Trim element comprising a retractable storage volume

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020122650-A1
Application number	US-201916661614-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	Oct 23, 2018
Publication date	Apr 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A trim element having a body and a covering element extending over part of the body. The covering element includes at least two substantially rigid panels connected to one another by a flexible branch forming a bending line of the panels relative to one another and fastened to the body by a fastening edge forming a hinge between the panels and the body, the covering element being deformable around the bending line. The covering element hinges between a retracted position, in which the panels of the covering element are pressed against the body, and a deployed position, in which the panels are moved away from the body, the covering element defining a storage volume with the body in the deployed position.

First claim

1 . A vehicle trim element comprising a body and a covering element extending over at least part of the body and defining at least part of the outer surface of the trim element, wherein the covering element comprises at least two substantially rigid panels connected to one another by a flexible branch forming a bending line of the panels relative to one another and fastened to the body by at least one fastening edge forming a hinge between the panels and the body, the covering element being deformable around the bending line and hinge between a retracted position, in which the panels of the covering element are pressed against the body, and a deployed position, in which the panels are moved away from the body, the covering element defining a storage volume with the body in the deployed position.

2 . The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the retracted position and the deployed position are stable positions.

3 . The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the covering element is formed in one piece, at least one rigid material forming the panels and at least one flexible material forming the flexible branch.

4 . The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the covering element comprises at least three panels, including two side panels and one central panel, the central panel being connected to each of the side panels by flexible branches forming bending lines between the central panel and the side panels.

5 . The trim element according to claim 4 , wherein the central panel is triangular, the side panels being polygons comprising at least four edges, the central panel being fastened to the body by one of its edges forming a hinge, the other two edges being connected to the side panels by flexible branches, and the side panels being fastened to the body by at least one of their edges and to the central panel by another edge.

6 . The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the storage volume in the deployed position is accessible through an opening extending between the covering element and the body, part of the opening being delimited by a free edge of at least one panel of the covering element, said free edge being separated from the body in the deployed position.

7 . The trim element according to claim 1 , wherein the bending line formed by the flexible branch extends over the outer surface of the covering element in order to be visible from the outside of the trim element.

8 . The trim element according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking device keeping the covering element in the retracted position when said locking device is in a locked configuration.

9 . The trim element according to claim 8 , wherein the covering element enters its deployed position when the locking device goes from the locked configuration to an unlocked configuration.

10 . The trim element according to claim 1 , said trim element forming a vehicle door panel, a central console or a trim element of a vehicle trunk.

Assignees

• Faurecia Interieur Ind

Inventors

• HABERT CéDRIC
• Nguyen Alain

Classifications

• B60R7/046

  mounted on door · CPC title

• B60R7/00 Primary

  Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps (for radio sets, television sets, telephones or the like, mounting of cameras operative during drive, tools, or spare parts B60R11/00; for receptacles for refuse, food, beverages, cigarettes B60N) · CPC title

• B60R2013/0287

  integrating other functions or accessories · CPC title

• B29L2031/3041

  Trim panels · CPC title

• B60R13/0237 Primary

  Side or rear panels · CPC title