FR3071207A1 - SAFETY STORAGE DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AND INTERIOR VEHICLE CLOSURE MEMBER INCORPORATING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage device for a motor vehicle comprising two adjoining storage compartments (21, 22) each provided with a respective access opening (25, 26), and closing means (27) slidably mounted on the along at least one said opening between a first position in which they are away from the opening (25) of said first compartment (21) so as to allow access thereto, and a second position where they completely cover the opening (25) of this first compartment (21) so as to condemn access; said device also comprising locking means able to securely lock said sliding closure means in said second position. The invention also relates to an interior trim element for a motor vehicle incorporating such a storage device.

Description

SECURE STORAGE DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE INTERIOR TRIM ELEMENT INCLUDING SUCH A DEVICE.

Field of the invention

The invention relates generally to storage devices for a motor vehicle.

Invention background

Passengers of vehicles, in particular of the automobile type, are increasingly demanding internal storage spaces capable of receiving all kinds of objects such as, for example, sunglasses, smartphones, personal navigation assistants, maps and / or documents, pens, coins etc.

These storage spaces, which must be easy to access, are generally installed in the dashboard or in the trim of the side doors and are called storage compartments or glove boxes.

American patent application US 7,287,885 thus describes a trim covering for the door of a motor vehicle integrating a storage device comprising a hollow body of substantially parallelepiped shape, open on top and defining a storage compartment.

The storage device also comprises a cover mounted pivotally on the hollow body between an open position in which the storage cavity is accessible, and a closed position where this cover covers the access opening of this same body, so to prevent that, in the event of an accident or sustained braking, objects contained in the cavity are ejected into the passenger compartment and cannot cause injury to the passengers of the vehicle.

Due to its deployment kinematics, this type of pivoting cover can interfere with functional or passenger reception areas, especially when the storage device is integrated into a side door trim element.

In order to overcome this drawback, it is known from European patent application EP 1612104 A trim for the trim of a motor vehicle door incorporating a storage device comprising two parallelepipedal storage compartments adjoining longitudinally and each being provided with an opening respective access formed on its internal wall overlooking the passenger compartment.

The storage device also comprises two rigid cover panels each mounted vertically sliding on the inner face of the internal wall of a respective compartment between a low position in which it is extends under the opening of this compartment so as to allow access to the latter, and a high position where it completely covers the opening of this compartment so as to block access.

In addition, these last years have been marked by an evolution in the uses of motor vehicles and in particular by the strong development of car-sharing between individuals.

Thus, more and more vehicle owners tend to offer, on an occasional basis and for financial or ecological reasons, the possibility for other individuals to rent their vehicle free of charge or against payment.

In order to avoid any risk of damage or theft of their personal objects stored in the vehicle, owners generally tend to remove them before each rental, which is particularly restrictive.

In addition, after recovering their vehicle, they can forget to reintroduce some of their objects (such as for example their personal navigation assistant or their road maps) and thus be caught off guard when their use is necessary.

It is known from patent application FR 2 989 650 a secure trunk in the form of a cup mounted in after-sales in the cup holder of a motor vehicle intended for car-sharing or rental. .

The trunk has a generally cylindrical case and shaped to be fixed in the cup holder, as well as a cover hinged relative to the case between an open position and a closed position.

This trunk which is intended to house the ignition key or more generally the elements necessary for the use of the vehicle by the tenant, furthermore comprises a lock making it possible to securely lock the cover in the closed position and controllable upon opening by an order from a badge reader.

The installation of such a safe aftermarket in the passenger compartment results in a significant additional cost for the owner of the vehicle and its particularly reduced storage volume does not allow it to be used to house personal items during rental periods of this vehicle.

Subject and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

To this end, it provides a storage device for a motor vehicle comprising two adjoining storage compartments each provided with a respective access opening, as well as closing means mounted sliding along at least one said opening between a first position. in which they are away from the opening of said first compartment so as to allow access thereto, and a second position where they completely cover the opening of this first compartment so as to prevent access thereto;

characterized in that it comprises locking means capable of securely locking said sliding closing means in said second position.

The storage device according to the invention thus allows the owner of the vehicle to prevent access, during rental or loan periods of his vehicle, to at least some of his personal objects (such as for example his assistant personal navigation and / or its maps) stored in the first compartment while allowing occasional users of this vehicle to store their own personal items in the second compartment remaining accessible.

The rest of the time, this device also allows the owner to benefit from the entire space offered by the two adjoining storage compartments.

According to preferred characteristics taken alone or in combination:

- Said secure locking means comprise an electric lock;

- said electric lock is controllable via a code to be dialed on a touchpad displayed on the screen of the vehicle's infotainment device;

- Said secure locking means comprise a mechanical lock with manual control by key or by combination;

- Said closing means comprise a slatted curtain mounted sliding along two guide rails extending respectively along two opposite edges of the opening of said first compartment, between a first said position in which said curtain is wound around '' a reel away from this opening so as to allow access to said first compartment, and a second so-called position where it is unwound along this opening which it completely covers so as to prevent access to the same compartment;

- Said storage device also comprises a second sliding closing curtain with strips capable of covering the opening of the second compartment but not being securely lockable;

- The openings of the two said compartments extend in continuity with one another, said closure means comprising a rigid panel mounted to slide along two guide rails extending respectively along two opposite continuous edges of the said openings, between a first said position in which said panel completely and only covers the opening of the second compartment so as to allow access to the only first compartment, and a second said position where this panel completely and only covers the opening of the first compartment so as to allow access to only the second compartment; and or

- Said closing means comprise a gripping member intended to facilitate their sliding manipulation.

The invention also relates in a second aspect, to an interior trim element for a motor vehicle incorporating such a storage device and being advantageously constituted by a door trim trim.

Brief description of the drawings

The description of the invention will now be continued with the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trim for the side door of a motor vehicle incorporating a storage device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a partial schematic sectional view of the trim of Figure 1 taken along a horizontal section plane located at the openings of the compartments; and

- Figures 3 and 4 are similar to Figures 1 and 2 of a trim trim of the side door of a motor vehicle incorporating a storage device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of several preferred embodiments

In the following description and by convention, the terms "lower", "upper", "longitudinal" "lateral" and "transverse" will be defined relative to the mounting position of the side door trim element in a motor vehicle.

The terms "external" and "internal" will be used to define the relative position of an element with reference to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The element closest to this axis will thus be qualified as internal as opposed to the other element more distant from this same axis which will in turn be qualified as external.

FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a trim for the side door trim of a motor vehicle 10 intended to be fixed to a door box not shown and comprising:

- A support panel 11 advantageously molded in one piece from a thermoplastic material possibly reinforced with natural or synthetic fibers;

- An upper strip 12 formed by a block of foam covered with a covering skin and applied for example to the support panel 11 by thermo-sheathing in a manner well known to those skilled in the art; and

- A plurality of hubcaps 13, 14, 15, 16 each consisting of a panel of thermoplastic material optionally covered with a covering skin and being attached to the support panel 11 by lamination so as to at least partially cover the face of this panel overlooking the passenger compartment of said vehicle.

According to the invention, the covering trim 10 further comprises in its lower part a storage device of the storage compartment type 20 comprising two parallelepipedic storage compartments of the same dimensions 21, 22.

These two storage compartments 21, 22, advantageously formed at least partially by the support panel 11, extend in an adjoining fashion in a substantially longitudinal direction of elongation, being separated by a transverse vertical partition 23.

Each of them is provided with a respective lateral access opening 25, 26 formed in the upper part of its internal wall overlooking the passenger compartment 21A, 22A, so as to allow users to introduce all kinds of objects such as, for example, sunglasses, smartphones, personal navigation assistants, maps and / or documents, pens, coins, etc.

The storage device 10 also comprises sliding closing means comprising a curtain with rigid strips 27 capable of being wound around a vertical reel 28 formed on the inside of the carrier panel 11 along and near the vertical edge before the opening 25 of the compartment 21 (FIG. 2).

The louvered curtain 27 is also slidably mounted along two guide rails (not visible in the figures) formed on the inner face of the internal wall 21A of the compartment 21 and extending respectively along the two upper and lower edges. opposite the opening 25, between a first position in which it is wound around the reel 28 away from this opening 25 so as to allow access to the compartment 21 by the latter, and a second position where it is unwound along the opening 25 which it completely covers so as to block access to this same compartment 21.

The curtain 27 advantageously comprises near its free end a gripping member 29 (for example, a handle) intended to facilitate its sliding manipulation by the passengers of the vehicle.

The storage device 20 further comprises locking means not illustrated in the figures and making it possible to securely lock the louvered curtain 27 in its second unrolled position, so as to prevent access to the compartment 21 for occasional users of the vehicle during the loan or rental periods of the latter.

These secure locking means are preferably constituted by an electric lock which can be controlled on opening, for example via the key or starting card of the vehicle (different rights then being associated with the key intended for the owner and that intended for the lessee of the vehicle) , via a code to be dialed on a touchpad displayed on the screen of the vehicle's infotainment device, or even via a fingerprint sensor.

According to variant embodiments not shown, the storage device comprises a second sliding closing curtain with lamellae capable of covering the opening 26 of the second compartment 22 but not being securely lockable.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a trim for the side door of a vehicle 10 ′ incorporating a storage device 20 ′ according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In the following and in these figures, the same references have been kept for the elements identical to the first embodiment and a premium has been added for similar elements.

The storage device 20 ′ comprises two storage compartments 21 ′, 22 ′ constituted at least partially by the support panel 11 ′ of the covering element 10 ′, and being separated by a vertical transverse partition 23 ′.

The compartments 21 ', 22' are similar to those 21, 22 of the device 20 described above with the exception of their two openings 25 ', 26' which extend longitudinally in continuity with one another.

This device 20 'also comprises sliding closing means comprising a rigid panel 30' mounted to slide along two guide rails (not visible in the figures) formed on the inner faces of the internal walls 21Ά, 22Ά of the compartments 21 ', 22 'and extending respectively continuously along the two opposite continuous edges (upper and lower) of the two openings 25', 26 ', between a first position in which this panel 30' completely and only covers the opening 26 'so to allow access to the only compartment 21 'through the opening 25', and a second position where it completely and only covers the opening 25 'so as to allow access to the only compartment 22' through the opening 26 ' .

The panel 30 'advantageously comprises, near one of its longitudinal ends, a gripping member 31' intended to facilitate its sliding manipulation by the passengers of the vehicle.

The storage device 20 'further comprises locking means (not illustrated in the figures) similar to those of the device 20 and making it possible to securely lock the panel 30' in its second position, so as to prevent access to the compartment 21 'to unauthorized persons such as the tenants of the vehicle.

According to variant embodiments not shown, the sliding closing means comprise a rigid cover panel mounted to slide vertically on the inner face of the internal wall of the first compartment between a low position in which it extends under the opening of this compartment so as to allow access to the latter, and a high position where it completely covers the opening of this compartment so as to prevent access. Locking means are also associated with one of these cover panels in order to allow it to be locked securely in its high closed position.

According to yet other alternative embodiments particularly suitable for entry-level or mid-range vehicles, the locking means are constituted by a mechanical lock with manual control by key or by combination such as those which can be found. on glove boxes.

In general, it is recalled that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant within the reach of the skilled person.

In particular, the storage device according to the invention could be integrated into other interior trim elements of the vehicle, such as for example the dashboard or even the central console located between the two front seats.

Claims (10)

1. Storage device for a motor vehicle comprising two adjoining storage compartments (21, 22; 21 ', 22') each provided with a respective access opening (25, 26; 25 ', 26'), as well as closing means (27; 30 ') mounted sliding along at least one said opening between a first position in which they are away from the opening (25; 25') of said first compartment (21; 21 ' ) so as to allow access, and a second position where they completely cover the opening (25; 25 ') of this first compartment (21; 21') so as to block access; characterized in that it comprises locking means capable of securely locking said sliding closing means in said second position. 2. Storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that said secure locking means comprise an electric lock. 3. Storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that said electric lock is controllable via a code to be dialed on a touch pad displayed on the screen of the vehicle infotainment device. 4. Storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that said secure locking means comprise a mechanical lock with manual control by key or combination. 5. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said closing means comprise a louvered curtain (27) mounted to slide along two guide rails extending respectively along two opposite edges of the opening (25) of said first compartment (21), between a first said position in which said curtain (27) is wound around a reel (28) away from this opening (25) so as to allow access to said first compartment (21), and a second so-called position where it is unwound along this opening (25) which it completely covers so as to prevent access to this same compartment (21). 6. Storage device according to claim 5, characterized in that it also comprises a second sliding closing curtain with lamellae capable of covering the opening of the second compartment but not being securely lockable. 7. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the openings (25 ', 26') of the two said compartments (21 ', 22') extend in continuity with one of the 'other, and in that said closing means comprise a rigid panel (30') slidably mounted along two guide rails extending respectively along two opposite continuous edges of said openings (25 ', 26'), between a first said position in which said panel (30 ') completely and only covers the opening (26') of the second compartment (22 ') so as to allow access to the only first compartment (21'), and a second said position where this panel (30 ') completely and only covers the opening (26') of the first compartment (21 ') so as to allow access to the only second compartment (22'). 8. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said closing means comprise a gripping member (29; 31 ') intended to facilitate their sliding manipulation. 9. Interior trim element for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a storage device according to one of claims 1 to 8. 10. Interior trim element according to claim 9, characterized in that it is constituted by a trim trim of the side door of a motor vehicle.