GB2510648A

GB2510648A - Vehicle centre console with lid pivotable on multiple axes

Info

Publication number: GB2510648A
Application number: GB1302496.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rajat Kumar Panda; Ulrich Walther
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2013-02-12
Filing date: 2013-02-12
Publication date: 2014-08-13
Also published as: WO2014124730A1; GB201302496D0

Abstract

A centre console 12 for a motor vehicle (10, Figure 1) has a lid 18 supported on a container (14, Figure 1) using a bearing device. Lid 18 is pivotable in at least two distinct pivot axes, which may for example be parallel or orthogonal, so as to open and close container 14. In an embodiment four pivot axes S1, S2, S3, S4 are disposed on upper edges of sidewalls of container 14. The bearing device may comprise a ball joint 20 comprising a ball (22, Figure 7) on lid 18 receivable in a receptacle (30, Figure 7) in a corner of container 14. The ball may comprise grooves (38, 40, Figure 7) restricting the pivoting of lid 18 to the pivot axes. Container 14 may be slidable in a longitudinal direction (76, Figure 14).

Description

Centre console for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a centre console for a motor vehicle including a container and a lid element. The lid element is supported on the container via a bearing device. The lid element can be pivoted into an open position and into a closed position closing the container and back.

With such a centre console it is difficult to ensure access to a storage space or receiving space provided by the container for vehicle occupants located on different seats in the motor vehicle. In this context, centre consoles are known from the prior art, in which the container is displaceable in the passenger compartment in order to achieve improved accessibility.

Thus, CE 102 08 886 Al describes a centre console for a motor vehicle composed of a* rail pair extending through the passenger compartment in longitudinal direction of the vehicle and resting on supports and multiple containers displaceable thereon. The containers can be provided with lids, which are upholstered and thus can serve as an arm rest.

CE 10334 999 Al too describes a centre console displaceable from a front end position between the front seats of a vehicle in vehicle longitudinal direction backwards in a rear end position, thus in front of or between back seats of the vehicle.

-o ee *

Furthermore, from DE 10 2006 030 476 Al, a centre console for a vehicle is known, which includes a pair of free-standing brackets. A guide is provided in a horizontally disposed section of the respective bracket. Inserts of the centre console can be displaced along the guide.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a centre console of the initially mentioned type, in which improved accessibility to a storage space provided by the container is ensured by particularly simple means.

This object is solved by a centre console having the features of claim 1. Advantageous implementations with convenient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In the centre console according to the invention, at least one first pivot axis and at least one second pivot axis, around which the lid element is pivotable, are provided by the bearing device. Herein, the at least two pivot axes differ from each other. In other words, the at least two pivot axes do not coincide with each other, but they can be spaced from each other, in particular parallel, or extend transversely to each other, in particular perpendicularly. In that the lid element is pivotable around at least two different pivot axes, a storage space provided by the container is accessible from at least two different directions. Thus, an individual, private access to the storage space can be ensured for vehicle occupants located on different seats in the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the access to the storage space is particularly comfortable for the vehicle occupants located on different seats.

In an advantageous development of the invention, at least one of the pivot axes is closer to a vehicle rear than to a vehicle front in the installation position of the centre console, wherein at least one further of the pivot axes is closer to the vehicle front than to the vehicle rear. By pivoting the lid element around the pivot axis closer to the vehicle rear, thus, the accessibility to the receiving space can be ensured for front passengers of the motor vehicle. In contrast, by pivoting the lid element around the pivot axis closer to the vehicle front, back-seat passengers can particularly well access items located in the container or deposit items in the container. This is in particular true if the two pivot axes extend in vehicle transverse direction in the installation position of the centre console.

Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the pivot axes can be closer to a passenger side of the motor vehicle than to a driver's side of the motor vehicle in the installation position of the centre console, wherein at least one further of the pivot axes is closer to the driver's side than to the passenger side. By such an arrangement of the pivot axes, it *". : can be particularly well ensured that the driver on the one hand and the front-seat S. passenger on the other hand can particularly well get access to the container closable by the lid element by pivoting the lid element into the open position around the respective pivot axis.

It has proved further advantageous if the container has four sidewalls, wherein the at least one first pivot axis and the at least one second pivot axis are disposed on a respective upper edge of at least two of the side walls. Then, the container can be particularly well closed by pivoting the lid element around the respective pivot axis.

Preferably, a pivot axis is present at each of the upper edges of the four side walls such that the lid element can be selectively pivoted into the open position around one of these four pivot axes. Then! particularly great flexibility is given in providing the accessibility to the storage space of the container.

This can be particularly simply realized if the container is substantially cuboid-formed, thus the four sidewalls form right angles. Then, each two of the pivot axes are also perpendicular to each other.

Preferably, the bearing device includes at least one ball joint with a ball body disposed on the lid element and with a receptacle for the ball body disposed on the container. Namely, by such a ball joint, the different pivot axes for the lid element can be particularly simply provided.

Herein, it has proved advantageous if a first guide and a second guide are provided in the ball body, along which a first element and a second element can be guided, wherein the two elements each project beyond a base body of the receptacle. Upon pivoting around the at least one first pivot axis, the first element is guided in the first guide. In contrast, herein, the second element is stationary in the second guide. In addition, herein, the r. second element comes to lie on the at least one first pivot axis. Thus, a pivot point is * provided by the second element. In that the first element is guided in the first guide upon pivoting around the first pivot axis, particularly well defined pivoting movement can be *". : achieved in pivoting the lid element.into the open position and back into the closed * S. position.

In analogous manner, in pivoting around the at least one second pivot axis, the second element is guided in the second guide. In this pivoting eround the at least one second pivot axis, the.first element comes to lie on the at least one second pivot axis, and the first element is stationary in the first guide. Here, a pivot point is then provided by the first element. However, upon pivoting around this pivot point located on the second pivot axis, the second element is guided in the second guide. This provides for a particularly exact movement of the lid element.

In a top plan view of the ball body, the two guides can in particular form an L, thus be perpendicular to each other and have a common end point, which is reached by the respective element if the lid element is completely pivoted into the open position. By such a configuration of the ball body with the guides, a particularly robust bearing device is provided, and the pivoting around the respective pivot axis is effected particularly fail-safe.

Preferably, the base body of the receptacle can be brought into a first position, in which the two elements are disposed in the two guides, and into a second position, in which the ball body can be moved out of the receptacle by pivoting the lid element into the open position. Thus, not only two pivot axes are provided in the ball body, but the ball body itself can be pivoted around a further pivot axis upon pivoting the lid element into the open position. This provides for particular flexibility in the movement of the lid element around the different pivot axes.

Preferably, in the second position, the two elements are disposed in further guides, which are provided in the ball body. These guides are open opposite to a direction of movement, which is given by the pivoting of the lidelement into the open Position: Namely, the two elements can then move out of the guides open opposite to the direction of movement, and the movement of the lid element upon pivoting in the direction of movement is still first effected guided by the further guides.

In particular, the base body of the receptacle can be brought into the second position by rotating around a vertical axis. Namely, the base body can then be designed particularly

stable and loadable. * *

The rotation of the base body around the vertical axis can be effected by means of a pull ** . element. The lattercan for example be operated by an operator, who desires to pivot the lid element around a certain pivot axis, operating a lever. As a result of this operating * action, the pull element then exerts a pull on the base body. Thus, the rotation of the base body can be particularly simply accomplished.

a * * -a ** Finally, it has proved advantageous if the container of the centre console is displaceable in a direction, which at least substantially coincides with a vehicle longitudinal direction in the installation position of the centre console. Namely, the accessibility to the storage space provided by the container can then be further improved since the container can be displaced further towards the vehicle front or further towards the vehicle rear as desired.

The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or else alone without departing from the scope of the invention.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments as well as based on the drawings.

Therein, there show: Fig. 1 in a side view a motor vehicle with a centre console including a container and a lid closing the container; Fig. 2 a corner region of the lid of the centre console in a perspective view; Fig. 3 the ball body of a bail joint received in a receptacle, which is provided in respective corner regions of the centre console; Fig. 4 the centre console according to Fig. 1 in a top plan view of the lid; Fig. 5 the lid according to Fig. 4 pivoted into an open position around a first pivot axis; * .* * * . * Fig. 6 the lid according to Fig. 4 pivoted into the open position around a second * pivot axis; ** * * * I * Fig. 7 components of the ball joint in an enlarged plan view and in an enlarged perspective view; * -* . * * .1 **. : Fig. 8 in a perspective view and in a plan view the ball body received in the ** receptacle of the ball joint, wherein the receptacle is in a position, in which-the ball body can be selectively pivoted around one of two pivot axes, which pass through the ball body; Fig. 9 a mechanism for rotating a base body of the receptacle for the ball body, wherein the rotation is effected by operating a lever coupled to a rope winch; Fig. 10 in a perspective view and in a plan view a base body of the receptacle rotated relatively to the ball body; Fig. 11 the movement of the ball body out of the receptacle after rotating the base body of the receptacle into the position shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 the ball body with rods rotationally fixedly connected to it in three different views; Fig. 13 the motor vehicle according to Fig. 1 in a plan view, in which the possible pivoting movements upon opening the lid of the centre console are illustrated, wherein displaceability of the container of the centre console towards the vehicle rear is additionally illustrated; and Fig. 14 the displacement of the container of the centre console together with th lid towards the vehicle rear.

In Fig. 1, a motor vehicle 10 is shown, in which a centre console 12 is disposed between two front seats. The centre console 12 includes a container 14, by which a receiving space 16 is provided. The receiving space 16 can be divided in a plurality of partial spaces. For closing the container 14, a lid 18 is provided. It can be upholstered such that * 0 the centre console 12 can be used as an arm rest with closed lid 18. ** * * * * *

Presently, the lid 18 can be opened in four different directions by pivoting it around four different pivot axes Si, S2, S3, 54 (compare Fig. 4). For this, the centre console 12 has ** four ball joints 20 as a bearing device, which are provided in respective corner regions of the lid 18 (compare Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).

Fig. 2 shows a corner region of the lid 18 in a perspective view, from which details of the ball joint 20 are apparent. In each corner region of the lid 18, a ball body 22 of the respective ball joint 20 is provided, which is rotationally fixedly connected to two rods 24, 26. The two rods 24, 26 form a right angle and they are connected to a base body 28 of the lid 18. A pivot axis 31, 32 extends through each of these two rods 24, 26, around which the lid 18 is pivotable, thus movable from a closed position closing the container 14 into an open position and back.

The two pivot axes Si, S2 are indicated in Fig. 3. From Fig. 3, it is furthermore apparent that each ball joint 20 includes a receptacle 30 for the ball body 22. The receptacle 30 includes an annular bezel 32 as the base body, in which the ball body 22 of the ball joint is supported.

The operation of the capability of pivoting the ball body 22 and of the entire lid 18 with it around the respective pivot axes Si, S2 is illustrated below based on Fig. 4 to Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 shows the centre console 12 in a plan view with the two pivot axes Si, 32, around which the ball body 22 of the ball joint 20 shown on the top left in Fig. 4 is pivotable if the ball body 22 is located in the receptacle 30 associated with the ball joint 20.

Fig. 5 shows the pivoting of the lid 18 into the open position from a direction of view indicated by a first arrow 34 in Fig. 4. Correspondingly, the lid 18 is here pivoted into its open position around the pivot axis S2.

In Fig. 6, the pivoting of the lid 18 around the pivot axis Si of the same ball body 22 is shown, wherein the direction of view corresponds to that indicated in Fig. 4 by a further * arrow 36. * . . * S

* In Fig. 4, furthermore, two further pivot axes 33, 34 are shown, around which the lid 18 * S can be pivoted. All of these four pivot axes Si, 32, 33, S4 extend through the respective ball bodies 22 of the ball joints 20, which are located in the four corner regions of the lid 18, The pivot axis Si is parallel to the pivot axis 34 and the pivot axis S2 is parallel to the pivot axis 33. Furthermore, the pivot axes Si and 34 are perpendicular to the pivot axes * . S2 and S3. Thus, the lid 18 can be pivoted around any one of the four pivot axes Si, 32, ". : S3, 34 and thus be brought into its respective open position.

S

Fig. 7 illustrates the components of the respective ball joint 20. The ball body 22 rotationally fixedly connected to the two rods 24, 26 has two grooves 38, 40 formed as guides. Herein, the first groove 38 extends in the extension of the second pivot axis S2 in the plan view, and the second groove 40 extends in the extension of the first pivot axis Si in the plan view.

The ball joint 20 furthermore includes the receptacle 30 with the bezel 32. Two elements in the form of balls 42, 44 protrude beyond an inner circumferential edge of an opening of the bezel 32, which are pressed radially inwards, thus towards the centre of the opening, by means of springs 46.

Upon pivoting around the first pivot axis Si, the first ball 42 is guided in the first guide 38 of the ball body 22. Herein, the second ball 44 remains stationary in the second guide 40, and the first pivot axis Si also extends through the second ball 44.

In contrast, if the ball body 22 is pivoted around the second pivot axis S2, thus, the first ball 42 remains stationary in the first guide 38, while the second ball 44 is guided in the second guide 40. Upon pivoting around the second pivot axis S2, the first ball 42 comes to lie on this second pivot axis S2.

From the perspective view and from the plan view in Fig. 8, it is particularly well appreciable how the two balls 42, 44 engage with the guides 38, 40 formed in the ball body 22. In addition, it is well appreciable that the two guides 38, 40 extend in the extension of the two pivot axes Si, S2, thus are perpendicular to each other, in the plan view.

Based on Fig. 9 to Fig. ii, it is illustrated how the bezel 32 can be rotated relative to the ball body 22 in orderthat the ball body 22 can be moved out of the receptacle 30 upon pivoting around one of the two further pivot axes S3, S4. To this, the bezel 32 is rotatable * around a vertical axis H. A corresponding rotary movement is illustrated in Fig. 9 and Fig. by a further arrow 48.

Presently, the rotation of the bezel 32 by an angle of 45° is effected by a pull rope 50, *". : which is coupled to a lever 52 on the one hand and the bezel 32 on the other hand. The L-shaped formed lever 52 is rotated around a pivot point provided by an axis 54 by a user of the centre console 12 pressing an operating element for instanceS in the form of a slider 56. The depressed slider 56 presses the short leg of the lever 52, whereby the pull rope rotates the bezel 32.

Due to this rotation of the bezel 32 around the vertical axis H, the two balls 42, 44 get in further grooves 58. which are formed in the ball body 52 (compare Fig. 7). These further grooves 58 are open to the bottom. Thereby, the ball body 22 can be moved out of the receptacle 30 in unimpeded manner (compare Fig. 11). A corresponding direction of movement upon moving the ball body 22 out of the receptacle 30 is illustrated in Fig. 11 by a movement arrow 80.

The ball joint shown in Fig. 7, which includes the ball body 20 with the grooves 38, 40, 58 and the receptacle 30 with the bezel 32, is also usable for other applications, in which a first component supported on a second component is to be pivoted around different pivot axes.

From Fig. 10, it is particularly well apparent that the two balls 42, 44 are no longer in the two perpendicular guides 38, 40 as a result of pivoting the bezel 32 around the vertical axis H, but in the further guides 58.

By rotating the bezel 32 around the vertical axis H by an angle of 45° into the opposite direction too, the respective ball joint 20 can be unlocked in order to effect pivoting the lid 18 around a further one of the pivot axes 83, 84 opposing the ball joint 20.

Fig. 12 shows the ball body 22 and the pivoting thereof around the respective pivot axes Si, S2, S3 and S4 in a direction of view along the respective pivot axis and in a top plan view, respectively. In addition, the progress of the guides 58 open opposite to the direction of movement is particularly well apparent from the side view of the ball body 22 in Fig. 12. * * * * *

Based on Fig. 131 it can be particularly well illustrated how the selective pivoting of the lid * * 18 around one of the pivot axes Si, 52, S3, 54 provides particularly good accessibility to the receiving space 16 of the container 14.

By pivoting the lid 18 around the pivot axis S2 closest to a vehicle rear 62, the receiving * . space 16 is particularly well accessible for a driver and.a front-seat passenger of the * ; motor vehicle 10. The corresponding opening of the lid 18 is illustrated by an arrow 63 in Fig. 13.

However, if the lid 18 is pivoted open around the pivot axis Si perpendicular to the pivot axis 62, which is presently closer to a front-seat passenger side 64 of the motor vehicle than to a driver's side 66, thus, the receiving space 16 is particularly well accessible for the driver of the motor vehicle 10. Corresponding opening of the lid 18 is illustrated by a further arrow 68 in Fig. 13.

If the lid 18 is pivoted into the open position around the third pivot axis S3, which is closer to a vehicle front 70 than to the vehicle rear 62, thus, the receiving space 16 is particularly well accessible for rear-seat passengers of the motor vehicle 10. Corresponding opening of the lid 18 is illustrated by a further arrow 72 in Fig. 3.

Finally, the lid 18 can also be pivoted around the fourth pivot axis 54, which is closer to the driver's side 66 than to the front-seat passenger side 64. In this manner, the front-seat passenger can particularly well access the content located in the container 14. The corresponding opening of the lid 18 upon pivoting the same around the fourth pivot axis S4 is illustrated in Fig. 13 by a further arrow 74.

Both the driver and all of the further occupants of the motor vehicle 10 can therefore particularly comfortably use the centre console 12 by pivoting the lid 18 around one of the pivot axes Si S2, 53, S4 into its open position. Herein, the respective vehicle user only has to operate theslider 56 or such an operating element on the side of the lid 18 facing him. Thereupon, the lid 18 can be pivoted into the open position around the pivot axis Si, 52, S3, S4 opposing the slider 56.

As is illustrated in Fig. 14, the container 14 of the centre console 12 can be displaced rearwards and forwards, respectively, in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The corresponding displacement is illustrated in Fig. 14 by a further movement arrow 76. By the rearward displacement, rear-seat passengers can particularly well access the content located in the container 14. Such a displaceability of the container 14 together with the lid *.t.e* * 18 is in particular beneficial in a motor vehicle 10 with a comparatively great length. S. * . *

* The receptacles 30 are disposed on the upper edges of four sidewalls of the presently cuboid-shapedcontainer 14. Thus, the pivot axis Si, 52, 53, 54 respectively located in the region of a respectively upper edge of the respective sidewall can be arbitrarily selected, around which the lid 18 isto be pivoted into the open position. -11

Claims

Claims 1. Centre console for a motor vehicle (10), including a container (14) and a lid element (16), which is supported on the container (14) via a bearing device and which is pivotable into an open position and into a closed position closing the container (14) and back, characterized in that at least one first pivot axis (Si, 53) and at least one second pivot axis (52, S4) are provided by the bearing device, around which the lid element (18) is pivotable, wherein the at least two pivot axes (61, 32, 33, 34) differ from each other.
2. Centre console according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the pivot axes (S2) is closer to a vehicle rear (62) than to a vehicle front (70) in the installation position of the centre console (12), wherein at least one further of the pivot axes (S3) is closer to the vehicle front (70) than to the vehicle rear (62). * * . . * *
3. Centre console according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that * * ** * at least one of the pivot axes (Si) is closer to a front-seat passenger side (64) of the * motor vehicle (10) than to a driver's side (66) of the motor vehicle (10) in the installation position of the centre console (12), wherein at least one further of the * * . * * pivot axes (S4) is closer to the driver's side (66) than to the front-seat passenger * 4* side (64).
4. Centre console according to any one of claims ito 3, characterized in that the in particular substantially cuboid-shaped container (14) has four sidewalls, wherein the at least one first pivot axis (Si, S3) and the at least one second pivot axis (S2, S4) are disposed on a respective upper edge of at least two of the si dewa I Is.
5. Centre console according to any one of claims ito 4, characterized in that the bearing device includes at least one ball joint (20) with a ball body (22) disposed on the lid element (18) and with a receptacle (30) for the ball body (22) disposed on the container (14).
6. Centre console according to claim 5, characterized in that a first guide (38) and a second guide (40) are provided in the ball body (22), along which a first and a second element (42, 44) protruding beyond a base body (32) of the receptacle (30) can be guided, wherein -upon pivoting around the at least one first pivot axis (Si), the first element (42) is guided in the first guide (38) and the second element (44) comes to lie on the at least one first pivot axis (Si) and is stationary in the second guide (40), and wherein -upon pivoting around the at least one second pivot axis (52) the second element (44) is guided in the second guide (40) and the first element (42) comes to lie on the at least one second pivot axis (S2) and is stationary in the first guide (38).
7. Centre console according to claim 6, characterized in that the base body (32) of the receptacle (30) can be brought into a first position, in which the two elements (42, 44) are disposed in the two guides (38, 40), and into a second position, in which the ball body (22) can be moved out of the receptacle (30) by pivoting the lid element (18) into the open position.
8. Centre console according to claim 7, characterized in that -13 in the second position, the two elements (42, 44) are disposed in further guides (58) provided in the ball body (22), which are open opposite to a direction of movement (60) given by pivoting the lid element (18) into the open position.
9. Centre console according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the base body (32) of the receptacle (30) can be brought into the second position by rotating around a vertical axis (H) in particular effected by means of a pull element (50).
10. Centre console according to any one of claims ito 9, characterized in that the container (14) of the centre console (12) is displaceable in a direction (76), which at least substantially coincides with a vehicle longitudinal direction in the installation position of the centre console (12). * . * * ****.** * * -*. * * S * * *. * * * * * * S.S. * -* * S ** -