FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a center console, an assembly of a center console and an instrument panel, a holder for an operating panel of an instrument panel, and an automobile comprising such center console or such assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The gap between the center console and the instrument panel is an important factor for evaluating the appearance of the automobile, and in the automobile manufacture, a consistent gap between the center console and the instrument panel in the manufactured automobiles is always a pursued goad.

In the prior art, during mounting the center console, the center console is generally rigidly connected to a frame of the instrument panel. Furthermore, the panel (such as the air conditioning operating panel) of the instrument panel adjacent to the center console is also directly fixed to the frame of the instrument panel. During the mounting of the center console, for example, due to the manufacture tolerance, it is required for the center console to be adjusted in relation to the bottom of the body. Since the panel adjacent to the center console is stationary, the adjustment of the center console in the direction of the height would change the relative position between the center console and the adjacent panel of the instrument panel, which results in an inconsistent gap between the center console and the instrument panel.

Further, when the center console is adjusted in relation to the bottom of the body, the center console may rotate around a contacting point between the center console and the instrument panel. However, for various center consoles, the positions of the contacting points between the center consoles and the instrument panels are different, that is, the rotation axis of the center console when mounting is uncertain. This would lead to the consistency of the gap between the center console and the instrument panel cannot be guaranteed.

Under some extreme situations, it is even generated that the cover of the ashtray on the center console adjacent to the instrument panel cannot be opened due to the too small gap between the center console and the instrument panel.

SAMMURY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure specifically provides the solution to the above existing problems.

In particular, the disclosure has the object to find a connection between center console and instrumental panel that grooves and gaps between instrumental panel (i.g. operating panel as blend and air conditioning operating panel) and center console and ashtray do not vary, so that there is a good optical appearance and a good handling.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a center console, which on one end is provided with a connecting part for connecting with another automobile part (such as the instrument panel), the connecting part is configured to be able to be rotatably connected to the another automobile part around a defined rotation axis. Therefore, although the center console rotates when mounting, the relative position between the center console and the another automobile part (such as the instrument panel) always keeps unchanged, so that a consistent gap between the center console and the another automobile part (such as the instrument panel) can be achieved.

Preferably, the connecting part is configured as a clamping means with a substantially U-shaped groove for being rotatably connected to said another automobile part, the opening of the groove faces upwardly. In this case, the center console can clamped into a pivot pin of the another automobile part (such as the instrument panel) from down to up, thus not only the center console can be easily mounted, but also the downwardly extending portion of the another automobile part (such as the instrument panel) covers their connecting portion, and the gap between the center console and the another automobile part (such as the instrument panel) can be covered, so an aesthetic, high quality appearance of the automobile can be achieved. Certainly, it can be conceived that the connecting part is configured as a cylindrical pivot pin.

Preferably, an arc segment is provided on the surface of the groove. Therefore, it can be achieved with a simple structure that the center console is rotatably connected to the another automobile part around a defined rotation axis.

In another aspect, the disclosure relates to an assembly of an instrument panel and a center console for an automobile, comprising: the instrument panel and the center console, wherein the instrument panel is fixed on a frame of the instrument panel, the center console can be rotatably connected to the frame of the instrument panel around a defined rotation axis. Since the center console is rotated around a defined rotation axis when adjusting, the relative position of the center console and the instrument panel keeps unchanged, thus a consistent gap between the center console and the instrument panel can be guaranteed.

Preferably, a first connecting part for defining said defined rotation axis is provided on the frame of the instrument panel, and a second connecting part is provided on one end of the center console adjacent to the instrument panel. Wherein, the first connecting part and the second connecting part can match with each other, thus the center console being rotatably connected on the instrument panel is achieved. The first and second connecting parts, for example, can be respectively configured as a hinge part, and they together form a hinge connection. Particularly preferably, the first connecting part is a cylindrical pivot pin, and the second connecting part has a clamping means with a groove which matches the contour of the pivot pin. The cylindrical pivot pin disposed on the frame of the instrument panel determines the rotation axis of the center console in a simply way, and the groove of the clamping means of the center console can achieve a simple mounting of the center console.

Preferably, the groove of the clamping means of the center console has a substantially U shape, and an arc segment, which matches the contour of the pivot pin, is provided on the surface of the groove of the clamping means. Particularly preferably, the opening of the groove faces upwardly. Thereby, when mounting the center console, the opening of the groove of the clamping means is aligned upwardly with the pivot pin on the frame of the instrument panel, and then the center console is upwardly pushed, and the two side arms forming the groove is elastically deformed and expanded, thus the arc segment on the surface of the groove of the clamping means is pushed into a position where the arc segment is engaged with the pivot pin. Since the center console can be upwardly mounted, the downwardly extending portion of the instrument panel can cover their connecting portion, and the gap between the center console and the instrument panel can be covered, so an aesthetic, high quality appearance of the automobile can be achieved.

Preferably, the instrument panel comprises an operating panel (such as an air conditioning operating panel) adjacent to the center console, the operating panel can be rotatably connected to the frame of the instrument panel around a defined rotation axis. In this case, even though the other parts of the center console have considerably big tolerance and deform when mounting, the consistence of the gap between the center console and the instrument panel would not be influenced. Particularly preferably, the operating panel and the center console are rotatably connected to the frame of the instrument panel around a common rotation axis. In this case, the dimension of the gap between the center console and the instrument panel can be exactly determined.

Preferably, the operating panel is fixed on a holder, which can be rotatably connected to the frame of the instrument panel around a defined rotation axis, that is to say, the operating panel is rotatably connected to the frame of the instrument panel via the holder. With help of holder the operating panel (air conditioning operating panel and blend) will be rotatable. The holder is fixed to the center console. So operating panel will follow the movement of the center console.

Moreover an advantage of the holder lies in that, for different types of the automobiles, when it is required to change the type of the operating panel adjacent to the center console (e.g. an air conditioning operating panel is changed into a DVD operating panel), there is no need to change the connecting structure of the operating panel, so that an excellent extendable performance of the instrument panel is realized, which is especially preferred in mass production.

Preferably, the holder and the center console are rotatably connected to the frame of the instrument panel around a common rotation axis. In this case, the dimension of the gap between the center console and the instrument panel can be exactly determined.

In the third aspect, the disclosure relates to a holder for an operating panel of an instrument panel, the operating panel being adjacent to a center console, the holder has a connecting part which can be rotatably connected to the frame of the instrument panel around a defined rotation axis. The advantage of the holder is that operating panel can be moved with center console. Further, for different types of the automobiles, when it is required to change the type of the operating panel adjacent to the center console (e.g. an air conditioning operating panel is changed into a DVD operating panel), there is no need to change the connecting structure of the operating panel, so that an excellent extendable performance of the instrument panel is realized, which is especially preferred in mass production.

In the fourth aspect, the disclosure relates to an automobile, which has a center console, an assembly of an instrument panel and a center console or a holder for an operating panel of an instrument panel according to the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partially perspective view of an assembly of an instrument panel and a center console of the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a partially perspective view with a gap between the instrument panel (blend of operating panel) and the center console;

FIG. 3 shows a partially perspective view with a too big gap between the instrument panel (blend of operating panel) and the center console (ashtray);

FIGs. 4a-4c show the mounting procedure of a rotatable holder;

FIG. 5a and 5b shows a partially perspective view and a sectional view of an operating panel adjacent to the center console, which is mounted to the instrument panel via the holder;

FIG. 6 shows a partially perspective view of the center console before being connected to the instrument panel;

FIG. 7 shows a partially sectional view of a groove of a clamping means of the center console before being mounted to a pivot pin on a frame of the instrument panel;

FIG. 8a, 8b and 8c show a partially front view of the assembly andtwo partially sectional views of a groove of a clamping means of the center console after being mounted to a pivot pin on a frame of the instrument panel;

FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the lower hook of the center console;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the center console being connected with the holder through screws after being adjusted; FIG. 11 shows an enlarged view of a detail X of Fig. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a partially perspective view of the holder being fixed on the frame of the instrument panel through screws after being adjusted;

FIG. 13 shows an enlarged sectional view of Fig. 12, which is cut away along line A- A;

FIG. 14 shows the mounting process of the parts of the assembly of the instrument panel and the center console.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As shown in Fig. 1, in the prior art, the air conditioning operating panel 6 adjacent to a center console is a part of instrumental panel und is screwed (and therefore fixed) on a frame 3 of the instrumental panel. The center console 1 is to be fixed on the instrumental panel 2, namely the center console is rigidly connected to the frame 3 of the instrumental panel 2. The center console will be fixed on the bottom on the car. Because there are tolerances in the bottom, there must be a compensation in height. However, because air conditioning operating panel 6 and blend are fixed and center console 1 is fixed on bottom with tolerances, it leads to two following problem: 1) the groove between blend of the operating panel 6 and center console 1 is not identical, there is a variation in gap 9 (see Fig. 2). 2) There is a gap 8 between blend of air conditioning operating panel 6 and ashtray. This leads to the fact that the ashtray cannot be opened smoothly (see Fig. 3). This also makes the evaluating standard of the automobile appearance unachievable.

Fig. 6 shows an improved center console 1 with respect to the prior art. The center console 1 could be rotatably fixed to the frame 3 of the instrumental panel 2. Since a connecting part for connecting with another automobile part (such as the instrument panel 2) is provided on one end of the center console 1, the connecting part can be rotatably connected to the another automobile part around a defined rotation axis. In this embodiment, there are two upper hooks 11 on each end of center console 1, which can form a clip connection (snap-in-lock). Therefore, although the center console 1 rotates when mounting, the relative position between the center console 1 and the another automobile part (such as the instrument panel 2) always keeps unchanged, so that a consistent gap 8 between the center console and the another automobile part (such as the instrument panel) can be achieved.

As shown in Fig. 7, the connecting part of the center console 1 has a clamping means with a substantially U-shaped groove 4, the opening of the groove 4 faces upwardly. An arc segment is provided on the surface of the groove 4 of the clamping means. A cylindrical pivot pin 5 is provided on the frame 3 of the instrument panel, and the contour of the pivot pin and the contour of the arc segment on the surface of the groove 4 are match with each other. Since the opening of the groove 4 faces upwardly, when mounting the center console, the opening of the groove 4 of the clamping means is aligned upwardly with the pivot pin 5 on the frame 3 of the instrument panel, and then the center console 1 is upwardly pushed, and the two side arms forming the groove 4 are elastically deformed and expanded, thus the arc segment on the surface of the groove of the clamping means is pushed into a position where the arc segment is engaged with the pivot pin 5. Since the center console 1 can be upwardly mounted, the downwardly extending portion of the instrument panel 2 can cover their connecting portion, and the gap 8 between the center console and the instrument panel can be covered, namely because of the clip connection from down to up, an insertion is possible with a hidden groove between the ends of center console and instrumental panel. The positive result is a zero groove (see Figs. 8a and 8b), so an aesthetic, high quality appearance of the automobile can be achieved. Certainly, it can be understood that, the cylindrical pivot pin 5 can be also configured on the center console 1, and the groove 4 of the clamping means can be disposed on the frame 3 of the instrument panel. In this case, the opening of the groove 4 disposed on the frame 3 of the instrument panel faces downwardly. Certainly, it can be conceived that, the connecting part on the frame 3 of the instrument panel and the connecting part of the center console 1, for example, can be respectively configured as a hinge part, and they together form a hinge connection.

The center console also includes two lower hooks 12 (see Fig. 6 and 9). Theses hooks are pressed against the inner wall of instrumental panel after installation. Therefore, the sidewall of center console will be pressed against the wall of instrumental panel at each rotating angle.

An operating panel 6 (such as an air conditioning operating panel) of the instrument panel 2 adjacent to the center console can be rotatably connected to the frame 3 of the instrument panel around a defined rotation axis. Therefore, even though the other parts of the center console have considerably big tolerance and deform when mounting, the consistence of the gap between the center console 1 and the instrument panel 2 would not be influenced. Particularly preferably, the operating panel 6 and the center console 1 are rotatably connected to the frame 3 of the instrument panel around a common rotation axis. In this case, the dimension of the gap 8 between the center console 1 and the instrument panel 2 can be exactly determined.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 5, the operating panel 6 adjacent to the center console 1 is connected to the frame 3 of the instrument panel by means of a rotatable holder 7. With help of holder, air conditioning operating panel 2 and blend 10 will be rotatable. Preferably, the rotation axes of holder and the center console are identical. The advantage of holder is that air conditioning operating panel will follow the movement of center console by help of holder. Therefore, the seen gaps will be identical. The holder has a frame-like shape. A connecting part for rotatably connecting with the frame 3 of the instrument panel is provided on the holder 7. The connecting part has a radial extending groove for receiving a pin on the frame 3 of the instrument panel. The mounting procedure of the holder is shown in Figs. 4a-4c: the groove of the connecting part on the holder 7 is firstly aligned with the pin on the frame 3 of the instrument panel (Fig. 4a). Then, the holder 7 is so pushed that the pin on the frame 3 of the instrument panel is engaged with the connecting part of the holder 7 (Fig. 4b), and then the holder 7 can be downwardly rotated around the pin on the frame 3 of the instrument panel. Thereby, the holder 7 can be rotatably connected to the frame 3 of the instrument panel around a defined rotation axis. Another advantage of the holder is, for different types of the automobiles, when it is required to change the type of the operating panel 6 adjacent to the center console 1 (e.g. an air conditioning operating panel is changed into a DVD operating panel), there is no need to change the connecting structure of the operating panel, so that an excellent extendable performance of the instrument panel 2 is realized, which is especially preferred in mass production. Preferably, the holder 7 and the center console 1 are rotatably connected to the frame 3 of the instrument panel around a common rotation axis.

As shown in Fig. 10, after the center console 1 is rotatably connected to the pivot pin 5 of the frame 3 of the instrument panel, the center console 1 is connected with the holder 7 through screws, then the center console 1 and the holder 7 can be rotated together around a common rotation axis (see Fig. 11), so the center console is adjusted in relation to the bottom of the body. After the screw hole on the center console 1 is aligned with the screw hole on the bottom of the body, the screws are screwed in, so as to make the center console 1 fix on the bottom of the body. Then, the holder 7 is fixed on the frame 3 of the instrument panel through screws (see Figs. 12 and 13). After that, the ashtray, the baffle of the air conditioning panel, and the main baffle of the instrument panel are in turn mounted.

Generally speaking, the mounting procedure of the assembly of the instrument panel and the center console is as follows:

1. the holder 7 is rotatably mounted onto the frame 3 of the instrument panel (see Figs. 4a-4b);

2. the operating panel (such as the air conditioning operating panel) is arranged in the holder; 3. the center console 1 is rotatably connected to the frame 3 of the instrument panel;

4. the holder 7 is fixed on the center console 1 through screws, thereby the center console, the holder and the air conditioning operating panel can be rotated together around a common rotation axis; in this case, even if the center console is rotated, the gap between the center console and the instrument panel keeps unchanged;

5. although of the rotating of the center console the gap between center console and instrumental panel keeps hidden;

6. the screw holes of the center console are aligned with the screw holes of the bottom of the body by rotating the center console, and then the center console is fixed on the bottom of the body by means of screws;

7. the holder 7 is fixed on the instrument panel be means of screws (see Figs. 12 and 13);

8. the ashtray is mounted onto the center console (see Fig. 14a);

9. the baffle of the air conditioning operating panel is mounted (see Fig. 14b);

10. the main baffle of the instrument panel is mounted (see Fig. 14c).

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments it is to be understood that modification and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or elements having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 center console

2 instrument panel

3 frame of instrument panel

4 groove of clamping means

5 pivot pin

6 operating panel

7 holder

8 gap

9 gap

10 blend

11 upper hook

12 lower hook

13 cover of ashtray