DE20307482U1 - Adjustable, multifunctional cover arrangement for middle console in motor vehicle has carrier unit that can be adjusted in several steps in the manner of telescope - Google Patents

Abstract

The cover arrangement (1) includes a carrier unit (2) at which an end unit (3) is arranged. The carrier unit can be adjusted in several steps in the manner of a telescope and can be reeled-in and reeled-out relative to the middle console (12). The end unit can contain further functional units.

Description

9 May 2003 2003P30202 Kr/kh

Adjustable, multifunctional cover device for a center console of a motor vehicle

Description

The invention relates to an adjustable, multifunctional
Cover device for a center console in a
Motor vehicle comprising a carrier unit and a termination unit arranged thereon.

Such covering devices are usually used in
Center consoles, especially in center consoles that are in

are used in motor vehicles.
Different types of cover devices are distinguished. On the one hand, there are fixed cover devices that define, for example, the housing of the center console and on the other hand, adjustable cover devices that, in addition to simply covering, also provide access to a
compartment located in the center console.

From DE 100 32 661 Al a generic covering device is
known in which a center console in a motor vehicle interior with a lower storage compartment that can be closed by a cover module and is laterally delimited by side walls, wherein the cover module is
its rear end and extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle, with a telephone device arranged on the underside of the cover module
or other goods receiving upper

Storage compartment which is covered by a first cover forming part of an armrest, and with a further storage space which is covered by a second cover which is designed as a further part of the armrest and can be pivoted about a pivot axis. The further storage space is designed as part of the upper storage compartment and is assigned to the cover module with the second cover in such a way that they can be pivoted together with the cover module.

The known cover device has the disadvantage that, in the retracted position, it does not allow any or at least partial access to the operating elements arranged under the cover device, that there is no device for holding functional units arranged on the top of the cover device and that, in addition, the height of the cover device cannot be adjusted in order to enable the storage surface and the functional units arranged thereon to be optimally adapted to the user.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an adjustable, multifunctional cover device in which the cover device at least partially enables access to operating elements arranged under the cover device, the side of the cover device facing the motor vehicle interior has at least one function for holding further functional units and the cover device is height-adjustable.

This object is achieved on the basis of an adjustable, multifunctional covering device according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

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The invention includes the technical teaching that the carrier unit is designed to be adjustable in several stages in the manner of a telescope from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the center console, wherein the end unit is designed to be multifunctional for accommodating further functional units.

This solution offers the advantage that the cover device can be adjusted to the size of an operator, thus significantly reducing the operator's risk of suffering from so-called "motion sickness" when looking at functional units arranged on the cover device. Functional units in the sense of the invention are any type of additional equipment or device that can be used in a motor vehicle, in particular navigation systems, DVD players, multimedia players, game consoles, laptops and the like. When looking at these functional units, motion sickness can easily occur if the position of the functional units is not optimally adjusted to the operator while the motor vehicle is being driven. By arranging the functional units accordingly, in particular with regard to their heights, preferably in the area of the belt line of a motor vehicle, the risk of suffering from motion sickness while driving can be minimized. Because the end unit is designed to be multifunctional, the cover device can be used for more than just covering and storing, with the cover device in the simplest case functioning as an armrest.

A further measure improving the invention provides that the center console can be used as a multifunctional center console, in particular for the rear area of a motor vehicle.

vehicle, wherein the closing unit of the cover device in the retracted position serves at least for part of the center console as a cover element, as a storage element and as a holder for other functional units comprising electronic devices. The cover device is therefore versatile and the multifunctional center console can be expanded to include additional functions in addition to the already existing multitude of functions by means of the functional units that can be attached to the multifunctional cover device.

It is also advantageous that the closing unit has an open and a closed area, with the open area in the retracted position allowing access to the control elements located under the closing unit and the closed area at least partially covering compartments located under the closing unit. In this way, the cover device does not have to be opened every time a user wants to reach or operate the control elements located under the closing unit on the multifunctional center console. Such control elements can be, among other things, control elements for the on-board electronics arranged in the motor vehicle, such as the navigation system and/or car radio.

A preferred embodiment of the adjustable multifunctional cover device provides that the sealing device is essentially L-shaped, with the closing unit being arranged on the carrier unit in a manner analogous to the shorter crossbar of the L. The L-shaped design offers the advantage that the carrier unit can be attached in such a way that it allows the user to access compartments arranged under the cover device when the cover device is in the extended position.

facilitated. Of course, a substantially T-shaped arrangement is also conceivable, but in this case the carrier unit would make access more difficult for the user, as the carrier unit would be arranged approximately in the middle of the compartments located under the cover device. For ergonomic reasons, the L-shape has been found to be the most suitable shape for the cover device.

It is also advantageous that the top of the closing unit has a clamping device for holding additional functional units. The clamping device offers a holder for functional units arranged on the closing unit, so that the functional units can also be operated on the closing unit while driving, without the risk of the functional units being accidentally removed from the closing unit due to the forces resulting from the vehicle's movement. The clamping device acts on an object to be clamped in a form-fitting and a force-fitting manner, with the form-fitting acting essentially parallel to the top of the closing unit and the force-fitting acting essentially in the direction of the closing unit.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the clamping device is arranged pivotably on two essentially opposite sides of the closing unit and is designed in the manner of a bracket, which essentially has two bracket elements running transversely between the sides.

elements for holding further functional units, wherein the clamping device forms a substantially flush surface with the end unit in an initial position. This arrangement ensures that the end unit and the clamping device have a substantially protrusion-free top or surface, which enables optimal

Support surface for additional functional units is realized. The design of the clamping device in the form of a bracket enables a space-saving clamping device which extends across the top of the end unit. The bracket elements can be designed together or separately.

It is also advantageous that the clamping device is made of a dimensionally stable, essentially plastically deformable material. A dimensionally stable, essentially plastically deformable material in the sense of the invention is understood to mean, for example, aluminum or materials with similar characteristics to aluminum, for example glass fiber reinforced plastics including Grivory. In principle, it is conceivable to manufacture the clamping device from a flexible, elastic material, which means that almost any object with a wide variety of external contours can be clamped in the clamping device, since a clamping device made of flexible, elastic material can be optimally adapted to the (external) contour of the object to be clamped, but crash tests have shown that such elastic materials cannot withstand the loads that occur in a crash test.

For this reason, it is advantageous to manufacture the clamping device from a rigid, essentially plastically deformable material, which essentially clamps the device to be clamped in a form-fitting manner. The clamping device can be easily mounted and dismantled on the end element, which means that clamping devices designed for the most diverse functional units to be clamped can be exchanged quickly and without great effort. The use of aluminum or glass fiber reinforced plastics also has the advantage that the clamping device is small and has a high strength, whereby the used

The materials used are very light, which means that a lightweight clamping device can be constructed and weight savings can be achieved in the vehicle.

A further advantage is that the carrier unit has locking means which, together with the center console, lock the cover device. Depending on the arrangement of the locking means, different locking positions can be installed, which enable optimal, multi-level alignment of the cover device with respect to the operator or user.

Advantageously, the locking means are designed as projections which interact with a locking device on the center console. This type of locking means design enables locking means to be implemented in a simple and compact manner.

The center console preferably has a frame corresponding to the carrier unit for receiving and guiding the carrier unit, with the locking device being arranged on the frame. The frame represents a universal interface by means of which various devices can be arranged on the center console. In the event of wear, the cover device can be replaced easily and without great effort. In addition, the frame offers good guidance properties for guiding the cover device and effortlessly integrates the locking device, which can thus be operated via the center console.

A preferred embodiment provides that the locking device is designed as a pre-tensioned spring element, which interacts with the locking means of the carrier unit in the manner of a catch. This design offers the advantage that the locking device can be easily

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is feasible and space-saving and can therefore be easily and without great effort arranged on the frame within the center console.

The spring element preferably has an operating or actuating element, when actuated, the pre-tension and thus the locking function of the locking device is canceled for the duration of the actuation in order to enable the cover device to be adjusted into the retracted position along a guide. In this way, a secure locking function that is protected against unintentional release is ensured.

Further measures improving the invention are specified in the subclaims or are described in more detail below together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. It shows:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a covering device according to the invention arranged on a frame,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective enlarged detail of the covering device according to the invention

tion according to Fig. 1 from a different angle,

Fig. 3 shows a further enlarged perspective view of the cover according to the invention

device according to Fig. 1 from a further angle and

Fig. 4 shows three different perspective views of a cover according to the invention.

device located on a center console.

In Fig. 1, a covering device 1 according to the invention is shown in perspective. The covering device 1 comprises a carrier unit 2, which comprises two profile carriers, on which a closing unit 3 is arranged and via which the covering device is connected to a frame 4 of a center console (not shown).

The closing unit 3 connected to the carrier unit 2 has an open area 5 and a closed area 6. The open area 5 is designed as a handle for operating or extending the covering device 1 and for reaching through to the operating element located under the covering device 1. When retracted, the closed area 6 covers at least part of the compartments arranged under the covering device 1 and at the same time serves as a support surface for functional units to be placed or arranged on the covering device 1, more precisely the closing unit 3. The closing unit 3 also has a clamping device 7, which is arranged on two opposite sides of the closing unit 3. The clamping device 7 is connected to the closing unit 3 via a return mechanism such that the clamping device 7 always exerts a force in the direction of the closing unit 3. The clamping device 7 is designed with the end unit 3 in such a way that in a starting position, the clamping device 7 and the end unit 3 form a flush surface or top. To hold functional units that are to be held on the end unit 3, the clamping device 7 has two cross struts that are connected to the return mechanism via two longitudinal struts and then to the end unit 3. The clamping device 7 is thus designed in the manner of a bracket, where-

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where a device can be clamped between the cross struts of the clamping device 7 and the end unit 3. The clamping device 7 is made of a non-elastic material which absorbs the load occurring in the event of a crash without the functional units to be clamped being able to accidentally detach from the clamping device. In order to achieve optimal adaptation to the outer contour of the functional units to be clamped and thus ensure that the functional units are securely held, a wide range of different clamping devices are available which can be arranged quickly and easily on the end unit.

The carrier unit 2 is guided on the frame 4 via the two profile supports. The carrier unit 2 has corresponding locking means on both profile supports, which in the present embodiment are designed as a plurality of projections. The frame 4 has a locking device 8 which corresponds to the locking means of the carrier unit 2 and which can be actuated via an operating element 9. The locking device 8 and the locking means work together in the manner of a catch. The locking device 8 is designed as a pre-tensioned spring element which enables the cover device 1 to move into the maximum extended position that can be reached. If the cover device 1 is to be retracted, the operating element 9 must be actuated. The operating element 9 transmits and converts the translational movement that occurs when the operating element 9 is actuated into a rotational movement of the locking device 8, whereby the locking between the locking device 8 and the locking means is released and the covering device 1 can be retracted.

The covering device 1 moves along a guide

tion 10, which is formed on the frame 4 in the form of a groove.

The entire locking mechanism is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. The locking device 8 arranged on the frame 4 between its outer edges extends partially beyond the frame boundary. On the part that protrudes beyond the frame, the locking device 8 has a component with a projection. This component interacts with the locking means of the carrier unit 2, whereby the locking means move the component when the cover device 1 is extended so that the cover device 1 together with the locking means can be moved past the component. When the cover device 1 is retracted, the component forms a resistance that cannot be moved past the locking means. This resistance can only be released by actuating the operating element 9, namely by moving the operating element 9 in the direction of the locking device 8, whereby the locking device 8 and thus also the component are rotated so that the locking means can pass the component and the cover device 1 can be retracted.

The locking means 11 can be clearly seen in Fig. 3. The locking means 11, which are arranged on the inside of the support profiles of the support unit 2 and are designed as projections, interact with the locking device 8 as already described. The locking device is connected to the operating element 9 in such a way that a translatory movement of the operating element 9 causes a rotary movement of the locking device 8, whereby the locking means 11 are released and the covering device 1 can be retracted.

Fig. 4 shows three different representations of the cover device 1, which show what a typical process for clamping a device, here an electronic device, more precisely a DVD player, might look like. In the upper of the three illustrations, the center console 12 together with the cover device 1 can be seen in the retracted position. The top of the cover device 1 is arranged essentially flush with the top of the center console 12. The open area of the cover device 1 serves on the one hand as a passage to control elements arranged under the cover device 1 on the center console 12 and on the other hand as a handle for pulling the cover device 1 out into an extended position.

The middle figure shows the cover device in an extended position. The arrangement of the carrier unit 2 and the end unit 3, on which the clamping device 7 is located, can be clearly seen. The clamping device 7 is slightly raised from the end unit 3 in the illustration so that a device can be arranged under the clamping device 7.

In the lower of the three figures, a device, here a DVD player, is mounted on the clamping device 7 with

the covering device. The clamping device 7 prevents the device from accidentally coming loose from the covering device, particularly while the motor vehicle is moving.
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List of reference symbols

1 Adjustable, multifunctional cover device

2 carrier unit

3 Final unit

4 frames

5 Open area

6 Closed area

7 Clamping device

8 Locking device

9 Control element

Guide locking device center console

Claims (12)

1. Adjustable, multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) for a center console ( 12 ) in a motor vehicle, comprising a carrier unit ( 2 ) and a closing unit ( 3 ) arranged thereon, characterized in that the carrier unit ( 2 ) is designed to be adjustable in several stages in the manner of a telescope from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the center console ( 12 ), wherein the closing unit ( 3 ) is designed to be multifunctional for accommodating further functional units. 2. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the center console ( 12 ) is designed as a multifunctional center console for the rear area of a motor vehicle, wherein the closing unit ( 3 ) of the covering device ( 1 ) in the retracted position serves at least for a part of the center console ( 12 ) both as a cover element, as a storage element and also as a holder for further functional units, comprising electronic playback devices. 3. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closing unit ( 3 ) has an open and a closed area ( 5 , 6 ), wherein the open area ( 5 ) in the retracted position enables access to operating parts located under the closing unit ( 3 ) and the closed area ( 6 ) at least partially covers compartments located under the closing unit ( 3 ). 4. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering device ( 1 ) is substantially L-shaped, wherein the closing unit ( 3 ) is arranged analogously to the shorter crossbar of the L on the support unit ( 2 ). 5. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper side of the closing unit ( 3 ) has a clamping device ( 7 ) for holding further functional units. 6. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping device ( 7 ) is arranged pivotably on two substantially opposite sides of the closing unit ( 3 ) and is designed in the manner of a bracket which essentially has two bracket elements running transversely between the sides for holding further functional units, wherein the clamping device ( 7 ) forms a substantially flush surface with the closing unit ( 3 ) in an initial position. 7. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping device ( 7 ) is formed from a dimensionally stable, substantially plastically deformable material. 8. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier unit ( 2 ) has locking means ( 11 ) which, together with the center console ( 12 ), effect a locking of the covering device ( 1 ). 9. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means ( 11 ) are designed as projections which cooperate with a locking device ( 8 ) of the center console ( 12 ). 10. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center console ( 12 ) has a frame ( 4 ) corresponding to the carrier unit ( 2 ) for receiving and guiding the carrier unit ( 2 ), wherein the locking device ( 8 ) is arranged on the frame ( 4 ). 11. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device ( 8 ) is designed as a prestressed spring element which interacts with the locking means ( 11 ) of the carrier unit ( 2 ) in the manner of a catch. 12. Adjustable multifunctional covering device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element has an operating element ( 9 ), upon actuation of which the pretension and thus the locking function of the locking device ( 8 ) is canceled for the duration of the actuation in order to enable adjustment of the covering device ( 1 ) into the retracted position along a guide ( 10 ).