JP2018024342A - Vehicular console - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular console capable of cooling or warming the surface of an armrest while securing an air volume of air-conditioned air blowing out from a register.SOLUTION: The inside of a duct member 22 and the inside of an armrest 32 are communicated with each other via branching parts 44 and 46 of the duct member 22 connected to an air conditioner and opening walls 48 and 50 of the armrest 32 in a condition where the armrest 32 is closed. According to such a structure, a surface 32A of the armrest 32 is cooled or warmed by utilizing the temperature of air-conditioned air. Also, a branched flow (hollow part 38) branched from a main flow (duct part 23) is turned back to the main flow again, and therefor, the air volume of the air-conditioned air blown out from a rear side register 18 is not reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle console.

  In the following Patent Document 1, a plurality of blow holes are formed on the surface of a hollow hollow armrest provided at the upper part of a console box disposed in the center console, and the conditioned air whose temperature is adjusted by the air conditioning unit A technique set to blow out from a hole is disclosed.

  In the prior art, cold air or hot air is directly applied to the surface of the hollow armrest and the body contact portion such as the upper limb of the occupant. Further, in this prior art, an air conditioning duct is connected to the air conditioning unit, and a connection duct connected to the hollow armrest is connected to one of a plurality of connection ports provided in the air conditioning duct. A front foot duct that blows air-conditioned air toward the passenger's feet is also connected to the connection port.

JP 2004-203336 A

  As described above, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the connection duct connected to the hollow armrest and the front foot duct are connected to the same connection port of the air conditioning duct. For this reason, if the conditioned air is blown out from the blowout hole of the hollow armrest, the amount of the conditioned air blown from the register (for foot) connected to the front foot duct is reduced accordingly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle console that can cool or warm the surface of an armrest while ensuring the air volume of air-conditioned air blown from a register. To do.

  A vehicle console according to the invention of claim 1 is provided at a console body extending along the vehicle front-rear direction in a vehicle width direction center portion in a vehicle interior, and provided at a rear end of the console body in the vehicle front-rear direction, A register that blows out air-conditioned air that has been temperature-adjusted by an air-conditioning device that adjusts the air in the passenger compartment, a storage portion that is provided on the rear end side of the console body in the vehicle front-rear direction and can store articles, and the storage portion An armrest capable of supporting a passenger's arm seated on a front seat in a state where the lid is opened and closed and provided with a closed space inside, and the storage portion is closed; and provided inside the console body, A duct member connecting the air conditioner and the register; communicating the inside of the duct member and the closed space; and introducing the conditioned air flowing in the duct member into the closed space; It has a branch means for returning into the member.

  In the vehicle console according to the first aspect of the present invention, the console main body extends along the vehicle front-rear direction at the center in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle interior. A register is provided at the rear end of the console body in the vehicle front-rear direction, and air conditioned air whose temperature is adjusted by an air conditioner that adjusts the air in the vehicle compartment is blown out from the register.

  In addition, on the rear end side of the console body in the vehicle front-rear direction, a storage unit that can store articles is provided. The storage part is provided with an armrest that opens and closes the storage part to form a lid. A closed space is provided inside the armrest, and the armrest can support the arm of an occupant seated on the front seat while the storage portion is closed by the armrest.

  Here, a duct member for connecting the air conditioner and the register is provided inside the console body. And the inside of the said duct member and the closed space of an armrest are connected by the branch means, and the conditioned air which flows through the inside of a duct member is introduced into the said closed space, and is returned in the duct member. .

  That is, the conditioned air flowing through the duct member flows in the closed space provided inside the armrest. Therefore, the surface of the armrest becomes cold or warm depending on the temperature of the conditioned air. In other words, the surface of the armrest can be cooled or warmed using the temperature of the conditioned air.

  The “branching means” here includes, for example, a branch passage that branches off from the duct member and communicates the inside of the duct member and the closed space, and the inlet portion and the outlet portion are separated by two openings in the branch passage. In addition to the case of being provided in the case, the case where the entrance portion and the exit portion are combined with one opening is included.

  As described above, the vehicle console according to the first aspect of the invention has an excellent effect that the surface of the armrest can be cooled or warmed.

It is the perspective view which looked at the vehicle console which concerns on this Embodiment from the vehicle left back side. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the armrest and duct member which comprise the vehicle console which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the modification (1) of the armrest which comprises the console for vehicles which concerns on this Embodiment, and a duct member. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 2 which shows the modification (1) of the armrest which comprises the console for vehicles which concerns on this Embodiment, and a duct member. It is a disassembled perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the modification (2) of the armrest which comprises the vehicle console which concerns on this Embodiment, and the state in which the duct member was expanded partially. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6. It is a disassembled perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the modification (3) of the armrest which comprises the vehicle console which concerns on this Embodiment, and the state in which the duct member was expanded partially.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that an arrow FR appropriately shown in the drawing indicates a forward direction in the vehicle longitudinal direction, an arrow UP indicates an upward direction in the vehicle vertical direction, and an arrow W indicates a vehicle width direction.

(Vehicle console configuration)
First, the configuration of the vehicle console according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the rear end portion 16 of the center console (console body) 14 in the vehicle interior 12 as viewed from the rear left side of the vehicle. The center console 14 shown in FIG. 1 protrudes in a substantially rectangular shape with a cross-sectional shape along the vehicle width direction at the center of the vehicle interior 12 in the vehicle interior 12, and extends along the vehicle front-rear direction.

  In general, although not shown, an instrument panel is provided in the front part of the passenger compartment, and an air conditioner is disposed inside the instrument panel. A so-called side register is provided on each of the instrument panel on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction and on both sides in the vehicle width direction. A pair of center registers are arranged along the vehicle width direction at the vehicle longitudinal direction rear side of the instrument panel and at the vehicle width direction center.

  A duct member connected to the air conditioner is connected to each of the side register and the center register, and the conditioned air (cold air or hot air) adjusted in temperature by the air conditioner is connected to the side register and the center register via the duct member. It is sent to the register and center register.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear end surface 17 of the center console 14 has a shape in which the center side in the vertical direction protrudes toward the vehicle rear side. An inclined surface 17A that is inclined downward toward the vehicle rear side is formed. On the inclined surface 17A, a pair of rear-side registers (registers) 18 and 20 having a rectangular shape along the vehicle width direction are arranged along the vehicle width direction.

  Duct members 22 and 24 formed by branching from one duct member connected to an air conditioner (not shown) are connected to the rear registers 18 and 20, respectively. The duct members 22 and 24 have a substantially rectangular shape in which a cross-sectional shape when cut along the vehicle width direction has a height direction as a longitudinal direction. The conditioned air whose temperature is adjusted by the air conditioner is sent to the rear side registers 18 and 20 through the duct members 22 and 24, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a console box (storage portion) 26 is recessed in the rear end portion 16 of the center console 14. A hinge portion (not shown) is arranged at the rear end portion 28 of the console box 26 with the vehicle width direction as an axis. An armrest 32 that constitutes a lid that opens and closes the storage portion 30 in the console box 26 is attached to the hinge portion.

  The armrest 32 is made of a heat-conducting member, and rotates along the vehicle front-rear direction so that the storage unit 30 can be opened and closed. The armrest 32 can support the occupant's arm in a state where the storage portion 30 of the console box 26 is closed by the armrest 32.

  More specifically, the armrest 32 includes an upper member 34 that constitutes the upper part and a lower member 36 that constitutes the lower part. The cross-sectional shape when the upper member 34 and the lower member 36 are cut along the vehicle width direction is substantially rectangular. A hollow portion (closed space) 38 is provided inside the armrest 32 constituted by the upper member 34 and the lower member 36. A pad portion 40 made of a cushion material such as urethane foam is provided on the surface of the upper member 34, and the surface of the pad portion 40 is covered with an outer skin 42.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in this embodiment, in the duct member 22 on the rear register 18 side, the upper wall portion 22 </ b> A constituting the upper portion of the duct member 22 is substantially rectangular in plan view. A pair of branching portions 44 and 46 (branching means) having a shape are erected along the direction of the conditioned air flowing through the duct member 22 (arrow A direction). On the other hand, on the lower member 36 side of the armrest 32, opening walls (branching means) 48, 50 corresponding to the branch portions 44, 46 formed in the duct member 22 are formed in a state where the armrest 32 is closed. Yes.

  The opening walls 48 and 50 each have a rectangular shape in plan view, and can be inserted into the branch portions 44 and 46. In a state where the armrest 32 is closed, the duct portion 23 in the duct member 22 communicates with the hollow portion 38 in the armrest 32 via the branch portions 44 and 46 and the opening walls 48 and 50. Yes.

  Here, the branch portions 44 and 46 are provided in the duct member 22 on the rear register 18 side, but the branch portions 44 and 46 may be provided on the duct member 24 on the rear register 20 side.

(Operation and effects of vehicle console)
Next, operations and effects of the vehicle console according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the present embodiment, as described above, the hollow portion 38 is provided inside the armrest 32, and the opening members 48 and 50 are provided in the lower member 36 of the armrest 32. Is provided. On the other hand, the duct member 22 is provided with branch portions 44 and 46, and the duct in the duct member 22 is interposed via the branch portions 44 and 46 and the opening walls 48 and 50 in a state where the armrest 32 is closed. The portion 23 and the hollow portion 38 in the armrest 32 communicate with each other.

  Thereby, the conditioned air sent from the air conditioner and flowing in the duct member 22 (in the duct portion 23) passes through the opening wall 48 formed on the armrest 32 side from the branch portion 44 formed in the duct member 22, and then the armrest 32. Is introduced into the hollow portion 38. The conditioned air introduced into the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32 passes through the opening wall 50 formed on the armrest 32 side and arranged on the rear side of the opening wall 48, and then passes through the branch portion 46 of the duct member 22 to the duct member. 22 is returned to the inside.

  That is, the conditioned air flowing in the duct member 22 flows in the hollow portion 38 provided in the armrest 32. Therefore, the surface 32A of the armrest 32 becomes cold or warm depending on the temperature of the conditioned air. In other words, the surface 32A of the armrest 32 can be cooled or warmed using the temperature of the conditioned air.

  For this reason, a dedicated cooling member or heating member for adjusting the temperature of the surface 32A of the armrest 32, a wire harness or a switch dedicated to the cooling member or the heating member, or the like becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the temperature of the armrest 32 can be adjusted at low cost, and the temperature adjustment function of the armrest 32 can be employed in a wide range of vehicles.

  In the present embodiment, the conditioned air sent from the air conditioner and blown out from the rear register 18 is introduced into the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32 from the duct member 22 through the branch portion 44 and the opening wall 48. Then, it returns to the duct member 22 through the opening wall 50 and the branching portion 46. That is, the tributary (hollow portion 38) branched from the main flow (duct portion 23) returns to the main flow again.

  For this reason, for example, although not shown in the figure, compared with a case where a blow hole is formed on the surface of the armrest and the conditioned air is set to blow out from the blow hole, the conditioned air blown from the rear side register 18 The airflow will not decrease.

(Other embodiments)
(1) As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the above embodiment, the armrest 32 includes the upper member 34 and the lower member 36, and the hollow portion 38 is formed between the upper member 34 and the lower member 36. Is formed.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plate-like rib 54 that divides the inside of the hollow portion 38 (flow path 52) along the vehicle longitudinal direction on the lower member 36 side. Standing up. The rib 54 can be brought into contact with the upper member 34, and in a state where the rib 54 is in contact with the upper member 34, a flow path (blocking) defined by the rib 54 is formed in the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32. Space) 52 is formed.

  Therefore, after the conditioned air sent from the air conditioner and blown out from the rear side register 18 is introduced from the duct member 22 through the branch portion 44 and the opening wall 48 to the flow path 52 in the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32, It will be returned into the duct member 22 through the opening wall 50 and the branching portion 46.

  That is, when the flow path 52 is formed in the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32, the amount of conditioned air introduced into the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32 is reduced compared to the case where the flow path 52 is not formed. Thus, by reducing the air volume of the conditioned air introduced into the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32, the air volume of the conditioned air introduced to the rear register 20 (see FIG. 1) or other register side is suppressed, The amount of conditioned air blown out from the rear side register 18 can be secured.

  Further, a rib 54 is erected on the lower member 36 of the armrest 32 so that the rib 54 can come into contact with the upper member 34. That is, the rib 54 is in a state of being spanned between the upper member 34 and the lower member 36 in the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32. For this reason, the rigidity of the armrest 32 itself can be improved by providing the rib 54.

  Here, although the flow path 52 is provided in the duct member 22 on the rear register 18 side, the flow path 52 is provided in each of the duct member 22 on the rear register 18 side and the duct member 24 on the rear register 20 side. May be provided.

(2) Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the above embodiment, the openings 44 </ b> A and 46 </ b> A of the branch portions 44 and 46 are open. Therefore, when the armrest 32 is opened, the branch portions 44 and 46 are opened. The air-conditioning wind will blow out.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an opening / closing lid 56 for closing the openings 44A and 46A is provided in the openings 44A and 46A (see FIG. 4) of the branch portions 44 and 46 (see FIG. 4). Each may be provided. When the armrest 32 is opened, the openings 44 </ b> A and 46 </ b> A of the branch portions 44 and 46 are respectively closed by the opening / closing lid 56. In FIG. 6, only the branching portion 44 side is shown, and therefore FIG. 3 is referred to for the branching portion 46 side.

  For example, one end of the spring 58 is attached to the opening / closing lid 56 side, and the other end of the spring 58 is attached to the branching portion 44 side. The spring 58 is in a natural state when the armrest 32 is opened, and abuts against a stopper 60 formed at the peripheral edge of the openings 44A and 46A of the branch portions 44 and 46 to close the openings 44A and 46A. .

  On the other hand, opening walls 48 and 50 are formed in the armrest 32, and the opening walls 48 and 50 can be inserted into branch portions 44 and 46 formed in the duct member 22. Therefore, when the armrest 32 is closed, the opening walls 48 and 50 are inserted into the openings 44A and 46A of the branch portions 44 and 46, respectively.

  At this time, the opening walls 48 and 50 press the opening / closing lid 56 that closes the openings 44 </ b> A and 46 </ b> A of the branch portions 44 and 46 in the direction against the urging force of the spring 58. As a result, the openings 44A and 46A of the branch portions 44 and 46 are opened, and the openings 44A and 46A communicate with the hollow portion 38 of the armrest 32.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, when the armrest 32 is opened, the openings 44 </ b> A and 46 </ b> A of the branch portions 44 and 46 are blocked by the opening / closing lid 56. Air-conditioned air does not blow out from 44A and 46A, and foreign matter can be prevented from entering the openings 44A and 46A.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the duct member 22 has two branch portions 44 and 46, and the armrest 32 has an opening wall 48 corresponding to the branch portions 44 and 46, respectively. 50 is provided. However, since it suffices to return to the duct part 23 in the duct member 22 after being branched from the duct part 23 in the duct member 22 and introduced into the hollow part 38 of the armrest 32, the branch part and the opening wall are It is not always necessary to provide two. That is, the structure which combines an entrance part and an exit part by one opening may be sufficient.

(3) Although not included in the scope of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the duct member 62 is formed of a heat-conductive member, and the duct member 62 has a rectangular shape in plan view. An insertion portion 64 is provided. On the other hand, a recess 66 into which the insertion portion 64 is inserted is formed on the armrest 32 side.

  In this embodiment, the duct portion 23 in the duct member 22 and the hollow portion 38 in the armrest 32 are not communicated with each other, but the inside of the duct member 22 passes through the insertion portion 64 of the duct member 22 and the recess 66 of the armrest 32. The temperature of the flowing conditioned air is transmitted. Also by this, the surface 32A of the armrest 32 can be cooled or warmed.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and other various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is.

12 Car interior 14 Center console (console body, vehicle console)
18 Rear side register (register)
20 Rear side register (register)
22 Duct member 24 Duct member 26 Console box (storage part)
30 Storage part 32 Armrest 32A Surface 38 Hollow part (closed space)
44 Branch (branch means)
46 Branch (branch means)
48 Opening wall (branching means)
50 Opening wall (branching means)
52 channel (closed space)

Claims (1)

A console main body extending along the vehicle front-rear direction at the vehicle width direction center in the vehicle interior;
A register provided at the rear end of the console body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in which air-conditioned air whose temperature is adjusted by an air-conditioning device that adjusts air in the passenger compartment is blown out;
A storage portion that is provided on the rear end side of the console body in the vehicle front-rear direction and can store articles;
An armrest capable of supporting an occupant's arm seated on a front seat in a state where the storage portion is opened and closed, and a closed body provided with a closed space is formed inside the storage portion;
A duct member provided inside the console body, connecting the air conditioner and the register;
Branching means for communicating the inside of the duct member and the inside of the closed space, introducing the conditioned air flowing in the duct member into the closed space and returning the air into the duct member;
A vehicle console having: