FR3124992A1 - Trim element comprising a moving part movable on a concealed rail - Google Patents

Abstract

Trim element comprising a movable part movable on a concealed rail The vehicle trim element (1) comprises a fixed part (2) and a movable part (4) mounted on the fixed part (2), the fixed part (2 ) comprising at least one rail (8), the movable part (4) comprising a mounting element (26) slidably mounted on said rail (8). The fixed part (2) comprises a covering element (14) extending opposite the rail (8) covering the said rail (8), the assembly element (26) being arranged to locally deform the said covering element ( 14) and to separate said covering element (14) from the rail (8) so as to allow movement of the movable part (4) along the rail (8), the covering element (14) being brought closer to the rail (8) apart from its local deformation by the mounting element (26). Figure for abstract: 2

Description

Trim element comprising a moving part movable on a concealed rail

The present invention relates to a vehicle trim element of the type comprising a fixed part and at least one movable part mounted on the fixed part, the fixed part comprising at least one rail extending between at least two extreme positions, the movable part comprising a main element and a mounting element, said mounting element being slidably mounted on said rail to allow the translational movement of the main element of the movable part on the fixed part between the two extreme positions.

The invention applies for example to a trim element in which the fixed part is a dashboard and the moving part is a display device or in which the fixed part is a vehicle floor and the moving part is a Central console.

It is known to be able to move the moving part between several positions depending on the use of the moving part. Thus, in the case of a display device on a dashboard, it is for example provided to arrange the display device in a central zone of the dashboard when the display device must be visible to all the occupants of the vehicle and to move it in a side zone of the dashboard facing the front passenger seat of the vehicle when only the front passenger is using the display device. In the case of a central console, it is for example provided to be able to position it between the front seats, close to the rear seats or between the rear seats of the vehicle.

To allow movement of the movable part between these extreme positions, the movable part is for example mounted on a rail extending over the fixed part between the extreme positions.

The disadvantage of such a trim element is that the rail is visible outside the place where the moving part is arranged. Insofar as the rail is a technical part, its visibility degrades the appearance of the trim element. This is all the more problematic as the distance separating the two extreme positions is great and the rail is long. Indeed, the visible part of the rail then occupies a large part of the outer surface of the trim element while the rest of the outer surface is provided to present a satisfactory appearance, for example by providing a coating layer on the surface external.

One of the aims of the invention is to overcome this drawback by proposing a trim element, a moving part of which can move over a great distance while presenting a satisfactory appearance.

To this end, the invention relates to a trim element of the aforementioned type, in which the fixed part comprises a covering element extending at least opposite the rail by covering said rail between the two extreme positions, the covering element extending locally between the mounting element and the main element of the moving part, the mounting element being arranged to locally deform said covering element and to separate said covering element from the rail so as to allow movement of the moving part along the rail, the covering element being brought closer to the rail apart from its local deformation by the mounting element.

Thus, the covering element makes it possible to hide the rail from the outside of the covering element and thus to make the latter substantially invisible, including in the zone where the moving part does not extend, which improves the appearance of the trim element. By matching the covering element with the rest of the outer surface of the trim element, the appearance of the latter can be further improved.

The packing element according to the invention may also comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or according to any technically conceivable combination:

- the lining element comprises a device for pressing the covering element, said pressing device being arranged to bring the covering element closer to the rail, in a passage zone extending between the extreme positions, after the passage of the mounting element and the deformation of said covering element by said mounting element in said passage zone;

- the plating device comprises at least a first magnetic or metallic strip extending substantially parallel to the rail on the fixed part between the two extreme positions and at least a second complementary magnetic or metallic strip extending on the covering element facing the first magnetic strip, the first magnetic strip and the second magnetic strip cooperating by magnetic attraction to hold the covering element close to the rail apart from its local deformation by the mounting element, the element mounting separating the second magnetic strip from the first magnetic strip in a pass area, the first magnetic strip attracting the second magnetic strip after said mounting member has passed through said pass area to bring the covering member closer to the rail in said passage area;

- the fixed part further comprises at least one covering layer extending in the vicinity of the rail, the pressing device being arranged to press the covering element against said covering layer apart from its local deformation by the assembly ;

- the covering layer extends on either side of the rail, the lining element comprising two plating devices arranged to flatten the covering element on the covering layer on either side of said rail outside its local deformation by the mounting element;

- the fixed part comprises a body, the rail extending over part of an external surface of the body, the covering element extending over at least one zone of the external surface adjacent to the rail and facing said so as to form a visible part of the fixed part facing said rail and said adjacent zone;

- the covering element is elastically deformable at least opposite the rail;

- the mounting element and the main element of the moving part are connected to each other by a connecting part passing around at least one edge of the covering element;

- the assembly element comprises a deforming part, the shape of which defines that of the local deformation of the covering element, the movable part comprising at least one pinching element arranged to hold the deformed part of the pinched covering element between the deforming part and the pinching element;

- the deforming part comprises edges of bevelled shape, the movable part comprising two pinching elements extending opposite said edges of the deforming part and making it possible to guide the deformation of the covering element during the movement of the movable part on along the track;

- the fixed part is a vehicle dashboard, the moving part being a display device that can be moved in translation on the dashboard;

- The fixed part is a vehicle floor, the moving part being a central console movable in translation on the floor.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- there is a front view schematic representation of a packing element according to a first embodiment of the invention,

- there is a schematic representation in perspective and in section of part of the packing element of the , the main element of the moving part having been removed,

- there is a cross-sectional schematic representation of the packing element along the line III-III of the ,

- there is a side view schematic representation of a packing element according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

- there is a schematic sectional representation of the packing element along the axis VV of the .

In the description, the terms “longitudinal” and “transverse” are defined according to the usual directions of a vehicle, the longitudinal direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the vehicle and the transverse direction corresponding to the left-right direction of the vehicle. The terms "internal" and "external" are defined with respect to the trim element, the term "internal" meaning that which faces the part of the vehicle on which the trim element is mounted and the term "external" designating what is facing the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 4, a vehicle trim element 1 is described comprising a fixed part 2 and a movable part 4 mounted on the fixed part 2 so as to be movable relative thereto. According to a first embodiment shown in the , the fixed part 2 is a dashboard and the moving part 4 is a display device. According to a second embodiment shown in the , the fixed part 2 is a vehicle floor and the moving part 4 is a vehicle center console. It is understood that the invention can be applied to other types of fixed parts and/or moving vehicle parts.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the packing element 1 according to the first embodiment will be described in more detail.

The fixed part 2, formed in the first embodiment by a dashboard, comprises a body 6 for example formed by a dashboard cross member or by a frame mounted on the dashboard cross member and a rail 8 fixed to the body 6 and extending over an outer surface thereof between two ends. According to the first embodiment, the rail 8 extends for example in a transverse direction, one of its ends extending over a central zone 10 of the body 6 and its other end extending over a lateral edge 12 of the body 6. As shown in the , the central zone 10 extends, for example, opposite a zone extending between the two front seats of the vehicle and is adjacent to the steering wheel of the vehicle, while the lateral edge 12 extends, for example, opposite the passenger seat front of the vehicle. As will be described in more detail later, the movable part 4 is slidably mounted on the rail 8 so as to be able to move along this rail 8 relative to the body 6 of the fixed part 2 between two extreme positions corresponding to the ends of the rail 8. Thus, according to the first embodiment in which the moving part 4 is a display device, the latter can be positioned in the central zone 10 of the dashboard to be visible to all the occupants of the vehicle and more particularly usable by the driver and by the front passenger of the vehicle, as shown in solid lines on the . When only the front passenger is using the display device and/or to make the display of the display device not visible to the driver so that the driver is not distracted from driving the vehicle, the display device may be moved to be positioned facing the side edge 12, as shown in dotted lines on the .

The body is covered by at least one covering element 14 which extends over the body 6 at least facing the rail 8 so as to conceal the latter from the outside of the covering element 1. In other words, the covering element 14 is provided to cover at least the rail 8 so that the occupants of the vehicle cannot see the rail 8 when they observe the covering element 1. The covering element 14 is deformable at the less facing the rail 8 so that it can deviate from the rail 8, as will be described later. In other words, the covering element 14 is not fixed permanently on the body 6 at least opposite the rail 8 and can move relative to the rail 8 to deviate from or approach the latter. . For this purpose, the covering element 14 is for example formed by a layer of flexible material, such as a layer of textile material, of synthetic material or a skin. The covering element 14 is chosen to present a satisfactory appearance since it forms a visible part of the covering element 1 from the outside thereof. According to one embodiment, the covering element 14 is elastically deformable at least opposite the rail 8. In other words, when the covering element 14 ceases to be deformed, it returns to its initial shape. The covering element 14.

According to the embodiment shown in the , the covering element 14 also extends over a part of the body 6 adjacent to the rail 8, on one side of the latter, as more particularly visible on the . Thus, according to this embodiment, the covering element 14 extends for example above the rail 8 and covers an upper part of the body 6. In addition to forming a visible part facing the rail 8, the element covering 14 thus further forms a visible part of the fixed part 2 on the adjacent part of the body 6. An edge 15 of the covering element 14 also extends on the other side of the rail 8 in order to be able to cooperate with the body 6 on the other side of the rail 8 as will be described later.

According to the embodiment shown in the , the fixed part 2 further comprises a coating layer 16 extending over the outer surface of the body 6 on the side of the rail 8 opposite the side forming the adjacent part of the body 6 on which the coating element 14 extends. Thus, according to this embodiment, the coating layer 16 extends for example below the rail 8 and covers a lower part of the body 6. The coating layer 16 thus forms another visible part of the fixed part 2 where the covering element 14 does not extend. The covering layer 16 can be rigid or flexible and has a suitable appearance. According to one embodiment, the covering layer 16 has for example an appearance similar to that of the covering element 14 so that the fixed part 2 has a substantially uniform appearance over its entire outer surface. In this case, the covering element 14 and the covering layer 16 can be made of the same material. As a variant, the appearance layer 16 has a different appearance, for example a different color, from that of the covering element 14 to confer a particular appearance on the fixed part 2. According to another variant, if the body 6 has a satisfactory appearance, the outer surface thereof can be left bare to form a visible part of the fixed part 2.

The fixed part 2 further comprises a pressing device 18 arranged to hold the covering element 14 against the body 6 in the vicinity of the rail 8 so that the covering element 14 is held facing the rail 8, or even applied against the rail 8 outside the place where the movable part 4 is located, as will be described later. More particularly, the pressing device 18 makes it possible to bring the covering element 14 closer to the rail 8 after part of the covering element 14 has been moved away from the rail 8 by the passage of the moving part 2, as will be described later.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the plating device 18 comprises a first magnetic strip 20 extending substantially parallel to the rail 8 on the fixed part 2. More particularly, the first magnetic strip 20 extends along the rail 8 between the two ends of it. The first magnetic strip 20 extends, for example, over the outer surface of the covering layer 16 in the vicinity of the rail 8 opposite the edge 15 of the covering element 14. As a variant, when the body 6 is left bare, the first magnetic strip 20 extends directly on the outer surface of body 6 opposite edge 15 of covering element 14. Cladding device 18 further comprises a second complementary magnetic strip 22 extending substantially parallel to rail 8 on the covering element 14. More particularly, the second magnetic strip 22 extends over the internal surface of the covering element 14 in the vicinity of the edge 15 so as to extend facing the first magnetic strip 20. Thus, the magnetic cooperation between the first magnetic strip 20 and the second magnetic strip 22 makes it possible to maintain the coating element pressed against the coating layer 16 or the body 6 of the fixed part 2, as shown on the right. and of the , so that the covering element 14 covers the rail 8, or even is applied against the latter. By undoing the magnetic cooperation between the first magnetic strip 20 and the second magnetic strip 22, the covering element 14 is free to deviate from the rail 8 by deformation of the covering element 14, as will be described later.

Alternatively, the plating device 18 is formed by a magnetic strip extending over one of the fixed part 2 and the covering element 14 and by a metal strip extending over the other of the fixed part 2 and the covering element 14. The magnetic strip and the metal strip cooperate by magnetic attraction to hold the covering element 14 pressed against the covering layer 16 or the body 6 of the fixed part 2.

The moving part 4 comprises a main element 24 which forms the functional part of the moving part 4 and which extends from the exterior side of the trim element 1 to be accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Thus, in the case of the first embodiment, the main element 24 is formed by the screen of the display device which must be visible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The movable part 4 further comprises a mounting element 26 which is mounted on the rail 8 and is able to slide along the latter in order to allow the movement of the movable part 4 on the rail 8. Thus, the element mounting 26 is adapted, for example by its shape, to cooperate with the rail 8 in order to be able to slide on or in the latter. The main element 24 and the mounting element 26 are connected to each other by a connecting part 28 shaped to pass around the edge 15 of the covering element 14 in order to link the mounting element 26 which extends from the side of the internal surface of the covering element 14 and the main element 24 which extends from the side of the external surface of the covering element 14. The connecting part 28 is for example come of material with the main element 24 and/or with the mounting element 26.

The mounting element 26 is also arranged to locally deform the covering element 14 in order to separate the latter from the rail 8, as shown in the . By local deformation, it is meant that the covering element 14 is only deformed in the zone where the mobile part 4 extends. For this purpose, the assembly element 26 comprises a deforming part 30 extending of the part mounted on the rail 8 towards the outside of the trim element 1. The shape of the deforming part 30 defines the shape of the local deformation of the covering element 14, the latter matching the shape of the part deforming 30, as shown in the . Thus, the local deformation of the covering element 14 is limited to the dimension of the deforming part 30 and the covering element 14 remains close to the rail 8 apart from its local deformation, in particular thanks to the pressing device 18. The presence of the deforming part 30 of the mounting part 26 separates the covering element 14 from the rail 8 and causes the separation of the first magnetic strip 20 from the second magnetic strip 22, as represented on the . The deforming part 30 can have a shape adapted to bring about a progressive separation of the magnetic strips, for example by having bevelled side edges which gradually deviate from the rail 8 going towards the center of the deforming part 30, as more particularly visible on there .

The movable part 4 may further comprise a pinching element 32 extending from the side of the outer surface of the covering element 14 and arranged to hold the deformed part of the covering element 14 pinched between the deforming part 30 and the pinching element 32, as shown in the . According to the embodiment of the , two pinching elements 32 are provided opposite the bevelled edges of the deforming part 30, the pinching elements 32 also making it possible to guide the deformation of the covering element 14 during the movement of the movable part 4 along the rail 8. The pinching elements 32 are for example separated from each other so that the outer surface of the covering element 14 remains visible between the pinching elements 32. The pinching elements 32 make it possible to gradually bring the covering element 14 of the covering layer 16 or of the body 6 of the fixed part 2.

Thus, at the location where the movable part 4 is arranged, the covering element 14 is deformed locally by being moved away from the rail 8 to make room for the mounting element 26. In other words, at this location , the covering element 14 extends locally between the assembly part 26 and the main part 24. At this place, called the "passage zone", the plating device 18 is deactivated, for example by separating the first and second magnetic strips 20, 22. Outside this passage zone, the pressing device 18 maintains the covering element 14 against the body 6 at least facing the rail 8. Thus, from the outside of the trim element, a vehicle passenger does not see the rail 8 but only the covering element 14, the covering layer 16 (or the body 6 if this is left blank) and the main part 24 of the moving part 4. The packing element 2 therefore has a particularly satisfactory appearance, the “tec” interface hnique” thereof, formed by the rail 8 and the mounting element 26, being invisible from the outside of the trim element.

When the moving part 4 is moved along the rail 8 between its two extreme positions, the movement of the mounting element 26 causes the local and progressive deformation of the covering element 14 as the moving part 4 moves. When the moving part 4 occupies a first position on the rail 8, the passage zone of the moving part 4 corresponds to this first position and a first part of the covering element 14 corresponding to the first position is deformed while the rest of the covering element 14 is not deformed and is brought closer to the rail 8. When passing from the first position to a second position, the passage zone of the moving part is modified and it is a second part of the covering element 14, corresponding to the second position, which is deformed while the first part of the covering element 14 returns to its undeformed state and is brought closer to the rail 8 thanks to the plating device 18. In other words In other words, after the moving part 4 has passed through a particular passage zone, the first magnetic strip 20 attracts the second magnetic strip 22 to bring the covering element 14 closer to the rail 8 in this passage zone while the element d The mounting 26 separates the second magnetic strip 22 from the first magnetic strip 20 in another passage zone to locally deform the covering element 14 in this other passage zone. The rail 8 thus remains invisible from the outside of the trim element 1 in all the positions of the movable part 4 as well as when moving the latter between different positions.

The packing element 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. It is understood that the characteristics described above for the first embodiment also apply to the second embodiment and the characteristics of the packing element according to the second embodiment which are identical to those of the packing element according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. It is also understood that the features described with reference to the second embodiment may be provided in the first embodiment.

As indicated above, in the second embodiment, the fixed part 2 is formed by a vehicle floor and the moving part 4 is formed by a central console. In this case, the moving part 4 moves for example in the longitudinal direction relative to the floor. Thus, one of the extreme positions of the movable part 4 corresponds for example to a positioning of the movable part between the front seats of the vehicle, as shown in solid lines on the , and the other extreme position of the movable part corresponds for example to a positioning of the movable part between the rear seats of the vehicle, as shown in dotted lines on the .

According to the embodiment shown in the , the fixed part 2 comprises two rails 8 extending on either side of a support 34 of the floor, the rails 8 extending in the longitudinal direction. The main element 24 of the moving part 4 is formed by the central vehicle console. The moving part 4 comprises two mounting elements 26 cooperating with the two rails 8 and the covering element 14 extends opposite and between the two rails 8 in the transverse direction. The fixed part 2 further comprises a covering layer, open or two covering layers 16 extending on either side of the support 34 and the packing element comprises two plating devices 18 arranged to hold the coating 14 against the two layers of coating and on the support 34 covering the rails 8 in the undeformed state. To this end, each covering layer 16 comprises a first magnetic strip 20 extending in the vicinity of a rail 8 and the two opposite transverse edges 15 of the covering element 14 each comprise a second magnetic strip 22 extending next to the first magnetic strips 20. The moving part 4 comprises two connecting parts 28 passing around the two transverse edges 15.

In the passage zone, the covering element 14 is separated from the rails 8 by deforming parts 30 provided for this purpose and separating the second magnetic strips 22 from the first magnetic strips, as shown in the . Outside the passage zone, the covering element 14 is in the undeformed state as indicated above.

The operation of the packing element 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment and the rails 8 are invisible in all the positions of the moving part 4 as well as during the movement of the moving part. 4.

The return to the undeformed state of the covering element 14 after the passage of the mobile part 4 in a passage zone has been described as operation using a plating device 18. It is however understood that this return could be obtained simply because of the elastically deformable nature of the covering element 14. The plating device 18 has been described as comprising two magnetic strips. It is understood, however, that it could take another form, such as a constraining element extending over the covering element and constraining the covering element to its undeformed state.

It is understood that the invention can be applied to a trim element comprising several movable parts 4 that can be moved on a fixed part 2.

Claims (12)

Vehicle trim element (1) comprising a fixed part (2) and at least one movable part (4) mounted on the fixed part (2), the fixed part (2) comprising at least one rail (8) extending between at least two extreme positions, the movable part (4) comprising a main element (24) and a mounting element (26), said mounting element (26) being mounted in a sliding manner on said rail (8) to allow the movement in translation of the main element (24) of the movable part (4) on the fixed part (2) between the two extreme positions, characterized in that the fixed part (2) comprises a covering element (14) s extending at least opposite the rail (8) covering said rail (8) between the two extreme positions, the covering element (14) extending locally between the mounting element (26) and the main element (24) of the movable part (4), the mounting element (26) being arranged to locally deform said covering element (14) and to separate said element t covering (14) of the rail (8) so as to allow movement of the moving part (4) along the rail (8), the covering element (14) being brought closer to the rail (8) outside its local deformation by the mounting element (26). Trim element according to Claim 1, comprising a device (18) for pressing the covering element (14), the said pressing device (18) being arranged to bring the covering element (14) closer to the rail (8) , in a passage zone extending between the extreme positions, after the passage of the mounting element (26) and the deformation of the said covering element (14) by the said mounting element (26) in the said passage zone. Trim element according to Claim 2, in which the plating device (18) comprises at least a first magnetic strip (20), or metal, extending substantially parallel to the rail (8) on the fixed part (2) between the two extreme positions and at least one second magnetic strip (22), or metal, complementary extending over the covering element (14) facing the first magnetic strip (20), the first magnetic strip (20) and the second magnetic strip (22) cooperating by magnetic attraction to keep the covering element (14) close to the rail (8) apart from its local deformation by the mounting element (26), the mounting element (26) separating the second magnetic stripe (22) from the first magnetic stripe (20) in a passage area, the first magnetic stripe (20) attracting the second magnetic stripe (22) after said mounting member (26) has passed through said area of passage in order to bring the covering element closer (14) of the rail (8) in said passage area. Packing element according to any one of Claims 2 or 3, in which the fixed part (2) further comprises at least one coating layer (16) extending in the vicinity of the rail (8), the plating device ( 18) being arranged to press the covering element (14) against said covering layer (16) apart from its local deformation by the mounting element (26). Packing element according to claim 4, in which the coating layer (16) extends on either side of the rail (8), the packing element comprising two plating devices (18) arranged to plate the coating element (14) on the coating layer (6) on either side of said rail (8) apart from its local deformation by the mounting element (26). Packing element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the fixed part (2) comprises a body (6), the rail (8) extending over part of an external surface of the body (6) , the covering element (14) extending over at least one zone of the external surface adjacent to the rail (8) and opposite the said rail (8) so as to form a visible part of the fixed part (2) in facing said rail (8) and said adjacent area. Trim element according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the covering element (14) is elastically deformable at least opposite the rail (8). Packing element according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the mounting element (26) and the main element (28) of the movable part (4) are connected to each other by a connecting part (28) passing around at least one edge (15) of the covering element (14). Lining element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the mounting element (26) comprises a deforming part (30), the shape of which defines that of the local deformation of the lining element (14) , the movable part (4) comprising at least one pinching element (32) arranged to keep the deformed part of the covering element (14) pinched between the deforming part (30) and the pinching element (32). Trim element according to Claim 9, in which the deforming part (30) comprises edges of bevelled shape, the movable part (4) comprising two pinching elements (32) extending opposite the said edges of the deforming part (30 ) and making it possible to guide the deformation of the covering element (14) during the movement of the moving part (4) along the rail (8). Trim element according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the fixed part (2) is a vehicle dashboard, the movable part (4) being a display device movable in translation on the dashboard . Trim element according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the fixed part (2) is a vehicle floor, the movable part (4) being a central console which can be moved in translation on the floor.