Abstract:
The invention relates to a glove compartment for a motor vehicle, comprising a first storage compartment ( 106 ), separate from a second storage compartment ( 108 ), and a first cover ( 110 ) for covering the first storage compartment and a second cover ( 114 ) for covering the second storage compartment, the first cover being configured in such a manner as to conceal a joint ( 121 ) between the first and the second cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a storage compartment for motor vehicles, namely a glove compartment, as well as a dashboard with a glove compartment. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   From the state of the art, various storage compartments for motor vehicles are known. In particular, from EP 0 668 189 B1, a dashboard for a motor vehicle is known, which includes two storage spaces that are concealed by corresponding covers. The covers can pivot upward or downward. Glove compartments are known from, among others, DE 3432799 C2, EP 1 193 129 A1, EP 1 048 525 A1, and DE 199 30 059 A1. 
   In contrast, the invention is based on the task of creating an improved storage compartment for a motor vehicle, namely a glove compartment, as well as an improved dashboard with a glove compartment. 
   The tasks forming the basis of the invention are each solved with the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, a storage compartment for a motor vehicle is created, which includes at least first and second storage spaces. The two storage spaces are concealed by corresponding covers. A joint between the covers is covered by one of the covers. Through the ability to countersink the upper cover, the risk of injury is reduced in case an accident occurs while the upper cover is opened. In this respect, the upper cover is especially critical because it is located in or close to the head impact area of the passenger. The opened lower cover is less relevant in terms of injury during an accident because it is located in the knee impact area. In particular, the lower cover can be snapped shut when an accident occurs by means of the passenger pushing against the lower cover with his knees. The lower cover can then act as an impact surface. Thus, an embodiment in which only the upper cover can be completely or partially countersunk is especially preferred, whereas the lower cover can pivot upward into the interior of the vehicle, so that it can swing shut during an accident and it then acts as an impact surface. The invention thus allows the combination of an esthetically pleasing shape of the glove compartment with increased safety and convenient storage function. 
   This has the advantage that double adaptation of the cover can be avoided, by means of which the tolerance situation between the two covers can be made easier. Covering the joint by one of the two covers further allows an improved design of the storage compartment or the vehicle interior. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, one of the covers is configured in such a way that it conceals the joint viewed from a sitting position in the interior of the vehicle. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the storage spaces are arranged one above the other. The lower edge of the upper cover is here arranged in front of the upper edge of the lower cover relative to the sitting position in the interior of the vehicle. In this way, the upper edge of the lower cover is concealed viewed from the sitting position. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the upper cover extends past a separating wall of the storage spaces. Through the region of the upper cover extending past the separating wall, an upper region of the lower cover and thus a joint between the covers is concealed. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the covers are coupled with each other in such a way that when one of the covers is opened, the other cover is similarly opened. 
   This has the advantage that, on one hand, the storage space is divided into two storage spaces, so that different objects can be sorted in the storage spaces, and, on the other hand, both storage spaces are accessible through a single user action, in that, namely either only one or the other of the two covers is activated. 
   In this way it can be prevented, in particular, that one user must open the two covers separately one after the other when he or she wants to look for and remove a certain object in the storage spaces. 
   The covers can be coupled in different ways. For example, the coupling of the covers can be realized mechanically, in particular, by means of a lever mechanism. Alternatively or additionally, the coupling can be realized electromechanically. Here, by activating one of the two covers, an actuator, such as, for example, an electric motor, can be turned on, which drives the other cover or both covers, in order to open the cover or covers. 
   Alternatively or additionally, the covers can also be coupled electronically. In this way, an activation of one of the two covers is sensed by the user. This generates a control signal through which one or more actuators, in particular, electric motors are controlled, in order to open the two covers. For the input of an opening command for opening the two covers, a switch, for example, a pressure switch, non-contact switch, for example, a capacitive or inductive proximity sensor, or the like, can be arranged on one or two of the covers or on the dashboard. The activation of such a switch is sensed by a control device, for example, a so-called electronic control unit (ECU), so that the ECU controls one or more actuators, so that the covers are opened. 
   The coupling of the covers can be constructed in such a way that the closing of the covers can be realized independent of each other, for example, through manual closing of the covers. The coupling of the covers can also be constructed in such a way that by closing one of the covers, the other cover is automatically also closed. The necessary coupling of the covers can be constructed, in turn, mechanically, electromechanically, and/or electronically. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the covers are coupled with each other in such a way that the covers are opened and/or closed essentially in sync. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, one of the storage spaces is arranged above the other storage space in an installed position of the storage compartment. The cover concealing the upper storage space is here constructed in such a way that it conceals a joint between the covers in its closed position. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, only the lower cover has an activation handle. The activation of the upper cover can be realized in such a way that a user pulls on an edge of the upper cover concealing the joint between the covers. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, an essentially horizontal separating wall in the installed position runs between the two storage spaces. Advantageously, the upper of the two covers conceals the separating wall when it is closed. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the two covers are coupled mechanically by means of a lever. The lever has an axle, which is supported so that it can pivot with respect to a housing of the storage compartment. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the mechanical coupling has another lever, which attaches to the pivoting lever. 
   In another embodiment, the pivoting support of the axle of the lever named first is realized by another lever, which is mounted on its side by means of a pivot axle on the housing of the storage compartment. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the third lever has a stop face for limiting the pivoting motion. 
   The mechanical coupling of the covers with the help of one or more levers has the advantage that this can be realized with a robust construction and with relatively little expense. 
   According to one embodiment of the invention, the storage compartment provides a glove compartment. 
   In another aspect, the invention relates to a dashboard with an integrated storage compartment according to the invention. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling of the covers covering the storage compartment is realized mechanically, for example, by means of one or more levers, electromechanically, and/or electronically. 
   In another embodiment, the coupling between the covers is interrupted or such a coupling is not present. One of the two storage spaces includes an energy absorption body for absorbing impact energy. For example, the lower of the two storage spaces includes such an energy absorption body for knee impact protection, i.e., as a so-called knee pad. The energy absorption body can be made, for example, from a foam material, a foam composite, a honeycomb-shaped structure, or the like. 
   In the embodiment with energy absorption bodies, the corresponding cover, which conceals the storage space including the energy absorption body, is connected rigidly to a housing of the storage compartment and/or the dashboard. 
   This is especially advantageous for realizing various variants of a motor vehicle model with or without a passenger knee pad, because the same or essentially the same design of the dashboard can be used independent of the presence or absence of the knee pad. In the variant with an energy absorption body, in particular, a knee pad, there is no coupling between the covers. The cover, which conceals the storage space including the energy absorption body, is connected rigidly to the dashboard. This cover acts as the impact surface for absorbing energy during a frontal impact. 
   The realization of the different variants of a motor vehicle model with or without a knee pad while maintaining the same outer design of the dashboard is especially advantageous for the realization of different country variants of the motor vehicle model, because in a few countries, knee pads are regulated by law, as well as also to provide various equipment options according to customer wishes. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the two covers can be countersunk. When the relevant cover is opened, it pivots or moves back partially or advantageously completely behind the surface of the dashboard. In this way, the risk of injury can be minimized during a motor vehicle accident, especially during a frontal impact. 
   In particular, in this way injuries on an opened cover projecting into the interior of the vehicle can be prevented. For example, it can be prevented that an opened cover projecting into the interior of the vehicle can be detached or damaged by the airbag. Covers, parts of covers, or particles of the cover that have become detached could represent, under some circumstances, a risk of injury for the vehicle occupants. 
   Furthermore, in this way it can also be prevented that an airbag deployed due to the impact completely or partially closes the opened cover due to its unfolding movement, wherein body parts could become stuck. 
   In another aspect, the invention relates to a dashboard with a storage compartment, in particular, with a glove compartment. The glove compartment has, for example, two covers, which are arranged one above the other and which can be opened in opposite directional senses. The joint formed between the covers is concealed by the upper of the two covers. 
   Opening and closing the covers can be realized with a rotating, pivoting, and/or translating motion. Advantageously, when opened, the upper cover is countersunk partially or completely in the dashboard, so that the opened upper cover does not or almost does not project into the interior of the motor vehicle. 
   In the lower storage compartment of the glove compartment, an energy absorption body can be arranged. In this case, the lower cover cannot be opened, that is, it is connected rigidly to the housing of the glove compartment and/or to the dashboard. 
   Instead, with two separate covers, the storage spaces in the storage compartment can also be concealed with a single cover, whose outer contour corresponds to the contour of the two separate covers each in their closed position. Here, optionally, the separating wall that separates the two storage spaces from each other can also be eliminated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention thus creates a glove compartment module system, which offers various equipment variants, each with the same or essentially the same outer appearance as the storage compartment, in particular, the glove compartment or the dashboard. 
     Furthermore, various embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Shown are: 
       FIG. 1 , a schematic section view of an embodiment of a storage compartment according to the invention, 
       FIG. 2 , a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage compartment according to the invention with mechanical coupling of the cover, 
       FIG. 3 , the view of  FIG. 2  for opened covers, 
       FIG. 4 , a side view of an embodiment of a dashboard according to the invention with a glove compartment, 
       FIG. 5 , a perspective view of the dashboard from the interior of the motor vehicle for opened covers, 
       FIG. 6 , a side view of an equipment variant of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  with knee impact protection, 
       FIG. 7 , the view of  FIG. 5  in the equipment variant with knee impact protection, 
       FIG. 8 , a perspective view of an equipment variant of the dashboard with a single cover, 
       FIG. 9 , a perspective view of an equipment variant of the dashboard according to  FIG. 8  with a single storage compartment, 
       FIG. 10 , a perspective view of a rotating bearing for the upper cover for countersinking in the dashboard, 
       FIG. 11 , a perspective view of a drive device with a connecting rod guide for the upper cover, 
       FIG. 12 , a schematic side view of another embodiment of a glove compartment according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Elements corresponding to each other in the subsequent description of the figures are characterized with the same reference symbols. 
     FIG. 1  shows a storage compartment  100  for a motor vehicle, for example, a glove compartment or the like. The storage compartment  100  has a housing  102 , which is divided by a separating wall  104  into an upper storage space  106  and a lower storage space  108 . In the embodiment considered here, in its installed position, the separating wall  104  runs essentially in the horizontal direction. 
   A cover  110  is supported on the housing  102  so that it can pivot upward about an axle  112 . In its closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover  110  conceals the storage compartment  106 . 
   Another cover  114  of the storage compartment  100  is supported so that it can pivot downward about an axle  116  on the housing  102 . In its closed position shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover  114  conceals the lower storage space  108 . 
   In the embodiment considered here, the cover  110  extends past the separating wall  104 . In this way, an edge region  118  is formed on the cover  110 . A user can easily grip the cover  110  in the edge region  118  in order to pivot this upward in the pivoting direction  120 . The edge region conceals the region  119  of the cover  114  that lies behind when the covers  110 ,  114  are closed viewed from the interior of the vehicle and that forms a joint  121  with the other cover  110 . 
   The lower cover  114  can have an activation handle  122 . By pulling on the activation handle  122 , a user can pivot the lower cover  114  downward in the pivoting direction  124 . 
   The two covers  110  and  114  can be coupled with each other by means of a coupling  126 , so that, for opening one of the two covers, the other cover is similarly opened. The coupling  126  can be constructed in such a way that the same also applies for the closing of the covers  110 ,  114 , that is, when closing one of the covers, the other cover is automatically also closed. 
   For this purpose, the coupling  126  can be constructed mechanically, electromechanically, and/or electronically. 
   In the embodiment considered here, the coupling  126  is constructed so that when the covers  110 ,  114  are closed, the cover  114  leads the cover  110 , so that the cover  144  [sic;  114 ] has reached its closed position shown in  FIG. 1  before the cover  110  reaches its closed position shown in  FIG. 1 . In this way, it is prevented that the covers  110 ,  144  impact each other with the outer edges shortly before reaching their respective closed position. 
   In a perspective view,  FIG. 2  shows a mechanical construction of the coupling  126  with the help of a lever mechanism. 
   The coupling  126  has, in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a lever  128 . The lever  128  is supported so that it can pivot about an axle  130  mounted on the housing  102 . For this purpose, the axle  130  holds another lever  132 , which has two opposing legs, through which the lever  128  runs. The lever  128  is connected to the lever  132  with an axle  134  running between the opposing legs of the lever  132 . 
   One end of the lever  128  is connected to a bottom region  136  of the lower cover  114  so that it can pivot. On the other end of the lever  128 , another lever  138  is supported so that it can pivot. The other end of the lever  138  is connected to an upper region  140  of the upper cover  110  so that it can pivot. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the lever  132  has on its end opposite the axle  130  a stop face  142 , which connects the two opposing legs of the lever  132  to each other. The stop face  142  has a curved profile. A pivoting motion of the lever  128  about the axle  134  for opening or closing the covers  110  and  114  is limited by the stop face  142 . 
   For opening the covers  110  and  114 , a user activates one of the two covers, in that he or she grips, for example, the cover  110  at the edge region  118  and pulls it upward, or in that he or she pulls the cover  114  downward in the pivoting direction  124  with the help of the activation handle  122 . 
   When the activation force engages the upper cover  110  in order to pivot this in the pivot direction  120 , the activation force is transferred via the lever  138  to the lever  128 , so that this executes a pivoting motion about its axle  134  and about the axle  130 , which is limited by the stop face  142 . In this way, the lower cover  114  is opened in the pivot direction  124 . 
   In contrast, if the activation force engages the lower cover  114  in order to open this in the pivot direction  124 , then the activation force is transferred via the lever  128  and the lever  138  to the upper cover  110 , so that this pivots in the pivot direction  120 , wherein the lever  128 , in turn, executes pivoting motions about the axles  134  and  130 , which are limited by the stop face  142 . 
     FIG. 3  shows the position of the levers  128 ,  132 , and  138  for opened covers  110  and  114 . 
   For closing the covers  110  and  114 , a corresponding process can be performed. For this purpose, a user can press the upper cover  110  downward in the pivot direction  144  or pull the cover  114  upward in the pivot direction  146 . The corresponding closing forces are transferred via the coupling  126  from the activated cover to the other cover. 
     FIG. 4  shows a cross section of a dashboard  148  with a storage compartment  100 . The storage compartment  100  is arranged underneath a passenger airbag  150 . The upper cover  110  of the storage compartment  100  extends past the separating wall  104 , so that it conceals a joint  121  between the upper cover  110  and the lower cover  114 . Due to this, the joint  121  is not visible for a passenger  152 , when he is located in his normal sitting position on a passenger seat  154 . 
   The upper cover  110  has a lower edge  158 , which lies in front of an upper edge  160  of the lower cover  114  viewed from the direction of the passenger  152 . Therefore, the cover  110  conceals the joint  121  formed between the lower edge  158  and the upper edge  160 , so that this is invisible in the viewing direction  162  of the passenger  152 , when the covers  110  and  114  are closed. In the embodiment considered here, a receiving region  168  for the cover  110  is formed between an upper wall  164  of the housing  102  and an upper limit  166  of the storage space  106 . The receiving region  168  is located in the installed position of the storage compartment  100  in the interior of the dashboard  148 . 
   When the cover  110  is opened, this is at least partially countersunk in the receiving region  168 , as shown with dashed lines in  FIG. 4 . This can be realized by a rotating motion and/or a translating motion, as explained in more detail farther below with reference to the embodiments of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
   For opening the storage compartment  100 , the passenger  152  grips the upper cover  110  in the region of its lower edge  158  and pulls the lower edge upward, wherein the cover  110  executes an opening motion, through which it is rotated or moved into the receiving region  168 . If the two covers  110  and  114  are coupled with each other, the lower cover  114  opens through a pivoting motion into its opened position similarly shown with dashed lines in  FIG. 4 . 
   Alternatively, the opening of the two covers  110  and  114  coupled with each other can also be initiated by activating the activation handle  122 . 
   For closing the covers  110  and  114 , the passenger  152  can grip the cover  110  countersunk at least partially in the receiving region  168  in the region of its lower edge  158  and pull it out from the receiving region  168 . For covers  110  and  114  coupled with each other, this leads simultaneously to the closing of the lower cover  114 . 
   Alternatively, the passenger  152  can also close the two covers  110  and  114 , if both are coupled with each other, in that he activates the lower cover  114 . In this way, the upper cover  110  is rotated or moved out of its receiving region  168  into its closed position. 
   This embodiment is especially advantageous, because gripping the upper cover  110  in the region of its lower edge  158  can be associated with difficulties for the passenger  152 , especially if the cover  110  has been completely countersunk into the receiving region  168 . In this case, the closing of the upper cover  110  based on an activation of the lower cover  114  is advantageous. 
   Another advantage of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  consists in that, due to the ability to at least partially countersink the cover  110  in the receiving region  168 , it can be prevented that the passenger airbag  150  impacts the opened cover  110  when the airbag deploys, which could result in injuries. 
     FIG. 5  shows the dashboard  148  in a perspective view from the interior of the vehicle, for opened covers  110  and  114 . In the embodiment shown here, the storage compartment  100  is constructed as a divided glove compartment with two storage spaces  106  and  108  (cf.  FIGS. 1  and  4 ) lying one above the other. In its shown open position, the upper cover  110  is almost completely countersunk in the dashboard  148 . 
     FIG. 6  shows an equipment variant of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In this embodiment, an energy absorption body  170  is located in the lower storage space  108 . An impact surface mounted in front of the energy absorption body  170  is formed by the lower cover  114 . In this embodiment, the cover  114  is not to open, but instead is connected rigidly to the dashboard  148 . 
   Through the energy absorption body  170  and the front-mounted cover  114 , knee impact protection, that is, a so-called knee pad, is created. The outer contour of the dashboard  148  is here essentially identical to the outer contour in the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the difference that the activation handle  122  is eliminated, because the lower cover  114  cannot be opened. 
   The energy absorption body  170  can be made, for example, from a foam material or a foam composite material and/or can have a honeycomb-shaped structure for absorbing energy. 
     FIG. 7  shows the variant of the dashboard of  FIG. 6  in perspective view for an opened upper cover  110 . In this variant, the coupling  126  (cf.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 ) between the covers  110  and  114  is not realized or kept, so that the cover  110  can open and close independent of the cover  114 . For example, the coupling of the covers  110  and  114  is kept in such a way that the levers  128 ,  132 , and  138  (cf.  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) are not mounted. 
     FIG. 8  shows another equipment variant of the embodiments of the dashboard  148  shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 . In this equipment variant, the storage spaces  106  and  108  are concealed by a single cover  172 , which can pivot about the lower axle  116 . The cover  172  has essentially the same contour as the covers  110  and  114 , when these are located in their closed position. 
     FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of another equipment variant, which corresponds essentially to the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , wherein the separating wall  104  is eliminated. 
   As shown with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 9 , a glove compartment system is created, which allows various equipment variants, wherein the outer appearance of the dashboard  148  remains essentially unchanged. Through modular construction, various equipment variants can be created economically according to customer wishes and according to the legal regulations existing in respective countries. 
   In a perspective view,  FIG. 10  shows an attachment element  174 , through which the storage space  106  (cf.  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 4 to 8 ) is closed at the front. In the attachment element  174 , an opening  176  is formed, through which the storage space  106  is accessible for an opened cover  110 . By means of the attachment element  174 , the cover  110  is mounted so that it can pivot, in that the attachment element  174  defines an axis  112 , which runs in this embodiment approximately at the height of the separating wall  104  (cf.  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 4 to 9 ). On the cover  110 , side legs  178  are arranged, by means of which the cover  110  is connected to the axle  112 . If the cover  110  is pivoted about the axle  112 , it moves at least partially into the receiving region  168  (cf.  FIGS. 4 and 6 ). 
   In a perspective view,  FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of the attachment element  174 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , a connecting rod guide  180 , along which the cover  110  can be opened and closed, is formed by the attachment element  174 . In the embodiment considered here, the opening and closing motion of the cover is driven by an electric motor  182  by means of a gearwheel  184 , which engages in gearing  186  arranged on the back side of the cover  110 . Also in this embodiment, the cover  110  can be moved along the connecting rod guide  180  at least partially into the receiving region  168  (cf.  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) for its opening motion. 
   The activation of the electric motor  182  takes place, for example, through the activation of a switch on the dashboard  148  (cf.  FIGS. 4 to 9 ) and/or by activating the activation handle  122  (cf.  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 ). 
     FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of a glove compartment  100  for a motor vehicle. The glove compartment  100  has a housing  102 , which is divided by a separating wall  104  into an upper storage space  106  and a lower storage space  108 . In the embodiment considered here, the separating wall  104  runs essentially in the horizontal direction in its installed position. 
   A glove compartment cover  110  is mounted on the housing  102  so that it can pivot upward about an axle  112 . With the help of the connecting rod guide formed by the upper separating wall  188  and the connecting rod guide element  190 , the glove compartment cover can be countersunk in the receiving region  168 . 
   In its closed position shown in  FIG. 3 , the glove compartment cover  110  conceals the storage space  106 . 
   Another glove compartment cover  114  of the glove compartment  100  is mounted on the housing  102  so that it can pivot downward about an axle  116 . In its closed position shown in  FIG. 3 , the glove compartment cover  114  conceals the lower storage space  108 . 
   In the embodiment considered here, the glove compartment cover  110  extends past the separating wall  104 . Therefore, an edge region  118  is formed on the glove compartment cover  110 . A user can easily grip the glove compartment cover  110  in the edge region  118  in order to pivot this upward in the pivoting direction  120 . The edge region conceals the region  119  of the glove compartment cover  114 , which lies behind viewed from the interior of the vehicle when the covers  110 ,  114  are closed and which forms a joint  121  with the other glove compartment cover  110 . 
   The lower glove compartment cover  114  can have an activation handle  122 . By pulling on the activation handle  122 , a user can pivot the lower glove compartment cover  114  downward in the pivoting direction  124 . 
   The two glove compartment covers  110  and  114  can be coupled with each other by means of a coupling  126 , so that when one of the two glove compartment covers is opened, the other glove compartment cover is also opened. The coupling  126  can be constructed so that the same also applies for the closing of the glove compartment covers  110 ,  114 , that is, when one of the glove compartment covers closes, the other glove compartment cover is automatically also closed at the same time. 
   The coupling  126  can be constructed here mechanically, e.g., by means of a lever mechanism, electromechanically, and/or electronically. 
   In the embodiment considered here, the coupling  126  is constructed in such a way that when the glove compartment covers  110 ,  114  close, the glove compartment cover  114  leads the glove compartment cover  110 , so that the glove compartment cover  114  has reached its closed position shown in  FIG. 12  before the glove compartment cover  110  reaches its closed position. In this way it is avoided that the glove compartment covers  110 ,  144  impact each other with their outer edges shortly before reaching their respective closed positions. 
   LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
   
       
         100  Storage compartment 
         102  Housing 
         104  Separating wall 
         106  Storage space 
         108  Storage space 
         110  Cover 
         112  Axle 
         114  Cover 
         116  Axle 
         118  Edge region 
         120  Pivoting direction 
         121  Joint 
         122  Activation handle 
         124  Pivoting direction 
         126  Coupling 
         128  Lever 
         130  Axle 
         132  Lever 
         134  Axle 
         136  Region 
         138  Lever 
         140  Region 
         142  Stop face 
         144  Pivoting direction 
         146  Pivoting direction 
         148  Dashboard 
         150  Passenger airbag 
         152  Passenger 
         154  Passenger seat 
         158  Lower edge 
         160  Upper edge 
         162  Viewing direction 
         164  Wall 
         166  Boundary 
         168  Receiving region 
         170  Energy absorption body 
         172  Cover 
         174  Attachment element 
         176  Opening 
         178  Leg 
         180  Connecting rod guide 
         182  Electric motor 
         184  Gearwheel 
         186  Gearing