FR2879530A1 - Console for motor vehicle, has armrest including blocking mechanism presenting receiving unit and connecting rod that is rotated in order to disengage pins from notch so that mechanism is released - Google Patents

Abstract

The console has an armrest (5) including a blocking mechanism presenting a connecting rod (37) rotatably mounted on a plate (11) around a pair of pins (41). The mechanism has a receiving unit with two flanges having cam channels (52) presenting two notches (52A, 52B) to receive the pins in a releasing manner. The rod is rotated in order to disengage the pins from the notch (52B) so that the mechanism is released. The blocking mechanism blocks an upper support unit (12) and the support side (20) in a stable angular position with respect to a cover (9).

Description

The present invention relates to a console for a motor vehicle,

  comprising an enclosure, and an armrest pivotally mounted on the enclosure, said armrest comprising:

  a bearing surface rotatably articulated on the side of its rear end about a bearing face axis, so as to be able to take a plurality of stable angular positions, and a releasable locking mechanism, intended to block the bearing face in a stable angular position.

  Such consoles are known in the state of the art. In some of these known consoles, the releasable locking is ensured by a rod slidably mounted on the armrest, which is secured at its rear end with a hook, designed to engage in a fixed toothing located near the axis. pivoting the armrest.

  In such an arrangement, a support on the armrest generates significant stresses at the locking members in movement of the armrest, and the bending deformation of the latter can be felt by the user.

  The invention aims to overcome this disadvantage, and to provide an articulated armrest of increased rigidity.

  This object is achieved by the invention, which relates to a console of the aforementioned type, wherein the releasable locking mechanism comprises - a link articulated in rotation relative to the bearing face, about a link axis located at the front of the bearing face axis, and a plurality of notches which can selectively receive the link releasably, each of the notches defining one of the stable angular positions of the bearing face.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: the armrest comprises a plate articulated in rotation on the enclosure, and an upper support element defining the bearing surface, which is mounted so as to slide longitudinally on the plate so as to able to take a plurality of stable axial positions; - The releasable locking mechanism comprises a release member that can cooperate with the rod to drive the latter in rotation about the link axis, and disengage the notch in which it is received; the release member is arranged on the side of the front end of the armrest; the releasable locking mechanism comprises at least two notches respectively corresponding to a zero displacement position and to a maximum deflection position, and the armrest is provided with elastic return means urging the bearing face in rotation towards its position of maximum travel; said return means comprise a spiral spring arranged around the bearing face axis; - The console comprises a closure cover of the enclosure, articulated in rotation on the latter around the bearing surface axis between a closed position and at least one open position; - The console comprises a lid locking mechanism, adapted to releasably lock the lid in the closed position; the locking mechanism comprises a hook hinged to the lid, a complementary hooking part, integral with the enclosure, and a control member adapted to release the hook from the hooking part; and the operating member is arranged on the armrest on the side of its front end.

  A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a console according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view, in the median longitudinal plane 2-2, of the console of FIG. 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the armrest of the console of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, in an axially advanced position of the support surface of the armrest; - Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the support surface of the armrest in the upper angular position, and in the axially advanced position; - Figure 6 is a sectional view in the longitudinal vertical plane 6-6, the console of Figure 1, illustrating an actuation angular movement of the armrest; Figure 7 is a sectional view in the longitudinal vertical plane 7-7 of the console of Figure 1, illustrating an unlocking operation of the cover of the storage enclosure; and - Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the armrest and the lid in the open position, leaving free access to the storage compartment.

  In Figure 1, there is shown a central console 1 of a motor vehicle, according to the invention, of the type intended to be fixed in the passenger compartment between the driver's seat and that of the front passenger.

  In this Figure, a system of X, Y, Z axes has been worn, which corresponds to the conventional orientation of the vehicle, and in which: the X axis is the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, oriented rearwardly; forward; - the Y axis is the transverse horizontal axis, oriented from right to left; and - the Z axis is the vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top.

  Throughout the following description, the console will be assumed mounted in the vehicle, and the terms of orientation and position will agree with respect to this axis system.

  The console 1 comprises a fixed body 3, a rear portion 3A is a hollow body, and an armrest 5.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, the console 1 also comprises an enclosure 6, housed and fixed in the hollow body 3A, this enclosure 6 being of generally parallelepipedal shape and defining internally a storage space 7. Access to the volume of Storage 7 is provided by a generally rectangular opening in the upper face of the parallelepipedal shape of the enclosure.

  The console 1 comprises a cover 9 closing the enclosure 6, articulated in rotation on the latter in order to selectively take a closed position of closure of the access to the storage volume 7, and at least one open position, wherein access to the storage volume 7 is cleared.

  The armrest 5 will now be described in more detail with particular reference to Figures 2 and 3.

  The armrest 5 essentially comprises a plate 11, articulated in rotation on the enclosure 6, and an upper support element 12, mounted to slide longitudinally on the plate 11 by means of a guiding device 13.

  The upper support element 12 comprises a lining 15, made for example of plastic, an armrest insert 17, which may also be made of plastic, and a lining: L9, for example made of fabric, leather , or synthetic material. The insert 17 is fixed to the liner 15, and the liner 19 is fixed on the insert 17, covering its upper face and its side edges. The lining 19 constitutes an aspect piece whose upper face 20 defines a bearing face for the user.

  The guiding device 13 comprises a slider 23 extending longitudinally and having a U-shaped cross-section, and a complementary slider 24 secured to the liner 15. The slider 23 is integral with the plate 11, and the slider 24 is engaged in the slide 23 defining a sliding connection. This is not shown in the figures, but the guide device 13 preferably comprises at least two stops of the slide 24 on the slide 23, so as to define at least two relative axial positions of the element. 12 on the plate 11: a retracted position (as shown in Figures 2, 6, 7 and 8), and an advanced position (as shown in Figures 4 and 5).

  The cover 9 and the plate 11 are articulated in rotation with respect to the enclosure 6, or more generally relative to the body 3, around the same transverse axis Y, by means of a double hinge 27. This hinge 27 comprises a fixed plate 31, integral with the enclosure 6 and the fixed body 3, and two movable plates 32, 33 respectively integral with the cover 9 and the plate 11. These movable plates 32, 33 are rotatably mounted on the fixed plate 31, around a pin 34 embodying the joint Y axis of the cover 9 and the plate 11 relative to the fixed body 3.

  The hinge axis 34 extends transversely on the end or rear edge side of the bearing face 20.

  The armrest 5 further comprises a releasable locking mechanism, designed to lock the upper support element 12, and thus the support surface 20, in a stable angular position relative to the cover 9, around the axis articulation 34, among at least two predetermined stable positions.

  For this purpose, the locking mechanism comprises firstly a rod 37 rotatably mounted on the plate 11 about a transverse axis Y located at the front of the hinge pin 34, and secondly a member 39 of reception and support of the link 37, secured to the cover 9.

  The rod 37 is rotatably mounted on the plate 11 around a first pair of coaxial pins 41 protruding transversely to a first end of the rod 37. The latter also comprises a second pair of coaxial pins 42 protruding transversely on the side of the opposite end, parallel to the first pair of pins 41.

  On the side of the first end, the rod 37 has a cam 43, in the form of a fin projecting radially with respect to the rod axis materialized by the first pair of pins 41. The cam 43 is provided so that a support exerted on it causes a rotation of the rod 37 around the link shaft 41.

  The receiving member 39 consists, in the example shown, of two flanges 51 vis-à-vis, symmetrical to each other with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane XZ. Each flange 51 is provided with a cam path 52 receiving a respective pin 42 of the second pair of coaxial pins of the rod 37.

  The cam path 52 formed in each of the flanges 51 has two axially offset ends 52A, 52B, each constituting a notch for receiving the pin 42, to define two stable angular positions of the plate 11 with respect to the cover 9.

  In the example shown, only two notches 52A, 52B are provided in each cam path 52, so that only two stable positions of the plate 11 relative to the cover 9 can be obtained. It goes without saying that other stable angular positions could be obtained simply by providing a greater number of notches in the cam path 52.

  The releasable locking mechanism of the armrest 5 also comprises a release member 55, arranged on the cover 9 on the side of its front edge.

  The release member 55 is essentially constituted by a rotating operating blade 57 accessible to a user, an integral bearing portion 58 projecting radially with respect to the pivot axis 59 of the pallet.

  As will be seen later, the bearing portion 58 is provided to cooperate with the fin 43 of the rod 37, so as to drive the latter in rotation about the link shaft 41 when the release member 55 is actuated.

  The release member 55 is provided with a return spring 60 in a neutral position, in which the bearing portion 58 extends near the fin 43 without exerting pressure thereon.

  The console 1 also comprises a locking mechanism of the cover 9 in the closed position on the enclosure 6.

  This mechanism essentially comprises a hook 63 rotatably mounted on the cover 9, at the front edge thereof, about an axis 65, a hooking portion 66 (Figure 7) consisting of a front edge folded of the enclosure 6, receiving the snap hook 63, and a maneuvering pallet 64 integral with the hook 63.

  This pallet 67 is accessible to a user and allows, when it is actuated in rotation about the axis 65, to disengage the hook 63 from the hooking part 66.

  The latch locking mechanism is also provided with a hook return spring 70 in the engaged position with the latching portion 66.

  For reasons of ergonomics, the two operating palettes 57, 67 are arranged substantially coplanar, and can pivot coaxially on the cover 9 at its front edge. The two pallets 57, 67 are offset transversely and arranged close to each other, on either side of the vertical median plane of the cover 9.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 to 8, the various configurations that can be made by the armrest, as well as the operation of the releasable locking mechanism, will now be described more precisely.

  In FIG. 2, the armrest 5 is shown in its neutral configuration, in which the cover 9 is closed on the enclosure 6. The upper support element 12 (and thus the support face 20) is in its minimum displacement position assumed at zero angle, around its hinge axis 34. In this neutral configuration, the support element 12 is also in its retracted position, that is to say the rearmost by compared to platinum 11.

  In Figure 4, there is shown the armrest in another configuration of zero travel (or low position), the support member 12 being in the advanced position. This position is obtained by sliding the element 12 on the plate 11 forwards from the neutral configuration shown in FIG. 2.

  In this configuration of zero clearance, the pins 42 of the rod 37 are engaged in the rear notches 52A of the cam path, the rod 37 then being in a substantially horizontal position.

  In Figure 5, there is shown the armrest in maximum deflection configuration, corresponding to a maximum inclination of the bearing surface 20 relative to the horizontal. Arbitrary, the upper support member 12 has been shown in its advanced position relative to the plate 11, it being understood that this element could be in any other axial position relative to the plate.

  In this configuration, the pins 42 are engaged in the notch 52B located forward of the cam path, so that the link 37 is in a substantially vertical position, bearing stable in the notch.

  Note that the notch 52B is shaped so that any bearing force on the bearing face 20 can cause the clearance of the pin 42 of the notch 52B.

  To achieve such a configuration from the configuration of Figures 2 and 4, it is sufficient for a user to lift the armrest including its front end for convenience.

  This lifting action can be advantageously assisted by elastic return means, E such as a spiral spring 80 (Figure 6), arranged in the double hinge 27 about the axis 34, and adapted to urge the plate 11 in rotation towards its position of maximum displacement with respect to the cover 9.

  When moving from the minimum displacement position (or zero clearance) to the maximum displacement position, as shown in Figure 5, the rod 37 rotates about its axis 41, the pins 42 sliding freely in the cam path 52 until the end of the latter, and until it falls into the notch before 52B.

  In Figure 6, there is illustrated an operation of releasing the locking mechanism, to clear the pins 42 of the notches 52B, and thus to bring the armrest 5 to its zero clearance configuration.

  To perform this operation, the user must actuate the pallet 57 in rotation in the counterclockwise direction, against the return force of the spring 60, so that the bearing portion 58 acts in pressure on the vane 43, and thus causes a clockwise rotation of the link 37 about its axis 41. This rotational movement in the clockwise direction causes the clearance of the pins 42 of the corresponding notches 52B, and thus the release of the locking mechanism , the pins 42 can again slide freely in the cam path 52 to the other end.

  It will be understood that in order to bring the armrest back to its configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the user then only has to exert a bearing on the face 20, against the return means provided in the double hinge 27 , to restore the plate 11 in its minimum displacement position relative to the cover 9.

  In Figure 7, there is illustrated the operation for unlocking the cover 9 from its closed position on the enclosure 6, so as to release access to the storage compartment 7.

  From the closed position, in which the hook 63 is engaged with the complementary hooking portion 66, it is sufficient for the operator to operate the operating pallet 67 in counter-clockwise rotation. This has the effect of disengaging the hook 63 of the part 66. By continuing to exert traction on the pallet 67, the user drives the pivoting of the cover 9 around the hinge axis 34, and integrally the pivoting of the platen 11 and the upper support member 12. This movement can be continued to a full open position shown in Figure 8, and which corresponds to the maximum clearance allowed by the double hinge 27, or by the cover 9 and the plate 11, relative to the fixed body 3.

  The invention that has just been described makes it possible, as we have seen, to obtain several stable positions of the bearing face relative to the console body, these positions corresponding to height adjustments of the support for the user, by means of extremely simple and robust articulation and locking devices.

Claims (10)

  1. Console for a motor vehicle, comprising an enclosure (6), and an armrest (5) pivotally mounted on the enclosure, said armrest comprising: a bearing surface (20) articulated in rotation on the side of its rear end around a bearing surface axis (34) so as to be able to take a plurality of stable angular positions, and a releasable locking mechanism (37, 39, 55) provided for locking the bearing face (20); ) in a stable angular position, characterized in that the releasable locking mechanism comprises - an articulated link (37) rotated relative to the bearing face (20), about a link axis (41) located at the front of the bearing face axis (34), and - a plurality of notches (52A, 52B) that can selectively receive the link (37) releasably, each of the notches (52A, 52B) defining the one of the stable angular positions of the bearing face (20).   2. Console according to claim 1, characterized in that the armrest (5) comprises a plate (11) articulated in rotation on the enclosure (6), and an upper support element (12) defining the face of support (20), which is slidably mounted longitudinally on the plate (11) so as to take a plurality of stable axial positions.   3. Console according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the releasable locking mechanism (37, 39, 55) comprises a release member (55) engageable with the rod (37) to drive the latter in rotation around the link shaft (41), and disengage it from the notch (52A, 52B) in which it is received.   4. Console according to claim 3, characterized in that the release member (55) is arranged on the side of the front end of the armrest (5).   5. Console according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the releasable locking mechanism (37, 39, 55) comprises at least two notches (52A, 52B) respectively corresponding to a position of zero clearance and to a maximum displacement position, and the armrest is provided with resilient biasing means (80) urging the bearing face (20) in rotation to its maximum deflection position.   6. Console according to claim 5, characterized in that said biasing means comprise a spiral spring arranged around the axis (34) bearing surface.   7. Console according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a cover (9) for closing the enclosure (6), articulated in rotation on the latter about the axis (34). ) of support surface between a closed position and at least one open position.   8. Console according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism (63, 65, 66, 67) locking the cover (9), adapted to releasably lock the lid in the closed position.   9. Console according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking mechanism (63, 65, 66, 67) comprises a hook (63) hinged to the cover (9), a complementary hooking portion (66), integral the enclosure (6), and a control member (67) adapted to release the hook (63) from the hooking portion (66).   10. Console according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuating member (67) is arranged on the armrest (5) on the side of its front end.