Vehicle table device

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle table device that allows for the smooth operation of portable electronic devices such as personal computers within the vehicle cabin. [Solution] The table device 1 is positioned in a bridge-like manner between a roughly horizontally elongated steering wheel 3 and an instrument panel 2 to which the steering wheel 3 is attached. When not in use, the table device 1 is housed in the instrument panel 2, and when in use, it is moved in the direction from the instrument panel 2 toward the steering wheel 3 and held in place by the instrument panel 2 and the steering wheel 3 so that it cannot move downward.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle table device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to handle the case where one wants to perform telework by operating an electronic device such as a personal computer while riding in a vehicle such as an automobile, a device that enables operation of an electronic device inside the vehicle has been proposed. In the steering wheel described in Patent Document 1, operating means for operating an in-vehicle electronic device such as a personal computer is disposed so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction. And the operating means can be switched between a first set position that enables rotation operation of the steering and a second set position that enables operation of the electronic device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the operating means described in the above Patent Document 1, telework using an in-vehicle electronic device is possible, but operation of an electronic device such as a portable personal computer cannot be performed. Therefore, in response to the need to perform telework using an electronic device such as a portable personal computer in the vehicle interior, a vehicle table device on which an electronic device can be placed and operated has been demanded.

[0005] In view of such demands, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle table device on which an electronic device such as a portable personal computer in the vehicle interior can be placed and smoothly operated.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a vehicle table device that is arranged in a bridge-like manner between a substantially horizontally elongated steering wheel and an instrument panel to which the steering wheel is attached, wherein the vehicle table device is housed in the instrument panel when not in use, and when in use it is moved in a direction toward the steering wheel from the instrument panel and is held by the instrument panel and the steering wheel so that it cannot move downward.

[0007] According to the first invention, a vehicle table device can be positioned between the instrument panel and the steering wheel while seated in the driver's seat of a vehicle, and an electronic device such as a personal computer can be placed on it and used for teleworking. Furthermore, since the vehicle table device is stored in the instrument panel when not in use, it has a neat appearance.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, the vehicle table device is substantially plate-shaped and is arranged inside the instrument panel so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0009] According to the second invention, the effects and advantages of the first invention can be achieved with a simple mechanism that involves pulling out a roughly plate-shaped vehicle table device from the instrument panel and placing its tip on top of the steering wheel.

[0010] The third invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second invention described above, a recess is provided on the side of the steering handle of the vehicle table device for gripping with the fingers when sliding it.

[0011] According to the third invention, when sliding the vehicle table device, one can simply place their fingers in the recess and pull it out, making the pulling operation easy.

[0012] The fourth invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, the vehicle table device is substantially plate-shaped and is mounted on the upper part of the instrument panel so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around a rotation axis that extends in the vehicle width direction and is disposed on the side of the steering wheel.

[0013] According to the fourth invention, the effects and advantages of the first invention can be achieved with a simple mechanism in which a roughly plate-shaped vehicle table device is rotated vertically around a rotation axis and the tip is placed on top of the steering wheel.

[0014] The fifth invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, the vehicle table device is arranged inside the instrument panel so that the planar body can be pulled out, with the planar body wrapped around a roll pipe whose central axis extends in the vehicle width direction and is biased to rotate in the winding direction, and the planar body is pulled out in the direction toward the steering handle and the tip end is locked and fixed to the upper part of the steering handle.

[0015] According to the fifth invention, the effects and advantages of the first invention can be achieved with a simple mechanism in which the planar body is wrapped around a roll pipe and positioned inside the instrument panel so that it can be pulled out, and the planar body is pulled out in the direction toward the steering wheel and its tip is locked to the top of the steering wheel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing the vehicle table device of the first embodiment of the present invention housed within the instrument panel. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing the vehicle table device of the above embodiment pulled out from the instrument panel. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing the vehicle table device of the above embodiment positioned across the instrument panel and the steering wheel. [Figure 4]It is a side view showing a state in which the vehicle table device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is housed in the upper part of the instrument panel. [Figure 5] It is a side view showing a state in which the vehicle table device of the above embodiment is arranged in a bridging manner between the instrument panel and the steering wheel. [Figure 6] It is a side view showing a state in which the vehicle table device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is housed in the instrument panel. [Figure 7] It is a side view showing a state in which the vehicle table device of the above embodiment is arranged in a bridging manner between the instrument panel and the steering wheel.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Based on FIGS. 1 to 3, the table device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the description regarding directions shall be made based on the up-down, front-back directions shown in each figure. Here, the up-down, front-back directions are defined based on the automobile in which the table device 1 is disposed, and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is the vehicle width direction. Here, the table device 1 corresponds to the "vehicle table device" in the claims.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the table device 1 is disposed inside the instrument panel 2 and is pullable obliquely rearward. A steering wheel 3 is disposed behind the instrument panel 2.

[0019] The table device 1 has a rectangular plate shape with a slightly longer dimension in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) than in the front-back direction, and has an upper surface portion 11, a lower surface portion 12, and a pair of left and right side surface portions 13. A pair of left and right columnar pins 14 extending outward in the left-right direction are disposed on the rear end side of the pair of left and right side surface portions 13. A recess 15 for hooking a fingertip and pulling out is formed on the front end side of the upper surface portion 11.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, inside the upper part of the instrument panel 2, a substantially U-shaped opening 21 with a rearward-opening cross-section is formed and extends in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction). The opening 21 has an upper wall surface portion 22 and a lower wall surface portion 23 that face each other and extend obliquely upward. The table device 1 is inserted into the opening 21 in a state where it can slide obliquely upward. Slide rails (not shown) are provided between the upper wall surface portion 22 and the upper surface portion 11 and between the lower wall surface portion 23 and the lower surface portion 12. As a result, the table device 1 can smoothly slide in the opening 21 of the instrument panel 2 toward the rear upper or front lower direction. The slide rails may be disposed between a pair of left and right side wall surface portions that connect the left and right end portions of the upper wall surface portion 22 and the left and right end portions of the lower wall surface portion 23 in the opening 21 and a pair of left and right side surface portions 13 of the table device 1. In the state where the table device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is in the foremost position (storage state), the rear end portion of the table device 1 protrudes slightly rearward from the opening 21 so that the operator can place the fingertips of the hand on the recess 15.

[0021] A stopper 24 is provided on the rear surface portion below the opening 21 in the instrument panel 2. The stopper 24 has a rear surface bracket 25 fixed to the rear surface portion of the instrument panel 2, a rear surface rotation shaft 26 extending in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) with respect to the rear surface bracket 25, and a semi-disk 27 rotatably supported about the rear surface rotation shaft 26 as a central axis. The semi-disk 27 is rotationally biased counterclockwise about the rear surface rotation shaft 26 in Fig. 1, and in the state where the table device 1 is in the foremost position (storage state), the upper end portion of the semi-disk 27 abuts against the rear end portion of the table device 1 to press the table device 1 so that it does not jump out of the opening of the vehicle due to the inertial force caused by the longitudinal movement of the vehicle. A pair of left and right arc-shaped locking members 28 are attached to a slightly front side of the rear end portion of the opening 21 in the instrument panel 2. When the table device 1 is pulled out obliquely upward, the locking member 28 locks to the columnar pin 14 to stop the movement obliquely upward and also functions to make the table device 1 rotatable clockwise in Fig. 1 about the pin 14.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the steering wheel 3 comprises a steering column 31 that covers a steering shaft (not shown) which serves as the steering axis, and a steering wheel 32 connected to the steering shaft. The steering wheel 32 is provided with an operating part 33 that is grasped by the driver and rotated. The operating part 33 has a horizontally elongated shape when viewed from the front-to-back direction when the tires are facing straight ahead and not being steered. In other words, when the tires are facing straight ahead and not being steered, the radial dimension of the operating part 33 on the steering shaft is set so that the vertical dimension is smaller than the horizontal dimension (vehicle width direction).

[0023] The operation of the table device 1 will be explained based on Figures 1 to 3. In the stored state of the table device 1 shown in Figure 1, the seated person hooks the fingers of their hand H into the recess 15 and pulls out the table device 1 in a rear-upward direction. Then, as shown in Figure 2, the table device 1 moves in a rear-upward direction, with the lower surface portion 12 sliding against the upper end of the semicircular disc 27, rotating the semicircular disc 27 clockwise around the rear rotation axis 26 against the rotation biasing force of the semicircular disc 27 in the stopper 24. Then, the pair of left and right cylindrical pins 14 come into contact with the pair of left and right locking members 28 and stop the movement. In this state, as shown in Figure 3, the table device 1 is rotated clockwise in Figure 3 around the pair of left and right cylindrical pins 14 so that the rear end of the lower surface portion 12 comes into contact with the steering handle 3 and is held in a state where downward movement is impossible. The personal computer P can be placed on the upper surface portion 11 of the table device 1, which is in a bridge state between the instrument panel 2 and the steering handle 3, and work can be performed.

[0024] As described above, this embodiment provides the following advantages and benefits. With the driver seated in the vehicle's driver's seat, the table device 1 is positioned across the instrument panel 2 and the steering wheel 3, and a personal computer P is placed on it for teleworking. At this time, since the operating section 33 of the steering wheel 3 is horizontally elongated when viewed from the front and rear, the height of the table device 1 can be set low to improve the operability of the personal computer P. In addition, the table device 1 is neatly stored in the instrument panel 2 when not in use. Furthermore, the table device 1 is roughly plate-shaped and is positioned in the opening 21 inside the instrument panel 2 when stored. This allows the above advantages and benefits to be achieved with a simple mechanism of pulling out the table device from the opening 21 and placing the rear end on the steering wheel 3. In addition, a recess 15 is provided on the rear end of the table device 1 for gripping with fingers when sliding it, making it easy to pull out.

[0025] Figures 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The differences from the first embodiment are the shape of the table device 4 and the housing structure of the table device 4 in the instrument panel 5. Components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. The table device 4 is a rectangular plate shape in which the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) is slightly longer than the front-rear direction, and in the housing state shown in Figure 4, the rear upper corner is rounded so as to smoothly connect to the instrument panel 5. The surface of the table device 4 is made of the same material and color as the instrument panel 5. A stepped portion 51 is formed on the upper surface of the instrument panel 5 in which the table device 4 is placed in the housing state. A pair of fixed left and right upper brackets 52 and an upper rotating shaft 53 extending in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) relative to the pair of left and right upper brackets 52 are provided on the rear end side of the stepped portion 51. With the rear end of the table device 4 positioned between a pair of left and right upper brackets 52, the upper rotating shaft 53 is passed through the table device 4, allowing the table device 4 to rotate clockwise around the upper rotating shaft 53 in Figure 4. The table device 4 is rotated clockwise around the upper rotating shaft 53 from the housing state shown in Figure 4, so that its front end contacts the steering handle 3 and is held in place so that it cannot move downward. A personal computer P can be placed on the upper surface of the table device 4, which is in a bridge-like state between the instrument panel 5 and the steering handle 3, and work can be performed. Here, the table device 4 corresponds to the "vehicle table device" in the claims. The upper rotating shaft 53 corresponds to the "rotating shaft" in the claims.

[0026] As described above, this embodiment provides the following advantages. The table device 4 has a simple mechanism in which it is rotated vertically around an upper rotation axis and its front end is placed on the steering wheel 3, allowing the user to place a personal computer P on it and use it for teleworking while seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle. At this time, since the operating section 33 of the steering wheel 3 has a horizontally elongated shape when viewed from the front or rear, the height of the table device 1 can be set low to improve the operability of the personal computer P. In addition, the table device 4 is housed in the stepped section 51 of the instrument panel 5 when not in use, resulting in a neat appearance.

[0027] Figures 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The differences from the first embodiment are the shape of the table device 6 and the housing structure of the table device 6 in the instrument panel 7. Components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. In the unfolded state shown in Figure 7, the table device 6 has a rectangular surface body 61, which, when viewed from above, has a dimension in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) that is slightly longer than the dimension in the front-rear direction, a cylindrical roll pipe 62 with the left-right direction as its axis for winding up the surface body 61, and a hook 63 attached to the rear end of the surface body 61. The surface body 61 is made of a material such as cotton cloth, on which a personal computer P can be placed when it is stretched between the instrument panel 7 and the steering handle 3. The roll pipe 62 has a central axis 64 that extends in the left-right direction and is disposed inside the instrument panel 7 in Figure 6 in a state where it is rotationally biased in the counterclockwise direction around the central axis 64. In the housing state shown in Figure 6, the tip of the hook 63, which protrudes rearward from the slit (not shown), is locked to the rear surface of the instrument panel 7, resisting the winding force of the roll pipe 62. From here, as shown in Figure 7, when the hook 63 is pulled out rearward and locked to the upper part of the steering handle 3, the planar body 61 is stretched between the instrument panel 7 and the steering handle 3 by the rotational biasing force of the roll pipe 62. Here, the table device 6 corresponds to the "vehicle table device" in the claims.

[0028] As described above, this embodiment offers the following advantages. With a simple mechanism that involves pulling out the planar body 61 towards the rear and securing the hook 63 to the top of the steering wheel 3, a personal computer P can be placed on it while seated in the driver's seat of a vehicle, allowing for teleworking. At this time, since the operating section 33 of the steering wheel 3 has a horizontally elongated shape when viewed from the front or rear, the height of the table device 6 can be set lower to improve the operability of the personal computer P. In addition, the table device 6 is housed inside the instrument panel 7 when not in use, resulting in a neat appearance.

[0029] Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to their appearance and configuration, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible without altering the essence of the invention. For example, the following can be made.

[0030] 1. In the first embodiment described above, a stopper 24 is provided to prevent the table device 1 from flying out of the opening 21 due to the inertial force caused by the forward and backward movement of the vehicle. However, if the inclination of the opening 21 can prevent the table device 1 from flying out of the opening 21 due to the inertial force caused by the forward and backward movement of the vehicle, the provision of the stopper 24 can be omitted.

[0031] 2. In the third embodiment described above, the hook 63 is directly attached to the upper part of the steering handle 3, but a locking part may be provided on the upper part of the steering handle 3 and the hook 63 may be attached thereto.

[0032] 3. In the first and second embodiments described above, the upper surface of the steering handle 3 may be made straight, or a holding structure (for example, a recess into which the steering handle 3 fits, an adhesive part to increase friction, etc.) may be provided on the back side of the table device 1. Furthermore, the orientation of the steering handle 3 may be controlled to be approximately horizontal when the table device 1 is in use. These measures allow the table device 1 to be held stably. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 1,4,6 Table device (Vehicle table device) 2, 5, 7 Instrument Panel 3. Steering wheel 15 recesses 21 Opening 33 Operation section 53 Top rotation axis (rotation axis) 61 Planar body 62 Roll pipes 64 Center axis H hand P PC

Claims

1. A vehicle table device that is positioned to span between a roughly horizontally elongated steering wheel and the instrument panel to which the steering wheel is attached, The vehicle table device is housed in the instrument panel when not in use, and when in use, it is moved in a direction toward the steering wheel from the instrument panel and held in place by the instrument panel and the steering wheel so that it cannot move downward.

2. In claim 1, The vehicle table device is substantially plate-shaped and is positioned inside the instrument panel so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

3. In claim 2 A vehicle table device having a recess on the steering wheel side for gripping with the fingers when sliding it.

4. In claim 1 The vehicle table device is substantially plate-shaped and is mounted on the upper part of the instrument panel so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around a pivot axis that extends in the vehicle width direction and is located on the side of the steering wheel.

5. In claim 1 The aforementioned vehicle table device is arranged inside the instrument panel so that the planar body can be pulled out, with the planar body wrapped around a roll pipe whose central axis extends in the vehicle width direction and is biased to rotate in the winding direction. A vehicle table device comprising extending the planar body toward the steering handle and securing its tip to the upper part of the steering handle.

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