JPH0221973B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle storage box device such as an ashtray device or a grab box, and more particularly to a spring member as an element of a biasing mechanism provided in the storage box device by applying a predetermined preliminary biasing force. It relates to a structure that is installed and set in a given state.

A storage box device for a vehicle, for example, an ashtray device, is conventionally equipped with a biasing mechanism that biases an ashtray case in the drawing direction (opening direction), and a mechanism that locks and holds the case with a retainer in the closed position. and a locking means, and by releasing the locking of the locking means as necessary, the ashtray case is pushed to a predetermined pull-out position (open position) by the biasing force of the biasing mechanism. It is like that.

Although various means are possible for regulating the pull-out position of the ashtray case, a stopper means (case stopper mechanism) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is generally used. The device shown in these figures (Figure 1 shows the state in which the ashtray case is pulled out;
(Fig. 2 shows the stored state), the protector 2 is attached to the inner part of the ashtray case 1 via a plate spring, and a part of the center of the protector 2 is made to protrude upward, so that one stopper (engaging) part 3, and a guide protector 5 provided on the retainer 4.
The other stopper (engaging) part 6 is provided at one end of the
The return end of the ashtray case 1, ie, the pull-out position, is defined by the contact between these stopper parts 3 and 6.

By the way, in such a device, in order to ensure that the ashtray case is locked by the contact between the two stoppers, a preliminary biasing force is generally applied to the spring member of the biasing mechanism. In other words, a certain biasing force (preliminary biasing force) is applied to the ashtray case in the return direction when the stoppers 3 and 6 are in contact with each other. The spring member is made to act, and the ashtray case is pushed in while elastically deforming the spring member to cause one stopper part 3 to ride over the other stopper part 6,
The predetermined pre-biasing force can be stored when the stopper surfaces 7, 8 come into contact with each other.

However, in a device with such a configuration, a considerable stroke (l) is required from when the ashtray case is inserted into the retainer until the above-mentioned preliminary biasing force is accumulated. The opening 9 opened to the outside also becomes narrow, making it difficult to insert cigarette butts, and the inside of the case accumulates at the entrance of the case, causing problems such as the inside of the case not being used effectively.

The present invention was made against the background of the above, and its object is to provide a storage box device for a vehicle that allows a storage case to be effectively set in a retainer in a state where a preliminary biasing force is applied. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a spring member with a pre-biasing force in a short stroke after insertion into the retainer, when the storage case is attached to the retainer, so as to prevent the opening of the storage case from occurring. To provide a storage box device for a vehicle that can accommodate a wide range of storage space.

In order to achieve this object, the vehicle storage box device of the present invention includes (a) a retainer attached to the vehicle body, (b) a storage case held so as to be removable from the retainer, and (c (d) a case stopper mechanism provided between the retainer and the storage case and regulating the open position of the storage case when it is taken out from the retainer; and (d) locking teeth that are continuous in the direction in which the storage case is taken in and taken out. , (e) a rack provided on either one of the storage case and a fixing member on the vehicle body side such as the retainer; and (e) a rack provided on the other of the storage case and a fixing member on the vehicle body side such as the retainer. A biasing mechanism comprising a hollow container-shaped pinion that is provided with engagement teeth that easily mesh and is rotated when the storage case is opened and closed, and a spiral spring housed in the hollow portion of the pinion, the biasing mechanism comprising: has one end attached to a hooked part formed on the pinion, and the other end attached to a hooked part formed on the other of the fixing member on the vehicle body side such as the storage case or retainer. , a pair of stoppers that are attached by being latched to each other, and that contact each other to regulate the rotation of the pinion in a state in which the pinion is rotated and a preliminary biasing force is stored in the spiral spring. portions are respectively provided on the pinion and the other of the storage case and a fixing member on the vehicle body side such as a retainer, and the spiral spring moves the storage case in the opening direction via the pinion and the rack. (f) a biasing mechanism attached to apply a predetermined biasing force in the opening direction even when the storage case is in the open position; The storage case is characterized in that it includes a locking means capable of locking the storage case in a closed position.

In order to clarify the present invention more specifically, an example in which the present invention is applied to an ashtray device will be described below in detail based on the drawings.

In FIGS. 3 to 5, 10 is a cylindrical retainer that accommodates and holds the ashtray case 12;
Brackets 14, 14 are attached to both side walls, and are connected and fixed to an instrument panel of the vehicle body at these brackets 14, 14. As shown in FIG. 5, the retainer 10 includes a pair of substantially U-shaped plate members 16 and 18 arranged so that their bottom surfaces face each other, and a connecting portion 20.
Recessed grooves 22, 22 are formed on the upper sides of both walls, into which rail blocks 24, 24 are fitted and accommodated. The rail blocks 24, 24 and the retainer 10 are provided with a fitting protrusion 26 and a fitting hole 28, respectively, and these are fitted during assembly to determine the relative position of the two.
It is prevented from slipping. As shown in FIG. 6, a protector guide 13 having a guide groove 11 in the center is fixed to the upper wall of the retainer 10.
A stopper part 15 is formed at the end of the protector guide 13 on the ashtray case rearward side, and is adapted to come into contact with a protector stopper part to be described later.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, a protector 17 attached to the ashtray case 12 which is box-shaped and accommodated in the retainer 10 through a leaf spring extends from the forward end of the ashtray case 12. The protector 17 is provided so as to extend in the backward direction, and the center portion of the protector 17 is made to protrude upward, and when the protrusion comes into contact with the stopper portion 15 of the protector guide 13, the ashtray is closed. It is configured as a stopper portion 19 that defines the return end of the case 12. A pair of guide protrusions 3 are provided on the outer side of the upper ends of both side walls 30, 30 of this ashtray case 12.
2 and 32 are provided along the direction of loading and unloading the case 12, and these protruding stripes 32 and 32 are fitted into guide concave portions 34 and 34 of the rail blocks 24 and 24 to provide guidance when loading and unloading the case. It's becoming like that. In addition, on the back side of the case 12,
As shown in FIG. 15, a recess 36 for placing a finger
However, a lid 38 is provided on the front side, which serves as the front wall of the case.

This ashtray case 12 includes FIGS. 4 and 1.
As shown in FIG. 5, a rack member 42 is provided on the back side of the bottom wall portion 40 along the direction in which the case 12 is taken in and taken out. Rack member 4
2 has a side end surface formed as an engaging tooth 44, and a grooved guide part 46 that opens downward is formed in the center part, and this grooved guide part 4
6, a guide block 48 of a predetermined length disposed on the retainer 10 so as to be parallel to this is inserted,
being engaged.

On the other hand, in front of the engaging teeth 44 of the rack member 42 (that is, on the left side in FIG. 4), there is a rack member 4.
A biasing mechanism 50 that stores biasing force by the forward movement (movement in the pushing direction) of 2, and a damper device 5 adjacent thereto that suppresses the movement of the rack, that is, the case 12.
2 are provided on the bottom wall portion 54 of the retainer 10, respectively.

The biasing mechanism 50 includes a container 5 for housing a spiral spring 56, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 14.
8, this container 58 consists of a pinion 60 and a spring receiver 62, both of which have a cylindrical shape with a bottom,
A pinion 60 constitutes its main body. Spring receiver 6
2 are provided with protrusions 64, 64 that protrude downward, and these protrusions 64, 64 are inserted into holes formed in the retainer 10 to prevent them from rotating. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 and 14, the cylindrical wall portion of the spring receiver 62 is provided with a stopper portion 68 that protrudes toward the pinion 60 side, and this stopper portion 68 is located at the front end ( The left end surface in FIGS. 8 and 10 is formed as a stopper surface 70 rising on the pinion 60 side, and the rear end surface (right end surface in the figures) is formed as an inclined surface 72. By providing a notch in the center facing downward, a portion of the stopper portion serves as a hooked portion 74 for hooking one end of the spiral spring.

On the other hand, the pinion 60, which forms the main body of the container 58 and has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, is shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 1.
As shown in FIG. 4, engagement teeth 76 that mesh with the rack member 42 are formed on the outer periphery thereof, and a cylindrical support leg portion that extends downward toward the retainer 10 is provided at the center thereof. 78 are provided. The cylindrical support leg 78 reaches the upper surface of the retainer 10 through a through hole provided in the spring receiver 62, and is rotatably supported there. Cylindrical support leg 78
A stepped pin 80 is inserted into the inside of the pinion 6.
The threaded end portion 82 of the pin 80 penetrates the retainer 10 and protrudes to the back side, and a nut 84 is screwed into this, thereby fixing the pin 80 to the retainer 10. is being carried out. Further outside the cylindrical support leg 78 of the pinion 60, a plurality of hooked parts 86 for hooking one end of the spiral spring 56 are provided at predetermined intervals so as to surround the support leg 78. Support leg 78
One end of the spiral spring 56 can be latched at any position around the periphery. On the other hand, a stopper part 88 is provided inside the outer cylindrical wall part of the pinion 60 at a position corresponding to the stopper part 68 of the spring receiver, and this stopper part 88 is similar to the stopper part 68 of the spring receiver. The rear end surface (the right end surface in FIG. 13) is formed as a stopper surface 90 that falls downward, and the front end surface is formed as an inclined surface 92. That is, the stopper surfaces 90 and 70 come into contact with each other to define the return end of the pinion 60 when the pinion 60 is rotated back when the ashtray case is pulled out.

The spiral spring 56 housed in the container 58 is
As shown in the figure, both ends are bent into a hook shape to form hanging ends 94 and 96, and each of the hanging ends 94 and 96 is connected to the pinion 60 and the spring receiver 60.
The case 12 is latched to latched portions 86 and 74 formed respectively, and a biasing force is stored when the case 12 is advanced in the pushing direction and the pinion 60 rotates.

The damper device 52 disposed adjacent to the biasing mechanism 50 includes a gear 98 that meshes with the pinion 60, as shown in FIGS. When the flange part (not shown) protrudes into the inside of the fluid container 100 disposed below the gear 98 and the pinion 60 is rotated, the flange part (not shown) is pushed into the inside of the fluid container 100 disposed below the gear 98. The rotation of the pinion 60 and, in turn, the movement of the rack member 42 and the ashtray case 12 are suppressed. Note that the damper device 52 is held by a plate 102, and a bent portion 10 formed by forming the plate 102 into the retainer 10.
4, it is fixed to the retainer 10.

The ashtray case 12 is urged by the urging mechanism 50 in the pull-out direction, that is, in the open position direction, and the retainer 10
When the case 12 is pushed in, the urging force locks the case 12 in the closed position so that it does not protrude in the drawing direction, and the locking means is as shown in FIGS. 5 and 15. , a grooved cam 106 provided at the tip of the back surface of the case 12, and a locking mechanism 110 provided with a protrusion 108 that projects into the cam groove. The locking mechanism 110 is mainly composed of a lever 112 which has the protrusion 108 at its tip, and the lever 112 has a pin hole at its base end where the large diameter body 116 of the stepped pin 114 is inserted. It is fitted in and can be rotated around the same pin 114. Note that the pin 114 has a small diameter screw portion at the tip that further penetrates the retainer bottom wall portion 54 and comes out on the back side.
It is fixed to the retainer 10 by screwing a nut thereon. The lever 112 can move up and down along the large diameter body 116 of the pin 114, but normally a coil spring 118 fitted in the large diameter body 116 of the pin 114 is inserted between the lever 112 and the retainer 10. The tip of the stopper member 120 is held in a floating state by a U-shape and is positioned between both stopper parts of the stopper member 120 fixed to the retainer 10. rotation is allowed.

The one grooved cam 106 constituting the locking means
In this case, the side wall surface and the bottom wall surface of the groove are each formed as a cam surface. The side wall cam surface, as shown in FIG. 16, allows the protrusion 108 to rotate left and right along a closed fold line 122 shown by a dashed line in the figure, and the bottom wall cam surface, as shown in FIG. Tsutsuko 1
This is an inclined cam surface for vertically moving the 08, and is formed in a continuous sawtooth shape along the fold line. and each top portion 124, 126, 12
Each cam 13 is formed along a broken line.
2,134,136,138. That is, the inclined cam surface is for relatively moving the protrusions 108 in only one direction, and the protrusions 108 that have climbed over each top cannot move back thereafter. Among these cams, 132 and 138 are the cams for the outward and return trips of the case 12, respectively, and the cams 134 and 136 sandwiched between these cams move the protrusion 108 from the outward trip cam 132 to the return trip cam 138.
This serves as a cam for switching and moving the ashtray case 12 to and from the retainer 10 and locking or releasing the locking of the ashtray case 12 to the retainer 10.

Next, the operation of attaching the spiral spring in the ashtray device and the operation of the device will be explained.

First, the hook-shaped hook end 9 of the spiral spring 56
4 and 96 are hooked to hooked portions 86 and 74 formed on the pinion 60 and the spring receiver 62, respectively. Then, while elastically deforming the spiral spring 56, the pinion 6
0 counterclockwise in FIGS. 3 and 5.
When the pinion 60 is rotated counterclockwise,
First, the inclined surface 92 located on the forward movement side comes into contact with the inclined surface 72 of the spring receiving stopper part 68, and when the rotational force in the same direction is further applied to the pinion 60, the cam action of both inclined surfaces 92, 72 causes the pinion to rotate. The pinion stopper portion 88 rides on and then rides over the spring receiver stopper portion 68. When the stopper part 88 gets over the spring receiver stopper part 68, the respective stopper surfaces 90 and 70 come into contact with each other, and the pinion 60
prevents rotation in the opposite direction. That is, the spiral spring 56 is set in a state where it is elastically deformed by a certain amount. The amount of elastic deformation at this time is determined by the amount of rotation of the pinion 60 from the time when the spiral spring 56 is attached to the pinion 60 and the spring receiver 62 until the stopper surfaces 90 and 70 come into contact. Therefore, the amount of elastic deformation can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the relative positions of the pinion 60 and the spring receiver 62 when the spiral spring is attached. If it is desired to finely define the range of adjustment, the interval between the latched portions 86 of the pinion 60 may be set small.

Now, when the pinion 60 and the stopper parts 88, 68 of the spring receiver 62 are in contact with each other, the ashtray case 12 is then inserted and the rack member 42 is engaged with the pinion 60. Next is ashtray case 1
2 in the pushing direction, the pinion 60 is rotated counterclockwise to accumulate further biasing force in the spiral spring 56, while the protector 17 of the ashtray case 12 is moved toward the stopper portion 15 of the protector guide 13 in the retainer 10. It is gradually pushed down by the Then, when the ashtray case 12 reaches a certain position, the protector stopper part 19
When the ashtray case 12 passes over the stopper portion 15 of the protector guide 13 and the stopper surfaces 21 and 23 come into contact with each other, the pull-out position (return end) of the ashtray case 12 is defined, and the spiral spring 56 A preliminary biasing force of a predetermined constant strength is applied. Subsequently, when the ashtray case 12 is further pushed forward, a biasing force corresponding to the amount of advance is accumulated in the spiral spring. When the case is further advanced and reaches a certain position, the tip protrusion 108 of the lever 112 that constitutes the locking mechanism comes to engage with the fan-shaped cam 132 at the starting end, and the case 12 advances further. As the protrusion 108 is moved, the protrusion 108 is rotated along the side wall cam surface of the cam 106, and is gradually pushed downward by the action of the bottom wall cam surface. When the case 12 is further advanced in the pushing direction and reaches almost the closed position, the protrusion 1
08 is the top 12 of the bottom wall cam surface of the cam 106
4 and comes into contact with the bottom wall cam surface of the next cam 134, at which point the cam 132 is prevented from returning. When the pushing force on the case 12 is removed, the case 12 is slightly returned in the pulling direction by the biasing force of the spiral spring 56 that has stored the biasing force, and at the same time, the protrusion 108 moves relatively on the cam 134. The third cam 13
The case 12 is held in the closed position by contacting the side wall cam surface of the case 12. Next, when the case 12 is pushed in slightly to pull it out, the protrusion 108 moves relatively along the side wall cam surface of the cam 136, climbs over the top 128 of the bottom wall cam surface, and comes into contact with the cam 138. The case 12 is unlocked. The unlocked case 12 is pushed out in the pull-out direction by the action of the spiral spring 56, pinion 60, and rack member 42 which store biasing force. When the ashtray case 12 reaches the open position, the stopper portions 19 and 15 of the protector 17 and the protector guide 13 come into contact with each other under a predetermined preliminary biasing force of the spiral spring 56, and the ashtray case 12 is held in the open position. .

In such an ashtray device, the ashtray case 1
2 into the retainer 10, the spiral spring 56 has already been elastically deformed by a predetermined amount and has a certain biasing force.
A predetermined preliminary biasing force is applied to the spiral spring 56 by only slightly advancing the spring 2 thereafter. Therefore,
After inserting the ashtray case 12 into the retainer 10,
The push-in stroke required to provide this pre-biasing force to the spiral spring 56 is reduced compared to conventional devices. Figures 18 and 19 are diagrams to concretely represent these circumstances.
The figure shows the relationship between the amount of rotation of the pinion and the urging force applied to the spiral spring, and FIG. 19 shows the amount of insertion of the ashtray case 12 into the retainer 10 in order to apply the preliminary urging force to the spiral spring. , pinion 60
This is shown in comparison with a conventional device in which the spring receiver 62 does not have the stopper portions 68, 88, in other words, the biasing mechanism itself does not have a stopper means. That is, in a device in which the biasing mechanism does not have a stopper means, in order to apply the preliminary biasing force E shown in FIG _.
In contrast, in the device shown in the above embodiment, when the ashtray case 12 is inserted into the retainer 10 and the rack member 42 is engaged with the pinion 60, the spiral spring 56 already has a biasing force D, so in order to apply a preliminary biasing force E to the spring, the case 12 must be moved by the distance l ₁ necessary to rotate the pinion 60 from A to B in FIG. All we need to do is move forward. In other words, ashtray case 1
2 has only l ₁ retainer 10 in its open position.
The portion that is not inserted into the retainer 10 and comes out of the retainer 10, that is, the opening portion 25 in FIG. 7, can be made larger than in the conventional device.

Further, when the spiral spring is hooked and attached to the hooked portion of the pinion, the spiral spring can be attached to the hooked portion of the pinion by appropriately selecting the hooking position.
Since the amount of rotation of the pinion between O and A in the figure can be changed, the driver can adjust the biasing force of the spiral spring as desired when the sliding resistance between the ashtray case and the retainer increases. It becomes possible to make adjustments.

In addition, the spiral spring is covered by the pinion and the spring holder, and the pinion is prevented from returning after the stopper comes into contact with it, so when the ashtray case is pulled out, this It has features such as not being damaged by being caught on uneven parts, and not having its spring characteristics changed due to deformation.

In the above embodiment, both of the pair of stopper portions are provided with an inclined surface, but the inclined surface is not necessarily required for both, and the purpose can be achieved if it is provided on either one. In addition, this example
This is an example in which the present invention is applied to a sliding type ashtray device, that is, a device in which an ashtray case is slid with respect to a retainer. The present invention can be modified as appropriate based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, such as being applicable not only to such ashtray devices but also to other vehicle storage box devices such as grab boxes. be.

As described in detail above, the vehicle storage box device according to the present invention has a pinion shaped like a container such as a cylinder, and houses a spiral spring in the hollow interior thereof.
A pair of stopper portions defining the return end of the pinion are provided, and the spiral spring biases the storage case in the opening direction via the pinion and the rack, and even when the storage case is in the open position. It is designed to be attached so as to apply a predetermined biasing force in the opening direction.

In such a device, when the storage case is in the open position, the opening becomes wider, making it easier to put stored items such as cigarette butts into the storage case, and also making it possible to adjust the strength of the preliminary biasing force. Furthermore, various advantages have been brought about, such as no change in characteristics due to damage or deformation of the spring member.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are side sectional views of essential parts for explaining problems in conventional ashtray devices. Third
The figure is a perspective view of an ashtray device that is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front view (partially sectional view) of the device;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the protector guide in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the main part of the device shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. 8 is a plan view of the spring receiver in FIGS. 3 to 5, FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the spring receiver in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a main part of the stopper part in FIGS. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the pinion in FIGS. 3 to 5, FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the pinion in FIGS.
13 is a side sectional view of a main part of the stopper section in FIG. 12. FIG. FIG. 14 is a side sectional view showing the container for housing the spring in FIGS. 3 to 5, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the back side of the ashtray case in FIGS. 3 to 5. Figure 16 is the 15th
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the planar shape of the grooved cam in the figure, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of the bottom surface of the cam. 1st
Figure 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of rotation of the pinion and the biasing force of the spiral spring, and Figure 19 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of rotation of the pinion and the biasing force of the spiral spring.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the pushing stroke of the ashtray case necessary to apply a preliminary biasing force to the spiral spring in FIGS. 10: Retainer, 12: Ashtray case, 42: Rack member, 44: Engagement tooth, 50: Biasing mechanism, 5
2: Damper device, 56: Spiral spring, 60: Pinion, 68, 88: Stopper portion, 70, 90: Stopper surface, 72, 92: Inclined surface, 74, 86: Latched portion, 76: Engaging tooth , 94, 96: Latching end.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A retainer attached to the vehicle body side, a storage case held so as to be removable from the retainer, and a storage case provided between the retainer and the storage case and taken out from the retainer. A case stopper mechanism for regulating the open position of the case, and a rack provided on either the storage case or a fixing member on the vehicle body side such as the retainer, comprising engaging teeth that are continuous in the direction of taking in and taking out the storage case. , a hollow container-shaped pinion that is provided on the other of the storage case and a fixing member on the vehicle body side such as the retainer, and that is provided with engaging teeth that mesh with the rack and rotated when the storage case is opened and closed; The biasing mechanism includes a spiral spring housed in a hollow portion, the spiral spring having one end attached to a latched portion formed on the pinion and the other end attached to the accommodated portion. It is attached by being hooked to the hooked parts formed on the other of the fixing members on the vehicle body side, such as the case and the retainer, and the pinion is further rotated to attach the spare parts to the spiral spring. A pair of stopper portions that come into contact with each other and regulate the rotation of the pinion in a state where force is stored are provided on the pinion and the other of the storage case and the fixing member on the vehicle body side such as the retainer, respectively. so that the spiral spring biases the storage case in the opening direction via the pinion and the rack, and also applies a predetermined biasing force in the opening direction even when the storage case is in the open position. A storage box device for a vehicle, comprising: an attached biasing mechanism; and a locking means capable of locking the storage case in a closed position against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.