Vehicle

Abstract

To enable a private space to be easily formed in a vehicle interior.SOLUTION: A vehicle 1, which is provided with a front-row seat 2F, a second seat 3, a third seat 4 and a ceiling part 15, is further provided with first and second movable shelves 5a and 5b turnably supported on the ceiling part 15 through turning shafts 51 extending in a lateral direction. The first and second movable shelves 5a and 5b are hung down, in a storage state in a nearly horizontal attitude in which the shelves are stored in the ceiling part 15, from the ceiling part 15, and can be moved to use positions in a nearly vertical attitude facing in a longitudinal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle capable of creating a private space. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles have been known that have a ceiling storage shelf formed on the ceiling of the vehicle interior so that it can store items (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the vehicle described in Patent Document 1, the ceiling storage shelf is rotated around a rotation axis that extends in the front-to-rear direction, causing the ceiling storage shelf to appear from the ceiling inside the vehicle interior.

[0003] In recent years, the importance of setting aside time to refresh oneself in daily life has been emphasized. For example, creating a private space inside a car allows one to refresh oneself by changing one's mood or taking a short break. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6865882 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in order to create such a private space inside a vehicle, it is necessary to make the private space invisible from outside the vehicle, and creating such a space inside the vehicle is troublesome for the person involved. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that, in a vehicle having front seats, rear seats, and a roof, the vehicle is provided with a movable shelf that is rotatably supported on the roof via a pivot axis extending in the left-right direction, and the movable shelf is configured to be movable from a storage position in an approximately horizontal position stored in the roof to a use position in an approximately vertical position suspended from the roof and facing in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, the view from the front seat side is blocked by the movable shelf in a substantially vertical position, so that a private space can be easily created on the rear seat side.

[0008] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 1, the movable shelf is positioned above the rear row seats in the storage position, and is positioned in front of the rear row seats and behind the front row seats in the usage position.

[0009] According to the invention of claim 2, the movable shelf can block the view from the front row seats without interfering with the rear row seats.

[0010] The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 1, the rear row seat has a seat back that can be folded forward to an approximately horizontal position, and the movable shelf in the usage position is positioned close to the upper surface of the seat back that has been folded forward to an approximately horizontal position.

[0011] According to the invention of claim 3, by tilting the seat back of the rear seat forward to an approximately horizontal position, it is possible to widen the space on the rear seat side, and the forward-tilted seat back can fill the gap in the space below the movable shelf.

[0012] The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 1, it further comprises a locking unit that locks the movable shelf in the storage position and the use position, and an unlocking unit that unlocks the movable shelf locked by the locking unit.

[0013] According to the invention as defined in claim 4, the movable shelf can be reliably fixed in the storage position and the use position.

[0014] The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 1, the movable shelf has a plurality of storage sections, each of which has an access port facing rearward in the use position, and the access port is provided with a movement restriction section that restricts the movement of stored items outside the storage section.

[0015] According to the invention of claim 5, a plurality of storage compartments are provided that allow items to be taken out of the private space on the rear seat side, thereby improving the usability of the private space and preventing items stored in the storage compartments from spilling out or falling out of the storage compartments.

[0016] The invention according to claim 6 is the vehicle according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of storage sections has an opening / closing door on the front side in the use position.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 6, each of the storage compartments provided on the movable shelf that has been moved to the use position can be easily accessed from the front row seats as well.

[0018] The invention according to claim 7 is the vehicle according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of storage compartments has an illumination unit that illuminates the interior thereof.

[0019] According to the invention of claim 7, it is possible to improve the usability of each of the plurality of storage sections.

[0020] The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 5, the movable shelf further includes a sealing plate capable of sealing the removal openings of the multiple storage sections, and the sealing plate is configured to be able to abut against the upper surface of the seat back that is tilted forward to an approximately horizontal position in the usage position.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 8, even if a gap is formed between the upper surface of the seat back when it is folded forward and the movable shelf, the gap can be filled with the sealing plate.

[0022] The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 1, the movable shelf further comprises a damper provided on the pivot shaft, and the damper slows down the movement speed of the movable shelf when the movable shelf is positioned in the use position.

[0023] According to the invention of claim 9, the movable shelf can be safely positioned at the use position.

[0024] The invention of claim 10 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 4, it further comprises an unlocking restriction unit that restricts the locking of the movable shelf by the lock release unit based on the seat arrangement of the rear row seats.

[0025] According to the invention of claim 10, by restricting the unlocking of the movable shelf when there is a risk that the movable shelf will interfere with the rear row seats, etc., it is possible to prevent the movable shelf from interfering unnecessarily with the rear row seats, etc.

[0026] The invention of claim 11 is characterized in that, in the vehicle described in claim 1, the movable shelf has a portion that, when in the use position, overlaps with a pillar located between the front row seats and the rear row seats when viewed from the front.

[0027] According to the invention of claim 11, when in the use position, the movable shelf has a portion that overlaps with the pillar (B pillar or C pillar) when viewed from the front, so that the movable shelf can be used to divide the interior of the vehicle behind the front seats, and the movable shelf can be used to conceal the interior of the vehicle behind the front seats. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, a private space can be easily created inside a vehicle cabin. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2A] A diagram showing the first seat arrangement with the second-row seats folded forward. [Figure 2B] A diagram showing the second seat arrangement with the third seat folded forward. [Figure 2C] A diagram showing the third seat arrangement with the second and third seats folded forward. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the first movable shelf. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an unlocking restriction unit that restricts driving of the lock releasing unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the first movable shelf is used in the first seat arrangement. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the second movable shelf is used in the second seat arrangement. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the first movable shelf is used in the third seating arrangement. [Figure 8A] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modified example of the first and second movable shelves. [Figure 8B] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modified example of the first and second movable shelves. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the first and second movable shelves. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a storage device management system using a vehicle equipped with a heat-insulating storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle equipped with a heat-insulating storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a heat-insulating storage device mounted on a vehicle. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of a controller of the heat-insulating storage device. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a mobile terminal. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a storage equipment management system according to a modified example of the present embodiment. [Figure 16]FIG. 10 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle equipped with a heat-insulating storage device according to a modified example. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a heat-insulating storage device according to a modified example. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main part of a controller of a heat-insulating storage device according to a modified example. [Figure 19] 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle in which a heat insulating storage device is arranged under the floor at the feet of a passenger seated in a rear seat; [Figure 20] 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle equipped with a ceiling storage compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 21] 2 is a perspective view of a ceiling storage section provided in the ceiling of the vehicle interior, seen from diagonally rearward inside the vehicle interior. FIG. [Figure 22] 22 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling storage section shown in FIG. 21 . [Figure 23] 23 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling storage unit shown in FIG. 22 . [Figure 24A] AA cross-sectional view showing the ceiling storage compartment in use. [Figure 24B] AA cross-sectional view showing the ceiling storage compartment in use. [Figure 25A] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the lid portion of the ceiling storage compartment. [Figure 25B] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the lid portion of the ceiling storage compartment. [Figure 25C] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the lid portion of the ceiling storage compartment. [Figure 26A] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the lid portion of the ceiling storage compartment. [Figure 26B] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the lid portion of the ceiling storage compartment. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the lid portion of the ceiling storage compartment. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a plan view of the lid of the ceiling storage unit shown in FIG. 27. [Figure 29] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another modified example of the ceiling storage section. [Figure 30] 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle equipped with an ottoman device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 31]FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the ottoman device shown in FIG. 30. [Figure 32] Block diagram of the controller shown in Figure 31. [Figure 33A] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a drive mode. [Figure 33B] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a transition from a drive mode to a relax mode. [Figure 33C] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the state of the relaxation mode. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modified example of the ottoman device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] [vehicle] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9. A vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a vehicle equipped with front and rear seats and a roof, and is particularly suitable for use in large vehicles with a spacious interior, such as SUVs, minivans, and minivans. In such vehicles, privacy glass has conventionally been used in the side windows and rear windows of the rear seats, making it difficult to see the interior behind the front seats from outside the vehicle, except for the area ahead. Below, an example will be described in which the present invention is applied to a minivan vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as a vehicle) with three rows of seats and second and third seats as the rear seats.

[0031] 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the front-rear direction and the up-down direction are defined as shown in the figure, the left-right direction is defined based on the front-rear direction and the up-down direction shown in the figure, and the configuration of each part of the vehicle 1 will be described in accordance with these definitions.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, vehicle 1 is a four-wheel vehicle with four wheels 11 (front, rear, left, and right), and includes a front row seat 2F and a rear row seat 2R located behind the front row seat 2F. The front row seat 2F has a driver's seat 2Fa located on the right side facing the steering wheel 12 and a passenger seat 2Fb located on the left side, and the rear row seat 2R has a second seat 3 located behind the front row seat 2F and a third seat 4 located behind the second seat 3. Each of the second seat 3 and the third seat 4 is configured as a bench seat divided into two halves at a predetermined ratio, and each of the two halves of the bench seat is configured to be independently movable.

[0033] The second seat 3 is not limited to a bench seat divided into two halves, but may be a seat provided independently on the left and right behind the driver's seat 2Fa and the passenger seat 2Fb. Similarly, the third seat 4 is not limited to a bench seat divided into two halves, but may be a seat provided independently on the left and right behind the second seat 3, although a bench seat is preferred.

[0034] Each of the driver's seat 2Fa and the passenger seat 2Fb includes a front row seat body 21 on which an occupant sits, a front row slide device 22 that can slide the front row seat body 21 in the fore-and-aft direction, and a front row riser portion 23 interposed between the front row seat body 21 and the front row slide device 22.

[0035] The front row seat body 21 has a seat cushion 21a that supports the buttocks etc. of the occupant, a seat back 21b that supports the waist and back etc. of the occupant, and a headrest 21c that supports the head etc. of the occupant. The seat back 21b is supported on the rear end of the seat cushion 21a so as to be tiltable in the front-rear direction around an axis extending in the left-right direction, and the headrest 21c is supported on the upper end of the seat back 21b so as to be height-adjustable.

[0036] The front row slide device 22 has a pair of left and right lower rails 22a extending in the fore-and-aft direction on the floor 13 of the vehicle compartment 10, a pair of left and right upper rails 22b configured to be movable on the pair of left and right lower rails 22a, and a stopper 22c that restricts the movement of the pair of left and right upper rails 22b, and is configured so that the pair of left and right upper rails 22b can be fixed at any position on the floor 13 by operating the stopper 22c.

[0037] The front riser portion 23 is provided between the seat cushion 21a and the pair of left and right upper rails 22b, and connects the seat cushion 21a to the pair of left and right upper rails 22b. In other words, the front slide device 22 moves the front seat body 21 in the front-rear direction via the front riser portion 23.

[0038] The front row seat body 21 may be configured to electrically tilt the seat back 21b using a tilting actuator, and the front row slide device 22 may be configured to electrically slide the pair of left and right upper rails 22b, i.e., the front row seat body 21, using a slide actuator. Also, an ottoman may be provided at the front end of the seat cushion 21a, and the ottoman may be configured to appear in front of the seat cushion 21a in conjunction with the rearward tilt of the seat back 21b when the vehicle is stopped or the rearward movement of the seat cushion 21a.

[0039] Each of the second seats 3 divided into two halves, left and right, includes a second seat body 31 on which an occupant sits, a second slide device 32 that moves the second seat body 31 in the front-rear direction, and a second riser part 33 interposed between the second seat body 31 and the second slide device 32.

[0040] The second seat body 31 has a seat cushion 31a that supports the buttocks etc. of the occupant, a seat back 31b that supports the waist, back etc. of the occupant, a headrest 31c that supports the head etc. of the occupant, and an ottoman 31d that supports the legs etc. of the occupant. The seat back 31b is supported on the rear end of the seat cushion 31a so as to be tiltable in the front-rear direction around an axis that extends in the left-right direction, and the headrest 31c is supported on the upper end of the seat back 31b so as to be height-adjustable.

[0041] The ottoman 31d is supported on the front end of the seat cushion 31a so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around an axis extending in the left-right direction, and is stored below the seat cushion 31a when not in use, and appears in front of the seat cushion 31a when in use. The ottoman 31d is configured to move in conjunction with the position of the seatback 31b, and is configured to appear when the seatback 31b is tilted backward, and to be stored when the seatback 31b is upright.

[0042] The second slide device 32 has a pair of left and right lower rails 32a extending in the fore-and-aft direction on the floor 13 of the vehicle interior 10, a pair of left and right upper rails 32b configured to be movable on the pair of left and right lower rails 32a, and a stopper 32c that restricts the movement of the pair of left and right upper rails 32b, and is configured so that the pair of left and right upper rails 32b can be fixed at any position on the floor 13 by operating the stopper 32c.

[0043] The second riser portion 33 is provided between the seat cushion 31a and the pair of left and right upper rails 32b, and connects the seat cushion 31a to the pair of left and right upper rails 32b. In other words, the second slide device 32 moves the second seat body 31 in the front-rear direction via the second riser portion 33.

[0044] Each of the third seats 4 divided into two halves, left and right, includes a third seat body 41 on which an occupant sits, and a third riser portion 43 interposed between the third seat body 41 and the floor 13.

[0045] The third seat body 41 has a seat cushion 41a that supports the buttocks and other parts of the occupant, a seat back 41b that supports the waist and back and other parts of the occupant, and a headrest 41c that supports the head and other parts of the occupant. The seat back 41b is supported at the rear end of the seat cushion 41a so as to be tiltable about an axis extending in the left-right direction, and the headrest 41c is supported at the upper end of the seat back 41b so as to be height-adjustable. The third seat riser 43 is provided between the seat cushion 41a and the floor 13. Each third seat 4 may be provided with a sliding device so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.

[0046] The vehicle 1 configured in this manner can have various seat arrangements by folding forward the seat backs 31b, 41b of the second seat 3 and the third seat 4.

[0047] 2A is a diagram showing a first seat arrangement in which the second seat 3 is folded forward. As shown in FIG. 2A, the second seat 3 is configured so that when the seat back 31b of the second seat main body 31 is folded forward, the upper surface of the folded seat back 31b (the back surface of the seat back 31b when in use) assumes a substantially horizontal position. The upper surface of the folded seat back 31b is configured to be positioned substantially flush with the floor of the luggage space 14 provided behind the third seat 4. For example, by moving the seat cushion 31a diagonally downward in conjunction with the forward folding of the seat back 31b, the upper surface of the folded seat back 31b can be positioned substantially flush with the floor of the luggage space 14 in a substantially horizontal position.

[0048] In such a first seat arrangement, the passenger seated in the third seat 4 can use the upper surface of the seat back 31b of the second seat main body 31 as a table, and can relax while seated in the third seat 4.

[0049] In addition, from the viewpoint of using the upper surface of the seat back 31b as a table, it is preferable that a plate material be built into the rear surface of the seat back 31b, and this may also be configured to serve as a pressure-receiving member supported by the seat back frame of the seat back 31b. Also, although Fig. 2A illustrates a state in which each of the two divided second seats 3 is folded forward, it is also possible to use one of the two divided second seats 3 by folding forward.

[0050] 2B is a diagram showing a second seat arrangement in which the third seat 4 is folded forward. As shown in FIG. 2B, the third seat 4 is configured so that when the seat back 41b of the third seat main body 41 is folded forward, the upper surface of the seat back 41b (the back surface of the seat back 41b in an in-use state) assumes a substantially horizontal position and is positioned substantially flush with the floor surface of the luggage space 14. For example, by moving the seat cushion 41a diagonally downward in conjunction with the forward folding of the seat back 41b, the upper surface of the seat back 41b can be placed in a substantially horizontal position when folded forward.

[0051] This type of second seat arrangement is used to expand the luggage space 14, and also makes it possible to create a flat private space that is continuous with the upper surface of the seat back 41b of the third seat main body 41 and the floor of the luggage space 14, making it possible to take a break, take a nap, or spend time refreshing yourself with a hobby, etc.

[0052] 2C is a diagram showing a third seat arrangement in which the second seat 3 and the third seat 4 are folded forward. As shown in FIG. 2C, in the third seat arrangement in which the seatback 31b of the second seat main body 31 is folded forward and the seatback 41b of the third seat main body 41 is also folded forward, a flat private space can be formed in which the upper surface of the seatback 31b of the second seat main body 31 is continuous with the upper surface of the seatback 41b of the third seat main body 41 and the floor of the luggage space 14. In the third seat arrangement, a larger private space can be created than in the second seat arrangement, allowing for a more relaxed rest or nap, making it even easier to spend time refreshing yourself with hobbies, etc.

[0053] In the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, in order to further improve the degree of relaxation in the first to third seat arrangements described above, a movable shelf 5 is provided on the ceiling 15 inside the passenger compartment 10. The movable shelf 5 has a first movable shelf 5a that is stored above the second seat 3 and a second movable shelf 5b that is stored above the third seat 4, and the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b are configured to be rotatable between a storage position in a substantially horizontal position and a use position in a substantially vertical position.

[0054] The configuration of the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b will be specifically described below. Note that the first adjustable shelf 5a and the second adjustable shelf 5b have the same configuration, so here we will describe the configuration of the first adjustable shelf 5a, and the description of the configuration of the second adjustable shelf 5b will be omitted as the description of the first adjustable shelf 5a will be used.

[0055] Fig. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the first movable shelf 5a. Note that Figs. 2A to 2C show the first movable shelf 5a in the storage position, and Fig. 3 shows the first movable shelf 5a in the use position. As shown in Figs. 2A to 3, the first movable shelf 5a is supported on the ceiling 15 inside the vehicle compartment 10 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 51 extending in the left-right direction, and is configured to be rotatable between a storage position (Figs. 2A to 2C) in which it is stored in the ceiling 15 and is in a substantially horizontal state, and a use position (Fig. 3) in which it is suspended from the ceiling 15 and is in a substantially vertical position facing the front-rear direction.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 3, the first adjustable shelf 5a has a length that allows it to be positioned close to the upper surface of the seat back 31b of the second seat 3 when it is in a substantially vertical position while suspended from the ceiling 15. With this length, when the first adjustable shelf 5a is positioned in the usage position with the second seat 3 folded forward, the interior of the vehicle behind the front seat 2F is shielded by the first adjustable shelf 5a and the second seat 3, which face in the fore-and-aft direction, making it difficult to see the interior of the vehicle behind the front seat 2F from inside the vehicle on the front seat 2F side or from outside the vehicle. For example, in the first and third seat arrangements described above, it is possible to make it difficult to see the interior of the vehicle behind the front seat 2F from inside the vehicle on the front seat 2F side or from outside the vehicle.

[0057] A damper 51a is built into the rotary shaft 51, and the damper 51a is configured to apply torque to the first movable shelf 5a near the use position when the first movable shelf 5a moves from the storage position to the use position, thereby decelerating the first movable shelf 5a. For example, a one-way rotary damper that applies torque in only one direction is used as the damper 51a.

[0058] The first movable shelf 5a is also provided with a plurality of storage sections 52. Each of the plurality of storage sections 52 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape and has an access opening 53 that opens rearward when in the use position. The access opening 53 is configured so that stored items can be removed when in the use position in a substantially vertical posture. The access opening 53 is also provided with a movement restricting portion 54 that restricts the stored items from falling out of the access opening 53, and the movement restricting portion 54 is formed in a protruding shape that protrudes upward from the lower edge of the access opening 53. By providing such a movement restricting portion 54 on the access opening 53, the stored items are caught on the movement restricting portion 54 at the access opening 53, making it less likely for the stored items to fall out of the storage section 52.

[0059] Each of the multiple storage compartments 52 is provided with an illumination unit 55 that illuminates the interior of the storage compartment 52. The illumination unit 55 is provided on the ceiling 52a of the storage compartment 52, and by providing the illumination unit 55 on the ceiling 52a of the storage compartment 52, the interior is illuminated, making it easier to find items stored in the storage compartment 52. The illumination unit 55 is configured to illuminate the interior of the storage compartment 52 when an occupant presses a switch (not shown), but may also be configured to illuminate the interior of the storage compartment 52 in conjunction with the movement of the first movable shelf 5a. For example, the illumination unit 55 may be configured to illuminate the interior of the storage compartment 52 when the first movable shelf 5a is positioned in the use position, and to turn off the illumination unit 55 when the first movable shelf 5a is moved to the retracted position.

[0060] In addition, some of the storage compartments 52 (in FIG. 3, the storage compartment 52 located at the lowest level in the use position) are provided with an opening / closing door 56 on the side opposite the access opening 53. The opening / closing door 56 is supported rotatably about a pivot shaft 56a extending in the left-right direction at the upper front side of the storage compartment 52 in the use position (the lower front side in the stowed position), and is configured to allow occupants to approach the storage compartment 52 from the front side in the use position and from the lower side in the stowed position. Providing such an opening / closing door 56 enables, for example, an occupant seated in the front row seat 2F to retrieve items stored in the storage compartment 52 of the first adjustable shelf 5a located in the use position, and also enables an occupant seated in the second seat 3 to retrieve items from the storage compartment 52 of the first adjustable shelf 5a located in the stowed position.

[0061] To allow occupants to approach the storage section 52 from below in the storage position, an extension 56b is provided at the lower end of the door 56, extending upward in the storage state (rearward in the use position). The extension 56b is curved so that it can hold items stored in the storage section 52. For example, when removing an item from the storage section 52 of the first movable shelf 5a in the storage position, the first movable shelf 5a is in a substantially horizontal position, so that the item is located above the door 56. When an occupant rotates the door 56 around the rotation shaft 56a from this state, the item moves from above the door 56 onto the extension 56b. This allows the occupant to remove the item that has moved onto the extension 56b.

[0062] The first adjustable shelf 5a is configured to be lockable in the storage position and the use position by a locking portion 57 provided at the end opposite the pivot shaft 51 (the lower end when in the use position). The locking portion 57 is configured to be engageable with engaging portions (not shown) provided on the ceiling portion 15 and the upper surfaces of the forward-folded seat backs 31b, 41b, and the first adjustable shelf 5a is fixed by engaging the locking portion 57 with these engaging portions. For example, when the locking portion 57 is engaged with the engaging portion provided on the ceiling portion 15, the first adjustable shelf 5a is fixed in the storage position, and when the locking portion 57 is engaged with the engaging portion of the forward-folded seat backs 31b, 41b, the first adjustable shelf 5a is fixed in the use position.

[0063] The locking unit 57 is configured to be unlocked by an unlocking unit 58. For example, when an occupant presses an unlocking button 58a, the unlocking unit 58 is driven to activate (rotate) the locking unit 57, which is engaged with the engaged portion, thereby releasing the lock. The unlocking unit 58 is configured, for example, by an actuator that activates the locking unit 57. The unlocking unit 58 is restricted from unlocking the locking unit 57 by an unlocking restriction unit 59. The unlocking restriction unit 59 restricts the unlocking unit 58 from unlocking the locking unit 57 based on the seat arrangement of the second seat 3.

[0064] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the release restriction unit 59 that restricts the release of the lock of the lock unit 57 by the lock release unit 58. As shown in Fig. 4, the release restriction unit 59 is configured by a computer having a calculation unit 59a such as a CPU, a storage unit 59b such as a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, and other peripheral circuits (not shown).

[0065] The calculation unit 59a has, as functional components, an information receiving unit 59a1 and an information output unit 59a2. The information receiving unit 59a1 receives various information, various commands, etc. For example, the information receiving unit 59a1 receives angle signals output by the first and second angle sensors 34, 44 that detect the rotation angles of the seatbacks 31b, 41b of the second seat 3 and the third seat 4, and an unlock signal output when an occupant presses the unlock button 58a.

[0066] The information output unit 59a2 outputs a control signal to the lock release unit 58 based on the various information and commands received by the information receiving unit 59a1. For example, when the information receiving unit 59a1 receives an unlock signal, the information output unit 59a2 outputs a control signal to drive the lock release unit 58 when the rotation angle of the seat backs 31b, 41b of the second seat 3 and the third seat 4 is 0 degrees, that is, when the seat backs 31b, 41b of the second seat 3 and the third seat 4 are tilted forward to a substantially horizontal position.

[0067] The storage unit 59b stores various programs executed by the calculation unit 59a, various data, etc. For example, the storage unit 59b stores a control program that causes the information output unit 59a2 to output a control signal to the lock release unit 58 based on the position of the seat backs 31b, 41b received by the information receiving unit 59a1.

[0068] The movable shelves 5 (first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b) configured in this manner can be used in various ways based on the above-mentioned first to third sheet arrangements. Hereinafter, the usage modes of the first movable shelf 5a and the second movable shelf 5b based on the first to third sheet arrangements will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7 in addition to the above-mentioned Figures 2A to 2C.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 2A, in the first seat arrangement, the second seat 3 is configured so that the upper surface of the forward-folded seat back 31b (the back surface of the seat back 31b in the used state) is in a substantially horizontal position.

[0070] In this state, when an occupant presses the unlock button 58a of the first movable shelf 5a, the unlocking part 58 is driven, and the locking part 57, which is engaged with the engaged part of the ceiling part 15, operates (rotates), thereby unlocking the first movable shelf 5a. When the lock of the first movable shelf 5a is released, the first movable shelf 5a starts to rotate about the rotation shaft 51 due to its own weight. A torque is applied to the first movable shelf 5a by the damper 51a provided on the rotation shaft 51 near the use position, and the first movable shelf 5a is decelerated. Thereafter, the first movable shelf 5a rotates due to its own weight until it assumes a substantially vertical position, and when it assumes the substantially vertical position, it engages with the engaged part of the seat back 31b and is fixed.

[0071] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing how the first adjustable shelf 5a is used in the first seat arrangement. In this state, as shown in Fig. 5, an occupant seated in the third seat 4 can use the upper surface of the seatback 31b of the second-row seat main body 31 as a table, and can also take a rest using items stored in advance in the storage section 52 of the first adjustable shelf 5a. For example, using a kettle or the like stored in advance in the storage section 52 of the first adjustable shelf 5a, the occupant can make coffee or tea using coffee beans or tea leaves that the occupant brought with them.

[0072] In this state, the view from the front row seats 2F is obstructed by the first adjustable shelf 5a, which faces forward in the front direction in front of the second seat 3 and behind the front row seats 2F, and the second seat 3 when folded forward. Furthermore, the use of privacy glass on the side windows and rear window makes it difficult to see inside the vehicle interior from outside the vehicle. In other words, the first adjustable shelf 5a partitions and conceals the interior of the vehicle 10 behind the front row seats 2F. This allows occupants to enjoy their private space inside the vehicle interior without worrying about being seen from outside the vehicle. Furthermore, when in the used position, the first adjustable shelf 5a is positioned so that it overlaps with the B-pillar 61 (see FIG. 2A ) of the vehicle 1 in a side view. This further reduces visibility inside the vehicle interior 10 from outside the vehicle. To ensure that the first adjustable shelf 5a provides a concealing function, it is preferable to configure the first adjustable shelf 5a to have as long a length in the left-right direction as possible.

[0073] As shown in Figure 2B, in the second seat arrangement, the third seat 4 is configured so that when the seat back 41b of the third seat main body 41 is folded forward, the upper surface of the seat back 41b (the back surface of the seat back 41b when in use) is in an approximately horizontal position and is positioned approximately flush with the floor surface of the luggage space 14.

[0074] In this state, when an occupant presses the unlock button 58a of the second movable shelf 5b, the unlocking part 58 is driven, and the locking part 57, which is engaged with the engaged part of the ceiling part 15, operates (rotates), thereby unlocking the second movable shelf 5b. When the second movable shelf 5b is unlocked, the second movable shelf 5b starts to rotate about the rotation shaft 51 due to its own weight. A torque is applied to the second movable shelf 5b by the damper 51a provided on the rotation shaft 51 near the use position, and the second movable shelf 5b is decelerated. Thereafter, the second movable shelf 5b rotates due to its own weight until it assumes a substantially vertical position, and when it assumes the substantially vertical position, it engages with the engaged part of the seat back 41b and is fixed.

[0075] Figure 6 is a diagram showing how the second movable shelf 5b is used in the second seat arrangement. As shown in Figure 6, in this state, a flat private space can be formed by connecting the upper surface of the seatback 41b of the third seat main body 41 with the floor of the luggage space 14, allowing passengers to take a break, take a nap, or spend time on their own, such as pursuing a hobby.

[0076] In this state, the view from the front row seats 2F is obstructed by the second adjustable shelf 5b, which faces forward in the front-to-rear direction in front of the third-row seat 4 and behind the second-row seat 3, and the third-row seat 4 when folded forward. Furthermore, the use of privacy glass on the side windows and rear window makes it difficult to see inside the vehicle cabin from outside. In other words, the second adjustable shelf 5b partitions and conceals the interior of the vehicle cabin 10 behind the second-row seat 3. This allows occupants to take a break, take a nap, or spend time on their own, such as for hobbies, without worrying about being seen from outside the vehicle. Furthermore, when in the in-use position, the second adjustable shelf 5b is positioned so that it overlaps with the C-pillar 62 (see FIG. 2A ) of the vehicle 1 in a side view. This further reduces visibility inside the vehicle cabin 10 from outside the vehicle. To ensure that the second adjustable shelf 5b provides a concealing function, it is preferable to configure the second adjustable shelf 5b to have as long a length in the left-to-right direction as possible.

[0077] As shown in Figure 2C, in the third seat arrangement, a flat private space is formed by connecting the upper surface of the seat back 31b of the second seat main body 31, the upper surface of the seat back 41b of the third seat main body 41, and the floor of the luggage space 14.

[0078] Figure 7 is a diagram showing how the first adjustable shelf 5a is used in the third seat arrangement. As shown in Figure 7, when the first adjustable shelf 5a is in a substantially vertical position in the third seat arrangement shown in Figure 2C, the view from the front row seats 2F is blocked by the first adjustable shelf 5a facing forward and the second-row seat 3 that has been folded forward. Furthermore, the use of privacy glass on the side windows and rear window makes it difficult to see inside the vehicle from outside. This allows for a larger private space in the third seat arrangement than in the second seat arrangement, allowing for more relaxation when taking a break or a nap, or for more personal time for hobbies and other pursuits.

[0079] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved. (1) A vehicle 1 equipped with a front row seat 2F, a second seat 3, a third seat 4, and a ceiling section 15 is provided with first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b rotatably supported on the ceiling section 15 via a rotation shaft 51 extending in the left-right direction (Fig. 1). The first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b are configured to be movable from a storage state in which they are stored in the ceiling section 15 in a substantially horizontal position to a use position in which they are suspended from the ceiling section 15 and in a substantially vertical position facing the fore-aft direction (Figs. 5 to 7).

[0080] With this configuration, by moving the first movable shelf 5a or the second movable shelf 5b to a usage position in a substantially vertical position facing the front-to-rear direction, the view from the front row seat 2F side can be blocked. Furthermore, privacy glass is used on the side windows and rear window, making it difficult to see inside the vehicle from outside. This allows occupants to enjoy their private space inside the vehicle without worrying about being seen from outside the vehicle. In this way, in vehicle 1, simply by moving the first movable shelf 5a or the second movable shelf 5b to the usage position, a private space is created on the rear row seat 2R side, allowing occupants to relax.

[0081] (2) The first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b are located above the rear seat 2R in the stowed position, and are located in front of the rear seat 2R and behind the front seat 2F in the use position (Figs. 1 and 5). This allows the adjustable shelves 5 to block the view from the front seat 2F without interfering with the rear seat 2R.

[0082] (3) The second seat 3 or the third seat 4 (rear row seat 2R) has a seat back 31b, 41b that can be folded forward to a substantially horizontal position, and the first or second adjustable shelf 5a, 5b in the use position is disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the seat back 31b, 41b that has been folded forward to a substantially horizontal position (FIGS. 5 and 6). As a result, by tilting the seat back 31b, 41b of the second seat 3 or the third seat 4 (rear row seat 2R) forward to a substantially horizontal position, it is possible to widen the space on the rear row seat 2R side or use it as a table, and also to make it difficult to see into the vehicle interior from the space below the first or second adjustable shelf 5a, 5b with the seat back 31b, 41b tilted forward.

[0083] (4) The storage unit further includes a locking unit 57 that locks the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b in the storage position and the use position, and a lock releasing unit 58 that releases the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b locked by the locking unit 57 (FIGS. 1 and 3). This allows the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b to be securely fixed in the storage position and the use position.

[0084] (5) The first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b are provided with a plurality of storage sections 52, each of which has an access opening 53 facing rearward when in the use position, and the access opening 53 is provided with a movement restricting section 54 that restricts the movement of stored items outside the storage section 52 ( FIG. 3 ). This provides a plurality of storage sections 52 from which items can be removed from the private space on the rear seat 2R side, improving the usability of the private space and preventing items stored in the storage sections 52 from spilling out of the storage section 52 or falling out of the storage section 52.

[0085] (6) Each of the storage compartments 52 has an opening / closing door 56 on the front side when in the use position (FIG. 3). This allows easy access from the front row seats 2F to each of the storage compartments 52 provided on the first adjustable shelf 5a, etc., which has been moved to the use position. Also, the storage compartments 52 of the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b, which are in the retracted position, can be accessed.

[0086] (7) Each of the plurality of storage sections 52 has an illumination section 55 that illuminates the interior thereof (FIG. 3). This makes it easier to check the interior of each of the plurality of storage sections 52, thereby improving the usability of the storage sections 52.

[0087] (8) The first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b further include a damper 51a provided on the rotation shaft 51, and the damper 51a slows down the movement speed of the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b when the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b are positioned at the use position (FIG. 3). This allows the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b to be positioned at the use position more safely.

[0088] (9) The vehicle is further provided with an unlocking restriction unit 59 that restricts the locking of the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b by the lock release unit 58 based on the seat arrangement of the rear row seat 2R (FIG. 4). This restricts the unlocking of the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b when there is a risk that the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b may interfere with the rear row seat 2R, thereby preventing the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b from unnecessarily interfering with the rear row seat 2R, etc.

[0089] The first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b can be modified into various forms.

[0090] 8A and 8B are side views showing modified examples of the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b, with Fig. 8A showing a state in which the access openings 53 of the multiple storage sections 52 are closed with a sealing plate 50, and Fig. 8B showing a state in which the access openings 53 are open. In the following, components similar to those of the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b (adjustable shelves 5) are given the same reference numerals as those of the first and second adjustable shelves 5a, 5b, and their description will be omitted. Furthermore, since the first and second adjustable shelves 5aA, 5bA have the same configuration, the configuration of the first adjustable shelf 5aA will be described here, and the description of the configuration of the second adjustable shelf 5bA will be omitted, as the description of the first adjustable shelf 5aA will be used.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 8A, the first adjustable shelf 5aA according to the modified example includes a sealing plate 50 capable of sealing the access openings 53 of the multiple storage compartments 52. The sealing plate 50 is configured to be rotatable in the vertical direction around a rotation axis 50a extending in the left-right direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the sealing plate 50 has a length that allows it to abut against the upper surfaces of the seat backs 31b, 41b that are tilted forward to a substantially horizontal position in the use position. Therefore, even if the vertical length of the first adjustable shelf 5aA in the use position is short, for example, the provision of the sealing plate 50 can seal the gap between the lower end of the first adjustable shelf 5aA and the upper surfaces of the seat backs 31b, 41b.

[0092] In the first movable shelf 5aA, the sealing plate 50 is configured to be rotatable in the vertical direction around the rotation axis 50a extending in the left-right direction, but the sealing plate 50 may be configured to be slidable in the vertical direction, for example. By sliding the sealing plate 50 to the use position, the space required for movement can be reduced compared to when the sealing plate is rotated. For example, there is no need to provide space for rotating the sealing plate 50.

[0093] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b, and illustrates the relationship between the first or second movable shelf 5aB, 5bB according to the modified example and the B-pillar 61 or C-pillar 62. As shown in Fig. 9, the first movable shelf 5aB (second movable shelf 5bB) according to the modified example has a protruding portion 63 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction on the front side when in the use position. The protruding portion 63 is provided so as to overlap at least a portion with the curved portion 61a (curved portion 62a) at the front of the B-pillar 61 (C-pillar 62) when viewed from the front. By providing the first movable shelf 5aB (second movable shelf 5bB) with a protrusion 63 that overlaps at least partially with the forward curved portion 61a (curved portion 62a) of the B-pillar 61 (C-pillar 62), the first movable shelf 5aB (second movable shelf 5bB) can be used to partition the interior of the vehicle 10 behind the front row of seats 2F (second seat 3) when in the usage position, and the interior of the vehicle 10 behind the front row of seats 2F (second seat 3) can be concealed by the first movable shelf 5aB (second movable shelf 5bB).

[0094] Although the protrusion 63 is provided on the front side of the first movable shelf 5aB (second movable shelf 5bB) in the use position, the protrusion 63 may be configured to be provided on the rear side in the use position. Even when the protrusion 63 is provided on the rear side in the use position, the protrusion 63 is provided so as to overlap at least a portion with the front curved portion 61a (curved portion 62a) of the B pillar 61 (C pillar 62). Furthermore, when the protrusion 63 is located rearward of the rear curved portion 61b (curved portion 62b) of the B pillar 61 (C pillar 62), the protrusion 63 may be provided so as to overlap at least a portion with the rear curved portion 61b (curved portion 62b) of the B pillar 61 (C pillar 62).

[0095] In the above embodiment, the rear row seat 2R was described using the second seat 3 and the third seat 4, but the rear row seat 2R may be configured to have only the second seat 3, or may be configured to have multiple seats other than the second seat 3 and the third seat 4.

[0096] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b are respectively disposed rotatably above the second seat 3 and the third seat 4, but they may be configured to be rotatable and movable in the front-to-rear direction above the second seat 3 and the third seat 4. For example, the first movable shelf 5a may be configured to be movable in the front-to-rear direction between the front row seat 2F and the second seat 3, and the second movable shelf 5b may be configured to be movable in the front-to-rear direction between the second seat 3 and the third seat 4. Configuring the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b to be movable in the front-to-rear direction further improves the usability of each of the first and second movable shelves 5a, 5b.

[0097] In addition, in the above embodiment, a vehicle 1 was described in which privacy glass was used on the side windows and rear window of the rear row seat 2R, but in a vehicle that does not have privacy glass, sunshades or curtains may be placed on the side windows and rear window.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the unlocking restriction unit 59 controls the operation of the unlocking unit 58 to unlock the locking unit 57, but the operation of the unlocking unit may be mechanically restricted. For example, the locking may be released by the occupant manually operating the unlocking unit 58.

[0099] [Insulated storage device, vehicle and storage management system] Traditionally, outdoor sports, camping, and other outdoor leisure activities have been popular among men and women of all ages, and these activities have been conducted in large vehicles capable of carrying large amounts of luggage, such as SUVs, minivans, and the like. However, equipment used for outdoor sports, camping, and the like easily gets dirty, and must be thoroughly cleaned before being loaded onto the vehicle.

[0100] In addition, since the temperature inside a parked vehicle is high in summer and low in winter, it is preferable to store luggage in an isolated location that is less likely to be affected by the temperature inside the vehicle. In particular, food items used for camping, etc., spoil easily and are difficult to store inside the vehicle for long periods of time.

[0101] Therefore, by installing a heat-insulating storage device (vehicle storage device) under the floor separated from the vehicle interior, it is possible to load luggage such as tools that are prone to getting dirty or food ingredients that require temperature storage into the vehicle. Below, with reference to Figures 10 to 14, a vehicle equipped with a heat-insulating storage device will be described using a storage device management system that uses this vehicle.

[0102] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a storage equipment management system 100 that uses a vehicle 1A equipped with a thermally insulated storage device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 10, the storage equipment management system 100 includes a vehicle 1A equipped with a thermally insulated storage device 200 and a mobile terminal 110 carried by the owner of the vehicle 1A. The thermally insulated storage device 200 and the mobile terminal 110 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network 101, which includes not only public wireless communication networks such as the Internet and mobile phone networks, but also closed communication networks established for each specified management area, such as wireless LAN and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0103] By configuring the insulated storage device 200 mounted on the vehicle 1A to be able to communicate with the mobile terminal 110, information (e.g., temperature information) acquired by the insulated storage device 200 can be displayed on the mobile terminal 110, and the owner of the vehicle 1A can be notified of temperature information, etc. of the insulated storage device 200 via the mobile terminal 110.

[0104] The mobile terminal 110 is not limited to the one owned by the owner of the vehicle 1A, but may be any pre-registered mobile terminal, and if multiple mobile terminals are registered, the mobile terminal 110 is configured to be able to transmit temperature information and the like to each of the multiple mobile terminals. The mobile terminal 110 may also be configured to be able to communicate with a server or the like owned by a management company that manages the vehicle 1A.

[0105] The vehicle 1A equipped with the heat-insulating storage device 200 and the mobile terminal 110 will be specifically described below. Note that, in the following, the same components as those of the vehicle 1 described above will be assigned the same reference numerals as those of the vehicle 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0106] FIG. 11 is a side view showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle 1A equipped with a thermally insulated storage device 200 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the vehicle 1A is a four-wheel vehicle having four wheels 11 (front, rear, left, and right), and is equipped with a front row seat 2F, a rear row seat 2R, an adjustable shelf 5, and a thermally insulated storage device 200. The front row seat 2F has a driver's seat 2Fa located on the right side facing the steering wheel 12 and a passenger seat 2Fb located on the left side, while the rear row seat 2R has a second seat 3 located behind the front row seat 2F and a third seat 4 located behind the second seat 3. The adjustable shelf 5 has a first adjustable shelf 5a stored above the second seat 3 and a second adjustable shelf 5b stored above the third seat 4.

[0107] The heat-insulating storage device 200 is attached to the underfloor of the luggage space 14 of the vehicle 1A, and is configured to be removable from under the floor of the luggage space 14. Specifically, a mounting portion 16 to which the heat-insulating storage device 200 can be attached is provided under the floor of the luggage space 14 of the vehicle 1A, and the heat-insulating storage device 200 is attached integrally to the mounting portion 16. By attaching the heat-insulating storage device 200 integrally to the mounting portion 16, rattles and the like within the mounting portion 16 of the heat-insulating storage device 200 are suppressed.

[0108] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the heat-insulating storage device 200 when mounted on the vehicle 1A. As shown in Fig. 12, a drain plug 16a capable of discharging liquid to the outside of the vehicle is provided at the bottom of the mounting portion 16, and liquid in the heat-insulating storage device 200 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle via the drain plug 16a provided at the bottom of the mounting portion 16. One end of a drain hose 16b is connected to the drain plug 16a, and the other end of the drain hose 16b extends toward the side of the vehicle 1A and is supported on the side (lower end of the side) of the vehicle 1A. In other words, liquid flowing into the drain plug 16a is discharged to the outside of the vehicle from the lower end of the side of the vehicle 1A via the drain hose 16b.

[0109] Because liquid that flows into drain plug 16a is discharged from the side of vehicle 1A, even if, for example, an occupant at the rear of luggage space 14 washes luggage stored in insulated storage device 200 inside insulated storage device 200, the used water is discharged from the side of vehicle 1A, and the worker (occupant) will not get wet with the discharged water. In addition, because drain plug 16a is connected to the outside of the vehicle via drain hose 16b, liquid from outside the vehicle is prevented from directly entering mounting portion 16 via drain plug 16a.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 12, the thermal insulation storage device 200 includes a thermal insulation container 210 capable of storing luggage, a thermal insulation lid (lid portion) 220 that can be attached to the thermal insulation container 210, and a controller 230 that can communicate with the mobile terminal 110.

[0111] The insulated container 210 comprises a container body (underfloor storage section) 211 that forms a storage space capable of accommodating luggage, a pair of handle sections 212, 212 attached to the container body 211, a cooling section (cooling means) 213 that can cool the storage space of the container body 211, and a temperature sensor 214 that can detect the temperature of the storage space of the container body 211.

[0112] The container body 211 is formed in the shape of a box with an open top and a closed bottom, and its inner surface is waterproofed. In other words, the container body 211 has a waterproof function. The entire container body 211 also has a thermally insulated structure. The container body 211 is formed, for example, in a multi-layer structure having a thermal insulation layer (including a vacuum layer), and heat exchange with the outside is suppressed through the thermal insulation layer. In addition, the sandwiching layers of the container body 211 that sandwich the thermal insulation layer are also formed from a material with high thermal insulation performance. Note that, as the material with high thermal insulation performance can be a general thermal insulation material, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0113] A drain hole 215 is provided in the bottom 211a of the container body 211. The drain hole 215 is formed so as to communicate with a drain plug 16a provided on the mounting part 16 when the heat-insulating storage device 200 is attached to the mounting part 16, and liquids and the like in the container body 211 are drained from the drain hole 215 to the outside of the vehicle via the drain plug 16a of the mounting part 16. The drain hole 215 is normally sealed with a sealing plug 215a, which prevents unnecessary discharge of liquids from the drain hole 215 to the outside of the vehicle.

[0114] Furthermore, bottom 211a of container body 211 is formed to slope downward toward drain hole 215. In other words, drain hole 215 is located at the lowest part of bottom 211a of container body 211. By sloping bottom 211a of container body 211 downward toward drain hole 215 and positioning drain hole 215 at the lowest part of bottom 211a of container body 211, liquid inside container body 211 can be more easily discharged through drain hole 215.

[0115] An outwardly extending flange 216 is provided on the upper outer edge of the container body 211, and each of the pair of handles 212, 212 is attached to the flange 216. Each of the pair of handles 212, 212 is attached so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around an axis 212a extending in the front-to-rear direction, and is configured so that each of the pair of handles 212, 212 can be rotated upward and grasped. Providing the pair of handles 212, 212 makes it easy to attach and detach the insulated container 210 to and from the attachment part 16, and also makes it easy to carry after detachment.

[0116] The cooling unit 213 is disposed in the container body 211 and the insulated lid 220. The cooling unit 213 may be configured to be embedded in the container body 211 and the insulated lid 220, or may be configured to be attached to the surfaces of the container body 211 and the insulated lid 220. The cooling unit 213 may be configured to cool the storage space using a pre-cooled cooling medium (refrigerant), or may be configured to cool the storage space using a thermoelectric element or a cooling fan. It may also be configured to use a combination of these. In the insulated storage device 200, a cooling medium (refrigerant) is attached to the side wall of the container body 211, and a thermoelectric element is embedded in the surface of the insulated lid 220.

[0117] When using a thermoelectric element or a cooling fan, a separate power source may be provided, or, for example, the device may be powered by electricity from the battery of vehicle 1A, or a power storage device (e.g., a solar panel) may be placed on the roof of vehicle 1A and powered by electricity supplied from this.

[0118] The temperature sensor 214 is disposed on the side wall of the container body 211. The temperature sensor 214 is preferably provided at a position separated from the cooling section 213 so as to be less susceptible to the temperature of the cooling section 213. It is preferable that a plurality of temperature sensors 214 are used, and that the plurality of temperature sensors 214 are provided at a plurality of locations inside the container body 211.

[0119] The insulating lid 220 is attached to close the opening of the container body 211, and is formed to be able to seal the storage space of the container body 211. By sealing the inside of the container body 211 with the insulating lid 220, it is possible to seal out cold air and warm air in the storage space inside the container body 211. The insulating lid 220 has an insulating structure throughout, similar to the container body 211, from the viewpoint of sealing out cold air and warm air inside the container body 211. The insulating structure of the insulating lid 220 can have the same structure as the container body 211, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

[0120] The insulated lid 220 is attached to the container body 211 so as to be able to open and close by a hinge provided on the outer edge on the front side, and is configured to be lockable to the container body 211 by a locking portion provided on the outer edge on the rear side. Note that the insulated lid 220 may also be configured to have a locking portion on the outer edge on the front side instead of a hinge portion, and to be locked to the container body 211 by the locking portions on the front and rear sides. In other words, the insulated lid 220 may be configured to be detachable from the container body 211.

[0121] Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the controller 230 of the heat-insulating storage device 200. As shown in Fig. 13, the controller 230 includes a computer having an arithmetic unit 231 such as a CPU, a storage unit 234 such as a ROM, RAM, or hard disk, a communication unit 235 capable of communicating with external devices, and other peripheral circuits (not shown) such as an I / O interface. Note that the vehicle 1A may be configured such that an on-board device (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 1 has the functions of the controller 230 instead of the controller 230.

[0122] The calculation unit 231 has, as functional components, an information receiving unit 232 and an information output unit 233. The information receiving unit 232 receives temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 214, and the information output unit 233 outputs the temperature information received by the information receiving unit 232 to the mobile terminal 110 via the communication unit 235.

[0123] The storage unit 234 stores various programs and various data executed by the calculation unit 231. For example, the storage unit 234 stores an information transmission program that causes the information output unit 233 to output the temperature information acquired by the information receiving unit 232 to the pre-registered mobile terminal 110, data on the pre-registered mobile terminal 110, and the like.

[0124] The communication unit 235 is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with an external device, such as an in-vehicle terminal (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 1A or a pre-registered mobile terminal 110, via the communication network 101. The communication unit 116 is also configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with an in-vehicle device or an external device, such as the mobile terminal 110, via short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0125] 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the mobile terminal 110. The mobile terminal 110 is a mobile terminal carried by the owner of the vehicle 1A, and is configured by a mobile wireless terminal such as a smartphone.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 14, the mobile terminal 110 is configured to include a computer having an arithmetic unit 111 such as a CPU, a memory unit 114 such as a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, an input / output unit 115, a communication unit 116, and other peripheral circuits not shown, such as an I / O interface.

[0127] The calculation unit 111 has, as functional components, an information receiving unit 112 and an information output unit 113. The information receiving unit 112 receives various information transmitted from the controller 230 of the thermally insulated storage device 200 via the communication unit 116 and various commands input via the input / output unit 115. For example, the information receiving unit 112 receives information on the internal temperature of the thermally insulated container 210 output from the controller 230 and a command to permit display of the temperature information input via the input / output unit 115. The information output unit 113 outputs the information received by the information receiving unit 112 to the input / output unit 115 based on the command input by the input / output unit 115. For example, the information output unit 113 outputs the temperature information received by the information receiving unit 112 to the input / output unit 115 based on the display permission command input by the input / output unit 115.

[0128] The storage unit 114 stores various programs and various data executed by the calculation unit 111. For example, the storage unit 114 stores an information display program that causes the input / output unit 115 to display temperature information output to the input / output unit 115, data on the mobile terminal 110 and the vehicle 1A, and the like.

[0129] Input / output unit 115 is a general term for devices that input and output various commands and various information, and is configured with a monitor, a touch panel, etc. The owner of mobile terminal 110 can know the temperature inside insulated container 210 via input / output unit 115, and can input various commands via input / output unit 115. For example, the owner of mobile terminal 110 can input a command to permit display of temperature information via input / output unit 115, and based on this, temperature information inside insulated container 210 is displayed on input / output unit 115.

[0130] The communication unit 116 is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with an external device such as an in-vehicle terminal (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 1A and the heat-insulating storage device 200 via the communication network 101. The communication unit 116 is also configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with an in-vehicle device and an external device such as the heat-insulating storage device 200 via short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0131] An example of the operation of the thermally insulated storage device 200 and the mobile terminal 110 configured as described above can be summarized as follows: When the temperature inside the thermally insulated container 210 is detected by the temperature sensor 214, the controller 230 transmits the temperature information to the mobile terminal 110. Since the mobile terminal 110 is initially set to be able to receive temperature information, if the user has not set it to reject the temperature information, the mobile terminal 110, upon receiving the temperature information, causes the input / output unit 115 to display the temperature of the thermally insulated container 210.

[0132] This allows the owner of vehicle 1A to check the temperature inside the insulated container 210 of the insulated storage device 200 mounted on vehicle 1A via mobile terminal 110 even when located away from vehicle 1A, and to take appropriate measures as necessary. Furthermore, if the temperature information inside the insulated container 210 is displayed on mobile terminal 110 as a graph, it becomes possible to estimate future temperature changes, and necessary measures can be prepared in advance.

[0133] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved. (1) A heat-insulating storage device 200 capable of storing luggage brought into a vehicle includes a container body 211 that is provided under the floor of the luggage space 14, forms a storage space for storing luggage, and has a waterproof function, a drainage hole 215 that is provided in the bottom 211a of the container body 211 and can drain liquid accumulated in the container body 211 to the outside of the vehicle, and a sealing plug 215a that closes the drainage hole 215 (Figures 11 and 12).

[0134] With this configuration, luggage used during outdoor leisure activities such as camping can be placed all together in container body 211, and even if the luggage is dirty, it is possible to prevent the luggage from soiling the interior of the vehicle. Furthermore, since container body 211 has a waterproof function and is provided with drainage holes 215 in bottom 211a for draining liquid, soiled luggage can be washed with water inside container body 211. In particular, since container body 211 is located under the floor of luggage space 14 (located under the floor at the rearmost part of vehicle 1A), a hose can easily reach it when washing with water, and it is possible to reduce the likelihood of water getting on anything other than container body 211.

[0135] (2) The insulated storage device 200 further includes an insulated lid 220 that covers the container body 211, and the container body 211 and the insulated lid 220 have an insulated structure (FIG. 12). As a result, the container body 211 is insulated by being sealed with the insulated lid 220, so that foodstuffs and the like can be stored in the container body 211. For example, even when meltable confectioneries such as chocolate are stored, melting or deformation can be prevented, and when perishable foods and the like are stored, spoilage can be prevented.

[0136] (3) The insulated storage device 200 further includes a cooling means for cooling the storage space, which is composed of a thermoelectric element or ice pack disposed in the container body 211 or the insulated lid 220. This makes it possible to cool the storage space of the container body 211, allowing food ingredients to be stored for long periods of time when camping, etc. Furthermore, when a thermoelectric element is used, it is also possible to keep the storage space warm.

[0137] (4) The thermally insulated storage device 200 further includes a temperature sensor 214 capable of detecting the temperature of the storage space of the container body 211, and a communication unit 235 capable of transmitting temperature information inside the container body 211 detected by the temperature sensor 214 (FIG. 13). The communication unit 235 transmits the temperature information to a pre-registered mobile terminal 110 (FIG. 10). This allows the mobile terminal 110 carried by the owner of the vehicle 1A to easily be notified of the temperature of the storage space of the container body 211 of the thermally insulated storage device 200 mounted on the vehicle 1A. As a result, for example, the owner of the vehicle 1A can appropriately take necessary measures depending on the temperature of the storage space of the container body 211 of the thermally insulated storage device 200.

[0138] (5) In the heat-insulating storage device 200, the bottom 211a of the container body 211 is inclined toward the drain hole 215 so that the drain hole 215 is at the lowest point (FIG. 12). This makes it easier for liquid inside the container body 211 to be discharged through the drain hole 215, making it difficult for liquid to accumulate inside the container body 211. For example, even when dirty luggage or the like is washed inside the container body 211, water or the like is unlikely to remain inside the container body 211.

[0139] (6) In the vehicle 1A, the heat-insulating storage device 200 is configured to be removable from under the floor of the luggage space 14 (FIG. 11). This makes the heat-insulating storage device 200 portable. In addition, the heat-insulating storage device 200 has a pair of handles 212, 212, making it easy to carry (FIG. 12).

[0140] (7) In vehicle 1A, heat-insulating storage device 200 is provided under the floor of luggage space 14 including the trunk (FIG. 12). This makes it easy to take luggage and other items stored in heat-insulating storage device 200 in and out. In addition, when washing luggage and other items stored in heat-insulating storage device 200, washing with water is also easy because heat-insulating storage device 200 is located at the rear end of vehicle 1A.

[0141] (8) In vehicle 1A, liquid discharged from the discharge hole is discharged outside the vehicle from the side of vehicle 1A (FIG. 12). As a result, even if an occupant at the rear of luggage space 14 washes luggage stored in thermally insulated storage device 200 with water inside thermally insulated storage device 200, the used water is discharged from the side of vehicle 1A, so the occupant will not get wet with the discharged water.

[0142] The configurations of the vehicle storage device and the vehicle equipped with the same described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14 can be summarized as follows. A vehicle storage device capable of storing luggage brought into a vehicle comprises an underfloor storage section that is provided under the floor of the vehicle compartment, forms a storage space for storing luggage, and has a waterproof function, a drainage hole that is provided at the bottom of the underfloor storage section and can drain liquid that has accumulated in the underfloor storage section outside the vehicle, and a sealing plug that closes the drainage hole.

[0143] The above-described vehicle storage device further includes a lid that covers the underfloor storage compartment, and the underfloor storage compartment and the lid have a heat-insulating structure.

[0144] The vehicle storage device described above further includes a cooling means for cooling the storage space, and the cooling means is constituted by a thermoelectric element or a cooling agent disposed in the underfloor storage section or the lid section.

[0145] The above-mentioned vehicle storage device further includes a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature inside the underfloor storage section, and a communication unit capable of transmitting temperature information inside the underfloor storage section detected by the temperature sensor, and the communication unit transmits the temperature information to a pre-registered mobile terminal.

[0146] The bottom of the underfloor storage compartment is inclined toward the discharge hole so that the discharge hole is at the lowest point.

[0147] In a vehicle equipped with the above-described vehicle storage device, the vehicle storage device is configured to be removable.

[0148] In a vehicle equipped with the above-described vehicle storage device, the vehicle storage device is provided under the floor of a luggage space including a trunk room.

[0149] In a vehicle equipped with the above-described vehicle storage device, liquid discharged from the above-described discharge hole is discharged outside the vehicle from the side of the vehicle.

[0150] The above-described heat-insulating storage device 200 can be modified into various forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the heat-insulating storage device 200 is provided under the floor of the luggage space 14 of the vehicle 1A, but it may also be configured to be provided under the floor at the feet of an occupant seated in the rear seat 2R. By providing the heat-insulating storage device 200 under the floor at the feet of an occupant, the heat-insulating storage device 200 can be accessed from inside the vehicle while it is moving, and it becomes possible to take out a warmed drink from the heat-insulating storage device 200, for example.

[0151] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a heat-insulating storage device having a single storage space has been described, but a configuration having multiple storage spaces by providing partitions within the storage space is also possible. By configuring multiple storage spaces, for example, it is possible to store ingredients, dirty items, etc. in isolation. Furthermore, it is preferable that the partitions be configured so that their positions can be freely changed. By configuring the partitions in this way, it is possible to change the size of each of the multiple storage spaces depending on the size of the items to be stored. Furthermore, each of the multiple storage spaces may be configured to be divided into a cooling space and a heat-retaining space.

[0152] [Insulated storage device, vehicle and storage management system] Next, a modified example of the storage equipment management system 100 equipped with the vehicle 1A equipped with the above-mentioned thermally insulated storage device 200 will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 19. The storage equipment management system 100A according to the modified example differs from the thermally insulated storage device 200 mainly in the configuration of the controller of the thermally insulated storage device (storage device for vehicle) equipped on the vehicle. Therefore, the following description will focus on the controller of the thermally insulated storage device, and the same components as those of the storage equipment management system 100, vehicle 1A, thermally insulated storage device 200, and mobile terminal 110 will be assigned the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0153] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the configuration of a storage equipment management system 100A according to a variation of the above-described embodiment. As shown in Fig. 15, the storage equipment management system 100A includes a vehicle 1B equipped with a thermally insulated storage equipment 200A and a mobile terminal 110 carried by the owner of the vehicle 1B, and the thermally insulated storage equipment 200A and the mobile terminal 110 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a communication network 101.

[0154] Fig. 16 is a side view showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle 1B equipped with a thermally insulated storage device 200A according to a modified example. As shown in Fig. 16, the vehicle 1B is equipped with a front row seat 2F, a rear row seat 2R, a movable shelf 5, an air conditioner 6 capable of changing the temperature inside the passenger compartment 10, and the thermally insulated storage device 200A stored under the floor of the luggage space 14. The air conditioner 6 is provided inside the instrument panel located in front of the front row seat 2F and outputs hot or cold air from the front to the rear of the front row seat 2F. The air conditioner 6 has a temperature sensor and is configured to be able to change the temperature inside the passenger compartment 10 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

[0155] Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of a thermally insulated storage device 200A according to a modified example. As shown in Fig. 17, the thermally insulated storage device 200A includes a thermally insulated container 210, an insulated lid 220, a luggage sensor 240 capable of detecting the presence or absence of luggage in the thermally insulated container 210, a vehicle interior temperature sensor 250 (see Fig. 18) capable of detecting the temperature inside the vehicle interior 10, and a controller 230A capable of selectively adjusting the temperatures of the vehicle interior 10 and the thermally insulated container 210. The thermally insulated container 210 includes a container body (underfloor storage section) 211, a pair of handles 212, 212, a cooling section 213, and a temperature sensor (referred to as the container temperature sensor here) 214.

[0156] The luggage sensor 240 is provided inside the container body 211 and detects the presence or absence of luggage inside the container body 211. The luggage sensor 240 is configured, for example, by an imaging device capable of capturing images of the inside of the container body 211 and a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of luggage from an image captured by the imaging device, and is configured so that the determination unit can determine the presence or absence of luggage from the image captured by the imaging device. Note that instead of the above, the luggage sensor 240 may be configured to detect the presence or absence of luggage using a pressure sensor provided on the bottom 211a of the container body 211.

[0157] The vehicle interior temperature sensor 250 is provided in the vehicle interior 10 and detects the temperature inside the vehicle interior 10. In the case where seating sensors are provided for the front seat 2F, the second seat 3, and the third seat 4, the vehicle interior temperature sensor 250 may be provided near each of the front seat 2F, the second seat 3, and the third seat 4 and configured to detect the temperatures thereof. In other words, the vehicle interior temperature sensor 250 may be configured to detect the temperature near the seat where the occupant is seated. Also, a temperature sensor provided in the air conditioner 6 may be configured to double as the vehicle interior temperature sensor 250.

[0158] Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a controller 230A of a heat-insulating storage device 200A according to a modified example. As shown in Fig. 18, the controller 230A includes a computer having an arithmetic unit 231A such as a CPU, a storage unit 234A such as a ROM, RAM, or hard disk, a communication unit 235 capable of communicating with external devices, and other peripheral circuits (not shown) such as an I / O interface. Similarly to the vehicle 1A, the vehicle 1B may also be configured such that the functions of the controller 230A are installed in an on-board device (not shown) installed in the vehicle 1B instead of the controller 230A.

[0159] The calculation unit 231A has, as its functional configuration, in addition to an information receiving unit 232 and an information output unit 233, an adjustment target determination unit 236 that determines the target for temperature adjustment based on the detection results of the luggage sensor 240 and the container temperature sensor 214, and a temperature adjustment unit 237 that adjusts the temperature of the target determined by the adjustment target determination unit 236.

[0160] The information receiving unit 232 receives various information such as temperature information detected by the container temperature sensor 214, temperature information detected by the vehicle interior temperature sensor 250, and information on the presence or absence of luggage detected by the luggage sensor 240, as well as various commands (e.g., a command to start the adjustment target determination unit 236) transmitted from the mobile terminal 110A via the communication unit 235.

[0161] The information output unit 233 outputs various information and commands received by the information receiving unit 232, as well as temperature adjustment control signals output by the temperature adjusting unit 237, to each unit. For example, the information output unit 233 outputs temperature information detected by the container temperature sensor 214 and received by the information receiving unit 232 to the mobile terminal 110 via the communication unit 235. The information output unit 233 also outputs the temperature information, package information, and activation commands for the adjustment object determining unit 236 received by the information receiving unit 232 to the adjustment object determining unit 236. Furthermore, the information output unit 233 outputs control signals output by the temperature adjusting unit 237 to the air conditioner 6, the cooling unit 213, etc. via the communication unit 235.

[0162] The adjustment target determination unit 236 determines the target for temperature adjustment by the temperature adjustment unit 237 based on the presence or absence of luggage detected by the luggage sensor 240, the temperature of the storage space of the container body 211 detected by the container temperature sensor 214, and the temperature inside the vehicle cabin 10 detected by the vehicle cabin temperature sensor. For example, when there is no luggage in the storage space of the container body 211 and the temperature of the vehicle cabin is equal to or higher than a first temperature (e.g., 40°C or higher) or equal to or lower than a second temperature (e.g., 10°C or lower), the adjustment target determination unit 236 determines the target for temperature adjustment to be the vehicle cabin 10.

[0163] Furthermore, when there is luggage in the storage space of container body 211, adjustment target determination unit 236 determines container body 211 as the target for temperature adjustment. Note that when there is luggage in the storage space of container body 211, adjustment target determination unit 236 may determine container body 211 as the target for temperature adjustment based on the type of luggage and the temperature inside container body 211. For example, when the stored luggage is foodstuffs or the like that need to be kept cold, and the temperature detected by container temperature sensor 214 is a third temperature or higher (for example, 15°C or higher), adjustment target determination unit 236 may determine container body 211 as the target for temperature adjustment, and when the stored luggage is foodstuffs or the like that need to be kept warm, and the temperature detected by container temperature sensor 214 is lower than the third temperature or higher, adjustment target determination unit 236 may determine container body 211 as the target for temperature adjustment.

[0164] When the temperature adjustment target is determined by the adjustment target determination unit 236, the temperature adjustment unit 237 adjusts the temperature of the determined temperature adjustment target. For example, when the temperature adjustment target is the vehicle interior 10, the temperature adjustment unit 237 outputs a control signal to the air conditioner 6 to adjust the temperature of the vehicle interior 10, and when the temperature adjustment target is the container body 211, the temperature adjustment unit 237 outputs a control signal to the cooling unit (thermoelectric element) 213 to adjust the temperature of the container body 211.

[0165] The storage unit 234A stores various programs executed by the calculation unit 231A, various data, etc. For example, the storage unit 234A stores an information transmission program that causes the information output unit 233 to output temperature information and the like acquired by the information receiving unit 232 to the pre-registered mobile terminal 110 and the adjustment target determination unit 236, an adjustment target determination program by the adjustment target determination unit 236, a temperature adjustment program by the temperature adjustment unit 237, data on the vehicle 1B and the pre-registered mobile terminal 110, etc.

[0166] The communication unit 235 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with external devices such as an in-vehicle terminal (not shown) installed in the vehicle 1B or a pre-registered mobile terminal 110 via short-range wireless communication such as the communication network 101 or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0167] As shown in FIG. 14, the mobile terminal 110 includes a computer having a calculation unit 111, a memory unit 114, an input / output unit 115, a communication unit 116, and other peripheral circuits not shown.

[0168] The calculation unit 111 has, as functional components, an information receiving unit 112 and an information output unit 113. The information receiving unit 112 receives temperature information of the accommodation space of the container body 211 via the communication unit 116, and receives a startup command for the adjustment target determination unit 236 input via the input / output unit 115. The information output unit 113 outputs the temperature information received by the information receiving unit 112 to the input / output unit 115, and outputs a startup command input via the input / output unit 115 to the controller 230A via the communication unit 235.

[0169] The storage unit 114 stores a temperature display program that displays temperature information on the input / output unit 115, a start-up command output program that outputs a start-up command for the adjustment target determination unit 236 to the controller 230A, data on the vehicle 1B and the mobile terminal 110, etc. The input / output unit 115 is a general term for devices that input and output various commands and various information, and is configured by a monitor, a touch panel, etc. For example, a start-up command for the adjustment target determination unit 236 is input to the input / output unit 115.

[0170] An example of the operation of the thermally insulated storage device 200A and the mobile terminal 110 configured as described above can be summarized as follows: When the temperature inside the thermally insulated container 210 is detected by the container temperature sensor 214, the controller 230 transmits the temperature information of the thermally insulated container 210 to the mobile terminal 110, and the temperature information is displayed on the mobile terminal 110. When the owner of the vehicle 1B inputs a start command for the adjustment target determination unit 236 via the mobile terminal 110 based on the temperature information displayed on the mobile terminal 110, a start signal is output to the controller 230A via the communication unit 116.

[0171] When the information receiving unit 232 of the controller 230A receives a start-up signal for the adjustment target determining unit 236 transmitted from the mobile terminal 110 via the communication unit 235, the target for temperature adjustment is determined by the adjustment target determining unit 236. The adjustment target determining unit 236 determines whether the target for temperature adjustment is the container body 211 or the vehicle interior 10, based on the presence or absence of luggage in the container body 211 and the temperature in the vehicle interior 10.

[0172] Once the target for temperature adjustment has been determined, the temperature adjustment is performed by the temperature adjustment unit 237 based on the determined temperature target. The temperature adjustment unit 237 performs temperature adjustment of the container body 211 or the vehicle interior 10 by outputting a control signal to the air conditioner 6 or the cooling unit 213. At this time, the temperatures of the container body 211 and the vehicle interior 10 are adjusted based on the temperatures detected by the container temperature sensor 214 and the vehicle interior temperature sensor 250.

[0173] This allows the owner of vehicle 1A to check the temperature inside the insulated container 210 of the insulated storage device 200 installed in vehicle 1A from a distance, and also allows the owner to adjust the temperature of the container body 211 or the passenger compartment 10 as needed.

[0174] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved. (1) The insulated storage device 200A, which can store luggage brought into the vehicle, is provided with a container body 211 that is provided under the floor of the luggage space 14 and forms a storage space for storing luggage, and a temperature adjustment unit 237 that can selectively adjust the temperature of the vehicle interior 10 and the container body 211 (Figures 16 to 18).

[0175] This configuration allows the luggage stored in the container body 211 to be heated or cooled. Therefore, for example, food ingredients stored in the container body 211 can be heated or cooled as needed. Also, when no luggage is stored in the container body 211, the vehicle interior 10 can be heated or cooled in advance.

[0176] (2) The thermally insulated storage device 200A further includes a luggage sensor 240 capable of detecting the presence or absence of luggage in the container body 211, a vehicle interior temperature sensor 250 capable of detecting the temperature of the vehicle interior 10, and a container temperature sensor 214 capable of detecting the temperature of the container body 211, and an adjustment target determination unit 236 that determines a target for temperature adjustment based on the detection results of the luggage sensor 240, the container, and the vehicle interior temperature sensors 214, 250. When the temperature adjustment target is determined by the adjustment target determination unit 236, the temperature adjustment unit 237 adjusts the temperature of the determined temperature adjustment target (FIGS. 16 and 18). This allows the temperatures of the vehicle interior 10 and the container body 211 to be adjusted based on the presence or absence of luggage in the container body 211 and the temperatures inside the vehicle interior 10 and the container body 211.

[0177] (3) When there is no luggage in the container body 211 and the temperature of the vehicle interior 10 is equal to or higher than a first temperature (e.g., 40°C or higher) or equal to or lower than a second temperature (e.g., 10°C or lower), the adjustment target determination unit 236 determines the vehicle interior 10 as the temperature adjustment target ( FIG. 18 ). As a result, when there is no luggage in the container body 211, the temperature in the vehicle interior 10 can be adjusted according to the temperature of the vehicle interior 10. When the temperature in the vehicle interior 10 is hot (e.g., 40°C or higher) or cold (e.g., 10°C or lower), and there is no luggage in the container body 211, the temperature in the vehicle interior 10 can be adjusted with priority. Note that when the temperature in the vehicle interior 10 is equal to or higher than a first temperature (e.g., 40°C or higher) or equal to or lower than a second temperature (e.g., 10°C or lower), the temperature in the vehicle interior 10 can be adjusted with priority, regardless of whether there is luggage in the container body 211.

[0178] (4) The heat-insulating storage device 200A further includes a communication unit 235 capable of receiving an activation signal to activate the adjustment target determination unit 236, and the adjustment target determination unit 236 determines the temperature adjustment target when the communication unit 235 receives the activation signal (FIGS. 15 and 18). This allows the adjustment target determination unit 236 to be activated from a pre-registered mobile terminal or external device, such as a mobile terminal carried by the owner of the vehicle 1B. In other words, the adjustment target determination unit 236 can be activated even from a remote location, and as a result, the temperature inside the vehicle interior 10 and the container body 211 can be adjusted.

[0179] The configurations of the vehicle storage device and the vehicle equipped with the same described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18 can be summarized as follows. The vehicle storage device capable of storing luggage brought into the vehicle includes an underfloor storage section provided under the floor of the vehicle compartment to form a storage space for storing luggage, and a temperature adjustment section capable of selectively adjusting the temperature of the vehicle compartment and the underfloor storage section.

[0180] The above-mentioned vehicle storage device further includes a luggage sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of luggage in the underfloor storage area, a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature of the passenger compartment and the underfloor storage area, and an adjustment target determination unit that determines an object to be temperature adjusted based on the detection results of the luggage sensor and the temperature sensor.When the temperature adjustment target is determined by the adjustment target determination unit, the temperature adjustment unit adjusts the temperature of the determined temperature adjustment target.

[0181] The adjustment target determination unit determines the passenger compartment as a temperature adjustment target when there is no luggage in the underfloor storage compartment and the temperature of the passenger compartment is equal to or higher than the first temperature or equal to or lower than the second temperature.

[0182] The vehicle storage device described above further includes a communication unit capable of receiving an activation signal that activates the adjustment target determination unit, and the adjustment target determination unit determines the temperature adjustment target when the communication unit receives the activation signal.

[0183] The above-described heat-insulating storage device 200B can be modified into various forms. Fig. 19 is a side view showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle 1C in which a heat-insulating storage device 200B is placed under the floor at the feet of an occupant seated in the second seat 3. In the following, components similar to those of the above-described storage device management system 100A are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0184] For example, vehicle 1C may be configured such that in addition to or instead of heat-insulating storage device 200A placed under the floor of luggage space 14, heat-insulating storage device 200B is provided under the floor at the feet of an occupant seated in second seat 3. In this case, heat-insulating storage device 200B may be arranged in battery storage compartment 17 that accommodates battery 7 placed under the floor of passenger compartment 10. This will be described in detail below.

[0185] As shown in Fig. 19, vehicle 1C is provided with a battery storage compartment 17 under the floor of passenger compartment 10 that can store a battery 7 that supplies power to drive vehicle 1C, a battery temperature adjustment unit 8 that can adjust the temperature of battery 7, and a heat-insulating storage device 200B. Battery storage compartment 17 is provided from below front seat 2F to below the feet of an occupant seated in second seat 3, and battery temperature adjustment unit 8 is disposed within battery storage compartment 17 between battery 7 and heat-insulating storage device 200C. Battery 7 is located in front of battery temperature adjustment unit 8, i.e., below front seat 2F, and heat-insulating storage device 200C is located behind battery temperature adjustment unit 8, i.e., below the feet of an occupant seated in second seat 3.

[0186] The lower part of the battery 7 in the battery storage chamber 17 is formed so as to be openable and closable, and is configured so that the battery 7 can be removed from there. The upper part of the battery storage chamber 17 above the heat-insulating storage device 200B is also formed so as to be openable and closable, and is configured so that the heat-insulating storage device 200B can be accessed from there and can also be removed from there.

[0187] The battery temperature adjusting unit 8 has a function of adjusting the temperature of the battery 7 by heating or cooling the battery 7, and also a function of adjusting the temperature of the storage space by heating or cooling the container body 211 of the heat-insulating storage device 200B. The heat-insulating storage device 200B may be configured so that the battery temperature adjusting unit 8 is substituted for the cooling unit 213, or may be configured so that the battery temperature adjusting unit 8 can adjust the temperature of the storage space in addition to the cooling unit 213.

[0188] The modified example of the above embodiment can provide the following advantageous effects. (5) The vehicle 1C equipped with the heat-insulating storage device 200B includes a battery 7 that supplies power to drive the vehicle 1C and a battery temperature adjustment unit 8 that adjusts the temperature of the battery 7 (FIG. 19), and the battery temperature adjustment unit 8 is replaced with the temperature adjustment unit 237 and the cooling unit 213. This eliminates the need to separately provide the cooling unit 213 in the container body 211 of the heat-insulating storage device 200B, allowing the number of components of the heat-insulating storage device 200B to be reduced.

[0189] (6) The above-mentioned battery temperature adjusting unit 8 is disposed between the heat-insulating storage device 200B and the battery 7 (FIG. 19). As a result, the battery temperature adjusting unit 8 is disposed adjacent to the heat-insulating storage device 200B and the battery 7, making it easier to replace the battery temperature adjusting unit 8 with the temperature adjusting unit 237 and the cooling unit 213.

[0190] The configuration of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle storage device described with reference to FIG. 19 can be summarized as follows. A vehicle equipped with the above-mentioned vehicle storage device includes a battery that supplies power to drive the vehicle and a battery temperature adjustment unit that adjusts the temperature of the battery, with the battery temperature adjustment unit replacing the temperature adjustment unit.

[0191] The battery is disposed in a battery storage compartment provided under the floor of the vehicle compartment, and the battery temperature regulator is disposed between the underfloor storage section and the battery storage compartment.

[0192] [vehicle] Generally, when a passenger gets into a vehicle, the air conditioner does not warm the interior of the vehicle sufficiently, and passengers may use cloth materials such as blankets until the interior warms up. However, cloth materials can be difficult to store when not in use. For example, if the cloth material is stored in a luggage space such as the trunk, it can be cumbersome to retrieve it the next time it is used, and if it is left on the seat, it can get in the way of passengers sitting down.

[0193] Therefore, in this embodiment, a storage section capable of storing the cloth member is provided in the ceiling section of the vehicle. This makes it possible to easily remove the cloth member when in use and to prevent it from getting in the way when not in use. Furthermore, by storing the cloth member in the ceiling section, the thermal insulation effect of the ceiling section can also be expected.

[0194] 20 to 29, a vehicle equipped with a ceiling storage section (storage section) capable of storing a fabric material in the ceiling portion of the vehicle interior will be described below. Note that, in the following, components similar to those of the above-described vehicles 1 to 1C will be assigned the same reference numerals as those of these vehicles 1 to 1C, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0195] FIG. 20 is a side view showing the schematic configuration of a vehicle 1D equipped with a ceiling storage compartment 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the vehicle 1D is a four-wheel vehicle having four wheels 11 (front, rear, left, and right), and is equipped with a front row seat 2F, a rear row seat 2R, a heat-insulating storage device 200, and the ceiling storage compartment 300. The front row seat 2F has a driver's seat 2Fa located on the right side facing the steering wheel 12 and a passenger seat 2Fb located on the left side. The rear row seat 2R has a second seat 3 located behind the front row seat 2F and a third seat 4 located behind the second seat 3. The second seat 3 and the third seat 4 are each divided into two halves at a predetermined ratio. The heat-insulating storage device 200 is attached under the floor of the luggage space 14 of the vehicle 1D.

[0196] 21 is a perspective view of a ceiling storage section 300 provided in the ceiling section 15 of the passenger compartment 10, viewed obliquely from the rear of the passenger compartment 10. As shown in FIG. 21, the ceiling storage section 300 includes a first ceiling storage section 300a provided above the driver's seat 2Fa, a second ceiling storage section 300b provided above the passenger seat 2Fb, a third ceiling storage section 300c provided above the second seat 3 on the right side, and a fourth ceiling storage section 300d provided above the second seat 3 on the left side, and the first to fourth ceiling storage sections 300a to 300d are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions on the ceiling section 15. Note that this embodiment will be described using a vehicle 1D that does not have a ceiling storage section above the third seat 4, but similar ceiling storage sections may also be provided above the third seat 4 on the right and left sides.

[0197] The first to fourth ceiling storage sections 300a to 300d provided above the front and rear seats 2F, 2R will be described in detail below. Because the first to fourth ceiling storage sections 300a to 300d have the same configuration, they will be described below as ceiling storage sections 300. A rectangular blanket 301 will be used as an example of a fabric-like material.

[0198] Figure 22 is an AA cross-sectional view of ceiling storage section 300 shown in Figure 21, and Figure 23 is a BB cross-sectional view of ceiling storage section 300 shown in Figure 22. As shown in Figures 22 and 23, ceiling storage section 300 is formed in roof liner 15a arranged on ceiling section 15 inside vehicle compartment 10. Specifically, ceiling storage section 300 includes storage section main body 310 that is recessed upward and has opening 311 downward, lid 320 configured to be able to open and close opening 311 of storage section main body 310, and rod-shaped member (item support section) 330 that is provided inside storage section main body 310 and is able to support blanket 301 in a folded state.

[0199] Storage unit main body 310 is formed so that storage space 312 has a vertically elongated, approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape with the front-to-back length longer than the left-to-right length, and storage space 312 is formed to have a size and depth sufficient to store a folded blanket 301 (for example, a blanket folded in half). The inner walls of storage unit main body 310 have been treated with sterilization and deodorization, so that the smell of blanket 301 does not linger within storage space 312 when a used blanket 301 is stored therein.

[0200] In addition to the deodorizing and sterilizing treatment on the inner walls, the storage body 310 may be configured to have an ultraviolet ray irradiation device installed inside. For example, when the opening 311 of the storage body 310 is closed with the lid 320, infrared rays are irradiated onto the stored blanket 301. By installing an ultraviolet ray irradiation device inside, it becomes possible to sterilize the stored blanket 301 and also maintain the cleanliness of the storage space 312.

[0201] Also, the storage unit main body 310 may be configured to communicate with the air delivery path of the air conditioner 6, allowing cool air or warm air from the air conditioner 6 to flow in. By allowing the cool air or warm air from the air conditioner 6 to flow into the storage unit main body 310, it becomes possible to warm the blanket 301 stored in the storage unit main body 310 in winter, and to cool the roof of the vehicle 1D in summer.

[0202] The lid 320 is formed in a rectangular plate shape capable of covering the opening 311 of the storage unit main body 310, and one side in the left-right direction (inner side) is rotatably supported by a hinge 321 on the roof liner 15a. The hinge 321 rotatably supports the lid 320 about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. In other words, the storage unit main body 310 is configured so that the other side in the left-right direction (outer side), i.e., the window side, can be opened by the lid 320. Note that the lid 320 may be configured so that the hinge is provided on one side in the front-rear direction (for example, the front or rear side) and the other side in the front-rear direction (for example, the rear or front side) can be opened about the axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0203] A locking portion 322 is provided on the other left-right side (outside) of the lid portion 320, which fixes the lid portion 320 to the roof liner 15a with the opening 311 closed. The locking portion 322 is provided on the outer surface (compartment 10 side) of the lid portion 320, and is formed so as to be able to engage with an engaged portion 15b provided on the roof liner 15a with the opening 311 closed.

[0204] A fixing clip 323 is attached to the back surface (storage space 312 side) of the lid portion 320. The fixing clip 323 is provided at the end portion on the other side in the left-right direction (opposite the hinge 321) and is configured to be hooked onto the rod-shaped member 330 so that the end portion of the blanket 301 in a hanging state can be fixed to the back surface of the lid portion 320. By fixing the end portion of the hanging blanket 301 to the back surface of the lid portion 320 with the fixing clip 323, the blanket 301 can be lifted by the lid portion 320 while maintaining the folded state when the lid portion 320 is rotated. Note that the fixing clip 323 may be configured to be operated by an occupant to fix the end portion of the blanket 301 when the blanket 301 is hooked onto the rod-shaped member 330, or may be configured to be fixed in conjunction with the closing operation when the opening 311 is closed by the lid portion 320.

[0205] The rod-shaped member 330 is provided extending in the front-rear direction on one side (inside) of the left-right direction inside the storage unit main body 310 (inside the storage space). The rod-shaped member 330 is fixed to the inner wall on both sides of the storage unit main body 310 in the front-rear direction, and is provided at a predetermined distance from the inner wall so that the blanket 301 can be hung in a folded state.

[0206] Blanket 301 is stored in ceiling storage section 300 configured as described above as follows: Figures 24A and 24B are cross-sectional views taken along line AA showing ceiling storage section 300 in use, with Figure 24A showing blanket 301 hung on rod-shaped member 330 and Figure 24B showing blanket 301 stored in ceiling storage section 300.

[0207] 24A , when rectangular blanket 301 is hung on rod-shaped member 330 so that the long sides of blanket 301 are folded, the length of the long sides of blanket 301 hung on rod-shaped member 330 is halved. Ceiling storage unit 300 is formed to a size that can store blanket 301 in a folded state, and lid 320 is formed to be able to cover opening 311 of storage unit main body 310. Therefore, the position of the bottom end of blanket 301 when hung on rod-shaped member 330 is located higher than the position of the bottom end of lid 320. Therefore, the bottom end of blanket 301 can be fixed by fixing clip 323 provided at the bottom end of lid 320 (the end opposite hinge 321).

[0208] In this state, when the lower end of blanket 301 is fixed with fixing clip 323 and lid portion 320 is lifted upward around the axis of hinge 321, blanket 301 is lifted by the back surface of lid portion 320. At this time, because the lower end of blanket 301 is fixed with fixing clip 323, blanket 301 is prevented from protruding from storage space 312 of storage unit main body 310. In other words, blanket 301 is prevented from spilling out of lid portion 320. When blanket 301 is prevented from protruding, as shown in FIG. 24B , blanket 301 can be stored in storage space 312 without being pinched between storage unit main body 310 and lid portion 320.

[0209] The vehicle 1D equipped with the above-described ceiling storage section 300 can achieve the following advantageous effects. (1) In a vehicle 1D equipped with a ceiling storage compartment 300 capable of storing a blanket 301 on the ceiling 15 inside the passenger compartment 10, the ceiling storage compartment 300 includes a storage compartment main body 310 that is recessed upward and has an opening 311 on the bottom, a lid 320 that can cover the opening 311 of the storage compartment main body 310, and a rod-shaped member 330 that is provided inside the storage compartment main body 310 and can support the blanket 301 (FIG. 20). The blanket 301, which is supported by the rod-shaped member 330 and located below the storage compartment main body 310, is lifted by the lid 320 and stored in the storage compartment main body 310 (FIGS. 24A and 24B).

[0210] This configuration makes it easy to remove and store the blanket 301 in the passenger compartment 10. For example, when riding in the vehicle 1D during cold seasons such as winter, the blanket 301 can be easily removed and used, and when no longer needed, the blanket 301 can be easily stored. This improves comfort when riding in the vehicle 1D during cold seasons such as winter. Also, in summer, when the temperature setting of the air conditioner 6 is low, an occupant who feels cold can easily remove and use the blanket 301, eliminating the need to change the temperature setting of the air conditioner 6. Furthermore, when the blanket 301 is stored in the ceiling portion 15, the blanket 301 prevents the temperature of the ceiling portion 15, including the roof of the vehicle 1D, from rising. This prevents the temperature in the passenger compartment 10 from rising, and the degree to which the temperature setting of the air conditioner 6 needs to be lowered can be reduced. This improves the fuel efficiency of the vehicle 1D.

[0211] (2) The lid 320 is attached to the ceiling 15 via a hinge 321, and the storage unit main body 310 is configured to be able to open and close by rotating the lid 320 (FIG. 22). This allows the ceiling storage unit 300 to be provided in the vehicle 1D with a simple configuration.

[0212] (3) The articles stored in storage unit main body 310 include blanket 301, and the article support unit that supports the articles includes rod-shaped member 330 on which blanket 301 is hung (FIGS. 24A and 24B). As a result, blanket 301 can be stored in ceiling unit 15 simply by hanging blanket 301 on rod-shaped member 330.

[0213] The configuration of the vehicle 1D equipped with the ceiling storage section 300 described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 24B can be summarized as follows. In a vehicle equipped with a storage section in the ceiling of the passenger compartment that can store items, the storage section has a storage section main body that is concave at the top and has an opening at the bottom, a lid that can cover the opening of the storage section main body, and an item support section that is provided inside the storage section main body and can support items, and items that are supported on the item support section and located below the storage section main body are lifted by the lid section and stored in the storage section main body.

[0214] The above-mentioned lid is attached to the ceiling via a hinge, and the housing body is configured to be able to be opened and closed by rotating the lid.

[0215] The article includes a blanket, and the article support portion includes a rod-like member on which the blanket is hung.

[0216] The above-described ceiling storage unit 300 can be modified into various forms. For example, the configuration of the lid 320 of the ceiling storage unit 300 can be modified into various forms. Modified examples of the lid 320 of the ceiling storage unit 300 will be described below.

[0217] Figures 25A to 25C are cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the lid 320 of the ceiling storage unit 300. Figure 25A shows the storage unit main body 310 in an open state, Figure 25B shows the storage unit main body 310 in the middle of being closed with the lid 320A, and Figure 25C shows the storage unit main body 310 closed with the lid 320A. Note that, in the following, components similar to those of the ceiling storage unit 300 described above will be assigned the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0218] 25A, ceiling storage section 300A includes storage section main body 310, lid section 320A, and rod-shaped member (item support section) 330. Lid section 320A has a first lid section 324 formed in the shape of a rectangular plate, a second lid section 325 formed in the same shape as first lid section 324, and a rotation support section 326 that supports second lid section 325 so that it can rotate on first lid section 324. First lid section 324 is rotationally supported on roof liner 15a by hinge 321, and second lid section 325 is rotationally supported on first lid section 324 by rotation support section 326. In other words, lid section 320A is configured to be foldable by rotation support section 326.

[0219] The rotation support part 326 is provided with a damper 326a that biases the second lid part 325 in the folding direction, and when the first lid part 324 is rotated downward, the second lid part 325 moves toward the inner surface of the first lid part 324 so that the lid part 320A is folded in half, and the lid part 320A becomes approximately V-shaped. When the lid part 320A is opened, the lid part 320A becomes approximately V-shaped, so that the lid part 320A is less likely to get in the way of an occupant sitting in the seat when taking out or putting away the blanket 301.

[0220] Blanket 301 is stored in ceiling storage section 300A configured as described above as follows. As shown in Figure 25A, when lid 320A of ceiling storage section 300A is opened, lid 320A is held in a substantially V-shape by damper 326a. In this state, when blanket 301 is hung on rod-shaped member 330, the tip of V-shaped lid 320A comes into contact with the vicinity of the folded position of blanket 301.

[0221] When lid portion 320A begins to close from this state, the contact position of the tip of lid portion 320A with blanket 301 moves toward the edge of blanket 301, lifting blanket 301, as shown in Figure 25B. Because blanket 301 is lifted while the tip of lid portion 320A is in contact with blanket 301, blanket 301 is less likely to slip off during lifting.

[0222] 25C, when the tip of lid portion 320A is further moved, it is positioned on the other left-right side (outside) of ceiling storage section 300A, and locking portion 322 provided on the other left-right side engages with engaged portion 15b provided on roof liner 15a. As a result, lid portion 320A is locked in the closed position, and blanket 301 is stored in ceiling storage section 300A.

[0223] In the ceiling storage unit 300A, the lid 320A is configured to have a bifold shape. However, the lid 320A is not limited to a bifold shape and may have a shape that can be folded multiple times. For example, the lid 320A may have an accordion shape. By making the lid 320A accordion-shaped, the lid 320A can be made more compact when the ceiling storage unit 300A is open. Also, a pair of rails extending in the left-right direction may be provided, and the tip of the lid 320A may be configured to move along the pair of rails. By moving the tip of the lid 320A along the pair of rails, the tip of the lid 320A is supported by the pair of rails, and the movement of the tip of the lid 320A can be stabilized.

[0224] Figures 26A and 26B are cross-sectional views showing other modified examples of the lid portion 320 of the ceiling storage section 300, where Figure 26A shows the storage section main body 310 of the ceiling storage section 300B in an open state, and Figure 26B shows the storage section main body 310 in a closed state with the lid portion 320B.

[0225] 26A, when the storage unit main body 310 is opened, the lid portion 320B may be configured to be wound up in a roll on one side in the left-right direction (inside) about an axis extending in the front-rear direction. For example, the lid portion 320B may be configured to be wound up in a roll on one side in the left-right direction (inside) by a biasing means (not shown) provided on the axis. The roof liner 15a may be provided with a pair of left and right rails (not shown) extending in the left-right direction, and the opening 311 of the ceiling storage unit 300B may be opened and closed by moving the tip of the lid portion 320B along the pair of left and right rails against or by the biasing force of the biasing means.

[0226] Blanket 301 is stored in ceiling storage section 300B configured as described above as follows. As shown in Figure 26A, when locking section 322 of lid section 320B is unlocked, lid section 320B is wound on one side (inside) in the left-right direction due to the biasing force of the biasing means. When blanket 301 is hung on rod-shaped member 330 in this state, the tip of lid section 320A comes into contact with the vicinity of the folded position of blanket 301.

[0227] From this state, when the tip of lid portion 320B is moved along the pair of left and right rails, blanket 301 is lifted toward storage space 312 in storage unit main body 310. When lock portion 322 provided at the tip (the other left-right side) of lid portion 320B engages with engaged portion 15b provided on roof liner 15a, lid portion 320B is locked in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 26B, and blanket 301 is stored in ceiling storage unit 300B.

[0228] The vehicle 1D equipped with the above-described ceiling storage section 300B can achieve the following advantageous effects. (4) The above-described lid 320B is slidably attached to the roof liner 15a, and the storage unit main body 310 is configured to be openable and closable by sliding the lid 320B. This allows the storage unit main body 310 to be opened and closed without the lid 320B interfering with an occupant seated in a seat located below the ceiling storage unit 300B.

[0229] The configuration of the vehicle 1D equipped with the ceiling storage section 300B described with reference to FIGS. 26A and 26B can be summarized as follows.

[0230] In the vehicle described above, the lid is slidably attached to the ceiling, and the storage body is configured to be able to be opened and closed by sliding the lid.

[0231] 26A and 26B has been described using lid 320B that is wound up in a roll on one side in the left-right direction (inside) about an axis extending in the front-to-rear direction when storage unit main body 310 is opened, but if there is space to position the lid when storage unit main body 310 is open, lid 320B may not be wound up, but may simply be slid to open and close storage unit main body 310. Also, the lid may be configured to fold up on one side in the left-right direction (inside) when storage unit main body 310 is opened.

[0232] Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the lid 320 of the ceiling storage section 300, and Fig. 28 is a plan view of the lid 320C of the ceiling storage section 300C shown in Fig. 27. As shown in Fig. 27, the lid 320C may be configured so that the hinge 321 is provided on the side opposite to the side on which the rod-shaped member 330 is disposed. For example, the rod-shaped member 330 may be provided so as to extend along the upper edge of the vehicle window 18 in the vicinity thereof, and the hinge 321 of the lid 320C may be provided on one side in the left-right direction (inside).

[0233] In this case, it is preferable that a notch 327 be provided on the side of the lid 320C facing the vehicle window 18, through which the hanging blanket 301 can be inserted when it is hung on the rod-shaped member 330. By providing the notch 327 in the lid 320C, it becomes possible to maintain the hanging state of the blanket 301. In this case, by fixing the blanket 301 to a fixing part 328 provided on the lower edge of the vehicle window 18, it becomes possible to use the blanket as a curtain.

[0234] The vehicle 1D equipped with the above-described ceiling storage section 300C can achieve the following advantageous effects. (5) The rod-shaped member 330 is provided near the upper edge of the vehicle window 18 and extends along the upper edge. As a result, by hanging the blanket 301 on the rod-shaped member 330, the blanket 301 can be used as a curtain for the vehicle window 18.

[0235] (6) The blanket 301 is further provided with a fixing portion 328 that can fix the lower end of the blanket 301, which is hung on the rod-shaped member 330 and hanging down toward the window 18 inside the vehicle compartment 10, to the lower edge of the window 18. This allows the blanket 301 to be fixed and used as a curtain. A magnet, a clip, or the like can be used as the fixing portion 328.

[0236] (7) The lid 320C has a notch 327 that can cover the storage body 310 when the blanket 301 hung on the rod-shaped member 330 hangs down inside the passenger compartment 10 on the side of the window 18. This allows the opening 311 of the storage body 310 to be closed with the blanket 301 fixed to the lower edge of the window 18.

[0237] The configuration of the vehicle 1D equipped with the ceiling storage section 300C described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28 can be summarized as follows. The rod-shaped member is provided near the upper edge of the vehicle window and extends along the upper edge.

[0238] The vehicle described above further includes a fixing portion that can fix the lower end of the blanket, which is hung on the rod-shaped member and hanging down toward the window inside the vehicle compartment, to the lower edge of the window.

[0239] The lid portion has a notch that can cover the storage body when the blanket hung on the rod-shaped member hangs down inside the vehicle compartment on the vehicle window side.

[0240] The vehicle described above further includes a fixing portion that can fix the lower end of the blanket, which is hung on the rod-shaped member and hanging down toward the window inside the vehicle compartment, to the lower edge of the window.

[0241] Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating another modified example of ceiling storage section 300. As shown in Fig. 29, ceiling storage section (storage section) 300D according to this modified example is formed with a downwardly concave shape so that items can be placed inside, and is configured to be movable along a pair of left and right rails 329, 329 that are provided on ceiling section 15 and extend in the front-to-rear direction. Ceiling storage section 300D is formed so that its left-to-right length is approximately the same as the left-to-right length of ceiling section 15, allowing it to store large items. Moreover, ceiling storage section 300D is formed in the same color as ceiling section 15 so as to be less conspicuous.

[0242] The vehicle 1D equipped with the above-described ceiling storage section 300D can achieve the following advantageous effects. (8) In the vehicle 1D equipped with a ceiling storage compartment 300D capable of storing items on the ceiling 15 inside the passenger compartment 10, the ceiling storage compartment 300D is formed in a downwardly concave shape so that items can be placed inside, and is configured to be movable along a pair of left and right rails 329, 329 that are provided on the ceiling 15 and extend in the front-rear direction. This allows even large items to be stored.

[0243] The configuration of the vehicle 1D equipped with the ceiling storage section 300D described with reference to FIG. 29 can be summarized as follows. In a vehicle equipped with a storage section in the ceiling of the passenger compartment that can store items, the storage section is formed concavely downward so that items can be placed inside, and is configured to be movable along a pair of left and right rails that extend in the fore-and-aft direction on the ceiling.

[0244] The ceiling storage section 300D can be modified into various forms. For example, the ceiling storage section 300D may be made of a colorless and transparent material. By making the ceiling storage section 300D of a colorless and transparent material, items stored in the ceiling storage section 300D can be easily identified. Furthermore, the ceiling storage section 300D may be configured with a drop prevention section that protrudes upward at each of its front-to-rear end portions. Furthermore, the ceiling storage section 300D may be configured with multiple ceiling storage sections 300D that can move forward and backward in the front-to-rear direction, and may be configured with partitions inside to provide multiple storage sections.

[0245] [Ottoman device and vehicle] Vehicles with ottomans installed in the rear seats are well known. However, these ottomans are generally only used to rest the legs of passengers seated in the seats and have no other uses. However, there are few storage spaces in the vehicle interior that can store luggage, so it is desirable to have storage space within the vehicle interior.

[0246] Therefore, in the vehicle according to this embodiment, the ottoman is configured to emerge from under the floor of the vehicle compartment, and a storage compartment is provided in the ottoman, which allows for effective use of the space under the floor of the vehicle compartment while also ensuring a storage compartment.

[0247] A vehicle having such an ottoman will be described below with reference to Figures 30 to 34. In the following, the same components as those of the above-described vehicles 1 to 1D will be assigned the same reference numerals as those of the vehicles 1 to 1D, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0248] FIG. 30 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle 1E equipped with an ottoman device 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 30, the vehicle 1E is a four-wheel vehicle having four wheels 11 (front, rear, left, and right) and includes a front seat 2F, a rear seat 2R, an adjustable shelf 5, a heat-insulating storage device 200, and the ottoman device 400. The front seat 2F includes a driver's seat 2Fa located on the right side facing the steering wheel 12 and a passenger seat 2Fb located on the left side. The rear seat 2R includes a second seat 3 located behind the front seat 2F and a third seat 4 located behind the second seat 3. The adjustable shelf 5 includes a first adjustable shelf 5a stored above the second seat 3 and a second adjustable shelf 5b stored above the third seat 4. The heat-insulating storage device 200 is attached under the floor of the luggage space 14 of the vehicle 1E.

[0249] The ottoman device 400 is stored under the floor in front of the second seat 3 and is configured to appear from under the floor above the floor by rotating. Fig. 31 is a perspective view of the ottoman device 400 shown in Fig. 30. As shown in Fig. 31, the ottoman device 400 includes an ottoman 410 on which the legs of an occupant seated on the second seat 3 can be placed, a storage section 420 in which the ottoman 410 can be stored under the floor in front of the second seat 3, a rotation support section (support section) 430 that rotatably supports the ottoman 410 on the floor surface 10a in front of the second seat 3, a rotation drive section (drive section) 440 that rotationally drives the ottoman 410 supported by the rotation support section 430, and a controller 450 that controls the drive of the rotation drive section 440.

[0250] Ottoman 410 is formed in a hollow, generally semi-cylindrical shape. Specifically, ottoman 410 includes arc section 411 on which an occupant's legs can be placed when it appears above the floor, floor surface section 412 that forms floor surface 10a at the position where arc section 411 appears when arc section 411 is stored under the floor, storage section 413 that forms a storage space in which items can be stored, and opening / closing section (lid section) 414 that opens and closes storage section 413.

[0251] Arc portion 411 is formed by the semi-cylindrical surface of ottoman 410, which is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, and floor portion 412 is formed by the rectangular surface opposite the semi-cylindrical surface. Storage portion 413 is formed by the hollow portion of ottoman 410, and opening / closing portion 414 is formed so as to be able to open and close openings on both sides in the extension direction of storage portion 413. Opening / closing portion 414 is formed in a substantially semi-circular shape along the outer edge of arc portion 411 and the floor portion (the opening of storage portion 413), and is configured so as to be able to open and close the opening around axis L1 extending along floor portion 412.

[0252] A locking portion 415 is provided at the end (the arc-shaped apex) of the opening / closing portion 414 opposite the axis L1, and the locking portion 415 is formed so as to be able to engage with an engaged portion 416 provided at the end of the arc portion 411. By engaging the locking portion 415 of the opening / closing portion 414 with the engaged portion 416 of the arc portion 411, the opening / closing portion 414 can seal the storage portion 413.

[0253] The storage section 420 is formed in a similar shape (semi-cylindrical) but slightly larger than the arc section 411 of the ottoman 410 so that the arc section 411 can be stored therein, and the storage section 420 is formed so that the axis L2 of the ottoman 410 extends in the left-right direction. This allows the ottoman 410 to appear on the floor surface 10a in front of the second seat 3 with the axis L2 extending in the left-right direction.

[0254] The rotation support part 430 has a rotation shaft 431 provided on the axis L2 of the ottoman 410, and a pair of support parts 432, 432 that rotatably support the rotation shaft 431. The rotation shaft 431 is provided on the axis L2 of the floor part 412 of the ottoman 410, and the pair of support parts 432, 432 are provided on the floor surface 10a on both left and right sides of the storage part 420.

[0255] The rotation drive unit 440 is provided under the floor in front of the second seat 3, and has an actuator 441 that applies a rotational force to the rotation shaft 431, and a gear train (not shown) that connects the actuator 441 and the rotation shaft 431. The drive of the actuator 441 is controlled by a controller 450.

[0256] Fig. 32 is a block diagram of controller 450 shown in Fig. 31. As shown in Fig. 32, controller 450 includes a computer having an arithmetic unit 451 such as a CPU, a storage unit 454 such as a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk, a communication unit 455 capable of communicating with external devices, and other peripheral circuits (not shown) such as an I / O interface. Note that vehicle 1E may also be configured such that, instead of controller 450, an on-board device (not shown) mounted on vehicle 1E has the functions of controller 450, as in vehicles 1A and 1B.

[0257] The calculation unit 451 has, as functional components, an information receiving unit 452 and an information output unit 453. The information receiving unit 452 receives a relax mode signal that is output when the occupant presses the relax mode switch SW1 and a drive mode signal that is output when the occupant presses the drive mode switch SW2. When the information receiving unit 232 receives the relax mode signal or the drive mode signal, the information output unit 453 outputs control signals corresponding to the second seat 3 and the ottoman device 400.

[0258] The storage unit 454 stores various programs and various data executed by the calculation unit 451. For example, the storage unit 454 stores various data such as the state of the second seat 3 and the ottoman device 400 in the relaxation mode and the state of the second seat 3 and the ottoman device 400 in the drive mode, as well as a mode change program for changing to these modes.

[0259] Here, the relax mode refers to a mode in which the second seat main body 31 moves rearward, the seatback 31b is tilted, and the ottoman 410 is extended from the storage portion 420, allowing the occupant to sit in the second seat 3 with their body stretched out. The drive mode refers to a mode in which the seat cushion 31a and the seatback 31b are positioned in a preset initial position, and the ottoman 410 is stored in the storage portion 420, allowing the occupant to sit and enjoy driving. The drive mode can be set for each occupant.

[0260] Figures 33A to 33C are diagrams explaining the operation of the second seat 3 and ottoman device 400 when transitioning from drive mode to relax mode, where Figure 33A is a side view showing the state in drive mode, Figure 33B is a side view showing the state of transition from drive mode to relax mode, and Figure 33C is a side view showing the state in relax mode.

[0261] 33A, in drive mode, the second seat 3 is located in the initial position, the arc portion 411 of the ottoman 410 is stored in the storage portion 420 under the floor, and the floor portion 412 forms part of the floor surface 10a. In the initial position of the second seat 3 shown in FIG. 33A, the seat cushion 31a is not moved by the second slide device 32, and the seat back 31b is also in an upright position.

[0262] When an occupant seated in the second seat 3 presses the relaxation mode switch SW1 in this state, the seatback 31b of the second seat main body 31 starts to tilt, and the seat cushion 31a starts to move rearward by the second slide device 32, as shown in Figure 33B. Similarly, the ottoman 410 rotates and starts to move from the storage section 420.

[0263] At this time, ottoman 410 rotates so as to appear in front of second seat 3 (second seat 3 side). In Fig. 33B, ottoman 410 rotates and appears in the direction of arrow A. By rotating ottoman 410 in the direction of arrow A to appear, it is possible to prevent the legs of an occupant seated on second seat 3 from getting caught between the rotating ottoman 410 and floor surface 10a.

[0264] As shown in Figure 33C, in the relaxation mode, the seat back 21b tilts backward, the seat cushion 21a also moves backward, and the arc portion 411 of the ottoman 410 emerges from under the floor. The arc portion 411 that emerges from under the floor is raised from the floor surface 10a. Therefore, an occupant seated on the second seat 3 can position themselves on the second seat 3 with their body stretched out and their feet placed on the arc portion 411. In other words, they can adopt a relaxed posture.

[0265] Note that a change from the relaxation mode to the drive mode is initiated by the occupant pressing the drive mode switch SW2, and the above-described operations are performed in reverse. In this manner, in the vehicle 1E, the ottoman 410 is raised from the floor surface 10a, and the second seat 3 is changed to the relaxation mode.

[0266] The ottoman device 400 according to the embodiment can provide the following advantageous effects. (1) The ottoman device 400 includes an ottoman 410 that appears on the floor in front of the second seat 3 and on which the feet of a passenger seated on the second seat 3 can be placed, a storage section 420 that is provided under the floor in front of the second seat 3 and in which the ottoman 410 can be stored, a rotation support section 430 that supports the ottoman 410 so that it can move between the floor and the storage section 420, and a rotation drive section 440 that drives the ottoman 410 stored in the storage section 420 to appear on the floor (Figures 30 and 31).

[0267] This allows ottoman 410 to appear in a protruding state from floor surface 10a in front of second seat 3. Providing ottoman 410 so that it protrudes from floor surface 10a makes it easier to provide storage space for items in ottoman 410, and using ottoman 410 as a storage section allows ottoman 410 to be used in a variety of ways. In particular, when ottoman 410 is not in use, it is stored under the floor, and when stored, floor surface portion 412 forms floor surface 10a, so ottoman 410 is not noticeable when not in use, and storing ottoman 410 under the floor with items stored in it is expected to eliminate the risk of items being stolen.

[0268] (2) The above-described ottoman 410 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, and the pair of support parts 432, 432 rotatably support the ottoman 410 so that the rotation shaft 431, which extends along the axis L2 of the ottoman 410, extends along the floor surface 10a, and the rotation drive part 440 inverts the ottoman 410 about the rotation shaft 431 to cause it to emerge from the storage part 420 onto the floor (FIG. 31). In this way, the ottoman 410 can be made to emerge in a protruding state from the floor surface 10a simply by inverting (rotating) it about the rotation shaft 431 extending along the floor surface 10a. Furthermore, by forming the semi-cylindrical ottoman 410 to be hollow, the hollow part of the semi-cylindrical shape can be used as a storage part.

[0269] (3) The above-mentioned rotation shaft 431 extends along the width direction of the second seat 3 (the left-right direction of the vehicle 1E), and the rotation drive unit 440 rotates the rotating ottoman 410 so that it appears from in front of the second seat 3 (FIG. 33B). This prevents the legs of an occupant seated on the second seat 3 from getting caught between the ottoman 410 and the floor surface 10a when the ottoman 410 is rotated to appear.

[0270] (4) Storage section 413 is provided inside ottoman 410 (FIG. 31). This allows ottoman 410 to be used not only as a footrest but also as storage section 413, thereby diversifying the uses of ottoman 410.

[0271] (5) The ottoman 410 further has an opening / closing section 414 that seals the storage section 413 (FIG. 31). This prevents items stored in the storage section 413 from protruding from the storage section 413 and from getting caught between the storage section 413 and the floor 10a when the arc section 411 of the ottoman 410 is stored in the storage section 420.

[0272] (6) The ottoman 410 described above appears in conjunction with the tilting movement of the seat back 31b of the second seat 3, and is stored in conjunction with the standing movement of the seat back 31b. This allows the second seat 3 to smoothly transition from the drive mode to the relax mode.

[0273] The configurations of the ottoman device and the vehicle described with reference to FIGS. 30 to 33C can be summarized as follows. The ottoman device includes an ottoman that appears on the floor in front of the seat and on which the feet of a user seated on the seat can be placed, a storage section that is provided under the floor in front of the seat and in which the ottoman can be stored, a support section that supports the ottoman so that it can be moved between the floor and the storage section, and a drive section that drives the ottoman stored in the storage section to appear on the floor.

[0274] The above-mentioned ottoman is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, the support part rotatably supports the ottoman so that the rotation axis extending along the axis of the ottoman extends along the floor surface, and the drive part inverts the ottoman around the rotation axis to make it appear above the floor from the storage part.

[0275] A storage compartment is provided inside the ottoman.

[0276] The container further includes a lid for sealing the storage section.

[0277] In a vehicle equipped with the above-described ottoman device, the ottoman appears in conjunction with the tilting action of the seat and is stored in conjunction with the standing action.

[0278] The above-described ottoman device 400 can be modified into various forms. Figure 34 is a side view showing a modified example of the ottoman device 400. Note that, in the following, the same components as those in the above-described ottoman device 400 are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0279] 34, ottoman device 400A includes ottoman 410A, a storage section 420, a rotation support section (support section) 430, a rotation drive section (drive section) 440, and a controller 450. Ottoman 410A includes an arc section 411, a floor section 412, a storage section 413A, and an opening / closing section (lid section) 414. Storage section 413A is formed by the hollow section of ottoman 410 and has a partition section 417 therein. By providing partition section 417 in storage section 413A, the number of storage sections 413A in the hollow section of ottoman 410 can be increased.

[0280] In addition, the storage section 413A shown in Figure 34 is configured to have a partition section 417 extending in the vertical direction and two storage sections lined up in the front-to-back direction, but for example, it may be configured to have a partition section extending in the front-to-back direction and two storage sections lined up in the vertical direction, or these may be used to provide multiple storage sections.

[0281] In the above embodiment, the ottoman device 400 is provided under the floor in front of the second seat 3, but the ottoman device 400 may be provided, for example, under the floor in front of the front row seat 2F, under the floor in front of the third seat 4, or under the floor in front of each seat. The ottoman 410 may also be divided into an ottoman for the right seat and an ottoman for the left seat, and each may be configured to be independently drivable.

[0282] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. One or more of the above-described embodiment and modifications can be arbitrarily combined, and modifications can also be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0283] 1 vehicle, 2F front row seats, 2R rear row seats, 3 second seat, 4 third seat, 5 adjustable shelf, 5a first adjustable shelf, 5b second adjustable shelf, 15 ceiling (roof), 51 rotating shaft

Claims

1. In a vehicle equipped with front row seats, rear row seats and a roof, a movable shelf rotatably supported on the roof via a rotation shaft extending in the left-right direction; The vehicle is characterized in that the movable shelf is configured to be movable from a storage position in an approximately horizontal position stored in the roof to a use position in an approximately vertical position suspended from the roof and facing in the fore-and-aft direction.

2. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, The vehicle is characterized in that the movable shelf is disposed above the rear row seats in the storage position, and is disposed in front of the rear row seats and behind the front row seats in the use position.

3. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, The rear row seat has a seat back that can be folded forward to a substantially horizontal position, The vehicle is characterized in that the movable shelf in the use position is disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the seat back that is tilted forward to a substantially horizontal position.

4. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, a locking unit that locks the movable shelf at the storage position and the use position; The vehicle further comprises an unlocking unit that unlocks the movable shelf that has been locked by the locking unit.

5. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, The movable shelf includes a plurality of storage compartments, Each of the plurality of storage sections has an outlet provided facing rearward when in the use position, The vehicle is characterized in that the removal opening is provided with a movement restriction portion that restricts movement of stored items outside the storage section.

6. 6. The vehicle according to claim 5, A vehicle characterized in that each of the plurality of storage compartments has an opening / closing door on the front side when in the use position.

7. 6. The vehicle according to claim 5, A vehicle characterized in that each of the plurality of storage compartments has an illumination unit that illuminates the interior thereof.

8. 6. The vehicle according to claim 5, The movable shelf further includes a sealing plate capable of sealing the removal openings of the plurality of storage sections, The vehicle is characterized in that the sealing plate is configured to be able to abut against an upper surface of the seat back that is tilted forward to a substantially horizontal position in the use position.

9. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, The movable shelf further includes a damper provided on the rotation shaft, The vehicle, wherein the damper reduces the moving speed of the movable shelf when the movable shelf is positioned at the use position.

10. 5. The vehicle according to claim 4, The vehicle further comprises an unlocking restriction unit that restricts the unlocking of the locking unit by the lock release unit based on a seat arrangement of the rear row seats.

11. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, The vehicle is characterized in that, when in the use position, the movable shelf has a portion that overlaps with a pillar located between the front row seats and the rear row seats in a front view.

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