Abstract:
An acceleration/deceleration mechanism is installed for a lid body rotatably supported on a main body. The mechanism includes a forcing device for forcing the lid body toward an open direction, a locking device for maintaining a closed state of the lid body relative to the main body in opposition to the force of the forcing device, and an acceleration/deceleration device situated between the lid body and the main body. The acceleration/deceleration device increasing a speed of opening of the lid body at less than a prescribed angle of opening of the lid body, and decreasing the speed of opening in excess of the prescribed angle of opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT 
   The present invention relates to an acceleration/deceleration mechanism for opening and closing a lid body that is supported to be capable of rotation on a main body, as well as a vehicle small article compartment having this acceleration/deceleration mechanism. 
   A container holder such as a vehicle small article compartment provided in a center console of an automobile, as shown in  FIG. 6 , includes a main body  100  and a lid body  102 , A shaft  104  is provided on both sides of the lid body  102 , and is arranged to be movable within a guide member  106 . 
   A sector gear  108  is provided on the shaft  104 , and a damping gear  110  is engaged with this sector gear  108 . Therefore, when the shaft  104  moves inside the guide part  106 , the force of a spring  112  for opening is damped by the engagement between the sector gear  108  and the damping gear  110 , and the speed of opening of the lid body  102  is damped. 
   However, usually, when using a container holder  114 , it is highly convenient that the lid body  102  be initially opened quickly when the lid body  102  is first opened from a fully closed position. On the other hand, when the lid body  102  is approaching a fully open position, it is better that it opens slowly in order to alleviate the impact force due to interference between the lid body  102  and the main body  100 . 
   The above described prior art arrangement is disclosed in the publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-178818. 
   The object of the present invention, in consideration of the above circumstances, is to provide an acceleration/deceleration mechanism that can open the lid body quickly when the lid body is on the side of the start of opening and can open the lid body slowly when the lid body is on the side of the end of opening, as well as a vehicle small article compartment having this acceleration/deceleration mechanism. 
   Further objects and advantages of the invention will apparent from the following description of the invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A first aspect of the invention comprises an arrangement having forcing or biasing means for forcing a lid body which is pivotally mounted on a main body, toward an open position; a locking means for maintaining the lid body in a closed position in opposition to the force of the forcing means; and an acceleration/deceleration means for increasing the speed of opening of the lid body at less than a prescribed angle of opening of the lid body, and slowing the speed of opening when in excess of the prescribed angle of opening. 
   In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the lid body is forced toward the open direction by the forcing means, and the closed state of the lid body is maintained in opposition to the force of the forcing means by the locking means. Here, it is arranged so that the speed of opening of the lid body is increased by the acceleration/deceleration means at less than a prescribed angle of opening of the lid body, and the speed of opening of the lid body is reduced when in excess of the prescribed angle of the fully opening position of the lid body. 
   More specifically, when the locking means is released and the lid body is opened under the influence of the forcing means, in the interval between the closed state of the lid body and the prescribed angle of opening, because the speed of opening of the lid body is accelerated by the acceleration/deceleration means in addition to that produced by the force of the forcing means, the lid body is opened quickly. 
   On the other hand, in excess of the prescribed angle of opening of the lid body, because the speed of opening of the lid body is decelerated by the acceleration/deceleration means, the lid body is opened slowly, and when the lid body is completely opened, the impact due to interference with the main body can be alleviated. Therefore, it becomes no longer necessary to provide shock-absorbing material for absorbing that impact force on the main body, and reduction in cost can be achieved. 
   A further aspect of this invention resides in that the acceleration/deceleration mechanism comprises a coil spring, one end of which is attached to a shaft part provided on the lid body and the other end of which is attached to the main body. In this arrangement, the coil spring becomes shortest in total length at the prescribed angle of opening and stretches in the fully open and fully closed states of the lid body. 
   This arrangement is such that the coil spring becomes shortest in total length at the prescribed angle of opening of the lid body, and in the closed state and the open state of the lid body, the spring stretches and assumes a condition wherein elastic force is accumulated therein. 
   By this, with the prescribed angle of opening of the lid body as a reference, in the interval from the closed state of the lid body to the prescribed angle of opening, the force of the coil spring in which elastic force was accumulated comes to be applied to the shaft part. Therefore, the speed of opening of the lid body is increased. 
   Also, in the interval from the prescribed angle of opening to the open state, because elastic force is gradually accumulated in the coil spring, a force in the direction opposite to the force of the coil spring comes to be applied to the shaft part. Therefore, the speed of opening of the lid body is decreased. 
   Thus, due to the fact that the lid body is accelerated and then decelerated by one coil spring, a reduction of cost can be achieved as compared with the case of using a damper. 
   Also, because elastic force is accumulated in the coil spring in the closed state of the lid body, when the lid body is in the closed state, a force toward the open direction is applied to the lid body. Therefore, in the closed state of the lid body, because the lid body is restricted in movement by the locking means in a state being forced toward the open direction, flapping at the free end of the lid body can be suppressed. 
   A further aspect of the invention resided in that the acceleration/deceleration mechanism has plural attachment parts provided on the main body for connecting the second end of the coil spring to the main body. 
   According to this aspect of the invention, due to the fact that plural attachment parts for the other end of the coil spring are provided on the main body, the reference position for accelerating or decelerating the speed of opening of the lid body, being the so-called prescribed angle of opening of the lid body, can be selectively changed. 
   According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the above mentioned acceleration/deceleration mechanism is further provided with a damping means for damping the force of the forcing means. 
   In according with this fourth aspect of the invention due to the fact that a damping means for damping the force of the forcing means is provided, the speed of opening of the lid body is decelerated, and the operation of opening of the lid body can be made even quieter, and a feeling of high quality can be imparted to the acceleration/deceleration mechanism. 
   A fifth aspect of the invention resides in that the acceleration/deceleration mechanism mentioned above is such that the damping means comprises a sector gear which is formed on the shaft part, and a damping gear which is provided on the main body and engages with the sector gear and damps the force of the forcing means. 
   In accordance with this fifth aspect of the invention, due to the fact that a sector gear is formed on the shaft part and a damping gear for damping the force of the forcing means is made to engage with this sector gear, the operation of opening of the lid body can be made smooth, and a further feeling of high quality can be given to the acceleration/deceleration mechanism. 
   A sixth aspect of the invention resides in that the lid and main bodies form part of a small vehicle article compartment. 
   In accordance with the above aspects of the invention, because the interval from the closed state of the lid body to the prescribed angle of opening, is short because the speed of opening of the lid body is accelerated by the acceleration/deceleration means in addition to the force of the forcing means, the lid body is opened quickly. On the other hand, when the lid body reaches an angle excess of the prescribed angle, because the speed of opening of the lid body is decelerated by the acceleration/deceleration means, the lid body is then opened slowly, and when the lid body is completely opened, because the impact force due to interference with the main body is attenuated, it is no longer necessary to provide a shock-absorbing material for absorbing that impact force on the main body, and reduction of cost can be achieved. 
   In accordance with the second aspect of the invention, due to the fact that the lid body is accelerated or decelerated by one coil spring, a reduction in cost can be achieved as compared with the case using a damper. Also, because elastic force is accumulated in the coil spring in the closed state of the lid body, when the lid body is in the closed state, a force toward the open direction comes to be applied to the lid body. Therefore, in the closed state of the lid body, because the lid body is restricted in movement by the locking means in a state being forced toward the open direction, flapping/vibrating movement of the free end of the lid body can be suppressed. 
   In accordance with the third aspect of the invention, due to the reference position for accelerating or decelerating the speed of opening of the lid body can be changed. 
   In accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention, because the speed of opening of the lid body is decelerated, the operation of opening of the lid body can be made even quieter, and a feeling of high quality can be imparted by the acceleration/deceleration mechanism. 
   In accordance with the fifth aspect of the invention, because the operation of opening of the lid body can be made smooth, an additional feeling of high quality can be imparted by the acceleration/deceleration mechanism. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a container holder having an acceleration/deceleration mechanism pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view showing the relationship between the coil spring and the angle of opening of the lid body constituting an acceleration/deceleration mechanism pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view showing the relationship between the coil spring and the angle of opening of the lid body constituting an acceleration/deceleration mechanism pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view showing the relationship between the coil spring and the angle of opening of the lid body constituting an acceleration/deceleration mechanism pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ) are sectional views showing a latch device provided on a container holder having an acceleration/deceleration mechanism pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein  FIG. 5(   a ) shows the locked state of the claw part and the part coupled therewith, and  FIG. 5(   b ) shows the unlocked state of the claw part and the part coupled therewith. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view showing a conventional container holder. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a container holder  10  as a vehicle small article compartment pertaining to one embodiment of the present invention. The container holder  10  is disposed in the center console which is disposed between the driver seat and passenger seat of a vehicle (not illustrated), and it can be stored inside an attachment recess part provided in the center console. 
   The container holder  10  is constituted by a box-like holding part  12  (main body) and a lid body  14 , and an opening of the holding part  12  is opened and closed by the lid body  14 . A pair of shaft support plates  16 ,  18  is provided on both sides of the lid body  14 , and shafts  20  are disposed through them. These shafts  20  are fixed to a perimeter walls  12 A constituting the holding part  12 , and the shaft support plates  16 ,  18  are configured to be rotatable around shafts  20 . 
   The holding part  12  is arranged to be capable of holding containers having large external dimensions such as plastic bottles, and at about the middle of a perimeter wall  12 B of the holding part  12  at which the free end of the lid body  14  is capable of contacting, a bearing part  22  which is mountain shaped going toward the inside of the holding part  12  is provided. 
   Also, on the perimeter walls  12 A positioned on both sides of the perimeter wall  12 C facing opposite the perimeter wall  12 B, a holding piece  24  which is mountain shaped going toward the inside of the holding part  12  is supported to be capable of rotation, and the holding piece  24  stands up so that it is held in the horizontal direction by a forcing means not illustrated. In this state, the holding piece  24  faces opposite the bearing part  22  and is made to hold containers between the front end surface of the holding piece  24  and the bearing part  22 . 
   Also, a pair of receiving parts  26  is cut out on the shaft  20  sides of the perimeter walls  12 A of the holding part  12 . The shaft support plates  16 ,  18  are adapted to slide in these receiving parts  26 , whereby they do not protrude from the perimeter walls  12 A when the lid body  14  is opened, and the container holder  10  can be made compact. 
   Also, a lid body storage part  28  is provided on the back face side of the perimeter wall  12 C of the holding part  12  so that the opened lid body  14  becomes capable of storing. By this, the lid body  14  can be made to stand up in the vertical direction so that the lid body  14  does not become an obstacle. 
   Furthermore, roughly cylindrical shock-absorbing members  15  made of rubber are provided in the corner parts of the perimeter wall  12 B of the holding part  12 , and it is made such that the underside of the lid body  14  does not directly contact with the upper surface of the perimeter wall  12 B of the holding part  12  when the lid body  14  is closed. 
   Incidentally, a roughly L-shaped leg part  30  is provided on the front end part of the shaft support plate  16 , and a claw part  32  is formed on the front end part of the leg part  30 . Meanwhile, a latch device  34  is provided on the perimeter wall  12 A of the holding part  12  so that the claw part  32  becomes capable of catching. As a latch device  34 , for example, a device described in the publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H8-282382 previously filed by the present applicant(s) can be used. 
   More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ), an opening  38  is provided on a case  36  of the latch device  34  so that the claw part  32  can be inserted. A latch main body  40  is received inside the case  36 , and this latch main body  40  is forced toward the direction of popping out from the opening  38  by a spring  42  provided inside the case  36 . 
   Also, a part coupled with  44  which is capable of coupling with the claw part  32  is provided on the front end side of the latch main body  40 , and the claw part  32  is caught when the latch main body  40  is received inside the case  36  in a state in which the claw part  32  is coupled with the part coupled with  44 . 
   Also, a recessed part  46  is provided on the back face side of the part coupled with  44  of the latch main body  40 , and a cam  48  which is roughly heart shaped viewed from the front is provided inside the recessed part  46 . A lock lever  50  which is attached to be capable of rocking in the depth of the latch main body  40  traces the outer perimeter of this cam  48 . 
   When the latch main body  40  in the state having popped out from the opening  38 , is pressed toward the direction opposite to the force of the spring  42  and is received inside the case  36 , the lock lever  50  traces the outer perimeter of the cam  48  and is caught in a catching part  52 , and the claw part  32  and the part coupled with  44  assume a locked state (see  FIG. 5(   a )). 
   From this state, when the latch main body  40  is pressed toward the direction in opposition to the force of the spring  42 , the latched state of the lock lever  50  is released, the lock lever  50  traces the outer perimeter of the cam  48  and is caught in a catching part  54 , the locked state between the claw part  32  and the part coupled with  44  is released (see  FIG. 5(   b )), the latch main body  40  pops out from the case  36 , and the claw part  32  becomes uncaught from the part coupled with  44 . 
   With an arrangement of the nature described above, when in a state in which the lid body  14  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  was moved toward a closed position by pushing the free end side of the lid body  14  and causing the claw part  32  and the part coupled with  44  to be locked, by again pressing the free end side of the lid body  14 , the locked state between the claw part  32  and the part coupled with  44  is released, and the lid body  14  becomes capable of opening. 
   Here, one end of a torsion spring  56  is attached to the shaft support plate  16 , the other end of the torsion spring  56  is attached to the perimeter wall  12 A, and the lid body  14  is forced toward the direction of opening by means of the shaft support plate  16 . Therefore, when the locked state between the claw part  32  and the part coupled with  44  is released by pressing the free end side of the lid body  14  in the state in which the lid body  14  is closed, the lid body  14  is automatically opened by the force of the torsion spring  56 . 
   Thus, by providing the latch device  34  for maintaining the closed state of the lid body  14  on the perimeter wall  12 A of the holding part  12  and making it such that it is not exposed inside the vehicle compartment, the aesthetic value of the container holder  10  is improved, and in addition, because there is no need to provide a claw part on the underside of the lid body  14 , that claw part does not become an obstacle. 
   Meanwhile, a sector gear  58  is formed on the front end part of the shaft support plate  18 , and a damping gear  62  of an oil-filled type rotary damper  60  which is fixed to the perimeter wall  12 A of the holding part  12  is engaged with this sector gear  58 , and when the lid body  14  is opened and closed, the damping force of the rotary damper  60  is transmitted to the shaft support plate  18 . 
   Also, an attachment piece  64  is fixed to the shaft support plate  18 , and one end of a coil spring  66  is attached to the front end of the attachment piece  64 . The other end of the coil spring  66  is attached to an attachment part  68  provided on the perimeter wall  12 A. 
   Here, the attachment part  68  is placed so that the total length of the coil spring  66  becomes shortest at a prescribed angle of opening θ of the lid body  14 , and in the closed state and the open state of the lid body  14 , the coil spring  66  stretches so that elastic force is accumulated in the coil spring  66 . 
   By this, with the angle of opening θ of the lid body  14  as a reference, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in the interval from the closed state of the lid body  14  to the angle of opening θ, the force of the coil spring  66  in which elastic force was accumulated, in addition to the force of the torsion spring  56 , comes to be applied to the shaft support part  18 . 
   Also, as shown in  FIG. 4 , in the interval from the angle of opening θ of the lid body  14  to the open state, because elastic force is gradually accumulated in the coil spring  66 , a force in the direction in opposition to the force of the coil spring  66  comes to be applied to the shaft support plate  18 . 
   Next, the operation of the container holder  10  pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention is explained. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , by causing the coil spring  66  to becomes shortest in total length at the prescribed angle of opening θ of the lid body  14 , and making the coil spring  66  stretch in the closed state and the open state of the lid body  14 , it is made such that the speed of opening of the lid body  14  is accelerated at less than the angle of opening θ of the lid body  14 , and the speed of opening of the lid body  14  is decelerated when in excess of the angle of opening θ of the lid body  14 . 
   That is, when the closed state of the lid body  14  due to the latch device  34  (see  FIG. 1 ) is released and the lid body  14  is opened by the torsion spring  56 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , in the interval from the closed state of the lid body  14  to the angle of opening θ, because the speed of opening of the lid body  14  is accelerated by the force of the coil spring  66  in addition to the force of the torsion spring  56 , the lid body  14  is opened quickly. 
   On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when in excess of the angle of opening θ of the lid body  14 , because the speed of opening of the lid body  14  is decelerated by the force of the coil spring  66 , the lid body  14  is opened more slowly, and when the lid body  14  is completely opened, the impact force due to interference with the holding part  12  is alleviated. Therefore, it becomes no longer necessary to provide a shock-absorbing material for absorbing that impact force on the holding part  12 , and reduction of cost can be achieved. 
   Thus, by the fact that the lid body  14  is accelerated or decelerated by one coil spring  66 , reduction of cost can be achieved compared with the case using a damper. 
   Also, because the coil spring  66  stretches and elastic force is accumulated in the coil spring  66  in the closed state of the lid body  14 , when the lid body  14  is in the closed state, a force toward the open direction comes to be applied to the lid body  14 . 
   Therefore, in the closed state of the lid body  14 , a force comes to be applied in the direction in which the claw part  32  of the latch device  34  (see  FIG. 5(   a )) contacts with the side of the part coupled with  44 . Accordingly, the claw part  32  is restricted in movement, the lid body  14  is restricted in movement by means of the claw part  32  and the shaft support plate  18 , and flapping of the free end side of the lid body  14  can be suppressed. 
   Incidentally, by providing a sector gear  58  on the front end part of the shaft support plate  18  and causing a damping gear  62  of oil-filled type rotary damper  60  to be engaged with this sector gear  58 , when the lid body  14  is opened and closed, the damping force of the rotary damper  60  is transmitted to the shaft support plate  18 . 
   With this arrangement, the speed at which the lid body  14  is opened is reduced, and the operation of opening of the lid body  14  is made even quieter. Also, because it is a damping method by gear, the operation of opening of the lid body  14  can be smoothed, and a feeling of high quality can be imparted to the container holder  10 . 
   Furthermore, attachment parts  70 ,  72  also may be provided in addition to the attachment part  68  on the perimeter wall  12 A of the holding part  12 . By this, the reference position for accelerating or decelerating the speed of opening of the lid body  14 , being the so-called prescribed angle of opening (here, angle of opening θ) of the lid body  14 , can be changed, and the speed of opening of the lid body  14  can be adjusted. 
   When the attachment part  68  is changed to the attachment part  70 , when the lid body  14  is in the closed state, the elastic force accumulated in the coil spring  66  becomes smaller than with the attachment part  68 , but when the lid body  14  is in the open state, the elastic force accumulated in the coil spring  66  becomes greater than with the attachment part  68 . 
   That is, when the attachment part  68  is changed to the attachment part  70 , the prescribed angle of opening of the lid body  14  becomes smaller, and during opening of the lid body  14 , the speed of opening of the lid body  14  which is accelerated by the force of the coil spring  66  becomes somewhat slower than in the case with the attachment part  68 , but the decelerating force on the speed of opening in the course when the lid body  14  is completely opened becomes somewhat greater than in the case with the attachment part  68 , and the impact force due to interference with the holding part  12  can be further alleviated. 
   When the attachment part  68  is changed to one of the attachment parts  72 , when the lid body  14  is in the closed state, the elastic force accumulated in the coil spring  66  becomes greater than with the attachment part  68 , but when the lid body  14  is in the open state, the elastic force accumulated in the coil spring  66  becomes smaller than with the attachment part  68 . 
   That is, when the attachment part  68  is changed to one of the attachment part  72 , the prescribed angle of opening of the lid body  14  becomes larger, and the decelerating force on the speed of opening in the course when the lid body  14  is completely opened becomes somewhat smaller than in the case with the attachment part  68 , but during opening of the lid body  14 , the speed of opening of the lid body  14  which is accelerated by the force of the coil spring  66  can be made even faster than in the case with the attachment part  68 , and the lid body  14  can be opened quickly. 
   Although a container holder was explained in this embodiment, it is not limited to this because it may be anything that opens and closes a lid body on a main body. For example, it also may be applied to a small article compartments, ashtrays, or home electric appliances such as CD players and notebook computers. 
   Although only a limited number of embodiments have been described above, the various variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains or most closely pertains given the preceding disclosure. 
   For example, while a coil spring has been described as being used as the element which produces biasing effect in the disclosed embodiments of the present invention, the invention is in no way limited to such a device and can be replaced with any suitable elastic arrangement that will apply a bias in a similar manner. Further the invention is not limited to a single spring/elastic member and combinations of springs/elastic members that produce/result in the generation of non-linear biasing forces (for example) can be used if so desired. 
   The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-238770 filed on Aug. 18, 2004 is incorporated herein.