DE102022118165A1 - Vehicle interior restraint system - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle interior holding system comprises a holder (28) for an object, for example a smartphone. The holder (28) further comprises a carrier (30) and a movable locking element (42) as well as a holding projection (64) with which it can be inserted into a gap (17) on the edge or in an interior panel. The holder (28) can be unlocked using an unlocking unit (36).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle interior holding system for temporarily holding a portable object brought into the vehicle, in particular an electronic item.

Such holding systems for objects that a vehicle user temporarily places in the vehicle are known, including smartphone holders that can be used in the ventilation grille. In addition, such holders for smartphones are also equipped with suction cups to attach them to one of the glass panes in the interior.

However, these mounts have disadvantages because, on the one hand, the occupant's field of vision is restricted with a suction cup mount, and on the other hand, smartphone mounts on or near the ventilation grille are predestined to expose the smartphone to extremely hot heated air or cold, air-conditioned air, especially in extreme temperatures to blow on, which puts extreme strain on the battery and electronics. Regardless, the aesthetic interior design is very limited by such brackets.

It is also planned to create a type of rail system in the vehicle interior along which holders for smartphones can be attached.

The object of the invention is to improve a vehicle interior holding system so that, on the one hand, it meets aesthetic requirements and allows a holder to be attached quickly and the holder to be released quickly.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle interior holding system for temporarily holding an object brought into the vehicle, in particular an electronic object
a holder which has a carrier for the object, a movable locking element, a holding projection and an unlocking unit which is movably attached to the carrier and moves the locking element from a locked state to an unlocked state by relative movement to the carrier,
an interior paneling, and
an elongated gap in or adjacent to the interior paneling, delimited by a gap wall, into which the locking element and the retaining projection of the holder can be inserted and releasably locked from the outside in different positions along the gap.

The vehicle interior holding system according to the invention can be used not only for electronic items, but also for, for example, drinks or other items that are taken into the vehicle and used while driving. The carrier is then designed accordingly in order to achieve a positive connection with the object. In the invention, the gap is partially limited or covered by the interior trim, particularly if it extends along the edge of the interior trim or an interior trim part. The gap is therefore integrated into the vehicle and is not noticeable in any way. Also, no part used for other functions is subjected to mechanical stress, as is the case with a ventilation grille. The holder can be attached to a wide variety of positions along the length of the gap, so that the user can choose his own optimal position and the holding system can be used in a modular manner. The unlocking unit allows quick, safe unlocking and thus the holder to be released from the gap. Because the unlocking unit is movably mounted on the carrier, the unlocking movement can be carried out very quickly and easily and, above all, in a precisely predeterminable manner.

The gap wall in which the holder is locked can be formed by one or more separate, prefabricated parts, one part alone or the several parts together forming a type of supporting receiving rail. The at least one part can be arranged behind the interior trim or between two adjacent trim parts or embedded in a carrier body of the interior trim (e.g. a foamed molded body) which is laminated on the outside.

The holding projection and the locking element protrude into the carrier in the locked state in order to achieve a positive connection.

When locked, there is always a positive connection between the gap wall and the locking element, so that the holder cannot be pulled out of the gap without unlocking.

Optionally, it is provided that the locking element applies a preload in the locked state so that the carrier is held in the gap without rattling.

The gap can have a cross section of e.g. B. include a profile with an undercut into which the locking element engages in the locked state. In this variant, the locking element protrudes into the gap and into the undercut. The locking element is therefore not visible from the outside, which improves the visual design of the entire holder. When the holding projection is supported on the gap wall in the locked state, it absorbs the weight of the object and directs it directly into the gap wall. This allows the load on the locking element to be reduced.

The unlocking unit is in particular slidably attached to the carrier, e.g. B. via a linear guide. This linear guide can run towards the gap or away from the gap and thus the unlocking unit can be moved from a locking to an unlocking position.

The linear guide can e.g. B. be formed in a correspondingly shaped carrier made of plastic, so that the linear guide is produced during injection molding of the carrier.

In order to make the holder particularly simple and compact, but also safe with regard to the mobility of the unlocking unit, it is optionally designed as a plate or comprises a plate-shaped section with an opening through which the locking element extends in the locked state. The plate or the plate-shaped section therefore has a kind of window for the locking element. By moving the plate or the plate-shaped section relative to the carrier, it is possible for unlocking to move an edge of the plate or the plate-shaped section delimiting the opening over the locking element and to press it into the unlocked state. The locking element can, for example, be a U-shaped profile or molded part, in which the central connecting leg forms a plate-shaped section.

A very simple design of the locking element results from the fact that it is a hook connected in one piece to the carrier via an elastic hinge area. This hook is pre-positioned in a locking position, which it assumes in the locked state. This means that either the hook is pretensioned into the locked position by another component or, preferably, the hook is in its locking position even without external force and must then be moved into the unlocked position against the force in the hinge area. This can be done, for example, by the locking element being produced during injection molding of the carrier and protruding from the rest of the carrier in this manufactured position and thus inherently assuming the locking position.

So that unlocking works safely and easily, the invention provides, according to a variant, that the hook has a wedge surface in the locked state. The plate or the plate-shaped section can be moved against this wedge surface and along the wedge surface in order to move the hook into its unlocked position. The plate or the plate-shaped section therefore presses against the wedge surface when unlocking and during further displacement the plate moves over the hook as it moves along the wedge surface in order to finally move the hook into a recessed position which corresponds to the unlocked position .

A particularly simple and, above all, visually perfect integration of the vehicle interior holding system according to the invention into the vehicle results when the interior paneling has at least two paneling parts that are arranged adjacent to one another and the gap is present between their adjacent edges. The gap walls can either be formed by load-bearing sections of the cladding parts or a rail provided behind the edges.

In order to use the vehicle interior holding system according to the invention specifically for electronic objects and to charge them or, more generally, to supply them with power while driving, the invention provides, according to a variant, that electrical contacts spaced apart from one another are present along the gap and counter contacts on the carrier, which are electrically connected to the contacts when the holder is inserted into the gap, with power lines being provided on the carrier for supplying power to the object. These power lines are in particular integrated into the carrier, and in one embodiment plug contacts for the electronic object can also be integrated. The electrical contacts in the gap are in particular elongated electrical conductors which run in the longitudinal direction of the gap. An additional plug-in contact for connecting the electrical mating contacts on the carrier to the electrical contacts in the gap is not required. When the carrier is inserted into the gap, an electrical coupling is automatically achieved.

The electrical contacts in the gap are not visible, especially from the outside. These electrical mating contacts are preferably located in the area of the deepest point of the gap in order not to allow access from outside.

In this context, it is advantageous if the height of the gap is a maximum of 4 mm so that fingers cannot be inserted into the gap or at least not so far that they can reach the contacts.

In order to achieve an additional positive connection between the carrier and the gap wall, to prevent movement of the holder in the longitudinal direction and also to enable additional force absorption in the gap wall when a force running parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gap is exerted on the holder, the invention provides proposes that the gap wall has two opposite wall sections, of which at least one wall section has a toothed profile when viewed in the insertion direction of the projection and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. This profile has alternating elevations and depressions in the longitudinal direction of the gap. The holding projection has, at least in sections, a complementary contact profile which, when inserted, engages with the profile on the gap wall. This profiling of the gap wall and holding projection also serves to align the holder exactly at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the gap.

The holding system can be positioned in a variety of places in the vehicle interior, not only in the area of the passenger's dashboard, but e.g. B. also in the area of the center console or the side wall paneling.

Light sources can also be accommodated in the gap, as is now common for ambient lighting, so that the gap also has an additional function. In addition, light sources can of course also be integrated into the holder or attached to the holder.

• - 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Fahrzeuginnenraums im Bereich des Beifahrers mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeuginnenraum-Haltesystem,
• - 2 eine Schnittansicht durch das erfindungsgemäße Fahrzeuginnenraum-Haltesystem, hier mit einer Smartphone-Halterung,
• - 3 eine Explosionsansicht eines Abschnitts einer Halterung als Teil des erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeuginnenraum-Haltesystems,
• - 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht des Haltesystems nach 3 und fahrzeugintegrierte, eine Spaltwand in oder unter einer Innenraumverkleidung definierende Teile,
• - 5 eine schematische Seitenansicht samt zugeordneter Schnittansicht durch das erfindungsgemäße Fahrzeuginnenraum-Haltesystem mit integrierten Elektronikkontakten,
• - 6 eine Schnittansicht durch das erfindungsgemäße Fahrzeuginnenraum-Haltesystem bei noch nicht verriegelter Halterung, und
• - 7 die Schnittansicht nach 6 mit verriegelter Halterung.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and from the following drawings, to which reference is made. Shown in the drawings:

• - 1 a perspective view of a vehicle interior in the area of the front passenger with a vehicle interior holding system according to the invention,
• - 2 a sectional view through the vehicle interior holding system according to the invention, here with a smartphone holder,
• - 3 an exploded view of a section of a holder as part of the vehicle interior holding system according to the invention,
• - 4 a perspective view of the holding system 3 and vehicle-integrated parts that define a gap wall in or under an interior panel,
• - 5 a schematic side view including an associated sectional view through the vehicle interior holding system according to the invention with integrated electronic contacts,
• - 6 a sectional view through the vehicle interior holding system according to the invention with the holder not yet locked, and
• - 7 the sectional view 6 with locked holder.

In 1 A vehicle interior holding system is shown, which makes it possible to position various objects that are brought into the vehicle by an occupant in different places. Examples of these items are a smartphone 10 and a drinking bottle 12.

The vehicle interior holding system is part of the interior trim and is integrated into or hidden by the interior trim. Here, a substantially horizontally extending slot 17 is formed between a first cladding part 14 and a second cladding part 16.

The first trim part 14 is provided in the area of the passenger's dashboard, the second trim part 16 underneath, at the transition from the dashboard to the footwell underneath. Another first trim part 15 is provided as the upper door trim part and another second trim part 26 underneath.

On average in 2 It can be seen that the first trim part 14 has a lower edge 18 and the second trim part 16 has an upper edge 20. In this area, a gap 17 is formed between the two cladding parts 14, 16, which is defined by a gap wall made of two parts. Alternatively, the cladding part can comprise a shaped, in particular injected or foamed, molded body 25, in which the parts 22, 24 are embedded. In this case, external laminations, e.g. B. a leather lamination, cover the molded body 25 on the outside up to the gap 17.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, which is not to be understood as limiting, the parts 22, 24 are elongated, strip-like bodies that are connected to one another, for example screwed, glued or clamped together. The parts 22, 24 define wall sections of the gap 17.

In the embodiment according to 1 the gap 17 is formed between the edges 18, 20 of adjacent cladding parts (or laminations), but optionally, as explained above, a corresponding slot can also be made in a cladding part 14, 16, which then forms the gap 17 or in which the separate parts 22, 24 are designed, which define the wall sections.

As in 1 shown, the gap 17 extends along the dashboard and also into the area of the interior trim 26 of the vehicle door.

A holder 28 can be inserted anywhere along the gap 17 to store an object.

In 2 the holder 28 for a smartphone 10 is shown in section. Typically, the projection 64 projects into the gap by a maximum of 40 mm, but preferably less, for example 30 or 20 mm.

The holder 28 includes a carrier 30, which is designed as a thin, flat part and to which the receptacle 32 for the smartphone is attached either in one piece or as a separate part. The recording 32 is hereinafter considered part of the carrier 30.

The carrier can be made of a plastic, for example acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA) or polyoxymethylene (POM), or can include such a plastic.

Particularly if the carrier is to be very thin, it can be made of a metal or comprise a metal. Typically, a plastic carrier is in the range of 2 mm up to and including 4 mm thick and a metal carrier is thinner than 0.5 mm and preferably thicker than 0.2 mm.

In 3 a right section of the carrier 30 is shown, which has a longitudinal guide 34 into which an unlocking unit 36 can be inserted. Extensions 38 on the carrier 30 prevent the unlocking unit 36 from moving out in the vertical direction.

The unlocking unit 36 can be moved relative to the carrier 30 in the longitudinal direction Y of the longitudinal guide 34.

The carrier 30 is a plastic injection-molded part, to which a locking element 42 is attached in one piece to the carrier 30 via an elastic hinge region 40.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge region 40 is formed by an inverted U-shaped section with a thinned cross section.

In the unloaded state, the locking element 42 is in a so-called locking position, in which it protrudes upwards relative to the rest of the carrier 30 and forms a hook.

This hook has a substantially vertical locking surface 46 in the direction of the longitudinal guide 34 and an adjacent wedge surface 48 which faces away from the longitudinal guide 34.

The unlocking unit 36 has a plate-shaped, central section 49, here with angled side edges 50 and a window-like opening 52 in the plate-shaped section 49, which is framed by the side edges 50 and edges 54, 56.

Alternatively, the unlocking unit 36 can be designed exclusively in a plate shape. For example, guidance can then be realized through the adjacent, correspondingly shaped carrier 30.

In a variant, the carrier 30 does not include any extensions 38. The unlocking unit 36 is prevented from moving out in the vertical direction by the end pieces of the side edges 50 being bent towards one another in the horizontal direction and engaging in a corresponding groove in the carrier.

When assembled, the in 4 can be clearly seen, the unlocking unit 36 lies in the longitudinal guide 34, and the locking element 42 protrudes upwards through the opening 52. 60 denotes a restoring element which acts between the unlocking unit 36 and the carrier 30 and can move the unlocking unit 36 back into a starting position.

In particular, the restoring element 60 can be an elastic element that pushes the unlocking unit 36 into the in 4 can move to the locking position shown. For example, the restoring element 60 is a spring.

If the unlocking unit 36 is in the direction of arrow Z (see 3 ) is moved, the edge 54 is pressed onto the wedge surface 48 and the locking element 42 is pressed under the edge 54, so that the locking element 42 dips downwards into the carrier 30. Then the so-called unlocked position for the locking element 42 is reached, which leads to the unlocked state of the holder 28.

The carrier 30 includes a front section around the locking element 42, which is referred to as a holding projection 64, since in the state in which it is inserted into the gap 17, at least at its front, upper end on the gap wall, here on part 22 , is supported.

In 4 It can be seen that the lower wall section and thus the part 24 is a toothed one Profile 62 has, looking into the so-called insertion direction E, which also runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction F of the gap 17.

This toothed profile 62 results from alternating elevations and depressions. A correspondingly toothed profile can also be present on the underside of the part 22 facing the gap 17.

On the underside of the carrier 30 in the area of the holding projection 64, a complementary contact profile is provided, namely complementary to the profile 62, in order to enable a laterally acting positive connection between the carrier 30 and the part 24.

Optionally, the carrier 30, if it is intended as a holder for an electronic object and is designed to supply this object with power, can have integrated power lines 70, 72, which are open at least in the area of the holding projection 64, as shown in FIG 5 is shown. In the rest of the area, the power lines 70, 72 can be embedded in the plastic of the carrier 30.

The power lines 70, 72 end freely on the retaining projection 64 and can optionally end in plug contacts 76 on the receptacle 32 (see 2 ).

In the area of the deepest point of the gap 17, conductor tracks, namely completely exposed conductor tracks, are integrated to form contacts 80, 82 (see 5 ). The exposed ends of the power lines 70, 72 serve as mating contacts for the contacts 80, 82 and come into current-transmitting contact with them when the carrier 30 is inserted, locked.

In 6 the not yet plugged-in state is shown. Here the gap 17 can be clearly seen, especially an undercut 86 in the gap wall, more precisely in part 2, into which the locking element 42 can snap into place. Optionally, the part 24 can also have such an undercut 86 if the carrier 30 is designed accordingly or if the carrier 30 is installed rotated by 180 °.

The carrier 30 becomes, as in 6 shown, inserted in the direction of the arrow, which represents the insertion direction E, with the holding projection 64 in advance into the gap 17.

The locking element 42 is briefly pressed down at the narrowest point of the gap 17 and then springs back again after reaching the undercut 86, as shown in 7 can be seen to achieve the locked state, which prevents the carrier 30 from being pulled out. To unlock, as previously mentioned, the unlocking unit 36 must simply be pushed backwards, counter to the insertion direction, in order to push the locking element 42 downwards and out of the undercut 86.

Claims (10)

Vehicle interior holding system for temporarily holding a portable object brought into the vehicle, in particular an electronic object a holder (28) which has a carrier (30) for the object, a movable locking element (42), a holding projection (64) and an unlocking unit (36) which is movably attached to the carrier (30) and by a relative movement to the Carrier (30) moves the locking element (42) from a locked state to an unlocked state, an interior paneling, and an elongated gap (17) delimited by a gap wall in or adjacent to the interior paneling, into which the locking element (42) and the holding projection (64) of the holder (28) can be inserted and releasably locked from the outside in different positions along the gap (17). are. Vehicle interior holding system Claim 1 , characterized in that the gap (17) has a cross-sectional profile with an undercut (86) into which the locking element (42) engages in the locked state. Vehicle interior holding system Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the retaining projection (64) is supported on the gap wall in the locked state. Vehicle interior holding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the unlocking unit (36) is slidably attached to the carrier (30), in particular via a linear guide (34). Vehicle interior holding system Claim 4 , characterized in that the unlocking unit (36) is a plate or has a plate-shaped section (49) with an opening (52) through which the locking element (42) extends in the locked state, with movement of the plate or the plate-shaped section (49) relative to the carrier (30), an edge (54) delimiting the opening (52) is movable over the locking element (42) and presses the locking element (42) into the unlocked state. Vehicle interior holding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (42) is a hook which is connected in one piece to the carrier (30) via an elastic hinge region (40) and which is pre-positioned in a locking position. Vehicle interior holding system according to the Claims 5 and 6 , characterized in that the hook in the locked state has a wedge surface (48) against and along which the plate or the plate-shaped section (49) can be displaced in order to move the hook into an unlocked position. Vehicle interior holding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior lining has at least two cladding parts (14, 16), between the edges (18, 20) of which the gap (17) is present. Vehicle interior holding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are electrical contacts (80, 82) spaced apart along the gap (17) and counter contacts on the carrier (30) which are inserted into the gap (17). the holder (28) is electrically connected to the contacts (80, 82), with power lines (70, 72) being provided on the carrier (30) for supplying power to the object. Vehicle interior holding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gap wall has two opposite wall sections, of which at least one wall section, viewed in the insertion direction of the holding projection (64), has a toothed profile (62) with it in the longitudinal direction (F) of the gap (17 ) has alternating elevations and depressions, the holding projection (64) having a complementary contact profile at least in sections.

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