EP3502387B1

EP3502387B1 - Closure system for a compartment, in particular for a storage compartment in a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3502387B1
Application number: EP17425129.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emiliano Fissore; Fabio Massolo; Luca Cornero
Original assignee: FCA Italy SpA
Current assignee: Stellantis Europe SpA
Priority date: 2017-12-22
Filing date: 2017-12-22
Publication date: 2020-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-22
Also published as: EP3502387A1

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a closing system for a compartment, in particular for a storage compartment of a motor vehicle.

Background art

Particularly in the automotive field, systems are known for closing a compartment, in particular a storage compartment of a motor vehicle.
Generally such systems include a support structure in which a passage is defined. In addition, an oscillating system is rotatably mounted to the support structure between a pair of stable positions, including a closed position and a fully open position.
In the closed position, the oscillating assembly closes the passage. Vice versa, in the fully open position the oscillating assembly allows access to the compartment through the passage, reaching a stable end-of-travel condition.
Typically such closing systems are equipped with damping devices configured for slowing down the movement of the oscillating assembly during its travel from the closed position to the fully open position.
The above-mentioned technical solutions are generally used in vehicles belonging to various and different market segments of the automotive industry. In particular, the damping systems, or dampers, in use are designed separately and are not integrated with the closing system. Typically such damping devices comprise springs, hydraulic or pneumatic dissipators.
Such a type of closing system suffers from a few drawbacks caused by the use of such damping devices.
One drawback is due to the fact that said damping devices make the closing system as a whole more complex and expensive.
Another drawback is due to the fact that the use of said damping devices implies designing a separate solution with the spaces, geometries and fasteners necessary for specifically housing such devices.
DE 4125184 A1 discloses a component, hinging on a bracket, in particular for vehicles, which is damped to prevent hard impact on moving between end positions. Between the hinge bracket and the component, the latter typically a handle, glove-box lid etc., is a hollow air-filled component of soft elastic material and with an escape hole, providing the damping effect. A rubber or plastics balloon of highly resilient material may be used. It can have a mounting lug with a socket. A spring can be incorporated, aiding return to the original shape after distortion.
WO 01/90594 A1 discloses a damping mechanism for use with a housing having a body and a cover pivotably attached to the body, the cover being movable between an open position and a closed position. The damping mechanism includes a body engagement surface located on the body and a cover engagement surface located on the cover. One of the body engagement surface or the cover engagement surface includes a generally planar damping pad and the other of the body engagement surface or the cover engagement surface includes a cam having a generally curved cam surface. The cam surface is shaped and positioned to engage the damping pad such that the damping pad and the cam cooperate to dampen the movement of the cover when the cover pivots between the open and closed positions.

Summary of the invention

It is one object of the present invention to provide a closing system of an improved type compared with those according to the prior art.
According to the present invention, this and other objects are achieved through a closing system having the technical features set out in the appended independent claim.
It is to be understood that the appended claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in the following detailed description of the invention. In particular, the appended dependent claims define some preferred embodiments of the present invention, which include optional technical features.
Advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is supplied by way of non-limiting example with particular reference to the annexed drawings, which will be summarized below.

Brief description of the drawings

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a closing system made in accordance with one exemplary embodiment, shown in a closed position and, respectively, a fully open position.
Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the closing system shown in Figure 1.
Figures 4 to 9 and 9a are partial perspective views of a damping device used in the closing system illustrated in the preceding figures.
Figures 10 and 11 are cross-sectional side views of a variant embodiment of the damping device used in the closing system illustrated in the preceding figures.
Figures 12 and 13 are partial perspective views similar to those shown in Figures 4 and 5, and represent a variant embodiment of the damping device used in the previously illustrated closing system.
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional side view similar to those shown in Figures 10 and 11, and represents a variant embodiment of the damping device used in the previously shown closing system.

Detailed description of the invention

With particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, numeral 10 designates as a whole a closing system for a compartment made in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, closing system 10 is applied to a storage compartment or glove box of a motor vehicle. In particular, the closing system is intended to be integrated into the dashboard of a motor vehicle. However, as will be apparent to a man skilled in the art, said system 10 may also be used for applications other than the one illustrated by way of example in the drawings. In the automotive field, for example, the system can be used in combination with a box or compartment located in different positions (e.g. on the driver's side, on the ceiling light fixture, on the engine hood, in the trunk area). Moreover, the system can also be used outside the automotive field, and more in general wherever there is an openable door and a compartment that needs to be closed (e.g. a dishwasher door, an oven door, etc.).
With particular reference to Figure 2, system 10 comprises a support structure 12 in which a passage 14 is defined. In the embodiment illustrated herein by way of non-limiting example, support structure 12 consists of a front panel of the dashboard of a car. In this example, support structure 12 is intended to be located in front of the passenger's seat in the car.
System 10 comprises also an oscillating assembly 16 co-operating with support structure 12 to define a container compartment 18. Oscillating assembly 16 is hinged at passage 14, so that it can be rotated between a pair of stable positions, including a closed position (see Figures 1 and 3) and a fully open position (see Figure 2). In the embodiment illustrated herein by way of example, oscillating assembly 16 is hinged - in a per se known manner - to support structure 12 about a hinging axis referred to as X-X. In particular, hinging axis X-X is situated in proximity to the bottom (or lower edge) of passage 14.
In the closed position shown in Figures 1 and 3, oscillating assembly 16 closes passage 14 and is releasably coupled to support structure 12, e.g. by means of a locking device 13 (typically of the latch type).
Vice versa, in the fully open position shown in Figure 2, oscillating assembly 16 opens passage 14 and allows full access to container compartment 18.
In the embodiment illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 to 3, support structure 12 and oscillating assembly 16 substantially form an "oscillating box", inside of which container compartment 18 is defined, which moves from a retracted condition (corresponding to the closed position shown in Figures 1 and 3) to an extracted condition (corresponding to the fully open position shown in Figure 2) relative to support structure 12. When the "oscillating box" is in the extracted condition, it remains in such condition and keeps oscillating assembly 16 in the fully open position, e.g. because a part of oscillating assembly 16 rests against a stop element 17 protruding from the support structure 12.
Particularly but not necessarily, with reference to Figure 2, oscillating assembly 16 comprises a lid 20 that closes passage 14 and prevents access thereto when said oscillating assembly 16 is in the closed position. Furthermore, oscillating assembly 16 comprises a pair of side walls 22 and 24 and a rear wall 26 that, together with lid 20, delimit container compartment 18. Likewise, support structure 12 comprises an arched top part 28 situated above side walls 22 and 24 and covering container compartment 18 during the transition between the closed position and the fully open position of the oscillating assembly. However, as will be apparent to a man skilled in the art, support structure 12 and oscillating assembly 16 may also form different structural arrangements. For example, in some variant embodiments, not illustrated herein, the support structure and the oscillating assembly may also create a "stationary box", in which the container compartment cannot move and is formed by inner walls of the support structure; in such variants, the oscillating assembly acts as a lid configured for preventing, when closed, or allowing, when opened, access to the container compartment.
With particular reference to Figure 3, system 10 further comprises a damping system designated as a whole by numeral 30 and configured for damping or slowing down the movement of oscillating assembly 16 in a predetermined tract of the travel from the closed position to the fully open position.
In the illustrated environment, system 10 comprises a single damping device 30. However, in other variant embodiments the system may comprise a plurality of such damping devices, in particular spaced apart at and along the hinging axis X-X defined between support structure 12 and oscillating assembly 16.
With reference to Figures 4 to 11, the following will describe in detail one exemplary embodiment of damping device 30.
Figure 4 is a partial perspective view that shows a lower portion of the front face (i.e. the one normally visible from the outside while using system 10) of oscillating assembly 16, in particular located on the front face of lid 20, wherein a first part of damping device 30 can be seen.
Figure 5 is a partial perspective view that shows a lower portion of the rear face (i.e. the one normally not visible and substantially hidden when system 10 is in use) of oscillating assembly 16, in particular located on the rear face of lid 20, wherein the same first part of the damping device is visible from a different perspective.
With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, damping device 30 comprises a pair of cams 32. Each one of cams 32 is carried by oscillating assembly 16 and has an outer surface with an eccentric portion 34.
As will be apparent to a man skilled in the art, cams 32 carried by oscillating assembly 16 must not necessarily be in pairs. In fact, in further variant embodiments of the present invention, not illustrated herein, the damping device may comprise a single cam or a number of cams greater than two.
Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views that show only a second part of the damping device, viewed from two different angles.
With particular reference to Figures 6 and 7, damping device 30 comprises a buffer 36 made of elastically deformable material, mounted to support structure 12 and co-operating with the outer surface of cams 32.
Figures 8 and 9 show buffer 36 mounted in system 10, respectively in a front elevation view and a rear perspective view.
With particular reference to Figures 8 and 9, in the embodiment illustrated herein by way of example buffer 36 is housed in a seat 38 located on support structure 12. In particular, said seat 38 is substantially positioned between guides 40 of the hinge formed between support structure 12 and movable assembly 16.
Particularly, seat 38 is substantially a recess formed in the front face of support structure 12, substantially in proximity to the bottom edge of passage 14.
In the illustrated embodiment, buffer 36 is fully inserted in seat 38. In particular, buffer 36 rests against the bottom of the seat 38.
With particular reference to Figures 10 and 11, the following will describe the operation of damping device 30. In said Figures 10 and 11, the illustrated buffer 36 is slightly different from the one represented in the preceding Figures, in that it is a variant embodiment thereof having additional technical features that will be described below.
In Figure 10, cam 32 is in contact with buffer 36, but eccentric portion 34 lies at an angular distance from (and therefore is not in contact with) buffer 36; this configuration corresponds to the closed position of oscillating assembly 16.
On the contrary, as shown in Figure 11, in the predetermined tract of the travel from the closed position to the fully open position of oscillating assembly 16, eccentric portion 34 of each cam 32 is in contact with buffer 36 and pushes it against the bottom of seat 38.
In turn, buffer 36 exerts friction against cams 32. At the same time, in the illustrated embodiment buffer 36 is compressed by cams 32 against the bottom of seat 38. This results in the movement of oscillating assembly 16 being damped or slowed down, due to the friction and compression actions to which buffer 36 is subjected because of its co-operation with eccentric portion 34 of cam 32.
As can also be appreciated in Figures 10 and 11, the radius of curvature of eccentric portion 34 of cam 32 relative to its axis of rotation (in particular, coinciding with hinging axis X-X) increases as oscillating assembly 16 approaches the fully open position.
In the embodiment illustrated herein by way of example, each cam 32 and the respective buffer 36 are located in proximity to the hinging axis X-X. In particular, the axis of rotation of cam 32 substantially coincides with the hinging axis X-X.
In the embodiment shown herein by way of example, buffer 36 is made of elastomeric or polymeric material.
In particular, eccentric portion 34 of each cam 32 may have a fixed geometry, i.e. it may have a substantially constant thickness t (see Figure 5) along the outer surface in contact with buffer 36.
As an alternative, in the variant embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13, eccentric portion 34 may have a variable geometry, i.e. it may have a variable thickness t (in Figure 13, variable from t1 to t2) along the outer surface in contact with buffer 36. In such a case, the surface of eccentric portion 34 in contact with the buffer undergoes variations depending on the angular position taken by cam 32. Therefore, said surface is variable in the tract from the closed position to the open position, thus determining a substantially variable damping or slowing effect during the travel of oscillating assembly 16. In this regard, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13 the thickness of eccentric portion 34 of each cam 32, and hence the surface of each cam 32 in contact with buffer 36, grows as oscillating assembly 16 moves towards the open position. In this manner, the damping or slowing effect will be lower in the tract nearest to the closed position, i.e. during the initial phase of the descent of oscillating assembly 16, and higher in the tract nearest to the fully open position, i.e. during the final phase of the descent of oscillating assembly 16.
In a variant embodiment illustrated in Figure 14, buffer 36 is inserted with some clearance into its seat 38, i.e. there is a distance d between the bottom of seat 38 and the rear wall of buffer 36, in particular when the oscillating assembly is in the closed position.
With reference to the configuration shown in Figures 15 and 16 and the configuration shown in Figures 17 and 18, the distance d can be selected for obtaining different damping or braking effects on oscillating assembly 16.
In particular, with reference to Figures 15 and 16, it can be noticed that there is a damping or braking effect that - in an initial tract (Figure 15) from the closed position to the open position - is only due to the friction caused by the co-operation between buffer 36 and eccentric portion 34 of cam 32. In fact, it can be noticed that in said initial tract buffer 36 is not resting against seat 38, in particular against the bottom of seat 38. Vice versa, in a final tract (Figure 16) from the closed position to the open position - the damping or braking effect is also due to the compression exerted on buffer 36 against the walls of seat 38, in particular against the bottom of seat 38, by eccentric portion 34 of cam 32.
Preferably, the configuration shown in Figures 15 and 16 can be obtained by sizing damping device 30 in such a way that, in at least one tract of the eccentric portion, the sum of the radius of curvature of cam 32 and the thickness s of buffer 36 exceeds distance D between the axis of rotation of the cam (which in the illustrated embodiment coincides with the hinging axis X-X) and the bottom of seat 38.
In particular, with reference to Figures 17 and 18, it can be noticed that, substantially along the entire tract from the closed position to the open position, the damping or braking effect is only due to the friction caused by the co-operation between buffer 36 and eccentric portion 34 of cam 32. In fact, both in an initial tract (Figure 17) and in the final tract (Figure 18) from the closed position to the open position buffer 36 is not resting against the walls of seat 38, in particular against the bottom of seat 38.
Preferably, the configuration shown in Figures 17 and 18 can be obtained by sizing damping device 30 in such a way that in no tract of cam 32 the sum of the radius of curvature of cam 32 and the thickness s of buffer 36 exceeds distance D between the axis of rotation of cam 32 (which in the illustrated embodiment coincides with the hinging axis X-X) and the bottom of seat 38.
Again with reference to Figures 10 and 11, according to the invention, buffer 36 is housed in seat 38 in such a way that it takes an adjustable position relative to the axis of rotation of cam 32. Thus, at a greater distance of buffer 36 from the axis of rotation of cam 32 (in particular, coinciding with the hinging axis X-X), the compression operatively exerted by eccentric portion 34 will be lower than that exerted when buffer 36 is located at a shorter distance from the axis of rotation of cam 32.
According to the invention, buffer 36 comprises a head portion 42 and a leg portion 44. Head portion 42 is wider than leg portion 44 and is configured for coming in contact with the outer surface of cam 32; instead, leg portion 44 is configured for constraining buffer 36 to seat 38, in particular for adjusting the position of buffer 36 relative to the axis of rotation of the cam 32.
According to the invention and as illustrated in Figures 9 and 9a, which show the rear face of support structure 12, seat 38 has a through aperture 46 through which leg 44 can be inserted. In particular, Figure 9a is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 9 in which, for clarity reasons, buffer 36 has been omitted in order to make through aperture 46 visible.
According to the invention and as shown in Figures 10 and 11, leg 44 is inserted into through aperture 46 in an adjustable manner. The leg has a plurality of locking portions 48 spaced apart along its longitudinal or axial extension, by means of which it is coupled to aperture 46 by interference.
In the embodiment illustrated herein by way of example, locking portions 48 form - in a longitudinal sectional view - a double sawtooth shape, in particular creating a so-called "fir tree" configuration. Such locking portions 48 can be elastically deformed as they are inserted into aperture 46, the diameter of which is smaller, so that they can selectively go through said aperture 46 while penetrating through seat 38 (in particular, through the bottom wall thereof).
Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of embodiment and the implementation details may be extensively varied from those described and illustrated herein by way of non-limiting example, without however departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

A closing system (10) for a compartment, in particular for a storage compartment or glove box of a motor vehicle; said system comprising:
- a support structure (12) in which a passage (14) is defined;

- an oscillating assembly (16) co-operating with said support structure (12) to define a container compartment (18); said oscillating assembly (16) being hinged at said passage (14), so that it can be rotated between a pair of stable positions including:
a closed position, in which said oscillating assembly (16) closes said passage (14) and is releasably coupled to said support structure (12), and

a fully open position, in which said oscillating assembly (16) opens said passage (14) and allows full access to said compartment (18); and

- a damping device (30) configured for damping or slowing down the movement of said oscillating assembly (16) in at least one predetermined tract of the travel from said closed position to said fully open position;
wherein said damping device comprises:
- a cam (32) carried by said oscillating assembly and having an outer surface with an eccentric portion (34); and

- a buffer (36) made of elastically deformable material, mounted to said support structure (12) and co-operating with said outer surface, wherein said buffer (36) is housed in a seat (38) located on the support structure (12); and
in said predetermined tract, said eccentric portion (34) pushes said buffer (36) that exerts friction against said cam (32), thereby damping or slowing down the movement of said oscillating assembly (16) ;
characterized in that said buffer (36) is housed in said seat (38) at an adjustable distance from an axis of rotation (X-X) of said cam (32);
wherein said buffer (36) comprises a head portion (42) and a leg portion (44), wherein the head portion (42) is wider than leg portion (44) and is configured for coming in contact with the outer surface of the cam (32); the leg portion (44) is configured for constraining the buffer (36) to the seat (38) for adjusting the position of the buffer (36) relative to the axis of rotation (X-X) of the cam (32); wherein said seat (38) has a through aperture (46) through which the leg portion (44) is inserted in an adjustable manner; wherein the leg portion (44) has a plurality of locking portions (48) spaced apart along its longitudinal or axial extension, by means of which it can be coupled to the through aperture (46) by interference.
System according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cam (32) and said buffer (36) are located in proximity to said hinging axis (X-X).
System according to claim 2, wherein the axis of rotation of said at least one cam (32) substantially coincides with said hinging axis (X-X).
System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said buffer (36) is housed in said seat (38) with some clearance.
System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said seat (38) is located substantially near guides (40) of the hinge formed between said support structure (12) and said movable assembly (16).
System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said buffer (36) is made of elastomeric or polymeric material.
System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radius of curvature of the eccentric portion (34) of the cam (32) relative to its axis of rotation (X-X) increases as the oscillating assembly (16) approaches the fully open position.
System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said eccentric portion (34) has a substantially constant thickness (t) along the outer surface in contact with said buffer (36).
System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said eccentric portion (34) has a variable thickness (t1, t2) along the outer surface in contact with said buffer (36).
System according to claim 9, wherein said variable thickness (t1, t2) grows as said oscillating assembly (16) approaches the fully open position (16).