Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an inner storage device for a motor vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An inner storage device for a motor vehicle may comprise a storage body, delimiting a storage area accessible through an opening, and a cover movable between an open position, in which the storage area is accessible, and a closed position, in which the cover closes off the opening. The device may also include a locking mechanism movable between a locked position, in which the locking mechanism keeps the cover in the closed position, and an unlocked position, in which the locking mechanism allows the cover to go from its closed position to its open position, an actuating member making it possible to bring said locking mechanism from its locked position to its unlocked position when the actuating member is actuated, and at least one elastic return member being arranged to return the locking mechanism to the locked position when the actuating member is not actuated. The device may also include at least one push-piece arranged between the cover and the storage body, the piece being movable between a retracted position and an extracted position in which the push-piece keeps the cover in a partially open position. 
     Such a storage device may be, for example, a motor vehicle glove box. 
     Such a storage device is generally provided with a cover closing off the storage area and kept in the closed position by the locking mechanism. An actuating member, generally in the form of a pushbutton or handle, makes it possible to deactivate the locking mechanism so as to allow opening of the cover. 
     Document FR 2 935 320 describes such a storage device that also comprises thrust mechanism designed to maneuver the cover from its closed position to a partially open position. 
     Such a thrust mechanism make it possible to lend the storage device a high “perceived quality” by offering opening assistance making it possible to have a particularly precise opening path for the cover. Furthermore, such thrust mechanism makes it possible to indicate to the user whether the cover is closed correctly reliably simply by observing the position thereof. 
     However, such a device is complex to implement, since the thrust mechanism may comprise several parts separate from the locking and actuating mechanisms, which increases the number of elements to be managed during assembly of the storage device. 
     Furthermore, in this device, the thrust mechanism is arranged across from the edge of the cover, which makes it visible when the cover is in the open position. This arrangement is detrimental to the esthetics of the storage device. 
     SUMMARY 
     One of the aims of the invention is to offset these drawbacks by proposing a storage device comprising opening assistance done more simply and with fewer parts, while preserving a high “perceived quality” and satisfactory esthetics. 
     To that end, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a storage device of the aforementioned type, wherein the elastic return member is also arranged to push said push-piece toward its extracted position when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position. 
     The push-piece is therefore actuated by the same elastic return member that allows the locking mechanism to go to the locked position. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a different return member for the push-piece, which reduces the number of parts necessary to produce the device, while preserving the opening assistance function and the high “perceived quality.” Furthermore, in this device, the push-piece is arranged close to the locking mechanism, which is not immediately visible when the cover is opened. The esthetics of the storage device are therefore improved. 
     According to other features of the storage device:
         the locking mechanism comprises at least one retaining element secured to the storage body and a locking element rotatably mounted on the cover, said locking element cooperating with the retaining element in the locked position and being spaced away from said retaining element in the unlocked position;   the elastic return member is mounted around the axis of rotation of the locking element and comprises a first end part bearing on a surface of the cover so as to return the locking element to the locked position and a second end part bearing on the push-piece so as to push it toward its extracted position;   the actuating member is rotatably mounted on the cover and comprises a tongue bearing on the locking element so as to cause it to go to an unlocked position against the return force of the return member when the actuating member is actuated, said tongue being returned to its initial position by the locking element when the actuating member is not actuated;   the retaining element comprises a bolt and the locking element comprises a strike;   the locking mechanism comprises two retaining elements arranged on either side of a storage body in a transverse direction, the locking element comprising a shaft extending transversely and comprising a strike at each of its end portions, said strikes each cooperating with an element for retaining the locking position;   the retaining element is hook-shaped, the cover comprising a shoulder arranged across from the retaining element, the retaining element cooperating with said shoulder in case of deformation of the storage device causing a relative longitudinal movement of the cover relative to the storage body bringing the shoulder closer to the retaining element;   the push-piece comprises a body secured to a cover and a head translatable relative to the body along an axis substantially perpendicular to the cover, the return member exerting a thrust on said head so as to push it toward its extracted position;   a compression spring is mounted between the body and the head, said spring pushing the head toward its extracted position;   the storage device comprises two push-pieces arranged on either side of the cover in a transverse direction, two return members being arranged each to push a push-piece toward its extracted position and to return the locking mechanism to the locked position when the actuating member is not actuated; and   the cover is rotatably mounted relative to the storage body around a transverse axis of rotation extending near a front transverse edge of said storage body, the locking mechanism, the actuating member, the push-piece and the return member being arranged near the opposite rear transverse edge of the storage body.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, provided as an example and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration of a storage device according to one embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of the cover of the storage device according to an embodiment of the invention, seen from below, 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective illustration of  FIG. 2 , seen from above, the trim element of the cover having been removed, 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration of part of the storage device, the cover being in the closed position, 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration of the part of the storage device of  FIG. 4 , the cover being in the partially open position, the push-piece being made according to an alternative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the description, the terms “front” and “rear” are defined in the usual directions of an assembled motor vehicle. The term “longitudinal” is defined along the length of the vehicle, i.e., in a front-to-back direction, and the term “transverse” is defined along the width of the vehicle, i.e., in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1 , an inner storage device  1  for a motor vehicle is described, for example of the glove box type, comprising a storage body  2 , delimiting a storage area  4  accessible through an opening  6 , closed by a cover  8 . The storage device  1  is for example designed to be incorporated into a dashboard (not shown) of a motor vehicle. The storage device  1  shown in the figures is particularly well suited to be arranged above and in front of the speedometer and other indicators of the dashboard. 
     The storage body  2  is delimited by a front transverse edge  10  and a rear transverse edge  12 , connected to each other by two longitudinal walls  14  spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction and connected by a bottom  16 . The transverse edges  10  and  12 , the longitudinal walls  14  and the bottom  16  delimit the storage space  4 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The cover  8  is rotatably mounted on the storage body  2  around a transverse axis A extending in the vicinity of the front transverse edge  10  of said body  2 . The cover  8  is thus movable between a closed position, in which it covers the storage body  2  so as to close off the opening  6  and close the storage space  4 , and an open position, shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the storage space  4  is accessible through the opening  6 . The cover  8  comprises an inner wall  18  extending opposite the bottom  16  and an outer trim wall  20  designed to extend in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, for example in the continuation of the dashboard. The inner  18  and outer  20  walls extend between a front edge  22 , arranged opposite the front transverse edge  10  of the body  2 , a rear transverse edge  24 , arranged opposite the rear edge  12  of the body  2 , and two longitudinal edges  26 , extending opposite the longitudinal walls  14  of the body  2 . The cover  2  is rotatably mounted on the body  2  by two tabs  28  extending perpendicular to the inner wall  18  under the rear edge  12  and in the vicinity of the longitudinal edges  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The storage device  1  comprises locking mechanism  30  locking the cover  8  in the closed position. The locking mechanism  30  comprises at least one retaining element  32  secured to the storage body  2 , in the vicinity of the rear transverse edge  12  and a longitudinal wall  14  thereof. The retaining element  32  forms a hook protruding from the bottom  16  of the storage body  2  and has a recess  34  extending toward the back, substantially parallel to the bottom  16  in the storage space  4 . A bolt  36  is supported by the recess  34 . According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the locking mechanism  30  comprises two retaining elements  32 , positioned on either side of the storage body  2  in a transverse direction, i.e. each retaining element  32  is located in the vicinity of one of the longitudinal walls  14  of the body  2 . 
     The locking mechanism  30  also comprises a locking element  38  rotatably mounted around a transverse axis B in the cover  8 . The locking member  38  is rotatable between a locked position, in which it cooperates with the retaining element  32  ( FIG. 4 ) so as to keep the cover  8  in the closed position, and an unlocked position, in which the locking element  38  is spaced away from the retaining element  32  ( FIG. 5 ) so as to allow the cover  8  to go from its closed position to its open position. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the locking element  38  is formed by a shaft  40  extending substantially transversely between the retaining elements  32 , opposite them and between the inner wall  18  and the outer wall  20  of the cover  8 , in the vicinity of the rear edge  24  thereof. At both of its ends, the shaft  40  bears a strike  42  protruding from the inner wall  18  of the cover  8 , substantially perpendicular thereto and able to cooperate with the bolt  36  of the retaining element  32  arranged opposite the closed position of the cover  8 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, in the closed position of the cover  6 , the locking mechanism  30  is in the locked position, in which the strikes  42  cooperate with the bolts  36  to keep the cover  6  in the closed position and prevent it from opening, as shown in  FIG. 4 . During the transition to the unlocked position, the shaft  40  rotates around the transverse axis B, which results in moving the strike  42  of the corresponding bolt  36  away in the forward direction, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The strike  42  extends in a housing  44  provided in the inner wall  18  of the cover and in which the retaining element  32  places itself when the cover  8  is in the closed position. This housing  44  comprises a shoulder  46  extending substantially parallel to the bottom  16  toward the front, so as to be opposite the recess  34  of the retaining element  32  when the cover  8  is in the closed position, as shown in  FIG. 4 . During normal operation, the recess  34  is spaced away from the shoulder  46  in the longitudinal direction so as to allow the cover  6  to move toward its open position. In the event of an impact, for example against the front of the motor vehicle, longitudinal deformation of the storage device causes a relative movement of the retaining element  32  with respect to the cover  8 . The retaining element  32  then comes closer to the shoulder  46 , which results in causing the recess  34  of the retaining element  32  to cooperate with the shoulder  46 . In this way, the cover  8  is firmly maintained relative to the storage body  2  and cannot move into the open position. Such an arrangement offers great security, while preventing the cover from forming an obstacle in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle if the impact were to move it into the open position. 
     An actuating member  48  allows the user to move the locking mechanism  30  from the locked position to the unlocked position. The actuating member  48  is for example made up of a tongue  50  rotatably mounted on the cover  8  and extending under the rear edge  24  thereof, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Part of the tongue  50  extends between the inner wall  18  and the outer wall  20  of the cover and can bear on a complementary tongue  52  of the shaft  40  to rotate the latter toward its unlocked position. Thus, to open the storage device  1 , the user presses on the tongue  50  and lifts the cover  8  in the same movement, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     At least one return member  54  is arranged around the shaft  40  to return the locking element  38  to the locked position when the actuating member  48  is not actuated. This return member  54  is formed by a spring wound around the shaft  40  in the vicinity of a strike  42  and comprises a first end portion  56  bearing on a surface  57  of the cover  8  so as to return the locking element  38  to the locked position. The rotation of the actuating member  48  is therefore done against the return force of the return member  54  and the latter returns the locking element  38  to the locked position and the tongue  50  of the actuating member  48  to its initial position when said tongue  50  is not actuated by a user, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . According to the embodiment shown in the figures, and as more particularly shown in  FIG. 3 , the storage device comprises two return members  54  each arranged at an end portion of the shaft  40  in the vicinity of a strike  42 . 
     The storage device  1  also comprises at least one push-piece  58 , arranged between the cover  8  and the storage body  2 , formed from a body  60  extending substantially perpendicular to the inner surface  18  of the cover  8  towards the storage space  4  and a head  62  translatably mounted in the body  60  along an axis substantially perpendicular to the inner wall  18  of the cover  8 . The head  62  is movable between a retracted position ( FIG. 4 ), in which the head  62  is retracted in the body  60  and allows locking of the locking mechanism  30 , and an extracted position ( FIG. 5 ), in which the head  62  exits the body  60  and bears against the bottom  16  of the storage body  2 , such that when the cover  8  is folded down against the storage body  2 , the cover  8  is kept in a partially open position. The head  62  is stressed into its extracted position by the return member  54 , which returns the locking element  38  to the locked position. To that end, the return member  54  comprises a second end portion  64  that bears on the head  62  so as to push the latter toward its extracted position, as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 5 . The advantage of the presence of such a push-piece  58  is described in document FR-2 935 320. The push-piece  58  in particular makes it possible to indicate to the user whether the cover  8  is closed correctly. In fact, in the extracted position, the push-piece  58  creates a space between the rear edge  24  of the cover  8  and the rear edge  12  of the storage body  2 . If the user observes the presence of that space, this indicates to said user that the locking mechanism  30  is not correctly engaged and that the closed position of the cover  8  is not locked. Furthermore, the push-piece  58  offers opening assistance. 
     According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the storage device  1  comprises two push-pieces  58  arranged on either side of the cover in a transverse direction in the vicinity of the strikes  42 , such that the two return members  54  make it possible to push the heads  62  of said push-pieces  58 . 
     Thus, a single return member  54  makes it possible both to return the locking mechanism  30  to the locked position and to push the push-piece  58  toward its extracted position, which simplifies the storage device  1  and limits the number of component parts thereof, thereby facilitating assembly. 
     Furthermore, the push-piece  58  extends under the cover and is not directly visible during opening of said cover  8 , which improves the esthetics of the storage device. 
     According to one embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the push-piece  58  also comprises a compression spring  66  provided between the head  62  and the body  60  of the push-piece  58 . The spring  66  is arranged to push the head  62  toward its extracted position. Such a compression spring  66  makes it possible to increase the thrust force of the push-piece  58  against the storage body  2  without requiring that the force from the return member  54  be increased, i.e. modifying the force exerted on the strike  42  to lock the cover. Such a compression spring  66  therefore makes it possible to improve the opening assistance of the push-piece  58 .

Technology Category: 4