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United States Patent |
5,730,482
|
Kerner
,   et al.
|
March 24, 1998
|
Center console for a motor vehicle
Abstract
A center console is raised to form a built-in box-shaped part between the
backs of passenger vehicle front seats, this box shaped part serving to
receive built-in devices that can be operated from the rear seats. This
raised area is configured as a supporting element between backs of the
front seats in such fashion that the side walls are reinforced with
lightweight metal shells connected with one another by cross braces.
Inventors:
|
Kerner; Wolfgang (Bondorf, DE);
Seefried; Johann (Eutingen, DE);
Artner; Bernd (Renningen, DE)
|
Assignee:
|
Mercedes-Benz AG (Stuttgart, DE)
|
Appl. No.:
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741357 |
Filed:
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October 30, 1996 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Oct 30, 1995[DE] | 195 40399.1 |
Intern'l Class: |
B60R 007/00 |
Field of Search: |
296/188,37.8,189,68.1
224/539
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
5000509 | Mar., 1991 | Sinnhuber et al. | 296/188.
|
5085481 | Feb., 1992 | Fluharty et al. | 296/37.
|
5584525 | Dec., 1996 | Nakano et al. | 296/188.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2581598 | Nov., 1986 | FR.
| |
2816318C2 | Oct., 1978 | DE.
| |
4207253A1 | Sep., 1992 | DE.
| |
Other References
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Body Structure of Automobile, 62-210151 (A),
Sep. 16, 1987, App. No. 61-53950, Mazda Motor Corp.
|
Primary Examiner: Pape; Joseph D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Evenson McKeown Edwards & Lenahan, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Center console assembly for a passenger motor vehicle having a pair of
spaced apart front seats which each have seat backs with seat back side
walls facing respective opposite lateral sides of a center console,
comprising:
a plurality of vertically spaced hollow beam cross braces extending between
opposite lateral sides of the center console and serving to transfer
lateral impact forces on the vehicle between the respective seat backs.
2. Center console assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lateral sides
of the center console are formed with console side walls, and
wherein the side walls are reinforced by lightweight metal shells.
3. Center console assembly according to claim 2, wherein the lightweight
metal shells are made slightly convex and are provided with reinforcing
ribs on their inwardly directed areas.
4. Center console according to claim 2, wherein the lightweight metal
shells are embedded in impact-resistant plastic of the console side walls.
5. Center console assembly according to claim 1, wherein the center console
includes a central storage compartment surrounded laterally by hollow
spaces.
6. Center console assembly according to claim 5, wherein the hollow spaces
are designed as air ducts to supply an outlet nozzle located at the center
console.
7. Center console assembly according to claim 6, wherein the hollow spaces
are downwardly open, and
wherein the air ducts are closed off by foam bodies inserted under the
hollow spaces at the bottom.
8. Center console assembly according to claim 7, wherein the foam bodies
are designed as deflecting walls to guide air.
9. Center console assembly according to claim 5, wherein walls of the
hollow spaces facing the central storage compartment are provided with
windows.
10. Center console assembly according to claim 2, wherein a center tunnel
is provided, and wherein the console side walls reinforced by the
lightweight metal shells extend downward beyond box-shaped area of the
console and are permanently connected with side walls of the center
tunnel.
11. Center console assembly according to claim 1, wherein said console
includes at least one front storage compartment accessible to front seat
passengers and at least one rear storage compartment accessible to rear
seat passengers disposed behind the front seats.
12. Center console assembly according to claim 11, wherein the hollow beam
cross braces are disposed between the at least one front storage
compartment and the at least one rear storage compartment.
13. Center console assembly according to claim 12, wherein the hollow beam
cross braces are disposed vertically spaced from one another.
14. Center console assembly according to claim 1, wherein a central tunnel
with tunnel side walls is provided, and wherein the lateral side walls
extend downwardly adjacent the tunnel side walls and are fixed securely
thereto.
15. Center console assembly according to claim 13, wherein a central tunnel
with tunnel side walls is provided, and wherein the lateral side walls
extend downwardly adjacent the tunnel side walls and are fixed securely
thereto.
16. Center console assembly for a passenger motor vehicle having a pair of
spaced apart front seats which each have seat backs with seat back side
walls facing respective opposite lateral sides of a center console,
comprising:
at least one hollow beam cross brace extending between opposite lateral
sides of the center console and serving to transfer lateral impact forces
on the vehicle between the respective seat backs,
wherein the lateral sides of the center console are formed with console
side walls,
wherein the side walls are reinforced by lightweight metal shells, and
wherein the lightweight metal shells are made slightly convex and are
provided with reinforcing ribs on their inwardly directed areas.
17. Center console assembly for a passenger motor vehicle having a pair of
spaced apart front seats which each have seat backs with seat back side
walls facing respective opposite lateral sides of a center console,
comprising:
at least one hollow beam cross brace extending between opposite lateral
sides of the center console and serving to transfer lateral impact forces
on the vehicle between the respective seat backs,
wherein the center console includes a central storage compartment
surrounded laterally by hollow spaces, and
wherein the hollow spaces are designed as air ducts to supply an outlet
nozzle located at the center console.
18. Center console assembly according to claim 17, wherein the hollow
spaces are downwardly open, and
wherein the air ducts are closed off by foam bodies inserted under the
hollow spaces at the bottom.
19. Center console assembly according to claim 18 wherein the foam bodies
are designed as deflecting walls to guide air.
20. Center console assembly for a passenger motor vehicle having a pair of
spaced apart front seats which each have seat backs with seat back side
walls facing respective opposite lateral sides of a center console,
comprising:
at least one hollow beam cross brace extending between opposite lateral
sides of the center console and serving to transfer lateral impact forces
on the vehicle between the respective seat backs,
wherein the center console includes a central storage compartment
surrounded laterally by hollow spaces, and
wherein walls of the hollow spaces facing the central storage compartment
are provided with windows.
21. Center console assembly for a passenger motor vehicle having a pair of
spaced apart front seats which each have seat backs with seat back side
walls facing respective opposite lateral sides of a center console,
comprising:
at least one hollow beam cross brace extending between opposite lateral
sides of the center console and serving to transfer lateral impact forces
on the vehicle between the respective seat backs,
wherein a central tunnel with tunnel side walls is provided, and
wherein the lateral sides of the center console extend downward adjacent
the tunnel side walls and are fixed securely thereto.
22. Center console assembly according to claim 21, wherein the lateral
sides of the center console are formed with console side walls, and
wherein the console side walls are reinforced by lightweight metal shells.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a center console for a motor vehicle, especially
an automobile, said console having a raised area in the shape of a box
between the backs of the front seats to accommodate built-in modules
associated with the rear seats, with the lateral areas of the seat backs
being located only a short distance from the side walls of said modules.
A center console of this type is known from the French Utility Model with
Publication Number 25 81 598. In that document, the space between the
front seats has been used to provide a sort of built-in cabinet as an
extension of the console, in which air nozzles for cooling the passengers
seated in the rear, loudspeakers, a radio or telephone, and operating
elements for locking the doors for example are incorporated, said devices
being operable by the rear-seat passengers since they are located in the
rear wall facing the rear seats.
On the other hand, it is known to provide protective measures to protect
vehicle occupants in rear-end collisions as well as in the event of
lateral impacts, said measures consisting for example in a reinforcement
of the doors or also (German Patent Document DE 42 07 253 A1) in the
provision of a gas bag inflatable between the occupants upon impact.
An object of the present invention is to improve the safety of the vehicle
occupants in the event of a lateral impact without costly additional
measures being required.
Taking its departure from the knowledge that center consoles of the species
recited at the outset can be used to reinforce the seat back areas of the
front seats against lateral compression, the invention recognizes that the
side walls of the box-shaped area can be reinforced and connected together
by cross braces to create a protective element that effectively supports
the seat backs of the front seats in the event of a lateral impact on the
vehicle.
In especially preferred embodiments of the invention, provision is made
such that the side walls of the box-shaped area are reinforced with
lightweight metal shells in the adjusting area of the seat back bracing.
These shells in turn can be made slightly convex to protect them against
bending and be provided on their inwardly directed surfaces with
reinforcing ribs. These lightweight metal shells can be injected into the
impact-resistant plastic of the console,
In especially preferred embodiments of the invention, the cross braces
between the lightweight metal shells that reinforce the side walls are
arranged so that they are located in the parting planes of the storage
areas located in the center console, in other words, for example, in the
separating area between the central storage compartment, like that already
known, and between the storage compartments accessible from the rear, into
which the modular additional devices mentioned at the outset can be
inserted.
In especially preferred embodiments of the invention, the central storage
compartment is also designed so that it is surrounded laterally by hollow
spaces. If the hollow spaces extend into the box-shaped area between the
seat backs, the stability and supporting effect of the center console can
be increased as a result. In an improvement on the invention, however,
these hollow spaces can also be designed as air ducts to supply a
discharge nozzle located in the box-shaped area, said provision being
accomplished by simply closing off the hollow spaces, initially open at
the bottom, by a foam body inserted from below. In this design it is also
possible to shape the inserted foam bodies as deflecting walls for guiding
the air so that the air is guided upward in the vicinity of the box-shaped
area to the air outlet nozzle that is also located in the upper area.
In especially preferred embodiments of the invention, the walls of the
hollow spaces that face the central storage compartment can be provided
with a window so that it is also possible to conduct cooled air flowing
past, laterally through the air ducts for example, into the storage
compartment as well in order to air-condition the latter.
In one especially advantageous improvement according to preferred
embodiments of the invention, in a vehicle with a center tunnel, provision
is made such that the side walls provided with lightweight metal shells
can project downward beyond the box-shaped area of the console and be
connected permanently with the side walls of the center tunnel. This
measure ensures an especially good supporting effect because the center
tunnel is also used to reinforce the support of the seat backs of the
front seats against one another.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention
when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective drawing of the front seats of an
automobile, with a center console located between them, constructed
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section through a central plane of the console according to
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial cross section through the center console of FIG. 2
along line III--III;
FIG. 4 is a lengthwise section similar to FIG. 2 but along sectioning plane
IV--IV in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a lengthwise section similar to FIG. 4 but along sectioning plane
V--V in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, the two seat backs (1) of two front seats (2) are shown
schematically, between which seats a center console (3) extends, said
console extending in known fashion up to the front dashboard. Center
console (3), in its area located between seat backs (1), assumes a
box-shaped structure (3a) that extends upward, said structure serving
firstly in known fashion to receive storage compartments shown in FIGS. 2
and 3, but serving primarily as a supporting element between seat backs
(1), which as a result, in the event of a lateral impact on the vehicle,
are prevented from tilting against one another and into the vehicle
interior.
For this purpose, as shown schematically, each of the two side walls (4) of
box-shaped area (3a) of center console (3) is provided with a reinforcing
insert in the form of a lightweight metal shell (5), and these two
lightweight metal shells (5) are connected together by cross braces (6 and
7) to form a co-supporting supporting element located between seat backs
(1) and overlap their adjusting area approximately. Supporting element (6)
is then designed as a continuous supporting tube that abuts lightweight
metal shells (5). Supporting element (7) is likewise designed as a type of
hollow beam whose exact structure however is better shown in detail in
FIG. 2. Both supporting elements (6 and 7) are arranged so that they are
located in the separating area between the storage compartments that can
be located in box-shaped area (3a) or in the portion of center console (3)
located ahead of said area. The lightweight metal shells (5) of the side
walls of box-shaped area (3a) also have their areas (5a) extending
downward over the structural element that is placed on a center tunnel (8)
of the vehicle, and are connected with the side walls of center tunnel
(8).
It is clear from FIG. 2 that a central storage compartment (9) is located
in center console (3), said compartment in this embodiment being covered
by inserted foam walls (10) and by foam insulation (11) provided on the
underside of a lid (12) that can be raised by a hinge (13). This central
storage compartment (see also FIG. 3) is delimited on both sides by hollow
spaces (14) formed by virtue of the fact that outside wall (15) provided
with lightweight metal shells (5), said outside wall consisting of
impact-resistant plastic, in which the lightweight metal shell (5) is
embedded, makes a transition through an upper connecting piece (16) to an
inside wall (17) that extends up to bottom (18) of console (3). Console
(3) rests on center tunnel (8) by this bottom (18). The hollow spaces (14)
which are then open at the bottom are closed off at the bottom by inserted
foam bodies (19), whose design can be seen in FIG. 5. This double-walled
structure lends the center console a good degree of strength which is even
further improved, primarily in the lateral areas, by the inserted
lightweight metal shells (5). FIGS. 2 and 4 show that these lightweight
metal shells (5) (see also FIG. 3) are equipped with reinforcing ribs (20)
that face hollow space (14), said ribs also optionally being complemented
by ribs that run crosswise but are not shown, to form a honeycomb
structure, to increase stability.
FIG. 2 shows that beam-type reinforcing elements (6 and 7) each extend in
areas where the separation between central storage compartment (9) and an
upper storage compartment (21) or a built-in compartment (22) located
further down is provided. The two storage compartments (21 and 22) open to
the rear, into the back seat compartment.
Hollow spaces (14) in the embodiment shown form air ducts delimited at the
bottom by inserted foam bodies (19). Foam bodies (19) have a greater
height in their rear areas so that the air duct leads upward to an air
outlet nozzle (23) located in area (3a). The air duct is limited at the
top by wall (16) which, together with inserted foam bodies (19), forms an
S-shaped surface in order to ensure air guidance along arrows (24) from
the ventilation device, not shown, located in the forward part of the
vehicle, to outlet nozzle (23).
FIG. 5 shows (as does FIG. 2) that in inside wall (17) of air duct (14),
and of course also in molding (10) located therein, a window (25) is
provided which thus creates a connection between air duct (14) and central
storage compartment (9). Air-conditioned, especially cooled air, can
therefore reach central storage compartment (9) which, since it is lined
by insulation, can serve advantageously as a cooling compartment.
As a result of the design according to the invention, an area is created
between backs (1) of the front seats which, in addition to serving to
accommodate assemblies or storage compartments, also can serve as a
supporting element for the seat back braces, not shown. This design makes
a key contribution to increasing the safety of the passengers riding in
the front seats.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is
to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and
example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope
of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the
appended claims.
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