DE102019126853B3 - VEHICLE COMPARTMENT WITH LOCKABLE MOVABLE COVER - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle compartment (1) with a loading opening (4) which can be covered by means of a movable cover (5) and with a manually operated locking mechanism (7) for locking the cover (5) in its closed position covering the loading opening (4), wherein the locking mechanism comprises a push button (6), an elastic columnar compression element (9) and a locking element (10), which are arranged so that the push button (6) under compression of the compression element (9) and with movement of the locking element (10) can be moved into an unlocked position, and the compression element (9) is designed to buckle to the side from the rest position when a predetermined movement distance (xk) of the push button (6) is reached. A method is used to open a cover that can be releasably locked on a vehicle compartment, in which a push button is moved from its rest position by the application of external force (Fd), thereby compressing an elastic columnar compression element and moving a locking element into an unlocking position, the compression element being reached a predetermined distance of movement of the push button buckles laterally from the rest position.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a vehicle compartment with a loading opening which can be covered by a movable cover, and with a manually operable locking mechanism for locking the cover in its closed position covering the loading opening, the locking mechanism comprising a manually movable push button, an elastic columnar compression element and a locking element which are arranged so that the push button can be moved from its rest position by compressing the compression element and moving the locking element into an unlocked position.

State of the art

Vehicle compartments of the type in question are known in which a compression element in the form of a helical compression spring is linearly compressed from its rest position when the push button is pushed in manually. When the actuation is completed, the helical compression spring expands again and pushes the push button back into its rest position. The disadvantage here is that the operator of the push button does not receive any clear tactile feedback from the locking mechanism and therefore often presses the push button in further than necessary.

JP H08-175 272 A discloses a vehicle compartment according to the preamble of claim 1.

U.S. 3,699,296 A discloses a snap switch and actuator of an electrical circuit in which a resilient columnar compression element is axially loaded to a point of catastrophic buckling. In one embodiment, the column serves both as an electrical conductor and as a contact and kinks into contact with another electrically conductive element in order to close a switch of the electrical circuit. Alternatively, the kinked column can operate a piezoelectric, optical, or other signal generating device to generate signals that are used to switch or close other contacts of the electrical circuit.

Description of the invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle compartment of the type in question which, using means that are as simple as possible in terms of construction, provides noticeable tactile feedback when the pushbutton is pushed in from its rest position.

The object is achieved by the subjects of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying figures.

• - der Verriegelungsmechanismus ein, insbesondere manuell bewegliches, Element (im Folgenden ohne Beschränkung der Allgemeinheit als „Druckknopf‟ bezeichnet), ein elastisches säulenförmiges Kompressionselement und ein Verriegelungselement aufweist, die so angeordnet sind, dass der Druckknopf aus seiner Ruhestellung unter axialem Zusammendrücken des Kompressionselements und Bewegung des Verriegelungselements in eine Entriegelungsstellung bewegbar ist, und wobei
• - das Kompressionselement so ausgebildet ist, dass es mit Erreichen einer vorgegebenen Bewegungsstrecke des Druckknopfs von der Ruhestellung seitlich ausknickt.

A vehicle compartment according to the invention is equipped with a loading opening, which can be covered by a movable cover, and with a locking mechanism, in particular manually operable, for locking the cover in its closed position covering the loading opening, wherein

• - The locking mechanism has an element, in particular a manually movable element (hereinafter referred to as “push button” without loss of generality), an elastic columnar compression element and a locking element, which are arranged in such a way that the push button is moved out of its rest position by axially compressing the compression element and Movement of the locking element is movable into an unlocked position, and wherein
• - The compression element is designed so that it buckles to the side from the rest position when the push button has reached a predetermined distance of movement.

This vehicle compartment has the advantage that the reduction in the counteracting spring force, which can be clearly seen when the compression element is buckled, results in a noticeably improved tactile feedback being output to an operator of the vehicle compartment. The locking mechanism is also mechanically simple and inexpensive to implement and also robust and durable. In addition, the lowering of the spring force caused when buckling is advantageous for safety reasons, because it makes automatic opening of the cover more difficult at high acceleration (for example of up to 30 g, as can occur in the event of a collision with the vehicle).

The associated vehicle can be a motor vehicle (e.g. a motor vehicle such as a passenger car, truck, bus, etc. or a motorcycle), a train, a watercraft (e.g. a boat or a ship) or an aircraft (e.g. an airplane or a helicopter).

The vehicle compartment can be a glove compartment, a vehicle compartment located in a center console, a vehicle compartment located in an armrest, and so on.

When the cover is in its closed position, it covers the loading opening. Otherwise the cover is in a Opening position. The cover can also be referred to as a lid.

The cover is held in its closed position by means of the locking mechanism when the push button is in its rest position. In the rest position, the push button is not actuated or no external force is exerted on the push button. The locking element is then also in its locking position and, when the cover is closed, engages in the vehicle compartment, e.g. in a body of the same, which has the loading opening. This engagement can be non-positive and / or - advantageously - positive. This can also be expressed in such a way that the cover can be locked to the vehicle compartment by means of the locking mechanism.

To open the cover from its closed position, the locking mechanism is unlocked by pressing or moving the push button. When the push button is moved, it compresses the compression element and also moves the locking element into its unlocked position, in which it is or is in reach with the vehicle compartment. The cover can now fold open or slide open into an open position, in particular can be opened and / or closed manually and / or opened and / or closed with the aid of force.

The fact that the compression element is designed to buckle to the side when the pushbutton reaches a predetermined movement distance from the rest position includes, in particular, that the axially compressed compression element suddenly breaks out or buckles when the pushbutton reaches the predetermined movement distance. With the buckling, the counterforce of the compression element exerted on the push button is initially reduced, so that the push button can be pushed in more easily than immediately before. The counterforce increases again with further movement of the push button, in particular with the normal spring relationship for the compression element. Reaching the specified movement distance can also be referred to as reaching a buckling point. The buckling point consequently corresponds to the point or the position of the push button that it assumes when it is shifted from its rest position by the specified movement distance.

The specified movement distance is therefore behind the rest position of the push button (in which no external force is exerted on the push button by the user), but before the maximum movement distance or depth of depression of the push button, in other words between the rest position and the maximum depth of depression of the push button . The push button can be a linearly guided push button.

An operator of the vehicle compartment thus presses the push button to unlock the cover, the force opposing by the compression element increasing in accordance with a normal spring relationship, for example at least approximately linearly with a constant spring constant. If the specified movement path is reached during the pushing in, the compression element suddenly buckles to the side, which the operator perceives as a sudden, clearly noticeable reduction in the counterforce. The user is consequently provided with a tactile clearly perceptible point or route during a movement process. A manufacturer of the vehicle compartment can in principle freely choose this point between the rest position and the maximum depth of depression of the push button.

Upon termination of the actuation of the push button, which corresponds to the termination of an external application of force to the push button, the compressed compression element expands again and pushes the push button back into its rest position.

The cover can be brought back into its closed position when the push button is activated or not activated or when the locking mechanism is unlocked or locked.

In particular, the locking mechanism is only a mechanical mechanism, i.e. it has no electrical switching function.

It is an embodiment that the compression element is a helical compression spring. This is particularly easy and inexpensive to manufacture and has a long service life. The helical compression spring can be, for example, a cylindrical or conical helical compression spring. However, the compression element is not limited to helical compression springs, but can also be designed as a rod or a band-shaped strip made of elastic material, etc.

It is a further development that the compression element is already under pressure prestress in the rest position. This has the advantage that the push button does not wobble in its rest position, which prevents tactile behavior that is of little quality.

The compression element is installed axially pre-bent in the locking mechanism. As a result, the sudden buckling is achieved particularly reliably. In this way, the specified movement path for buckling can also be made simple and adjust precisely. The axial pre-bend includes, in particular, a bend, deviation or bulge of the compression element from its rectilinear shape or longitudinal extension. In particular, the axial pre-bending is already present in the rest position.

The compression element is a linear element in the free state. Such a compression element can advantageously be manufactured particularly inexpensively. A free state is understood to mean a state in which no forces act on the compression element and / or the compression element is not stretched (i.e., neither elongated, compressed, bent, twisted, etc.). However, the compression element can alternatively be an element that is already slightly bent in the free state. This has the advantage that it can be fastened in a straight line at its ends.

A first end of the compression element is attached to the push button and a second end of the compression element is attached to a stationary part of the locking mechanism. In this way, the compression element can advantageously be compressed particularly easily and directly by means of the push button.

Both ends of the compression element are arranged in the direction of movement of the push button, which advantageously further supports a sudden buckling. This embodiment includes that the two ends of the compression element lie on a line in space that corresponds to a direction of movement of the push button. The compression element of this embodiment then lies in or parallel to the direction of movement and not transversely thereto.

The compression element is installed at least at one end obliquely to the direction of movement of the push button. As a result, the initial deflection of the compression element in the rest position and consequently the predetermined movement path up to the sudden buckling can be achieved particularly easily and precisely.

It is an embodiment that the compression element is installed at both ends with the same circumferential angle obliquely to the direction of movement of the push button. As a result, the initial deflection of the compression element in the rest position and consequently the specified movement path up to the sudden buckling can be achieved in a particularly simple and precise manner. In particular, twisting and / or torsion of the compression element can also be reliably prevented in this way.

In one embodiment, the compression element is inserted at at least one end into a receptacle that is inclined to the direction of movement of the push button. A simple fastening of the compression element can thereby be achieved.

It is an embodiment that the compression element in the form of a helical compression spring is plugged at at least one end onto a pin which is inclined to the direction of movement of the push button. This also enables the helical compression spring to be easily fastened by placing it on the pin.

It is a further development that the locking mechanism provides a lateral stop for the buckled compression element. This has the advantage that the buckling of the compression element can be limited, which in turn allows the force-displacement curve of the compression element to be set in a particularly varied manner. For example, the drop in force after reaching the specified movement distance and / or the spring constant with further compression can be adjusted by the distance between the stop and the compression element that is not buckled.

It is an embodiment that the locking element is in its unlocked position when the predetermined movement path is reached. By reducing the spring force counteracting the movement, tactile feedback can be given that the unlocked position has been reached and the cover can be lifted. The unlocking position is thus assumed at least approximately when the specified movement distance has been reached.

It is an embodiment that the locking element is a hook that can be rotated by moving the push button. Alternatively, it can be e.g. a rotatable or linearly displaceable bolt, bolt, etc. It is a further development that the locking element is completely accommodated in the cover in its unlocked position.

The object is also achieved by a method for opening a cover that can be releasably locked on a vehicle compartment, in which a push button is moved from its rest position by the application of external force, thereby compressing an elastic columnar compression element and moving a locking element into an access or unlocking position, wherein the compression element buckles to the side from the rest position when a predetermined movement distance of the push button is reached.

The method can be designed analogously to the vehicle compartment and produces the same advantages.

Figure list

• 1 in Ansicht von schräg oben ein erfindungsgemäßes Fahrzeugfach;
• 2 in Ansicht von schräg oben einen Ausschnitt aus dem Fahrzeugfach von 1 mit aufgeschnittener Abdeckung mit Blick auf einen Verriegelungsmechanismus;
• 3 als Schnittdarstellung in Seitenansicht auf eine Schnittebene A-A das Fahrzeugfach mit dem Verriegelungsmechanismus in seinem nicht betätigten Zustand;
• 4 in einer zu 3 analogen Darstellung das Fahrzeugfach mit dem Verriegelungsmechanismus in seinem betätigten Zustand;
• 5 als Schnittdarstellung in Draufsicht auf eine Schnittebene B-B den Verriegelungsmechanismus in seinem nicht betätigten Zustand;
• 6 in einer zu 5 analogen Darstellung den Verriegelungsmechanismus in seinem betätigten Zustand; und
• 7 ein Kraft-Weg-Diagramm der in dem Verriegelungsmechanismus erzeugten Federkraft.

An advantageous exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

• 1 in a view obliquely from above a vehicle compartment according to the invention;
• 2 in an oblique view from above a section of the vehicle compartment from 1 with the cover cut open with a view of a locking mechanism;
• 3 as a sectional illustration in a side view on a sectional plane AA, the vehicle compartment with the locking mechanism in its non-actuated state;
• 4th in one too 3 analog representation of the vehicle compartment with the locking mechanism in its actuated state;
• 5 as a sectional illustration in plan view of a sectional plane BB, the locking mechanism in its non-actuated state;
• 6th in one too 5 analog representation of the locking mechanism in its actuated state; and
• 7th a force-displacement diagram of the spring force generated in the locking mechanism.

1 shows a vehicle compartment in an oblique view from above 1 with a body 2 in which a cavity 3 is designed to accommodate objects. The vehicle compartment 1 can for example be installed in a center console of a motor vehicle.

The cavity 3 has a loading opening on the top here 4th on that by means of a cover or lid 5 is coverable. The pivoting lid 5 is in its the loading opening 4th covering closed position shown and is against the body 2 positively locked. To unlock it, you can pull it out of the cover from the front 5 protruding push button 6th from its rest position into the lid 5 Eg manually pressed in, with an external force or pressing force Fd on the push button 6th is abandoned.

2 shows a section from the vehicle compartment in an oblique view from above 1 with lid cut open on top 5 facing a locking mechanism 7th . The locking mechanism 7th has one on the lid 5 fixed frame 8th on against which the push button 6th is linearly movable. The frame 8th can be a linear guide for the push button 6th form.

The locking mechanism 7th also has an elastic columnar compression element in the form of a helical compression spring 9 on when the pushbutton is pushed in 6th is compressed, a counterforce opposes the push-in movement and when the push button is released 6th pushes it back into its rest position. The helical compression spring 9 is a free-state rectilinear spring that is axially pre-bent in the locking mechanism 7th is built-in and is thus designed to buckle to the side. This ensures that the helical compression spring 9 upon reaching a predetermined movement distance of the push button 6th Suddenly buckles sideways while pressing.

The locking mechanism 7th also has a locking element in the form of a hook 10 when the push button is pushed in 6th from a positive engagement with the body 2 is rotated into an unlocked position in which it is in reach with the body 2 is located.

3 shows the vehicle compartment as a sectional illustration in a side view on a sectional plane AA 1 with the locking mechanism 7th in its non-actuated state. The hook 10 is in the form-fitting engagement with the body 2 and thereby locks it to the body 2 .

4th shows in one too 3 analog display of the vehicle compartment 1 with the locking mechanism 7th in its actuated state, in which the push button 6th due to the application of the force Fd is depressed. The hook 10 is now in its unlocked position and releases the lid 5 for its pivoting and thus accessibility of the loading opening 4th free. The hook is in its unlocked position 10 entirely in the lid 5 housed.

5 shows the locking mechanism as a sectional illustration in plan view of a sectional plane BB 7th in its non-actuated state. A first ending 9a the helical compression spring 9 is on the push button 6th attached by placing it on a tenon 11 of the push button 6th is attached. A second ending 9b the helical compression spring 9 is on the one regarding the lid 5 stationary frame 8th is attached by placing it in a funnel-shaped or pocket-shaped receptacle 12th of the frame 8th is used. The two ends 9a , 9b are in the direction of movement R. of the push button 6th arranged or on one of the direction of movement R. of the push button 6th corresponding line in space.

The helical compression spring 9 is on both ends 9a , 9b with the same circumferential angle obliquely to the direction of movement R. of the push button 6th is built in, as by the inclination of both ends 9a , 9b indicated to the left. This is implemented so that both the tenon 11 as well as the recording 12th are designed to be inclined in the same direction. As a result, and supported by the compression preload of the helical compression spring 9 , is achieved in a structurally simple manner that the helical compression spring 9 is already slightly bent or bulged to the side in the rest position.

6th shows in one too 5 analog representation of the locking mechanism 7th in its actuated state. Here is the push button 6th in the direction of movement R. against the frame 8th moved so that the helical compression spring 9 has been further compressed with respect to its rest position. Due to its initial bulging, the helical compression spring buckles 9 upon reaching a predetermined movement distance of the push button 6th suddenly strong sideways.

7th shows a force-displacement diagram in the locking mechanism 7th by the helical compression spring 9 generated spring force Fs in N, which corresponds to pressing the push button 6th or the associated indentation force Fd along its path of movement x counteracts, against the range of motion x of the push button 6th in mm. The rest position of the push button 6th is located at x = 0, where the helical compression spring 9 there already a spring force Fs> 0 on the pushbutton due to its pressure bias 6th exercises.

First, with movement of the push button 6th the helical compression spring 9 initially compressed so that their spring force Fs increases linearly, in particular according to the known linear spring law.

When the kink point is reached xk the spring force decreases Fs with further movement of the push button 6th before it increases again at least approximately linearly. The kink point xk , the size of the drop in force after reaching the buckling point xk and the linear spring constant can be precisely determined by the choice of the helical compression spring 9 , the compressive bias and the inclination of the ends 9a and 9b to adjust. For example, the kink point xk without any particular accuracy requirements in the manufacture of the locking mechanism 7th Adjust precisely within a range of 0.5 mm.

The figures are merely schematic representations and serve only to explain the invention. Elements that are the same or have the same effect are provided with the same reference symbols throughout.

List of reference symbols

1

Vehicle compartment

2

Body

3

cavity

4th

Loading opening

5

cover

6th

Push button

7th

Locking mechanism

8th

frame

9

Helical compression spring

9a

First end of the helical compression spring

9b

Second end of the helical compression spring

10

hook

11

Cones

12th

admission

F.

force

Fd

Indentation force

Fs

Spring force

R.

Direction of movement

x

Movement distance

xk

Kink point

Claims (8)

Vehicle compartment (1) with a loading opening (4) which can be covered by a movable cover (5), and with a manually operated locking mechanism (7) for locking the cover (5) in its closed position covering the loading opening (4), wherein - the locking mechanism (7) comprises a movable push button (6), an elastic columnar compression element (9) and a locking element (10), which are arranged so that the push button (6) from its rest position by compressing the compression element (9) and below Movement of the locking element (10) can be moved into an unlocking position, and wherein - the compression element (9) is designed to buckle to the side from the rest position upon reaching a predetermined movement distance (xk) of the push button (6), characterized in that the compression element (9) is installed axially pre-bent in the locking mechanism (7), wherein - the compression element ( 9) is a straight element in the free state, - a first end (9a) of the compression element (9) is attached to the push button (6) - a second end (9b) of the compression element (9) is attached to a stationary part (8) of the locking mechanism (7), - both ends (9a, 9b) of the compression element (9) are arranged in the direction of movement (R) of the push button (6) and - the compression element (9) is installed at at least one end (9a, 9b) at an angle to the direction of movement (R) of the push button (6). Vehicle compartment (1) Claim 1 , wherein the compression element (9) is a helical compression spring. Vehicle compartment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compression element (9) is installed at both ends (9a, 9b) with the same circumferential angle obliquely to the direction of movement (R) of the push button (6). Vehicle compartment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compression element (9) is inserted at at least one end (9b) in a receptacle (12) inclined to the direction of movement (R) of the push button (6). Vehicle compartment (1) Claim 2 wherein the compression element (9) is plugged at at least one end (9a) onto a pin (11) which is inclined to the direction of movement (R) of the push button (6). Vehicle compartment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (10) is in its unlocked position when the predetermined movement distance (xk) is reached. Vehicle compartment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (10) is a hook which can be rotated by moving the push button (6). Procedure for opening an according to Claim 1 to 7th claimed vehicle compartment (1).

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