FR3119356A1 - SUPPORT DEVICE IN PART OF FITTING AND RETRACTABLE SUPPORT PANEL, FOR A VEHICLE TRUNK - Google Patents

Abstract

A support device (DS) is installed in a trunk of a vehicle and comprises a support panel (PS) comprising: - a first part (P1) to which is secured a second part (P2) comprising at least a first housing (L1) defined in a transverse direction, and - a third part resting on the second part (P2) in a folded position, and comprising a transverse end (ET) provided with at least one protrusion (PT) projecting towards the first part (P1) in this folded position and adapted to be housed in this first housing (L1) so that the third part (P3) is placed in a straightened position in which it defines a transverse partition above the second part. Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 3

Description

SUPPORT DEVICE PART OF A FITTING AND RETRACTABLE SUPPORT PANEL, FOR A VEHICLE TRUNK

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to vehicles comprising a trunk equipped with a support panel intended to support objects.

State of the art

Many vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise a trunk in which is installed a support panel which is configurable in order to allow the definition of a transverse and substantially vertical partition wall. Such a support panel often comprises a first part, fixed and permanently defining a part of the boot floor, and a second part, movable and defining in the folded position a complementary part of the boot floor and in the upright position a transverse partition wall and substantially vertical.

Many embodiments of the support panel have been proposed. For example, in a first embodiment, the second part of the support panel is detached from the first part of this support panel, in order to be able to be placed manually in its upright position by insertion into substantially vertical rails or grooves that include the trunk side trim (or trim) panels. The main drawback of this embodiment lies in the fact that it requires the presence of rails or grooves on and/or in the side trim panels, which increases their costs and locally reduces in the boot the width available for tidying up.

Also for example, in a second embodiment, the second part of the support panel is rotatably coupled to the first part of this support panel by hinges, and the maintenance of the second part in its upright position is ensured by stops and latches that include the trunk side trim panels. The main drawback of this embodiment lies in the fact that it requires the presence of stops and latches on and/or in the side trim panels, which increases their cost and very locally reduces the width available in the boot. for storage.

Also for example, in a third embodiment the second part of the support panel is rotatably coupled to the first part of this support panel by hinges, and the maintenance of the second part in its upright position is ensured by two straps or tie rods which are fixedly secured to the underside of the second part and to the structure of the trunk. The main drawback of this embodiment lies in the fact that it requires the presence of straps or tie rods which, once unfolded and stretched, very significantly reduce the width available for storage in the boot. In addition, these straps or tie rods induce an increase in the manufacturing and installation costs of the support panel.

In the three embodiments described above, when the second part of the support panel is in the upright position, it no longer participates in the definition of the boot floor, which not only can make accessories visible (such as for example a spare wheel (or a spare wheel) or a tool kit or a warning triangle), but also generally no longer allows a flat support surface.

The object of the invention is therefore in particular to remedy all or part of the drawbacks described above.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a support device comprising a support panel intended to be installed in a trunk of a vehicle.

This support device is characterized by the fact that its support panel comprises:

- a first part to which is attached a second part comprising at least a first housing defined in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and

- a third part resting on the second part in a folded-down position, and comprising a transverse end provided with at least one protrusion projecting towards the first part in this folded-down position and able to be housed in the (one) first housing so that the third part is placed in an upright position in which it defines a transverse partition above the second part.

This support panel turns out to be very simple in its design and in its use, makes it possible to permanently define a boot floor, and does not require any particular arrangement of the trim panels (or trim) of the boot because its third part is nestable and retractable.

The support device according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- The second part of the support panel may comprise two first housings defined and aligned in the transverse direction. In this case, the transverse end of the third part may comprise two protuberances which are adapted to be housed respectively in these first housings in the upright position;

- the first part of the support panel can comprise a number of second housings which is equal to the number of protuberances of the transverse end, each second housing being defined from a transverse edge located near the transverse end of the third part when the latter is in its folded position and having a shape homologous to the shape of a corresponding protrusion in order to at least partially accommodate the latter in the folded position;

- the first and third parts of the support panel may each comprise a rigid wall provided on an upper face with a continuous coating from one to the other, this coating being peeled off on each protuberance and on the third part from the transverse end over a predefined distance depending on a distance separating each first housing from the first part, in order to allow straightening of the third part when it is placed in the straightened position;

- in the presence of the last option, the second part of the support panel may comprise only a rigid wall devoid of the coating;

- also in the presence of the last option, the covering can be a carpet or a thick plastic film;

- The first part of the support panel can be placed at a first level, and the second part of the support panel can be secured to the first part by being placed at a second level which is lower than this first level;

- each first housing can be arranged in the form of a through hole or a groove.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automotive type, and comprising a trunk in which is installed a support device of the type presented above.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings, in which:

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, part of an example of a vehicle boot in which an example embodiment of a support device according to the invention is installed in the folded position,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from above, the device for supporting the , with its third part placed in its folded-down position and without covering on the first and third parts, and

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, the device for supporting the , with its third part placed in its upright position.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a support device DS intended to be installed in a trunk CV of a vehicle V, in order to support objects, and comprising a support panel PS having a nestable and retractable part P3.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the support device DS is intended to be part of a vehicle of the automobile type. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising at least one box in which a support device can be installed.

Furthermore, it is considered in what follows, by way of non-limiting example, that the support device DS is installed in a rear trunk of a vehicle. But it could be installed in a front trunk of a vehicle.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle V, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is the transverse direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the direction longitudinal X, and the Z direction is the vertical direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.

We have schematically illustrated on the part of an exemplary trunk CV (here rear) of a vehicle V in which an exemplary embodiment of a support device DS according to the invention is installed. This trunk CV is here placed behind a rear bench seat SV installed in the passenger compartment H of the vehicle V, and delimited by a rear structural part of the vehicle V, which is in particular masked on the two lateral (or longitudinal) sides CL opposed by panels trim (or trim) PA.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a support device DS, according to the invention, comprises a support panel PS intended to be installed in a trunk CV of a vehicle V and comprising first P1, second P2, and third P3 parts.

The first part P1 is placed at a first level in the vertical direction Z. It comprises a rigid wall, preferably provided on an upper face with a covering R. This first part P1 of the support panel PS is fixed and permanently defines a first part of the CV boot floor.

The second part P2 is secured to the first part P1. It comprises a rigid wall in which is defined at least a first housing L1 extending in the transverse direction Y (see ). This second part P2 of the support panel PS is fixed and permanently contributes to the definition of a second part of the floor of the trunk CV.

The third part P3 rests on the second part P2 when it is in its folded position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in this case it temporarily contributes to the definition of the second part of the boot floor CV. This third part P3 has a transverse end ET, parallel to the transverse direction Y, and provided with at least one protuberance PT projecting towards the first part P1 when it is placed in the folded-down position. In addition, each protuberance PT is suitable for being housed (or nested) in the (one) corresponding first housing L1 so that its third part P3 is placed in a straightened position illustrated on the . In this upright position the third part P3 defines a transverse partition above the second part P2.

We thus have a very simple PS support panel in its design because it has no hinges or straps (or tie rods), and very easy to use because its configuration only requires fitting or retracting. In addition, this support panel PS does not require any particular arrangement of the covering (or trim) panels PA of the boot CV because its third part P3 is held in the upright position by a simple interlocking of each of its protuberances PT in each of the first housings L1 of its second part P2, and is inexpensive to produce and install.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 to 3, the second part P2 of the support panel PS can be secured to the first part P1 by being placed at a second level (in the vertical direction Z) which is lower than the first level. In this case, the third part P3 of the support panel PS can be placed at the first level when it is placed in its folded position (as illustrated in figures 1 and 2), in order to ensure the continuity of the first part P1. But in a variant the first P1 and second P2 parts could be placed at the first level by extending each other, and in this case the third part P3 is placed at a second level (in the vertical direction Z) which is higher than the first level and therefore there is a slight recess between the first P1 and third P3 parts at the level of the transverse end ET and of each protuberance PT.

Also for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 to 3, the second part P2 of the support panel PS may comprise two first housings L1 defined and aligned in the transverse direction Y. In this case, the transverse end AND of the third part P3 can comprise two protrusions PT which are adapted to be housed (or nested) respectively in these first two housings L1 when the third part P3 is in its upright position ( ). This option ensures better stability of the third part P3 in its upright position than if only a single central protrusion PT fitted into a single first central housing L1 was used (which may constitute an alternative embodiment). In order to optimize the stability of the third part P3 in its straightened position, each of the two protuberances PT is, preferably and as illustrated without limitation, closer to one of the two longitudinal edges of the third part P3 than to a plane median passing through the center of the latter (P3).

Also for example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first part P1 of the support panel PS can comprise a number of second housings L2 equal to the number of protuberances PT. In this case, each second housing L2 is defined from a transverse edge BT of the first part P1, located near the transverse end AND of the third part P3 when the latter (P3) is in its folded position, and has a shape homologous to the shape of the corresponding protuberance PT in order to at least partially house the latter (PT) in the folded-down position. As mentioned above, in the example illustrated the number of protuberances PT, like the number of first L1 or second L2 housings, is equal to two. But it could be one or three or even four, for example.

This last option is particularly advantageous when, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first P1 and third P3 parts are located at the same first level (in the folded-down position). Indeed, in this case the protrusions PT are housed in the corresponding second housings L2 and the transverse end ET is placed just next to (or even against) the transverse edge BT, and therefore a continuity of support surface is obtained between the first P1 and third P3 parts when the height of the second housings L2 (in the vertical direction Z) is equal to the thickness of the protrusions PT (in the vertical direction Z).

Also for example, the first P1 and third P3 parts can each comprise a rigid wall provided on an upper face with a continuous coating R from one (P1) to the other (P3). In this case, the coating R is peeled off (or not glued) on each protuberance PT and on the third part P3 from the transverse end AND over a predefined distance d which is a function of the distance separating each first housing L1 from the edge transverse LV of the first part P1. This makes it possible to have on the third part P3 a detached zone ZD (over the predefined distance d) allowing it to be straightened when placed in the straightened position. The coating R therefore ensures, in a way, the hinge function at the level of the transverse edge BT of the first part and at the end of the separated zone ZD.

In the presence of the last option, each first housing L1 is defined in the rigid wall of the second part P2 near the transverse edge BT of the first part P1 (approximately at the predefined distance d), due to the coupling between the first P1 and third P3 parts via the covering R. But, when the covering R is cut at the level of the transverse edge BT, the third part P3 is completely decoupled from the first P1 and second P2 parts and therefore the first housings L1 can be defined in the wall rigid of the second part P2 at any distance from the transverse end ET.

It will be noted that the second part P2 may only comprise a rigid wall devoid of the coating R of the first P1 and third P3 parts. But in a variant the second part P2 could comprise an upper face provided with the coating R of the first P1 and third P3 parts, in order to ensure visual continuity of the floor of the trunk CV, or else provided with another coating.

It will also be noted that the coating R of at least the first P1 and third P3 parts can, for example, be a carpet or a thick film of plastic (or synthetic) material. In the latter case, the plastic (or synthetic) material may, for example, be a polyvinyl chloride (or PVC (“PolyVinyl Chloride”)).

It will also be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation on the each first housing L1 is arranged in the form of a through hole. But in a variant embodiment not shown, each first housing L1 could be arranged in the form of a groove (not through).

Claims (10)

Support device (DS) for a boot (CV) of a vehicle (V), said device (DS) comprising a support panel (PS) intended to be installed in said boot (CV), characterized in that said panel support (PS) comprises i) a first part (P1) to which is secured a second part (P2) comprising at least a first housing (L1) defined in a transverse direction of said vehicle (V), and ii) a third part (P3) resting on said second part (P2) in a folded-down position, and comprising a transverse end (ET) provided with at least one protrusion (PT) projecting towards said first part (P1) in said folded-down position and able to be housed in said first housing (L1) so that said third part (P3) is placed in an upright position in which it defines a transverse partition above said second part (P2). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said second part (P2) comprises two first housings (L1) defined and aligned in the said transverse direction, and in that the said transverse end (ET) of the third part (P3) comprises two protrusions (PT) capable of being housed respectively in said first housings (L1) in said upright position. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said first part (P1) comprises a number of second housings (L2) equal to the number of protrusions (PT), each second housing (L2) being defined from an edge transverse end (BT) located close to said transverse end (ET) of the third part (P3) when the latter (P3) is in its folded-down position and having a shape homologous to the shape of a corresponding protrusion (PT) in order to at least partially accommodating the latter (PT) in said folded position. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said first (P1) and third (P3) parts each comprise a rigid wall provided on an upper face with a continuous covering (R) of one (P1 ) to the other (P3), said coating (R) being peeled off on each protuberance (PT) and on said third part (P3) from said transverse end (ET) over a predefined distance depending on a distance separating each first housing (L1) of said first part (P1), in order to allow straightening of said third part (P3) when it is placed in the straightened position. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said second part (P2) only comprises a rigid wall devoid of the said coating (R). Device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the said covering (R) is a carpet or a thick film of plastic material. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the said first part (P1) is placed at a first level, and the said second part (P2) is secured to the said first part (P1) by being placed at a second lower level to said first level. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each first housing (L1) is arranged in the form of a through hole. Vehicle comprising a boot (CV), characterized in that it further comprises a support device (DS) according to one of the preceding claims, installed in said boot (CV). Vehicle according to Claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.