Table Device and Vehicle

Abstract

A table device for an interior of a vehicle includes a table element that is positionable between a non-use position and a use position where the table element is disposable in a region of an instrument panel of a front passenger of the vehicle. An underside of the table element, in an installed position of the table element in the interior of the vehicle, faces a front passenger seat of the vehicle in the non-use position. The underside of the table element has a tear-resistant microsandwich material. The tear-resistant microsandwich material has a tear-resistant surface and a core that fails in a targeted manner.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A table device for an interior of a vehicle, comprising: a table element, wherein the table element is positionable between a non-use position and a use position; wherein the table element is disposable in a region of an instrument panel of a front passenger of the vehicle; wherein an underside of the table element, in an installed position of the table element in the interior of the vehicle, faces a front passenger seat of the vehicle in the non-use position, wherein the underside of the table element comprises a tear-resistant microsandwich material, and wherein the tear-resistant microsandwich material has a tear-resistant surface and a core that fails in a targeted manner.

12. The table device according to claim 11, further comprising a surface heater disposed on the underside of the table element.

13. The table device according to claim 11, further comprising a circular arc-shaped guide, wherein the table element is movable by a sliding movement along the circular arc-shaped guide for positioning the table element from the non-use position into the use position and from the use position into the non-use position.

14. The table device according to claim 13, wherein the sliding movement is executable solely manually, manually with spring force assistance, or electromechanically.

15. The table device according to claim 11, wherein an upper side of the table element has an edge region that surrounds a planar tabletop surface.

16. The table device according to claim 11, wherein an electrical and/or an electronic interface is integrated into the table element.

17. The table device according to claim 11, wherein the table element has a ferromagnetic surface and/or a plurality of holding elements.

18. The table device according to claim 11, wherein the table element has a holding element and wherein the holding element is a hook, an eyelet, or a recess.

19. The table device according to claim 11, further comprising an electronic display unit integrated into an upper side of the table element.

20. A vehicle, comprising: the table device according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1, schematically, is a perspective view of an interior of a vehicle with a front passenger and a table element of a table device positioned in a use position;

[0021] FIG. 2, schematically, is a perspective view of the table element;

[0022] FIG. 3, schematically, is a perspective view of an instrument panel with extended table element;

[0023] FIG. 4, schematically, is a sectional view of a side view of the instrument panel with the table element positioned in a non-use position;

[0024] FIG. 5, schematically, is a sectional view of a side view of the instrument panel with the table element positioned in the use position;

[0025] FIG. 6, schematically, shows an underside of the table element; and

[0026] FIG. 7, schematically, is a sectional depiction of a side view of the table element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Corresponding parts are provided with like reference signs in all figures.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an interior of a vehicle 1 with a front passenger 2 and a table element 3 of a table device T positioned in a use position.

[0029] Particularly in autonomous driving mode, an occupant of the vehicle 1, for example a front passenger 2, wishes to have extended possibilities for storing objects, but also extended functions.

[0030] If the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle, it is relatively important to supply the occupant, according to the present exemplary embodiment the front passenger 2, with heat in an efficient and targeted manner without it being necessary to heat the entire interior. In this way, the available electrical energy can be used optimally and a range of the vehicle 1 can be increased.

[0031] Furthermore, in the event of a collision of the vehicle 1, there is a risk that the legs, in particular the knees, of the front passenger 2, or a knee airbag will be braced against the lower region of an instrument panel 4 and/or a glove compartment.

[0032] The table device T described hereinafter is provided in order to create a tabletop surface A for the front passenger 2 and a possibility of a targeted heat supply as well as in order to absorb a kinetic energy of the front passenger 2 resulting from the collision of the vehicle 1, without a further risk of injury.

[0033] The table device T is integrated into a region of the instrument panel 4 on a front passenger side instead of, or, if sufficient installation space is available, instead of a glove compartment.

[0034] The table element 3 can be positioned by means of an arc-shaped guide F from a non-use position shown in FIG. 4 into the use position. The table element 3 can be moved here along the arc-shaped guide F by means of a sliding movement. The sliding movement can be effected by means of manual force, i.e., manually, manually by means of spring force assistance and/or electromechanically. Alternatively or additionally, the positioning can also be carried out by means of other suitable devices and/or methods.

[0035] In the use position, the table element 3 is positioned above the knees of the front passenger 2, largely independent of his or her height.

[0036] A perspective view of the table element 3 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0037] The table element 3 has a curved underside corresponding to the circular arc-shaped guide F by means of which the table element 3 can be guided and held. An upper side of the table element 3 has a planar tabletop surface A, which is enclosed by a circumferential edge region R, so that the risk of an object placed on the tabletop surface A slipping off is at least substantially reduced. For example, the tabletop surface A has a length of 440 mm and a width of 200 mm.

[0038] In particular, the table element 3 has a height selected in such a way that the tabletop surface A is planar, wherein the underside is curved. An edge region R of the table element 3 facing away from the front passenger 2 is also curved in accordance with the guide F.

[0039] For example, the edge region R facing the front passenger 2 has a height of 3.5 mm, for example, and the edge region R facing away from the front passenger 2 has a height of 6 mm, for example, due to its curvature. A lateral edge region R enclosing the tabletop surface A is also curved and has a height of 20 mm, for example, at its highest point.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a detail of the instrument panel 4 with the table element 3 extended, i.e., positioned in the use position, and FIG. 4 shows a sectional depiction of a side view of the instrument panel 4 with the table element 3 in the non-use position and in FIG. 5 in the use position.

[0041] When the table element 3 is positioned in the non-use position, one end side, i.e., the edge region R facing the passenger 2, and the underside of the table element 3 are visible.

[0042] In particular, when the table element 3 is in the non-use position, it functions as a so-called load distributor in the event of a collision of the vehicle 1. For this purpose, forces acting on the table element 3 by the front passenger 2 due to a collision are distributed, absorbed and dissipated in a controlled manner by means of a geometric and material design of the underside of the table element 3. The table element 3 thus represents a so-called load distribution plate.

[0043] In order to realize the distribution, absorption and dissipation of the forces, at least the underside of the table element 3 is made of a specifically adapted microsandwich material M, which combines a relatively tear-resistant surface with a core that fails in a targeted manner. This prevents sharp broken edges in the region of the passenger's legs 2 and at least reduces a load on the legs in the event of a collision.

[0044] The reduced load on the legs of the front passenger 2 by means of the table element 3 is relatively important especially in a so-called unbelted load case in connection with future harder collision impulses at a greater distance between the front passenger 2 and the instrument panel 4.

[0045] In addition, a surface heater H shown as an example in FIG. 7 is integrated into the underside of the table element 3, by means of which heater the legs of the front passenger 2 can be heated in the use position of the table element 3. In particular, the surface heater H is integrated into a microsandwich structure of the table element 3 and is arranged close to the surface in such a way that a maximum amount of heat energy is radiated in the direction of the front passenger 2.

[0046] The tabletop surface A of the table element 3 can also be used as a work surface, so that writing can be done on it, for example. For example, a display unit, in particular a touch-sensitive display unit, can be integrated into the upper side of the table element 3 as a user interface and/or interface.

[0047] In addition, at least one electrical and/or electronic interface can be integrated into the table element 3 so that, for example, a keyboard can be connected and/or inductive charging of a mobile terminal, for example belonging to the front passenger 2, is possible. It can also be a standardised interface for data transmission between a mobile terminal and the display unit and/or the vehicle 1.

[0048] Furthermore, the table element 3 has mechanical interfaces (not shown in more detail), in particular as holding elements for fixing and fastening objects. For example, at least one ferromagnetic surface, hooks, eyelets and/or recesses are arranged or formed as holding elements on the table element 3.

[0049] It is also conceivable that a drink holder, a pen holder, a coin holder and/or a card holder is/are present on the table element 3, wherein such holding elements are integrated into the table element 3 in a possible embodiment in such a way that they are not visible when not in use, i.e., they can be retracted into the table element 3.