Abstract:
The invention relates to a storage compartment ( 1 ) for a vehicle, having a storage compartment cover ( 2 ) which is pivotably mounted toward two sides. The latter can be pivoted either toward one side or toward the other side.  
     In order to design the storage compartment ( 1 ) such that it can be operated as simply and conveniently as possible and is secure, provision is made for the storage compartment cover ( 2 ) to have two locked axes of rotation ( 21, 22 ) in its closed position. After one axis of rotation ( 21 ) is released, a driving device ( 3 ) automatically pivots the storage compartment cover ( 2 ) in a damped manner into an open position.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a storage compartment for a vehicle.  
         [0002]     In vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, there is the need for closable deposit compartments which are easily accessible.  
         [0003]     European document EP 501 021 B1 describes a deposit compartment with a cover which can be opened toward two sides. A gear device arranged in the cover ensures here that, after the cover is released, via release handles likewise arranged in the cover, the cover can be opened manually either in one or in the other direction. In this case, the gear device locks the particular other pivot axis as a consequence of the rotation of the cover. A disadvantage here is the structurally complex solution allowing the cover to become relatively thick and heavy.  
         [0004]     European document EP 0 495 290 B1 likewise discloses a deposit compartment for vehicles that has a cover which can be opened toward two sides. The cover has hinges which can be released on both sides and are of latching design. The hinges mount the cover pivotably, so that the latter, after the hinge is released on one side, can execute a pivoting movement and can be opened manually. Disadvantages here are that the deposit-compartment operation is not very convenient, and the hinge solution is of a relatively large size and constricts the opening cross section of the deposit compartment.  
         [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage compartment for vehicles which permits objects to be safely accommodated, can be operated simply and conveniently, and is constructed as compactly as possible.  
         [0006]     This object is achieved according to the invention by a storage compartment as claimed.  
         [0007]     The storage compartment has a deposit compartment which can be closed by a storage compartment cover. The storage compartment cover is locked in the closed position and has two axes of rotation, i.e. it can be opened either toward one side or toward the other side by pivoting about an axis of rotation. In the closed position, the two axes of rotation of the storage compartment cover are locked, so that the deposit compartment is securely closed and the objects deposited in it are secured against unauthorized access. The storage compartment has a driving device which, after release of the lock of one axis of rotation, automatically opens the storage compartment cover. The storage compartment cover can be automatically opened by means of a simple release of one axis of rotation, preferably by pressing a button. This permits a particularly convenient operation of the storage compartment from two sides. The storage compartment may thus be arranged, for example, in a central console or in the cockpit region or in an armrest between two seats, and is equally easily accessible from both seats.  
         [0008]     Provision is made for a retaining device which is designed for locking both axes of rotation to be arranged on a side wall of the storage compartment. The storage compartment cover can thus be designed to be as slim as possible, since the retaining device is arranged outside the storage compartment cover. In order to be constructed as compactly as possible, the retaining device may be arranged on one or both sides of the storage compartment cover. In the case of a storage compartment cover of essentially rectangular design, the retaining device may be arranged on a small side in order to take up as little construction space as possible.  
         [0009]     Furthermore, provision may be made for actuating buttons for releasing the retaining device to be arranged in the region of a side wall of the storage compartment, in particular in a readily accessible manner on the upper side thereof. The actuating buttons thus do not take up any construction space in the storage compartment cover and can readily be reached irrespective of the position of the storage compartment cover.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, provision may be made for the storage compartment to have a printer and/or a fax machine and/or a copier. The latter may be integrated in a deposit compartment, with the swung-up cover of the storage compartment being designed as a paper support for the printer and/or the fax machine and/or the copier.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment, provision may be made for the driving device to have an energy store, preferably spring store or gas-filled spring store, for storing driving energy. The energy store is preferably designed in such a manner that it is charged during the closing of the storage compartment cover. During the opening, it acts upon the storage compartment cover in the opening direction and opens the latter by discharging the stored kinetic energy. The storage compartment is thus largely independent of external energy, e.g. electric energy, and is particularly highly reliable. In order to obtain a convenient opening movement, the energy store is connected to a damping device, so that the opening movement takes place in a damped manner.  
         [0012]     The energy store may be designed in two parts by each axis of rotation being connected to one energy store. These energy stores may be designed separately and independently, with the result that the kinetic energy of one axis of rotation is stored in the energy store provided for it.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, the two energy stores may also be connected to each other, so that each energy store stores part of the kinetic energy, preferably approximately half of it. As a result, the two energy stores can be of correspondingly smaller dimensions. In addition, the respective lock of the axis of rotation is acted upon with a smaller force, as a result of which a smaller force is also required in order to release the locking device. This enables, in particular, a short pressing stroke to be obtained for the actuating buttons. Particularly convenient operation and a good sense of quality are therefore achieved.  
         [0014]     Embodiments are also possible in which the energy store is divided into a plurality of energy stores, in particular four, six or eight energy stores, in order to make particularly good use of the existing construction space.  
         [0015]     Use of the storage compartment in particular in road vehicles, for example passenger vehicles and/or trucks and/or coaches, is envisaged. However, it is also possible for the storage compartment to be used in ships or aircraft.  
         [0016]     Further features and embodiments of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above and explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0017]     Further embodiments of the invention are illustrated and explained in the figures.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of a storage compartment in a central console with a closed storage compartment cover,  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows an illustration of the storage compartment with the storage compartment cover open in one direction,  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows an illustration of the storage compartment with the storage compartment cover open in the opposite direction,  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows storage compartment with an energy store arranged in the storage compartment cover,  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows an illustration of the cut-out storage compartment cover, and  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the storage compartment cover with a rack. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a storage compartment  1  in a central console  12  of a passenger vehicle. The central console  12  may be arranged between a driver&#39;s seat and front passenger&#39;s seat in a vehicle interior. The storage compartment has a deposit compartment  11 , which is bounded by side walls  13 , for accommodating objects. The storage compartment  1  is closed upward by a cover  2 . The storage compartment cover  2  has two axes of rotation  22 ,  21  which are locked in the closed position by means of a retaining device  4 . The lock of an axis of rotation  21 ,  22  can be released via buttons  41  arranged on the upper side of the central console  12  in the region of a side wall  13 . A driving device  3  then automatically opens the storage compartment cover in a damped manner by pivoting the storage compartment cover  2  either about the first axis of rotation  21  or the second axis of rotation  22  in the opening direction.  
         [0025]     The storage compartment cover  2  has two spindle stubs  23 ,  24  in each case in the region of the axes of rotation  21 ,  22 . The spindle stubs are mounted in a linearly displaceable manner on the storage compartment cover  2  and run along the particular axis of rotation  21 ,  22 . They are connected to each other via racks  25   a  and  25   b  which both mesh with a toothed wheel  26 . The toothed wheel  26  is mounted rotatably on the storage compartment cover and connects the spindle stubs  23  and  24  in opposite directions. If one spindle stub  23  or  24  is acted upon axially, e.g. is pressed into the storage compartment cover  2 , then it uses the deflecting wheel  26  to likewise pull the other spindle stub  24  or  23  into the storage compartment cover  2 . The spindle stubs are acted upon by a spring and are prestressed in such a manner that they protrude out of the storage compartment cover  2 . Closing of the storage compartment cover  2  causes the spindle stubs  23 ,  24  to be automatically latched in place by reaching beyond the storage compartment cover  2 , in the closed position thereof, and reaching into a retaining device  4 .  
         [0026]     The retaining device  4  has two bars  27  and  28  which are arranged on the end sides of the storage compartment cover  2  and connect the two axes of rotation  21 ,  22  to each other. In the region of the second axis of rotation  22 , the bar  28  reaches through the side wall  13  of the storage compartment  1  and is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a driving device  3  which has a toothed wheel  29 . The toothed wheel  29  is in turn connected to a gear  34  which has a spring store with a damper  33 .  
         [0027]     If the lock of the first axis of rotation  21  is released, by the connection between the bar  28  or bar  27  and the side wall being released by means of the button  41 , by axially pressing on the spindle stubs  23  and  24  of the first axis of rotation  21 , then the driving device  3 , which comprises the energy store with the damper  33 , the gear  34  and the toothed wheel  29 , pivots the bar  28  in the opening direction. Since the bar  28  is also connected to the spindle stub  24  of the first axis of rotation, it carries along the storage compartment cover  2  and the latter is pivoted about the axis of rotation  22  and automatically opens the storage compartment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0028]     A blocking device  42  is arranged in the region of the axes of rotation  21 ,  22  and prevents the two axes of rotation  21 ,  22  from being able to be released when the storage compartment cover  2  is open. A ball  43  is guided movably in the blocking device  42  and, when the cover is positioned vertically, drops downward and thus prevents the linear displacement of the spindle stubs  23 ,  24 .  
         [0029]     The two buttons  41  are connected to the first axis of rotation  21  and the second axis of rotation  22  respectively via a Bowden cable. When one button  41  is actuated, an axial pressure is exerted via the Bowden cable  38  on the spindle stub  24  of the corresponding axis of rotation  21  or  22 , with the result that the spindle stubs  23  and  24 , which are connected in opposite directions, are pushed into the storage compartment cover  2  and the corresponding axis of rotation  21  or  22  is released.  
         [0030]     In contrast to the energy store  33  of the second axis of rotation  22 , the energy store  32  of the first axis of rotation  21  is arranged within the storage compartment cover  2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0031]     The energy store of the first axis of rotation  21  is in two parts, each spindle stub  23  and  24  being connected to one energy store  32 . The energy stores  32  each have a spring, which is wound around the spindle  23  or  24  and has a damper, and act between the storage compartment cover and the spindle stubs  23  and  24  to rotate the storage compartment cover  2 . The energy stores  32  act upon the storage compartment cover  2  in the opening direction.  
         [0032]     If the lock of the second axis of rotation  22  is released from the closed position, the energy stores  32  automatically rotate the storage compartment cover in a damped manner about the first axis of rotation into an open position. When the button  42  is actuated to release the lock of the second axis of rotation, an axial pressure is exerted via a Bowden cable  38  on the spindle stub  24  of the second axis of rotation  22 . The latter is pushed axially into the housing of the storage compartment cover  2  and released from the retaining device  4 . The bars  28  and  27  remain connected to the side wall  13  of the storage compartment  1  and, in contrast to the above-described release of the first axis of rotation  21 , do not pivot together with the storage compartment cover  2  in the opening direction when the second axis of rotation  22  is released.  
         [0033]     The energy stores  32  and  33  are charged during the manual closing of the storage compartment cover  2  by the storage compartment cover being closed counter to the spring force of the energy stores  32  and  33 . The spring of the energy store  32 ,  33  is prestressed and then remains stressed until the next opening process.  
         [0034]     The components of the storage compartment cover  2 , for example the energy stores  32 , spindle stubs  23 ,  24 , toothed wheel  26  and blocking device  42 , are arranged within the storage compartment cover and are covered by a panel, so that they are not visible from the outside. The panel and the outside of the storage compartment cover are provided with a covering of leather or fabric or wood in order to match the design of the storage compartment  1  to the vehicle interior. The components of the retaining device  4  are arranged on the rear side of the side wall, so that they are not visible. Only the operating buttons  41  are arranged on the upper side of the central console  12 , so that they are readily accessible.  
         [0035]     The exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a storage compartment  1  in which, in contrast to the above-described exemplary embodiment, the two energy stores  32  and  33 , i.e. the energy store  32  of the first axis of rotation  21  and the energy store  33  of the second axis of rotation  22 , are arranged within the storage compartment cover  2 . The retaining device  4  together with the two operating buttons  41  for pivoting up the storage compartment cover  2  are arranged outside the storage compartment cover  2  in the region of the side wall  13 , as in the above-described exemplary embodiment.  
         [0036]     The energy stores  32  and  33  arranged in the region of the axes of rotation  21  and  22  are connected to each other via a shaft  36 . The shaft is guided within the storage compartment cover  2  and transfers torque between the two energy stores  32  and  33 . Each energy store  32  or  33  stores part of the torque necessary for pivoting the storage compartment cover  2 , with the energy stores  32  and  33  being equalized via the shaft  36 . The energy stores  32  and  33  can thus be of smaller dimensions and, as a result, require a smaller amount of construction space. In addition, a smaller force is required in order to keep the energy stored in the particular energy store  32  or  33 . This brings about a smaller release force for releasing the particular axis of rotation and therefore a more convenient operation by means of the buttons  41 . As a result, these buttons  41  can be designed to be correspondingly smooth-running or can be designed with a short pressing stroke.  
         [0037]     In the region of the axes of rotation  21  and  22 , two short spindle stubs  24 , which are connected to the energy stores  32  and  33 , are arranged on that side of the storage compartment cover  2  which faces the retaining device  4 . The energy stores  32  and  33  have wire springs which are mounted on the spindle stubs  24  and engage between the storage compartment cover  2  and the spindle stubs  24 . A damping device, e.g. a viscous brake, is connected to the energy stores  32  and  33  and damps the opening movement of the storage compartment cover  2 .  
         [0038]     On that side of the storage compartment cover  2  which faces away from the retaining device  4 , the storage compartment cover has mounts for plug-in spindles  45  in the region of the axes of rotation  21 ,  22 . The short plug-in spindles  45  are mounted in a linearly displaceable manner in the side wall of the storage compartment  1 . A Bowden cable  44  or a transmission linkage connects the plug-in spindles  45  to an actuating button  41 . If a button  41  is actuated and therefore the corresponding axis of rotation  21  or  22  is released, then the button  41  acts via the Bowden cable  44  on the plug-in spindle  45  and pulls the latter back out of the mount in the storage compartment cover  2 . Both sides of the storage compartment cover  2  are therefore released in the region of the axis of rotation  21  or  22 , with the result that the cover can automatically be pivoted up.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows an open position of the storage compartment cover  2 . The left button  41  has released the axis of rotation  21 , as described above, so that the storage compartment cover, driven by the energy stores  32  and  33 , is pivoted into the open position.  
         [0040]     At its end facing the retaining device  4 , the spindle stub  24  has an elliptically shaped cam  37 . The latter is connected fixedly to the particular spindle stub  24  and reaches beyond the storage compartment cover  2  and into the retaining device  4 . When the axis of rotation  21 ,  22  is locked, the retaining device secures the cam  37  in a rotationally fixed manner by the retaining device  4  engaging in a form-fitting manner around the cam. The spring of the energy store  32  or  33  can therefore be supported on the spindle stub  24 , which is now mounted in a rotationally fixed manner, and can exert a torque on the storage compartment cover  2  or can absorb such a torque.  
         [0041]     The retaining device  4  has a mount which engages in a form-fitting manner around the cam. The mount is designed in two parts, the lower part being arranged in a fixed manner and the upper part being mounted in a displaceable manner and being connected to a button  41 . When the button  41  is actuated, the upper part of the mount is pulled back and releases the cam  37 . At the same time, the button  41  pulls the plug-in spindle  45  back via the Bowden cable  44  and thus entirely releases the corresponding axis of rotation  21  or  22 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  describes an exemplary embodiment which is constructed such that it largely corresponds to the exemplary embodiment described in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As a modification to the embodiment illustrated there, energy stores  32  and  33  accommodated in the storage compartment cover  2  are connected here to a rack  35 . The rack  35  is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner in the storage compartment cover  2  and meshes at its two ends with the spindle stubs  24 . The rack  35  therefore transfers torque between the energy stores  32  and  33 .