WO2016004161A1

WO2016004161A1 - Receiving device

Info

Publication number: WO2016004161A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/038747
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Kowalski
Original assignee: Magna Exteriors And Interiors America Holdings, Inc.
Priority date: 2014-07-01
Filing date: 2015-07-01
Publication date: 2016-01-07

Abstract

The invention relates to a receiving apparatus (4) for the removable attachment of a mobile communication device (6) in an interior furnishing part of a motor vehicle, composed of a receiving region for the device (6), which can be placed with its rear side against a support surface (12, 14) and is fixed in the intended position by way of a receiving element (8), wherein the receiving element (8) is in the form of a flap element mounted pivotably on the interior furnishing part, which flap element can assume an open position and a closed position, and wherein the receiving region is designed for receiving devices of different shapes and/or size.

Description

RECEIVING DEVICE

The present application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2014 212 737.8 (filed on July 1 , 2014), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its complete entirety.

The invention relates to a receiving apparatus for a mobile communication device in a motor vehicle.

In motor vehicles, there are numerous stowage compartments for small articles, for example sunglasses, briefcases, notebooks. These stowage compartments are also suitable for receiving mobile communication devices, mobile telephones, smartphones, navigation devices. A mobile telephone stowed in a stowage compartment of conventional design however cannot operated or

DE 10 2007 018 718 A1 has disclosed a receptacle for electronic devices, which receptacle has a receiving space for the device. The electrical supply and communication with vehicle-integrated electronic components is realized by way of a plug-in connection and a line system. The line system is received entirely in the receiving space assigned to the device.

A fixing means for small articles in a motor vehicle as per DE 10 2005 053 579 A1 is composed of a spring-loaded plate and a fixed counterpart plate. The article to be fixed is fixed with clamping action between said plates.

DE 20 2005 013 523 U1 is composed of a clamping apparatus with two clamping jaws which engage around the mobile telephone at the sides. The mobile telephone is placed with its rear side onto a base plate, and the clamping jaws are designed such that they adapt to different device sizes. A similar situation is encountered in the case of the receiving apparatus of DE 10 2005 029 067 B3. Adjustable side walls are preloaded into their fully open position by means of a restoring spring, and can be adjusted to the device size by means of a ratchet mechanism.

The holder for a mobile electronic device of DE 10 2005 01 1 605 A1 is composed of a device receptacle and a plug connection system which is movable in translation fashion and by means of which a supply of power and/or communication with vehicle-integrated units can be realized. The plug connection system also serves for the fixing of the device.

DE 103 25 162 B3 presents a receiving apparatus for an electrical device, composed of a pivoting unit, which is braced by means of a spiral spring into a position in which the device can be removed. When inserting the device, the pivoting unit is pushed back into a holding position in which it is fixed by way of a holding element. To generate a sliding movement into the release position, a stroke element which fills with air is provided.

It is the object of the present invention to propose a receiving apparatus for a mobile communication device in a motor vehicle, which receiving apparatus is of an improved design in relation to the known solutions.

Said object is achieved by means of the features of claim 1 . Refinements emerge from the subclaims.

The invention is based on a receiving apparatus for a mobile communication device in a motor vehicle, composed of a receiving region for the device, which is placed with its rear side against a support surface and is fixed in the intended position by means of a holding element.

It is provided according to the invention that the receiving apparatus has a receiving region for the device, wherein devices of different shape and/or size can be received.

The receptacle according to the invention permits the selective stowage of mobile radio devices or smartphones such as are nowadays common. In one embodiment of the invention, the devices can be fixed in each case in the same position or orientation. Here, the invention utilizes the fact that the nowadays widely used mobile radio devices and smartphones from the various manufacturers are of similar dimensions, and this can be utilized for convenient accommodation in a manner well adapted to the interior design of a motor vehicle.

The receiving apparatus according to the invention is designed such that the different devices provided for being received can be received, and in the process fixed, in a simple manner. It is provided here that the devices can be operated when in their fixed position.

The receptacle, the receiving region, is preferably arranged in the region of a central console of a vehicle. The arrangement is preferably such that both the driver and the passenger can fix the device in the receiving region using one hand, and operation of the device is preferably possible using one hand. The receptacle for the device is preferably in a position rotated through 90 degrees, wherein it is possible for the device to be used as a navigation system.

The receiving device preferably comprises a cover which makes it possible for the device to be arranged in concealed fashion in the central console.

In particular, the receiving apparatus is advantageously designed such that the device can be received in an interior furnishing part, in particular the central console, such that it is possible for the device to be received in flush fashion in a surface region of the interior furnishing part, in particular of the central console.

In a further refinement of the invention, the receptacle is designed such that the device can be received in a receiving element or a flap element in a position rotated through 90 degrees in relation to the upright function, and is pivoted into and held fixed in the compartment by way of the rear side by virtue of a light pressure being exerted on the operating side of the front side of the receiving element. The operating side of the device, which is commonly in the form of a touchscreen, in this case terminates flush with a surface surrounding said compartment.

In a further refinement of the invention, the receptacle comprises interfaces for a supply of energy and/or an exchange of information with the vehicle electronics system, in particular for the hands-free facility, speech input for number dialling, data input for example by way of control elements mounted on the steering wheel. It may also be provided that, by way of the interface, the display of the installed and coupled mobile radio device is switched to a vehicle-internal display. Furthermore, by way of the interface, coupling to the vehicle-integrated mobile radio antenna may be realized, which improves signal quality. It is additionally possible by way of the mobile radio device installed in the receiving apparatus according to the invention to input a pin code required for the operation of the vehicle. The exchange of information with the vehicle electronics system is preferably realized wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth. If the mobile radio device is correspondingly equipped, the energy supply may also be connected wirelessly to the on-board electrical system, which may be realized for example on the basis of the principle of a split transformer.

Below, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be discussed on the basis of the drawings.

Figures 1 , 2 and 4 each show a detail of a dashboard 1 , in particular of a driver's area with steering wheel 2 and the central console 3 of a passenger motor vehicle. The receiving apparatus 4 according to the invention is arranged in the region of the central console 3. Here, a mobile radio device 6 is held in a receiving region 5 in the form of a depression. Here, the receiving apparatus 4 comprises a receiving element 8 which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis 7 and which can be pivoted into an open position and a closed position. The pivoting movement is shown by the arrow 10. The open position is shown in figures 1 and 2. The closed position is illustrated in figure 4. The receiving element is in the form of a flap element 8 and has a front side V, pointing toward the interior compartment of the motor vehicle, and a rear side. The flap element 8 is, as can be seen from the drawings, in the form of an encircling frame element R which delimits a rectangular passage opening 9. Receptacles for the mobile radio device 6 are fitted on the rear side of the flap element 8 in marginal side regions of the frame element R. Said receptacles are in the form of guide elements 1 1 which allow the mobile radio device 6 to be inserted when the flap element 8 is open (open position) and allow the mobile radio device 6 to be held in the inserted position. In the closed position shown in figure 4, it is possible for a user to operate the touchscreen of the device 6.

Figure 3a shows, in a detail from the region of the central console 3, a front view of the receiving apparatus 4. Figure 3b shows a plan view of the flap element 8 with guide elements 1 1. The mobile radio device 6 can, in the closed position, be placed with its rear side (the side situated opposite the touchscreen) on a vertically running support 12 (charging pad). Said support comprises the electronics in particular for contactless signal connection and/or energy transmission. The mobile radio device 6 is inserted, in a position rotated through 90 degrees in relation to the upright position, with its longitudinal edge L first into the guide elements 1 1 of the flap element 8 in the open position. This is illustrated by way of the arrow 13. In this case, the mobile radio device 6 is inserted into a receiving gap between the electronics E - the support - and a holding wall 14 which runs initially at an angle with respect to said support and subsequently parallel to the support. The wall 14 is held so as to be adjustable in relation to the frame element R. The adjustment direction is shown by the arrow 15. In this way, it is possible for devices 6 of different thicknesses to be received. Furthermore, it can be seen from figures 3a, 3b that an adaptation of the receiving apparatus 4 to different device lengths is possible. For this purpose, the guide elements 1 1 are mounted in displaceable fashion in slightly arcuately running grooves 16 arranged on both sides. This permits, in a manner dependent on the length of the device, an adjustment of the spacing of the guide elements 1 1 toward one another or away from one another during the insertion of the mobile radio device 6. A corresponding adjustment and adaptation to different device thicknesses or lengths is realized here automatically. Furthermore, an additional cover may be provided which makes it possible for the receiving apparatus to be visually concealed from the vehicle occupants.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A receiving apparatus (4) for the removable attachment of a mobile communication device (6) in an interior furnishing part of a motor vehicle, composed of a receiving region for the device (6), which can be placed with its rear side against a support surface (12, 14) and is fixed in the intended position by way of a receiving element (8), wherein the receiving element (8) is in the form of a flap element mounted pivotably on the interior furnishing part, which flap element can assume an open position and a closed position, and wherein the receiving region is designed for receiving devices of different shapes and/or size.

2. The receiving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flap element (8) is mounted on the interior furnishing part so as to be pivotable about a horizontally oriented axis (7).

3. The receiving apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flap element (8) is in the form of a frame-like element which has guide elements/holding elements (1 1 ), arranged on the edge side, for receiving the mobile radio device (6), wherein, in the open position, the mobile radio device (6) can be inserted into the guide elements (1 1 ).

4. The receiving apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flap element (8) is dimensioned such that the devices can be inserted in a position rotated through 90° in relation to the upright position.

5. The receiving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flap element (8) comprises a wall (14) which delimits the receiving region, wherein the device bears by way of its rear side at least in sections against said wall and is thereby held, and wherein said wall (14) is, for adjustment to different device thicknesses, held displaceably on the flap element (8) by way of a resiliently elastically preloaded element.

6. The receiving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, for adjustment to different device lengths, the guide elements (1 1 ) are held adjustably in arcuately running grooves (16).

7. The receiving apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising electronics which serve for the coupling of the device (6) to the vehicle electronic system/energy supply are arranged under the support surface (12).

8. The receiving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving apparatus (4) is arranged in a central console (3) and/or a dashboard of a passenger motor vehicle.

9. The receiving apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position, the flap element (8) is attached to the interior furnishing part such that the front side (V) of the flap element runs with its surface flush in a plane of an inner surface (IF) of the interior furnishing part of the motor vehicle, in particular of a surface of the dashboard, of the central console, or of the door interior panelling.