Patent Application
20250050823
The present invention claims priority to German 10 2023 119 132.2, filed on Jul. 19, 2023. The entire content of each of the aforementioned patent applications is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a cover element for a center console.
A “center console” is understood in particular to be the part of the dashboard in an automobile that begins at approximately knee height between the two front footwells and extends to the position of the backrest between the front seats. This region often includes the selector lever, which in many vehicles is located between the front driver and passenger seats. The center console can also include an armrest for the driver and front passenger. The center console can also be used for comfort, control and display elements (ventilation/air conditioning, car radio, navigation system). Furthermore, the selector lever can be arranged on or in the region of the center console. The center console often also has smaller storage compartments, cup holders and cigarette lighters.
The center console is usually installed on the dashboard with the instrument panel. Due to various installation curves and tolerances, a necessary intentional gap arises between the center console and the instrument panel, which on the one hand allows a view underneath the instrument panel and, on the other hand, offers the possibility that objects can get lost in the gap, which in turn can lead to noise. This also cannot prevent the vehicle occupants from unintentionally “reaching in,” which can lead to potential injuries.
In the motor vehicle interior, with respect to cover elements, surfaces without recesses, such as compartments or trays for objects, are increasingly in demand. Objects placed on such surfaces, such as mobile devices, can slip or even flung through the intentional gap under the instrument panel, for example when braking. This is possible during heavy braking even despite anti-slip structures.
The object of the invention is to provide a new cover element for a center console, in particular a cover element, which closes the intentional gap between the center console and the instrument panel at least substantially, in particular in all three spatial directions (x, y and z directions).
This object is achieved by a cover element having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are provided in the dependent claims.
The cover element according to the invention comprises a decorative element for providing the surface decoration, and a soft component, wherein the soft component is designed to be flexible in order to avoid damage to adjacent components, for example the instrument panel, when installing and/or removing the cover element into and/or from the motor vehicle interior, and wherein the soft component is provided when the cover element is in the installed state to reduce the gap size relative to adjacent components, for example the instrument panel.
The soft component is designed and/or provided in particular as a visual and/or noise barrier.
The advantages of the invention lie in particular in the fact that there is no longer any visibility between the instrument panel and the center console. Narrow objects such as maps can no longer get “lost” between the center console and the instrument panel without exerting force. Furthermore, the interface between the instrument panel and center console is acoustically decoupled. Another advantage is that the cover element in the region of the instrument panel is easily to installed afterwards since there are no rigid parts that can break.
The decorative element can, for example, have a bowl-shaped form. It can be provided that the decorative element has a recess, in particular a U-shaped recess. The recess extends, for example, from an edge of the decorative element into the decorative element.
Preferably, the soft component is arranged on, in particular attached to, the decorative element. The decorative element can have ribs, in particular on its underside opposite the surface decoration, and the soft component can have openings corresponding to the ribs, wherein the soft component is attached to the decorative element by means of the ribs inserted into the openings.
Preferably, the decorative element has at least two, preferably four, ribs. In particular, the soft component has a number of openings corresponding to the number of ribs.
Preferably, the cover element comprises one or more, preferably two, finishing strips, for example made of chrome or plastic. The finishing strips are preferably arranged laterally on the decorative element. In particular, the finishing strips are placed on or attached to the decorative element and preferably welded to the decorative element, in particular by means of a hot caulking system.
The cover element can comprise one or more light elements, wherein the light element(s) is/are arranged in particular in the finishing strip(s) or in the region of the finishing strip or strips.
It can be provided that the cover element comprises a finishing frame, for example made of chrome or plastic, wherein the finishing frame is preferably arranged on the edge of the recess of the decorative element.
The finishing frame can be U-shaped, in particular to cover the edge of the recess of the decorative element. In particular, the finishing frame is placed on or attached to the decorative element and preferably welded to the decorative element, in particular by means of a hot caulking system.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the cover element comprises a base support, wherein the decorative element and/or the soft component are arranged on the base support, in particular are attached to the base support.
The soft component can be attached to the base support by means of, for example, five hooks, in particular to prevent movement in the longitudinal direction.
Preferably, the finishing strips and/or the finishing frame are arranged on the base support.
It can be provided that the decorative element and/or the soft component, in particular together with the finishing strips and/or the finishing frame, are welded to the base support.
Particularly preferably, the soft component is formed from a flexible and/or deformable plastic, in particular a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer.
The material of the soft component can correspond visually with the material of the decorative element, preferably by means of a film applied to the soft component and/or adapted to the surface decoration. If the decorative element is a wood veneer, for example, a film with a wood veneer look is applied to the soft component. In addition to foiling, other methods are also possible. The prerequisite for the adjustment of the look is in particular that the flexibility of the soft component is not or at least largely not impaired.
It can be provided that the decorative element for providing the surface decoration has a decorative layer with a front side designed as a visible side and a back side opposite the front side, wherein the decorative layer is, for example, a wood veneer.
Furthermore, it can be provided that a support, in particular a plastic support, is arranged on the back side of the decorative layer, wherein an adhesive layer and/or a nonwoven is preferably arranged between the decorative layer and the support.
It can also be provided that a protective and/or optical layer is arranged on the front side of the decorative layer, wherein the protective and/or optical layer is in particular a varnish or comprises a varnish.
For example, the cover element comprises one or more attached parts, for example light elements, in particular LEDs, and/or light guides and/or fastening elements, in particular clamps.
It can be provided that the cover element, in particular in the region of the surface of the cover element, comprises one or more anti-slip elements, for example recesses and/or elevations such as knobs, so that in particular one or more objects can be placed primarily slip-free on the cover element.
The invention is explained in more detail below also with regard to further features and advantages on the basis of the description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing. In the drawings:
When the cover element 10 shown in
The soft component 13 is arranged on the decorative element 11. As can be seen in
The cover element 10 further comprises two finishing strips 19 shown, for example, in
The cover element 10 further comprises a base support 21, wherein the decorative element 11 and the soft component 13 are arranged on the base support 21 by the decorative element 11 and the soft component 13, together with the finishing strips 19 and the finishing frame 20, being welded to the base support 21 by sandwich welding, as shown in particular in
The decorative element 11 has a decorative layer for providing the surface decoration, wherein the decorative layer has a front side designed as a visible side and a back side opposite the front side. The decorative layer is, for example, a wood veneer, metal, stone, carbon, or a film composite. A support, in particular a plastic support, is arranged on the back side of the decorative layer, wherein an adhesive layer and a nonwoven can be arranged between the decorative layer and the support. Furthermore, it can be provided that a protective and/or optical layer is arranged on the front side of the decorative layer, wherein the protective and/or optical layer is in particular a varnish.
The cover element 10 can comprise further attached parts (not shown in the figures), for example lighting elements such as LEDs, light guides or fastening elements such as clamps.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102023119132.2 | Jul 2023 | DE | national |
