FR3120216A1 - Three-position retainer and associated trim element - Google Patents

Abstract

A three-position retainer and associated trim member A retainer (10) for equipment on a vehicle trim member, the retainer (10) including a hook, the hook being adapted to at least partially hold equipment. The hook (16) is movable between a retracted position, an extended position and an engaged position, the movement between the retracted position and the extended position being a translation in a direction of translation. The movement between the deployed position and the engaged position is a rotation. The retaining device (10) comprises a stopper (18) arranged to block a translational movement in the direction of translation, in at least one direction, of the hook from the engaged position, more particularly to prevent the hook from moving to the retracted position. The invention further relates to an associated packing element. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Three-position retainer and associated trim element

The present invention relates to a device for retaining equipment on a vehicle trim element, the retaining device comprising a hook, the hook being adapted to at least partially hold an item of equipment), the hook being movable between a retracted position, a deployed position and an engaged position, the displacement between the retracted position and the deployed position being a translation in a direction of translation.

The invention further relates to an associated packing element.

Document US 9,469,253 B2 describes a support device for a portable electronic device for a motor vehicle. The device includes a fixed frame, attached to a structural member of the vehicle, and a drawer connected to the frame. The connection of the drawer to the frame is arranged such that the drawer is movable by sliding relative to the frame between a storage position and a position of use of the electronic device. In the position of use, the portable electronic device can be maintained in a volume of use by a first and a second stop element coming into contact with the device at at least two opposite points of the latter and stressed towards each other by at least one elastic element.

Such a support device then makes it possible to hold the portable electronic device, while allowing the device to be stored in its storage position when it is not useful for a user.

However, such a device is complex and mobilizes a storage space in which it is arranged in the storage position.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a retaining device allowing the maintenance of an element which is compact and simple.

To this end, the invention particularly relates to a retaining device of the aforementioned type, in which the movement between the deployed position and the engaged position is a rotation, and in which the retaining device comprises an abutment arranged to block a movement translation in the direction of translation, in at least one direction, of the hook from the engaged position, more particularly to prevent the hook from moving towards the retracted position.

The fact of engaging the hook by rotation while the deployment is carried out by translation makes it possible to clearly differentiate the movements for each action. The mechanical system is simple.

The restraint device may also have one or more of the characteristics below, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations:

- the stopper is fixed;

- the retaining device comprises a system for returning the hook to the retracted position;

- the return system comprises a spring;

- the spring is a flat coil spring, a coil spring or a torsion spring;

- the return system comprises a heart cam arranged such that pressing the hook in the retracted position causes it to move to the extended position by action of the heart cam,

- the retaining device comprises a pivot having an axis, the pivot being integral in translation along the direction of translation with the hook, the rotation between the deployed position and the engaged position being a rotation around the axis of the pivot; and or

- The retaining device comprises a hook return element to the deployed position from the engaged position.

The invention further relates to a packing element comprising a retaining device of the aforementioned type, the hook being adapted to extend at least partially outside an interior volume of the packing element in the deployed positions and engaged.

The packing element may further comprise a stop surface, a portion of the hook or an element integral in translation with the hook extending against the stop surface in the deployed and engaged positions so as to block a movement in translation of the hook in the direction of translation opposite the retracted position.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

there is a schematic sectional view of a retaining device according to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining device here being arranged within a trim element, the retaining device comprising a hook in the retracted position,

there is a schematic cross-sectional view of the retaining device of the , the hook being in the deployed position,

there is a schematic cross-sectional view of the retaining device of the , the hook being in the engaged position, and

there is a diagrammatic view in partial section of the retaining device of the , retaining an upper portion of a holding device.

A retaining device 10 according to one embodiment is shown in Figures 1 to 3 and partially on the .

An example of a packing element 12 according to one embodiment of the invention comprising the retaining device 10 is also partially shown in Figures 1 to 4.

The retaining device 10 is intended to be integrated into a trim element 12, such as a dashboard.

The packing element 12 comprises, for example, an interior volume in which the retaining device is partially arranged.

The interior volume is here open at least at the level of an opening, the retaining device 10 being adapted to pass through the opening.

The retaining device 10 is, for example, provided to hold equipment 14, for example a portable electronic device or a device for holding a portable electronic device, more particularly here to hold an upper part 15 of said equipment.

The retainer 10 includes a hook 16.

The retaining device 10 here further comprises a stop 18 and/or a carriage 20, here a stop 18 and a carriage 20.

The hook 16 is adapted to at least partially hold an item of equipment 14.

The hook 16 here comprises an internal part 22, an external part 24 and an intermediate part 26 arranged between the internal part 22 and the external part 24.

The internal part 22 is intended to extend into the internal volume of the packing element 12.

The inner part 22 defines an inner end 28 of the hook 16.

The outer part 24 is intended to extend outside the interior volume of the packing element 12.

The outer part 24 defines an outer end 30 of the hook 16.

The inner end 28 and the outer end 30 are opposite each other along a main extension direction D of the hook 16.

Each inner 28 and/or outer 30 end corresponds here, for example, to an edge of the hook 16.

Said edge extends mainly in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of extension D.

The external part 24 here comprises an interface 32.

The external part 24, more particularly the interface 32, is adapted to at least partially hold the equipment.

The interface 32 here delimits at least one groove 34 adapted to receive a portion of the equipment, here a top edge of the equipment 14.

The at least one groove 34 extends, for example, parallel to the edge formed by the outer end 30.

The or each groove 34 has a bottom 35.

In the example shown, the or each groove 34 is oriented downwards, that is to say that the bottom 35 of the groove 34 forms the upper part of said groove 34.

In the case of a plurality of grooves 34, these extend, for example, substantially in the same plane. They are, for example, aligned in their direction of extension.

The interface 32 here further comprises a projection 36.

The projection 36 extends beyond the at least one groove 34 along the main extension direction D of the hook 16 opposite the internal part 22.

The projection 36 delimits the outer end 30 of the hook 16.

The hook 16, more particularly the internal part 22, further comprises a connecting portion 38.

A connecting member 40 between the hook 16 and the carriage 20 is fixed to the connecting portion 38.

More particularly, the connecting member 40 is integral with the hook 16 for any movement.

The connecting portion 38 has a given shape complementary to the connecting member 40.

The connecting portion 38 here delimits a concavity capable of partially receiving the connecting member 40. The connecting portion 38 comprises, for example, at least one bend of the hook 16 forming the concavity.

Alternatively, the connecting portion 38 comprises a boss complementary to the connecting member 40.

The connecting member 40 is partially arranged in the concavity formed by the hook 16 at the level of the internal part 22.

The hook 16 is movable between a retracted position visible on the , a deployed position visible on the and an engaged position visible on the .

More particularly, the hook 16 is movable on the one hand between the retracted position and the deployed position, that is to say from the retracted position to the deployed position and vice versa, and, on the other hand, between the deployed position and the engaged position, that is to say from the deployed position to the engaged position and vice versa.

The movement performed by the hook 16 between the retracted position and the deployed position is a translation in a direction of translation X, more particularly with respect to the packing element 12 in which the retaining device 10 is intended to be arranged.

The terms “forward” and “rear” are defined according to the direction of translation X, the hook 16 moving forwards passing from the retracted position to the deployed position and backwards from the deployed position to the retracted position .

The hook 16 moves in the direction of its outer end 30 passing from the retracted position to the deployed position.

The inner end 28 of hook 16 is further back than the outer end 30 of hook 16.

The hook 16 in the deployed position extends further outside the interior volume of the packing element 12 than the hook 16 in the retracted position. In particular, the intermediate portion 26 extends outside the interior volume of the packing element 12 in the deployed position and inside the interior volume of the packing element 12 in the retracted position.

The direction of translation X is, for example, perpendicular to the edge formed by the outer end 30.

The direction of translation X forms, for example, an angle of less than 30° with the direction of main extension D of the hook 16.

The movement made by the hook 16 between the deployed position and the engaged position is a rotation, more particularly with respect to the packing element 12 in which the retaining device 10 is intended to be arranged.

The rotation is performed around a pivot axis.

The pivot axis is perpendicular to the direction of translation X.

The pivot axis is also perpendicular to the main direction of extension D of the hook 16.

The pivot axis is here parallel to the edge forming the outer end 30.

When the hook 16 moves from the deployed position to the engaged position, the interface 32 is moved, more particularly the groove 34 moves in the direction of its bottom 35, here upwards.

In parallel, the inner part 22 pivots so that the inner end 28 moves in the opposite direction to the interface 32. Here the inner end 28 moves downwards.

The stop 18 is arranged to block the hook 16 in the engaged position in translation in the direction of translation X in at least one direction, more particularly here towards the rear.

The stop 18 has a bearing surface 42.

The stop 18 is fixed, more particularly with respect to the packing element 12 in which the retaining device 10 is intended to be arranged.

The stop 18 is provided to be arranged in the interior volume of the trim element 12.

The abutment 18 is adapted to be in contact, direct or close to a clearance, more particularly so that the bearing surface 42 is in direct contact or close to the clearance, with the hook 16 only in the engaged position.

The close play is, for example, less than 0.5 mm, preferably 0.3 mm.

In the engaged position of the hook, the abutment 18 is more particularly in contact, direct or close to clearance, with the internal part 22 of the hook 16, more particularly here with the internal end 28.

Alternatively, in the engaged position of the hook, the abutment 18 is more particularly in contact, direct or close to clearance, with a protrusion linked to the internal part of the hook 22, the protrusion forming a non-zero angle with the direction X, preferably an angle close to 90° with the X direction.

In the engaged position of the hook 16, the abutment 18 is in contact, direct or close to clearance, with a portion of the internal part of the hook 16, here the internal end 28, in the direction of translation X.

The stop 18 is then arranged behind the portion of the internal part 22 with which it is in contact, so as to block a rearward movement.

Passing from the deployed position to the engaged position, the inner end 28 moves so that the inner end 28 in the engaged position extends opposite the support surface 42 in the direction of translation X.

The carriage 20 is adapted to move with the hook 16 in translation between the retracted position and the deployed position and to remain fixed when the hook 16 moves between the deployed position and the engaged position.

The carriage 20 is integral in translation along the direction of translation X with the hook 16, but not in rotation.

The carriage 20 here comprises a pivot 44 having an axis O, the rotation between the deployed position and the engaged position being a rotation around the axis O of the pivot 44.

More particularly, the pivot 44 guides the rotation between the deployed position and the engaged position.

More particularly, the connecting member 40 is fixed relative to the hook 16 and integral with the pivot so as to rotate around the axis O of the pivot 44.

The retaining device 10 further comprises a hook return element to its deployed position from the engaged position.

The return element here is a torsion spring 46.

The torsion spring 46 is arranged around the pivot 44.

The torsion spring 46 has a first end connected to the carriage 20, more particularly fixed with respect to the pivot 44, and a second end fixed with respect to the hook 16, more particularly fixed to the connecting member 40.

The carriage 20 also advantageously comprises a front contact face 48.

The front contact face 48 here forms an end portion of the carriage 20 furthest forward in the direction of translation X.

The front contact face 48 is configured to come into contact with a stop surface 52 of the packing element 12 in the deployed position and in the engaged position of the hook 16, so as to block the carriage 20 in translation, and thus the hook 16, in the direction of translation X in at least one direction of translation, more particularly forwards.

The stopping surface 52 is fixed.

The stop surface 52 here partially delimits the interior volume of the trim element.

In the embodiment shown, the retaining device 10, here the carriage 20, comprises a system for returning the hook 16 to the retracted position.

The return system comprises a spring 50, for example a flat coil spring, a coil spring or a torsion spring.

The spring 50 is provided to return the hook 16 to the retracted position.

More particularly, the spring 50 exerts a force recalling the hook 16, here via the carriage 20, towards the rear.

The return system further comprises, for example, a heart cam (not shown).

The core cam is arranged such that pressing the hook in the retracted position causes it to move to the extended position by action of the core cam.

A method of using the retainer will now be described.

A retainer as previously described is provided.

The hook is, for example, initially in the retracted position.

A user wishes to arrange equipment 14 such that the retaining device 10 retains the equipment, more particularly an upper part 15 of the equipment 14.

The hook 16 is moved from the retracted position to the deployed position. More particularly, the hook 16 is moved forward in translation in the direction of translation X.

In the example described above, the user presses on the hook 16 so that it moves into the deployed position thanks to the action of the heart cam.

The carriage 20 moves in translation with the hook 16.

The forward translational movement of the hook 16 is here stopped by the coming into contact of the front contact face 48 with the stop surface 52.

The hook 16 is then in the deployed position.

The user then places the equipment 14.

In the example shown, the retaining device 10 is designed to retain an upper part 15 of the equipment. The upper part 15 of the equipment has, for example, at least one protrusion complementary to the at least one groove 34.

Equipment 14 further comprises a lower part. The user places, for example, initially, the lower part of the equipment 14 in cooperation with a lower interface of the trim element 12.

Then, the user lifts the interface 32 from the hook 16 to insert the at least one protrusion of the upper part 15 of the equipment 14 into the at least one groove 34 of the interface 32.

The lifting of the interface 32 causes the pivoting of the hook 16 around the axis O of the pivot 44, here via the link member 40.

The inner end 28 is then lowered.

The equipment 14 here has a dimension such that, in the engaged position, the dimension between the lower interface of the packing element 12 and the interface 32 is substantially equal to said dimension. More particularly, the dimension of the bottom 35 of the groove 34 at the bottom interface is, for example, substantially equal to the dimension of the equipment up to the top of the protrusion.

Thus, to insert the upper part 15 into the interface 32, the user here moves the hook in rotation beyond the engaged position.

Once the upper part 15 is in cooperation with the interface 32, the user releases the hook 16.

The hook 16 enters the engaged position.

The stop 18 prevents the hook 16 from moving back again.

The return element of the hook 16 from the engaged position to the deployed position, here the torsion spring 46, then presses the hook 16 against the equipment 14, so that the equipment 14 is held firmly by the hook 16.

When the user wishes to recover the equipment 14 retained by the retaining device 10, he pivots the hook beyond the engaged position, that is to say here he raises the front of the hook 16.

It then releases the upper part 15 of the equipment 14 from the interface 32.

The user then releases hook 16.

The hook 16 is then returned to the retracted position, more particularly by the action of the return element 46 which pivots the hook 16 on the one hand and by the action of the return system, in particular the spring 50, which returns the hook in translation.

Alternatively, the restraint device does not include a return system comprising a spring and/or a heart cam, the movement between the deployed position and the retracted position being carried out manually by the user.

Alternatively, the passage from the retracted position to the deployed position is carried out by an external mechanism, for example controlled electronically.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the front contact surface is not formed by a portion of the carriage. The retaining device comprises, for example, a system for holding in position or any abutment, for example a tab, for example elastically deformable, of the hook coming into contact with a surface delimiting the opening of the packing element through which the hook in the deployed position of the hook 16.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, in the retracted position, the hook is entirely arranged in the interior volume of the trim element, the interface 32 extending outside the interior volume of the trim element in the deployed position and in the engaged position.

The previously called outer part can, for example, be fully retracted or flush with the trim element, in the retracted position of the hook.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the retaining device is not designed to hold an upper portion of equipment, but, for example, a lower portion of equipment.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the interface does not delimit at least one groove. The interface includes, for example, any indexing element capable of cooperating with an additional element of equipment. The interface comprises, for example, at least one pin or one protrusion.

Alternatively, the interface is a non-slip surface, for example flat.

In one embodiment, the hook is in a stable position in deployed mode and is actuated to extend or retract by a mechanism of the "push-push" type actuation, that is to say that the actuation at both from the deployed position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the deployed position is achieved by pressure on the mechanism.

The retaining device according to the invention thus allows simple use of the retaining device by displacement in translation and in rotation according to the desired displacement. Also, the system is simple.

Claims (10)

Retaining device (10) for an item of equipment on a vehicle trim element, the retaining device (10) comprising a hook (16), the hook (16) being adapted to at least partially hold an item of equipment (14), the hook (16) being movable between a retracted position, an extended position and an engaged position, the displacement between the retracted position and the extended position being a translation in a direction of translation (X), characterized in that the displacement between the deployed position and the engaged position is a rotation, and in that the retaining device (10) comprises an abutment (18) arranged to block a translational movement in the direction of translation (X), in at least one direction, of the hook (16) from the engaged position, more particularly to prevent the hook (16) from moving towards the retracted position. A retainer according to claim 1, wherein the stopper (18) is fixed. Restraint device according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, comprising a system for returning the hook (16) to the retracted position. A restraint device according to claim 3, wherein the biasing system comprises a spring (50). A retainer according to claim 4, wherein the spring (50) is a flat coil spring, a coil spring or a torsion spring. Restraint device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the return system comprises a heart cam arranged such that pressing on the hook (16) in the retracted position causes it to move into the deployed position by action of the cam heart. Retaining device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, comprising a pivot (44) having an axis (O), the pivot (44) being integral in translation in the direction of translation (X) with the hook (16) , the rotation between the deployed position and the engaged position being a rotation around the axis (O) of the pivot (44). Restraint device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a return element (46) of the hook (16) to the deployed position from the engaged position. A packing element (12) comprising a retainer (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the hook (16) being adapted to extend at least partially outside an interior volume of the trim member (12) in the deployed and engaged positions. Packing element according to claim 9, comprising a stop surface (52), a portion of the hook (16) or an element integral in translation with the hook (16) extending against the stop surface (52) in the deployed and engaged positions so as to block a translational movement of the hook (16) in the direction of translation (X) opposite the retracted position.