FR3078545A1 - STORAGE DEVICE FOR OPENING VEHICLE INCORPORATING PUSH BUTTON ACTUATION MECHANISM. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage device comprising an opening (20) movably mounted on a body (10) between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position, said opening comprising locking means (41, 42). movable between a locked position in which they are adapted to cooperate with complementary means (12) provided on said body to retain said opening in the closed position and an unlocked position where they allow the passage of said opening from its closed position to its open position, and an actuating mechanism (50) for driving said locking means to the unlocked position and comprising a push button (60) movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said mechanism (50) comprising a lever (51). ) pivotally mounted on said opening and adapted to be driven during the depression of said button so as to cause the movement of said locking means in unlocked position.

Description

STORAGE DEVICE FOR AN OPENING VEHICLE WITH INTEGRATED PUSH BUTTON OPERATION MECHANISM.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to storage devices for a motor vehicle comprising an opening movable mounted on a body between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said storage cavity.

Invention background

Storage devices of this kind are generally provided with a locking mechanism integrated into the opening and comprising locking means that can be moved between a locked position in which they are able to cooperate with complementary means provided on said body to retain said opening in the closed position and an unlocked position where they allow the passage of said opening from its closed position to its open position.

French patent application FR 2 935 320 discloses such a glove box type storage device further comprising an actuation mechanism located on the opening and making it possible to drive said locking means in said unlocked position.

This actuation mechanism comprises a movable push button sliding along an axis of translation between an extended position and a retracted position.

The button is provided with a groove, inclined relative to the guide axis, in which is guided a lug carried by the locking means constituted by a bolt mounted in translation on the opening, this bolt being able to cooperate with a keeper mounted on the body.

Such a push button mechanism integrated into the opening has the advantage of offering a high level of "perceived quality" to the storage device.

However, in use, this mechanism tends to block because the lug of the locking means has difficulty sliding along the groove of the button.

Subject and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to provide a storage device with an opening incorporating a push button actuation mechanism which remains simple while presenting safer operation.

To this end, it provides a vehicle storage device comprising an opening panel movably mounted on a body between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said storage cavity, said opening comprising:

- A locking mechanism comprising locking means movable between a locked position in which they are able to cooperate with complementary means provided on said body to retain said opening in the closed position and an unlocked position where they allow the passage of said opening from its closed position to its open position;

- An actuating mechanism for driving said locking means in said unlocked position and comprising a movable push button sliding along a translation axis between an extended position and a retracted position;

characterized in that said actuating mechanism comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said opening along an axis perpendicular to the axis of translation of said push button and capable of being pivotally driven when said push button is pressed in the retracted position so to cause the displacement of said locking means in said unlocked position.

The actuation mechanism of the storage device according to the invention allows, while being of a particularly simple design and comprising a minimum of elements, to drive by a simple press on the push button and without any risk of blocking the locking means towards their unlocked position so as to release the opening.

According to preferred characteristics of said storage device:

- Said locking means comprise a first arm and a second arm mechanically coupled and being movable transversely in opposite directions, each said arm being provided at its outer end with a bolt capable of engaging in a corresponding keeper formed in said body for retaining said opening in the closed position in said locked position;

- Said first and second arms are mechanically coupled by means of a rotary spreader and whose two ends are articulated at the two internal ends of said arms;

- Said actuation mechanism comprises a protrusion taking root on said first arm and being provided with an inclined pan capable of cooperating with said lever to cause displacement of said first and second arms towards their unlocked position;

- Said actuation mechanism comprises elastic return means permanently ensuring that said lever remains in contact against said inclined face of said protuberance;

- Said locking mechanism comprises elastic return means permanently urging said locking means towards their locked position;

- Said push button comprises a finger having a free end arranged to come into abutment, when the button is pressed in the retracted position, against a beveled surface of said lever so as to cause it to pivot; and or

- Said free end of said finger and said bevelled surface of said lever are arranged so as to be spaced from each other by a predetermined distance when said locking means occupy their locked position and said button is in the extended position.

The storage device can for example be of the “drawer” type with said opening which is constituted by a drawer delimiting said storage cavity and being mounted to slide on said body between said open position in which it projects behind said body and said position closed in which it is integrated into said body.

The storage device can also be of the glove box type with said hollow body delimiting said storage cavity and having an access opening to the latter. Said opening is then constituted by a flap pivotally mounted on said body between said open position in which it is away from said access opening and a closed position where it closes this same opening.

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 shows a three quarter perspective view of the storage device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken along a horizontal plane of the device of Figure 1, the locking means in the locked position retain the cover in the closed position;

- Figure 3 shows a perspective sectional view taken along another partial horizontal plane of the device of Figure 1 in the configuration of Figure 2; and

- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but on which the locking means have been brought into the unlocked position by pressing the control button of the actuating mechanism so as to allow the opening of the cover.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

FIG. 1 represents a storage device for a motor vehicle 1 of the sliding drawer type intended to be installed on the passenger side of the dashboard of a motor vehicle, above the glove box.

In the description which follows and by convention, the terms "lower", "upper", "longitudinal" "lateral" and "transverse" will be defined relative to the mounting position of the storage device in such 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.

With reference to this FIG. 1, the storage device 1 comprises a hollow body 10, as well as an opening constituted by a drawer 20 delimiting a storage cavity and being slidably mounted on this body 10 in a longitudinal direction, between an open position in which it projects behind this hollow body 10 so as to make the storage cavity accessible, and a closed position in which it is integrated into the body 10 so as to prevent access to this same storage cavity.

Elastic return means (not visible in the figures and constituted for example by a flexible leaf spring) are provided between the hollow body 10 and the drawer 20 so as to urge the latter towards its open position.

The drawer 20, in the form of a tray, has a floor 22, two side walls 23, 24, a front bottom wall 25 and a front 26 defining the storage cavity.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the facade 26 comprises an outer rectangular panel 27 with a curved profile and an inner counterpan 28 joined against the inner face of this outer panel 27.

The inner inner panel 28 has a recess 29 delimited at the front by a front wall 30 and laterally by two side walls (only the left wall 31 being visible in the figures).

This recess 29 houses a locking mechanism 40 for retaining the drawer 20 in its closed position.

This locking mechanism 40 comprises two transverse arms 41, 42 each having an internal end 41A, 42A pivotally articulated along a longitudinal axis on a corresponding end of a lifting beam 43 whose center is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis on a pivot 44 projecting into the recess 29 from the central area of the front wall 30 of the inner counter panel 28.

The outer end 41B of each arm 41, 42 forms a locking bolt with a beveled profile.

The two arms 41, 42 mechanically coupled via the spreader 43 can be moved transversely in opposite directions between:

- A locked position illustrated by Figures 2 and 3 in which their bolts 41B each protrude from a respective opening 32 formed in a corresponding lateral wall 31 of the inner counter panel 28, so that the latter are suitable, when the drawer 20 is in the closed position, to engage in corresponding keepers 12 formed in two side walls 11 of the body 10 (only the left side wall and its orifice 12 being visible in the figures) to retain this drawer 20 in this closed position;

- An unlocked position illustrated in Figure 4 in which the bolts 41B are retracted inside the recess 29 so that the latter allow the passage of the slide 20 from its closed position to the open position.

As shown in particular in FIG. 3, two horizontal parallel guide walls 44, 45 extending respectively above and below each arm 41, 42 to avoid any vertical movement of the latter.

In order to limit the transverse stroke of the two arms 41, 42 on the external side, the locking mechanism 40 also includes an elastomer stopper 46 fixed on a tab 47 projecting from the upper face of the arm 41 and capable of cooperating in abutment against a lateral edge. of the upper guide wall 44 overhanging this arm 41.

The fixing of this elastomer stopper 46 is in this case produced by snap-fastening of a frustoconical pin which it comprises in a hole made in the tab 47 and not visible in the figures.

The locking mechanism 40 further comprises a tension spring 48 (visible in particular in FIG. 3), the two ends of which are attached respectively to a first lug 49 projecting rearward from the lower guide wall 45 located below the arm 41, and to a second lug (not visible in the figures) projecting towards the rear from the underside of the arm 41.

This tension spring 48 is arranged so as to permanently urge the arm 41 as well as the arm 42 via the lifter 43 towards their locked position in which the stopper 46 comes into contact with the upper guide wall 44 (the fact that this stopper 46 or an elastomer making it possible to avoid the emission of parasitic noise).

Advantageously, a block of low density foam (not shown in the figures) is inserted in the slightly compressed state between the underside of the arm 41 and the spring 48 so as to avoid the generation of metallic noises when the latter is recalled. .

The drawer 20 also includes an actuation mechanism 50 allowing a user to drive the locking means 40 in their unlocked position.

This actuation mechanism 50 comprises a lever 51 of which a first end is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on a pivot 52 taking root on a plate 53 projecting into the recess 29 from the front wall 30 of the inner counter panel 28.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the distal end of the internal lateral face 51A of this lever 51 rests against an inclined face 54A of a protrusion 54 taking root on the upper face of the arm 41.

In order to avoid the generation of parasitic noise, the contact between the lever 51 and the protuberance 54 is ensured permanently by means of a second tension spring 55 (visible in particular in FIG. 3) recalling it towards this protrusion 54 and the two ends of which are respectively attached to a first lug 56 projecting from the upper face of the lever 51 and to a second lug 57 protruding upwards from the protrusion 54.

Advantageously, a block of low density foam (not shown in the figures) is inserted in the slightly compressed state between the roof of the recess 29 and the spring 55 so as to avoid the generation of metallic noises when the latter is recalled.

The actuating mechanism also comprises a push button 60 mounted on the outer panel 27 of the front panel 26 by means of a frame 65 projecting from the inner face of this panel 27 around the periphery of an opening 66 formed in this latest.

Equipped with a flat head 61 having a rectangular shape complementary to that of the opening 66, this button 60 is movable in translation along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the pivot axis of the lever 51 between an out position of rest in which its head 61 fills the opening 66 of the outer panel 27 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) and a retracted position where it is set back from this same outer panel 27.

The button 60 also comprises a cylindrical finger 62 extending longitudinally towards the rear from the internal face of the head 61 through a bottom wall 67 of the frame 65.

A compression spring 63 mounted on the finger 62 between the inner face of the head 61 and a bottom wall 67 of the frame 65 permanently recalls this button 60 towards its position out of rest.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the hemispherical free end of the finger 62 is arranged to cooperate, when the button 60 is pressed in the retracted position, with the bevelled free end 51B of the lever 51 to cause the latter to pivot on the external side and cause, via the cooperation between its internal lateral face 51A and the inclined face 54A of the projection 54, the movement of the arms 41, 42 towards their unlocked position so as to allow the opening of the drawer 20.

It will be noted that the transverse stroke of the arms 41, 42 can be adjusted by varying the inclination of the inclined face 54A of the projection 54.

When the user releases his pressure on the button 60, the spring 63 returns it to its resting position while the spring 48 returns the arms 41, 42 to their locked position which also causes the protrusion 54 to return the lever 51 in its initial position.

In this configuration illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the free end of the finger 62 is slightly spaced from the free beveled end 51B of the lever 51 (advantageously by a distance of between 0.5 and 0.8 mm) so to avoid the appearance of parasitic noise under the effect of repeated intermittent contacts between these two elements due to the vibrations occurring during the vehicle rolling phases.

According to variant embodiments of the invention not shown, the coupling means between the two arms 41, 42 are different and comprise for example a rotary pinion associated with two racks secured to the two arms.

According to other variant embodiments not shown, the locking means comprise only one arm such as 41.

According to yet other variant embodiments not shown, the means for guiding the locking arm or arms are different.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown and encompasses any variant within the reach of ordinary skill in the art.

Thus, the invention can also be applied to a glove box type storage device comprising a hollow body delimiting a storage cavity and having an access opening to said cavity, as well as an opening constituted by a flap mounted at pivoting on said body between an open position in which it is away from said access opening so as to make said storage cavity accessible, and a closed position where it closes said opening so as to prevent access to said cavity.

Claims (10)

1. Storage device for a vehicle comprising an opening (20) movably mounted on a body (10) between an open position giving access to a storage cavity and a closed position preventing access to said storage cavity, said opening (20 ) including: - a locking mechanism (40) comprising locking means (41, 42) movable between a locked position in which they are able to cooperate with complementary means (12) formed on said body (10) to retain said opening (20 ) in the closed position and an unlocked position where they allow the passage of said opening (20) from its closed position to its open position; - an actuating mechanism (50) making it possible to drive said locking means (41, 42) in said unlocked position and comprising a push button (60) movable to slide along a translation axis between an extended position and a retracted position ; characterized in that said actuating mechanism (50) comprises a lever (51) pivotally mounted on said opening (20) along an axis perpendicular to the axis of translation of said push button (60) and capable of being pivoted during depressing said push button (60) in the retracted position so as to cause the displacement of said locking means (41, 42) in said unlocked position. 2. Storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means comprise a first arm (41) and a second arm (42) mechanically coupled and being transversely movable in opposite directions, each said arm (41, 42 ) being provided at its outer end with a bolt (41B) capable of engaging in a corresponding keeper (12) formed in said body (10) for retaining said opening (20) in the closed position in said locked position. 3. Storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second arms (41, 42) are mechanically coupled by means of a lifting beam (43) rotatably mounted and whose two ends are articulated at both ends internal of said arms (41, 42). 4. Storage device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said actuation mechanism (50) comprises a protrusion (54) taking root on said first arm (41) and being provided with an inclined pan (54A) able to cooperate with said lever (51) to cause said first and second arms (41, 42) to move towards their unlocked position. 5. Storage device according to claim 4, characterized in that said actuating mechanism (50) comprises elastic return means (55) ensuring permanently the maintenance of said lever (51) in contact against said inclined face (54A) of said outgrowth (54). 6. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said locking mechanism (40) comprises elastic return means (48) permanently urging said locking means (41, 42) towards their locked position. 7. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said push button (60) comprises a finger (62) having a free end arranged to come into abutment, when the button is pressed in the retracted position, against a beveled surface (51A) of said lever (51 ) so as to pivot it. 8. Storage device according to claim 7, characterized in that said free end of said finger (62) and said bevelled surface (51A) of said lever (51) are arranged so as to be spaced from each other by a predetermined distance when said locking means (41, 42) occupy their locked position and said button (60) is in the extended position. 9. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said opening is constituted by a drawer (20) delimiting said storage cavity and being slidably mounted on said body (10) between said open position in which it projects behind said body (10) and said closed position in which it is integrated into said body (10). 10. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 5 8, characterized in that said hollow body delimits said storage cavity and has an access opening to the latter, said opening being constituted by a flap pivotally mounted on said body between said open position in which it is separated of said access opening and a closed position where it closes this same opening. 1/4