Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an arrangement of apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising at least one equipment element and a dashboard for a motor vehicle comprising such an arrangement of apparatus. 
     However, although more particularly intended to equip dashboards, the apparatus arrangement in accordance with the invention could likewise be installed within other assemblies or subassemblies of the interior passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. 
     In the motor-vehicle field, at the present time, dashboards are known which are equipped with optional equipment elements such as various types of boxes intended for storage, for cassette and compact-disc players, control panels for air-conditioning devices, alphanumeric keyboards, various types of electrical and/or other outlets. 
     A first drawback of these dashboards is that the fixing solutions used to integrate their optional equipment elements are specific to them, which increases the number of pieces and the fitting operations to be carried out, thus penalising their cost. 
     Furthermore, the relative dimensions of these equipment elements are not matched to one another, which most often gives rise to wasting of space and thus limits the total number of equipment elements capable of being installed. 
     In order to rationalise the fitting of optional equipment elements in the dashboards, it has been proposed to provide reserved spaces fitted with standard housings configured in advance for one or more given types of equipment elements. The housings are then occupied or not occupied depending on the position of the vehicle in the range. 
     Nevertheless, such reserved spaces are dedicated to given equipment elements and therefore require adaptations when it is a matter of housing an equipment element not provided for. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to propose an arrangement of apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising at least one equipment element and a dashboard for a motor vehicle including such an arrangement of apparatus which remedies the abovementioned drawbacks and the development and/or the fitting of which is facilitated. 
     Another object of the present invention is to propose an arrangement of apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising at least one equipment element and a dashboard for a motor vehicle comprising such an arrangement of apparatus, the size of which is optimised. 
     Another object of the present invention is to propose an arrangement of apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising at least one equipment element and a dashboard for a motor vehicle comprising such an arrangement of apparatus the use and/or the composition of which are more modular, during manufacture as well as at the moment of or after purchase. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge in the course of the description which will follow, which is given only by way of indication and which is not for the purpose of limiting it. 
     The invention first of all relates to an arrangement of apparatus for a motor vehicle, which is equipped with at least one reserved space featuring, between a back wall and an opposite aperture, an axis, called longitudinal axis, and one or more side walls substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and in which arrangement: 
     the reserved space houses a plurality of equipment elements each comprising at least one chassis, equipped with first fixing means, the chassis featuring at least one side face, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and in which elements: 
     at least one of the side face or faces, called standard face, features a given dimension, called basic dimension, or a multiple of the basic dimension, in its direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, called standard direction, 
     the fixing means are provided regularly at least in the case of some of them, on the standard side face or faces, along its or their standard direction as a function of the basic dimension or dimensions, 
     at least a part of the wall or walls, called standard walls, features dimensions corresponding to one or to multiples of the basic dimension or dimensions of the equipment items, in its or their direction substantially parallel to the standard direction or directions of the equipment items, 
     at least the standard wall or walls is or are equipped, at least in the case of some of them, with second fixing means, distributed regularly as a function of the basic dimension or dimensions, and able to interact with the first means for fixing the equipment items, designed to be fastened together and/or to the walls, individually, so as to be removable, one beside and/or above the others. 
     The invention further relates to a dashboard for a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement of apparatus as described above. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, accompanied by the drawings in the annex which form an integral part of it, and among which: 
     FIG. 1, in front view, describes a first embodiment example of the arrangement of apparatus in accordance with the invention, 
     FIG. 2, in the same view as in FIG. 1, describes a second embodiment example of the invention, 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a detail, identified as III, in the preceding FIG. 2, 
     FIGS. 4 to  8  are views in a section taken along the line IV—IV illustrated in the preceding FIG. 1, illustrating different variant embodiments, FIG. 6 illustrating a detail identified as VI in the preceding FIG. 5, 
     FIG. 9 describes, in perspective, a first embodiment example of the equipment element for a motor vehicle used in the invention, 
     FIG. 10 describes, in perspective, a second embodiment example of the equipment element for a motor vehicle used in the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention first of all relates to an arrangement of apparatus for a motor vehicle. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2  and  4  to  8 , the arrangement is equipped with at least one reserved space  16  exhibiting, between a back wall  30 , which is solid or otherwise, and an opposite aperture  20 , an axis  25 , called longitudinal axis, and one or more side walls  15 , substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     In FIGS. 1 and 2, the axis  25  is perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of drawings. The term “longitudinal”, however, does not pre-ordain either the orientation of the back wall and/or of the aperture of the reserved space  16 , nor of its depth. 
     According to the invention, the reserved space houses a plurality of equipment elements  1 , each consisting of at least one chassis  2 , equipped with first fixing means  3 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the chassis  2  features, for example, between a front face  4 , open or otherwise, and a rear face  5 , open or otherwise, called end faces, at least one side face  6 , substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  25 , especially perpendicular to the end faces  4 ,  5 . The front, rear and/or side faces  4 ,  5 ,  6  define the contour of the equipment elements  1 , for example. 
     At least one of the side face or faces  6 , called standard face, features a given dimension, called basic dimension, or a multiple of the said basic dimension, in its direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis  25 , called standard direction. 
     Furthermore, the first fixing means  3  are provided regularly, at least in the case of some of them, on the standard side face or faces  6 , along its or their standard direction, as a function of the basic dimension or dimensions. 
     By “provided regularly” it is understood that the fixing means are distributed, especially, at regular intervals. 
     The equipment elements  1  in accordance with the invention thus feature one or more side faces  6 , the dimensions of which are equal to one or more basic dimensions a, b or a multiple of the basic dimension or dimensions. In that way “bricks” are made up, of a greater or lesser size, but always equal to a multiple of the size of one basic brick exhibiting side faces with dimensions a, b. 
     On these bricks, the fixing means are distributed regularly on the basis of the basic dimensions a, b, either on the same equipment element  1 , or by association of several said equipment elements. 
     The equipment elements  1  especially feature a housing, able to constitute a storage space and/or to house active, mechanical, electrical and/or electronic components, carrying out a given function. 
     These take the form, particularly, of ash trays, bins, storage of various kinds, especially for cassettes, compact discs, loose change, spectacles, credit cards, road maps, remote controls, pens, and/or others, cup holders, tablets or confectionery, and/or others. 
     These may also take the form, for example, of cassette or compact-disc players, badge readers, numerical, alphanumeric and/or other keyboards, current outlets, cigar lighter, data sockets, switches, telephone supports, electric torches and/or other things, handkerchief dispensers, compact-disc changers, electronics cards, and/or others. 
     The first fixing means  3  are provided, for example, at least partly in the bulk of the standard faces  6 . They are therefore defined, especially, by the shape of the faces, which are intended to interact with forms in the negative shape. 
     The first fixing means  3  consist, for example, of ribs  7  and/or grooves  8 , substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  25 , provided on at least a part of the length parallel to this latter one of the elements, which are intended to interact, by fitting together, respectively, with grooves or ribs, with substantially complementary profiles, situated, as set out below, within one or more neighbouring equipment elements  1  within the reserved space  16  and/or consisting of small bars  31 . 
     As represented in FIG. 3, this is especially dovetailed in profile. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is observed that the ribs  7  and/or grooves  8  of the equipment elements  1  are spaced by a substantially constant distance between centres, equal to the corresponding basic dimension or to a fraction of the type 1/n, n being a natural integer, of the said basic dimension. 
     By way of non-limiting example, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the chassis  2  constituting the equipment elements  1  in accordance with the invention exhibits a substantially rectangular box shape, each of its side faces  6  being a standard face equipped with fixing means  3  in the form of ribs  7  and/or of grooves  8 , spaced mutually apart by the corresponding basic dimension a, b. 
     That being so, the chassis  2  possibly features means  11  for connection to a current-supply circuit intended to supply power, especially lighting, and/or for data distribution/acquisition. This may, for example, take the form of one or more electrical connectors, provided in the region of the end faces  4 ,  5  or side face  6  of the element  1 . 
     They are provided, especially, regularly distributed as a function of the basic dimension or dimensions. 
     According to one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the connection means  11  are situated at the rear of the equipment elements  1  and consist of a connector  32  which interacts with the connector  32   a  of the reserved space  16 . 
     According to another particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connection means  11  are provided in the region of the aid fixing means  3  and are able to allow a current flow and/or data distribution/acquisition by way of at least one of the equipment elements  1 , to the outside, especially to or from other equipment elements  1 . 
     To that end, the equipment elements  1  are provided, for example, with a current-supply circuit  1   a  and/or a data distribution/acquisition circuit internally linking its connectors  12 , provided in the region of at least two of its fixing means  3 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is observed that at least a part of the wall or walls  15  of the reserved space  16 , called standard walls, features dimensions corresponding to one or multiples of the basic dimension or dimensions of the equipment  1 , in its or their direction substantially parallel to the standard direction or directions of the equipment  1 . 
     The standard wall or walls  15  are equipped, at least in the case of some of them, with second fixing means  17 , regularly distributed on the basis of the basic dimension or dimensions a, b, able to interact with the first fixing means  3  of the equipment  1 , these being provided fastened together and/or to the walls  15 , individually, so as to be removable, one beside and/or above the others. 
     Thus an arrangement of apparatus is made available in a configuration which can easily be upgraded, of optimised size and of simple implementation. 
     The arrangement of apparatus in accordance with the invention consists, for example, of at least one reinforcement  13 , equipped with support means  14  for the equipment elements  1 , the reserved space  16  being provided in the region of the support means  14 . 
     It will be noted that, when empty, the reinforcement  13  is equipped with at least one reserved space  16  the wall or walls  15  of which feature the fixing means  17 , regularly spaced. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, according to a first variant embodiment, the support means  14  consist of one face of the amid reinforcement  13 , defining one standard wall  15  of the reserved space  16  equipped with second fixing means. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, according to another embodiment, the support means  14  consist of a casing  18 , able to be fastened to the rest  19  of the reinforcement. 
     The casing  18  features, for example, a back wall and an aperture  20  between which extend side faces  21  constituting the walls of the reserved space  16 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, it is observed that the arrangement could, furthermore, possibly comprise a multiplexed circuit  22 , especially for current supply and/or for data flow. 
     According to another embodiment, as already set out above, the current supply and/or the flow of data could be implemented by way of at least one of the equipment elements  1  itself, from at least one connection point provided in the region of one of the walls  15  of the reserved space  16 . The use of conductors the fixing of which still remains a problem, or of connection rails on a back plane panel, is thereby avoided. 
     That being so, in the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the grooves  8  formed on the inner wall  15  of the casing  18  are masked by a cover (not represented). In order to overcome this drawback, the variant represented in FIGS. 7 and 10 shows that: 
     the elements  1  include only grooves  8  on their side faces  6 , 
     the inner walls  15  of the reserved space  16  include only ribs  7 , 
     these grooves  8  are combined, when necessary, with profiled bars  31  which then make it possible not to have the grooves opening out on the front face. 
     Another variant illustrated in FIG. 8 consists in providing, in the back wall of the reserved space  16 , a plurality of housings  207  able to receive tenons  208  of the elements  1 ; said fixing means  3  are provided on the side faces  6  and possibly on the walls  15 , such as clips  210 , these means being located at the opposite end from the back wall of the reserved space  16 , so as to balance the weight of the elements  1 . The invention also relates to a dashboard for a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement of apparatus as described above. This is provided, especially, at the central part, the reserved space  16  being situated under the rest  19  of the reinforcement  13 , designed to consist of a cover  23  of the dashboard, situated at the upper part. 
     Naturally, other embodiments, within the scope of the person skilled in the art, could have been envisaged without in any way departing from the context of the invention, especially the use of screws, rivets, clips, etc. located according to the invention at regular intervals as defined above for the standard walls.

Technology Category: 7