FR2909619A1 - Safety door assembly for fascia of motor vehicle, has mobile door provided with base coming near to lug, so as to co-operate with lug when door or fixed support is subjected to deformation due to shock of vehicle front against obstacle - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has a mobile door with a parcel tray and pivoting around an axis transversal to a back-front steering displacement of a vehicle, between a closing position and an opening position of a fixed support (30). The mobile door has a base (50), and the fixed support has a lug (58). The base is away from the lug to prevent co-operation with the lug during opening of the mobile door, and comes near so as to co-operate the lug when the mobile door or the fixed support is subjected to a deformation due to shock of the vehicle front against an obstacle.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety gate assembly,

  intended primarily for use on dashboards of motor vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to assemblies in which a fixed portion and a movable portion are made integral by a holding device which has a hook defining a latch housing having a large component in the rear-front direction of the vehicle in which is climb the dashboard. Consequently, during a major impact of the front of the vehicle against an obstacle, the deformation of the different parts may cause a relative movement of the hook and the keeper in this rear-front direction of the vehicle and may then cause a separation of the fixed part and the moving part, with effects that can be serious. For example, when the mobile part is a trap door compartment, it can come abruptly in contact with the windshield, and it can break the windshield and / or interfere with the deployment of an air bag and / or break into projectiles that could injure a passenger in the vehicle. Although the invention is applicable to other assemblies which pose the aforementioned problem, it is described in its application to upper pockets of dashboards whose gate is substantially horizontal.

  FIG. 1 represents an example of a dashboard 10 comprising a lower part comprising glove boxes 12, a central body 14 provided with various functional devices, etc., an intermediate part 16 carrying various functional members 18, and in particular aerators 20 and an upper portion that terminates in an edge region 22 near the windshield and defines an elongate vent opening. The upper part of the instrument panel comprises, for example, a panel visor 24 which covers various instruments 26, and a lateral part forming a storage compartment closed by a gate 28. The gate 28 is movable with respect to a support member 30 ( 2), by pivoting about an axis close to the windshield and which is substantially transverse to the rear-front direction of the vehicle in which the dashboard 10 is mounted. FIG. 2 shows how a gate 28 is held on the support portion 30 of the dashboard.

The gate 28 comprises a body (not shown), for example formed of a rigid support carrying a layer of foam and an apparent skin, and a lining 32. A device for holding the movable part, constituted by the gate 28, on the fixed part, which is the support part 30, 10 comprises a hook mechanism housed between the body of the door and its lining 32 so that it is not apparent when the door 28 is open. FIG. 2 shows the holding device 34 which comprises, on the one hand, a hook mechanism, comprising a tube 36 provided with a hook 38, which can be turned during the operation of a control button by a user, in bearings integral with the gate, and secondly a striker 40. During the rotation of the tube 36, the hook 38 straddles the axis 42 of the striker 40, or deviates.

Figure 3 shows the striker 40 which comprises two lateral support cheeks of substantially triangular shape, carrying a strike axis 42. The hook 38 defines a housing for the striker axis 42, this housing opening at one end and having an orientation of which a main component is substantially in the rear-front direction. In FIG. 3, the broken line 44 indicates the limit of the opening cut in the lining 32 for the passage of the striker inside the space between the liner 32 and the door body 28.

From the position of FIG. 2, when the tube 36 rotates about a quarter of a turn in the counterclockwise direction, the hook housing 38 disengages the latch pin 42, so that the mechanism The hook carried by the gate can move vertically, that is to say in the direction of the arrow 46. When the gate is closed, that is to say when the holding device occupies the position indicated on 2, if a shock is applied to the front of the vehicle, the gate and its hook mechanism, because of their inertia, tend to move in the direction of the arrow 48 which represents the rear direction. before. The entire movable part, comprising the tube 36 and its hook and the lining 32, then tends to move in the direction of the arrow 48, and thus to release the hook 38 from the striker axis 42. Simultaneously , the edge 50 of an opening formed in the liner 32 for the passage of the striker 40 may exert pressure on the hook 38, because of the deformation of the lining which may be greater than that of the body of the door 28 Consequently, even if the hook 38 does not have a translational movement large enough to completely disengage the striker pin 42, the edge 50 of the liner can strike it and cause it to disengage. The object of the invention is to solve this problem. More specifically, the object of the invention is to prevent the separation of the fixed and movable parts, that is to say the support 30 and the gate 28, when the vehicle is subjected to shocks of high intensity. This result is obtained because a lining or other part of the door can not move the hook away from the striker pin, and / or because a portion of the door, for example of the lining, is positively retained so that it does not separate from the fixed part of the support. For this purpose, the invention implements a retaining member and an attachment member, fixed one to the fixed part and the other to the moving part, and intended to be distant in the normal position of the elements of the board edge, that is to say, in the absence of deformation due to impact, but to come cooperate in the event of deformation of elements of the dashboard, including the gate. More specifically, the invention relates to a motor vehicle safety gate assembly which has a main rear-to-front movement direction, the assembly comprising: a fixed support portion defining an opening, a movable gate portion to pivot about an axis substantially transverse to the rear-to-front direction of movement of the vehicle, between a closed position of the opening of the support part, and an open position of the movable part, the movable part tending to move from its closed position to its open position when at least one of the fixed and movable parts undergo deformation due to a shock of the front of the vehicle against an obstacle, and a holding device comprising a hook and a striker, each mounted on one of the fixed and movable parts, the striker having a cooperating member with the hook which has substantially a transverse direction to the di rear-front rection of the vehicle, and the hook defining a housing groove which opens to allow the entry of the striker in the hook, the housing of the groove, in the closed position of the two parts, having a component in the rear-front direction. According to the invention, one of the fixed and movable parts 20 comprises a retaining member, and the other of the fixed and movable parts comprises at least one attachment member, the retaining member being sufficiently remote from the member latch not to cooperate with it when opening the movable part, but approaching the hook member to cooperate with him when at least one of the parts has a deformation due to a shock from the front of the vehicle against an obstacle. In one embodiment, the portion provided with the hook carries the retaining member, and the portion provided with the keeper 30 carries the fastening member. Preferably, the part provided with the striker is the fixed part, and the part provided with a hook is the movable part. Preferably, the retaining member is placed on the opposite side of the striker to the pivot axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining member has a contact edge oriented in a direction substantially transverse to the rear-front and remote direction of the striker when the fixed and movable parts are not deformed, and preferably the fastening member is turned towards the contact edge of the edge of the retaining member. For example, the attachment member is in the form of at least one projection carried by the striker, preferably turned towards the contact edge of the retaining member. Preferably, the retaining member is an edge of a hole for passage of the striker towards the hook. Preferably, the hook is pivotally displaced about an axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis 10 of the movable portion. In an exemplary embodiment, the contact edge has at least one finger intended to pass under the fastening member. In one embodiment, the movable portion is a substantially horizontal pocket tray, provided with a liner for concealing the hook mechanism between it and the gate body. Thus, the invention solves the safety problem posed by the uncontrolled opening of a gate simply by prohibiting the unlocking of a movable part obtained by the cooperation of a retaining member and a body member. hooking before the deformation of dashboard elements subjected to impact reaches a value which causes the release of the holding device of the movable part 25 on the fixed part. It also has the advantage of providing this security with very simple passive means, which do not require an additional step and therefore hardly increase the cost of manufacture.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which, FIGS. 1 to 3 having already been described: Figures 4 and 5 show, in partial perspective, an example of a holding device provided with a retaining member and a fastening member according to the invention; FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, showing another example of a retaining device with a retaining member and an attachment member; Figure 8 shows in perspective an alternative lock which can be used in a variant of the invention; and Fig. 9 shows another door alternative which may be used in another embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 4 and 5, which are similar respectively to FIGS. 2 and 3, represent the holding device already described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, but provided with a retaining member and a fastening member according to FIG. invention. The parts common to the devices of Figures 2 and 3 on the one hand, and 4 and 5 on the other hand have the same reference numerals and are therefore not described several times. In FIG. 5, the striker 40 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is replaced by a striker 52 which has a striker pin 54, quite similar to the striker axis 42. This axis is held by support cheeks 56 keeper whose triangular shape is extended by fastening members 58 forming projections facing the edge 50 of the opening 25 formed in the liner 32. As indicated by the arrow 46, the projections or latching members 58 are sufficiently short that during the normal opening of the gate, the edge 50 of the opening remains at a distance from the projections 58. On the other hand, as soon as a deformation of an element, for example of the lining, provokes a relative movement between the keeper 52 and the hook 38 in the rear-front direction 48, the contact edge 50 advances in the space covered by the projections 58; the latter then prevent the lining, and therefore the gate, 35 from going up in the direction 46. Thus, the gate can not move upwards, that is to say open, and therefore remains closed.

As soon as the impact is over, the lining and therefore the door return to normal position, and the holding device can function again in a normal manner, for example to open the door.

In this embodiment, the only modification required is a modification of the configuration of the cheeks 56 for supporting the striker. This change is extremely simple and inexpensive. Figures 6 and 7, which respectively correspond to Figures 4 and 5, show a variant of striker and liner. In this embodiment, the keeper 60, which has a striker axis 62 carried by triangular support cheeks, has extensions 64 of the axis 62 protruding outside of these cheeks.

The opening formed in the liner 32 'includes not only an edge 66, which corresponds to the edge 50, but also an enlargement of the opening which delimits a rectangular finger 68 near the edge 66. As indicated by the arrow 46 , the finger 68 has a length such that, during the normal opening by displacement in the direction of the arrow 46, the finger 68 does not come into contact with the extensions 64 of the striker axis. The gate holder therefore functions normally. On the other hand, in the event of an impact causing the gate to move in the direction 48, the edge 66 follows the inclination of the edges of the support cheeks of the striker 60, so that the finger 68 is housed under an extension 64 and thus prevents the opening of the gate. FIG. 8 shows a door variant analogous to that of FIG. 7, but in which the extensions of the striker axis are replaced by integral extensions of a projection 70 incorporated in a whole side of each support cheek. the waste. This arrangement increases the robustness of the extensions, in a useful manner when the keeper is formed for example of plastic. FIG. 9 represents another variant in which the fingers 68 of FIG. 7 which come into contact with the extensions 64 of the striker axis 62, are replaced by the fingers 78 which are integral with the lining, but are placed towards the interior of the space bounded by the support cheeks of the striker axis 74. Thus, although the liner can move in the vertical direction 46 without cooperating with the striker axis 74 when the wicket n ' is not deformed, when there is a shock in the rear-front direction, the fingers 78 are embedded below the striker axis 74, on either side of the hook (not shown) of the holding device. In this way, the opening of the gate is interrupted, as in the other embodiments. In all the embodiments described, the retaining member and the fastening member are intimately associated with the striker and the lining near the striker. However, the retaining member and the hooking member may be separated from the striker, and even spaced apart therefrom. For example, the retaining member and the fastening member may be specialized elements, independent of the holding device. This latter embodiment, however, is less advantageous than the previous ones because it requires more or less significant modifications of the manufacturing process, and perhaps even additional steps. Although the invention has been described in its application to a dashboard, it applies to other elements, such as pocket-armrest lids, center console gates, and the like.

Claims (10)

  A safety gate assembly for a self-moving vehicle which has a main direction of rear-to-front movement, the assembly comprising: a fixed support portion (30) defining an opening, a movable portion of a gate (28) for pivoting about an axis substantially transverse to the rear-to-front direction of movement of the vehicle, between a closed position of the opening of the support portion (30), and an open position of the movable portion (28) , the movable part having a tendency to move from its closed position to its open position when at least one of the fixed and movable parts (28, 30) undergoes a deformation due to a shock of the front of the vehicle against a obstacle, and a holding device comprising a hook (38) and a striker (52, 60, 60 ', 72), each mounted on one of the fixed and movable parts (28, 30), the strike (52, 60 60 ', 72) having a hook-engaging member which is substantially directional transversely to the rear-front direction of the vehicle, and the hook (38) defining a housing groove which opens to allow the entry of the striker (52, 60, 60 ', 72) into the hook, the housing of the groove, in the closed position of the two parts, having a component in the rear-front direction, characterized in that. one of the fixed and movable parts (28, 30) comprises a retaining member (50, 66, 68, 78), and the other of the fixed and movable parts (28, 30) comprises at least one shackle (58, 64, 70, 74), the retaining member (50, 66, 68, 78) being sufficiently far away from the fastening member (58, 64, 70, 74) to not cooperate with it during the opening of the movable part, but approaching the fastening member (58, 64, 70, 74) to cooperate with it when at least one of the parts has a deformation due to a shock of the front of the vehicle against an obstacle.   2. Gate assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion provided with the hook (38) carries the retaining member (50, 66, 68, 78), and the portion provided with the striker (52, 60, 60 ', 72) carries the latching member (58, 64, 70, 74).   3. Gate assembly according to one of claims 5 1 and 2, characterized in that the part provided with the striker (52, 60, 60 ', 72) is the fixed part (30), and the part provided with a hook (38) is the movable part (28).   A gate assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining member (50, 66, 68, 78) has a contact edge (50, 66, 76) oriented in a substantially transverse direction. in the rear-front-and-away direction of the striker (52, 60, 60 ', 72) when the fixed and movable parts are not deformed. 15   5. gate assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening member (58) is turned towards the edge of contact with the edge of the retaining member (50).   6. Gate assembly according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the fastening member (58, 64, 70) is in the form of at least one projection carried by the striker (52, 60 , 60 ').   Gate assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining member (50, 66, 68, 78) is an edge of a passage opening from the striker to the hook (38). ).   8. gate assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hook (38) is pivotally displaced about an axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the movable part. 30   9. gate assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the contact edge (76) has at least one finger (78) intended to pass under the fastening member (74).   Gate assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable portion (28) is a substantially horizontal pocket trap, provided with a liner (32, 32 ') for concealing the hook (38) between it and the gate body (28).