Automatically retractable stowing shelf

1. Shelf element of which one edge is articulated on a panel (2), such as a rear door, mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis (3) between two end positions, the shelf (5) being adapted to take a horizontal position when said panel (2) is in its lower end position and to be retracted virtually against said panel (2) when the latter is in its raised end position, and which is suspended bilaterally from the panel, by flexible cords (11), on its edge opposite its articulation (6) or in the vicinity of this edge, characterized in that the flexible cores (11) are coupled in series with elastic means (9), the total length of the flexible cords (11) and of the elastic means (9) thus being variable with the result that is may decrease so that the shelf (5) moves closer to the panel (2) when the latter is raised towards its raised end position, and in that these elastic means (9) exert on these cords (11), when the shelf (5) is horizontal, an effort of traction directed in the direction opposite that of the effort due to the weight of the shelf, and, at the most, equal to this latter effort. La tablette de rangement présente un bord articulé sur un panneau (2) mobile relevable et est suspendue bi-latéralement au panneau, par des cordons souples (11), à son bord opposé à son articulation (6) ou au voisinage de ce bord. Les cordons souples (11) sont accouplés en série avec des moyens élastiques qui, lorsque la tablette (5) est horizontale, exercent sur ces cordons un effort de traction dirigé en sens contraire à celui de l'effort dû au poids de la tablette et, au plus, égal à ce dernier effort.