Beverage container storage device

Abstract

To prevent the flap from becoming an obstructive shape when removing a beverage container from its storage space. [Solution] The beverage container storage device comprises a holder member having an opening, a flap rotatably supported on the holder member between an initial rotation position and a usage rotation position, and a drive mechanism that rotates the flap from the initial rotation position to the usage rotation position against the biasing force of a biasing member by pressing the flap downward. The flap has first and second rotating flap portions. The biasing member has a first biasing portion that rotates the first rotating flap portion relative to the holder member around a first rotation axis, and a second biasing portion that rotates the second rotating flap portion relative to the first rotating flap portion around a second rotation axis. The drive mechanism rotates the first rotating flap portion in the same rotational direction as when inserting the beverage container into the opening, against the biasing force of the first biasing portion at the initial stage of removing the beverage container to the outside of the opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device for beverage containers mounted on automobiles and the like.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a storage device for beverage containers for storing beverage containers is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The storage device for beverage containers described in this Patent Document 1 includes a holder member, a flap, and a drive mechanism. The holder member is provided with an opening into which a beverage container can be inserted at the upper part, and holds the beverage container inserted from the outside to the inside of the opening. The flap is rotatably supported by the holder member, and can rotate between an initial rotation position where the flap surface is horizontal and closes at least a part of the opening, and a use rotation position where the flap surface is inclined downward from the rotation axis side to the flap tip and the opening area of the opening is larger than that in the initial rotation position. The drive mechanism has a rotation shaft that rotates the flap with respect to the holder member, and a biasing member that generates a biasing force that biases the flap from the use rotation position side toward the initial rotation position side.

[0003] The above flap has two rotating flap portions. One first rotating flap portion is rotatably supported by the holder member about a first rotation shaft provided on the holder member side, and the other second rotating flap portion is rotatably supported by the first rotating flap portion about a second rotation shaft provided on the flap tip side of the first rotating flap portion. The second rotating flap portion is formed to project to a side farther from the first rotation axis than the flap tip of the first rotating flap portion.

[0004] The above biasing member has a first biasing portion that rotates the first rotating flap portion with respect to the holder member in a rotating direction approaching the posture at the initial rotation position of the flap about the first rotation axis, and a second biasing portion that rotates the second rotating flap portion with respect to the first rotating flap portion in a rotating direction approaching the posture at the initial rotation position of the flap about the second rotation axis.

[0005] According to the beverage container storage device described above, when a beverage container is inserted into the storage space through the opening, a downward pressing force is applied from the beverage container to the flap, which allows the first rotating flap to rotate in a direction that increases the opening area of ​​the opening relative to the holder member, and also allows the second rotating flap to rotate in a direction that increases the opening area of ​​the opening relative to the first rotating flap.

[0006] When the outer diameter of a beverage container is large, the beverage container comes into contact with both the second and first rotating flap when inserted into the storage space. This allows the opening of the holder to be widened by the rotation of the first rotating flap around its first rotation axis, thereby holding the beverage container with a large outer diameter. On the other hand, when the outer diameter of a beverage container is small, the beverage container comes into contact only with the second rotating flap when inserted into the storage space. This allows the rotation of the second rotating flap around its second rotation axis to be widened by the rotation of the first rotating flap around its second rotation axis, thereby holding the beverage container with a small outer diameter. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 0205590 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Incidentally, some beverage containers have a constricted shape on their sides. Specifically, there are beverage containers where the outer diameter is large at the bottom, gradually decreasing from the bottom to the middle, and then gradually increasing again from the middle to the top.

[0009] In the process of inserting the aforementioned constricted beverage container into the storage space through the opening, in the initial stages of insertion, the tip of the flap (specifically, the second rotating flap) contacts the largest outer diameter portion of the beverage container's outer surface from its initial rotation position. As the beverage container is inserted further, the angle at which the flap surface of the second rotating flap is inclined relative to the horizontal gradually increases within a range of 90° or less. On the other hand, in the later stages of insertion, the point at which the tip of the flap of the second rotating flap contacts the outer surface of the beverage container gradually moves from the largest outer diameter portion to the smallest outer diameter portion. As a result, the angle at which the flap surface is inclined relative to the horizontal gradually decreases.

[0010] If the above situation occurs, as the beverage container inserted into the containment space is removed from the containment space, the second rotating flap is biased by the second biasing unit to return to its original position relative to the first rotating flap. As a result, the point where the tip of the second rotating flap contacts the outer surface of the beverage container moves from a point with a smaller outer diameter to a point with a larger outer diameter. Therefore, the second rotating flap can rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation direction caused by the biasing force of the second biasing unit, but since no force acts on the first rotating flap to counteract the biasing force of the first biasing unit, the first rotating flap will rotate in the direction that returns the flap surface to a horizontal position.

[0011] Thus, in the above-described beverage container storage device, when a beverage container with a constricted shape is removed from the storage space, the first rotating flap changes to a position that hinders the removal of the beverage container, which may prevent the beverage container from being removed smoothly.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a beverage container storage device that can prevent the flap from becoming an obstructive shape when removing a beverage container from the storage space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] One aspect of the present invention includes a holder member having an opening into which a beverage container can be inserted, and holding the beverage container inserted into the opening from the outside to the inside; a plate-shaped flap supported on the holder member so as to be rotatable between an initial rotation position that closes at least a part of the opening and a usage rotation position where the opening area of ​​the opening is larger than the initial rotation position; a pivot axis on which the flap rotates relative to the holder member; and a biasing member that generates a biasing force that biases the flap from the usage rotation position side to the initial rotation position side, wherein when the tip of the flap is pressed downward as the beverage container is inserted into the inside of the opening, a drive mechanism rotates the flap from the initial rotation position to the usage rotation position against the biasing force of the biasing member, the flap having a first rotating flap portion supported on the holder member so as to be rotatable about a first pivot axis which is one of the pivot axes, and the first rotating flap The device comprises a first rotating flap portion, which is supported in a part so as to be rotatable about a second rotating axis, which is one of the rotation axes and different from the first rotating axis, and which is formed to protrude further from the first rotating axis than the tip of the flap portion of the first rotating flap portion, and the biasing member comprises a first biasing portion that generates a biasing force to rotate the first rotating flap portion relative to the holder member in a direction approaching the position of the flap at the initial rotation position about the first rotating axis, and a second biasing portion that generates a biasing force to rotate the second rotating flap portion relative to the first rotating flap portion in a direction approaching the position of the flap at the initial rotation position about the second rotating axis, and the drive mechanism rotates the first rotating flap portion in the same direction as when the beverage container is inserted from the outside to the inside of the opening, against the biasing force of the first biasing portion, in the initial stage when the beverage container is removed from the inside to the outside of the opening.

[0014] This configuration prevents the flap from becoming an obstructive shape when removing a beverage container from its storage space. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1]This is a perspective view of the main part of a beverage container storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention, taken from the front side. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view from the rear of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a rear-view perspective of the flap and drive mechanism of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment at their initial rotational positions. [Figure 5] This is a rear-view perspective of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment, showing the flap and drive mechanism in their operating rotation positions. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of the flap and drive mechanism of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment at their initial rotational positions. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the flap and drive mechanism of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment at their operating rotation positions. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of the flap and drive mechanism of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment at an intermediate position that can be achieved during the removal of a beverage container from the storage space. [Figure 9] This diagram illustrates the change in posture of the flap and drive mechanism of the beverage container storage device of this embodiment during the removal of a beverage container from the storage space. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Specific embodiments of the beverage container storage device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 9.

[0017] The beverage container storage device 10 according to an embodiment is a device capable of holding a beverage container 1 (see FIGS. 6 to 8). The beverage container storage device 10 is mounted on a vehicle, for example. The beverage container 1 to be stored and held by the beverage container storage device 10 is, for example, a PET bottle, a can, a water cylinder, etc. (especially those with a constricted side outer shape). Further, the target beverage container 1 may have a size in the range of, for example, 6 mm to 9 mm in diameter and may have a capacity up to about 300 mm in height or up to about 1000 mL.

[0018] In addition, the beverage container storage device 10 may be capable of storing and holding portable terminals such as smartphones and mobile phones in addition to the beverage container 1. The beverage container storage device 10 may be mounted other than the center console, but hereinafter, it is assumed to be mounted on the center console 2 in the vehicle interior.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the beverage container storage device 10 includes a holder member 20, a flap 30, and a drive mechanism 40. A plurality (two in this embodiment) of beverage container storage devices 10 may be provided independently on the center console 2.

[0020] The holder member 20 is a member that holds the beverage container 1. The holder member 20 is formed in a flat plate shape as all or part of the center console 2. An opening 21 is provided in the holder member 20. The opening 21 is an insertion port facing upward and into which the beverage container 1 can be inserted. The opening 21 is formed in a circular shape or a rectangular shape, for example. The size of the opening 21 is in the range of, for example, 80 mm to 90 mm, and preferably about 86 mm. The holder member 20 has a bottom wall 22 that supports the lower surface of the beverage container 1 inserted from the outside (above the opening) to the inside (below the opening) of the opening 21. A storage space 29 for accommodating at least a part of the beverage container 1 is formed between the opening 21 and the bottom wall 22 of the holder member 20.

[0021] Furthermore, the holder member 20 may have a peripheral wall surrounding the storage space 29, in which case the storage space 29 may be formed in a shape such as a roughly cylindrical or rectangular parallelepiped. Also, the holder member 20 may have a peripheral edge 23 of the opening 21 (see Figures 1 and 2, etc.) for supporting the beverage container 1. In addition, the holder member 20 may not use a bottom wall 22 that contacts the lower surface of the beverage container 1 to support the beverage container 1, but rather use the peripheral edge 23 of the opening 21 and the flap 30 to clamp the side of the beverage container 1. Furthermore, the holder member 20 may be composed of multiple parts, as shown in Figure 3, for example, by fitting together and integrating a plate-shaped lower member 25 and a plate-shaped upper member 26 that are formed separately.

[0022] The flap 30 is a member capable of closing at least a portion of the opening 21. The flap 30 is formed in a flat plate shape (for example, rectangular as shown in Figure 1) to match the shape of the opening 21. The flap 30 can contact the side of the beverage container 1 inserted into the opening 21 and hold the beverage container 1 by pressing it against the opposite side of the opening 21. The flap 30 is rotatably supported by the holder member 20. The flap 30 rotates relative to the holder member 20 about a horizontal axis.

[0023] The flap 30 is rotatable between an initial rotation position and a usage rotation position. The initial rotation position is the rotation position in which the flat surface of the flap 30 faces upward and horizontally, closing at least a portion of the opening. The flap surface of the flap 30 may be flush with the upper surface of the center console 2 in the initial rotation position. The usage rotation position is the rotation position in which the flat surface of the flap 30 is inclined downward from the rotation axis side to the tip of the flap, and the opening area of ​​the opening 21 is larger than in the initial rotation position. The usage rotation position includes a state in which the flap surface of at least one of the two rotating flap sections 31 and 32 is not horizontal. The flap 30 is normally in the initial rotation position and rotates toward the usage rotation position when pressed downward from above by the lower surface of the beverage container 1 or the like.

[0024] Furthermore, while one flap 30 may be provided for each opening 21, multiple flaps may be provided to divide each opening 21 into multiple sections, and at the initial rotation position, they may be adjacent to each other horizontally and integrated to appear as a single flap.

[0025] The flap 30 has two rotating flap sections 31 and 32 that rotate around two pivot axes 41a and 41b, which will be described later. That is, the flap 30 has a first rotating flap section 31 and a second rotating flap section 32. The first rotating flap section 31 and the second rotating flap section 32 are each formed in a plate shape. The first rotating flap section 31 rotates around one pivot axis 41a. The second rotating flap section 32 rotates around the other pivot axis 41b which is parallel to its first pivot axis 41a.

[0026] The drive mechanism 40 is a mechanism that rotates the flap 30 between an initial rotation position and a working rotation position. The drive mechanism 40 varies the opening area of ​​the opening 21 by cooperating the first rotating flap section 31 and the second rotating flap section 32. The drive mechanism 40 includes a pivot shaft 41, a biasing member 42, and a regulating section 43.

[0027] The pivot shaft 41 is an axis that extends horizontally. The pivot shaft 41 has two pivot shafts 41a and 41b. The pivot shafts 41a and 41b extend parallel to each other. The pivot shafts 41a and 41b are located at points, for example, about 20 mm apart from each other. The pivot shaft 41a is the axis that rotates the first rotating flap portion 31 relative to the holder member 20. The pivot shaft 41b is the axis that rotates the second rotating flap portion 32 relative to the first rotating flap portion 31. Hereinafter, the pivot shaft 41a will be referred to as the first pivot shaft 41a, and the pivot shaft 41b will be referred to as the second pivot shaft 41b.

[0028] The first pivot shaft 41a is positioned below the upper wall 24 of the holder member 20. The height position of the first pivot shaft 41a is constant with respect to the holder member 20 and is set to a predetermined fixed height position. This height position of the first pivot shaft 41a is, for example, about 80 mm above the bottom wall 22. The first rotating flap section 31 is supported by the holder member 20 so as to be rotatable about the first pivot shaft 41a. The second pivot shaft 41b is positioned on the flap tip side of the first rotating flap section 31. The height position of the second pivot shaft 41b changes with respect to the holder member 20 according to the rotation position of the first rotating flap section 31. The second rotating flap section 32 is supported by the first rotating flap section 31 so as to be rotatable about the second pivot shaft 41b.

[0029] The first rotating flap portion 31 is formed such that, in the initial rotation position of the flap 30, the rear end of the flap on the first rotation axis 41a side is hidden below the upper wall 24 of the holder member 20, while the front end of the flap protrudes from the upper wall 24 side of the holder member 20 towards the opening 21. The second rotating flap portion 32 is positioned above the front end of the flap portion 31 so as to hide the front end of the flap portion 31 in the initial rotation position of the flap 30. As shown in Figure 6, the second rotating flap portion 32 is formed and arranged such that, in the initial rotation position of the flap 30, the flap surface spreads horizontally and is exposed upward from the opening 21, covering at least a part of the opening 21.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, if the two beverage container storage devices 10 are arranged facing each other, the two first rotating flap sections 31 may be integrated, and the first rotation axis 41a of these two first rotating flap sections 31 may be made common.

[0031] The second rotating flap portion 32 has a portion that protrudes further from the first rotation axis 41a than the flap tip of the first rotating flap portion 31. That is, the distance from the first rotation axis 41a to the flap tip 32a of the second rotating flap portion 32 is greater than the distance from the first rotation axis 41a to the flap tip of the first rotating flap portion 31. The second rotating flap portion 32 is formed such that, in the rotation position of the flap 30, the distance between its flap tip 32a and the bottom wall 22 of the holder member 20 where the lower surface of the beverage container 1 contacts (or, when the beverage container 1 is supported by being held between the peripheral edge 23 of the opening 21 and the flap 30, the lower surface of the supported beverage container 1) is less than or equal to a predetermined distance.

[0032] The predetermined distance described above is ideally 0 mm to accommodate all beverage containers 1 to be supported, but it may be, for example, 1.5 mm or less. Furthermore, it is effective that the predetermined distance described above is smaller than the maximum diameter height distance of the beverage container 1 that has the longest distance from the bottom wall 22 of the holder member 20 (or the lower surface of the beverage container 1 being supported) to the height of the point where the outer diameter is maximum near the lower surface of the beverage container 1.

[0033] The biasing member 42 is a member that generates a biasing force that biases the flap 30 from the operating rotation position side toward the initial rotation position side. The biasing member 42 has a first biasing portion 42a and a second biasing portion 42b. The first biasing portion 42a and the second biasing portion 42b are, for example, torsion springs. The flap 30 may be restricted from changing its posture toward the opposite side of the operating rotation position from the initial rotation position, regardless of the biasing force of the first biasing portion 42a and the second biasing portion 42b.

[0034] The first biasing member 42a is interposed between the holder member 20 and the first rotating flap portion 31. The first biasing member 42a is configured such that one end is locked to the holder member 20 and the other end is locked to the first rotating flap portion 31. The first biasing member 42a is a biasing member that generates a biasing force that rotates the first rotating flap portion 31 relative to the holder member 20 in a predetermined rotation direction a+ (see Figure 6) about the first rotation axis 41a. The predetermined rotation direction a+ is the rotation direction in which the first rotating flap portion 31 approaches the initial rotation position of the flap 30 relative to the holder member 20 (specifically, the position in which the flap surface of the first rotating flap portion 31 is horizontal). Furthermore, when the beverage container 1 is inserted into the opening 21 of the holder member 20 from above to below, the first rotating flap portion 31 rotates in a rotation direction a- (see Figure 6), opposite to the predetermined rotation direction a+, against the biasing force of the first biasing portion 42a due to the pressing force from the beverage container 1.

[0035] The second biasing member 42b is interposed between the first rotating flap portion 31 and the second rotating flap portion 32. The second biasing member 42b is configured such that one end is locked to the first rotating flap portion 31 and the other end is locked to the second rotating flap portion 32. The second biasing member 42b is a biasing member that generates a biasing force that rotates the second rotating flap portion 32 relative to the first rotating flap portion 31 in a predetermined rotation direction b+ (see Figure 6) around the second rotation axis 41b. The predetermined rotation direction b+ is the rotation direction in which the second rotating flap portion 32 approaches the initial rotation position of the flap 30 relative to the first rotating flap portion 31 (specifically, the position in which the flap surface of the second rotating flap portion 32 is horizontal). Furthermore, when the beverage container 1 is inserted into the opening 21 of the holder member 20 from above to below, the second rotating flap portion 32 rotates in a rotation direction b- (see Figure 6) opposite to the predetermined rotation direction b+ due to the pressing force from the beverage container 1, against the biasing force of the second biasing portion 42b.

[0036] When the tip of the flap 30 is pressed downward as the beverage container 1 is inserted into the opening 21 of the holder member 20, the drive mechanism 40 rotates the flap 30 in rotational directions a- and b- against the biasing force of the biasing member 42, from the initial rotational position to the operating rotational position. Furthermore, at the initial stage when the beverage container 1 is removed from the inside to the outside of the opening 21, the drive mechanism 40 can rotate the first rotating flap portion 31 in the same rotational direction a- as when the beverage container 1 is inserted from the outside to the inside of the opening 21, against the biasing force of the first biasing portion 42a.

[0037] The restricting portion 43 is a part that restricts the rotation of the second rotating flap portion 32 beyond a predetermined angle α (see Figure 9) relative to the first rotating flap portion 31 around the second rotation axis 41b. The restricting portion 43 is provided on the first rotating flap portion 31. Specifically, the restricting portion 43 is provided at the tip of the flap of the first rotating flap portion 31 and is positioned near the second rotation axis 41b. The predetermined angle α is set to approximately 45°, for example, based on the angle at which the flap surface of the second rotating flap portion 32 spreads in the initial rotation position. The restricting portion 43 is a surface portion that can surface contact the back surface of the flap facing downward in the initial rotation position of the second rotating flap portion 32, and is inclined with respect to the flap surface of the second rotating flap portion 32 in the initial rotation position.

[0038] The drive mechanism 40 is configured such that, during the process of rotating the flap 30 from the initial rotation position to the operating rotation position, the angle that the flap surface of the second rotating flap section 32 makes with respect to the vertical changes from a positive angle on the initial rotation position side to a negative angle on the opposite side of zero (see Figures 6 to 8). That is, the angle that the flap surface of the second rotating flap section 32 makes with respect to the vertical is +90° at the initial rotation position and can change to a negative angle on the opposite side of zero at the operating rotation position. This negative angle is, for example, greater than 0° and less than or equal to 45°.

[0039] In other words, the drive mechanism 40 is configured so that, in the process of rotating the flap 30 from the initial rotation position to the operating rotation position, the angle that the flap surface of the second rotating flap section 32 makes with respect to the horizontal direction changes from 0° at the initial rotation position to an angle exceeding 90° (for example, exceeding 90° and not exceeding 135°) (see Figures 6 to 8). The second rotating flap section 32 is configured so that at the operating rotation position, the upper part is positioned further inside the beverage container 1 than the lower part.

[0040] In the above-described drive mechanism 40, when the beverage container 1 inserted into the opening 21 is removed to the outside of the opening 21, in the initial stage of removal, the back surface of the flap of the second rotating flap portion 32 is in contact with the restricting portion 43, and the force associated with the removal is applied to the contact surface of the restricting portion 43 with the second rotating flap portion 32. The component force F of this force (see Figures 7 and 8) causes the first rotating flap portion 31 to rotate in the rotation direction a-. That is, in the initial stage of removal of the beverage container 1, the second rotating flap portion 32 is restricted by the restricting portion 43 from rotating in the rotation direction b- beyond a predetermined angle α relative to the first rotating flap portion 31, while the second rotating flap portion 32 and the first rotating flap portion 31 rotate together in the rotation direction a- around the first pivot axis 41a (see Figures 7 to 9).

[0041] Next, the operation of the beverage container storage device 10 will be described. In a beverage container storage device, when the beverage container 1 is not inserted from the outside to the inside of the opening 21 of the holder member 20 and is not stored in the storage space 29, the flap 30 is in an initial rotation position where the flap surface is horizontal (see Figure 6).

[0042] When a vehicle occupant or the like attempts to hold a beverage container 1 in the beverage container storage device 10 with the flap 30 in its initial rotational position, they insert the beverage container 1 from the outside (above the opening) to the inside (below the opening) of the opening 21 of the holder member 20. When the beverage container 1 is inserted into the inside of the opening 21, first the bottom surface of the beverage container 1 contacts the flap surface of the flap 30, and the flap 30 is pressed downward from the beverage container 1, causing it to rotate in rotational directions a- and b- around the pivot axis 41 against the biasing force of the biasing member 42.

[0043] Specifically, when the first rotating flap portion 31 of the flap 30 is pressed downward by the beverage container 1 from above (for example, when the outer diameter of the beverage container 1 is large (specifically, when its outer diameter is larger than the distance from the tip of the flap of the first rotating flap portion 31 to the peripheral edge 23 of the opening 21 at the initial rotation position)), at the beginning of insertion of the beverage container 1, the second rotating flap portion 32 does not tilt relative to the first rotating flap portion 31, and the first rotating flap portion 31 and the second rotating flap portion 32 rotate together in the rotation direction a- around the first rotation axis 41a. At this time, as the insertion of the beverage container 1 progresses, the inclination angle of the first rotating flap portion 31 and the second rotating flap portion 32 with respect to the horizontal gradually increases, and the effective diameter and opening area of ​​the opening 21 gradually increase.

[0044] Then, when the inclination angle of the first rotating flap section 31 with respect to the horizontal reaches a predetermined angle, thereafter, as the insertion of the beverage container 1 progresses, only the second rotating flap section 32 rotates in the rotational direction b- around the second pivot axis 41b relative to the first rotating flap section 31. The above predetermined angle depends on the outer diameter and shape of the beverage container 1, and for example, it becomes larger the larger the outer diameter. This rotation of only the second rotating flap section 32 continues until it is restricted by the restricting section 43. Then, when the second rotating flap section 32 is restricted by the restricting section 43, thereafter, the first rotating flap section 31 and the second rotating flap section 32 rotate together in the rotational direction a- around the first pivot axis 41a while maintaining an angle difference of a predetermined angle α.

[0045] On the other hand, when the first rotating flap portion 31 of the flap 30 is not pressed downward by the beverage container 1 from above (for example, when the outer diameter of the beverage container 1 is small (specifically, when its outer diameter is smaller than the distance from the tip of the flap of the first rotating flap portion 31 to the peripheral edge 23 of the opening 21 at the initial rotation position)), at the beginning of insertion of the beverage container 1, the first rotating flap portion 31 does not tilt with respect to the holder member 20, and only the second rotating flap portion 32 rotates in the rotation direction b- around the second pivot axis 41b relative to the first rotating flap portion 31. In this case, as the insertion of the beverage container 1 progresses, the inclination angle of the second rotating flap portion 32 with respect to the first rotating flap portion 31 gradually increases, and the effective diameter and opening area of ​​the opening 21 gradually increase.

[0046] Then, when the second rotating flap section 32 is restricted by the restricting section 43, the first rotating flap section 31 and the second rotating flap section 32 rotate together in the rotational direction a- around the first rotation axis 41a while maintaining an angle difference of a predetermined angle α.

[0047] As described above, when the beverage container 1 is inserted and its lower surface comes into contact with the bottom wall 22 of the holder member 20, the rotation of the first rotating flap portion 31 and the second rotating flap portion 32 in rotational directions a- and b- stops. Thereafter, the beverage container 1 is held in the storage space 29 by gravity, while the inclination angle of the first rotating flap portion 31 and the second rotating flap portion 32 with respect to the horizontal is maintained (see Figure 7).

[0048] When the beverage container 1 is held within the storage space 29, the flap surface of the flap 30 is inclined downward with respect to the horizontal. If the side outer shape of the beverage container 1 is a straight shape in which the outer diameter does not change regardless of the height position, then in the process of the flap 30 rotating from the initial rotation position to the usage rotation position, only the angle that the flap surface of the second rotating flap portion 32 makes with respect to the horizontal changes within the range of 0° to 90° at the initial rotation position. On the other hand, if the outer diameter of the beverage container 1 is a constricted shape in which the outer diameter changes depending on the height position (specifically, the outer diameter is larger at the bottom and top of the container and gradually decreases in the middle of the container), then as the flap 30 rotates from the initial rotation position to the usage rotation position, the tip 32a of the second rotating flap portion 32 comes into contact with the side surface of the lower part of the container, which has a larger outer diameter, and the rear end 32b of the second rotating flap portion 32 enters the constricted area in the middle of the container, which has a smaller outer diameter. As a result, the angle that the flap surface of the second rotating flap portion 32 makes with respect to the horizontal direction changes from 0° to an angle exceeding 90°.

[0049] As described above, when the angle that the flap surface of the second rotating flap section 32 makes with respect to the vertical changes from 0° to an angle exceeding 90°, and the beverage container 1 is pulled out of the storage space 29 and pulled out from the inside to the outside of the opening 21, first, the point on the flap surface of the second rotating flap section 32 that is at a negative angle with respect to the vertical and is in contact with the beverage container 1 gradually moves from the flap tip 32a side to the flap rear end 32b side of the second rotating flap section 32 (see Figures 7 and 8). During this movement, the second rotating flap section 32 is pressed by a force F in a direction that enlarges the opening 21 while remaining in contact with the restricting section 43 of the first rotating flap section 31.

[0050] When this force F acts on the second rotating flap section 32, the restricting section 43 restricts the second rotating flap section 32 from rotating beyond a predetermined angle α relative to the first rotating flap section 31 in the rotational direction b-, while the first rotating flap section 31 and the second rotating flap section 32 rotate together in the rotational direction a- around the first pivot axis 41a. As the first rotating flap section 31 and the second rotating flap section 32 rotate together in the rotational direction a-, the effective diameter and opening area of ​​the opening 21 gradually increase.

[0051] Then, when the effective diameter of the opening 21 becomes large enough to allow the beverage container 1 to be removed (i.e., the maximum diameter of the beverage container 1), the entire beverage container 1 can be removed to the outside of the opening 21. After that, the second rotating flap portion 32 rotates in the rotational direction b+ relative to the first rotating flap portion 31 due to the biasing force of the second biasing portion 42b and returns to its original position, and the first rotating flap portion 31 rotates in the rotational direction a+ relative to the holder member 20 due to the biasing force of the first biasing portion 42a and returns to its original position, and the flap 30 returns to its initial rotational position.

[0052] Thus, in the beverage container storage device 10, the drive mechanism 40 can rotate the first rotating flap portion 31 in the same rotational direction a- as when the beverage container 1 is inserted from the outside to the inside of the opening 21, against the biasing force of the first biasing portion 42a, in the initial stage when the beverage container 1 is removed from the inside to the outside of the opening 21. When the first rotating flap portion 31 rotates in the same rotational direction a- as when the beverage container 1 is inserted, the effective diameter of the opening 21 increases, the opening 21 widens, and the flap 30 (specifically, the first rotating flap portion 31) changes to a position that makes it easier to remove the beverage container 1.

[0053] Therefore, the beverage container storage device 10 prevents the flap 30 (specifically, the first rotating flap portion 31) from adopting a posture that hinders the removal of the beverage container 1 (especially a beverage container 1 with a constricted shape) from the storage space 29. As a result, the beverage container 1 being removed from the storage space 29 is less likely to get caught on the tip 32a of the second rotating flap portion 32, making it easier to remove the beverage container 1 from the inside to the outside of the opening 21, and allowing for smooth removal of the beverage container 1. In addition, it prevents damage to the drive mechanism 40, such as the flap 30, by preventing the beverage container 1 from getting caught or bitten into the tip of the flap 30 when removing the beverage container 1 from the storage space 29.

[0054] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, this specification not only discloses the technical concept indicated by the reference relationships described in each claim at the time of filing, but also discloses a technical concept that appropriately combines the matters described in each claim. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 1: Beverage container, 2: Center console, 10: Storage device for beverage container, 20: Holder member, 21: Opening, 22: Bottom wall, 29: Storage space, 30: Flap, 31: First rotating flap section, 32: Second rotating flap section, 32a: Flap tip, 32b: Flap rear end, 40: Drive mechanism, 41: Rotating shaft, 41a: First rotating shaft, 41b: Second rotating shaft, 42: Biasing member, 42a: First biasing section, 42b: Second biasing section, 43: Restricting section.

Claims

1. A holder member is provided which has an opening into which a beverage container can be inserted, and which holds the beverage container inserted from the outside to the inside of the opening, The holder member is supported by a plate-shaped flap that is rotatable between an initial rotation position that closes at least a portion of the opening and a usage rotation position in which the opening area of ​​the opening is larger than that of the initial rotation position. The drive mechanism includes a pivot axis on which the flap rotates relative to the holder member, and a biasing member that generates a biasing force that biases the flap from the usable rotation position to the initial rotation position, wherein when the tip of the flap is pressed downward as the beverage container is inserted into the opening, the drive mechanism rotates the flap from the initial rotation position to the usable rotation position against the biasing force of the biasing member. Equipped with, The aforementioned flap is The holder member is supported so as to be rotatable around a first pivot axis, which is one of the pivot axes, and The first rotating flap portion is supported so as to be rotatable around a second rotating axis, which is one of the rotating axes and different from the first rotating axis, and the second rotating flap portion is formed to protrude from the side further from the first rotating axis than the flap tip of the first rotating flap portion, It has, The biasing member is A first biasing unit generates a biasing force that causes the first rotating flap portion to rotate relative to the holder member around the first rotation axis in a direction approaching the orientation of the flap at the initial rotation position, A second biasing unit generates a biasing force that causes the second rotating flap portion to rotate in a direction approaching the initial rotation position of the flap portion, around the second rotation axis relative to the first rotating flap portion. It has, The drive mechanism rotates the first rotating flap against the biasing force of the first biasing part during the initial stage when the beverage container is removed from the inside to the outside of the opening, in the same rotational direction as when the beverage container is inserted from the outside to the inside of the opening.

2. The beverage container storage device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is provided on the first rotating flap portion and has a restricting portion that restricts the second rotating flap portion from rotating beyond a predetermined angle relative to the first rotating flap portion around the second rotation axis, and is configured so that the angle made by the flap surface of the second rotating flap portion with respect to the horizontal direction changes from 0° at the initial rotation position to an angle exceeding 90° during the process of rotating the flap from the initial rotation position to the operating rotation position.

3. The beverage container storage device according to claim 1, wherein the second rotating flap portion is formed such that the distance between the tip of the flap and the bottom wall of the holder member to which the lower surface of the beverage container contacts is less than or equal to a predetermined distance when the flap is rotated to the position in use.

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