Container holder and container housing structure

Abstract

To provide a container holder capable of suitably storing containers of various shapes and sizes.SOLUTION: A container holder 10 can selectively store a first container and a second container with a larger area in plan view than the first container in an interior space opened upward. The container holder 10 includes: a lower storage part 20 constituting a first space in which the first container can be stored; an upper storage part 30 provided above the lower storage part 20, connected to the first space, and constituting a second space with a larger area in plan view than the first space, and capable of storing the second container; and a support part capable of supporting a lower end of the second container above the first space. The upper storage part 30 includes a deformable part 60 that can be deformed from a state in which it constitutes an outer shape of the second space to a state in which it enters the second space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container holder capable of accommodating containers such as plastic bottles and paper packs, and a container accommodation structure using such a container holder.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various shapes of container holders capable of accommodating containers such as plastic bottles and paper packs have been developed. As such a container holder, there is the container holder described in Patent Document 1. In the container holder of Patent Document 1, it includes a cylindrical lower accommodating portion and a rectangular tubular upper accommodating portion. A cylindrical container can be accommodated in the lower accommodating portion, and a rectangular tubular container can be accommodated in the upper accommodating portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the container holder described in Patent Document 1, although containers with different shapes can be selected and accommodated, for the container accommodated in the lower accommodating portion, only the vicinity of the lower end is held, so there is a risk of lacking stability. Also, if an attempt is made to hold the upper end side of the container accommodated in the lower accommodating portion, it will hinder the accommodation of the container in the upper accommodating portion. In order to enable the selection and accommodation of containers with different shapes, it has been difficult to improve the stability of the container accommodated in the lower accommodating portion.

[0005] <000002​​​​​

[0006] The first configuration is a container holder capable of selectively accommodating a first container and a second container having a larger area in plan view than the first container in an open-topped internal space, comprising: a lower accommodating portion that constitutes a first space capable of accommodating the first container; an upper accommodating portion provided above the lower accommodating portion, communicating with the first space and having a larger area in plan view than the first space, thereby constituting a second space capable of accommodating the second container; and a support portion capable of supporting the lower end of the second container above the first space, wherein the upper accommodating portion includes a deformable portion that can change from a state constituting the outer shape of the second space to a state in which it enters the second space.

[0007] In the first configuration, when accommodating the second container, the deformable portion is positioned to form the outer shape of the second space, thereby allowing the second container to be held in the second space. Furthermore, when the first container, which is housed in the lower storage section, extends into the second space, the deformable portion can be positioned to retract into the second space, bringing it close to or in contact with the first container, thereby allowing the first container to be held appropriately. Additionally, even when there is a gap between the second container and the upper storage section, the second container can also be held appropriately by positioning the deformable portion in the second space.

[0008] The second configuration is that, in addition to the first configuration, the first space is cylindrical and the second space is rectangular.

[0009] Since cylindrical containers with bottoms and rectangular containers with bottoms that have a larger surface area in plan view than cylindrical containers with bottoms are widely used, in the second configuration, the shape of the container holder can be made to match those that are widely used by matching the shapes of the first and second spaces to the shapes of those containers.

[0010] The third configuration, in addition to the second configuration, involves the deformed portion entering the second space by inverting the corner portion constituting the second space toward the inside of the second space.

[0011] In the third configuration, since the corner portion that constitutes the second space is used as the deformable part, there is no need to separately prepare a member for entering the second space, and the overall configuration of the container holder can be simplified.

[0012] The fourth configuration, in addition to the third configuration, has the deformed portion provided at each of two adjacent corners.

[0013] In the fourth configuration, the stability of the first container housed in the container holder 10 can be improved by holding the first container at multiple points.

[0014] The fifth configuration allows for changing the amount by which the deformed portion enters the second space, in addition to any of the first to fourth configurations.

[0015] In the fifth configuration, the amount to which the deformable part enters can be changed according to the shape of the container to be accommodated, so that containers of various shapes can be suitably accommodated.

[0016] The sixth configuration, in addition to the fifth configuration, is provided with an extension wall portion that is erected above the deformed portion on the side opposite to the direction in which the deformed portion enters.

[0017] In the sixth configuration, even when the deformed portion is inserted into the second space, the first container can be pushed into the second space while pressing the lower end of the first container against the extended wall, allowing the first container to be easily accommodated.

[0018] The seventh configuration, in addition to any of the first to fourth configurations, further includes a housing space adjacent to the upper housing and the lower housing that communicates vertically and can accommodate electronic equipment.

[0019] In the seventh configuration, in addition to being able to selectively accommodate the first and second containers in the container holder, electronic devices can also be accommodated, thus further expanding the applications of the container holder.

[0020] The eighth configuration is provided with a mounting portion that can be attached to a wheelchair on the outer surface on the side opposite to the direction in which the deformation part enters, in addition to any of the first to fourth configurations.

[0021] In the eighth configuration, since it can be attached to the wheelchair such that the side where the deformation part can be deformed faces the front, the entry of the deformation part into the second space can be suitably adjusted.

[0022] The ninth configuration is a housing structure of the first container by the container holder of the third configuration, wherein the corner portion that has entered the second space of the deformation part abuts or is close to the outer surface of the first container housed in the internal space of the container holder.

[0023] In the ninth configuration, the first container can be stably held using the container holder of the third configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of the container holder. [Figure 2] It is a front view of the container holder. [Figure 3] It is a rear view of the container holder. [Figure 4] It is a left side view of the container holder. [Figure 5] It is a plan view of the container holder. [Figure 6] It is a bottom view of the container holder. [Figure 7] It is a sectional view taken along line A - A. [Figure 8] It is a sectional view taken along line B - B. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view of only the deformation part. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view of the state in which a bottomed square cylindrical container is housed in the container holder. [Figure 11] It is a plan view of the state in which a bottomed square cylindrical container is housed in the container holder. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view when the deformation part is deformed. [Figure 13] This is a plan view of the deformed part after deformation. [Figure 14] This is a plan view showing a cylindrical container with a bottom housed inside a container holder. [Figure 15] This diagram explains how to spread out the deformed area. [Figure 16] This figure shows the state where the amount of deformation that has entered the second space has been reduced. [Figure 17] This diagram shows a wheelchair with a container holder attached. [Figure 18] This is a perspective view of an attachment used to mount a container holder to a wheelchair. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] <Embodiment> The container holder 10 according to this embodiment is used by being attached to the front side of the armrest of a wheelchair and is capable of accommodating containers such as beverages in its internal space. In the following description, the side of the container holder that is attached to the wheelchair is defined as the rear side, and the vertical direction when attached to the wheelchair is defined as the up and down direction.

[0026] First, the structure of the container holder 10 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The container holder 10 is a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top and comprises a lower storage section 20 which forms a first space inside, and an upper storage section 30 which is a rectangular tube shape and communicates with the lower storage section 20 and forms a second space inside. The lower storage section 20 is composed of a disc-shaped bottom plate 21 which closes the lower end, and a cylindrical side wall 22 which rises upward from the bottom plate 21. The thickness of the bottom plate 21 is approximately uniform, and the thickness of the side wall 22 is also approximately uniform.

[0027] The upper storage section 30 has a rectangular plate-shaped front wall 31 that is erected upward, with the rear side being the rear and the opposite side being the front, and the front-to-back direction being the thickness direction. The thickness of this front wall 31 is approximately uniform, and its width from left to right is greater than the outer diameter of the lower storage section 20. A rectangular plate-shaped front upper end wall 31a is provided erected upward at approximately the center of the upper end of the front wall 31. The front and rear surfaces of this front upper end wall 31a form a continuous plane with the front and rear surfaces of the front wall 31, and the width from left to right of the front upper end wall 31a is about one-third of that of the front wall 31, and its center in the left-to-right direction coincides with the front wall 31.

[0028] In front of the front upper end wall 31a, a plate-shaped front retaining portion 31b, which is substantially the same shape as the front upper end wall 31a, is provided at a certain distance. The front upper end wall 31a and the front retaining portion 31b are connected at their lower ends so that their shapes match when viewed from the front, and their upper and left and right ends are open. Furthermore, the front upper end wall 31a and the front retaining portion 31b are connected at a certain width approximately in the center in the left-right direction, and up to approximately the midpoint of the heights of the front upper end wall 31a and the front retaining portion 31b, and this portion is referred to as the front protrusion 31c that extends upward. The distance between the front upper end wall 31a and the front retaining portion 31b is approximately equal to the thickness of the front upper end wall 31a, the front retaining portion 31b, etc.

[0029] The front end of the left front wall 31 is connected to the front end of a plate-shaped left front wall 32 that is erected upward with the left-right direction as the thickness direction. The thickness of this left front wall 32 is approximately uniform, and its height is equal to that of the front wall 31. The rear end of the left front wall 32 is connected to the rear left wall 33 that is erected upward with the left-right direction as the thickness direction. This left rear wall 33 protrudes to the left of the left front wall 32, and its thickness is approximately equal to that of the left front wall 32. The front-rear width of the left front wall 32 is approximately three times the front-rear width of the left rear wall 33, and the height of the left rear wall 33 is greater than the height of the left front wall 32, and its height is approximately equal to the height from the lower end of the front wall 31 to the upper end of the front upper wall 31a. Furthermore, the width from the front end of the left front wall 32 to the rear end of the left rear wall 33 is greater than the outer diameter of the lower housing section 21.

[0030] A rectangular plate-shaped left upper end wall 32a is provided, extending upward from slightly in front of the center of the upper end of the left front part 32 to the rear end. The front and rear surfaces of this left upper end wall 32a form a continuous plane with the left and right surfaces of the left wall 32, and the position of the upper end of the left upper end wall 32a is approximately equal to the upper end of the left rear part 33 of the left wall. To the left of the left upper end wall 32a, a plate-shaped left retaining part 32b is provided at a certain distance, with the same height as the left upper end wall 32a and a length in the front-to-back direction of approximately half that of the left upper end wall 32a. The left upper end wall 32a and the left retaining part 32b are connected at the rear and lower ends, and the upper and front ends are open. The distance between the left upper end wall 32a and the left retaining part 32b is approximately equal to the distance between the front upper end wall 31a and the front retaining part 31b.

[0031] The left upper end wall 32a has a protrusion 32c on its left side that extends vertically and projects to the left. Two of these protrusions 32c are provided at a predetermined distance apart. One protrusion 32c is positioned opposite the left holding portion 32b at a location where it is shielded by the left holding portion 32b, while the other protrusion 32c is positioned in front of the front end of the left holding portion 32b. The amount of leftward projection of the protrusion 32c is approximately half the distance between the left upper end wall 32a and the left holding portion 32b. On the other hand, the right side of the left holding portion 32b has a protrusion 32d that is the same shape as the protrusion 32c. The position where this protrusion 32d is provided on the left holding portion 32b is near the front end of the left holding portion 32b.

[0032] The front end of the front right side wall 34 is connected to the right end of the front right side wall 31, and the rear right side wall 35 is connected to the rear end of the front right side wall 34. The shapes of these front right side wall 34 and rear right side wall 35 are symmetrical to the shapes of the front left side wall 32 and rear left side wall 34. The front right side wall 34 is also provided with a right upper end wall 34a, a right side holding portion 34b, and protrusions 34c and 34d, and the shapes of these right upper end wall 34a, right side holding portion 34b, and protrusions 34c and 34d are symmetrical to the shapes of the left upper end wall 32a, left side holding portion 32b, and protrusions 32c and 32d.

[0033] The rear ends of the left rear wall 33 and the right rear wall 35 are connected to the left and right ends of a plate-shaped rear wall 36 that extends upward. The height of this rear wall 36 is equal to the height of the left rear wall 33 and the right rear wall 35. The left rear wall 33 has a shape that protrudes to the left, and the right rear wall 34 has a shape that protrudes to the right, so the width of the rear wall 36 is greater than the width of the front wall 31. In addition, a trapezoidal plate-shaped extension wall 36a that extends upward is provided approximately in the center of the upper end of the rear wall 36.

[0034] The lower housing section 20 and the upper housing section 30, configured as described above, are connected via a plate-shaped support section 40. The support section 40 is provided so as to protrude outward from the upper end of the side wall 22 of the lower housing section 20, and the outer end of the support section 40 is connected to the lower ends of the front side wall 31, the front part of the left side wall 32, the rear part of the left side wall 33, the front part of the right side wall 34, and the rear part of the right side wall 35 that constitute the upper housing section 30. In this case, in a plan view, the circle formed by the inner circumferential surface of the side wall 22 of the lower housing section 22 is inscribed in the rear side wall 36. Also, since the left-right width of the front side wall 31 is larger than the outer diameter of the side wall 22, in a plan view, there is a gap between the circle formed by the inner circumferential surface of the side wall 22 of the lower housing section 22 and the front side wall 31, the front part of the left side wall 32, the rear part of the left side wall 33, the front part of the right side wall 34, and the rear part of the right side wall 35. In other words, in a plan view, the lower storage section 20 is a smaller circle than the inscribed circle of the upper storage section 30. To put it another way, when the container holder 10 is viewed from above, the circle formed by the inner circumferential surface of the lower storage section 30 is not obscured by the various parts that make up the upper storage section 30.

[0035] The rear side of the rear wall 36 is provided with a mounting portion 50 used when attaching the container holder 10 to a wheelchair. This mounting portion 50 has an internal space 50a between its plate-like surface and the rear wall 36, and is attached to the wheelchair using this internal space 50a.

[0036] Next, the deformable portion 60 will be described with reference to Figures 1-8 and Figure 9. The deformable portion 60 is a long, plate-shaped member that is installed so as to extend from between the left upper end wall 32a and the left holding portion 32b, through the front upper end wall 31a and the front holding portion 31b, and to the right upper end wall 34a and the right holding portion 34b. This deformable portion 60 is a separate component from the main body of the container holder 10 and is removable.

[0037] The deformable portion 60 is a long, plate-shaped member with a uniform height in the vertical direction and a uniform thickness. The height of the deformable portion 60 is equal to the height from the bottom between the front upper end wall 31a and the front holding portion 31b to the upper ends of the front upper end wall 31a and the front holding portion 31b. The thickness of the deformable portion 60 is slightly thinner than the distance between the right side of the left upper end wall 32a and the 32d provided on the right side of the left holding portion 32b.

[0038] A recess 67 is provided in the center of the longitudinal direction of the deformable portion 60, extending upward from below. The shape of this recess 67 is approximately the same as the outer shape of the front convex portion 31c provided between the front upper end wall 31a and the front holding portion 31b. In the deformable portion 60, three holes penetrating in the front-to-back direction are provided between one end and the recess 67, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, three oval-shaped holes penetrating in the front-to-back direction and extending vertically are provided between the other end and the recess 67, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. These holes are referred to as the first hole 61, second hole 62, third hole 63, fourth hole 64, fifth hole 65, and sixth hole 66, starting from the side of one end. The provision of these holes 61 to 66 reduces the strength of the deformable portion 60 at the locations where the holes 61 to 66 are provided, making it easier to bend the deformable portion 60 at those locations.

[0039] The length from one end of the deformed portion 60 to the center of the first hole 61 is approximately equal to the length from the rear end of the gap between the left upper end wall 32a and the left retaining portion 32b to the front end of the left upper end wall 32a. The length from the center of the first hole 61 to the center of the second hole 62 is approximately equal to the length from the front end of the left upper end wall 32a to the front end of the left front part 32 of the left wall. The length from the center of the second hole 62 to the center of the third hole 63 is approximately equal to the length from the left end of the front wall 31 to the left end of the front upper end wall 31a. The length from the center of the third hole 63 to the center of the recess 67 is approximately equal to the length from the left end of the front upper end wall 31a to the center of the front convex portion 31c. Similarly, the length from the other end of the deformed portion 60 to the center of the sixth hole 66 is approximately equal to the length from the rear end of the gap between the right upper end wall 34a and the right retaining portion 34b to the front end of the right upper end wall 34a. The length from the center of the sixth hole 66 to the center of the fifth hole 65 is approximately equal to the length from the front end of the right upper end wall 34a to the front end of the right front part 34 of the right wall. The length from the center of the fifth hole 65 to the center of the fourth hole 64 is approximately equal to the length from the right end of the front side wall 31 to the right end of the front upper end wall 31a. The length from the center of the fourth hole 64 to the center of the recess 67 is approximately equal to the length from the right end of the front upper end wall 31a to the center of the front protrusion 31c.

[0040] The deformable portion 60 is attached to the upper housing portion 30 by being fitted in from above. When fitting the deformable portion 60, the deformable portion 60 is bent at the positions of the second hole 62 and the fifth hole 65, and the recess 67 of the deformable portion 60 is fitted in so that it engages with the front convex portion 31 from above, with one end fitting into the gap between the left upper end wall 32a and the left holding portion 32b, and the other end fitting into the gap between the right upper end wall 34a and the right holding portion 34b. In the gap between the left upper end wall 32a and the left holding portion 32b, the deformable portion 60 is held in place by the convex portions 32c and 32d contacting both sides of the deformable portion 60, and in the gap between the right upper end wall 34a and the right holding portion 34b, the deformable portion 60 is held in place by the convex portions 34c and 34d contacting both sides of the deformable portion 60. Furthermore, the bent portion of the deformed section 60, that is, the portion where the second hole 62 and the fifth hole 65 are provided, is located slightly outward above the connection point between the front side wall 31 and the front part of the left side wall 32, and slightly outward above the connection point between the front side wall 31 and the front part of the right side wall 34, respectively.

[0041] Because the retaining portion 60 is attached in this manner, the deformable portion 60 constitutes a part of the upper housing portion 30, and it can be said that the upper housing portion 30 is equipped with the deformable portion 60. Furthermore, the deformable portion 60 is formed at the upper end of the upper housing portion 30 and, together with the front upper end wall 31a, the left upper end wall 32a, the vicinity of the upper end of the left rear wall 33, the right upper end wall 34a, the vicinity of the upper end of the right rear wall 35, and the vicinity of the upper end of the rear wall 36, surrounds the vicinity of the upper end of the second space and can be said to constitute the second space together with them. The deformable portion 60 constitutes a part of the inner surface of the upper housing portion 30 and can be said to constitute a pair of adjacent corners surrounding the second space. Because the deformable portion 60 is attached to the upper end of the upper housing portion 30 and a support portion 40 is provided at the lower end of the upper housing portion 30, it can also be said that the deformable portion 60 and the support portion 40 are spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0042] As described above, the container holder 10 accommodates either a first container 71, which is a bottomed cylindrical container, or a second container 72, which is a bottomed rectangular tubular container. The outer diameter of the first container 71 in plan view is smaller than the inner diameter of the first storage section 20. That is, when the first container 71 is stored in the container holder 10, the first container 71 is housed in the internal space of the first storage section 20, and the bottom surface of the first container 71 is supported by contact with the bottom surface 21 of the first storage section 20. The second container 72 is approximately square in plan view, and the diameter of the circumscribed circle of that square is larger than the inner diameter of the first storage section 20. That is, when the second container 72 is stored in the container holder 10, the second container 72 does not enter the internal space of the first storage section 20, and a part of the bottom surface of the second container 72 is supported by contact with the upper surface of the support section 40, and it is housed in the second storage section 30.

[0043] When accommodating the second container 72, as shown in Figure 1-9, the deformable portion 60 is used in a state where it is bent 90 degrees backward at the positions of the second hole 62 and the fifth hole 65. In this state, the second container 72 is accommodated so that each side faces the inner surface of the second accommodating portion 30 and the deformable portion 60, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

[0044] Next, the state in which the first container 71, which is a bottomed cylindrical container, is housed in the container holder 10 will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14. When viewed from the part held between the left upper end wall 32a and the left holding part 32c, the deformable part 60 is bent to the right at the position of the first hole 61, bent forward at the position of the second hole 62, and bent to the right at the position of the third hole 63. Similarly, when viewed from the part held between the right upper end wall 34a and the right holding part 34c, it is bent to the left at the position of the sixth hole 66, bent forward at the position of the fifth hole 65, and bent to the left at the position of the fourth hole 64. In the example shown in Figures 12 to 14, the bending is at a 90-degree angle at each bending point. That is, by deforming the deformable part 60, a pair of adjacent corners surrounding the second space are reversed and enter into the second space.

[0045] With the deformable portion 60 deformed as described above, the first container 71 is placed in the container holder 10 from above. At this time, the front surface of the rear wall 36, the bent portion of the deformable portion 60 where the second hole 62 is provided, and the bent portion where the fifth hole 65 is provided are in contact with or close to the first container 71. As the first container 71 is placed in the container holder 10 in this manner, the upper side of the first container 71 is held by the rear wall 36 and the deformable portion 60.

[0046] On the other hand, depending on the diameter of the first container 71, it may not be possible to accommodate the first container 71 in the container holder 10 when each part of the deformable section 60 is bent at a 90-degree angle. In this case, the amount by which the deformable section 60 has entered the second space can be reduced to accommodate the first container 71. At this time, a person can reduce the amount by which the deformable section 60 has entered by manually pushing open the bent parts of the deformable section 60, but as shown in Figure 15, the amount by which the deformable section 60 has entered can be reduced by using the first container 71. Specifically, the bottom of the first container 71 is brought into contact with the extension wall 36a, while the opposite part is brought into contact with the bent part of the deformable section 60. In this way, the contact point between the first container 71 and the extension wall 36a becomes the fulcrum, the top of the first container 71 becomes the point of force application, and the contact point between the first container 71 and the deformable section 60 becomes the point of application of force, and by the principle of leverage, the amount by which the deformable section 60 has entered the second space can be reduced with a smaller force. Furthermore, if it becomes necessary to accommodate the second container 72 after removing the first container 71 from the container holder 10, the deformable portion 60 can be returned to a state where it is not inside the second space, so that the deformable portion 60 forms the outer shape of the second space, and then the second container 72 can be accommodated.

[0047] After reducing the amount that the deformed portion 60 has entered the second space as described above, the first container 71 is placed in the container holder 10 from above. At this time, as shown in Figure 16, the front surface of the rear wall 36, the bent portion of the deformed portion 60 where the second hole 62 is provided, and the bent portion where the fifth hole 65 is provided are in contact with or close to the first container 71.

[0048] In the above description, the first container 71 is a cylindrical container with a bottom, but any container that can fit into the first space, which is the internal space of the lower storage section 20, may be a rectangular container with a bottom. In this case as well, the upper part of the rectangular container with a bottom can be suitably held by adjusting the amount that the deformable part 60 enters the second space. Also, although the second container 72 is a square container with a bottom, any other rectangular container with a bottom that does not fit into the first space of the lower storage section 20 but can fit into the second space of the upper storage section 30 may be used, or any cylindrical container with a bottom. If the gap between the second container 72 and the inner surface of the upper storage section 30 is large when the second container 72 is stored in the second space of the upper storage section 30, the deformable part 60 may be deformed to enter the second space even when the second container 72 is stored.

[0049] As shown in Figure 17, the container holder 10 according to this embodiment is attached to the arm support 101 of the wheelchair 100 via an attachment 80. The attachment 80 has a circular body 81 into which a cylindrical through hole 82 into which the front portion of the arm support 101 can be inserted is formed. A cylindrical shaft portion 83 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the through hole 82, and a widened disc-shaped flange portion 84 is provided at the tip of the shaft portion 83. When attaching the container holder 10 to the attachment 80, the container holder 10 is attached to the attachment 80 from above so that the flange portion 84 fits into the internal space 50a of the attachment portion 50. Normally, the attachment 80 is pre-attached to the arm support 101 of the wheelchair 100, and the container holder 10 is then attached to that attachment 80. However, the attachment 80 with the container holder 10 attached may also be attached to the wheelchair 100.

[0050] With the above configuration, the container holder 10 according to this embodiment provides the following effects.

[0051] When accommodating the second container 72, the deformable portion 60 is kept in a state that constitutes the outer shape of the second space, thereby allowing the second container 72 to be held in the second space. Furthermore, when the first container 71, which is housed in the lower accommodating portion 20, extends into the second space, the deformable portion 60 is made to enter the second space, allowing the deformable portion to be brought close to or in contact with the first container 71, thereby allowing the first container 71 to be held appropriately.

[0052] Since cylindrical containers with bottoms and rectangular containers with bottoms that have a larger area in plan view than cylindrical containers with bottoms are widely used, in this embodiment, by matching the shapes of the first and second spaces to the shapes of these containers, the shape of the container holder 10 can be made to match those that are widely used.

[0053] Since the deformable portion 60 uses the corner portion that constitutes the second space, there is no need to separately prepare a member to insert into the second space, and the overall structure of the container holder 10 can be simplified.

[0054] Since the deformable portion 60 can be deformed in two places to hold the first container 71, the stability of the first container 71 housed in the container holder 10 can be improved.

[0055] Since the amount that the deformable portion 60 enters the second space can be changed, various shapes of containers can be suitably accommodated.

[0056] Even when the deformed portion 60 is in the second space, the first container can be pushed into the second space while pressing the lower end of the first container 71 against the extended wall portion 36a, allowing the first container to be easily accommodated.

[0057] Since the deformable side of the deformable part 60 can be attached to the wheelchair 100 so that it faces forward, the extent to which the deformable part 60 enters the second space can be easily adjusted.

[0058] <Variation> In this embodiment, the structure is a two-tiered configuration with an upper storage section 30 and a lower storage section 20. However, a larger storage section may be provided above the upper storage section 30. In this case, the shape of the storage section above the upper storage section 30 can be cylindrical or rectangular to match the container intended to be stored, and a deformable section may also be provided in the storage section above the upper storage section 30 to hold the container stored in the upper storage section 30. Alternatively, an even smaller storage section may be provided below the lower storage section 20. In this case, the shape of the storage section below the lower storage section 20 can be cylindrical or rectangular to match the container intended to be stored, and a deformable section may also be provided in the lower storage section 20 to hold the container stored in the storage section below the lower storage section.

[0059] In this embodiment, the upper housing portion 30 is a rectangular tube, but it is not limited to a rectangular tube and may be any other polygonal tube shape.

[0060] In this embodiment, the upper storage section 30 is rectangular and the lower storage section 20 is cylindrical, but the upper storage section 30 may be cylindrical and the lower storage section 20 rectangular. As beverage containers, rectangular beverage containers that are narrower than typical PET bottles are also widely used, so such rectangular beverage containers may be stored in the lower storage section 20, and the upper part of the rectangular beverage container may be supported by the deformable section 60 provided in the upper storage section 30.

[0061] In this embodiment, the upper storage section 30 is rectangular and the lower storage section 20 is cylindrical. However, the upper storage section 30 may be rectangular and the lower storage section 20 may be a smaller rectangular shape than the upper storage section 30. Since rectangular beverage containers of various sizes are widely used, a smaller rectangular beverage container may be stored in the lower storage section 20, and the upper part of the rectangular beverage container may be supported by the deformation section 60 provided in the upper storage section 30.

[0062] In this embodiment, the upper storage section 30 is rectangular and the lower storage section 20 is cylindrical. However, the upper storage section 30 may be cylindrical and capable of accommodating a typical PET bottle, while the lower storage section 20 may be cylindrical with a smaller diameter than a typical PET bottle. Since cylindrical beverage containers that are thinner than typical PET bottles are also widely used, a thinner cylindrical beverage container may be accommodated in the lower storage section 20, and the upper part of the rectangular beverage container may be supported by the deformable section 60 provided in the upper storage section 30. Alternatively, a typical PET bottle may be accommodated in the upper storage section 30.

[0063] In this embodiment, the deformable portion 60 is made deformable at both of the adjacent pair of corners, but it may also be made deformable at only one corner. Also, in this embodiment, the deformable portion 60 forms two corners surrounding the second space, but it may also form three or more corners, and in that case, all corners may be made deformable, or only some corners may be made deformable.

[0064] In this embodiment, the deformable portion 60 is bendable at three points around a single corner, but it may be bendable at more points. For example, if it is bendable at five points, the amount that the deformable portion extends into the second space can be changed by selecting whether or not to bend each bending point at a right angle, thereby suitably accommodating containers of various sizes and shapes.

[0065] The deformable portion may be formed in an arc shape. That is, the arc-shaped deformable portion may constitute a part of the upper housing portion that forms the outer diameter of the second space, and the arc-shaped deformable portion may invert and enter into the interior of the second space, thereby coming into contact with or approaching the housed container.

[0066] In this embodiment, the deformable portion 60 is a long, strip-shaped member that forms two corners surrounding the second space. However, the shape of the deformable portion 60 is not limited to this, and any shape that can fit into the second space inside the upper housing portion 30 is acceptable. For example, a pressable portion may be provided on the side surface of the upper housing portion 30, and by pressing this pressable portion, the side surface may deform and fit into the second space.

[0067] In this embodiment, the first space is shaped to enclose all of the sides and bottom of the lower storage section 20, but gaps may be provided in the bottom plate 21 and side walls 22 of the lower storage section 20. In this case as well, the cylindrical shape of the entire lower storage section 20 can be said to form the first space inside. The same applies to the upper storage section that encloses the second space.

[0068] In this embodiment, the deformed portion 60 can be returned to its original state from a state in which it has entered the second space to a state in which it forms a corner surrounding the second space. However, it may also be the case that it cannot return to its original state from the state in which it has entered the second space.

[0069] The container holder 10 may also be provided with spaces other than the space for selectively accommodating the first container 71 and the second container 72. Specifically, spaces extending vertically may be provided next to the upper storage section 30 and the lower storage section 20, and electronic devices such as smartphones and mobile phones may be stored in these spaces. The space for accommodating electronic devices may be shared with at least one of the first space and the second space, in which case the electronic devices may be held depending on the shape of the first space and the second space, or at least one of the first space and the second space may be provided with a member capable of holding the electronic devices. Furthermore, a member with an internal space capable of accommodating electronic devices may be provided on the outside of the upper storage section 30 and the lower storage section 20.

[0070] In this embodiment, the container holder 10 is attached to a wheelchair 100, but the attachment target is not limited to the wheelchair 100; it may be attached to various objects such as automobiles or bicycles. Alternatively, the container holder 10 may be used by simply placing it on a surface without attaching it to a vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] Container holder...10, Lower storage section...20, Upper storage section...30, Extension wall section...36a, Mounting section...50, Deformable section...60, First container...71, Second container...72, Wheelchair...100

Claims

1. A container holder capable of selectively accommodating a first container and a second container having a larger area in plan view than the first container, in an internal space with an open top, A lower housing portion which constitutes a first space capable of housing the first container, An upper storage section is provided above the lower storage section, communicates with the first space, has a larger area in plan view than the first space, is capable of accommodating the second container, and constitutes a rectangular cylindrical space, It comprises a support portion capable of supporting the lower end of the second container above the first space, The upper housing portion has a deformable portion that can change from a state in which it constitutes the outer shape of the second space to a state in which it enters the second space. The deformable portion is a long, rectangular member that, when bent, forms a corner of the outer shape of the second space, and the portion forming the corner is bent in a way that it reverses toward the second space, thereby entering the second space, thus forming a container holder.

2. The container holder according to claim 1, wherein the first space is a cylindrical space.

3. The container holder according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion comprises a plurality of corners, and a pair of adjacent corners enter the second space.

4. The container holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount by which the deformed portion enters the second space can be changed.

5. The container holder according to claim 4, wherein an extension wall portion is provided on the side opposite to the direction in which the deformed portion enters, and is erected above the deformed portion.

6. The container holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a storage space adjacent to the upper storage portion and the lower storage portion that communicates vertically and is capable of accommodating electronic equipment.

7. The container holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a mounting portion for attachment to a wheelchair is provided on the outer surface on the side opposite to the direction in which the deformed portion enters.

8. A container housing structure for a first container using a container holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the corner portion of the deformed portion that enters the second space is in contact with or close to the outer surface of the first container housed in the internal space of the container holder.

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