GB2054480A

GB2054480A - Storage unit for the driver's compartment of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2054480A
Application number: GB8020298A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Current assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Priority date: 1979-06-21
Filing date: 1980-06-20
Publication date: 1981-02-18
Also published as: DE2924979C2; FR2459155B1; IT8049014A0; SE8004534L; DE2924979A1; GB2054480B; FR2459155A1; IT1146204B; SE461080B

Abstract

The storage unit or compartment (5) which can be detachably secured between the front seats of the vehicle consists of a stowage space (10) surrounded by a raised wall or rim (11) which at its forward side is extended upwardly to form a support region for a lid (6) which is hinged to the compartment (5) so that when the lid is fully swung into its open position, the underside of the lid forms a working surface (9). The hinge is offset upwardly and forwardly of the raised wall or rim (11) of the stowage space (10) in order to bring the working surface (9) to a convenient height when the lid (6) is fully open. A closure means may be provided to secure the lid (6) to the stowage space (5) when the lid is in its closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Storage unit for the driver's compartment of a vehicle The invention relates to a storage unit for the driver's compartment of a vehicle, particularly the cab of a commercial vehicle, consisting essentially of a storage unit which, in use, can be fixed on the transmission tunnel of the vehicle between the driver's seat and the passenger seat and which comprises a stowage space provided with a peripheral enclosing edge or rim.

Storage units in the form of compartments of the aforementioned type are widely used in commercial vehicles, and particularly in the cabs of lorries.

However, in addition to such storage compartments, working surfaces, in particular writing surfaces, would be an essential requirement in commercial vehicles since paperwork often has to be done both in connection with the delivery of goods, and during transportation which involves crossing frontiers between countries. However, such working surfaces are usually not provided in conventionally equipped cabs of commercial vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a storage unit or compartment, of the kind mentioned above in such a way that it can at the same time also meet the need for a working surface.

According to the invention there is provided a storage unit for the driver's compartment of a vehicle which, in use, can be fixed on the transmission tunnel of the vehicle between the driver's seat and the passenger seat and which comprises a stowage space provided with a peripheral enclosing rim or edge, wherein lid is pivotably associated with the stowage space, the lid being movable upwards relative to its covering plane of the stowage space and being connected by a hinge along one side to a raised edge portion of the enclosing rim or edge, and in the area of the raised edge portion of the enclosing rim or edge there is provided a support for the lid, when the lid is in the fully open position, the underside of the lid serving as a working surface when the lid has been pivoted about the hinge through substantially 180 into its open position of use.

A storage unit or compartment constructed in accordance with this invention enables the floor space requirement to be virtually equal to that of a conventional storage compartment which has no lid or cover. However, as a result of the provision of the lid or cover, the said storage compartment can be closed and therefore have a greater variety of use.

Moreover, the storage compartment can be combined with a working surface, because the underside of the lid, when the latter is in its fully open position, forms such a surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the axis of the hinge between the storage compartment and the lid is designed above the surrounding rim of the storage compartment and is offset forwardly from the adjacent edge of the compartment. As a result, corresponding to the raised position of the hinge axis, the working surface is substantially higher than the stowage space of the storage compartment so that it can be conveniently used for, inter alia, writing purposes.Moreover, when the storage compartment is located in the preferred position on the transmission tunnel between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, the storage compartment is also positioned in such a way that, when the lid is swung forward, the working surface is in an easily accessible position, essentially in the area to the side and in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat, it being possible for the working surface to extend either wholly or partially over the space between the storage compartment and the dashboard of the driver's cab.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a part of the driver's cab of a commercial vehicle, the driver's side of which is not shown, and in which a storage compartment is provided, between the driver's seat (not shown in the figure) and the passenger seat, in the area of the transmission tunnel, the storage compartment being provided with a lid, shown in the closed position in Figure 1, and Figure 2 shows a view corresponding to Figure 1, with the lid of the storage compartment moved into its open position.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally designates the driver's cab, partially indicated in outline form, of a commercial vehicle, the dashboard 2 of which is situated transversely in front of the driver's seat and passenger seat, the driver's seat not being shown in this figure and the passenger seat being designated by reference numeral 3. The storage compartment 5, which is provided with a lid 6, lies between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the area of and on the transmission tunnel 4.

The lid 6 is pivotable about a hinge axis 7 which, in the illustrated embodiment, extends horizontally in the transverse direction between the driver's seat and the passenger seat and therefore extends parallel to the dashboard 2. The hinge axis 7 of the lid 6 is offset upwardly relative to the actual covering plane of the lid, indicated by reference numeral 8 in Figure 1,so that the lid 6, when pivoted into its open position as shown in Figure 2, is displaced forwards and upwards and the working surface 9 formed by the underside of the lid 6 is substantially offset upwards relative to the covering plane 8. The offset in height corresponds to twice the distance between the hinge axis 7 and the covering plane 8.

A stowage space 10 in the storage compartment can be closed by the lid 6, the stowage space being defined by an enclosing edge 11 which is raised at the front, that is, extends upwards in the area of the hinge axis 7, and which as a result is able to serve as a support for the hinge 7. In addition, the enclosing edge 11, together with the raised edge portion 12 supporting the hinge, is also broadened in the area of the edge portion and incorporates further stowage space, which is designated by reference numeral 13. This further stowage extends over the width of the storage compartment and in this example is designed with several separate compartments so that it can be used, for example, as a bottle holder, the height of this edge portion 12 making it possible to provide a correspondingly great depth of insertion which enabies even bottles or the like to be firmly secured therein.In the illustrated embodiment showing the lid 6 fully opened, the raised edge portion 12 at the same time serves as a support surface for the lid so that a secure support is ensured for the lid 6 in its open position and the working surface 9 can also be correspondingly loaded.

The connection between the lid 6 and the hinge axis 7, which is offset upwards relative to the covering plane 8, is obtained by providing the lid 6, viewed in its closed position, with raised lateral edges 14which preferably rise towards the hinge axis, starting from the rear limiting edge of the lid 6, and in the vicinity of the front ends of which the hinge axis 7 lies, corresponding plates 15 being provided at the front ends of the raised edges for connection to the hinge axis. In the vicinity of the rear limiting edge, the lid 6 has an edge 16 which extends between the lateral edges 14 and in which there is preferably provided a closing element 17 by which the lid 6 can be locked, in a manner not shown in detail, relative to the bottom part of the storage compartment which contains the stowage space 10.

Between the front ends, which support the plates 15, ofthe raised lateral edges 14 of the lid 6, the lid is preferably designed substantially without an edge, so that the storage tray, which is defined by the edges 14 and 16, relative to the closed position of the lid 6, is open at the front, towards the raised edge portion 12, and is limited by the wall 18, facing the storage tray, of this edge portion.

A certain staggering in height between the upper sides of the raised lateral edges 14 and the hinge axis 7 is bridged by the plates 15. A corresponding staggering in height is provided between the hinge axis 7 and the upper side of the raised edge portion 12 which serves as a bearing surface so that, in the open position, that area of the raised edges 14which is adjacent to the hinge axis 7 is supported on the lateral longitudinal edges of the raised edge portion 12. In the closed position the lid 6 is supported on the edge enclosing the stowage space 10.The stowage compartments 13 are accessible both in the open and in the closed positions, as the hinge axis 7, relative to the bottom 19 of the lid 6, the underside of which bottom forms the working surface 9, is in an upwardly displaced position in plan view so that, when the lid 6 is in the open position, the stowage compartment 12 is not covered, particularly as no edge is provided, on the lid, between the lateral raised edges 14 adjacent to the hinge axis.

It is particularly advantageous to provide a fastening means (not shown in the drawing), for the storage compartment, opposite the transmission tunnel, which fastening makes it possible for either the storage compartment or a central seat to be fixed on the transmission tunnel. As a result, this affords a wide range of possibilities in both selecting fittings from the manufacturer and in selecting fittings for the user.

1. A storage unit for the driver's compartment of a vehicle which, in use, can be fixed on the transmission tunnel of the vehicle between the driver's seat and the passenger seat and which comprises a stowage space provided with a peripheral enclosing rim or edge, wherein a lid is pivotably associated with the stowage space, the lid being movable upwards relative to its covering plane of the stowage space and being connected by a hinge along one side to a raised edge portion of the enclosing rim or edge and in the area of the raised edge portion of the enclosing rim or edge there is provided a support for the lid when the lid is in the fully open position, the underside of the lid serving as a working surface when the lid has been pivoted about the hinge through substantially 180 into its open position of use.

2. A storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the lid, when in its closed position, forms an upwardly open storage tray.

3. A storage unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least part of the periphery of the lid is provided with raised edges.

4. A storage unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the area of the side lying opposite its hinge axis, the lid is provided with a closing element co-operating with the stowage space.

5. A storage unit according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the raised edge portions of the lid, which extend at right angles to the hinge axis, rest on the raised edge portion of the enclosing edge when the lid is fully open.

6. A storage unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the raised edge portion of the enclosing edge of the stowage space is provided with at least one further stowage compartment which is upwardly open and which, lies on the opposite side of the hinge axis to the stowage space.

7. A storage unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein that side of the raised edge portion of the enclosing edge ofthe stowage space which faces the stowage space forms a limiting edge for the storage tray of the lid.

8. A storage unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in plan view, the hinge axis of the lid lies offset forwardly relative to the adjacent edge of the storage tray in the lid.

9. A storage unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein fastening means are provided by which the unit can be secured to the vehicle so as to be selectively removable.

10. A storage unit for the driver's compartment of a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. designed with several separate compartments so that it can be used, for example, as a bottle holder, the height of this edge portion 12 making it possible to provide a correspondingly great depth of insertion which enabies even bottles or the like to be firmly secured therein. In the illustrated embodiment showing the lid 6 fully opened, the raised edge portion 12 at the same time serves as a support surface for the lid so that a secure support is ensured for the lid 6 in its open position and the working surface 9 can also be correspondingly loaded. The connection between the lid 6 and the hinge axis 7, which is offset upwards relative to the covering plane 8, is obtained by providing the lid 6, viewed in its closed position, with raised lateral edges 14which preferably rise towards the hinge axis, starting from the rear limiting edge of the lid 6, and in the vicinity of the front ends of which the hinge axis 7 lies, corresponding plates 15 being provided at the front ends of the raised edges for connection to the hinge axis. In the vicinity of the rear limiting edge, the lid 6 has an edge 16 which extends between the lateral edges 14 and in which there is preferably provided a closing element 17 by which the lid 6 can be locked, in a manner not shown in detail, relative to the bottom part of the storage compartment which contains the stowage space 10. Between the front ends, which support the plates 15, ofthe raised lateral edges 14 of the lid 6, the lid is preferably designed substantially without an edge, so that the storage tray, which is defined by the edges 14 and 16, relative to the closed position of the lid 6, is open at the front, towards the raised edge portion 12, and is limited by the wall 18, facing the storage tray, of this edge portion. A certain staggering in height between the upper sides of the raised lateral edges 14 and the hinge axis 7 is bridged by the plates 15. A corresponding staggering in height is provided between the hinge axis 7 and the upper side of the raised edge portion 12 which serves as a bearing surface so that, in the open position, that area of the raised edges 14which is adjacent to the hinge axis 7 is supported on the lateral longitudinal edges of the raised edge portion 12. In the closed position the lid 6 is supported on the edge enclosing the stowage space 10.The stowage compartments 13 are accessible both in the open and in the closed positions, as the hinge axis 7, relative to the bottom 19 of the lid 6, the underside of which bottom forms the working surface 9, is in an upwardly displaced position in plan view so that, when the lid 6 is in the open position, the stowage compartment 12 is not covered, particularly as no edge is provided, on the lid, between the lateral raised edges 14 adjacent to the hinge axis. It is particularly advantageous to provide a fastening means (not shown in the drawing), for the storage compartment, opposite the transmission tunnel, which fastening makes it possible for either the storage compartment or a central seat to be fixed on the transmission tunnel. As a result, this affords a wide range of possibilities in both selecting fittings from the manufacturer and in selecting fittings for the user.