FR3012568A1 - LATCHING SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR APPARATUS APPARATUS ADJUSTABLE AT HEIGHT - Google Patents

Abstract

Locking system (19) of a support (1) for nomadic apparatus, said support comprising a fixed jaw (6) and a movable jaw (5) mounted in translation on the support (1), opposite the fixed jaw ( 6), and adapted to take a plurality of positions between a remote position, in which the nomadic apparatus is placed against the movable jaw (5), and a holding position in which the nomadic apparatus (2) is held against the fixed jaw (6), and at least one guide rail (11) integral with the support (1) translational support of the movable jaw (5), characterized in that it comprises at least one brake (21) arranged on the movable jaw ( 5) and adapted to cooperate with a locking control rod (29) mounted in a fixed part of the support (1), said rod (29) extending opposite the guide rail (11), and in that it comprises a control member (25) cooperating with the control rod (29) to actuate the brake (21) in any position of the movable jaw (5) between the spaced position and the holding position.

Description

The present invention relates to a locking system of a support for a portable device also called nomadic device and relates more particularly to a locking system of a nomadic electronic device holder. Smartphone or tablet type in a motor vehicle. Media of the type comprising a fixed base for receiving the electronic apparatus and a retaining member movably mounted on the base between a remote position, in which the electronic apparatus can be placed on the reception base, and a position in which the retaining member retains the electronic device on the receiving base, the retaining member being mounted in translation relative to the fixed base in a direction of translation between the spaced position and the retaining position , unidirectional locking means being arranged to allow a translational movement of the retaining member from its spaced position to its retaining position, while preventing a movement of the retaining member from its retaining position to its discarded position . More and more mobile electronic devices with a large number of functionalities are available to users, including drivers of motor vehicles. In particular, devices of the mobile phone type, including "Smartphone", personal digital assistant or PDA ("Personal Digital Assistant") or geolocation device, including GPS ("Global 30 Positioning System"), can help a driver of a motor vehicle to determine a journey, to inform him about the state of the road traffic or to assist him in driving his vehicle.

Such devices are controlled for example by means of a touch screen which must be accessible to the driver without forcing him to take the device in hand, which would be a danger to driving the vehicle.

Thus, it is known to provide a support for the electronic device near the driver, for example on the dashboard of the motor vehicle, to maintain the device leaving the screen cleared to allow control without take it in hand.

Given the diversity of these devices, including their dimensions, it is known to provide an adjustable support adapting to several types of devices, including their height. For this purpose, the support generally comprises retaining jaws of the lower edge and the upper edge of the electronic device; the retaining jaw of the upper edge being adjustable in height so as to adapt the support to the height of the device received by this support. However, if the retaining jaw of the upper edge loses its height adjustment, for example during an impact against the motor vehicle, the upper edge of the device is no longer maintained and this device can be ejected from the support. Such ejection can damage the electronic device or even be dangerous to the occupants of the vehicle if the device is thrown into the passenger compartment during a violent impact.

To overcome this drawback, document FR2974049, an electronic device support of the aforementioned type, including locking means consisting of a plurality of locking surfaces and a locking tongue, movable in translation with respect to blocking surfaces in the direction of translation so that the locking tongue is movable towards and beyond each blocking surface when the holding jaw is moved in the direction from the spaced position to the position retainer and being retained by each of the locking surfaces in the retaining position. This solution has several disadvantages. It requires two locking systems, a first system defining several stable positions for adjusting the spacing between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw (discontinuous locking) and a second system for maintaining the position in position between the two jaws once the gauge adjusted.

The invention overcomes this disadvantage by proposing a nomadic device support whose locking is simplified by limiting the number of manipulations and requiring the use of only one hand. For this purpose, the invention proposes a locking system of a support for mobile device, said support comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw mounted in translation on the support, opposite the fixed jaw, and able to take several positions between a remote position, in which the nomadic apparatus is placed against the movable jaw, and a holding position in which the nomadic apparatus is held against the fixed jaw, and at least one guide rail secured to the support supporting in translation the mobile jaw. The locking system according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one brake arranged on the movable jaw and adapted to cooperate with a locking control rod mounted in a fixed part of the support, said rod extending facing the guide rail, and in that it comprises a control member cooperating with the control rod to actuate the brake in any position of the movable jaw between the spaced position and the holding position.

According to one characteristic, the brake has a body rotatably mounted on the movable jaw, along an axis perpendicular to the path of movement of the movable jaw, said body having two parts extending on either side of its axis of rotation. a first portion extending towards the guide rail, defining a cam whose profile is adapted to come into frictional contact with a guide shoe slidably mounted in the guide rail, and a second portion defining a control lever extending to the lock control rod; the contact force by friction of the outer profile of the cam on the guide shoe increasing as a function of the rotation of the brake about its axis of rotation, and in that the outer profile of the free end of the lever has a sliding pad. control, in permanent contact, by friction, with the locking control rod. According to another characteristic, the control rod is rotatably mounted in the support and has an oval section having a large diameter and a small diameter defining a cam profile for the control pad; the displacement of the control member causing rotation of a quarter turn of the locking control rod which under the leverage causes the brake in rotation about its axis of rotation.

According to another characteristic, the locking system comprises a torsion spring arranged around the axis of rotation of the brake and on the body of the brake to keep it under stress in stable positions of locking and unlocking.

According to another characteristic, the body of the brake is made from a material having stiffness and rigidity determined, and in that the cam profile of the brake is made from a material having a determined coefficient of friction.

According to another characteristic, the control pad is made from a material having a determined coefficient of friction.

According to another characteristic, the control member is a control button whose displacement causes the rotation of the brake. According to one characteristic, the free portion of the control rod ends with a decentered finger relative to the axis of rotation of the control rod; said finger being driven by the movement of the control knob in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the movable jaw. According to another characteristic, the free portion of the control rod ends in a fork with two teeth which extend parallel to each other in the same plane perpendicular to the plane of the front face of the support; the space formed between the two teeth defining a slot receiving a finger of the control button and said finger being driven by the movement of the control button in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the movable jaw. Another object of the invention is a locking system, as described above, with two identical brake bodies supported by the movable jaw and arranged symmetrically on either side of the locking rod; the action of the control member acting with the same effect on both brakes. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support; Smartphone equipped with a locking system according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a side view, in section along a cross section considered in the longitudinal median plane of the support of Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a rear view of the support of FIG. 1 revealing the locking system according to the invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the brake of the locking system according to the invention corresponding to the zone delimited by the dashed outline of FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a locking system according to the invention. In the figures, identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals. In all that follows, the indicated orientations such as "upper", "lower", "up", "down", "left", "right" "vertical", "horizontal", "transverse", and "longitudinal" "correspond to those of a motor vehicle in the assembled state. The support 1 according to the invention, shown in perspective in FIG. 1, is able to support nomadic devices of different dimensions. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the support of the invention supports a Smartphone 2 shown in the figure by its outer contour, in "landscape" position. Such a support 1 is intended to be fixed on the dashboard of a motor vehicle (not shown), for example near the driver, or on another surface of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. It should be noted that such a support can also be used in fields other than that of the automobile industry. The support 1 comprises a base 3 for fixing the support on the dashboard which also defines the rear face of the support 1, and a plate 4, of rectangular general contour, firmly fixed on the base 3, defining the front face of the support 1. The front face 4 is oriented towards the occupants of the vehicle when the support 1 is mounted on the dashboard.

The front face 4 completely covers the rear face 3. In the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the large dimension of the support 1 is vertical. The support 1 is preferably fixed centered relative to the dashboard of a motor vehicle (not shown) and substantially above the central console (not shown) so as to be accessible by the driver and the front passenger of the vehicle. The support 1 comprises a fixed upper jaw 6, made from the upper edge of the front face 4 which is curved downwards, over its entire width, so as to define a hook, or spout 7, protruding from the front face 4. The opening of the spout 7 is determined to receive and maintain the upper edge of the Smartphone 2 in a range of compatible thicknesses of smartphones and other tablet available on the market. The support 1 comprises a movable jaw 5 mounted to move in translation on the support 1, facing the fixed jaw 6. The movable jaw 5 comprises a front portion 51 extending parallel to the upper edge of the frame, in the plane of the face before 4. The lower side edge of the front portion 51 is bent upwardly to define a spout 8 projecting from the front face 4. The opening of the spout 8 is also determined to receive and maintain the lower edge of the Smartphone 2 in a range of compatible thicknesses of smartphones and other tablet available on the market. The front portion 51 of the movable jaw 5 is integral with two identical guide bodies 91 and 92 extending respectively the left and right ends of the movable jaw 5, at the rear of the support 1, surrounding the vertical side edges, left and 1. Referring to Figures 2 to 4, each guide body 91, 92 supports a guide shoe 111, 112.

Two identical hollow cylindrical guiding rails 11 and 12 of rectangular cross-section are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis of symmetry ZZ 'passing through the vertical median plane PM of the support 1. The rails 11 and 12 are fixed at adjacent the left and right side edges of the rear face 3 of the support 1. Each guide rail 11, 12 is shaped to receive a slider 11, 112 sliding inside the rail 11, 12. The pads 111 and 112 are of parallelepipedal general shape and their external dimensions are adapted to slide freely inside the guide rails 11 and 12. The movable jaw 5 is thus slidably carried by the two guide bodies 91 and 92, along the rails of guidance 11 and 12 from top to bottom or bottom to top between upper and lower stops 100 of support 1.

The dimensions of the jaws 5 and 6, and in particular their height, are determined to allow a sufficient distance between the spouts 7 and 8 so as to allow the introduction of the lower edge of the Smartphone 2 when the support 1 is in "rest" mode.

The support 1 is said in "rest" mode when the movable jaw 5 is in contact with the upper stopper 10 of the support 1 In order to keep the movable jaw 5 against the fixed jaw 6 in the absence of Smartphone 2, and if not, by gravity, would naturally fall against the lower stop 100 of the support 1, the support 1 comprises return means, here two springs 17 and 18 barrels, rotatably supported in the upper part of the rear face 3 of the support 1. Both springs 17 and 18 are disposed on either side of the rear face 3; their two axes of rotation being aligned and extending parallel to the upper edge of the support 1. The two free ends of the springs 17 and 18 are mechanically coupled respectively to the two guide pads 111 and 112. The traction forces exerted by the two springs 17 and 18 are chosen identical to balance the forces on the two pads 111 and 112 and their intensity is determined to allow to move the movable jaw 5 without having to provide too much effort by the user in the various stages of handling of adjusting the movable jaw 5, described hereinafter in a logical order. In a first step, the user presents, with one hand, the lower edge of the Smartphone 2 resting on the movable jaw 5 and then adjusts the spacing (height adjustment) of the movable jaw 5 by exerting a suitable pressure force downwards, on the movable jaw 5, via the smartphone of 2, so that its upper edge passes under the fixed jaw 6. In this case, the pressure force exerted on the movable jaw 5 is opposed to the traction force exerted by the return springs 17 and 18 on the movable jaw 5. In a second step, the user, by a tilting movement of the Smartphone 2 to the front face 4 of the support 1, comes into contact with the upper back of the Smartphone 2 against the front panel 4, while keeping the pressure down. In a third step, the user, while holding the Smartphone 2 in hand, releases the pressure and the movable jaw 5 naturally rises upward under the action of the return springs 17 and 18. The tightening therefore takes place from Automatically under the action of the return springs 17 and 18 During these different steps, the movement of the movable jaw 5 is carried out continuously or downwards of the support 1 or up and holding the Smartphone 2 in position maintenance is ensured only by the restoring force of the springs 17 and 18. To secure the holding in position of the Smartphone 2 on the support 1, the latter comprises a locking system 19 which can be manually activated once the Smartphone 2 is in the holding position. It should be noted that the locking of the movable jaw 5 is possible at any point in the travel path of the movable jaw 5 in the presence or absence of a nomadic device 2. The locking system 19 comprises two brakes 21 and 22 which are respectively rotatably mounted in the two guide bodies 91 and 92 along an axis YY 'perpendicular to the path of movement of the movable jaw 5. They are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of symmetry ZZ 1 of the support 1. Each brake 21, 22 has a body of which a first part defines a cam 31, 32 whose external profile is able to come into frictional contact with a lateral edge (or slice) of the guide shoe 11, 12 carried by the guide body 91, 92. The inner side edge of the guide rail 11, 12, oriented towards the axis of symmetry ZZ ', is open to let the inner side edge of the guide shoe 111, of the side edge 1c of the guide rail 11, 12 so that the profile of the cam 31, 32 can come into contact with the inner side edge of the guide shoe 111, 112. The frictional contact force of the outer profile of the guide rail cam 31, 32 on the shoe 111, 112, increases as a function of the rotation of the brake 21, 22 around its axis of rotation YY '. The body of the brake 21, 22 has a second portion, opposite the first cam portion 31, 32, with respect to the axis of rotation YY 'of the brake 21, 22.

This second part ends with a finger 41, 42 whose end defines a control pad whose functionality is described below. The locking system 19 further comprises a locking control rod 29 which is rotatably mounted and centered in the rear face 3 of the support 1, between the two guide rails 11 and 12. The control rod 29 extends in the median plane PM of the support 1, being centered on the axis of symmetry ZZ ', with respect to the guide rails 11 and 12 and parallel to them. Its upper part is coupled to a locking member 25; 255 which in the embodiments described with reference to the figures, is a control button operable by the user. The control rod 29 has an oval section whose outer profile defines a cam profile for the control pads 41 and 42. This section is notable in that it has a continuously variable diameter between a minimum diameter (small diameter) d) and a maximum diameter (large diameter D). The control pads 41 and 42 act as levers causing the brakes 21 and 22 to pivot about their axes of rotation YY '. The arm of the levers corresponds to the distance considered between the axis of rotation YY 'of the brakes 21 and 22, and the point of contact between the control pads 41 and 42 and the control rod 29. The control pads 41 and 42 are in permanent contact with the outer profile of the lock control rod 29 The movement of the control knob 25; 255 rotates a quarter turn of the locking control rod 29 which under the effect of its cam profile drives the brakes 41 and 42 in rotation about their axes YY '.

The locking system 19 is able to lock the support 1 over the entire displacement path of the movable jaw 5 between the upper and lower stops 10 and 100. The body of the brakes 21 and 22 is made from a first material having stiffness and rigidity determined, for example a PA (Polyamide) or a PP (polypropylene) fiber-reinforced or not, and the outer profiles of the cams 31 and 32 are made from a second material having a determined coefficient of friction, for example a thermoplastic elastomer including an EPDM (EthylenePropylene-Diene-Monomer). The outer profiles of the cams 31 and 32 can be in the form of inserts reported on the bodies of the brakes 21 and 22. Ditto for the control pads 41 and 42.

In the first embodiment of a locking system according to the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the control knob 25 is rotatably mounted on the upper edge of the support 1 while being centered with respect to the axis of symmetry ZZ 'of the support 1.

The body of the control knob 25 defines a base 26 of generally rectangular shape whose upper face has a pallet-shaped gripping member 27 extending parallel to the upper edge of the support 1, and projecting from the upper face of the base 26.

The lateral edges of the base are extended downwards by lateral lugs 28 whose free ends are rotatably mounted on the rear face of the support 3 in the vicinity of the axes of rotation of the barrel springs 17 and 18. The free portion of the control rod 29 terminates with a finger 30 off-center with respect to the axis of rotation ZZ 'of the control rod 29. When the user actuates the control knob 25 to lock the support 1, the latter switches from front to rear relative to the front face 4 of the support 1 around the axis of rotation of the two lateral lugs 28 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The internal face of the base 26 comprises a slot, not shown, extending between the two lateral lugs 28, and arranged to cooperate with the finger 30 of the control rod 29 to rotate it about its axis ZZ '. The dimensions and arrangement of the slot are determined so that the travel of the button 25 corresponds to a rotation of a quarter turn (90 °) of the control rod 29 about its axis of rotation ZZ '. When the control button 25 is not activated, the control rod 29 is in a configuration for which it has its larger diameter section D to the control pads 41 and 42. In this configuration, the profiles of the cams 31 and 32 of the brakes 21 and 22 are not in contact with the guide pads 111 and 112 and the latter which are integral with the movable jaw 5, are able to freely translate in the guide rails 11 and 12.

When the control knob 25 is moved from the front to the back (direction of the arrow F), for the locking of the support 1, the control rod 29 rotates 90 ° (a quarter of a turn), and the pivoting has the effect of moving the control pads 41 and 42 which, being in permanent contact on the control rod 29, rotate the brakes 21 and 22 about their axes YY 'and progressively bring the profiles of the cams 31 and 32 against their respective guide shoes 111 and 112 until fully locked in the rails 11 and 12. The locking system 19 being symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis of symmetry ZZ 'of the support 1, the friction forces applied by the brakes 21 and 22 have the same amplitude in two opposite directions. The displacement of the control knob 25 in the other direction (from the rear to the front-opposite direction of the arrow F) allows the unlocking of the brakes 21 and 22 and the free sliding of the guide pads 111 and 112 to the 11 and 12. By swinging the lock knob 25 from the rear to the front, the locking rod 29 pivots a quarter of a turn in the other direction. The control rod 29 progressively has its largest diameter D pads 41 and 42 which rotate the brakes 21 and 22 around their axes of rotation YY ', which has the effect of canceling the friction of the profiles of the cams 31 and 32 on the guide pads 111 and 112, and therefore allow their free sliding in the guide rails 11 and 12. The particular arrangement of the brakes 21 and 22 between the guide pads 111 and 112 and the rod Preferably, when the locking knob 25 is in the locking position, the control unit 29 advantageously allows the movable jaw 5 to be locked only downwards by creating an arching phenomenon when the movable jaw 5 is urged towards the bottom. By cons, if the movable jaw 5 is biased upward, it can still move and allow to tighten even more the Smartphone 2 in the support 1. A torsion spring 36 is wound around the axis of rotation 25 YY each brake 21, 22 and presses the brake 21, 22 to maintain the mobile assembly under stress to ensure stable locking and unlocking positions. The front face 4 of the support 1 has a recess 40 in the form of a vertical groove centered on the axis of symmetry ZZ 'of the support 1. This groove 40 cooperates with a protrusion 41 formed on the inner face of the front portion 51 of the movable jaw 5 defining a tab integral with the movable jaw 5 and licking the bottom of the groove 40.

This tongue 41 participates in guiding the movable jaw 5 on the front face 4 of the support 1 and the rigidity of all the front 51 and rear portions 91, 92 of the movable jaw 5 on the support 1.

According to another embodiment of a locking system according to the invention, illustrated in FIG. 5, the lock button 250 is of the "cursor" type and is able to move in a translation parallel to the upper edge of the support 1. It comprises a base 251 of rectangular shape supporting on its upper face, an elongate gripping member 252, integral with the base 251 and adapted to be actuated from left to right or vice versa for locking, respectively unlocking of support 1. The lower face of the base 251 comprises a finger 253 projecting downwards from the lower face of the base 251. The finger 253 cooperates with the upper end of the control rod 291 which, in this other embodiment , ends with a fork 292 with two teeth 293 and 294 which extend parallel to each other in the same plane, perpendicular to the plane of the front face 4 of the support 1. The space formed between the two teeth 293 and 294 defines a slot 253 receiving the finger of the control button 250. When the control knob 250 is moved to the left, respectively to the right, in a translational movement in the direction of the arrows of Figure 5, the control rod 21 pivots d a quarter of a turn in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction respectively. The other locking steps remain identical to those of the first embodiment and will therefore not be described again.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Locking system (19) for a support (1) for mobile device (2), said support (1) comprising a fixed jaw (6) and a movable jaw (5) mounted in translation on the support (1), in view of the fixed jaw (6), and adapted to take several positions between a remote position, in which the mobile device (2) is placed against the movable jaw (5), and a holding position in which the nomadic device (2) is held against the fixed jaw (6), and at least one guide rail (11) integral with the support (1) translational support the movable jaw (5), characterized in that it comprises at least one brake (21) arranged on the movable jaw (5) and adapted to cooperate with a locking control rod (29) mounted in a fixed part of the support (1), said rod (29) extending opposite the guide rail (11), and in that it comprises a control member (25) cooperating with the control rod (29) to actuate the brake (21) in all position of the movable jaw (5) between the spaced position and the holding position. 2. locking system (19) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the brake (21) has a body rotatably mounted on the movable jaw (5) along an axis (YY ') perpendicular to the path of displacement of the movable jaw (5), said body having two parts extending on either side of its axis of rotation (YY '): a first portion (31) extending towards the guide rail (21) defining a cam whose profile is adapted to come into frictional contact with a guide shoe (111) slidably mounted in the guide rail (11) and a second portion (41) defining a control lever extending towards the rod locking control (29); the contact force by friction of the outer profile of the cam (31) on the guide shoe (111) increasing as a function of the rotation of the brake (21) about its axis of rotation (YY '), and in that the profile The outside of the free end of the lever has a control pad (41) in permanent frictional contact with the lock control rod (29). 3. locking system (19) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control rod (29) io is rotatably mounted in the support (1) and has an oval section with a large diameter (D) and a small diameter (d) defining a cam profile for the control pad (41); the displacement of the control member (25) causing a quarter-turn rotation of the locking control rod (29) which under the leverage causes the brake (21) to rotate about its axis of rotation (YY ') - 4. Locking system (19) according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a torsion spring (36) arranged around the axis of rotation (YY ') of the brake (21) and on the brake body (21) to maintain it under stress in stable locking and unlocking positions. 25 5. locking system (19) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the body of the brake (21) is made from a PA (Polyamide) or a PP (polypropylene) reinforced or not by fiber, and in that the cam profile (31) of the brake (21) is made from a thermoplastic elastomer including an EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer). 6. Locking system (19) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the control pad (41) is carried out from a thermoplastic elastomer including an EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer). 7. locking system (19) according to one of claims 5 2 to 6, characterized in that the control member is a control button (25; 250) whose displacement causes the rotation of the brake (21). 8. Locking system (19) according to claim 10, characterized in that the free portion of the control rod (29) terminates in a finger (30) off-center with respect to the axis of rotation (ZZ '). of the control rod (29), said finger (30) being driven by the movement of the control knob (25; 250) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable jaw (5). 9. locking system (19) according to claim 7, characterized in that the free portion of the control rod (29) terminates in a fork (292) with two teeth (293 and 294) which extend in parallel between them in the same plane perpendicular to the plane of the front face (4) of the support (1); the space formed between the two teeth (293 and 294) defining a slot receiving a finger (253) of the control button (250) and said finger (253) being driven by the movement of the control button (250) b next a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable jaw (5). 10. Locking system (19) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two identical brake bodies (21 and 22) supported by the movable jaw (5) and arranged symmetrically on both sides. other of the locking pin (29); the action of the control member (25; 250) acting with the same effect on the two brakes (21 and 22).