GB2497435A

GB2497435A - An adjustable holder for location in a vehicle interior

Info

Publication number: GB2497435A
Application number: GB1223138.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Dony; Chandrappa Honnappanavar; Katharina Kloth; Vivek Thombare; Abhijeet Wagh
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2012-12-20
Filing date: 2012-12-20
Publication date: 2013-06-12
Also published as: GB201223138D0; EP2934948A1; CN104870259A; CN104870259B; JP6064055B2; EP2934948B1; WO2014094969A1; JP2016506334A

Abstract

The invention relates to a holder 10' for an at least essentially parallelepiped-shaped container (12, figure 1) in an interior of a motor vehicle and which comprises at least four wall elements (22, 23, 24, 25, figures 6 and 7) that form respective abutment surfaces (26, 27, 28, 29) for the parallelepiped-shaped container, whereby each two of the abutment surfaces, which are perpendicular to each other, are assigned to a first and a second corner elements 14', 16' which are relatively moveable towards each other 54 in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the holder. The first corner element may have at least one guide element 34 on which a corresponding guide element 36 of the second corner element is movably arranged. The two corner elements may be connected by a torsion spring 40 that exerts a restoring force to move the corner elements towards each other, and a damping unit 52, 48 may also be provided. The holder may be detachably mounted on a bracket (18), and is suitable for holding a box such as a paper tissue container.

Description

Holder for an at least essentially parallelepiped-shaped container in an interior of a motor vehicle The inventipn relates to a holder of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1.

A generic holder is known from US 4696448. The holder for an at least essentially parallelepiped-shaped container in an interior of a motor vehicle comprises at least four wall elements forming respective abutment surfaces for the rectangular container. The holder serves to accommodate a paper tissue container and provide it in a vehicle interior.

Further similar holders for holding paper tissue containers in the interior of a motor vehicle are for example known from US 5314103, US 3801056 and US 3288416.

There are a large number of differentFy formed paper tissue containers which may have correspondingly different outer dimensions. This sometimes makes it difficult for these paper tissue containers of different sizes to be accommodated captively in the interior of a motor vehicle by means of a single holder.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a holder of the aforementioned kind which is capable to accommodate a wide range of containers of different dimensions, particularly in the form of paper tissue containers, in a simple manner.

* This object is achieved by a holder having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent patent claims.

In order to be able to accommodate in the interior of a motor vehicle in a simple and captive manner a wide range of containers having different dimensions, in particular *4e** paper tissue containers, a holder according to the invention is provided such that each two of the abutment surfaces, which are perpendicular to each other, are respectively assigned to a first and second corner element, which are relatively moveable towards each other in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the holder. Because the two corner elements are formed so as to be relatively moveable towards each other, the length and/or width of the holder can be precisely adjusted as required, that is, as a function of the parallelepiped-shaped container to be accommodated and its dimensions.

This allows parallelepiped-shaped containers having a wide variety of length and/or width dimensions to be captively accommodated within a motor vehicle by means of one and the same holder. The relative moveability of the two corner elements towards each other according to the invention also enables the particularly easy insertion and removal of the container that is to be held, as the holder can be opened and closed accordingly by a corresponding movement of the two corner elements away from or towards each other.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first corner element has at least one guide element on which a corresponding guide element of the second corner element is moveably arranged. This allows a relative movement of the two corner elements towards each other on a given track to be achieved in a particularly simple manner by a corresponding embodiment of the two guide elements. The size of the holder can thereby be adjusted particularly simply and precisely such that differently sized containers to be accommodated can be accommodated particularly well by means of the holder.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the two corner elements are linked together by means of a spring element which exerts a restoring force to move the two corner elements towards each other. A container accommodated between the two corner elements is thus held particularly securely within the holder because the container can be clamped between the two corner elements by the restoring force that can be applied continuously by means of the spring element. a. * e *

* A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the two corner elements are * * linked together by means of a damper unit which damps the relative movement of the two * corner elements towards each other. This allows a particularly smooth movement of the * S.*tS * two corner elements towards each other to be achieved, whereby in particular undesired relative movements of the two corner elements towards each other can be damped and *.* so for instance undesired rattling noises at the holder can be prevented. *..*

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A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the damper unit comprises a gear wheel which is pivotally mounted on the first corner element and which in the event of a relative movement of the two corner elements towards each other rolls on a toothed rack arranged on the second corner element. A viscous damper is preferably provided on the pivotally mounted gear wheel such that in the event of a rolling movement of the gear wheel on the toothed rack a corresponding damping effect can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the spring element is formed as a torsion spring that is attached to a tooth member which is pivotally mounted on the first corner element and which in the event of a relative movement of the two corner elements towards each other rolls on a toothed rack arranged on the second corner element. A restoring force is thereby provided in a particularly simpLe manner as a function of the deflection of the torsion spring.

FinaLly, in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the holder can be detachably mounted on a bracket that can be attached to the vehicle. This allows the holder to be removed from the bracket and thereby from the interior of the motor vehicle in a particularly simple manner, for instance in order to clean the holder or for the transport of objects within the vehicle interior for which the holder would have an interfering effect.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawing, The features and combinations of features set out in the description and the features and combinations of features set out in the description of figures andlor displayed alone in the figures below can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawings show in: * * ,. a

* : . . Fig. 1 a holder which is arranged in an interior of a motor vehicle, whereby a parallelepiped-shaped paper tissue container is accommodated by means *0*** * * of the holder; wet

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Fig. 2 a perspective view of a first corner element essentially forming the underside of the holder shown in Fig. 1; * 0 Fig. 3 a perspective view of an underside of a second corner element of the holder, which can be attached to the first corner element shown in Fig. 2 and is relatively moveable with respect to this corner element; Fig. 4 a partially transparent top view of the holder, whereby the two corner elements are arranged abutting each other; Fig. 5 a further partially transparent top view of the holder whereby the two corner elements in this case are moved away from each other; Fig. 6 a top view of an alternative embodiment of the first corner element forming the underside of the holder; Fig. 7 a top view of an alternative embodiment of the second corner element; and Fig. 8 a further embodiment of the holder, whereby the two embodiments of the corner elements shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are moved away from each other analogously to the positioning shown in Fig. 5.

In the figures elements that are identical or have identical functions have the same reference number.

A holder 10 in which a paper tissue container 12 formed as an at least essentially parallelepiped-shaped container is accommodated is shown in a perspective view in Fig. 1. The holder 10 comprises a first corner element 14 and a second corner element 16 which are relatively moveable to each other in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the holder 10. The holder 10 is detachably mounted on a bracket 18 that can be attached to the vehicle beneath the upholstery 20 of a not further described seat of a rear * bench of a motor car. In this case the first corner element 14 is fixed to the bracket such * C that the second corner element 16 is attached on the first corner element 14 so as to be relatively moveable with respect to the bracket 18. 4"

Fig. 2 shows the first corner element 14 in a perspective view. The first corner element 14 comprises two wall elements 22, 24 which form respective abutment surfaces 26, 28 for *

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the paper tissue container 12. In other words, the two abutment surfaces 26, 28, which are perpendicular to each other, are assigned to the first corner element 14.

A top side 30, which in the assembled state of the holder 10 is assigned to an underside 32 of the second corner element 16, has two curved guide elements 34 on which can be moveably arranged respective corresponding guide elements 36 of the second corner element 16. Further the first corner element 14 has on its top side 30 an opening 38 in which can be received a torsion spring 40 not shown here which serves to apply a restoring force to move the two corner elements 14, 16 towards each other.

Fig. 3 shows the second corner element 16 in a perspective view, whereby in the case shown here the underside 32 of the second corner element 16 is arranged to point upwards. In the assembled state of the holder 10 the underside 32 faces the top side 30 of the first corner element 14. The second corner element 16 likewise comprises two wall elements 23, 25 which form respective abutment surfaces 27, 29 not labelled here for the paper tissue container 12. In other words, the two abutment surfaces 27, 29, which are perpendicular to each other, are assigned to the second corner element 16.

On the underside 32 guide elements 36 are arranged in the form of bolts which are inserted into the rail-shaped guide elements 34 such that a relative movement prescribed according to the forming of the rail-shaped guide elements 34 is enabled between the first corner element 14 and the second corner element 16. There is further provided on the underside 32 of the second corner element 16 a pin 42 which serves to be arranged on the said torsion spring 40.

Fig. 4 shows a partially transparent top view of the holder 10. Here the two corner elements 14, 16 are brought into abutment or shown in a type of locked position. The torsion spring 40 is mounted on the two corner elements 14, 16 such that it exerts a corresponding restoring force that causes the two corner elements 14, 16 to move automatically towards each other into the position shown here. This allows the paper * tissue container 12, which is not shown here, to be captively clamped in a simple manner * between the two corner elements 14, 16. The arrow 44 symbolises a direction of movement of the opening of the holder 10. * .

* Fig. 5 shows a further partially transparent top view of the holder 10. In this case the two corner elements 14, 16 are moved away from each other, whereby this represents the * maximum opening position of the holder 10, showing that the guide elements 36 mounted * * on the second corner element 16 are arranged in a not further described end area of the rail-shaped guide elements 34 which are provided on the first corner element 14, For instance1 suitable limit stops not shown here can be provided on the guide elements 34 so that a movement of the second corner element away from the first corner &ement 14 and beyond the opening shown here is prevented. To enable the holder 10 to be held in the position shown here, a suitable force must be applied in order to overcome the restoring force applied by the torsion spring 40. A relative movement of the two corner elements 14, 16 is infinitely possible between the position shown in Fig. 4 and the position shown in Fig. 5, so that differently sized paper tissue containers 12 or other essentially parallelepiped-shaped containers can be accommodated by means of the holder 10.

Fig. 6 shows in a perspective view an alternative embodiment 14' of the first corner element. In contrast to the first embodiment of the corner element 14, the guide elements 34' provided on the top side 30 are not curved but instead formed in straight lines.

Fig. 7 shows in a perspective view an alternative embodiment 16' of the second corner element. Corresponding to the rectilinear guide elements 34', rectilinear guides elements 36' are likewise provided on the top side 32, so that the two corner elements 14' 16' are relatively moveable to each other through the mediation of guide elements 34', 36'.

A damper holder 46is additionally provided on the top side 30 of corner element 14', as shown in Fig. 6. The damper holder 46 is part of a not further described damper unit by which the two corner elements 14', 16' are linked to each other and which damps the relative movement of the two. corner elements 14', 16'1owards each other. A toothed rack 43 which likewise belongs to the damper unit is provided on the second corner element 16'.

Fig. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the holder 10', whereby the two corner elements 14', 16' are represented analogously to the positioning shown in Fig. 5. As can * be seen, the spring element 40 is likewise formed as a torsion spring and here is attached * r to a tooth member 50 that is pivotally mounted on the first corner element 14' and which in the event of a relative movement of the corner elements 14', 16' towards each other rolls on a toothed rack 48 arranged on the second corner element 16'. *.* *

The damper unit further comprises a gear wheel 52 that is pivotally mounted on the first corner element 14' and which in the event of a relative movement of the two corner elements 14', 16' towards each other rolls on a toothed rack 48 arranged on the second corner element 16'. The damper unit can for instance be formed as a kind of viscous damper so that a corresponding damping of the relative movement of the two corner -elements 14', 16' is provided as a function of the rotational speed of the gear wheel 52.

The arrow 54 symbolises a closing movement of the holder 10' in which the second corner element 16' is moved by the restoring force applied by the torsion spring 40 towards the first corner element 14', which in turn is attached at the bracket 18 and hence in the interior of the vehicle.

By means of the explained holders 10, 10' a simple means is provided whereby paper tissue conta[ners 12 of a wide range of dimensions can be simply accommodated and provided so as to enable easy access within the interior of a vehicle For instance, the holder 10, 10' can be mounted in the area of a middle seat of a rear bench of the vehicle, whereby for the case that the middle seat is likewise occupied it can be removed from the bracket 18 in a simple manner. * * * * a

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Claims

<claim-text>SPatent claims 1. Holder (10, 10') for an at least essentially parallelepiped-shaped container (12) in an interior of a motor vehicle and which comprises at least four wall elements (22, 23, 24, 25) that form respective abutment surfaces (26, 27, 28, 29) for the parallelepiped-shaped container (12), characterised in that each two of the abutment surfaces (26, 27, 28, 29), which are perpendicular to each other, are ass(gned to a first and a second corner element (14, 14', 16, 16') which are relatively moveable towards each other in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the holder (10, 10').</claim-text> <claim-text>2. Holder (1 0, 10') according to claim 1, characterised in that the first corner element (14, 14') has at east one guide element (34, 34') on which a corresponding guide element (36, 36') of the second corner element (16, 16') is moveably arranged.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. Holder (10, 10') according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two corner elements (14, 14', 16, 16') are linked together by means of a spring * element (40) that exerts a restoring force to move the two corner elements (14, 14', * 16, 16') towards each other.S * S</claim-text> <claim-text>4. Holder (10, 10') according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that S...the two corner elements (14, 14', 16, 16') are linked together by means of a damperSunit that damps the relative movement of the two corner elements (14, 14, 16, 16') towards each other.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. Holder (10, 10') according to claim 4, characterised in that the damper unit comprises a gear wheel (52) that is pivotally mounted on the first corner element (14') and which in the event of a relative movement of the two corner elements (14', 16') towards each other rolls on a toothed rack (48) arranged on the second corner element (16').</claim-text> <claim-text>6. Holder (10, 10') according to one of the previous claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the spring element (40) is farmed as a torsion spring that is attached to a tooth element (50) pivotally mounted on the first corner element (14') and which in the event of a relative movement of the two corner elements (14', 16') towards each other rolls on a toothed rack (48) arranged on the second corner element (16'), 7 Holder (10, 10') according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the holder (10, 10') can be detachably mounted on a bracket (18) that can be attached to the vehicle. * * a a* ..*** * a a * * a S.. a* aa a * a a...SS..... a S</claim-text>