PROTECTIVE DEVICE WITH AN AXIALLY ACTING DAMPING

Abstract

Protective device for an interior section of a vehicle, including a housing accommodating a bearing shaft for a windable structure which at least partially covers the interior section. Outer face ends of two housing side parts are each fixable in a vehicle-fixed holder, wherein at least one of the housing side parts is movable relative to a housing central part axially in relation to a housing longitudinal axis between a release position and a locking position. The at least one housing side part is movable by a spring force from the release position to the locking position. The at least one housing side part is associated with a damping device configured such that, during a movement of the housing side part by spring force, the damping device exerts a damping force on the housing side part counteracting the spring force.

Claims

1. Protective device for an interior section of an automotive vehicle, comprising a housing prepared for accommodation of a bearing shaft for a two-dimensional structure to be wound up and off thereon for at least partial covering of the interior section, having two housing side parts which are axially assigned to a housing longitudinal axis and configured such that outer face ends of the housing side parts are each fixable in a respective vehicle-fixed holder, wherein at least one of the housing side parts is movable relative to a housing central part axially in relation to the housing longitudinal axis between a release position releasing the respective vehicle-fixed holder and a locking position fixed in the vehicle-fixed holder, wherein the at least one housing side part is movable by means of a spring force from the release position to the locking position, wherein the at least one housing side part is associated with a damping device which is configured such that, during a movement of the housing side part by the spring force, the damping device exerts a damping force on the housing side part counteracting the spring force.

2. Protective device according to claim 1, wherein the damping device is configured such that, during a movement of the housing side part counter the spring force, the damping device exerts a damping force on the housing side part supporting the spring force.

3. Protective device according to claim 1, wherein the damping device comprises a rotational damper.

4. Protective device according to claim 3, wherein the rotational damper includes a silicone brake.

5. Protective device according to claim 3, wherein the rotational damper is attached to the housing central part which is disposed stationary along the housing longitudinal axis.

6. Protective device according to claim 1, wherein the housing central part has a cartridge end wall.

7. Protective device according to claim 1, wherein the damping device comprises a toothed rack and a pinion in engagement therewith, which is associated with the rotational damper.

8. Protective device according to claim 7, wherein the toothed rack is an integral part to the at least one housing side part.

9. Protective device according to claim 1, wherein said device is in the form of a loading compartment covering for a loading compartment of a passenger vehicle such that the housing is prepared for accommodation of a bearing shaft for a covering roller blind to be wound up and off thereon for at least partial covering of the loading compartment, and the outer face ends of the housing side parts are each fixable in a respective vehicle-fixed holder, which holders are disposed on opposite side walls of the loading compartment transversely to a vehicle longitudinal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and also from the description below of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, illustrated below with reference to the figures.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a section of an interior of an automotive vehicle including a preferred embodiment of a protective device according to the invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the protective device according to FIG. 1 in the region of a movable housing side part;

[0017] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged portion of the protective device according to FIG. 1 in a top view, wherein the movable housing side part assumes a release position;

[0018] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged portion of the protective device according to FIG. 1 in a top view, wherein the movable housing side part assumes a locking position;

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a perspective partial view of the damping device of the protective device according to the invention according to FIG. 1 together with adjacent components in a release position; and

[0020] FIG. 6 shows a perspective partial view of the damping device of the protective device according to the invention according to FIG. 1 together with adjacent components in a locking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] A protective device (1) according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 is intended for an interior section (2) of an automotive vehicle (3). According to FIG. 1, the vehicle (3) includes an interior section (2) adjoining a row of seats (4) in the form of a loading compartment. The loading compartment (2) is accessible from the exterior on a rear end of the vehicle via a tailgate, in a generally well-known manner, and has side walls (5a, 5b) disposed opposite in the transverse direction of the vehicle and extending essentially in the vertical, each side wall provided with a vehicle-fixed holder (6a, 6b), wherein for the sake of clarity, merely one side wall (5b) together with the respective holder (6b) is illustrated in FIG. 1. The vehicle-fixed holders (6a, 6b) are configured for accommodation of the protective device (1). The loading compartment (2) is coverable by the protective device (1) such that the protective device (1), in an extended functional condition, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 1, covers the loading compartment (2) essentially over the width and length thereof below a waistline constituted by the bottom edge of a side window (7) towards the top.

[0022] The protective device (1) in the form of a loading compartment has a housing (8) which is prepared for accommodation of a bearing shaft (9), as illustrated with reference to FIG. 2, for a two-dimensional structure (10) to be wound up and off thereon. The housing (8) comprises a cartridge shell (11) arranged stationary in relation to a housing longitudinal axis (L), also referred to as housing central part, a cartridge end wall (12) forming a face-sided closure of the cartridge shell (11) and a housing side part (13) movable along the housing longitudinal axis (L), which side part is on one side coaxially arranged on the cartridge shell (11) and overlapping said shell on a face side. An outer face end (14) forms the axial closure of the axially movable housing side part (13) and is configured such that it is fixable in the vehicle-fixed holder (6a), as illustrated in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. For that purpose, the outer face end (14) has an outwards protruding location pin (15) which is essentially complementary to the vehicle-fixed holder (6a).

[0023] On the face side of the cartridge shell (11) opposite the movable housing side part (13) the housing (8) comprises another housing side part (16) which is disposed axially stationary in relation to the housing longitudinal axis (L) and overlaps the cartridge shell (11), starting from the opposite face side, correspondingly inverted to the movable housing side part (13). The axially stationary disposed housing side part (16) includes, in analogy to the movable housing side part (13), an outer face end (17) with an outwards protruding location pin and is fixable in the vehicle-fixed holder (6b) which is designed in analogy to the vehicle-fixed holder (6a) and located opposite thereto. In a mounted condition, wherein the outer face ends (14, 17) of the housing (8) are fixed in the respective vehicle-fixed holders (6a, 6b), the protective device (1) extends transversely to the vehicle longitudinal direction and horizontally over the width of the loading compartment of the vehicle (3).

[0024] A spring (18) oriented coaxially in relation to the housing longitudinal axis (L) is disposed between the outer face end (14) of the movable housing side part (13) and the cartridge end wall (12), wherein the spring (18) is axially supported on one end on a seat formed by an exterior surface of the cartridge end wall (12) and on the other end on a seat formed by an interior surface of the face end (14). The spring (18) is a compression spring and radially fixed on a cylindrical spike (19) protruding from the interior surface of the face end (14). Correspondingly, the movable housing side part (13) is movable axially in relation to the housing longitudinal axis (L) between a release position releasing the vehicle-fixed holder (6a), as illustrated with reference to FIG. 3, and a locking position fixed in the vehicle-fixed holder (6a), as illustrated with reference to FIG. 4. Therein, the movable housing side part (13) is movable by means of the spring force caused by the spring (18) from the release position to the locking position.

[0025] For inserting the protective device (1) into the vehicle-fixed holders (6a, 6b), the movable housing side part (13) is pressed manually inwards along the housing longitudinal axis (L) and counter the outwards oriented spring load caused by the spring (18) into the release position. As a result, the axial distance between the outer face ends (14, 17) of the housing (8) and, thus, the total length of the protective device (1) is reduced to a value that is smaller than the axial distance between the two vehicle-fixed holders (6a, 6b). In such a manner, the protective device (1) can be aligned to be flush with the holders. Subsequently, the movable housing'side part (13) is relieved from the inwards oriented manual pressing force, whereby the spring force of the spring (18), directed outwards in the direction of the vehicle-fixed holder (6a), moves the movable housing side part (13) axially outwards to the locking position. In that the outer face end (14) of the movable housing side part (13) is pressed into the holder (6a) by means of the spring (18) and a corresponding counterforce is caused on the outer face end (17) of the axially stationary housing side part (16) aligned in the opposite holder (6b), the protective device (1) is fixed in the loading compartment (2).

[0026] For removing the protective device (1), the movable housing side part (13) is again pressed manually inwards counter the spring load caused by the spring (18) towards the release position. As a result, the distance between the face end (14) of the movable housing side part (13) and the face end (17) of the opposite, axially stationary housing side part (16) is again reduced and, thus, the total length of the protective device (1) is reduced such that the protective device can be taken off the vehicle-fixed holder (6a) and the holder (6b) opposite thereto.

[0027] The protective device (1) according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 also includes a damping device (20). The damping device (20) is assigned to the axially movable housing side part (13) and configured such that, during a movement of the axially movable housing side part (13) by means of the spring (18), the damping device exerts a damping force on the housing side part (13) counteracting the spring force. For that purpose, the damping device (20) comprises a rotational damper (21) in the form of a silicone brake having a protruding rotational shaft, not illustrated in more detail, a pinion (22) fixed on the rotational shaft, and a toothed rack (23) in engagement with the pinion (22). The rotational damper (21) is attached to the cartridge end wall (12) using connector means, not illustrated in more detail, and, thus, is disposed stationary along the housing longitudinal axis (L). The toothed rack (23) extends in the direction of the housing longitudinal axis (L) and is attached to the movable housing side part (13) and, thus, movable axially together with said part along the housing longitudinal axis (L). The toothed rack (23) extends over a length, with the amount thereof corresponding essentially to the axial displacement of the outer face end (14) during a movement between the release position and the locking position.

[0028] Starting from the release position, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 3, and after the above described withdrawal of the manually applied pressing force for inserting the protective device (1), the spring (18) causes an axial movement of the housing side part (13) and the toothed rack (23) fixed thereto in the direction towards the locking position. As a consequence of the rolling contact between the toothed rack (23) and the pinion (22) fixed on the rotational shaft of the rotational damper (21), the pinion (22) is moved in a counter-clockwise rotatory motion. The kinetic energy transferred thereby to the rotational shaft of the rotational damper (21) is at least partially transformed into thermal energy by the rotational damper (21). As a result, a brake momentum is caused on the rotational shaft of the rotational damper (21) counter the rotational movement of the pinion (22). As a consequence of the rolling contact between the toothed rack (23) and the pinion (22), the brake momentum causes a brake force acting along the housing longitudinal axis (L) to damp the axial movement of the toothed rack (23) and, thus finally, the axial movement of the housing side part (13). As compared to an undamped movement, a movement of the movable housing side part (13) subject to such damping is accordingly slowed down.

[0029] The damping device (20) is further configured such that, during a movement of the housing side part (13) counter the spring force, the damping device exerts a damping force on the housing side part (13) supporting the spring force. For that purpose, the rotational damper (21) is configured such that the damper generates a brake momentum, independent of the sense of rotation of the rotational shaft.