Small item holding device
The small object holding device addresses the limitations of vertical thickness and visibility by employing a shielding member and connecting mechanism to reduce rotation angle and conceal the surface, resulting in improved design and functionality.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYODA GOSEI CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing small item holding devices face limitations in reducing vertical thickness and maintaining aesthetic appearance due to the holding member's movement from a use position to a non-use position, which becomes almost perpendicular to the horizontal plane, making the surface visible and limiting design enhancement.
A small object holding device with a shielding member and connecting mechanism that moves between the holding member and main body, reducing the rotation angle and inclination, and incorporating a locking mechanism to maintain the holding member in the non-use position, along with a biasing member to facilitate smooth transitions and conceal the surface.
The device achieves reduced vertical thickness and improved appearance by minimizing the rotation angle and using a shielding member to conceal the surface, enhancing design aesthetics and preventing unintended movement.
Smart Images
Figure 2026078784000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a small item holding device.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a small item holding device for holding small items such as cups. Such a small item holding device is provided, for example, in a center console of an automobile or the like. The small item holding device includes a main body and a holding member. The main body is disposed on the center console or the like for placing small items such as cups. The holding member is formed in a plate shape and is located above the main body. A hole for passing the small item is formed in the holding member. Then, by placing the small item on the main body with the small item passed through the hole of the holding member, the small item is held on the main body.
[0003] In the above small item holding device, the holding member can move between a use position and a non-use position. Specifically, the holding member can move between a use position and a non-use position that is closer to the main body than the use position through a rotational movement with respect to the main body. The rotation center line of the holding member extends in the width direction of the center console. The holding member extends in the horizontal direction when in the use position. Further, the holding member moves to the non-use position by rotating downward from the use position so as to be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane. Thereby, the holding member becomes less conspicuous when not in use.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] Incidentally, in small object holding devices, there is a demand to reduce the thickness in the vertical direction to improve the design. However, while the holding member in the position of use extends horizontally, the holding member moved from the position of use to the unused position becomes almost perpendicular to the horizontal plane, so there was a limit to how much the thickness of the small object holding device could be reduced in the vertical direction. Also, when the holding member is moved to the unused position, the surface on the main body that holds the small object becomes visible from above, which detracts from the appearance of the small object holding device. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] Next, we will describe various embodiments of a small object holding device that solves the above problems. (Aspect 1) A small object holding device comprising a main body for holding small objects, and a holding member located above the main body and having a hole formed therein for passing the small objects, wherein the holding member moves between a usage position and an unused position which is closer to the main body than the usage position through the rotational movement of the holding member relative to the main body, the device further comprising a shielding member and a connecting mechanism, wherein the shielding member is located between the holding member and the main body when the holding member is in the unused position, and the connecting mechanism connects the holding member and the shielding member, wherein the shielding member is moved out of the space between the holding member and the main body as the holding member rotates from the unused position to the usage position, and the shielding member is moved from the moved position to the space between the holding member and the main body as the holding member rotates from the usage position to the unused position.
[0007] With the above configuration, the vertical thickness of the small object holding device can be reduced by decreasing the rotation angle of the holding member between the usage position and the unused position, or in other words, by making the inclination of the holding member gentler when it is in the unused position. When the holding member is moved to the usage position, the shielding member is retracted from between the holding member and the main body, so that the small object can be passed through the hole in the holding member and placed on the main body. In this way, the small object is held by the small object holding device. Also, when the holding member is moved to the unused position, the shielding member moves between the holding member and the main body. At this time, the shielding member prevents the surface on the main body on which the small object is placed from being visible from above through the hole in the holding member. In this way, the appearance of the small object holding device can be improved as the surface on the main body on which the small object is placed becomes less visible from above.
[0008] (Aspect 2) The small object holding device according to Embodiment 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that holds the holding member in an unused position when the holding member moves to that unused position, wherein the locking mechanism is capable of releasing the holding member from being held in the unused position.
[0009] With the above configuration, the retaining member in an unused position is held by the locking mechanism, thereby preventing the retaining member from coming off that unused position. The retaining member held in the unused position by the locking mechanism can be moved to the usage position by releasing the locking mechanism.
[0010] (Aspect 3) The small object holding device according to embodiment 2, further comprising a biasing member that biases the shielding member in a direction that moves it away from the holding member and the main body.
[0011] According to the above configuration, when the retaining member is held in the unused position by the locking mechanism, releasing the locking mechanism causes the shielding member to retract from between the retaining member and the main body due to the biasing force of the biasing member. As the shielding member moves at this time, the retaining member, which is connected to the shielding member via the connecting mechanism, rotates from the unused position to the usage position. Therefore, simply releasing the locking mechanism allows the shielding member to be retracted from between the retaining member and the main body, and the retaining member to be moved from the unused position to the usage position. Furthermore, when the retaining member in the usage position is rotated toward the unused position, the shielding member, which is connected to the retaining member via the connecting mechanism, moves from the retracted position to between the retaining member and the main body against the biasing force of the biasing member. At this time, the retaining member is held in the unused position by the locking mechanism to prevent it from moving to the usage position, and the shielding member is held between the retaining member and the main body.
[0012] (Aspect 4) The small object holding device according to any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 3), wherein the shielding member moves linearly in a direction that is horizontal and intersects the rotational center line of the holding member.
[0013] According to the above configuration, since the shielding member moves linearly in a horizontal direction and in a direction intersecting the rotational centerline of the holding member, it is possible to suppress the increase in the vertical thickness of the small object holding device in order to secure the movement path of the shielding member. Because the vertical thickness of the small object holding device can be reduced in this way, the appearance of the small object holding device is improved.
[0014] (Appendix 5) The small object holding device according to any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 4), wherein the shielding member has a projection that fills the hole by being inserted into the hole of the holding member when it moves from the retracted position between the holding member and the main body.
[0015] According to the above configuration, the shielding member has moved between the holding member and the main body at the unused position, and the protruding portion of the shielding member is inserted into the hole of the holding member to fill the hole. As a result, when the holding member is viewed from above, the appearance of the small object holding device is improved because the hole is filled by the protruding portion.
[0016] (Aspect 6) The holes are two holes formed in parallel along the direction in which the rotation center line of the holding member extends, and the surface of the main body on which the small object is placed is inclined so as to descend from the center in the direction in which the rotation center line extends toward both ends. The small object holding device according to any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 5).
[0017] According to the above configuration, when small objects are placed on the main body through the two holes of the holding member at the use position, the inclination of the surface of the main body on which the small objects are placed causes the small objects to tilt in a direction away from each other, so that contact between the small objects can be suppressed.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the cup holder in the vehicle interior. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the state in which the holding member of the cup holder in FIG. 1 is moved to the use position. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the cup holders in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the state of the cup holder in FIG. 3 viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing the state of the cup holder in FIG. 3 viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the disassembled state of the cup holders in FIGS. 4 and 5. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the connecting mechanism in the cup holder in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a schematic view showing the structure of the locking mechanism in the cup holder in FIG. 6. [Figure 9]It is a schematic diagram showing the structure around the operation member in the lock mechanism of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a cross-sectional view showing a state where two cups are held in the cup holder of FIG. 6. [Figure 11] It is a schematic diagram showing another example of the coupling mechanism in the cup holder. [Figure 12] It is a schematic diagram showing another example of the coupling mechanism in the cup holder. [Figure 13] It is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a pressing mechanism is added to the cup holder. [Figure 14] It is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a pressing mechanism is added to the cup holder. [Figure 15] It is a perspective view showing another example of the shielding member in the cup holder.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the small article holding device is embodied as a cup holder will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, front seats 12 and 13 are provided in a vehicle compartment 11 in a vehicle such as an automobile. The front seat 12 and the front seat 13 are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the vehicle. A center console 14 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is arranged between the front seat 12 and the front seat 13. A cup holder 15 is arranged on the center console 14.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the cup holder 15 includes a main body 17 for placing a cup 16 as a small article, and a holding member 19 located above the main body 17 and having a hole 18 through which the cup 16 passes. The holding member 19 moves between an unused position shown in FIG. 4 and a used position shown in FIG. 5 through a rotational operation with respect to the main body 17. The portion of the holding member 19 where the hole 18 is formed is closer to the main body 17 when the holding member 19 is in the unused position than when it is in the used position.
[0021] <Details of the main body 17> As shown in Figure 6, the main body 17 comprises an outer case 20 and an inner case 21. Two side walls 23 protrude upward from the bottom wall 22 of the outer case 20. The side walls 23 are located at both ends of the bottom wall 22 in the width direction of the vehicle and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The interior of the outer case 20 is open upward between the two side walls 23. The upper ends of the two side walls 23 are connected by a ceiling wall 25 located at the rear end of the outer case 20.
[0022] An inner case 21 is installed inside the outer case 20. The bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 overlaps the bottom wall 22 of the outer case 20 in the thickness direction. The top surface of the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 is the surface on which the cup 16 is placed. The top surface of the bottom wall 32 slopes downward from the center towards both ends in the width direction of the vehicle.
[0023] Two side walls 33 protrude upward from the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21. The side walls 33 are located at both ends of the bottom wall 32 in the width direction of the vehicle and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The side walls 33 of the inner case 21 overlap the side walls 23 of the outer case 20 in the thickness direction. The interior of the inner case 21 is open upward between the two side walls 33. The upper ends of the two side walls 33 are connected by a ceiling wall 35 located at the rear end of the inner case 21. The ceiling wall 35 of the inner case 21 is parallel to the ceiling wall 25 of the outer case 20.
[0024] In the inner case 21, bearing holes 36 are formed at the upper ends of the two side walls 33 near the ceiling wall 35, and are located on the same axis. Below the bearing holes 36 in the two side walls 33, a two-stage gear 37 having a small gear 38 and a large gear 39 is arranged facing each other. The small gear 38 and the large gear 39 of the two-stage gear 37 are stacked in the thickness direction on the same axis. The two-stage gear 37 is supported on the side wall 33 so as to be rotatable relative to the side wall 33 with the small gear 38 facing the side wall 33.
[0025] <Details of the retaining member 19> The retaining member 19 of the cup holder 15 comprises a retaining plate 40 having the holes 18, and two gear plates 41 protruding downward from the retaining plate 40. The holes 18 in the retaining plate 40 are two holes 18 formed to be parallel in the width direction of the vehicle. The gear plates 41 protrude downward from both ends of the retaining plate 40 in the width direction of the vehicle and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The two gear plates 41 of the retaining member 19 are inserted between the two side walls 33 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17.
[0026] At the rear and upper end of the gear plate 41, a shaft portion 42 is formed that protrudes toward the bearing hole 36 in the side wall 33 of the inner case 21. This shaft portion 42 is rotatably supported by the side wall 33 by being inserted into the bearing hole 36. Therefore, the retaining member 19 can rotate relative to the main body 17 around the center line of the shaft portion 42. This rotational movement of the retaining member 19 causes it to move between the above-mentioned usage position and unused position. The rotational center line of the retaining member 19 is the center line of the shaft portion 42 and extends in the width direction of the vehicle.
[0027] The rear end of the gear plate 41 in the retaining member 19 is inserted between the side wall 33 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17 and the large gear 39 of the two-stage gear 37. As shown in Figure 7, the rear end of the gear plate 41 is formed in an arc shape centered on the center line of the shaft portion 42. An arc gear 43 that meshes with the small gear 38 of the two-stage gear 37 is formed at the rear end of the gear plate 41. Therefore, when the retaining member 19 rotates around the center line of the shaft portion 42, the rotation of the retaining member 19 is transmitted to the small gear 38 via the arc gear 43. This causes the two-stage gear 37 to rotate.
[0028] Next, the shielding member 44 and the connecting mechanism 45 provided on the cup holder 15 shown in Figure 6 will be described. The shielding member 44 is positioned between the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17, as shown by the solid line, when the retaining member 19 is in an unused position as shown by the solid line in Figure 3. Therefore, when the retaining member 19 is in an unused position, the shielding member 44 prevents the bottom wall 32 from being seen through the hole 18 of the retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19. The retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19 in the unused position is inclined with respect to the bottom wall 32 such that the inclination angle with respect to the bottom wall 32 is less than 45°, for example, about 20-30°. This makes it possible to reduce the vertical thickness of the cup holder 15. As a result, the design of the cup holder 15 is improved.
[0029] The above-described connecting mechanism 45 connects the holding member 19 and the shielding member 44, and as the holding member 19 rotates from an unused position to the usage position shown by the dashed line in Figure 3, the shielding member 44 is moved out of the space between the holding member 19 and the bottom wall 32. That is, as the holding member 19 rotates, the shielding member 44 is moved out of the space between the hole 18 formed in the holding member 19 and the area on the bottom wall 32 where the cup 16 is placed, towards the rear of the vehicle, which is to the right in Figure 3. When the holding member 19 is in the usage position, the holding plate 40 of the holding member 19 is approximately horizontal. In this state, the cup 16 is held in the cup holder 15 by placing the cup 16 on the bottom wall 32 through the holding plate 40.
[0030] <Details of shielding member 44> As shown in Figure 6, the outer shape of the shielding member 44 corresponds to the inner shape of the retaining member 19, specifically the inner shape of the retaining plate 40 and the side wall 33. The shielding member 44 includes a shielding plate 50 that is inclined in the same way as the retaining plate 40. A protrusion 51 is formed on the shielding plate 50.
[0031] As shown by the solid line in Figure 3, when the retaining member 19 is in an unused position, the protruding portion 51 is inserted into the hole 18 of the retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19 by placing the shielding member 44 between the retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the main body 17. The protruding portion 51 is intended to fill the hole 18 by being inserted into it. At this time, the surface of the protruding portion 51 that is exposed from the hole 18 is located on the same plane as the surface of the retaining plate 40.
[0032] As shown in Figure 6, two side walls 53 protrude downward from the shielding plate 50 of the shielding member 44. Figure 6 shows only one side wall 53. The side walls 53 are located at both ends of the shielding plate 50 in the width direction of the vehicle and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. A horizontally extending rack gear 54 is formed at the lower end of the side wall 53. This rack gear 54 meshes with the large gear 39 of the two-stage gear 37 in the inner case 21.
[0033] <Details of coupling mechanism 45> The coupling mechanism 45 is formed by the arc gear 43 of the holding member 19, the two-stage gear 37 of the inner case 21, and the rack gear 54 of the shielding member 44. Due to this coupling mechanism 45, as the holding member 19 rotates, the shielding member 44 moves either out of the space between the holding plate 40 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21, or moves from that out of the space between the holding plate 40 and the bottom wall 32.
[0034] More specifically, as the retaining member 19 rotates from its unused position to its operating position, the two-stage gear 37 rotates, and the rack gear 54 moves linearly toward the rear of the vehicle as the large gear 39 rotates. As a result, the shielding member 44, including the rack gear 54, moves linearly backward toward the rear of the vehicle from between the retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21. The direction of movement of the shielding member 44 at this time intersects the rotational centerline of the retaining member 19, that is, the centerline of the shaft portion 42.
[0035] Furthermore, as the retaining member 19 rotates from its used position to its unused position, the two-stage gear 37 rotates, causing the rack gear 54 to move linearly forward towards the vehicle as the large gear 39 rotates. As a result, the shielding member 44, including the rack gear 54, moves linearly from its retracted position to the space between the retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21. The direction of movement of the shielding member 44 at this time also intersects with the rotational centerline of the retaining member 19, i.e., the centerline of the shaft portion 42.
[0036] The shielding member 44 and the inner case 21 of the main body 17 are connected by a retraction spring 46. The retraction spring 46 biases the shielding member 44 toward the rear of the vehicle. The retraction spring 46 acts as a biasing member that biases the shielding member 44 in a direction that retracts it from between the retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21. The biasing force of this retraction spring 46 acts on the retaining member 19 via the rack gear 54, the two-stage gear 37, and the arc gear 43 in a direction that causes the retaining member 19 to rotate toward the position of use.
[0037] Next, we will describe the locking mechanism 60 provided by the cup holder 15. The locking mechanism 60 holds the retaining member 19 of the cup holder 15 in the unused position when it moves to that unused position. The locking mechanism 60 can also release the retaining member 19 from being held in the unused position. Therefore, by holding the retaining member 19 in the unused position with the locking mechanism 60, it is prevented from the retaining member 19 unintentionally moving from the unused position to the usage position due to vibrations during vehicle operation.
[0038] <Details of locking mechanism 60> The locking mechanism 60 includes an operating member 61 and a locking shaft 62. The operating member 61 and the locking shaft 62 are positioned between the ceiling wall 35 of the inner case 21 and the ceiling wall 25 of the outer case 20 in the main body 17.
[0039] The operating member 61 is used to operate the locking mechanism 60. A support portion 63 is formed in the ceiling wall 35 of the inner case 21 to support the operating member 61 so that it can move vertically. The upper end of the operating member 61 is exposed to the outside of the outer case 20 through a window hole 55 formed in the ceiling wall 25 of the outer case 20. Therefore, it is possible to push down the operating member 61 by pushing its upper end from outside the outer case 20.
[0040] The locking shafts 62 are two locking shafts 62 extending along the same axis and arranged to extend in the width direction of the vehicle. The locking shafts 62 are supported between the ceiling wall 35 of the inner case 21 and the ceiling wall 25 of the outer case 20 so that they can move in their axial direction. The operating member 61 is positioned correspondingly between the two locking shafts 62. The axial movement of the locking shafts 62 is operated based on the vertical movement of the operating member 61.
[0041] A retaining hole 64 is formed at the rear upper end of the gear plate 41 of the retaining member 19. The retaining hole 64 is located away from the centerline of the shaft portion 42 of the retaining member 19. Furthermore, when the retaining member 19 is in an unused position, the retaining hole 64 is located on the axis of the locking shaft 62. Therefore, when the retaining member 19 is in an unused position, the locking shaft 62 is inserted into the retaining hole 64, thereby holding the retaining member 19 in the unused position. Conversely, when the locking shaft 62 is removed from the retaining hole 64, the retaining of the retaining member 19 in the unused position is released.
[0042] Figure 8 schematically shows the locking mechanism 60 as viewed from above, and Figure 9 schematically shows the area around the operating member 61 of the locking mechanism 60 as viewed from the side, i.e., from the right side of Figure 8. As can be seen from Figure 8, the locking mechanism 60 is equipped with a locking spring 65 that biases the latching shaft 62 toward the retaining hole 64 of the gear plate 41. When the retaining member 19 is in an unused position, the locking shaft 62 is inserted into the retaining hole 64 of the gear plate 41 by the biasing force of the locking spring 65. An inclined surface 62a is formed at each of the opposing ends of the two latching shafts 62.
[0043] As shown in Figure 9, the inclined surface 62a slopes downwards towards the end of the locking shaft 62 opposite to the end on which the inclined surface 62a is formed. The operating member 61 has a pressing piece 61a that protrudes from above the inclined surface 62a of the locking shaft 62 toward the inclined surface 62a. Therefore, when the operating member 61 is pushed down and the pressing piece 61a is pressed against the inclined surface 62a of the locking shaft 62, a force acts on the two locking shafts 62 in a direction that brings them closer together. Due to the action of this force, the locking shafts 62 are pulled out of the retaining hole 64 of the gear plate 41 against the biasing force of the lock spring 65.
[0044] When the locking shaft 62 is withdrawn from the holding hole 64, the holding of the retaining member 19 in its unused position is released, making it possible to move the retaining member 19 toward the usage position. Furthermore, since the retaining member 19 is always biased toward the usage position by the biasing force of the retraction spring 46 shown in Figure 6, when the holding of the retaining member 19 in its unused position is released as described above, it is moved toward the usage position by the biasing force of the retraction spring 46. When the retaining member 19 is in a position other than the unused position, the end face of the locking shaft 62 on the gear plate 41 side, as shown in Figure 8, is pressed against the opposing surfaces of the two gear plates 41 by the biasing force of the lock spring 65. Therefore, the movement of the retaining member 19 from the unused position to the usage position is performed by the end face of the locking shaft 62 rubbing against the opposing surfaces of the two gear plates 41.
[0045] When the retaining member 19, which is in use, is moved to the unused position against the biasing force of the retraction spring 46, the locking shaft 62 is positioned corresponding to the retaining hole 64 of the gear plate 41. At this time, the locking shaft 62 is inserted into the retaining hole 64 by the biasing force of the lock spring 65. This holds the retaining member 19 in the unused position. Also, as the locking shaft 62 moves when it is inserted into the retaining hole 64, the inclined surface 62a pushes up the pressing piece 61a shown in Figure 9. This returns the operating member 61 to its position before being pushed down.
[0046] Next, the operation and effects of the cup holder 15 of this embodiment will be described. (1) By reducing the rotation angle of the retaining member 19 between the usage position and the unused position, in other words, by making the inclination angle of the retaining member 19 when it is in the unused position gentler to about 20-30°, the thickness of the cup holder 15 in the vertical direction can be reduced. As a result, the design of the cup holder 15 is improved.
[0047] (2) When the holding member 19 is moved to the position of use, the shielding member 44 is moved out of the space between the holding member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17, so that the cup 16 can be passed through the hole 18 in the holding member 19 and placed on the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21. In this way, the cup 16 is held by the cup holder 15. Also, when the holding member 19 is moved to the position of not being used, the shielding member 44 moves between the holding member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17. In this case, the surface of the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 on which the cup 16 is placed is not visible from above through the hole 18 in the holding member 19, which is suppressed by the shielding member 44. In this way the surface of the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 on which the cup 16 is placed is not visible from above, so the appearance of the cup holder 15 can be improved.
[0048] (3) The retaining member 19 in the unused position is held by the locking mechanism 60, which prevents the retaining member 19 from coming off that unused position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the retaining member 19 from unintentionally moving from the unused position to the usage position due to vibrations during vehicle operation. In addition, the retaining member 19 held in the unused position by the locking mechanism 60 can be moved to the usage position by releasing the hold of the locking mechanism 60.
[0049] (4) When the retaining member 19 is held in the unused position by the locking mechanism 60, when the locking mechanism 60 releases the hold, the shielding member 44 is retracted from between the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17 by the biasing force of the retraction spring 46. As the shielding member 44 moves at this time, the retaining member 19, which is connected to the shielding member 44 via the connecting mechanism 45, rotates from the unused position to the usable position. Therefore, by simply releasing the hold by the locking mechanism 60, the shielding member 44 can be retracted from between the retaining member 19 and the main body 17, and the retaining member 19 can be moved from the unused position to the usable position. Furthermore, when the retaining member 19 in the usable position is rotated toward the unused position, the shielding member 44, which is connected to the retaining member 19 via the connecting mechanism 45, moves from the retracted position to between the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 against the biasing force of the retraction spring 46. At this time, the retaining member 19 is held in the unused position by the locking mechanism 60 to prevent it from moving to the usage position, and the shielding member 44 is held between the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32.
[0050] (5) Since the shielding member 44 moves linearly in a horizontal direction and in a direction intersecting the rotational centerline of the holding member 19, it is possible to suppress an increase in the vertical thickness of the cup holder 15 in order to secure the movement path of the shielding member 44. As the vertical thickness of the cup holder 15 can be reduced in this way, the appearance of the cup holder 15 is improved.
[0051] (6) The shielding member 44 is moved between the retaining member 19, which is in an unused position, and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17. The protruding portion 51 of the shielding member 44 is then inserted into the hole 18 of the retaining member 19, filling the hole 18. As a result, when the retaining member 19 is viewed from above, the appearance of the cup holder 15 is improved because the hole 18 is filled with the protruding portion 51.
[0052] (7) When the protruding portion 51 of the shielding member 44 is inserted into the hole 18 of the retaining member 19, the surface of the protruding portion 51 that is exposed from the hole 18 is positioned on the same plane as the surface of the retaining plate 40 on the retaining member 19. This further improves the appearance of the cup holder 15 when the retaining member 19 is viewed from above.
[0053] (8) As shown in Figure 10, when the cups 16 are placed on the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 in the main body 17 through the two holes 18 of the holding member 19 in the position of use, the cups 16 tilt away from each other due to the inclination of the surface on which the cups 16 are placed on the bottom wall 32. This prevents the cups 16 from coming into contact with each other.
[0054] The above embodiment can also be modified as follows, for example. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically. Although an example of a coupling mechanism 45 comprising an arc gear 43 and a two-stage gear 37 has been shown, it is also conceivable to replace these arc gear 43 and two-stage gear 37 with a projection 71 and an inclined surface 72, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. In this case, the projection 71 is formed on the gear plate 41 of the holding member 19 behind the shaft portion 42. The inclined surface 72 is formed on the upper surface of the shielding member 44 behind the shielding plate 50. This inclined surface 72 is in contact with the projection 71 and is inclined to slope downwards towards the front end of the shielding member 44.
[0055] In this configuration, as shown in Figure 11, when the retaining member 19 is in an unused position, the projection 71 contacts the upper end of the inclined surface 72 on the shielding member 44. Then, as shown in Figure 12, when the shielding member 44 is retracted backward from between the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 by the biasing force of the retraction spring 46, the projection 71 moves forward along the inclined surface 72 while the retaining member 19 rotates to the usage position. Furthermore, when the retaining member 19 rotates from the usage position to the unused position, the projection 71 pushes the inclined surface 72 downward, causing the shielding member 44 to move from the retracted position back to between the retaining member 19 and the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 against the biasing force of the retraction spring 46. Due to this movement of the shielding member 44, the projection 71 moves relative to the inclined surface 72 to the upper end of the inclined surface 72.
[0056] A retaining mechanism 73, as shown in Figure 13, may be provided in the cup holder 15 to hold the cup 16 in place. The retaining mechanism 73 comprises a rack gear 74 that meshes with the large gear 39 at the upper end of the two-stage gear 37, and a retaining piece 75 that protrudes forward from the rack gear 74. The retaining piece 75 is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber.
[0057] In this configuration, when the retaining member 19 rotates from an unused position to an unused position, the rack gear 54 of the shielding member 44 engages with the large gear 39 of the two-stage gear 37 at its lower end, causing the shielding member 44 to move backward as shown in Figure 14. On the other hand, the rack gear 54 and retaining piece 75 of the retaining mechanism 73 move forward, opposite to the shielding member 44, to below the hole 18 of the retaining member 19. In this state, when the cup 16 is passed through the hole 18 of the retaining member 19, the retaining piece 75 is pressed against the side of the cup 16 in an elastically deformed state. As a result, the elasticity of the retaining piece 75 holds the cup 16 in place so that it does not rattle.
[0058] Furthermore, when the retaining member 19 that does not hold the cup 16 rotates from the use position to the unused position, the shielding member 44 moves forward as shown in Figure 13, and the rack gear 54 and retaining piece 75 of the retaining mechanism 73 move backward.
[0059] As shown in Figure 15, a recess 76 for accommodating small items such as a smartphone 77 may be formed in the protruding portion 51 of the shielding member 44. When the protrusion 51 of the shielding member 44 is inserted into the hole 18 of the retaining member 19, the surface of the protrusion 51 that is exposed from the hole 18 does not necessarily have to be on the same plane as the surface of the retaining plate 40.
[0060] The shielding plate 50 of the shielding member 44 does not necessarily need to have a protrusion 51 formed thereon. The angle of inclination of the shielding plate 50 of the shielding member 44 relative to the bottom wall 32 of the inner case 21 may be changed as appropriate.
[0061] The holes 18 in the retaining plate 40 of the retaining member 19 do not necessarily have to be two; there can be one or three or more. The surface of the bottom wall 32 in the inner case 21 on which the cup 16 is placed does not necessarily need to be inclined.
[0062] The locking mechanism 60 does not necessarily need to have two locking shafts 62; it may have only one. The shielding member 44 does not necessarily have to move in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; for example, it may move in a straight line in the width direction of the vehicle or rotate horizontally.
[0063] The retraction spring 46 may be omitted. The locking mechanism 60 may be omitted. The cup holder 15 may be provided in a location other than the center console 14 within the passenger compartment 11.
[0064] • While a cup holder 15 is given as an example of a small item holding device, it is also possible to use a device that holds small items other than the cup 16, such as a smartphone, using a holding member 19, etc., as a small item holding device. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0065] 11...Vehicle compartment 12…Front seats 13…Front seats 14…Center console 15…Cup holder 16...cup 17...Main unit 18...hole 19…Retaining member 20…Outer case 21...Inner case 22...Bottom wall 23…Side wall 25... Ceiling and walls 32...Bottom wall 33…Side wall 35... Ceiling and walls 36... Bearing hole 37...Two-speed gear 38... Small gear 39...Large gear 40…Retaining plate 41... Gear Plate 42... Shaft 43... Arc gear 44...Shielding member 45...Connection mechanism 46... Evacuation spring 50... Shielding plate 51...Protruding part 53…Side wall 54... Rack gear 55... Window opening 60... Locking mechanism 61... Operating component 61a...Pressing piece 62...Latching shaft 62a... Slope 63...Support part 64...Retaining hole 65... Lock spring 71...protrusion 72…Slope 73...Restraining mechanism 74... Rack gear 75... Suppressor 76…recess 77… Smartphone
Claims
1. A small object holding device comprising a main body for holding small objects, and a holding member located above the main body with a hole formed therein for passing the small objects through, wherein the holding member moves between a usage position and an unused position which is closer to the main body than the usage position through the rotational movement of the holding member relative to the main body, It comprises a shielding member and a connecting mechanism, The shielding member is positioned between the retaining member and the main body when the retaining member is in the unused position. The connecting mechanism connects the holding member and the shielding member, and in a small object holding device, the shielding member is moved out of the space between the holding member and the main body as the holding member rotates from the unused position to the usage position, and the shielding member is moved from the retracted position to the space between the holding member and the main body as the holding member rotates from the usage position to the unused position.
2. When the retaining member moves to an unused position, a locking mechanism is provided to hold the retaining member in that unused position. The small object holding device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is capable of releasing the holding of the holding member in the unused position.
3. The small object holding device according to claim 2, further comprising a biasing member that biases the shielding member in a direction that moves it away from the holding member and the main body.
4. The small object holding device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding member moves linearly in a horizontal direction and in a direction intersecting the rotational center line of the holding member.
5. The small object holding device according to claim 1, wherein the shielding member has a protruding portion that fills the hole by being inserted into the hole of the holding member when it moves from the retracted position between the holding member and the main body.
6. The aforementioned holes are two holes formed in parallel along the direction in which the rotational centerline of the holding member extends, The small object holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface on which the small object is placed on the main body is inclined to slope downward from the center toward both ends in the direction in which the rotational centerline extends.