GB2505567A

GB2505567A - Vehicle interior conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2505567A
Application number: GB201314940A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Manjot Singh; Patil Bapusaheb
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2013-08-21
Filing date: 2013-08-21
Publication date: 2014-03-05
Also published as: GB201314940D0

Abstract

A conveying device for a passenger vehicle 10 features at least two consecutive rows 12,18 of atÂ least two seats 14,16,20,22. The conveying device is capable of being mounted at least partly between the two seats 14,16 of the first row 12 and features at least one conveying element 38 for conveying goods (34, fig.2) from the first row 12 to the second row 18, the conveying element being a belt conveying element 38 extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle 10. The invention in essence provides a belt conveyor 38, between the front and rear seats of a vehicle 10.

Description

Conveying Device for a Passenger Vehicle The invention relates to a conveying device for a passenger vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Passenger vehicles comprising at least two consecutive rows of seats are well known from the general prior art. Each row has at least two seats which are arranged consecutively in the transverse direction of the vehicle. A first one of the rows comprises, for example, the driver's seat and the front passenger's seat, wherein the subsequent second row comprises at least two rear seats. In other words, the second row is arranged behind the first row in longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

It has been shown that it is difficult for the driver or the front passenger to pass goods from the first row to passengers of the second row in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the back. If goods are passed from the first row to the subsequent second or even a third row the driver can be distracted.

From DE 103 34 999 Al a conveying device for a passenger vehicle comprising at least two consecutive rows having at least two seats respectively is known. The conveying device is capable of being mounted at least partly between the two seats of a first one of the rows, the first row being arranged in front of the second row in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The conveying device comprises at least one conveying element for conveying goods from the first row to the subsequent second row in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the back. The conveying element is designed as a centre console or a part of the centre console, the centre console or the part of the centre console being slidable in the longitudinal direction of the car.

From US 5 159 994 A a food storage and delivery system for passenger vehicles having a plurality of seats separated by at least one aisle is known, the system comprising a rail mounted to the top of the vehicle and extending parallel to said aisle along the length thereof. The system further comprises a carriage suspended from said rail above said seats and moveable along the length of said aisle. Furthermore, the system comprises a food container for containing food articles, said food container being carried on said carriage and moveable therewith along the length of said aisle. Moreover, the system comprises a horizontal platform laterally of said rail, above said seats, and at the same level as, so as to be horizontally aligned with, said carriage for holding a plurality of said food containers, each horizontally aligned with said carriage for transferring a food container thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveying device of the previously mentioned kind, by means of which goods can be conveyed from the first row to the second row particularly easily and safely.

This object is solved by a conveying device having the features of patent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

In order to provide a conveying device indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1, by means of which goods can be conveyed from the first row to the subsequent second row particularly easily and safely, according to the present invention the conveying element is designed as a conveyor belt extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Goods to be transported or conveyed from the first row to the subsequent second row can be placed on the conveyor belt very easily and safely since the conveyor belt can provide a wide, stable and/or skid proof surface. The conveyor belt allows for a safe transportation of the goods from the first row to the subsequent second row. Visual distraction of the driver can be avoided as well as disturbing the second row passengers.

In order to realize a very comfortable transportation of the goods from the first row to the second row, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conveying device comprises a motor, in particular, an electric motor for driving the conveyor belt. Thereby, the goods can be conveyed from the first row to the second row without any human effort.

Moreover, the passengers of the second row can be supplied with the goods from the first row very comfortably since the goods being transported by the conveyor belt move towards the second row passengers in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic top view of a passenger vehicle comprising three consecutive rows having at least two seats respectively, the passenger vehicle comprising a conveying device mounted at least partly between the seats of each row and comprising a conveying element in the form of a conveyor belt by means of which goods can be conveyed from the first row the second row and/or the third row or from the second row to the third row in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; Fig. 2 a further schematic top view of the passenger vehicle; Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of the conveying device; Fig. 4 a schematic sectional front view of the conveying device; and Fig. 5 a further schematic sectional front view of the conveying device.

In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated with the same reference sign.

Fig. 1 shows a passenger vehicle 10 in the form of a van, in particular, a minivan. The passenger vehicle 10 comprises a first row 12 of seats 14, 16, a subsequent second row 18 of seats 20 and 22 and a subsequent third row 24 of seats 26 and 28. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the seats 14 and 16 are arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle 10. The seats 20 and 22 are arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle 10 and the seats 26, 28 are arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the vehicle 10, too.

With regard to the rows 12, 18 only, the row 12 is a first one of the rows 12, 18, wherein the row 18 is the second row. With regard to the rows 18 and 24 only, the row 18 is a first one of the rows 18 and 24, wherein the row 24 is the second row.

The passenger vehicle 10 comprises a dashboard 30 arranged in front of the first row 12 in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle 10, the dashboard 30 having a small refrigerator 32 for refrigerating goods such as food and beverages. From Fig. 1, a beverage container in the form of a beverage can 34 can be seen. The beverage can 34 can be arranged in the small refrigerator 32 so that the beverage can 34 can be refrigerated by the small refrigerator 32.

The passenger vehicle 10 also has a conveying device 36 which is mounted partly between the seats 14, 16, the seats 20, 22 and the seats 26, 28 in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle 10. The conveying device 36 comprises a conveying element in the form of a conveyor belt 38 serving for conveying goods from the first row 12 to the second row 18 and the third row 24 and from the second row 18 to the third row 24.

In order to convey the beverage can 34 from the first row 12 to, for example, the third row 24 the front passenger sitting in the seat 16 moves the beverage can 34 out of the small refrigerator 32 and places the beverage can 34 onto the conveyor belt 38. Then, the front passenger activates an electric motor for driving the conveyor belt 38 extending in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle 10, so that the electric motor drives the conveyor belt 38 in such a way that the beverage can 34 placed on the conveyor belt 38 is conveyed from the first row 12 to the third row 24. This movement of the conveyor belt 38 and the beverage can 34 is shown in Fig. 2 and illustrated by a directional arrow 40.

In a very advantageous embodiment the conveyor belt 38 can be moved, for example, by the electric motor in the opposite direction so that goods can be transported from the third row 24 to the second row 18 and the first row 12 or from the second row 18 to the first row 12, too.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the conveyor belt 38 has a surface 42 onto which the beverage can 34 can be placed. Advantageously, the surface 42 is skid proof and extends widely in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle 10 so that the beverage can 34 can be conveyed very safely without distracting the driver.

The conveying device 36 also comprises a stationary storage container 44 being arranged beneath the conveyor belt 38 in the vertical direction of the passenger vehicle 10. The storage container 44 extends in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle 10 and has a storage space 46 for storing goods. According to Fig. 3, goods in the form of skis 48 are stored in the storage container 44. The conveying device 36 is a centre console of the passenger vehicle 10, into which centre console the conveyor belt 36 for conveying goods in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle 10 is integrated. Since the storage container 44 and, thus, the storage space 46 have a large extension in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle 10, long goods such as the skis 48 can be accommodated in the storage space 46.

As can be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, the conveyor belt 36 can be mounted on a frame 50 via which the conveyor belt 38 is pivotably mounted on the storage container 44 about two pivot axes 52 and 54, the pivot axes 52, 54 extending in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle 10. The conveyor belt 38 together with the frame 50 can be pivoted about the pivot axis 52 between a closed position shown in Fig. 4 and at least one first open position 01 shown in Fig. 5. Moreover, the conveyor belt 38 together with the frame can be pivoted about the pivot axis 54 between the closed position and at least one second open position 02 shown in Fig. 5. In the closed position the storage space 46 is covered by the conveyor belt 38 and the frame 50 in the vertical direction of the passenger vehicle 10 towards the top. In the respective open position 01 and 02, the storage space 46 is uncovered. This means that the storage container 44 can be opened to both sides in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle 10. In other words, the conveyor belt 38 can be pivoted in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle towards left and right.

By pivoting the conveyor belt 38 about the pivot axis 54 from the closed position into the first open position 01, goods such as a tissue box 56 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 can be placed into the storage space 46 from the seat 14 very comfortably. By pivoting the conveyor belt 38 about the pivot axis 54 from the closed position into the second open position 02, the tissue box 56 can be placed into the storage space 46 from the seat 12 very comfortably. Thus, both the driver and the front passenger can use the storage space 46 very comfortably. For example, the frame 50 is pivotably mounted on the storage container 44 by respective hinges so that the frame 50 can be pivoted about the pivot axes 52 and 54.

Advantageously, each of the rows 12, 18, 24 has at least one switch for activating the electric motor for driving the conveyor belt 38. Thus, every person sitting in one of the seats 14, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28 can activate the conveyor belt 38 and have goods conveyed back and forth.

Claims

Claims A conveying device (26) for a passenger vehicle (10) comprising at least two consecutive rows (12, 18) having at least two seats (14, 16, 20, 22) respectively, the conveying device (26) being capable of being mounted at least partly between the two seats (14, 16) of a first one of the rows (12, 18) and comprising at least one conveying element (38) for conveying goods (34) from the first row (12) to the subsequent second row (18) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (10), characterized in that the conveying element (38) is designed as a conveyor belt (38) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (10).
2. The conveying device (26) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying device (26) comprises a motor, in particular, an electric motor for driving the conveyor belt (38).
3. The conveying device (26) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying device (26) comprises at least one stationary storage container (44) being arranged beneath the conveyor belt (38), the storage container (44) having at least one storage space (46) for storing goods (48, 56).
4. The conveying device (26) according to claim 3, characterized in that the conveyor belt (38) is movable in relation to the storage container (44) between a closed position in which at least a portion of the storage space (46) is covered by the conveyor belt (38) in the vertical direction of the vehicle towards the top and at least one open position in which the portion is uncovered.
5. The conveying device (26) according to claim 4, characterized in that the conveyor belt (38) is movably mounted on the storage container (44).
6. The conveying device (26) according to claim 5, characterized in that the conveyor belt (38) is pivotably mounted on the storage container (44) about at least one pivot axis (52, 54) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (10).
7. A passenger vehicle (10) comprising at least one conveying device (26) according to any one of the preceding claims.