Cup holder

Abstract

To stably retains a beverage container despite a simple structure.SOLUTION: A cup holder 30 includes a holder body 32 shaped like a bottomed cylinder in order to store at least part of a beverage container, and at least three arms 42 aligned in a circumferential direction of the holder body 32. Each of the arms 42 includes a bearing part 42A borne by the holder body 32 so that the bearing part can rotate about an axial line in the circumferential direction of the holder body, a longitudinal extension part 42B extended upward of the holder body 32 from the bearing part 42A, and a lateral extension part 42C extended to the center in a radial direction of the holder body 32 from the bearing part 42A. When a beverage container is placed on the longitudinal extension parts 42C, the arms 42 turn. This causes the longitudinal extension parts 42B to be pushed against the flank of the beverage container.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cup holder that is provided, for example, in an armrest of a vehicle seat. [Background technology]

[0002] The cup holder disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 has a bottomed cylindrical portion capable of accommodating at least a portion of a beverage container, a support member pivotally supported so as to be tiltable on an axis along a tangent to the bottomed cylindrical portion and whose free end can come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the beverage container, and a drive means for driving the support member to tilt so as to change the amount by which the free end of the support member protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion. This allows the cup holder to stably hold beverage containers of various sizes by changing the amount by which the free end of the support member protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the bottomed cylindrical portion.

[0003] In the cup holder disclosed in the following Patent Document 2, a restricting member is disposed around the periphery of an insertion hole for a beverage container so as to be able to swing up and down, and a biasing member is provided to bias a first holding portion at the tip of the restricting member so as to swing from bottom to top, thereby pressing the first holding portion against the outer periphery of the container to hold beverage containers of various outer diameters. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-144941 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-301333 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The cup holder disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a complex drive mechanism. The cup holder disclosed in Patent Document 2 holds the outer circumferential surface of the beverage container by the biasing force of the biasing member, so there is room for improvement in terms of stably holding the beverage container.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a cup holder that has a simple structure and is capable of stably holding a beverage container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The cup holder of the first embodiment comprises a bottomed, cylindrical holder body that accommodates at least part of a beverage container, and at least three retaining members arranged in a circumferential direction of the holder body, each of the retaining members having a bearing portion rotatably supported on the holder body about an axis along the circumferential direction, a vertical extension portion extending from the bearing portion toward the upper side of the holder body, and a horizontal extension portion extending from the bearing portion toward the radial center of the holder body, and when a beverage container is placed on each of the horizontal extension portions, each of the retaining members rotates and each of the vertical extension portions is pressed against the side of the beverage container.

[0008] In the cup holder of the first aspect, at least three holding members are arranged in line in the circumferential direction of a holder body that accommodates at least a part of a beverage container. Each holding member has a bearing portion, a vertical extension portion, and a horizontal extension portion. Each bearing portion is supported rotatably around an axis along the circumferential direction of the holder body. Each vertical extension portion extends from the bearing portion to the upper side of the holder body. Each horizontal extension portion extends from the bearing portion to the center side in the radial direction of the holder body. When a beverage container is placed on each horizontal extension portion, each holding member rotates and each vertical extension portion is pressed against a side surface of the beverage container. The pressing force of each vertical extension portion against the side surface of the beverage container increases according to the weight of the beverage in the beverage container. This makes it possible to stably hold the beverage container with a simple configuration.

[0009] The cup holder of the second aspect is the same as that of the first aspect, and is provided with a biasing portion that biases each of the retaining members so that each of the vertical extension portions is aligned in the vertical direction of the holder body and each of the horizontal extension portions is aligned in the radial direction.

[0010] In the cup holder of the second aspect, each holding member is biased by a biasing portion so that each vertical extension portion is aligned along the up-down direction of the holder body and each horizontal extension portion is aligned along the radial direction of the holder body, thereby making it possible to prevent the vertical extension portion of each holding member from getting in the way when at least a part of the beverage container is inserted into the holder body.

[0011] The cup holder of a third aspect is the cup holder of the first or second aspect, and further comprises four of the holding members arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0012] The cup holder of the third embodiment has four retaining members arranged at equal intervals around the circumferential direction of the holder body, and therefore can stably hold not only beverage containers with a circular cross-section when viewed from the top and bottom of the holder body, but also beverage containers with a rectangular cross-section when viewed from the top and bottom of the holder body.

[0013] The cup holder of a fourth aspect is any one of the first to third aspects, wherein openings into which the respective longitudinal extension portions are inserted are formed in the peripheral wall portion of the holder body.

[0014] In the cup holder of the fourth aspect, the vertical extension portion of each holding member is inserted into an opening formed in the peripheral wall portion of the holder body, so that the diameter of the peripheral wall portion of the holder body can be set small while ensuring space for arranging each vertical extension portion.

[0015] A cup holder of a fifth aspect is any one of the first to third aspects, wherein each of the bearing portions is supported by a bottom wall portion of the holder body, and a peripheral wall portion of the holder body faces each of the vertical extension portions from the radially outer side.

[0016] In the cup holder of the fifth aspect, the bearings of each holding member are supported by the bottom wall of the holder body, and the peripheral wall of the holder body faces the longitudinally extending portions of each holding member from the radially outer side of the holder body, which makes the cup holder look better than when openings are formed in the peripheral wall of the holder body. Effect of the Invention

[0017] As described above, the cup holder according to the present invention is capable of stably holding a beverage container with a simple structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat equipped with a cup holder according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the cup holder according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the cup holder. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3, illustrating a state in which an arm serving as a holding member is positioned at a maximum rotation position. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a portion of the cup holder. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a part of the cup holder. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a cup holder and its surroundings in an armrest of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a state in which a small beverage container is supported by an arm. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a large beverage container supported by an arm. [Figure 12] 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration around an arm in a cup holder according to a modified example of the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a cut surface along line F13-F13 in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an example with four arms. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] A cup holder 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 11. In addition, in each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted in order to make the drawings easier to understand.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, a cup holder 30 according to this embodiment is attached to an armrest 20 of a vehicle seat 10. The vehicle seat 10 is a rear seat for seating three passengers, and includes a seat cushion 12 on which vehicle occupants sit, a seat back 14 supporting the back of the occupant, three headrests 16 supporting the head of the occupant, and an armrest 20 attached to the left-right center of the seat back 14. The armrest 20 is rotatable with respect to the seat back 14 between a stored position where it is stored in a recess 18 formed in the left-right center of the seat back 14, and an deployed position (position shown in Fig. 1) where it extends from the seat back 14 toward the front of the seat.

[0021] The arrows FR, LH, and UP shown in Fig. 1 indicate the front, left, and upper directions, respectively, of the vehicle seat 10. When the armrest 20 is in the unfolded position, the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions of the armrest 20 coincide with the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions of the vehicle seat 10. The arrows FR, LH, and UP shown in Figs. 2 to 11 indicate directions relative to the vehicle seat 10 when the armrest 20 is in the unfolded position. In the following description, when the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions are simply used, they will indicate the directions relative to the vehicle seat 10 when the armrest 20 is in the unfolded position.

[0022] The armrest 20 includes an armrest frame (not shown) which is a framework member, an armrest pad 22 which is a cushion body covering the armrest frame, and an armrest skin 24 which covers the armrest pad 22. The armrest frame is formed by joining, for example, metal pipe material or press-formed metal plate material by means of welding or the like, and is rotatably connected to the frame of the seat back 14. The armrest pad 22 is formed of a foam material such as urethane foam, and has a long rectangular parallelepiped shape with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction, the width direction being the left-right direction, and the thickness direction being the up-down direction. The armrest skin 24 is formed by sewing a plurality of skin pieces made of, for example, a cloth material, leather, synthetic leather, etc., and has a bag shape with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction.

[0023] A cup holder 30 is attached to the front of the armrest 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the cup holder 30 is, for example, a double cup holder capable of holding two beverage containers, and has a left cup holder 30L and a right cup holder 30R arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The left cup holder 30L and the right cup holder 30R each have a holder body 32 that holds at least a portion (here, the lower portion) of a beverage container, and three arms 42 that are holding members supported rotatably relative to the holder body 32.

[0024] The holder body 32 of the left cup holder 30L and the holder body 32 of the right cup holder 30R are integrally connected by a flange portion 34 of the cup holder 30. The flange portion 34 and the left and right holder bodies 32 are integrally molded, for example, from resin. In this cup holder 30, the holder body 32 of the left cup holder 30L and the holder body 32 of the right cup holder 30R are embedded in the armrest pad 22, and the flange portion 34 is exposed and disposed on the upper surface of the armrest 20. The left cup holder 30L and the right cup holder 30R have the same configuration, except that they are configured symmetrically.

[0025] As shown in Figs. 2 to 7, the holder body 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and has a peripheral wall portion 32A and a bottom wall portion 32B. The peripheral wall portion 32A is formed in a cylindrical shape and is disposed opposite to the side surface of the lower portion of the beverage container accommodated in the holder body 32. The bottom wall portion 32B is disposed opposite to the bottom surface of the lower portion of the beverage container accommodated in the holder body 32. The bottom wall portion 32B is substantially in the shape of a truncated cone that is convex downward. The holder body 32 is disposed in a position in which the axial direction (vertical direction) is aligned with the vertical direction of the armrest 20, and opens toward the upper side of the armrest 20.

[0026] Three openings 36 are formed in the peripheral wall portion 32A. The three openings 36 are arranged in a line at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall portion 32A. Each opening 36 has an elongated rectangular shape with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the radial direction of the peripheral wall portion 32A. The three openings 36 correspond to the three arms 42, and the vertical extension portion 42B, which is a part of each arm 42, is inserted into each opening 36.

[0027] The three arms 42 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall portion 32A. Each arm 42 is molded, for example, from resin, and is L-shaped. As shown in FIG. 8, each arm 42 is composed of a bearing portion 42A, a vertical extension portion 42B, and a horizontal extension portion 42C. The bearing portion 42A is supported rotatably around an axis along the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall portion 32A with respect to the holder body 32. Specifically, a pair of support shaft portions 38 protruding radially outward from the holder body 32 is provided on both sides of the circumferential direction of the holder body 32 with respect to each opening 36 of the holder body 32. The pair of support shaft portions 38 rotatably support a shaft 40 that has an axial direction in the circumferential direction of the holder body 32 and penetrates the bearing portion 42A of the arm 42. As a result, each arm 42 is rotatable between a normal position shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 and a maximum rotation position shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7.

[0028] The vertical extension portion 42B of the arm 42 extends from the bearing portion 42A to the upper side of the holder body 32 and is inserted into the opening 36 of the holder body 32. The vertical extension portion 42B is plate-shaped with the vertical direction of the holder body 32 as the longitudinal direction and the radial direction of the holder body 32 as the plate thickness direction. A protrusion 42B1 protruding toward the center in the radial direction of the holder body 32 is provided at the upper end of the vertical extension portion 42B. The protrusion 42B1 is semicircular when viewed from the radial direction of the holder body 32. The horizontal extension portion 42C extends from the bearing portion 42A to the center in the radial direction of the holder body 32. The horizontal extension portion 42C is plate-shaped with the radial direction of the holder body 32 as the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the holder body 32 as the plate thickness direction.

[0029] Each arm 42 is biased to the normal position shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 by three torsion coil springs 46 (see FIG. 8; not shown in other than FIG. 8) constituting a biasing portion. One end of each torsion coil spring 46 is engaged with the holder body 32, and the other end is engaged with each arm 42. The biasing force of each torsion coil spring 46 is set to be weak enough to hold each arm 42 in the normal position and prevent each arm 42 from rattling. When each arm 42 is in the normal position, each vertical extension portion 42B is aligned along the vertical direction of the holder body 32, and each horizontal extension portion 42C is aligned along the radial direction of the holder body 32. Note that the biasing portion is not limited to the three torsion coil springs 46, and may be any other member capable of biasing each arm 42 to the normal position. For example, the biasing portion may be a leaf spring made of metal or resin.

[0030] 9, a pad covering portion 24A, which is a part of the armrest cover 24, is interposed between the peripheral wall portion 32A and the bottom wall portion 32B of the holder body 32 and the armrest pad 22. This pad covering portion 24A is disposed facing each opening 36 of the holder body 32 from the radial outside of the holder body 32. This prevents the armrest pad 22 and part of the armrest frame from being viewed by the occupant through the opening 36 when each arm 42 rotates from the use position (see the arm 42 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9) to the maximum rotation position (see the arm 42 shown by the solid line in FIG. 9).

[0031] In the cup holder 30 configured as above, when the lower part of the beverage container is inserted into the holder body 32 and the beverage container is placed on the horizontal extension part 42C of each arm 42, each arm 42 rotates from the normal position to the maximum rotation position side, and the protrusion part 42B1 of each vertical extension part 42B is pressed against the side of the beverage container. As a result, the beverage container is supported from below by the horizontal extension part 42C of each arm 42 and is supported from the side by the vertical extension part 42B of each arm 42. Each arm 42 rotates widely when supporting a small beverage container BC1 (see FIG. 10) and rotates slightly when supporting a large beverage container BC2 (see FIG. 11). The rotation range of each arm 42 is set so that it can support (hold) a beverage container with a diameter in the range of, for example, 55 mm to 80 mm.

[0032] It should be noted that the maximum and minimum diameters of beverage containers that can be held by each arm 42 can be changed by adjusting the shape and rotation range of each arm 42. Furthermore, by providing anti-slip members made of rubber or the like on the vertical extension portions 42B and horizontal extension portions 42C of each arm 42, the holding force of each arm 42 for holding a beverage container can be increased, and the anti-slip properties also serve to prevent the empty beverage container from slipping after the beverage has been consumed.

[0033] In the cup holder 30 configured as described above, three arms 42 are arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the holder body 32 that accommodates the lower part of the beverage container. Each arm 42 has a bearing portion 42A, a vertical extension portion 42B, and a horizontal extension portion 42C. Each bearing portion 42A is supported by the holder body 32 so as to be rotatable about an axis along the circumferential direction. Each vertical extension portion 42B extends from the bearing portion 42A toward the upper side of the holder body 32. Each horizontal extension portion 42C extends from the bearing portion 42A toward the center side of the holder body 32 in the radial direction.

[0034] In this cup holder 30, when a beverage container is placed on each horizontal extension portion 42C, the three arms 42 rotate and the protrusions 42B1 of each vertical extension portion 42B are pressed against the side of the beverage container. The pressing force of each vertical extension portion 42B against the side of the beverage container increases according to the weight of the beverage in the beverage container. This allows the beverage container to be stably held with a simple configuration. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the beverage container from flying out of the cup holder 30 when the vehicle is traveling around a curve or accelerating. Moreover, since the three arms 42 follow the outer diameter of the beverage container, beverage containers of various thicknesses can be stably held.

[0035] Furthermore, this cup holder 30 includes three torsion coil springs 46 that bias each arm 42 so that each vertical extension portion 42B is aligned along the up-down direction of the holder body 32 and each horizontal extension portion 42C is aligned along the radial direction of the holder body 32. This prevents the vertical extension portion 42B of each arm 42 from getting in the way when the lower portion of the beverage container is inserted into the holder body 32. Also, each arm 42 can be prevented from inadvertently rotating due to vibrations or the like while the vehicle is traveling.

[0036] In addition, in this cup holder 30, three openings 36 are formed in the peripheral wall 32A of the holder body 32, into which the vertical extensions 42B of each arm 42 are inserted. This allows the diameter of the peripheral wall 32A of the holder body 32 to be set small while ensuring the arrangement space for each vertical extension 42B, thereby contributing to the miniaturization of the cup holder 30.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the three openings 36 are formed in the peripheral wall 32A of the holder body 32, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a modified example shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 may be used. In this modified example, the bearing portion 42A of the arm 42 is supported on the bottom wall 32B of the holder body 32 via the shaft 40, and the peripheral wall 32A of the holder body 32 faces the vertically extending portion 42B of each arm 42 from the radially outer side of the holder body 32. The peripheral wall 32A is formed with an arm accommodating recess 32A1 that is substantially U-shaped (C-shaped) and opens toward the radially inner side of the holder body 32 when viewed from above the holder body 32, and the vertically extending portion 42B of the arm 42 is accommodated in the arm accommodating recess 32A1. A part of the arm accommodating recess 32A1 faces the arm 42 from the radially outer side of the holder body 32. This allows the cup holder 30 to have a better appearance than when the opening 36 is formed in the peripheral wall portion 32A of the holder body 32.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the left cup holder 30L and the right cup holder 30R each have three arms 42, but the number of arms 42 (holding members) may be four or more. When there are four arms 42, it is preferable to arrange the four arms 42 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the holder body 32, as shown in Fig. 14, for example. Not only a beverage container BC3 having a circular cross section when viewed from the top-bottom direction of the holder body 32 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in Fig. 14), but also a beverage container BC4 having a rectangular cross section when viewed from the top-bottom direction of the holder body 32 can be stably held.

[0039] In addition, the present invention can be implemented in various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 30 Cup holder 32 Holder body 32A Peripheral wall part 32B Bottom wall part 36 Aperture 42 Arm 42A Bearing part 42B Vertical extension 42C Horizontal extension 46 Torsion coil spring (biasing part)

Claims

1. A bottomed cylindrical holder body that accommodates at least a portion of the beverage container; At least three holding members arranged side by side in a circumferential direction of the holder body; Equipped with Each of the holding members is a bearing portion supported rotatably about an axis along the circumferential direction with respect to the holder body; a vertical extension portion extending from the bearing portion to an upper side of the holder body; a lateral extension portion extending from the bearing portion toward a center side in a radial direction of the holder body; having A cup holder in which, when a beverage container is placed on each of the horizontal extension portions, each of the holding members rotates and each of the vertical extension portions is pressed against a side surface of the beverage container.

2. The cup holder according to claim 1 , further comprising a biasing portion that biases each of the holding members so that each of the vertical extension portions is aligned along the up-down direction of the holder body and each of the horizontal extension portions is aligned along the radial direction.

3. The cup holder according to claim 1 or 2, comprising four of the holding members arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

4. 3. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of the holder body is formed with openings into which the longitudinally extending portions are inserted.

5. 3. The cup holder according to claim 1, wherein each of the bearing portions is supported by a bottom wall portion of the holder body, and a peripheral wall portion of the holder body faces each of the longitudinally extending portions from an outer side in the radial direction.

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