U.S. patent application number 11/213993 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for cup holder.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIFCO INC.. Invention is credited to Itsuo Honda, Yousuke Yanagita.
Application Number | 20060060741 11/213993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36072921 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060060741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yanagita; Yousuke ; et
al. |
March 23, 2006 |
Cup holder
Abstract
A cup holder unit includes an outer case, an inner case slidable
between a pulled-out position and a stored position, a main holder
member slidable between a usable position and a non-usable
position, and a connecting member pivotally supported on the inner
case. The connecting member has an abutment section to abut against
a corresponding section of the main holder member halfway through
pulling of the main holder member from the non-usable position so
that the main holder member can be pulled out together with the
inner case, and a tab to engage a notched section when the inner
case is substantially fully pulled out to the pulled-out position.
A disengaging abutment section is formed at the connecting member
to disengage the tab from the notched section by abutting against
the corresponding section halfway through pushing the main holder
member from the usable position to the non-usable position.
Inventors: |
Yanagita; Yousuke;
(Utsunomiya-shi, JP) ; Honda; Itsuo; (Hilliard,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KANESAKA BERNER AND PARTNERS LLP
SUITE 300, 1700 DIAGONAL RD
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-2848
US
|
Assignee: |
NIFCO INC.
Yokohama
JP
|
Family ID: |
36072921 |
Appl. No.: |
11/213993 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/311.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 3/102 20130101;
B60N 3/106 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/311.2 |
International
Class: |
A47K 1/08 20060101
A47K001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 17, 2004 |
JP |
2004-271773 |
Claims
1. A cup holder unit comprising: an outer case having a front
opening and a notched section formed at a front side thereof, an
inner case having a front opening and slidable between a pulled-out
position where the inner case is projected forward from the front
opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner
case is stored in the outer case, a main holder member slidable
between a usable position where the main holder member is pulled
out forward from the front opening of said inner case and a
non-usable position where the main holder member is stored in said
inner case, a connecting member pivotally supported on said inner
case, and having an abutment section formed at a front side thereof
to abut against a corresponding section of said main holder member
halfway through pulling of said main holder member from the
non-usable position while said inner case is in the stored position
so that said main holder member can be pulled out together with the
inner case, a tab formed at the front side to engage said notched
section when said inner case is substantially fully pulled out to
the pulled-out position, and a disengaging abutment section
disposed in a rear side thereof to disengage said tab from said
notched section by abutting against the corresponding section of
the main holder member halfway through pushing said main holder
member from the usable position to the non-usable position, and a
spring member to bias said connecting member in a direction of
engaging said tab with said notched section.
2. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer case
has a guide slot, and said inner case has a projection fitted with
the guide slot, said inner case being restricted from sliding from
the pulled-out position to the stored position while said tab is
engaged with said notched section and being restricted from sliding
further forward from the pulled-out position while said projection
abuts against the front end of said guide slot.
3. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
corresponding section is a wall formed in the main holder member,
said wall engaging the abutment section when said main holder
member is pulled from the non-usable position, and pushing the
disengaging abutment section when the main holder member is moved
to the non-usable position.
4. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main
holder member includes a supporting device with a recess for
supporting a container, a sub-holder pivotally supported by the
supporting device to practically change a diameter of a holder hole
in the supporting device, and a spring attached to the sub-holder
for pushing the sub-holder toward an inside of the holder hole,
said recess having a size so that the sub-holder is substantially
completely located in the recess and becomes flush with a surface
of an inner wall of the supporting device when turned downward.
5. A cup holder unit comprising: an outer case having a front
opening, an inner case slidable between a pulled-out position where
the inner case is projected forward from the front opening of said
outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in
said outer case, and a main holder member slidable between a usable
position where the main holder member is pulled out forward from
the front opening of said inner case and a non-usable position
where the main holder member is stored in said inner case, said
main holder member including a supporting device with a recess for
supporting a container, a sub-holder pivotally supported by the
supporting device to practically change a diameter of a holder hole
in the supporting device, and a spring attached to the sub-holder
for pushing the sub-holder toward the holder hole, said recess
having a size so that the sub-holder is substantially completely
located in the recess and becomes flush with a surface of an inner
wall of the supporting device when turned downward.
6. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said supporting
device includes a platform to receive a bottom of the container,
and a side supporter for defining the holder hole for the container
and supporting a periphery of the container, said recess being
formed in the side supporter.
7. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said sub-holder
is positioned within said holder hole and tilted slightly upward
above a horizontal position when not subjected to a downward load,
and has a guide rib projecting in a surface near a tip end thereof
to prevent the container from getting caught.
8. A cup holder unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said main
holder member has an open-sided vertical hole disposed above said
platform to support a portion of the container and a pivotally
supported side supporter biased in a direction to open sidewise to
form said holder hole in conjunction with said vertical hole, said
sub-holder being installed to said side supporter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
[0001] The present invention relates to a cup holder for holding a
container of various types, and particularly to a drawer-type cup
holder installed in an encased condition in an instrument panel or
a console of various types in an automobile that is pulled out for
use as needed.
[0002] There is a so-called two-stage, drawer-type cup holder, as
exemplarily shown in patent references 1 and 2, wherein an inner
case is arranged in an outer case so that the position of the inner
case is slidably switched relative to the outer case, and a main
holder member arranged in the inner case so that the position of
the main holder member is slidably switched relative to the inner
case. A cup holder of this type makes it possible, for example, to
reduce the front-to-back dimension of the unit as a whole, or set
the pulled-out position of the main holder member more forward in
accordance with the length of the inner case while controlling the
unit's front-to-back dimension.
[0003] The unit comprises an outer case that is fixed, an inner
case disposed in the outer case to be slidably switched between a
pulled-out position where the inner case is projected from the
outer case and a stored position where the inner case is stored in
the outer case, and a main holder member disposed in the inner case
to be slidably switched between a usable position where the main
holder member is pulled out from the inner case and a non-usable
position where the main holder member is stored in the inner case.
The switching operations to the respective positions are carried
out by pulling or pushing the front surface of the main holder
member.
[0004] The main holder member, moreover, usually has a holder hole
to restrict the periphery of a container and a platform to receive
the bottom of the container. The holder hole is formed in
correspondence with the diameter of the largest container
anticipated, and formed so as to be also applicable to containers
of various types. For this reason, in use, the smaller the diameter
of the container, the easier it becomes for the container to rattle
in the holder hole. As a conventional solution for this problem, an
upwardly biased sub-holder is disposed substantially horizontally
within the holder hole, as disclosed in patent reference 1, so that
a container is inserted into the holder hole while resiliently
displacing the sub-holder downward to thereby absorb the play in
the holder hole.
[0005] Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication
No. 2003-325255
[0006] Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication
No. 2004-175168
[0007] In such a two-stage, drawer-type cup holder described above,
as mentioned in patent reference 2, unless there is means to
control the order in which the inner case and the main holder
member are slid to their respective positions, the main holder
member may be switched all by itself to the usable position before
the inner case reaches the pulled-out position. For example, this
creates an illusion that the cup holder unit has been switched to
the usable mode, and results in stopping the pulling force applied
to the main holder member despite the fact that the inner case has
not reached the pulled-out position. As a solution for this
problem, the cup holders disclosed in patent references 1 and 2 are
adapted to control the order in which the inner case and the main
holder member are slid to their respective positions by providing
two locking mechanisms, i.e. a first engaging part to engage with
and disengage from the outer case and a second engaging part to
engage with and disengage from the inner case in the case of patent
reference 1, and a first locking member to engage with and
disengage from the main holder member and a second locking means to
engage with and disengage from the outer case in the case of patent
reference 2. In the conventional configurations described above,
however, two locking mechanisms are required. This makes the
construction complex and cost reduction difficult, as it increases
not only the number of parts, but also the steps required for
assembly.
[0008] Moreover, the aforementioned sub-holder is disposed so as to
extend substantially horizontally or tilted slightly downward above
the platform in the holder hole. The sub-holder is further
displaced downward when it abuts against the bottom of a container
inserted into the holder hole. Even if the sub-holder is displaced
downward to the maximum extent, it only approaches the inner wall
surface of the holder hole. Thus, the conventional construction
only permits the insertion of containers having a smaller diameter
than the actual diameter of the holder hole. In other words, the
conventional sub-holder constitutes a restricting factor for
containers that can be inserted. In addition, some containers have
rims around the bottom periphery, while others have a section with
a narrower diameter. When such a container is pulled out from the
holder hole, the rim or the narrower diameter section tends to be
caught by the lower edge of the sub-holder.
[0009] The present invention eliminates the shortcomings described
above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a
cup holder which can control the order such that the inner case and
the main holder member are pulled out or pushed in with a
simplified construction, thereby preserving the advantages of the
two-stage drawer structure.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide cup
holder as stated above, which has a sub-holder so as to increase
the range of container diameter that can be held or make the
pull-out operation of a container from the holder hole smooth,
thereby making the cup holder unit more user friendly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention disclosed in a first aspect achieves
the aforementioned first objective is a cup holder unit comprising
an outer case, an inner case slidably switchable between a
pulled-out position where the inner case is projected forward from
the front opening of said outer case and a stored position where
the inner case is stored in said outer case, and a main holder
member slidably switchable between a usable position where the main
holder member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said
inner case and a non-usable position where the main holder member
is stored in said inner case. The switching operations to the
respective positions are performed by pulling or pushing the front
surface of the main holder member.
[0012] The cup holder unit further comprises a notched section
disposed in the front of said outer case, and a connecting member
pivotally supported on said inner case. The connecting section has
a synchronizing abutment section to abut against the corresponding
section of said main holder member halfway through pulling out said
main holder member from the non-usable position while said inner
case is in the stored position so that said main holder member can
be pulled out together with the inner case, and a tab to engage
with said notched section when said inner case is almost fully
pulled out to the pulled-out position. The abutment section and tab
are disposed in the front section thereof. The connecting member
also has a disengaging abutment section to disengage said tab from
said notched section by abutting against the corresponding section
of the main holder member halfway through pushing said main holder
member from the usable position to the non-usable position. The
connecting member is disposed in the rear section thereof. A spring
member is formed to bias the connecting member in the direction of
engaging said tab with said notched section.
[0013] In the above cup holder unit of the invention, when the main
holder member is pulled out from the non-usable position while the
inner case is in the stored position, the synchronizing abutment
section of the connecting member abuts against the corresponding
section of the inner case halfway through the pull-out operation to
allow the main holder member to be pulled out together with the
inner case. When the inner case almost reaches the pulled-out
position, the tab of the connecting member engages the notched
section of the outer case, and the main holder member is
subsequently pulled out independently to be switched to the usable
position.
[0014] When the main holder member is pushed from the usable
position while the inner case is in the pulled-out position, the
corresponding section of the main holder member abuts against the
disengaging abutment section and turns the engaging member to
thereby release the aforementioned engagement. The inner case
subsequently slides together with the main holder member to the
stored position, and the main holder member also slides to the
non-usable position.
[0015] In the above construction, in a second aspect, the inner
case is preferably restricted from sliding from the pulled-out
position to the stored position while the tab is engaged with the
notched section. The inner case has a projection that is fitted
with the guide slot of said outer case, and is restricted from
sliding further forward from the pulled-out position while said
projection is abutted against the front end of said guide slot.
[0016] A third aspect of the invention achieves the above second
objective, and is directed to a cup holder unit comprising an outer
case, an inner case slidably switchable between a pulled-out
position where the inner case is projected forward from the front
opening of said outer case and a stored position where the inner
case is stored in said outer case, and a main holder member
slidably switchable between a usable position where the main holder
member is pulled out forward from the front opening of said inner
case and a non-usable position where the main holder member is
stored in said inner case. The switching operations to the
respective positions are performed by pulling or pushing the front
surface of said main holder member.
[0017] The main holder member has a platform to receive the bottom
of a container and a holder hole to support the periphery of the
container, a recess disposed in the inner wall that defines said
holder hole, and a sub-holder pivotally supported in said recess to
practically change the diameter of said holder hole by turning
downward against the bias force of a spring member when subjected
to a downward load from above. The sub-holder becomes flush with
the surface of said inner wall when maximally turned downward to be
housed in said recess.
[0018] In the above cup holder unit of the present invention, since
the sub-holder is housed in the recess, the cup holder unit can
hold, at maximum, the container having an outer diameter that is
approximately the same as the holder hole. In the above
construction, the sub-holder is preferably positioned within the
holder hole and tilted slightly upward above the horizontal
position when not subjected to a downward load, and has a guide rib
projecting in the surface near the tip end thereof to prevent the
container from getting caught (fourth aspect). The main holder
member preferably has an open-sided vertical hole disposed above
the platform to support a portion of a container periphery and a
pivotally supported side supporter biased in the direction of
sidewise deployment to form said holder hole in conjunction with
the vertical hole, and the sub-holder is installed to said side
supporter (firth aspect).
[0019] The present invention described above has the following
effects.
[0020] The invention of the first aspect ensures that the main
holder member is always used in the normal projected condition with
reduced numbers of components, as compared to those disclosed in
patent reference 1 and 2, to thereby enable the unit to always hold
containers stably, and improves the user friendliness and the
reliability of the unit.
[0021] The invention of the second aspect allows the front edge
section of the outer case to form the notched section, as in the
case of the example of the invention, to thereby increase the
design flexibility or reduce the required machining precision.
[0022] The invention of the third aspect can increase the tolerable
range of container diameters, as compared to the conventional
sub-holders, for the same holder diameter. This enables unit size
reduction by reducing the size of the holder hole, which is
worthwhile even by a small degree.
[0023] The invention of the fourth aspect can eliminate the
possibility of catching the rim at the bottom periphery or narrower
section of a container when pulling it out of the holder hole,
since the sub-holder is tilted upward. In the present invention,
moreover, even when a container that is extremely narrow tilts
towards the sub-holder in the holder hole, the sub-holder tilted
upward eliminates the possibility of inadvertent falling of the
container, unlike the conventional sub-holders that are arranged
horizontally or tilted slightly downward.
[0024] The invention of the fifth aspect is significant in
affirmatively specifying that the invention of the third and fourth
aspects is applicable to either the construction wherein side
supporters are provided, as in the case of the embodiment, or the
construction disclosed in patent reference 1 wherein side
supporters are not included.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a
cup holder unit according to the present invention when a main
holder member is in a non-usable position.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the unit shown in FIG.
1 when an inner case is in a pulled-out position.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the unit shown in FIG.
1 when the main holder member is in a usable position.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of an outer case of the
unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view of the inner case of the
unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view of the main holder
member of the unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded view of a side supporter and
sub-holder of the unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0032] FIGS. 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c) are schematic views of the
sub-holder installed to the side supporter shown in FIG. 7.
[0033] FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are schematic views showing the
operation of the sub-holder shown in FIG. 7.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the
unit in the state shown in FIG. 1.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of the unit in the
initial stage of pulling operation from the state shown in FIG.
10.
[0036] FIG. 12 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the
unit in the state shown in FIG. 2.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the
unit in the state shown in FIG. 3.
[0038] FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view showing the process of
pushing the main holder member to a non-usable position from the
state shown in FIG. 13.
[0039] FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view showing the
disengagement of the inner case from the outer case from the state
shown in FIG. 14.
[0040] FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) are schematic views showing the
advantages of the sub-holder of the present invention in comparison
to a conventional example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0041] Embodiment of the present invention will be explained based
on the drawings. FIGS. 1-3 are schematic views of a cup holder unit
in various states. FIGS. 4-6 and 8(a)-8(c) show the components of
the unit. FIGS. 7, 9(a) and 9(b) show the relationship between the
side supporter and the sub-holder. FIGS. 10-15 show the switching
operation of the unit, and FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) schematically
compare the sub-holder of the present invention with that of a
conventional unit. In the following explanation, the unit's
structure will be discussed in detail, and then how to use the
unit, or the operation, will be mentioned.
Unit's Structure
[0042] A cup holder unit in this embodiment is installed in an
instrument panel or a console of various types in an automobile,
for example, and the main components include a fixed outer case 1,
a movable inner case 2, a main holder member 3 for holding a
container, a connecting member 4 pivotally supported in the inner
case 2, side supporters 5 pivotally supported by the main holder
member 3, and sub-holders 6 pivotally supported in the inner side
walls of the side supporters 5. The main components or the
relationships between the components are as follows. The outer case
1 is encased in a recess of the installation location so that the
front opening is exposed. The inner case 2 is slidably switched
between a stored position where it is pushed in through the front
opening of the outer case 1 and a usable position where it is
pulled out.
[0043] The main holder member 3 has platforms 34 to receive the
bottom of a container and holder holes (33, 50) to support the
periphery of the container, and is slidably switched between a
non-usable position where it is pushed in through the front opening
of the inner case 2 and a usable position where it is pulled out.
The connecting member 4 operatively connects the inner case 2 and
the main holder member 3 as needed. The side supporters 5 are
turned inward against a bias force when the main holder member 3 is
switched from the usable position to the non-usable position, and
outward (deployed sideways) by the bias force when the main holder
member 3 is switched from the non-usable position to the usable
position. The sub-holders 6 turn downward against a bias force when
it is subjected to a downward load to thereby practically vary the
diameter of the holder holes (33, 50). The details will follow.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the aforementioned outer case 1 is a
frame made of resin, and the inside thereof is defined by an upper
surface 12, a lower surface 13, and side surfaces 14. It also has a
metal protector 10 attached to the top. Guide slots 12a are
disposed on the upper surface 12 to extend from the front to the
back. A notched section 13a is provided by removing one portion of
the front edge of the lower surface 13. The later described tab 44
of the connecting member 4 (FIG. 13) engages with and disengages
from the notched section 13a that is formed at the front edge of
the lower surface. In the state where the tab 44 is engaged, the
inner case 2 can be pulled out further, but the sliding of the
inner case 2 from the pulled-out position to the stored position is
blocked.
[0045] In each side surface 14, there are provided a lower guide
slot 14a opened at the bottom and extending from front to back, a
guide slot 15 disposed on the inner side extending from front to
back substantially in the center of the height, and an upper slot
16 extending from front to back above the guide slot 15 to place a
guide member 11 therein. At the front end of the lower guide slot
14a, a flexible projection 14b is provided to prevent the later
described stopper 23a from slipping off.
[0046] Reference numeral 17 denotes multiple mounting holes
disposed in the side surfaces 14. The protector 10 is screwed to
the upper surface 12 with screws S1 through the mounting holes 17
and the holes 10a disposed on the protector 10 so as to cover the
upper surface. Reference numerals 18a and 18b denote securing holes
that run through the upper section of the side surfaces 14 into the
upper slots 16. The guide members 11 are installed within the upper
slots 16 when inserted into the upper slots 16 with the tabs 11a
and 11b on the back snapped into the corresponding securing holes
18a and 18b.
[0047] The aforementioned inner case 2 is of a metal press molding
having a U-shaped cross section, and the upper opening is closed
with a resin cover 20. A play window 22a opened in the widthwise
direction near the front and an installation window 22b opened in
the back are provided in the lower surface 22. In each side surface
23, there are provided a stopper 23a positioned in the back and
folded outward substantially at a right angle to fit into the
aforementioned guide slot 14a, an upper slot 24 having a U-shaped
cross section and positioned at the top and extending from front to
back to place a guide member 21 therein, and mounting holes 24a and
securing holes 24b respectively disposed in the middle and the
corners of the outer surface of the upper slot 24. The guide member
21 is inserted into the upper slot 24, and installed therein by
snapping tabs 21a and 21b disposed on the back into the
corresponding securing holes 24b.
[0048] The cover 20 comprises a plate 25 to be placed on the
sections forming the upper slots 24 in the two sides, projections
26a projecting at two sides of the plate 25 so as to slidably fit
into the guide members 11, and mounting sections 26b disposed
downward from both sides of the plate 25. The cover is screwed to
the inner case with screws S2 through holes 26c disposed on the
mounting sections 26b and the mounting holes 24a so as to cover the
space between the side surfaces 23.
[0049] Reference numerals 25a and 25b denote ribs disposed between
the plate and the upper surface 12 of the outer case 1 to absorb
rattling. On the inner surface of the plate 25, there are provided
cam grooves 27a to guide the movement of the later described side
supporters 5 (the shafts 56 thereof), and guide slots 27b (see FIG.
13) extending from front to back on both sides. A stopper 27c is
disposed in the front of each guide slot 27b. The stopper 27c abuts
against the later described projection 39 when the holder main body
3 slides the projection 38 forward along the guide slot 27b to
thereby restrict the forward most position, i.e., the usable
position, of the main holder member 3.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, the installation window 22b is provided
with two opposing support pieces 28a for pivotally supporting the
connecting member 4, and an upright wall 29 at the rear edge. Shaft
holes are provided in the support pieces 28a along the same axial
line. An anchor 29a is disposed to project in the widthwise
direction in the upper section of the upright wall 29. The
connecting member 4 comprises a substantially rectangular plate
member 40 which integrally forms: a disengaging abutment section 41
that stands high in the upper surface in the rear; a shaft 42 that
projects from both sides and fits into the shaft holes of the
support pieces 28a; a tab 44 projecting in the lower surface in the
front; a synchronizing abutment section 45 projecting in the upper
surface in the front, opposite of the tab 44; a projection 43
projecting in the rear side of the plate member on one side to be
arranged between the lower surface 22 and the anchor 29a when the
plate member 40 is pivotally supported by the support pieces 28a to
restrict the range of rotation; and a recess (not shown) to place a
coil spring 46 and a shaft (not shown) to support the coil spring
46 arranged in the recess that are both disposed in the upper
surface of the plate member 40.
[0051] The connecting member 4 is pivotally supported by fitting
the shaft 42 into the shaft holes upon incorporating the spring
member 46 into the plate member 40. In this case, the projection 43
is disposed between the lower surface 22 and the anchor 29a.
Subsequently, the spring member 36 is anchored on the upright wall
29 at one end and the front of the plate member 40 at the other
end, while generating bias force. This turnably biases the
connecting member 4 about the shaft 42 so as to push the tab 44 in
a downward direction.
[0052] The inner case 2 described above is pushed into the outer
case 1 so that the stoppers 23a located on both sides go over the
flexible projections 14b to fit into the lower guide slots 14a, and
the connecting member 4 is turned against the bias force of the
spring member 46 to allow the tab 44 to go over the notched section
13a. The inner case 2, as a consequence, is assembled to the outer
case 1 by fitting the projections 26a into the guide members 11 so
as to slide back and forth. The stoppers 23a abut against the front
ends of the lower guide slots 14a to thereby establish the
pulled-out position when the inner case 2 is pulled out maximally,
and abut against the rear ends of the lower guide slots 14a to
thereby establish the stored position when the inner case 2 is
pushed in maximally.
[0053] The aforementioned main holder member 3 includes a section
30 to be inserted into the inner case 2, an operable section 31
that is an ornamental plate disposed at the front of the section
30, vertical holes 33 disposed in both sides in the front of the
section 30, a base end section 32 disposed in the rear of the
section 30, and side supporters 5 rotatably supported by the base
end section 32 to restrict, in conjunction with the vertical holes
33, the peripheral surfaces of the containers that will be inserted
into the vertical holes 33. The operable section 31 is
substantially rectangular in shape with an elongated recess 31a
disposed in the center of the front surface, that is designed so as
to allow a finger inserted into the recessed section 31a to catch
the inner upper area (see FIG. 10). The open-sided vertical holes
33 disposed between the operable section 31a and the base end
section 32 are positioned above the platform 34. They form the
holder holes in conjunction with the front curved sections 50 of
the side supporters 5. The base end section 32 is divided into
upper and lower sections, and has projections 32a disposed on the
side surfaces to mate with the guide members 21 of the inner case
2.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 13, on the lower side of the base section
32, there are provided a first wall 39a disposed downward in the
longitudinal center and a second wall 39b positioned in the rear
surface of said first wall 39a and tilted upward from the lower end
of the first wall. The second wall 39b and the first wall 39a
respectively work relative to the disengaging abutment section 41
and the synchronizing abutment section 45 of the later described
connecting member 4.
[0055] The upper section of the base end section 32 is bordered
with two side walls and a rear wall, and divided by an intermediary
wall to form left and right arrangement spaces. The arrangement
spaces are closed by a lid 37 installed above it. Each arrangement
space has a shaft 36 that turnably supports the base end section 51
of the corresponding side supporter 5. The lid 37 has mounting
holes 37a disposed on both sides and the mid front section, guide
slots 37b disposed adjacent to the mounting holes 37a on the sides,
ribs 38a, 38b disposed on both sides of the upper surface to
slidably come in contact with the upper surface of the inner case
2, and flexible ribs 39 (see FIG. 13) disposed on both sides to fit
into the guide slots 27b of the inner case 2. The lid 37 is screwed
to the base end section 32 with screws S3 through the holes 37a and
the mounting holes 35a disposed in the upper section of the base
end section 32 so as to cover the upper arrangement sections. The
lid installation is performed after assembling the base end
sections 51 of the side supporters 5 to the aforementioned
arrangement spaces.
[0056] Each side supporter 5 comprises a front curved section 50
and a base end section 51. The base end section 51 has a vertical
shaft hole 55 disposed in the rear, a shaft 56 projecting on the
upper surface, and a spring member 57 that held by the section of
the shaft 56 that projects above the shaft hole 55 so as to bias
the side supporter 5 in the direction to deploy sideways. The base
end section 51 is pivotally supported by fitting the shaft 36 into
the shaft hole 55 so as to turn to a predetermined angle relative
to the aforementioned arrangement space. The spring member 57,
while being held around the shaft 56, is anchored to the
corresponding upper section of the base end section 32 on one end
and the corresponding section of the base end section 51 on the
other end, while generating spring pressure, thereby turnably
biasing the side supporter 5 in the direction to deploy
sideways.
[0057] The shaft 56 goes through the corresponding guide slot 37b
of the lid 37 and fits into the cam groove 27 disposed on the inner
surface of the plate 25 that constitutes the inner case. The side
supporter 5 described above is turned inward (contracted) against
the bias force of the spring member 57 when the shaft 56 is slid
along the track of the aforementioned cam groove 27 during the
process of pushing the main holder member 3 into the inner case 2
from the state where it is pulled out of the inner case 2 or in the
usable position. The main holder member 3 having the side
supporters 5 deployed sideways in the usable position, therefore,
is switched to the non-usable position by automatically rotating
the side supporters 5 inward during the process of being stored in
the inner case 2.
[0058] Each curved section 50 defines and forms a holder hole in
conjunction with the vertical hole 33 described earlier. On the
inner side thereof there is provided a substantially rectangular
recess 52, which corresponds to a sub-holder 6. As shown in FIG. 7,
the recess 52 has the depth and the inner shape to house the
sub-holder 6 so as to be flush with the inner surface of the curved
section. The recess includes shaft holes 52a disposed at the
opposing left and right inner side surfaces in the upper section,
vertical ribs 53 projecting at the inner left and right sides, a
horizontal rib 53a connecting the upper sections of the two
vertical ribs, and turn control holes 54 formed therethrough at the
inner upper corners. Numerical reference 50a in FIG. 6 denotes a
U-shaped recess disposed on the outer surface of the front curved
section 50, and the support holes 54 are formed therethrough at
both sides. The sub-holder 6, together with the spring member 58,
is assembled to the recess 52.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 8(a)-8(c), the sub-holder 6 is formed so
that the front surface 60 is a curved surface having substantially
the same curvature as that of the front curved section 50. The back
surface 61 forms a recess 61a for clearance for the vertical ribs
53 and the horizontal rib 53a, and has a rib 64 positioned in the
middle upper section to define a small recess, and a plurality of
guide ribs 65 projecting in the tip section. The upper sections at
both ends are formed as small projections 62, and both side
surfaces form shafts 63 in the upper section. In the small recess
formed in the rib 64, two opposing shafts are disposed on the left
and right, as shown in FIG. 8(b), and a coil spring member 58 is
secured by the shafts. Each rib 65 is substantially arcuate in
shape, and disposed near the tip end.
[0060] The sub-holder 6 described above is rotatably assembled to
the recess 52, upon placing the spring member 58 within the rib 64,
by inserting small projections 62 into the turn control holes 54
and fitting the shafts 63 on both sides into the corresponding
shaft holes 52a. Subsequently, the spring member 58 is anchored to
the hole disposed in the corresponding section (not shown) of the
rib 64 on one end, and the horizontal rib 53a on the other end
while generating biasing pressure. The sub-holder 6, as shown in
FIG. 9(a), is rotated upward about the shafts 63 by the bias force
of the spring member 58 to achieve the state where it is slanted
slightly upward above the horizontal position in the holder hole
when not in use or subjected to no downward load. In this case,
when not in use as described above, the amount of upward rotation
of the sub-holder 6 is controlled, as the top or the base end side
is positioned between the upper surface of the vertical ribs 53 and
the upper end surface of the recess 52, and the small projections
62 on both sides are fitted into the turn control holes 54. In this
mode, the practical diameter of the holder hole becomes smallest,
due to the presence of the sub-holder 6.
[0061] The main holder member 3 described above is pushed into the
inner case 2 so that the ribs 39 on the upper side are fitted into
the corresponding guide slots 27b while being resiliently displaced
(see FIG. 13), and the shafts 56 of the side supporters 5 are
arranged in the aforementioned cam grooves 27a. The main holder
member 3, as a result, is assembled to the inner case 2 by fitting
the projections 32a into the guide members 21 and the like so as to
slide back and forth.
Operation
[0062] When assembled, the components described above relate to one
another in the following manner. First, the inner case 2 becomes
slidably switchable relative to the outer case 1 via the mating of
the aforementioned projections 26a with the guide members 11, the
aforementioned guide slot 15 with the sections forming the upper
slots 24, and the like, between a stored position and a pulled-out
position where the inner case is pulled forward. The movement of
the main holder member 3 is restricted by the operable part 31 of
the main holder member 3 and the stoppers 23a in the stored
position, and by the abutting of the stoppers 23a against the front
ends of the lower guide slots 14a in the pulled-out position. The
main holder member 3 becomes slidably switchable relative to the
inner case 2 via the fitting of the aforementioned projections 32a
into the guide members 21, and the like, between a non-usable
position and a usable position where it is pulled forward.
[0063] The movement of the main holder member is restricted by the
operable part 31 in the non-usable position, and by the abutment of
the ribs 39 against the stoppers 27c of the guide slots 27b in the
usable position. The side supporters 5 are turned toward the
vertical holes 33 and housed in the inner case 2 without rattling
when the main holder member 3 is in the non-usable position, and
becomes available for use as they are turned outward from the
vertical holes 33 in the process in which the main holder member 3
is pulled out.
[0064] In this embodiment, an additional operation of the
connecting member 4 is contrived in addition to the basic operation
described above. This will be explained with reference to FIGS.
10-15.
[0065] FIG. 10 shows the non-usable state of the cup holder unit,
wherein the inner case 2 is in the stored position and the main
holder member 3 is in the non-usable position. In this state, the
connecting member 4 is turned clockwise about the shaft 42 against
the bias force of the spring member 46, as the abutment section 41
is pressed down towards the rear by the second wall 39b, i.e., in
the direction to raise the tab 44 to the installation window
22b.
[0066] FIG. 11 shows an initial stage of the pulling operation of
the operable part 31 by inserting fingers into the recess 31a from
the state shown in FIG. 10. In this process, once the main holder
member 3 is pulled forward, the first wall 39a abuts against the
abutment section 45 from the back. Subsequently, the main holder
member 3 and the inner case 2 achieve a connected state via the
first wall 39a and the abutment section 45, and are pulled forward
as a unit.
[0067] FIG. 12 shows the intermediary state where the inner case 2
and the main holder member 3 are being pulled out, together with
the tab 44 of the connecting member 4 being engaged with the
notched section 13a of the outer case. That is, the connecting
member 4 is turned counterclockwise about the shaft 42 by the bias
force of the spring member 46, i.e., in the direction to engage the
tab 44 with the notched section 13a, once the inner case 2 and the
main holder member 3 are pulled out together and the tab 44 reaches
the notched section 13a. When engaged, further forward movement of
the inner case 2 is prevented by the engagement of the stoppers 23a
with the front ends of the lower guide slots 14a. The abutment
section 45 is displaced downward as the connecting member 4 is
turned as described above, and separated from the first wall 39a.
That is, the main holder member 3 and the inner case 2 achieve a
disengaged state.
[0068] FIG. 13 shows the state where the main holder member 3 is
pulled out of the inner case 2 alone and switched to the usable
position. The further forward movement of the main holder member 3
is prevented by the engagement of the flexible ribs 39 with the
stoppers 27c of the guide slots 27b of the inner case. The side
supporters 5, as shown in FIG. 3, rotate outward from the vertical
holes 33 to achieve the deployed state in relation to the pull-out
operation of the main holder member 3 from the inner case 2. At
this point, the user can insert a container into the holder hole
formed by the vertical hole 33 and the corresponding section of the
side supporter 5, and pull out the container. As a
container-holding mechanism, this cup holder unit has the following
advantages as compared to the conventional construction.
[0069] First, the sub-holder 6, upon being subjected to a downward
load as a container is inserted from above, is turned downward
against the bias force of the spring member 58 about the shaft 63
until the container passes by, and abuts its tip end against the
periphery of the container. In this structure, as shown in FIG.
9(b), when maximally turned downward, the sub-holder 6 is housed
completely within the recess 52 to become flush with the inner wall
surface of the front curved section 50. Thus, the diameter of the
container that can be held is increased as compared to the
conventional sub-holder even if the holder hole has the same
diameter. In terms of the design, the holder hole can be reduced to
some extent to make the cup holder unit more compact.
[0070] Second, although some containers have a rim at the bottom
periphery or a narrower section, such a container received by the
platform 34 can be pulled out smoothly from the condition where the
periphery of the container is held by the vertical hole 33 and the
tip of the sub-holder 6 in this construction. This is because the
sub-holder 6 abuts its arcuate ribs 65 located at the tip section
against such a rim or a narrower section of the container in order
to prevent it from being caught. In addition, since the sub-holder
6 is designed to turn until it is tilted upward above the
horizontal position, the rim or the narrower section of the
container passes the sub-holder easily upon contact.
[0071] Third, disposing the sub-holder 6 to tilt upward above the
horizontal position has the following additional effect. FIG. 16(b)
shows a sub-holder 8 of a conventional type that is disposed at a
level height or slightly tilted downward. In this case, if an
extremely narrow container C tilts within the holder hole (33, 50)
and hits the sub-holder 8, the load of the container C causes the
sub-holder 8 to further tilt down because the sub-holder 8 is in a
level likely to tilt, as indicated with chain dotted lines in the
figure. Thus, the liquid content of the container spills more
easily. In the sub-holder 6 of the present invention, as
schematically shown in FIG. 16(a), on the other hand, even when
such an extremely narrow container C tilts and hits the sub-holder
6, the sub-holder 6, which is tilted upward, never inadvertently
tilts down.
[0072] FIG. 14 shows the intermediary state in which the operable
part 31 is pushed by inserting fingers into the recess 31a from the
state shown in FIG. 13 (when the cup holder unit is no longer
necessary). When so pushed, the main holder member 3 is pushed into
the inner case 2. At this time, the inner case 2 does not move, as
the tab 44 is engaged with the notched section 13a. In this
construction, moreover, the second wall 39b abuts against the
abutment section 41 shortly before the time when the main holder
member 3 is completely pushed into the inner case 2.
[0073] FIG. 15 shows the state in which the main holder member 3 is
further pushed into the inner case 2. In this state, the connecting
member 4 is turned clockwise about the shaft 42 against the bias
force of the spring member 46, i.e., in the direction of separating
the tab 44 from the notched section 13a, by the load applied to the
abutment section 41 by the second wall 39b. Subsequently, the main
holder member 3 is switched to the non-usable position where it is
completely housed in the inner case 2, as shown in FIG. 1, and the
inner case 2 is switched to the stored position where it is housed
completely in the outer case 1. This construction, therefore, can
achieve all of the objectives discussed earlier while, at the same
time, reducing the number of components.
[0074] The embodiment described above does not in any way restrict
the present invention. Various modifications are possible based on
the embodiment.
[0075] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2004-271773 filed on Sep. 17, 2004 is incorporated herein.
[0076] While the invention has been explained with reference to the
specific embodiment of the invention, the explanation is
illustrative, and the invention is limited only by the appended
claims.
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