission. In order to supply the electrical device 7 with electricity, the magnetic field of the primary coil 10 acts in the 1 illustrated basic position on the secondary coil 11. Through the load, here the electrical device 7, a current flow is generated by the voltage induced in the secondary coil 11 and the surface 5 can be heated by the heating device in this exemplary embodiment. If the pivoting body 3 is pivoted about the pivot axis 6, the primary and secondary coils 10, 11 move away from one another, so that the magnetic field of the primary coil 10 can no longer act on that of the secondary coil 11. The energy transfer is interrupted and the heating device is thus switched off.

Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to provide the interface 9 in the area of the pivot axis 6, as is the case in the embodiment in 2 is indicated. There, the secondary coil 11 is arranged in the hinge half assigned to the pivoting body 3 , while the primary coil 10 is positioned in the hinge half assigned to the base body 1 . The coils (first 10 and second 11 element) or mutually facing surfaces of the coils always remain aligned with one another when pivoting the pivoting body 3 about the axis 6 along the double arrow S, without their distance from one another changing. In this case, a continuous energy transfer is guaranteed. Otherwise the design differs 2 not from the in 1 .

In addition to a contactless energy transfer, as in relation to the 1 and 2 has been described using the example of inductive energy transmission, it is alternatively also possible to design the interface 9 with electrically conductive contacts. This is explained below with reference to the 3 and 4 explained in more detail.

In 3 this possibility is described by providing a tear-off bracket 13 of the pivoting body 3 designed as a cover. The tear-off bar 13 is guided in a connecting link 14 in the base body 1 and strikes in the 3 illustrated maximum open position against a stop 15 to prevent tearing off of the lid. When the lid is closed, the tear-off bar 13 pivots with the pivot body 3 about the pivot axis 6.

The interface 9 again has two elements, one of which is on the tear-off bracket 13 and the other is provided on the main body 1. In this regard, the end face 16 of the tear-off bracket 13 which faces the base body 1 in the closed state of the pivoting body 3 has three electrically conductive contact pads 17 as the first element. These contact pads 17 are each connected via electrical cables 8 to the electrical device 7, here the heating mat. One contact pad represents the negative pole, one represents the positive pole and one represents the connection to a temperature sensor. Furthermore, mating contact pads 18 (positive pole, negative pole and temperature sensor) are provided on the base body 1, which are again connected to the vehicle electrical system via electrical cables 12. If the swivel body 3 is moved about the swivel axis 6 into the closed position (basic position), as shown in 3 is shown in dashed lines, the contact pads 17 come into touching contact with the contact pad 18 and establish an electrical connection, so that a power supply to the electrical device 7 is ensured via the positive and negative poles and the temperature sensor is electrically connected. If the pivoting body 3 is again pivoted about the pivot axis 6 in order to transfer it to the open position, the contact pads 17 and 18 again come out of contact and the power supply is interrupted, similarly to that in relation to FIG 1 was explained.

With regard to this embodiment, it is also possible to design one or more of the contact pads 17 and 18 as electrically conductive switches. This preferably applies to the positive pole of the contact pads 18. In this case, the supply line 12 to the corresponding contact pad could be under constant current and transmission is only made possible when the switch is switched by contact with the respective contact pad 17.

This principle in 3 as well as the principle in 1 also works in the area of the bearing blocks, in the area of the closure and in all other places that have the peculiarity that the opposing geometries of the swivel body and base body move away from each other when opening the cover.

To similar to in 2 to ensure a permanent power supply, the design in 3 also, as regards 4 shown to be modified. In this regard, the contact pads 17 can be provided on a side of the tear-off bracket 13 facing the connecting link 14 . Corresponding counter-contacts 19 can in turn be provided in the link 14, which run in a curved manner about the axis 6 in accordance with the pivoting movement of the contact pads 17 and form contact paths. The contact pads 17 are in touching and sliding contact with the contacts 19 and slide along the double arrows S on the contact tracks 19 during the pivoting movement, so that permanent contact can be realized during the pivoting movement.

A permanent contact would also be possible in the area of the pivot axis, as can be seen with reference to FIG 2 for contactless energy transfer. It would be conceivable to design one contact as a pin and the other contact as a sleeve, which engage in one another and rotate relative to one another when pivoting body 3 is pivoted, but remain in electrically sliding contact (sliding contact).

This principle off 4 and also that one 2 also works at all other points which, when opening the pivoting body from the basic position, have the peculiarity that the opposing geometries of the pivoting body and base body do not move away from one another, but remain at the same distance from one another.

It is understood that the above illustrations only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and various modifications are possible.

Claims (11)

Interior component of a vehicle with - a base body (1) designed as a center console; - A pivoting body (3) formed as a cover, which can be pivoted relative to the base body (1) from a basic position into at least one further position; - An electrical device (7), in particular a heating device, provided in the pivoting body (3) and pivotable with the pivoting body (3); and - an interface (9) for supplying the electrical device (7) with electrical current, the interface (9) comprising a first element which is stationary relative to the base body (1) and a second element which pivots with the pivoting body (3), wherein the first and the second element are designed for contactless energy transmission at least in the basic position, characterized in that the first element or the second element is designed as a switch and the switch can be actuated in the basic position by bringing the first and second elements into contact in order to switch the flow of electricity. interior component claim 1 , In which the first element for inductive energy transmission has a primary coil (10) and the second element has a secondary coil (11) and the magnetic field of the primary coil (10) at least in the basic position acts on the secondary coil (11) to generate electricity. interior component claim 2 , in which the pivot body (3) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (6) and the primary (10) and secondary coil (11) are arranged in the area of the pivot axis (6), so that the magnetic field of the primary coil (10) is independent of the Position of the swivel body (3) acts on the secondary coil (11). interior component claim 2 , in which the magnetic field of the primary coil (10) acts on the secondary coil (11) only in the basic position with the cover (3) closed. interior component claim 4 wherein the secondary coil (11) is located at an edge of the pivot body (3) away from a pivot axis. interior component claim 5 , in which the edge of the pivoting body (3) can only be arranged in the vicinity of the base body (1) in its basic position, with the primary coil (10) arranged in the base body (1) being complementary to the secondary coil (11) on the edge of the base body (1) in the basic position Pivoting body (3) is arranged. Interior component according to one of Claims 4 - 6 , in which the edge of the pivoting body (3) can be arranged in the vicinity of the base body (1) only in its basic position. interior component claim 7 , wherein in the basic position in the base body (1) arranged primary coil (10) is arranged complementary to the secondary coil (11) on the edge of the pivoting body (3). Interior component according to one of Claims 4 - 8th , in which the secondary coil (11) is arranged in the area of a latching hook for the cover (3) and the primary coil (10) in the area of a latching recess into which the latching hook engages. interior component claim 2 or 3 In which the secondary coil (11) is arranged in the hinge half assigned to the pivoting body (3), and the primary coil (10) is arranged in the hinge half assigned to the base body (1). Interior component according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cover (3) has an upper side (5) which faces away from the base body (1) and is designed as an armrest.

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