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TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention and prior art

The present invention generally relates to the field of motor-vehicle interiors and in particular relates to a table assembly arranged between the driver seat and the passenger seat, wherein said table assembly comprises a substantially horizontal support surface pivotally connected to a lower portion of the motor-vehicle frame by means of an adjustment mechanism configured to move the support surface from a lowered position to a raised position and vice versa.

A table assembly for a truck driver’s cab, having the features indicated above is described for example in document EP 0 286 038 A1. It is also known to provide that the table can be moved between a nonoperating position of minimum encumbrance and a raised operating position, in which it is an aid for resting various objects.

Object of the invention

The object of this invention is to propose a table assembly of the type indicated at the beginning of this description, which is improved from various points of view with respect to known solutions, in particular with reference to the simplicity and stability of the adjustment mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide this solution compatibly with the overall dimensions and installation spaces present in the interior compartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide this solution so that it can be harmoniously integrated with the dashboard of the motor-vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide this solution, guaranteeing in all conditions that the support surface of the table assembly is able to remain stable even with a weight applied to it.

Summary of the invention

These objects are achieved by means of a motor-vehicle comprising a table assembly arranged between the driver seat and the passenger seat, wherein said table assembly comprises a substantially horizontal support surface pivotally connected to a lower portion of a motor-vehicle frame by means of an adjustment mechanism configured to move the support surface from a lowered position to a raised position and vice versa, said motorvehicle being characterized in that the adjustment mechanism is a substantially pantograph adjustment mechanism comprising two lateral pairs of levers pivotally connected to each other around joint axes parallel and spaced from each other, and oriented transversally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle.

Further advantageous features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims and in the following description.

Brief description of the figures

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

- figure 1 is a general perspective view of a motor-vehicle interior comprising a table assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

- figure 2 is a view similar to the previous one which illustrates a second embodiment of the invention;

- figure 3 is an enlarged scale view of the table assembly, shown in a first operating position, and

- figures 4, 5 are perspective views similar to figure 3, illustrating the table assembly according to further positions.

Various specific details are illustrated in the following description aimed at an in-depth understanding of examples of one or more embodiments. The embodiments may be obtained without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments. Reference to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” in the framework of this description means that a particular configuration, structure, or feature described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, phrases such as “in an embodiment” or “in one embodiment,” which may appear at different places in this description, do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular conformations, structures or features may be suitably combined in one or more embodiments and/or associated with the embodiments in a manner other than as illustrated herein, so that, for example, a feature exemplified herein in relation to a figure it can be applied to one or more embodiments exemplified in a different figure.

The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and hence do not define the extent of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

In the attached drawings, the reference 1 indicates a motor-vehicle as a whole, for example a passenger motor-vehicle with an above-average aesthetic level.

The interior of the motor-vehicle 1 comprises a table assembly 3 defining a substantially horizontal support surface 4, with reference to the configuration installed on board the vehicle. The table assembly 3 is arranged in the central area of the interior of the motor-vehicle 1 , above a lower frame portion 8, between the driver seat 15 and the front passenger seat 16. In accordance with the illustrated example, the frame portion 8 comprises a central transmission-covering tunnel (schematically illustrated in the attached drawings) defining two side walls extending to the sides of a bottom wall extending mainly along the longitudinal direction of the motorvehicle 1. As is known, various controls/instruments (for example a gear lever, buttons and adjustment sliders) are arranged in correspondence of the central tunnel.

Preferably, the table assembly 3 is made of a high-quality and durable plastic material, so as to integrate harmoniously with a dashboard 2 of the motor-vehicle 1 .

As illustrated in figure 1 , the table assembly 3 is intended to serve both the occupant of the passenger seat 16 and the occupant of the driver seat 15. It should be noted that the invention lends itself to being applied in a motor-vehicle of any type and in association with seats of any type.

In one or more embodiments, the support surface 4 of the table assembly 3 is substantially circular in shape and comprises a peripheral edge 5 defining a substantially vertical step which surrounds the support surface 4. According to a preferred feature, a light guiding body is positioned along the peripheral edge 5, to diffuse light radiation from a lighting device integrated within the peripheral edge 5, for example a LED lighting device.

According to a further feature of the invention, the table assembly 3 comprises a cover element 6 rotatably mounted above the support surface 4 around a vertical axis, so as to be able to selectively cover a portion of the support surface 4, to hide any objects placed above it (e.g. keys and/or smartphone). In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, said cover element 6 is substantially shaped like a semicircle.

According to a further feature of the invention, the table assembly 3 comprises a further fixed cover element 7, arranged between the support surface 4 and the rotating cover element 6. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the fixed cover element 7 is substantially shaped like a semicircle, so that in the closed position of the rotating cover element 6, a substantially continuous cover surface is formed, which covers the support surface 4 defined by the cover elements 6,7 symmetrical to each other. The reference 21 indicates an indoor lamp that can be freely positioned on the dashboard 2 or on the table 3, for example on the fixed cover element 7.

According to a further feature, the support surface 4 is pivotally connected to the lower frame portion 8 by means of an adjustment mechanism 9, arranged to move the support surface 4 of the table 3 from a lowered position to a raised position (respectively illustrated in figures 5,3). As shown in these figures, it should be noted that, in the lowered position, the support surface 4 is arranged substantially horizontal, above and adjacent to the lower frame portion 8, in particular adjacent to and above the central transmission-covering tunnel.

At the raised position, a front portion of the support surface 4 is housed in a seat 18 (for example of a semicircle shape) obtained on a support body 17 integrated with the dashboard 2. It should be noted that in the lowered position, the support surface 4 of the table 3 is located at the rear in the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle 1 , with respect to the raised position which is instead in a more advanced position, towards the dashboard 2. In other words, the adjustment mechanism 9 allows to move the support surface 4 from the lowered position to the raised position, and vice versa, with an overall movement having respective components along a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle 1 . At the raised position, the support surface 4 is arranged substantially horizontal with a front portion in contact with the dashboard 2, in a position distanced from the central transmission-covering tunnel.

According to a feature of the invention, said adjustment mechanism 9 is a substantially pantograph mechanism comprising two pairs 9’, 9” of lateral jointed levers pivotally connected to each other around joint axes parallel and spaced from each other, and oriented transversally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle. More specifically, each 9’, 9” pair includes:

- a first lever 10 having a lower end 10’ connected to the lower frame portion 8, at a respective side thereof in correspondence of a rear portion thereof with reference to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle 1 ;

- a second lever 11 having a lower end 11 ’ connected to the lower frame portion 8, at a respective side thereof in correspondence of a front portion thereof with reference to the longitudinal direction of the motorvehicle 1 ;

- wherein the first and second levers 10, 11 are pivotally connected to each other at their upper ends 10”, 11”, defining a joint pin 19 having a joint axis transversally oriented with respect to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle.

For each pair 9’, 9”, the adjustment mechanism 9 further comprises an end rod 12 having a lower end connected to the first and second levers 10, 11 in correspondence of said joint pin 19, and an upper end connected to the support surface 4 of the table 3, for example in correspondence of a lower face thereof facing the lower frame portion 8. It should be noted that the length of the end rod 12 is significantly shorter than that of the jointed levers 10, 11.

By virtue of the configuration indicated above, the adjustment mechanism 9 defines at the raised position (figure 3), for each side of the lower frame portion 8, an assembly of levers shaped like an inverted Y.

To allow movement of the support surface 4 in the two positions described above, for each side of the lower frame portion 8, the first end 10’ of the first lever 10 is slidably mounted within a lateral guide 13 obtained along one side of the lower frame portion 8. The first end 1 T of the second lever 11 can rotate on a joint pin 20 obtained along the lower frame portion 8, around a joint axis transverse with respect to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle.

According to a feature of the invention, said adjustment mechanism 9 is configured to stably lock the table 3 in at least one further position, in particular at least one intermediate position having the support surface 4 arranged horizontally at an intermediate height between the lowered position and the raised position (figure 4).

In this regard, as illustrated in figures 3-5, it should be noted that a positioning member is arranged within the lateral guide 13, for selectively positioning the first end 10’ of the first lever 10 in a determined position along said guide 13. As illustrated, the positioning member can comprise several seats 14 spaced along the guide 13, so as to be able to mutually engage a pin carried by the first end 10’ of the first lever 10.

It should be noted that the configuration of the jointed connection system between the table 3 and the frame 8 of the motor-vehicle 1 is illustrated here purely by way of example, since this jointed connection can be made in any other way, as long as it is functional to achieve the purposes expected.

Due to the effect of the jointed connection described above, the support surface 4 can be moved between a lowered non-operating position (figure 5), substantially horizontal, and a raised operating position (figure 3), also defining various operating positions at an intermediate height (figure 4). In accordance with a feature of the invention illustrated in figure 2, at the raised position, the table 3 has a hideaway front portion, which is received within a groove 22 formed along the dashboard 2 of the motor-vehicle 1 , so as to make the table assembly 3 less cumbersome at the raised position.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the construction details and embodiments may vary with respect to what is described and illustrated purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. This applies both to the shape of the table and to the appearance of the motor-vehicle interior to which it is applied.