JP5824514B2 - Automotive roof console - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automotive roof console including electrical components and a storage compartment.

  Conventional roof consoles are usually very simple and only include a lighting function and, if applicable, an opening roof activation button.

  It is also known, for example, from German Patent Application No. 102088643 A1 to provide a storage case for this type of roof console. From an ergonomic point of view, these cases are not really practical because they require a lot of attention in their opening and closing mechanisms, which makes it incompatible with handling by hand while driving the vehicle.

  Similarly, from an aesthetic point of view, these proposed solutions are not ideal.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy these drawbacks and to reduce the size of the signal elements and electric buttons in the driver's field of view and also in parts that are easily accessible to the driver and other passengers ergonomically. It is an object to provide a roof console for a motor vehicle that includes a storage compartment for a number of objects.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is an automotive roof console including an electrical component and a storage compartment, wherein the electrical component includes a signal light and an electrical button disposed in the driver's field of view at the front portion of the console. It is to provide a roof console in which the compartments are ergonomically located in the rear part of the console by a common pivot axis of their hatches oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

  According to an embodiment of the roof console, the support element is fixed to the structure of the roof carrying the bearings of the hatch pivot shaft and the front element is provided with pre-mounted electrical components.

  The storage compartment hatch is preferably connected by a gooseneck that includes an actuating retarder and a preload spring so that it can be opened independently along a common pivot axis of the hatch consisting of butterfly openings.

  Lock / unlock button, pressurized by a hatch spring, each pivoting about an axis and thus releasing the striker hook from its locked position located behind the inner edge of the hatch sidewall after actuation Is advantageously provided.

  The electrical components preferably include, among other things, a seat belt reminder, a multifunction housing interior light, a SOS call button, and a microphone function.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings.

1A is a general view of a roof console according to the present invention, FIG. a is a perspective sectional view through the roof console at the height of the front axis of the hatch. b is a perspective sectional view at the height of the lock / unlock button of the hatch. c is a perspective sectional view at the height of the rear shaft of the hatch.

  FIG. 1a shows an overall view of an embodiment of an automotive roof console according to the invention. The console 1 extends from the base of the internal rearview mirror toward the rear along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Its form is organic and has no edges or acute angles. An electric switch button 5 and a signal lamp 4 are arranged in the front part thereof. The front part comprises a front element 10 carrying a pre-mounted electrical component 2. Thus, these electrical components 2 are located in the driver's field of view and the driver can see and handle them without distracting from their concentration on the road.

  Located in the second rear half of the console storage compartment 3 is a hatch 7, which opens independently like a butterfly, as can be seen in FIGS. 1b and 1e. This second half consists of a support element 8 fixed to the roof structure and carries the pivot shaft bearings 9a, 9b of the hatch 7.

  The storage compartment 3 is essentially located at the height of the shoulder of the driver of the vehicle or the passenger sitting in the front seat next to the driver. From an ergonomic point of view, this position is very advantageous because the hatch can be opened in a simple manner by lifting the human arm along the vertical movement and activating the lock button 12 with the fingertip. The storage compartment 3 is useful for storing small parts such as sunglasses and mobile phones. After activation of the unlock button 12, the hatches open under the action of a prestress spring, and at the same time their movement is decelerated by a retarder incorporated in the bearings 9a, 9b of the hatch 7.

  FIG. 2a shows a perspective view in cross section at the height of the first bearing 9a. The bearing 9a is located on a pivot shaft 6 that is common to the two hatches 7 on the right and left. This pivot axis is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the automobile. The hatch 7 is attached to the bearing 9a using a gooseneck 11 including a retarder caused by friction of the movement of the hatch 7. At the same time, the hatch 7 is pre-stressed by a spring (not shown) that creates a hatch opening after the button 12 is unlocked. Thus, after pressing the button 12, the hatch opens gently without suddenly dropping to its final open position.

  FIG. 2 b shows a perspective view in cross section at the height of the lock / unlock button 12 of the hatch 7. The button 12 is attached so as to be rotatable about a shaft 13 and is pre-stressed by a spring 16 at a locked position. In this locked position, the striker hook 14 is under the inner edge of the side wall 15. By pressing the button 12 this is lowered and its hook 14 retracts towards the rear, thus releasing the inner edge of the side wall 15.

  Finally, FIG. 2c shows the cross section of the roof console in perspective view at the height of the rear bearing 9b of the hatch 7. FIG.

  As can be readily appreciated, the situation is quite similar to that of the front bearing 9a with similar components.

  The roof console according to the present invention has several advantages.

  First, according to the present invention, functions can be collected at an ergonomic position that is easily accessible. Thus, the number of instrument panel functions can be reduced, and the style of the passenger compartment of the vehicle approaches the aircraft cockpit type, which makes it a more interesting appearance.

  Similarly, the present invention includes all hatch opening variations, both for top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top opening directions and for single push, push-pull, etc. open or closed systems.

Claims (5)

A roof console (1) for an automobile comprising an electrical component (2) and a storage compartment (3),
The electrical component (2), viewed including the signal lamp is positioned within the visual field of the driver of the forward portion of the roof console (1) to (4) and electrical button (5),
It said storage compartment (3) is placed in the rear part of the roof console (1),
A first and second hatch (7);
A pivot shaft (6) common to the first and second hatches (7) in the middle of the vehicle and oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
A bearing for the pivot shaft (6), the front bearing (9a) and the rear bearing (9b) of the first and second hatches (7);
A gooseneck (11) including an actuating retarder and a preload spring so that the first and second hatches (7) can independently open a butterfly along the pivot axis (6); A gooseneck (11) connecting each of the second hatches (7) to the pivot shaft (6),
The storage compartment (3) is located at the height of the shoulder of the driver of the vehicle or the passenger sitting in the front seat next to the driver,
Small items can be accommodated inside the first and second hatches (7) opening the butterfly,
Roof console (1). Is fixed to the structure of the roof, the front element bearings (9a, 9b) and supporting element bearing (8), the electric cares component (2) mounted in a pivot shaft (6) of the hatch (7) The roof console of claim 1 , further comprising a front element (10) included in the front portion . The roof console according to claim 2, wherein the gooseneck (11) is curved so as to surround the pivot shaft (6) and the bearings (9a, 9b). Pivot axis (13) as the center, and preload the spring of the hatch (7) from a locking position of the inner edge side to release the striker hook (14) of the side wall (15) of the after actuation hatch (7) The roof console according to claim 1 , further comprising an unlocked button (12). The electrical components (2), shea over seatbelt reminder, cars in lamps, SOS call button, and including a microphone function, roof console according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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