Cup holder structure

Abstract

To provide a cup holder structure in which the cup holder itself has a function of a grip.SOLUTION: A cup holder structure includes a cup holder mounted on an outside in a vehicle width direction in an instrument panel. The cup holder includes a wall part for constituting a storage part behind a blowout port of air conditioning air provided at the instrument panel. The wall part includes: a first wall part arranged behind the storage part; and a second wall part arranged outside in the vehicle width direction of the storage part. An upper edge of the first wall part is substantially at a same height with a lower edge of the blowout port, when the cup holder is viewed from the back of a vehicle. An upper edge of the second wall part extends upward toward the instrument panel from the upper edge of the first wall part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cup holder structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle drink holder structure attached to an instrument panel. This in-vehicle drink holder structure is provided below an air conditioner outlet.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an assist grip that is attached to a cup holder. The cup holder is attached to the dashboard of a vehicle. The assist grip has a locking portion that is accommodated and fixed in a recess of the cup holder, and a grip portion that extends outside the recess. The grip portion protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle. When getting in and out of the vehicle, passengers can place their hands on the grip portion to support their bodies. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-61258 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-167744 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There is a demand for the cup holder itself to function as a grip when getting in and out of the vehicle. In the technology of Patent Document 2, the assist grip is attached to the cup holder after the fact, which results in a large number of parts.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a cup holder structure in which the cup holder itself has a grip function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A cup holder structure according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a cup holder attached to the outer side of an instrument panel in the vehicle width direction, the cup holder having a wall portion forming a storage section rear of an air conditioning air outlet provided in the instrument panel, the wall portion having a first wall portion arranged rear of the storage section and a second wall portion arranged outside the storage section in the vehicle width direction, the upper edge of the first wall portion being at substantially the same height as the lower edge of the outlet when the cup holder is viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and the upper edge of the second wall portion extending upward from the upper edge of the first wall portion toward the instrument panel. Effect of the Invention

[0008] In the cup holder structure of the present invention, the second wall of the cup holder has a grip function. Since the upper edge of the second wall is connected to the outer region of the instrument panel in the vehicle width direction, i.e., the region of the instrument panel facing the door opening, the occupant can easily place his / her hand on the upper edge of the second wall when getting in / out of the vehicle. Since the upper edge of the second wall extends upward from the upper edge of the first wall toward the instrument panel, a wide storage space for the cup holder is ensured, and the occupant can easily grip the upper edge of the second wall. Since the upper edge of the second wall extends upward from the upper edge of the first wall toward the instrument panel, the rigidity of the second wall is ensured.

[0009] In the cup holder structure of the present invention, an object contained in the cup holder can be cooled or heated by conditioned air. In the cup holder structure of the present invention, conditioned air can be circulated inside the vehicle even when an object is contained in the cup holder. If there is an object behind the air outlet, the conditioned air coming out of the air outlet hits the object and diffuses to the left and right, but after diffusion, it hits the second wall and flows toward the rear of the vehicle. In the cup holder structure of the present invention, if there is no object contained in the cup holder, the upper edge of the first wall is substantially at the same height as the lower edge of the air outlet, so the flow of conditioned air from the air outlet is not obstructed by the cup holder.

[0010] The cup holder structure of the present invention can be used by simply modifying the wall of an existing cup holder, and therefore, compared to a case in which an assist grip is retrofitted to a cup holder, the cup holder structure of the present invention suppresses increases in cost, significant increases in weight, and decreases in productivity. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a cup holder structure according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cup holder structure of the embodiment as seen from the rear of the vehicle. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the cup holder structure of the embodiment with a can accommodated in the cup holder, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The cup holder structure of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same objects. In each drawing, some of the configurations may be exaggerated or simplified for the sake of convenience. The dimensional ratios of each part in the drawings may differ from the actual ones. In the following description, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" refer to directions based on the front of the vehicle as "front". In addition, the center side in the vehicle width direction is "inner side", and the side away from the center in the vehicle width direction is "outer side". In the drawings, "FR" indicates the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, "RR" indicates the rear side, "UP" indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, "LWR" indicates the lower side, "IN" indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and "OUT" indicates the outer side. The front-rear direction of the vehicle is the vehicle length direction. The left-right direction of the vehicle is the vehicle width direction. The up-down direction of the vehicle is the vehicle height direction.

[0013] <Overall composition> 1 to 3, the cup holder structure 1 of the embodiment includes a cup holder 3 attached to an instrument panel 2 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The storage section 30 of the cup holder 3 is located behind an air conditioning air outlet 20 provided in the instrument panel 2. One of the features of the cup holder structure 1 of the embodiment is that the cup holder 3 itself has a grip function. The grip function is imparted to the cup holder 3 by the positional relationship between the outlet 20 and a wall section 5 constituting the storage section 30 of the cup holder 3.

[0014] <Air outlet> The instrument panel 2 is disposed between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The instrument panel 2 has a number of openings penetrating from the front to the back. The multiple openings have air outlets 20 for conditioned air provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The air outlets 20 are connected to a side vent duct (not shown). The air outlets 20 are provided in an area of ​​the instrument panel 2 close to the door opening. Each drawing shows the air outlet 20 provided on the left side of the instrument panel 2.

[0015] 2, the air outlet 20 is composed of an upper edge 21, a lower edge 22, a first side edge 23, and a second side edge 24. Even if the inside of the air outlet 20 is divided into a plurality of sections by louvers, the air outlet 20 refers to the area surrounded by the upper edge 21, the lower edge 22, the first side edge 23, and the second side edge 24. The first side edge 23 is located on the outer side of the air outlet 20 in the vehicle width direction. The second side edge 24 is located on the inner side of the air outlet 20 in the vehicle width direction.

[0016] <Cup holder> As shown in FIG. 1, the cup holder 3 includes a bottom 4 and a wall 5. The storage section 30 of the cup holder 3 is a space surrounded by the bottom 4 and the wall 5, and is a space in which an object such as a containerized beverage is stored. The object stored in the storage section 30 is located behind the air outlet 20. When no object is stored in the storage section 30, the cup holder 3 has a shape that allows the overall shape of the air outlet 20 to be seen when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a state in which a can 10 is stored in the storage section 30 shown in FIG. 2. The black arrows in FIG. 3 show the flow of air-conditioned air.

[0017] The instrument panel 2 includes a shelf portion 27 that protrudes like a shelf toward the rear of the vehicle below the air outlet 20. A through hole (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the shelf portion 27. The bottom portion 4 is fitted into this through hole. The bottom portion 4 in this example is a cup-shaped member having an opening corresponding to the through hole. The opening is fixed to the upper surface of the shelf portion 27. The bottom portion 4 has a mounting surface for objects stored in the storage portion 30. The mounting surface is located below the opening edge of the bottom portion 4, i.e., the upper surface of the shelf portion 27. The bottom portion 4 is located below the lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20.

[0018] The wall portion 5 is erected from the upper surface of the shelf portion 27 so as to surround the bottom portion 4. Although not shown, the wall portion 5 in this example is composed of an inner wall, an outer wall, and an edge portion. The inner wall is a frame-shaped member with a bottom opening. The area of ​​the inner wall arranged in the front of the vehicle is cut out at the top so as to expose the air outlet 20. The outer wall covers the area exposed to the outside of the inner wall. The outer wall also covers the area of ​​the instrument panel 2 that is inside the air outlet 20 in the vehicle width direction. The outer wall in this example extends to the center in the vehicle width direction. The outer wall is a decorative plate. The edge portion is a substantially U-shaped member that borders the opening of the inner wall and is arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall. When the wall portion 5 is composed of three members, the inner wall, the outer wall, and the edge portion, the wall portion 5 can be made lightweight and thick, yet highly rigid. For ease of explanation, in each drawing, the wall portion 5 is shown as a single member combining the inner wall, the outer wall, and the edge portion. The storage portion 30 in this example has a depth that is the sum of the depth of the bottom portion 4 and the height of the wall portion 5. The depth of the storage portion 30 in this example can be easily adjusted by changing the depth of the bottom portion 4.

[0019] The wall portion 5 includes a first wall portion 51, a second wall portion 52, and a third wall portion 53. The first wall portion 51 is disposed rearward of the storage portion 30. The inner surface of the first wall portion 51 faces, with a gap therebetween, a surface of the instrument panel 2 on which the air outlet 20 is provided. The second wall portion 52 is disposed on the outer side of the storage portion 30 in the vehicle width direction. The third wall portion 53 is disposed on the inner side of the storage portion 30 in the vehicle width direction. The inner surfaces of the second wall portion 52 and the third wall portion 53 face each other with a gap therebetween.

[0020] ≪First wall section≫ As shown in FIG. 2, the upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 is at substantially the same height as the lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20 when the cup holder 3 is viewed from the rear of the vehicle. "Substantially the same height as the lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20" means that the height of the upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 is aligned with the height of the lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20 to such an extent that the flow of the conditioned air from the air outlet 20 into the vehicle interior is not hindered. In other words, it is sufficient that the conditioned air can be blown out from the air outlet 20 substantially horizontally without the first wall portion 51 becoming an obstacle. For example, when the conditioned air is blown out obliquely downward due to the angle of the louver provided at the air outlet 20, a part of the conditioned air is allowed to hit the first wall portion 51. If the upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 and the lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20 are at substantially the same height, the conditioned air from the air outlet 20 can cool or warm the vehicle interior.

[0021] First wall 51 has a height sufficient to stably hold an object within storage section 30. The height of first wall 51 is the vertical distance from the upper surface of shelf 27 to upper edge 511.

[0022] In this example, the lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20 is aligned along the vehicle width direction, and the upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 is also aligned along the vehicle width direction. When the upper edge 511 is aligned along the vehicle width direction, the height of the first wall portion 51 is uniform in the vehicle width direction. When the lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20 is not aligned along the vehicle width direction, it is preferable that the upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 is parallel to a horizontal line passing through the lowest point of the lower edge 22.

[0023] An upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 has a width greater than, for example, a lower edge 22 of the air outlet 20. If the width of the upper edge 511 is greater than the width of the lower edge 22, the second wall portion 52 and the third wall portion 53 are also less likely to act as a barrier to the conditioned air.

[0024] The first wall portion 51 may have a thickness that increases from the upper edge 511 toward the lower edge. If the thickness of the upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 is thinner than the thickness of the lower edge, the first wall portion 51 is easy to grip. If the thickness of the lower edge of the first wall portion 51 is thicker than the upper edge 511, the first wall portion 51 can have high rigidity. The thickness of the first wall portion 51 may be uniform from the upper edge 511 toward the lower edge.

[0025] ≪Second wall section≫ An upper edge 521 of the second wall portion 52 extends upward from an upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 toward the instrument panel 2. In this example, the upper edge 521 extends from the upper edge 511 to approximately the middle portion in the height direction of the first side edge 23. Since the upper edge 521 extends upward from the lower side of the vehicle as it moves from the rear to the front of the vehicle, the second wall portion 52 has a grip function. It is preferable that the upper edge 521 of the second wall portion 52 does not overlap the first side edge 23 of the air outlet 20 when the cup holder 3 is viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

[0026] The height of second wall portion 52 increases from the rear to the front of the vehicle. The height of second wall portion 52 is the vertical distance from the upper surface of shelf portion 27 to upper edge 521. This height of second wall portion 52 ensures a large space in storage portion 30. This height of second wall portion 52 also ensures the rigidity of second wall portion 52.

[0027] The second wall portion 52 may have a thickness that increases from the upper edge 521 toward the lower edge. If the thickness of the upper edge 521 of the second wall portion 52 is thinner than the thickness of the lower edge, the second wall portion 52 is easy to grip. If the thickness of the lower edge of the second wall portion 52 is thicker than the thickness of the upper edge 521, the second wall portion 52 can have high rigidity. The thickness of the second wall portion 52 may be uniform from the upper edge 521 toward the lower edge.

[0028] The inner surface of the second wall portion 52 may be inclined outward in the vehicle width direction from the lower edge toward the upper edge 521. When the inner surface of the second wall portion 52 is inclined, the second wall portion 52 is less likely to act as a barrier to air conditioning wind.

[0029] ≪Third wall section≫ An upper edge 531 of the third wall portion 53 extends upward from an upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 toward the instrument panel 2. In this example, the upper edge 531 extends from the upper edge 511 to approximately the middle portion in the height direction of the second side edge 24. It is preferable that the upper edge 531 of the third wall portion 53 does not overlap the second side edge 24 of the air outlet 20 when the cup holder 3 is viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

[0030] The height of the third wall portion 53 increases from the rear to the front of the vehicle. The height of the third wall portion 53 is the vertical distance from the upper surface of the shelf portion 27 to the upper edge 531. The height of the third wall portion 53 ensures a large space for the storage portion 30. The height of the third wall portion 53 also ensures the rigidity of the third wall portion 53. In this example, the height of the front end of the third wall portion 53 is higher than the height of the front end of the second wall portion 52. That is, the height of the front end of the second wall portion 52 is lower than the height of the front end of the third wall portion 53. If the height of the front end of the second wall portion 52 is lower than the height of the front end of the third wall portion 53, the conditioned air from the air outlet 20 is easily guided to the outside of the vehicle. The height of the front end of the third wall portion 53 and the height of the front end of the second wall portion 52 may be the same.

[0031] The inner surface of the third wall portion 53 may be inclined outward in the vehicle width direction from the lower edge toward the upper edge 531. When the inner surface of the third wall portion 53 is inclined, the third wall portion 53 is less likely to act as a barrier to air conditioning wind.

[0032] <Action and Effects> In the cup holder structure 1 of the embodiment, the second wall portion 52 of the cup holder 3 functions as a grip for an occupant to place his / her hand on when getting on or off the vehicle. The reason why the second wall portion 52 functions as a grip is that the upper edge 521 of the second wall portion 52 extends upward from the upper edge 511 of the first wall portion 51 toward the instrument panel 2. That is, the upper edge 521 of the second wall portion 52 extends upward from the lower side of the vehicle as it moves from the rear to the front of the vehicle, and it is easy to place a hand on the upper edge 521 of the second wall portion 52. In addition, since the height of the second wall portion 52 increases as it moves from the rear to the front of the vehicle, a wide space in the height direction of the storage portion 30 is secured, and it is easy to insert a finger deeply into this space and firmly grip the second wall portion 52.

[0033] In the cup holder structure 1 of the embodiment, when no object is stored in the storage portion 30 of the cup holder 3, the overall shape of the air outlet 20 is visible when the cup holder 3 is viewed from the rear of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, the flow of conditioned air from the air outlet 20 into the vehicle compartment is not obstructed by the cup holder 3. In other words, with the cup holder structure 1 described above, even if the cup holder 3 is disposed near the air outlet 20, the interior of the vehicle can be cooled or heated by the conditioned air from the air outlet 20.

[0034] In the cup holder structure 1 of the embodiment, when an object, for example, a can 10 is stored in the storage section 30 of the cup holder 3, the second wall portion 52 and the third wall portion 53 have a function of guiding the conditioned air as shown in Fig. 3. When the can 10 is located behind the air outlet 20, the conditioned air coming out of the air outlet 20 hits the can 10 and diffuses to the left and right, but after diffusion, hits the second wall portion 52 and the third wall portion 53 and flows toward the rear of the vehicle. In other words, in the cup holder structure 1, the conditioned air from the air outlet 20 flows to the rear of the vehicle through the gap between the second wall portion 52 and the can 10 and between the third wall portion 53 and the can 10. By forming such a flow, the conditioned air from the air outlet 20 can cool or warm the interior of the vehicle and can also cool or warm the can 10.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is intended to include all modifications within the scope of the claims and their equivalent meanings. For example, the following modifications are possible.

[0036] (1) Upper edge 531 of third wall portion 53 may extend from upper edge 511 of first wall portion 51 toward instrument panel 2 so that the height of third wall portion 53 is uniform. In other words, among the walls 5 of cup holder 3, at least upper edge 521 of second wall portion 52 needs to extend upward from upper edge 511 toward instrument panel 2. This is because it is second wall portion 52, which is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, that an occupant places his or her hands on when getting in or out of the vehicle. If upper edge 531 of third wall portion 53 also extends upward from upper edge 511 toward instrument panel 2, it is easier to ensure the rigidity of cup holder 3 as a whole.

[0037] (2) The cup holder structure 1 may be provided below an air outlet (not shown) provided on the right side of the instrument panel 2. In this case, the cup holder structure 1 has a substantially symmetrical configuration with the cup holder structure 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0038] (3) Cup holder structure 1 may be provided below a defroster outlet (not shown) provided on instrument panel 2. The defroster outlet is connected to a side defroster duct. In cup holder structure 1 provided below the defroster outlet, items stored in the cup holder can be kept warm by conditioned air from the defroster outlet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Cup holder structure 2. Instrument panel 20 Air outlet 21 Upper edge 22 Lower edge 23 First side edge 24 Second side edge 27 Shelf 3 Cup holder 30 Storage unit 4 Bottom 5 Wall 51 First wall 511 Upper edge 52 Second wall 521 Upper edge 53 Third wall 531 Upper edge 10 cans

Claims

[Claim 1] A cup holder is provided on the outer side of the instrument panel in the vehicle width direction. the cup holder includes a wall portion forming a storage portion behind an air-conditioning air outlet provided in the instrument panel, The wall portion is A first wall portion disposed rearward of the housing portion; A second wall portion is provided on the outer side of the storage portion in the vehicle width direction, an upper edge of the first wall portion is at substantially the same height as a lower edge of the air outlet when the cup holder is viewed from the rear of the vehicle; An upper edge of the second wall portion extends upward from an upper edge of the first wall portion toward the instrument panel. Cup holder structure.

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