Vehicle storage structure

A vehicle storage structure includes a center console, an instrument panel, and a storage having an opening. The center console includes a front part. The storage is located at least one of the front part, a portion in front of the center console, or the instrument panel. The storage includes a first storage and a second storage. The first storage is located lower or higher than the second storage. The first storage includes a side wall and a first opening. The side wall is located proximate to a passenger seat in a vehicle width direction. The first opening is located proximate to a driver's seat in the vehicle width direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Japanese patent application No. 2020-045831 filed on Mar. 16, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle storage structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are cases in which a storage having an opening on each side in the vehicle width direction is provided under the center console in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

In these cases, since articles of the occupant in the driver's seat and the occupant in the passenger seat are stored mixedly in one storage, there is a possibility of taking a wrong article.

To address this issue, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-133509 (hereinafter called patent document 1) discloses a technique in which part of the opening is separated with a wall in the vehicle width direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the technique disclosed in patent document 1, a shared storage for the occupants on both sides and storages separated by the wall and each dedicated for the corresponding occupant on one side are lined continuously in the front-rear direction. Hence, the dedicated storages are small, and in addition, there is a possibility of confusing the dedicated storages and the shared storage. Thus, there remains a possibility of taking a wrong article in the shared storage.

The present invention has been made in light of the above point, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle storage structure that makes it possible to prevent taking a wrong article.

A vehicle storage structure includes a center console, an instrument panel, and a storage having an opening. The center console includes a front part. The storage is located at least one of the front part, a portion in front of the center console, or the instrument panel. The storage includes a first storage and a second storage. The first storage is located lower or higher than the second storage. The first storage includes a side wall and a first opening. The side wall is located proximate to a passenger seat in a vehicle width direction. The first opening is located proximate to a driver's seat in the vehicle width direction.

The present invention makes it possible to prevent the occupant in the passenger seat from taking a wrong article by means of the side wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same constituents are denoted by the same symbols, and repetitive description thereof is omitted. The expressions meaning directions such as front-rear, upper-lower, and right-left are based on the traveling direction of the vehicle.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, a vehicle storage structure1includes an instrument panel2, a center console3, and a connection member10and has a first storage and a second storage20at at least one of a front portion of the center console3, a portion in front of the center console3, and a portion in the instrument panel2.

The instrument panel2is a kind of vehicle interior member provided in front of the driver's seat4and the passenger seat5and is a resin member serving as a design surface on the front side of the passenger compartment. The instrument panel2is formed by combining a plurality of members. The instrument panel2has the second storage20which is described later. The instrument panel2also has a connection terminal (for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) socket)6on the passenger seat5side of the second storage20in the vehicle width direction.

The center console3is provided between the driver's seat4and the passenger seat5and is a resin member extending in the front-rear direction on the vehicle floor. On the center console3is provided an actuator7. The actuator7is operated by the occupant in the driver's seat4and thereby actuates a device mounted on the vehicle. The actuator7, for example, is a shift lever that protrudes upward from the center console3and actuates a transmission device.

The connection member10is a resin member connecting the rear side of a lower end portion of the instrument panel2and the upper side of a front end portion of the center console3. The connection member10is formed by combining a plurality of members. A front portion of the connection member10serves as the first storage used by the occupant of the driver's seat4. The connection member10integrally includes a bottom wall11, a front wall12extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall11, and a rear rib13extending upward from the rear end of the bottom wall11. The connection member10also integrally includes a side rib14extending upward from the driver's-seat-4-side end of the bottom wall11and a side wall15extending upward from the passenger-seat-5-side end of the bottom wall11. The connection member10also integrally includes an extension wall (extension portion)16extending rearward from the upper end of the front wall12. In the connection member10, the opening10aof the first storage is formed by the driver's-seat-4-side end in the vehicle width direction (the upper portion of the side rib14) and the upper end and the rear end (between the upper end of the front wall12and the rear rib13). The side wall15is provided at an upper portion on the passenger-seat-5-side end in the vehicle width direction of the center console3.

The upper surface of a front portion of the bottom wall11serves as an article-placing portion of the first storage on which an article A1is placed. The dimension in the vehicle width direction of the bottom wall11serving as the article-placing portion is approximately the same as the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the center console3. As illustrated inFIG.5, on the bottom wall11is provided a non-contact charger8. The non-contact charger8wirelessly transfers electric power to the article A1, which is an electronic device.

At a rear portion of the bottom wall11(a below-mentioned frame portion in the present embodiment) is formed a hole11a(seeFIG.3) through which the actuator7(seeFIG.2) is inserted. The bottom wall11(a below-mentioned connection-member main body in the present embodiment) has a plurality of engagement pieces11b(seeFIG.3). The engagement pieces11bare inserted into engagement portions3aformed on the upper end of the center console3from the rear side and engaged so that the movements in the front direction and the up-down direction are restricted.

As illustrated inFIG.5, at the front edge of the hole11aof the bottom wall11is formed a protrusion11cextending in the vehicle width direction. The protrusion11cand the side rib14prevent the article A1from falling off the first storage.

The front wall12is inclined such that the higher a position is, the further rearward it is positioned. As illustrated inFIG.4, at upper end portions of the front wall12are formed a plurality of engagement pieces (clips)12aprotruding toward the front. The engagement pieces12aare inserted into holes2aformed in the instrument panel2from the rear side. The front wall12also has a hole12bthrough which a pin, a screw, a protrusion formed on the instrument panel2, or the like is inserted to fix the front wall12to the instrument panel2.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the upper end of the side wall15is formed to connect the upper end of the front wall12and the upper end of the rear rib13. Specifically, the side wall15has a triangular shape in side view, and the upper end of a rear portion of the side wall15(from an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction to the rear end) has an inclined portion15athe height of which decreases toward the rear. The rear end of the inclined portion15ais located rearwardly from the rear end (the protrusion11c) of the first storage. The inclined portion15adescribed above may be formed on the entire part in the front-rear direction of the side wall15, or it may be formed on a part in the front-rear direction of the side wall15. In the latter case, the side wall15has, on the front side of the inclined portion15a, a high wall portion having the same height as the front end of the inclined portion15a, or the side wall15has, on the rear side of the inclined portion15a, a low wall portion having the same height as the rear end of the inclined portion15a.

In the present embodiment, the connection member10is formed by combining the connection-member main body, a panel portion, and the frame portion with one another. The connection-member main body integrally includes the front wall12, rear rib13, side rib14, side wall15, and extension wall16. The panel portion is the front portion of the bottom wall11, in other words, the article-placing portion of the first storage. The frame portion has a rectangular frame shape in plan view, which is the rear portion of the bottom wall11, in other words, the peripheral edge portions of the hole11a. Each side of the frame portion has a protruding shape protruding upward, and the front side of the frame portion is the protrusion11cdescribed earlier. The frame portion integrally includes a wall portion serving as the surface on the passenger seat5side of the side rib14. InFIG.3, illustration of the panel portion and the frame portion is omitted.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the vehicle storage structure1includes the second storage20located at a higher position than the connection member (first storage)10and formed in the instrument panel2(in the instrument panel2and at the upper end of the connection member10in the present embodiment). The second storage20has an opening20ain the instrument panel2. In the present embodiment, the upper edge and both side edges in the vehicle width direction of the opening20ahaving a rectangular shape in front view are formed on the instrument panel2, and the lower edge of the opening20ais formed on the extension wall16of the connection member10. The second storage20integrally includes a lower wall21and upper wall22extending forward from the instrument panel2and side walls23and24extending forward from the instrument panel2and connecting the ends in the vehicle width direction of the lower wall21and upper wall22. The second storage20also integrally includes a front wall25connecting the front ends of the lower wall21, upper wall22and side walls23and24. The upper surface of the lower wall21is a first article-placing portion on which an article A2is placed.

In addition, the second storage20includes the extension wall16of the connection member10, which serves as a second article-placing portion extending rearward from the lower wall21(toward the passenger compartment). The coefficient of friction of the upper surface of the extension wall16serving as the second article-placing portion is larger than the coefficient of friction of the upper surface of the lower wall21serving as the first article-placing portion. Here, the extension wall16may be a member (for example, a decorative member) made of a material different from the material of the first article-placing portion (lower wall21). As for the decorative member, for example, the extension wall16may be formed by decorative molding, or a skin material may be provided on the upper surface of the extension wall16. A decorative member may be provided on the outer surfaces of the connection-member main body described above (the rear surface of the rear rib13, the driver's-seat-4-side side surface of the side rib14, the passenger-seat-5-side side surface of the side wall15, and the upper surface of the extension wall16). This configuration improves the sense of unity among the instrument panel2, the connection member10, and the center console3.

The far-side end (front end) of the upper surface of the extension wall16serving as the second article-placing portion is approximately flush with the passenger-compartment-side end (rear end) of the upper surface of the lower wall21serving as the first article-placing portion. The extension wall16is inclined such that the height decreases toward the passenger compartment side (rear side). In other words, the height position of the passenger-compartment-side end (rear end) of the upper surface of the extension wall16serving as the second article-placing portion is lower than the height position of the far-side end (front end) of the upper surface of the extension wall16.

<Usage Example of Each Storage>

The occupant of the driver's seat4places his/her article (for example, an electronic device (mobile terminal) or the like) A1on the bottom wall11(specifically, the non-contact charger8) of the first storage10through the opening10a. The stored article A1in the first storage10is charged by the non-contact charger8.

Here, between the passenger seat5and the first storage10is the side wall15and the actuator7. Hence, the occupant of the passenger seat5places his/her article (for example, an electronic device (mobile terminal) or the like) A2on the lower wall (first article-placing portion)21and the extension wall (second article-placing portion)16of the second storage20through the opening20a. The article A2placed on the lower wall21slides forward on the lower wall21and is stored in the second storage20. The article A2stored in the second storage20is connected to the connection terminal6via a not-illustrated cable or the like and charged by the vehicle battery.

The article A2stored in the second storage20is placed on the lower wall (first article-placing portion)21and the extension wall (second article-placing portion)16of the second storage20. Hence, when the article A2stored in the second storage20seeks to move rearward due to vehicle's acceleration or deceleration or the like, the article A2is held stably within the second storage20by the frictional resistance of the extension wall16.

In addition, since the passenger-compartment-side end of the extension wall16is lower than the far-side end, the occupant, utilizing the fact that the passenger-compartment-side end of the extension wall16is lower, can take the article A2out of the second storage20by holding the article A2by nipping it from both upper and lower surfaces and sliding the article A2rearward on the lower wall21via the state in which the article A2is separated from the extension wall16but in contact with the lower wall21. Here, the extension wall16having a high frictional resistance suitably helps the occupant to hold the article A2.

The vehicle storage structure1according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a center console3, an instrument panel2, and a storage having an opening10a,20a. The center console3includes a front portion. The storage is located at least one of the front portion, a portion in front of the center console3, or the instrument panel2. The storage includes a first storage (connection member10) and a second storage20. The first storage is located lower or higher than the second storage20. The first storage includes a side wall15and the opening10a. The side wall15is located proximate to a passenger seat5in a vehicle width direction. The opening10ais located proximate to a driver's seat4in the vehicle width direction.

Thus, in the vehicle storage structure1, the first storage is set for the occupant in the driver's seat4, and the side wall15prevents the occupant of the passenger seat5from mistakenly taking an article A1. In addition, in the vehicle storage structure1, since the height positions of the first storage and the second storage20are different, the dimensions in the vehicle width direction of the first storage and the second storage20can be set large, making it possible to widen the range of the types of articles A1and A2that can be stored. Further, in the vehicle storage structure1, the side wall15suitably helps the occupant of the driver's seat4recognize the position of the first storage.

According to the vehicle storage structure, the first storage and an actuator7are located at the front portion of the center console3. The actuator7is configured to actuate a device mounted on a vehicle. The actuator7is located at the rear of the first storage.

Thus, in the vehicle storage structure1, the actuator7makes the occupant of the passenger seat5recognize that the front portion of the center console3is a space for the occupant of the driver's seat4, and also the side wall15and the actuator7prevent the occupant of the passenger seat5from mistakenly taking the article A1.

According to the vehicle storage structure1, the side wall15has an inclined portion15athe height of which decreases toward the rear of the vehicle, and a rear end of the inclined portion15a(the protrusion11cof the bottom wall11) is located rearwardly from a rear end of the first storage.

Thus, in the vehicle storage structure1, since the side wall15extends further rearward than the first storage, the side wall15suitably prevents the occupant of the passenger seat5from taking a wrong article. In addition, in the vehicle storage structure1, the dimension of the first storage in the front-rear direction can be set larger than the case where the upper end of the rear portion of the side wall15is not inclined, improving the usability of the first storage for the occupant of the driver's seat4. Further, in the vehicle storage structure1, in the case where the side wall15extends further rearward than the actuator7, the side wall15can prevent the occupant of the passenger seat5from mistakenly touching the actuator7.

According to the vehicle storage structure1, a connection terminal6is provided on a vehicle-width-direction side of the opening20aof the second storage20, and the connection terminal6is closer to the passenger seat5than the side wall15in the vehicle width direction.

Thus, in the vehicle storage structure1, the connection terminal6makes the second storage20convenient for the occupant of the passenger seat5. In addition, in the vehicle storage structure1, since the connection terminal6is provided on the passenger seat5side of the side wall15in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to prevent the cable for connecting an article A2stored in the second storage20and the connection terminal6from interfering the occupant of the driver's seat4using the first storage and the actuator7.

In the vehicle storage structure1, the first storage has a non-contact charger8that wirelessly transfers electric power to an electronic device.

Thus, in the vehicle storage structure1, it is possible to charge the article A1of the occupant of the driver's seat4without a cable and also it is possible to prevent the cable from interfering the article A1being put into or taken out of the first storage.

It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, in the case where the instrument panel2and the center console3are separated in the front-rear direction, at least one of the first storage and the second storage20may be provided in front of the center console3(between the instrument panel2and the center console3in the front-rear direction).

In addition, the article-placing portion (panel portion) in the first storage may be provided integrally with the center console3not with the connection member10.

Further, the second storage20may be provided on an interior member other than the instrument panel2.