Holding device

Abstract

To provide a holding device capable of improving a use feeling.SOLUTION: The inclination angles of the two concave portion side walls and the side 412B with respect to the arc portion side 412C are different, and the first operating force and the second operating force for causing the pin side 412A to escape and move to the arc portion side 322B are equal, so that the use feeling when the user rotates the holding part 4 to change the orientation of the smartphone 5 can be improved. 412A. At this time, since the coil spring 323 biases the pin 412A in a direction inclined with respect to the radial direction of the arc portion 322B, the flexibility of the shape and arrangement of the coil spring 323 can be improved, and the coil spring 323 can be easily provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a retaining device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a mobile device holder for installing a mobile device such as a smartphone in a vehicle has been proposed as a holding device for holding an object to be held (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The conventional mobile device holder described in Patent Document 1 includes an attachment part that is attached to the dashboard, an arm part that extends from the attachment part, and a holding part that is provided at the tip of the arm part and holds the mobile device, and the orientation of the mobile device can be changed by rotating the holding part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-256240 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the portable device holder described in Patent Document 1, although the holding part rotates so that the portable device can be oriented horizontally or vertically, there is no mechanism for maintaining these orientations, and the portable device may rotate unintentionally due to external force. Therefore, a configuration that maintains the orientation of the holding part by providing a cam mechanism to the relatively rotating member can be considered.

[0005] In this case, if the biasing means provided in the cam mechanism applies a biasing force to the pin in the radial direction of the rotation of the holding part, it would be easy to set the click feeling (the response felt by the user when operating) when changing the portable device from the first orientation to the second orientation to be equal to the click feeling when changing from the second orientation to the first orientation. However, it has been difficult to apply a biasing force in such a direction.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a holding device that can improve the feeling of use, for example. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the holding device of the present invention described in claim 1 comprises a holding part that holds an object to be held, and a base that supports the holding part so that it can rotate freely around a predetermined rotation axis, one of the holding part and the base is provided with a guide groove having an arc portion, and the other is provided with a pin that is guided by the guide groove and a biasing means that biases the pin at an inclination relative to the radial direction of the arc portion, and is characterized in that the guide groove has a plurality of recesses that are inclined relative to the circumferential direction of the arc portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an object to be held is held by the holding device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the holding device. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are perspective views showing the operation of the holding device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a holding portion and a base portion of the holding device. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a part of the holding portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the holding portion is rotated. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a main part of the holding portion. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view showing other essential parts of the holding portion. [Figure 11] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing a method for setting a recess in the holding portion. [Figure 12] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing a method for setting a recess in the holding portion. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the shape of a pin of a holding device according to a modified example. [Figure 14] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing a method for setting the shape of the pin. [Figure 15] 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing a method for setting the shape of the pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. A holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a holding section that holds an object to be held, and a base that supports the holding section so that it can rotate freely around a predetermined rotation axis. One of the holding section and the base is provided with a guide groove having an arcuate portion, and the other is provided with a pin that is guided by the guide groove and a biasing means that biases the pin at an angle relative to the radial direction of the arcuate portion. The guide groove has multiple recesses that are inclined relative to the circumferential direction of the arcuate portion, and the first operating force and the second operating force for releasing the pin from the two recesses and moving it toward the arcuate portion are equal.

[0010] By making the first operating force and the second operating force for releasing the pin from each of the two recesses equal, the user experience when rotating the holding portion to change the orientation of the held object can be improved. In this case, by having the biasing means bias the pin in a direction inclined relative to the radial direction of the arc portion, the degree of freedom in the shape and arrangement of the biasing means can be improved, and the biasing means can be easily provided. It is sufficient that the operating forces for releasing the pin from at least two of the multiple recesses are equal.

[0011] Here, the concept of "operation force" includes not only instantaneous force but also the cumulative force required during the rotation operation. That is, when the pin is released from each of the two recesses, the torques required at the start of the rotation operation may be equivalent, or the torques required at the moment the pin releases from the recess and moves to the arc portion may be equivalent, or the cumulative values ​​(angle integrals) of the torques required from the start of the rotation operation to the moment the pin releases from the recess and moves to the arc portion may be equivalent. That is, when the pin is released from each of the two recesses, it is sufficient that at least one of the various physical quantities, such as force or energy, required from the start of the rotation operation until the pin moves to the arc portion is equivalent (to the same extent).

[0012] It is preferable that the inclination angles of the two recesses relative to the circumferential direction are different, and that the first and second contact portions where the pin contacts the two recesses have the same shape. By setting the inclination angles of the two recesses according to the biasing direction of the biasing means, it is possible to equalize the torque required when the pin escapes from the recess and moves to the arc portion.

[0013] The inclination angles of the two recesses relative to the circumferential direction may be equal, and the first and second contact portions where the pin contacts the two recesses may have different shapes. By setting the shapes of the first and second contact portions according to the biasing direction of the biasing means, it is possible to equalize the torques required at the start of the rotation operation and the torques required at the moment the pin escapes from the recess and moves to the arc portion.

[0014] The recesses preferably extend radially outward, so that a coil spring or the like that is compressively deformed and serves as a spring member that constitutes the biasing means can be disposed on the central side of the arcuate portion.

[0015] It is preferable that the holding portion is provided with a guide groove, and the base portion is provided with a pin and a biasing means, thereby simplifying the structure of the holding portion and making it easier to hold the object to be held.

[0016] It is preferable that the central angle of the arc portion between the two recesses is 90°, the object held by the holder has a rectangular screen, and the pin is positioned within the recess when the screen is oriented vertically or horizontally, thereby enabling the object with a rectangular screen to be stably held in either a vertical or horizontal position.

[0017] The holding unit may hold a portable device as the held object, or the holding device may be provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The portable device referred to here is an electronic device carried by a user, and examples thereof include a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a game console. [Example]

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The holding device of this embodiment is an in-vehicle device that is mounted on an instrument panel in the driver's seat of a vehicle. The holding device of this embodiment holds a smartphone, which is an example of a portable device, as a held object to be held.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the holding device 1 of this embodiment includes a holding mechanism 10 for a smartphone 5 and a rectangular box-shaped device main body 20 mounted on an instrument panel.

[0020] The holding mechanism 10 is held in a manner that allows it to freely protrude and retract in the device body 20. The holding mechanism 10 also includes a sliding portion 11 that is supported in a manner that allows it to slide protrude and retract in the device body 20, and a tilting portion 12 that is pivotally supported by the sliding portion 11 and holds the smartphone 5. When the holding mechanism 10 holds the smartphone 5, the sliding portion 11 is pulled out from the device body 20 in a protruding direction D111 in a protruding and retracting direction D11 shown in FIG. 3, and the tilting portion 12 is set upright in an upright direction D121 in a rotation direction D12 shown in FIG. 2. The smartphone 5 is then held by the upright tilting portion 12.

[0021] The device main body 20 includes an upper chassis 21 that forms the top wall and a pair of side walls of the rectangular box-shaped device main body 20, and a lower chassis 22 that forms the bottom wall. The slide portion 11 of the holding mechanism 10 described above is supported on the top wall of the upper chassis 21 so as to be able to freely protrude and retract. A rectangular back substrate 221 that forms the back wall of the device main body 20 is erected on one end edge of the back side of the rectangular box-shaped device main body 20. The back substrate 221 is equipped with various connectors for connecting to external devices, an antenna for short-range communication with the smartphone 5 in accordance with, for example, the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, and the like. An inner substrate 222 that is electrically connected to the back substrate 221 is attached to the inner surface of the lower chassis 22.

[0022] The device main body 20 also includes a detachable front panel 23 in the shape of a rectangular plate that forms the front wall of the device main body 20 and serves as a user interface, and a panel 24 that detachably and rotatably holds the front panel 23. The panel 24 is fixed to the upper chassis 21 and the lower chassis 22. The panel 24 is formed in a shape that has a notch so as not to interfere with the holding mechanism 10 supported by the upper chassis 21. A pair of shaft protrusions 231 that form a rotation axis are provided on both longitudinal ends of the front panel 23, and the pair of shaft protrusions 231 are detachably and rotatably held by a pair of holding arms 241 on the panel 24.

[0023] In the holding device 1 of this embodiment, the holding mechanism 10 supported by the upper chassis 21 and the panel unit 24 are each electrically connected to the inner surface substrate 222 of the lower chassis 22 by a cable 223. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , by performing a touch operation on the held smartphone 5 or a button operation on the front panel unit 23, it is possible to display map information on the screen of the smartphone 5 or play music from an in-car audio device. In addition, the held smartphone 5 can be charged via the cable 223 connecting the holding mechanism 10 and the inner surface substrate 222 and a charging cable extending from the smartphone 5 and connected to the holding mechanism 10.

[0024] The smartphone 5 is held in the holding device 1 described above in the following procedure.

[0025] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a procedure for holding a smartphone in the holding device shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. Note that, in Fig. 4, for ease of viewing, only the upper chassis 21 of the device main body 20 is shown. The procedure described below is performed manually by the user.

[0026] First, in steps S11 and S12, the holding mechanism 10 is pulled out in the protruding direction D111 from the device main body 20. At this time, in this embodiment, the front panel unit 23 is rotated around the axial protrusion 231 shown in FIG. 3 as the rotation center and tilted forward, or is removed from the panel unit 24 so as not to interfere with the movement of the holding mechanism 10.

[0027] In the following step S13, in the holding mechanism 10, the tilt portion 12 is raised in the rising direction D121 relative to the sliding portion 11. At this time, the tilt portion 12 includes a base portion 3 pivotally supported on the sliding portion 11 and a holding portion 4 rotatably supported by the base portion 3, and the holding portion 4 is provided with a chucking portion 46 having a total of three holding claws 421, 431. In this embodiment, when the tilt portion 12 is raised in step S13, the chucking portion 46 is in a position where one holding claw 421 is located on the upper side and two holding claws 431 are located on the lower side. Furthermore, in the chucking portion 46, the upper holding claw 421 is spring-biased toward the two lower holding claws 431, as will be described later.

[0028] In step S14, the upper holding claw 421 of the chucking portion 46 is pulled up in the pulling-up direction D131 against the spring force.

[0029] Then, in step S15, the smartphone 5 is placed sideways with its longitudinal direction facing horizontally between the upper holding claw 421 that has been pulled up as described above and the lower holding claw 431. When the user releases the upper holding claw 421, the upper holding claw 421 moves in the downward direction D132 due to the spring force described above. As a result, the smartphone 5 is clamped between the upper holding claw 421 and the lower holding claw 431.

[0030] In this embodiment, the holding unit 4 having the chucking unit 46 is attached to the tilt unit 12 so as to be rotatable in a rotation direction D14 about a rotation axis O1 that is perpendicular to the surface of the screen of the smartphone 5. As described above, in step S15, the smartphone 5 is held in a landscape orientation. If the user wishes to view the display screen of the smartphone 5 in a portrait orientation with its longitudinal direction facing vertically, the smartphone 5 can be turned into a portrait orientation in the next step S16. That is, in step S16, the chucking unit 46 is turned 90° clockwise in the figure about the rotation axis O1 together with the smartphone 5. This rotation turns the smartphone 5 into a portrait orientation. Furthermore, if the user subsequently wishes to view the display screen of the smartphone 5 in a landscape orientation, the chucking unit 46 is turned back 90° counterclockwise in the figure, turning the smartphone 5 into a landscape orientation.

[0031] In this embodiment, the user returns the front panel unit 23 at any timing after pulling out the holding mechanism 10. As a result, the appearance after holding the smartphone 5 becomes, for example, the appearance shown in Fig. 2. When the smartphone 5 is removed and the holding mechanism 10 is stored in the device body 20, the storing of the holding mechanism 10 is performed in the reverse order to the order shown in Fig. 4.

[0032] The detailed structures and operations of the base 3 and the holder 4 are described below. Here, the front-to-rear direction (direction of travel) of the vehicle is defined as the X direction, the width direction of the vehicle as the Y direction, and the up-down direction as the Z direction. In steps S13 to S16 above, the holder 1 holds the smartphone 5 facing rearward in the X direction (i.e., with the screen aligned with the YZ plane). Unless otherwise specified below, it is assumed that the tilt unit 12 is in the state of step S13 above.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 5, the base 3 has a frame 31, a front surface 32 and a rear surface 33 that sandwich the frame 31 in the X direction, and an upper edge 34. The "front surface" and "rear surface" are defined relative to the user. A pivot shaft 321 protrudes from the front surface of the front surface 32, and a guided member 322 and a coil spring 323 are provided on the rear surface (see Fig. 6). The pivot shaft 321 constitutes a pivot axis O1.

[0034] The guided member 322 has a base end 322A journaled on the back side of the front surface 32, and a pin 322B that penetrates a pin opening 324 of the front surface 32 from the back side to the front side, and is formed in a rod shape that extends in one direction within the YZ plane. The coil spring 323 generates a biasing force that moves both ends away from each other, with one end 323A held by a spring holding portion 325 of the front surface 32 as a fixed end, and the other end 323B, located below the base end 322A, connected to the pin 322B. The other end 323B may be fixed to the pin 322B and move integrally therewith, or may simply abut against the pin 322B from above to apply force.

[0035] The spring center O2 of the coil spring 323 is disposed between the base end 322A and the pin 322B in the Y direction and above the guided member 322 in the Z direction. The other end 323B of the coil spring 323 biases the pin 322B of the guided member 322 along an arc approximately centered on the spring center O2 and with a force in a direction away from the one end 323A. The pin opening 324 is shaped along an arc centered on the base end 322A, and the pin 322B to which the biasing force is applied attempts to move along the arc-shaped pin opening 324. The pin 322B is located below the pivot shaft 321 and is biased radially outward relative to the pivot axis O1. The coil spring 323 is disposed toward the center of a circular arc portion 412A, which will be described later.

[0036] At this time, the biasing force of coil spring 323 changes depending on the compression amount (the degree of proximity between both ends 323A, 323B), and therefore the biasing force acting on pin 322B changes depending on the position of pin 322B in guide groove 412, which will be described later.

[0037] The holding portion 4 is configured by stacking a holding base 41, a movable chucking portion 42, and a fixed chucking portion 43 in this order from the rear side.

[0038] The holding base 41 is a plate-like member extending along the YZ plane, and is formed with a through-hole-shaped bearing portion 411 and a guide groove 412. The rotation shaft portion 321 of the base 3 is inserted into the bearing portion 411. The holding base 41 is sandwiched between the disk member 44 and the front surface portion 32 from the Y direction, and the fixing member 45 is inserted into the disk member 44 and connected to the rotation shaft portion 321, so that the holding base 41 is rotatably supported on the base 3.

[0039] 7, guide groove 412 has an arc portion 412A centered on bearing portion 411, and two recesses 412B and 412C continuous with both ends of arc portion 412A. The central angle of arc portion 412A is approximately 90°. Recesses 412B and 412C extend radially outward (away from bearing portion 411) from arc portion 412A as a base end, and have a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the circumferential direction of arc portion 412A. The inclination angles of the two recesses 412B and 412C are different from each other, and they have the same depth.

[0040] The fixed chuck portion 43 is fixed to the holding base 41 so as not to move. On the other hand, the movable chuck portion 42 is housed between the holding base 41 and the fixed chuck portion 43 together with a biasing means and is movable in the Z direction. This biasing means is configured to bias the movable chuck portion 42 downward. The two holding claws 431 are provided on the lower edge of the fixed chuck portion 43, and one holding claw 421 is provided on the upper edge of the movable chuck portion 42. The biasing force causes the holding claws 421, 431 to approach each other, thereby clamping the smartphone 5. The movable chuck portion 42 and the fixed chuck portion 43 constitute a chucking portion 46.

[0041] The detailed shape of the guide groove 412 and the operation of each part when the holding part 4 rotates will be described below.

[0042] Pin 322B is biased by coil spring 323, which functions as a biasing means. Coil spring 323 biases pin 322B radially outward relative to rotation shaft portion 321. Here, the imaginary trajectory of pin 322B (an arc centered on base end portion 322A) is shown by a dashed-dotted line in FIGS. 6 to 10, and the trajectory of rotation of holding portion 4 (an arc centered on rotation axis O1) is shown by a dashed-two-dotted line. These trajectories are not perpendicular to each other, and the biasing direction of coil spring 323 is inclined relative to the radial direction of arc portion 412A. That is, coil spring 323 is configured to bias pin 322B at an angle relative to the radial direction.

[0043] Because coil spring 323 biases pin 322B as described above, when holding part 4 rotates, pin 322B is guided while being pressed against the outside of guide groove 412. When pin 322B reaches recesses 412B and 412C, the biasing force moves it radially outward, and it fits into recesses 412B and 412C.

[0044] Specifically, when the holding claws 421, 431 of the chucking part 46 face each other in the Z direction (the state of steps S13 to S15 above), the arc portion 412A of the guide groove 412 is located below the bearing part 411, and the pin 322B of the guided member 322 is located in one of the recesses 412B, as shown in Fig. 7. On the other hand, when the holding claws 421, 431 of the chucking part 46 face each other in the Y direction (the state of step S16 above), the arc portion 412A is located on one side in the Y direction (the left side in the figure) with respect to the bearing part 411, and the pin 322B of the guided member 322 is located in the other of the recesses 412C, as shown in Fig. 8.

[0045] When an attempt is made to rotate the holding part 4 with the pin 322B fitted in the recesses 412B and 412C in this manner, outer portions 412D (see FIG. 9) of the inner edges of the recesses 412B and 412C come into contact with the first abutment portion 322F of the pin 322B and apply force, and outer portions 412E (see FIG. 10) come into contact with the second abutment portion 322G of the pin 322B and apply force. The outer portions 412D and 412E are portions that are continuous with the radially outer edge of the arc part 412A.

[0046] Recesses 412B and 412C extend to form an obtuse angle with the outer edge of arc portion 412A, and outer portions 412D and 412E apply a force to move pin 322B radially inward. As pin 322B moves, coil spring 323 is compressed, and the torque required to rotate holding portion 4 gradually increases. When pin 322B moves to the innermost radial position in recesses 412B and 412C, it becomes able to move toward arc portion 412A, i.e., pin 322B escapes from recesses 412B and 412C.

[0047] At this time, the inclination angles of the two recesses 412B, 412C are set by a method described below, so that when pin 322B is released from each recess, the torque required at the start of rotation of holding portion 4 is equal, and the torque required at the moment pin 322B releases and moves to arc portion 412A is equal. Furthermore, the two recesses 412B, 412C have the same depth, so that the integrated value (angle integral) of the torque required from the start of rotation to the moment pin 322B releases and moves to arc portion 412A is equal. An example of a method for setting such guide groove 412 is described below.

[0048] First, the extension direction (inclination angle of the arc portion 412A relative to the circumferential direction) and depth of one of the recesses 412B are arbitrarily set. As shown in FIG. 11 , the position of the recess 412B when the pin 322B is fitted into the recess 412B is depicted as a first recess position L11, and the position of the pin 322B is depicted as a first pin position L21. The position of the recess 412B when the holder 4 is rotated from this state by a predetermined small angle Δθ is depicted as a second recess position L12. Furthermore, the pin 322B is moved by the rotated recess 412B, and the position of this pin 322B is depicted as a second pin position L22. Note that the arc around the rotation axis O1 (the rotation path of the holder 4) is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the arc around the base end 322A (the rotation path of the pin 322B) is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

[0049] The positions of the recess 412B and the pin 322B when the holder 4 is rotated by a small angle Δθ are depicted in the same manner as above. In the illustrated example, the first to fifth recess positions L11 to L15 are depicted, and the first to fifth pin positions L21 to L25 are depicted.

[0050] The first to fifth pin positions L21 to L25 described above are duplicated as shown in Figure 12 to depict outer portions 412E that come into contact with the pins 322B. At this time, outer portions 412E are smoothly connected to arc portions 412A that rotate by a small angle Δθ. As a result, sixth to tenth recess positions L31 to L35, which are positions of the other recess 412C corresponding to the first to fifth pin positions L21 to L25, are depicted, and the shape of the other recess 412C is determined.

[0051] By determining the shapes of recesses 412B and 412C as described above, the distance that recess 412B moves pin 322B when holder 4 is rotated in one direction by a small angle Δθ is approximately equal to the distance that recess 412C moves pin 322B when holder 4 is rotated in the other direction. Here, the biasing force that coil spring 323 applies to pin 322B is determined by the distance that pin 322B moves. Therefore, the relationship between the rotation angle and the torque required for rotation (graph shape with rotation angle on the horizontal axis and torque on the vertical axis) is approximately equal when holder 4 is rotated to remove pin 322B from one recess 412B and when holder 4 is rotated to remove pin 322B from the other recess 412C. As a result, the first operating force required to remove pin 322B from one recess 412B is equivalent to the second operating force required to remove pin 322B from the other recess 412C.

[0052] Such an operating force is a response that the user feels at the beginning of an operation to change the orientation of the smartphone 5, and the operating force increases as the inclination angle of the arc portion 412A of the recesses 412B and 412C relative to the circumferential direction increases and as the depth increases. The shapes of the recesses 412B and 412C may be set so that this operating force is large enough to prevent the smartphone from rotating unintentionally and to allow the user to operate the smartphone while feeling an appropriate response.

[0053] With the above configuration, the two recesses 412B, 412C have different inclination angles relative to the arc portion 412A, and the first operating force and the second operating force for releasing the pin 322B are equivalent, improving the usability when the user rotates the holding portion 4 to change the orientation of the smartphone 5. At this time, the coil spring 323 biases the pin 322B in a direction inclined relative to the radial direction of the arc portion 412A, thereby improving the degree of freedom in the shape and arrangement of the coil spring 323 and making it easier to provide the coil spring 323.

[0054] Furthermore, recesses 412B and 412C extend radially outward, so that coil spring 323, which is compressively deformed as a spring member constituting coil spring 323, can be disposed on the center side of the arc portion.

[0055] Furthermore, by providing the guide groove 412 in the holder 4 and providing the guided member 322 and the coil spring 323 in the base 3, the configuration of the holder 4 can be simplified, making it easier to hold the smartphone 5.

[0056] In addition, the two recesses 412B, 412C are arranged at both ends of the arc portion 412A having a central angle of 90°, and when the rectangular screen of the smartphone 5 is oriented vertically or horizontally, the pin 322B of the guided member 322 is positioned within the recesses 412B, 412C, thereby enabling the smartphone 5 having a rectangular screen to be stably held in a vertical or horizontal orientation.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, and the following modifications are also included in the present invention.

[0058] For example, in the above embodiment, the inclination angles of the two recesses 412B, 412C relative to the circumferential direction of the arc portion 412A are different, so that the first operating force and the second operating force for the pin 322B to escape from each of the two recesses 412B, 412C are equal. However, the inclination angles of the two recesses may be made approximately equal and the first and second abutment portions of the pin may have different shapes, so that the first operating force and the second operating force are equal.

[0059] That is, the guided member may have a pin 322C shaped as shown in FIG. 13. That is, the pin 322C has two protrusions 322D and 322E protruding from the side surface of a cylinder (shown by a two-dot chain line), and these protrusions 322D and 322E function as a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion that abut against the recesses, respectively. One protrusion 322D has a portion along a tangent to the arc in a plan view, and this portion abuts against the outer portion of one of the recesses. The other protrusion 322E protrudes toward the outer portion of the other recess, and its tip abuts against the outer portion. That is, the protrusions 322D and 322E have mutually different shapes.

[0060] Therefore, when pin 322C escapes from one of the recesses, the contact surface of one of the protrusions 322D is lifted by the outer portion, and as the holder 4 rotates, the tip of the protrusion 322D comes into contact with the outer portion, as shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 14 depicts positions L41 to L44 of one of the recesses when the holder rotates by the small angle Δθ, and also depicts corresponding positions L51 to L54 of pin 322C.

[0061] On the other hand, when pin 322C escapes from the other recess, the other protrusion 322E is pushed by the outer portion, as shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 15 illustrates positions L61 to L64 of one of the recesses when the holder 4 is rotated by a small angle Δθ, and also illustrates corresponding positions L71 to L74 of pin 322C. At this time, positions L51 to L54 of pin 322C and positions L71 to L74 are approximately aligned, and regardless of which recess pin 322C escapes from (in which direction the holder 4 is rotated), the amount of movement of pin 322C relative to the rotation angle of the holder 4 is approximately the same, and the operating force for escape is the same.

[0062] The shape of such pin 322C may be set by the same procedure as in the above embodiment. That is, the shape of one protrusion 322D may be arbitrarily set, a trajectory of pin 322C when it escapes from one recess by rotating holding part 4 in one direction may be described, and the shape of the other protrusion 322E may be set so that pin 322C follows a similar trajectory when it escapes from the other recess by rotating in the other direction.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when pin 322B escapes from each of recesses 412B and 412C, the relationship between the rotation angle and the torque required for rotation is equivalent (i.e., the torques required at the start of rotation of holding portion 4 are equivalent, the torques required at the moment pin 322B escapes and moves to arc portion 412A are equivalent, and the integrated values ​​of the torques required from the start of rotation to the moment pin 322B escapes and moves to arc portion 412A are equivalent), but this configuration is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the first operating force and the second operating force, which are the response the user feels during the rotation operation, are equivalent. "Operation force" is a concept that includes not only instantaneous force but also the integrated force required during the rotation operation, and it is sufficient that at least one of the instantaneous force and the integrated force is equivalent, so that the response felt by the user is equivalent.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the recesses 412B and 412C extend radially outward, and the helical spring 323 that can be compressed is disposed on the center side of the arc-shaped portion 412A to bias the pin 322B radially outward. However, this configuration is not limited to this. That is, the helical spring that can be opened and deformed may be disposed on the outside of the arc-shaped portion 412A to bias the pin 322B of the guided member 322 radially outward. Alternatively, recesses extending radially inward may be formed, and the helical spring 323 that can be compressed and deformed may be disposed on the outside of the arc-shaped portion 412A, or the helical spring that can be opened and deformed may be disposed on the center side of the arc-shaped portion 412A. Furthermore, the biasing means may be configured to bias the pin at an angle relative to the radial direction of the arc-shaped portion, and may include a spring of a shape other than a helical spring.

[0065] In addition, in the above embodiment, the guide groove 412 is provided in the holding portion 4, and the guided member 322 and the coil spring 323 are provided in the base portion 3, but it is also possible to provide a pin and a biasing means in the holding portion, and a guide groove in the base portion. With this configuration, as in the above embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the cam mechanism while improving the usability.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the guide groove 412 is configured with an arc portion 412A having a central angle of 90° and two recesses 412B and 412C disposed at both ends of the arc portion. However, the guide groove may have an arc portion having an appropriate central angle and two or more recesses disposed at appropriate positions. That is, the smartphone 5 held in the holder may be rotatable by 90° or more, may be stably held in an oblique orientation, or may be flipped upside down. Furthermore, the recesses do not have to be disposed at the ends of the arc portion.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the holding device 1 holds a smartphone, but the object to be held may be, for example, a playback device that does not have a communication function and simply plays back videos stored on a recording medium, or it may be an object without a screen. Furthermore, the object to be held is not limited to a rectangular shape, but may be a square or other polygonal plate shape, as long as it has an appropriate shape. Furthermore, if the object to be held is a mobile device, the mobile device is not limited to a smartphone as in this embodiment, but may also be, for example, a tablet terminal, a game console, etc.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the base 3 supports the holder 4 rotatably around the rotation axis O1 that is perpendicular to the surface of the screen of the smartphone 5, but the base only needs to support the holder rotatably so that the orientation of the holder holding the object to be held can be changed as appropriate. For example, the rotation axis when the base supports the holder may be along the vertical direction or along the horizontal direction as seen from the user.

[0069] In addition, in the above embodiment, the holding device is provided on the instrument panel of a vehicle, but the holding device may also be provided on a moving body other than a vehicle, such as a ship or an aircraft, or on a wall or furniture inside a building.

[0070] Although the best configurations and methods for carrying out the present invention have been disclosed above, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described primarily with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described examples in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. Therefore, the above-disclosed descriptions limiting the shape, material, etc. are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, descriptions using names of components that are free from some or all of the limitations on shape, material, etc. are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1 Holding device 3 base 322B pin 323 Coil spring 4 Holding part 412 Guide groove 412A Arc section 412B Recess 412C Recess 5 Smartphone (held object) O1 Rotation axis 322D, 322F First contact part 322E, 322G second contact part

Claims

[Claim 1] a holding part that holds an object to be held; a base portion that supports the holding portion so that the holding portion can rotate freely around a predetermined rotation axis, a guide groove having an arcuate portion is provided in one of the holding portion and the base portion, and a pin guided by the guide groove and a biasing means for biasing the pin at an angle relative to a radial direction of the arcuate portion are provided in the other of the holding portion and the base portion; The holding device is characterized in that the guide groove has a plurality of recesses inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the arc portion.

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