Abstract:
A storage apparatus includes a base, an assembly frame, a box, a cover, and an open/close mechanism. The assembly frame is demarcated in the base. The box is buried in the assembly frame, and has a surface in which a storage opening is opened. The cover covers the storage opening openably and closably. The open/close mechanism includes a guide portion, a guided portion, and an interval disposed between the guide portion and the guided portion. The guide portion is disposed on the assembly frame and/or the box. The guided portion is disposed on the cover, and is guided by the guide portion. The interval is minimized at one of an open position, at which the cover opens the storage opening, and/or a close position, at which the cover closes the storage opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a storage apparatus, such as cup holders and ashtrays. More specifically, it relates to a mechanism for opening and closing storage apparatuses.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top schematic diagram of a conventional cup holder. Moreover,  FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows “7”-“7” of  FIG. 6 . As shown in the drawings, a cup holder  100  is buried in an assembly frame  105  which is demarcated in a center console  104 . The cup holder  100  comprises a box  101  and a cover  102 . The cover  102  is disposed rotatably in the box  101  so that it can open and close the box  101 . Paired positioning tags  103  protrude from the major-direction opposite ends of the box  101 . A positioning hole  106  is bored through the paired positioning tags  103 . On the other hand, positioning projections  107  protrude from the rear surface of the center console  104  so as to face the positioning holes  106 , respectively. The positioning projections  107  are deformed at the bottom end by thermal crimping so as to fasten them to the positioning holes  106 . Thus, the box  101  is assembled with the center console  104 .  
         [0005]     However, in the conventional cup holder  100 , the cover  102  might rattle at an open position where the cover  102  opens the storage opening  108  of the box  101 , or at a close position where the cover  102  closes the storage opening  108  of the box  101 .  
         [0006]     Hence, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2003-25,893 discloses a cup holder which inhibits a cover from rattling with buffer members which are fitted around the bosses of a cover. However, in the cup holder disclosed in the publication, the number of the component parts increases comparatively by a quantity of the disposed buffer members. Moreover, the buffer members always contact with the cover and box elastically. Accordingly, the buffer members enlarge the resistance when opening and closing the cover. Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (KOKAI) Nos. 5-37,592 and 7-26,253 disclose glove boxes in which an elastic force of elastic members is utilized to inhibit the cover from rattling at the close position. However, in the glove boxes disclosed in the publications, the space between the cover and an assembly frame of the instrument panel is localized when the assembly position of the cover is misaligned with respect to the assembly frame. Consequently, it is not possible to completely inhibit the cover from rattling by the elastic force of the elastic members alone.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention has been developed and completed in view of such circumstances. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus which can inhibit its cover from rattling at the open position and/or the close position. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an opening/closing mechanism for storage apparatuses which can inhibit their covers from rattling at the open position and/or the close position.  
         [0008]     A storage apparatus according to the present invention can solve the aforementioned problems, and comprises: 
        a base in which an assembly frame is demarcated;     a box buried in the assembly frame, and having a surface in which a storage opening is opened;     a cover covering the storage opening openably and closably; and     means for opening and closing the cover, the means comprising: 
            a guide portion disposed on at least one of the assembly frame and the box;     a guided portion disposed on the cover, and being guided by the guide portion; and     an interval disposed between the guide portion and the guided portion, and being minimized at at least one of an open position, at which the cover opens the storage opening, and a close position, at which the cover closes the storage opening.    
               
 
         [0016]     The cover opening/closing means of the present storage apparatus controls the space between the guide portion and the guided portion as described above. As a result, the present storage apparatus can inhibit the cover from rattling at the open position and/or the close position. Note that the term, “being minimized, herein includes the instance that the interval between the guide portion and the guided portion is zero.  
         [0017]     It is preferable to arrange the present storage apparatus so that the guide portion can be a guide rib extending in an opening/closing direction of the cover; the guided portion can be a guided dent in which the guide rib is accommodated; the guide rib can have a rib width L 1  at the open position and/or the close position, and a rib width L 2  at an intermediate position between the open position and the close position; the guided dent can have a dent width S; and the rib width L 1 , the rib width L 2  and the dent width S can establish a relationship, L 2 &lt;S≦L 1 .  
         [0018]     The rib width L 2  and the dent width S are controlled so as to be L 2 &lt;S in order to inhibit the guide rib from interfering with the guided portion in the middle of opening and closing the cover. The dent width S and the rib width L 1  are controlled so as to be S≦L 1  in order to more firmly inhibit the cover from rattling at the open position and/or close position.  
         [0019]     It is preferable to arrange the present storage apparatus so that the guide portion and the guided portion can be disposed at a substantially middle in the major direction of the cover. This arrangement enables a datum position, which inhibits the cover from rattling, to be placed at a substantially middle in the major direction of the cover. Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit the space between the assembly frame and the cover from localizing. In this instance, the guide portion and the guided portion can preferably be disposed at a position present in a range of +50 mm, further ±20 mm, from the absolute middle in the major direction of the cover, or alternatively in a range of ±10% from the absolute middle with respect to an overall length of the cover in the major direction.  
         [0020]     It is preferable to arrange the present storage apparatus so that the guided portion can travel on a predetermined track when the cover opens and closes the storage opening; and the guide portion can be disposed over the entire track of the guided portion. This arrangement can not only provide the cover with certain play between itself and the box, but also inhibit the cover from rattling even when it is placed at all locations in the middle of opening and closing.  
         [0021]     It is preferable to arrange the present storage apparatus so that the guide can be disposed on the assembly frame at least; the cover can be assembled with the box; and the box can be assembled with the base. Note that, in the conventional cup holder  100  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the space D between the cover  102  and the assembly frame  105  has enlarged relatively when the cover  102  is at the close position. Otherwise, the space D between the cover  102  and the assembly frame  105  has localized when the cover  102  is at the close position. The disadvantages result from the fact that the cover  102  is assembled with the center console  104  indirectly by way of the box  101 . That is, the cover  102  is assembled with the box  101 , and the box  101  is assembled with the center console  104 . Therefore, the space D is adversely affected by the assembly error of the box  101  with respect to the center console  104  as well as the assembly error of the cover  102  with respect to the box  101 . The enlarged space D has degraded the decorativeness of the conventional cup holder  100 . Likewise, the localized space D has degraded the decorativeness.  
         [0022]     In view of the disadvantage of the conventional cup holder  100 , the above-described preferable arrangement of the present storage apparatus comprises the guided portion disposed on the cover, and the guided portion disposed on the assembly frame. Accordingly, the guided portion and guide portion can absorb the assembly error of the cover when assembling the present storage apparatus. In other words, it is possible to carry out positioning the cover with respect to the assembly frame. Therefore, the preferable arrangement can minimize the space between the cover and the assembly frame when the cover is at the close position, though the cover is assembled with the base by way of the box similarly to the conventional cup holder  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0023]     It is preferable to arrange the present storage apparatus so that it can further comprise a space in which the cover is accommodated at the open position, wherein: the cover comprises a plurality of comb-shaped teeth for inhibiting small articles from coming into the space; and the guided dent is demarcated between a pair of neighboring comb-shaped teeth of the comb-shaped teeth. With such an arrangement, it is possible to provide the present storage container with the guided dent by utilizing the comb-shaped teeth. Consequently, the present storage apparatus can comprise a reduced number of component parts.  
         [0024]     In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a storage container whose cover is inhibited from rattling at the open position and/or the close position, or to provide an opening/closing mechanism for storage apparatuses which inhibits their cover from rattling at the open position and/or the close position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of its advantages will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed specification, all of which forms a part of the disclosure.  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a storage apparatus according to Example No. 1 of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a minor-direction see-through cross-sectional view of the storage apparatus according to Example No. 1 at the close position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a minor-direction see-through cross-sectional view of the storage apparatus according to Example No. 1 at the open position.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a conceptual diagram for illustrating a positional relationship between a frame-side guide rib, a box-side guide rib and a guided dent in the opening/closing mechanism of the storage apparatus according to Example No. 1.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a conceptual diagram for illustrating a positional relationship between a frame-side guide rib, a box-side guide rib and a guided dent in an opening/closing mechanism of a storage apparatus according to Example No. 2 of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a top schematic view for illustrating the conventional cup holder.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the conventional cup holder taken along the arrows “7”-“7” of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     Having generally described the present invention, a further understanding can be obtained by reference to the specific preferred embodiments which are provided herein for the purpose of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to forms of embodying the present storage apparatus as an in-vehicle cup holder.  
       EXAMPLES  
     Example No. 1  
       [0034]     First, the arrangement of a storage apparatus according to Example No. 1 of the present invention will be hereinafter described in detail.  FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the storage apparatus according to Example No. 1. As shown in the drawing, a storage apparatus  1  comprises a center console  2 , a box  3 , a cover  4 , and arms  5 . Note that the present base includes the center console  2 . The center console  2  is made of resin, and is formed as a plate shape. The center console  2  is disposed between a driver&#39;s seat and a navigator&#39;s seat. In the center console  2 , an assembly frame  20  is opened, and is formed as a long rectangular shape in the front/rear direction. On the left peripheral wall of the assembly frame  20 , the frame-side guide ribs  21  are formed. The frame-side guide ribs  21  extend downward. The frame-side guide ribs  21  are disposed in a quantity of  11  pieces in the front/rear direction. Note that present guide rib includes a middle frame-side guide rib  21   a  of the frame-side guide ribs  21 .  
         [0035]     The box  3  comprises a body  30  and a cover accommodating portion  31 . The body  30  is made of resin, and is formed as box shape. In the top surface of the body  30 , a storage opening  300  is opened. An arm swinging boss  301  protrudes from the right end in the outer rear wall of the body  30 . Further, a spring fastening boss  304  protrudes from the outer rear wall above the arm swinging boss  301 . Furthermore, an arc-shaped box-side gear  302  is disposed on the left of the arm swinging boss  301 . Moreover, a damper fastening cylinder  303  is disposed under the box-side gear  302 . In addition, an oil damper  61  is fastened to the damper fastening cylinder  303 . On the other hand, another arm swinging boss and box-side gear (not shown) are disposed on the outer front wall of the body  30  in the same positional relationship as that of the arm swinging boss  301  and box-side gear  302 .  
         [0036]     The cover accommodating portion  31  is disposed on the left side of the body  30  integrally therewith. The cover accommodating portion  31  comprises an arc-shaped guide wall  310  which extends in the up/down direction. On the arc-shaped guide wall  310 , box-side guide ribs  311  are formed which extend in the up/down direction. The box-side guide ribs  311  are disposed in a quantity of  11  pieces in the front/rear direction. Note that present guide rib includes a middle box-side guide rib  311   a  of the box-side guide ribs  311 . The box-side guide ribs  311  are made continuous integrally when being assembled with the frame-side guide ribs  21 . The arc-shaped guide wall  310  and the left wall of the body  30  demarcate a cover accommodating space  312 .  
         [0037]     The cover  4  is made of resin, and is formed as a rectangular plate shape. Comb-shaped teeth  40  protrude from the left periphery of the cover  4 . The comb-shaped teeth  40  are disposed in a quantity of  12  pieces in the front/rear direction. A guided dent  400  is demarcated between the middle paired comb-shaped teeth  40   a  and  40   b . The comb-shaped teeth  40 , the frame-side guide ribs  21  and the box-side guide ribs  311  are disposed in an alternate manner. The frame-side guide rib  21   a  and box-side guide rib  311   a  are fitted into the guided dent  400 . A heart-shaped cam  41  is disposed at the rear end of the cover  4 . Further, a cover-side gear  42  is disposed on the right side of the heart-shaped cam  41  parallelly therewith. Furthermore, a swing hole  420  is bored through on the inner peripheral side of the cover-side gear  42 . The cover-side gear  42  meshes with the box-side gear  302 . On the other hand, another cover-side gear (not shown) is disposed on the front end of the cover  4 . Likewise, the another cover-side gear meshes with the another box-side gear (not shown) disposed at the front end of the box  3 .  
         [0038]     The arms  5  are made of resin, and are formed as a fine plate shape. The arms  5  are disposed in a quantity of two, one at the front end of the box  3  and another at the rear end thereof, so as to hold the box  3 . A swing hole  50  is bored through at the right end of the arm  5 . The arm swinging bosses  301  are fitted into the swing holes  50 . Therefore, the arms  5  can swing about the arm swinging bosses  301 . On the other hand, a cover swinging boss  51  protrudes from the left end of each arm  5 . One of the arm swinging bosses  51  is fitted into the swing hole  420  of the cover-side gear  42 , and the other swinging boss  51  is fitted into the swing hole of the other cover-side gear. Therefore, the cover  4  can swing about the cover swinging bosses  51 . A spring  60  is fitted around the arm swinging boss  301  which is fitted into the swing hole  50  of the rear arm  5 , one of the paired arms  5 . One of the opposite ends of the spring  60  is fastened to the spring fastening boss  304 . The other one of the opposite ends of the spring  60  is fastened to the rear arm  5 . Moreover, an arc-shaped damper gear  52  is disposed on the rear arm  5 . The damper gear  52  meshes with the oil damper  61 .  
         [0039]     The operations of the storage apparatus  1  according to Example No. 1 will be hereinafter described, operations which are demonstrated when actuating the storage apparatus  1  from the open position to the close position or vice versa.  FIG. 2  illustrates a minor-direction see-through cross-sectional view of the storage apparatus  1  at the close position.  FIG. 3  illustrates a minor-direction see-through cross-sectional view of the storage apparatus  1  at the open position.  
         [0040]     When an operator applies an actuation force to the cover  4 , which is at the close position shown in  FIG. 2 , in the direction of the arrow “a” of the drawing, a pin  7 , which is held rotatably to the rear periphery of the assembly frame  20 , comes off the heart-shaped cam  41 . Note that the spring  5  always urges the rear arm  5  in the opening direction. Accordingly, when the pin  7  comes off the heart-shaped cam  41 , the urging force of the spring  60  swings the arms  5  about the arm swinging bosses  301  in the direction of the arrow “b” of the drawing. Note that the box-side gear  302  meshes with the cover-side gear  42 . Consequently, the cover  4  swings about the arm swinging bosses  301 . Moreover, when the cover  4  swings, the cover  4  swings about the cover swinging bosses  51 . That is, the cover  4  moves in the direction of the arrow “c” of the drawing to come into the cover accommodating space  312 . Note that the damper gear  52  of the rear arm  5  meshes with the oil damper  61 . Accordingly, the swinging speed of the arms  5  and cover  4  is regulated. When the cover  4  is accommodated in the cover accommodating space  312  substantially vertically, the cover  4  is placed at the open position shown in  FIG. 3 . Thus, the storage apparatus  1  is switched from the close position to the open position.  
         [0041]     Next, the operations of the guided dent  400 , the present guided dent, with respect to the frame-side guide rib  21   a  and box-side guide rib  311   a , the present guide ribs, will be hereinafter described. Note that the operations are demonstrated when switching the storage apparatus  1  from the open position to the close position.  FIG. 4  illustrates a positional relationship between the frame-side guide rib  21   a , the box-side guide rib  311   a  and the guided dent  400  conceptually. The rib width L 1  at the top end of the frame-side guide rib  21   a  is equal to the dent width S of the guided dent  400  substantially. Accordingly, the frame-side guide rib  21   a  comes between the comb-shaped tooth  40   a  and the comb-shaped tooth  40   b  without producing any space at the close position. Consequently, no rattling occurs between the cover  4  and the assembly frame  20  at the close position.  
         [0042]     The box-side guide rib  311   a  is constricted at the middle in the up/down direction. Accordingly, the rib width L 2  at the middle of the box-side guide rib  311   a  is smaller than the dent width S of the guided dent  400 . Consequently, the comb-shaped tooth  40   a  and comb-shaped tooth  40   b  do not interfere with the box-side guide rib  311   a  at the open/close intermediate position. That is, the cover  4  does not interfere with the box  3 .  
         [0043]     The rib width L 1  at the bottom end of the box-side guide rib  311   a  is equal to the dent width S of the guided dent  400  substantially. Accordingly, the box-side guide rib  311   a  comes between the comb-shaped tooth  40   a  and the comb-shaped tooth  40   b  without producing any space at the open position, in the same manner at the close position. Consequently, no rattling occurs between the cover  4  and the assembly frame  20 .  
         [0044]     Then, the advantages effected by the storage apparatus  1  according to Example No. 1 will be hereinafter described. In the storage apparatus  1 , the rib width L 1  at the open position and close position, the rib width L 2  at the open/close intermediate position and the dent width S establish a relationship, L 2 &lt;S=L 1 . As a result, it is possible to inhibit the cover  4  from rattling at the open position and close position. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce the open/close resistance exerted to the cover  4  at the open/close intermediate position.  
         [0045]     Further, the frame-side guide rib  21   a , the box-side guide rib  311   a  and the guided dent  400  are disposed in a substantially middle in the major direction (or front/rear direction) of the cover  4 . Thus, a rattling-inhibition datum position is set at a substantially middle in the major direction of the cover  4 . Therefore, it is possible to inhibit the space between the assembly frame  20  and the cover  4  from localizing.  
         [0046]     Furthermore, the frame-side guide rib  21   a  and the box-side guide rib  311   a  are disposed over the entire track of the guided dent  400  when opening and closing the cover  4 . As a result, it is possible to inhibit the cover  4  from rattling even at the open/close intermediate position while securing predetermined play resulting from the relationship, L 2 &lt;S, at the open/close intermediate position.  
         [0047]     Furthermore, the guided dent  400  and frame-side guide rib  21   a  can absorb the assembly error of the cover  4  which arises when assembling the cover  4  with the center console  2 . That is, the cover  4  can be positioned with respect to the frame assembly  20 . Therefore, the space between the cover  4  and the assembly frame  20  can be reduced at the close position. Moreover, the space between the cover  4  and the assembly frame  20   c  an be inhibited from localizing. In addition, the comb-shaped tooth  40   a  and comb-shaped tooth  40   b  are utilized for disposing the guided dent  400 . Hence, the storage apparatus  1  according to Example No. 1 can be made up of a reduced number of component parts.  
       Example No. 2  
       [0048]     A storage apparatus according to Example No. 2 of the present invention differs from the storage apparatus  1  according to Example No. 1 in that the box-side guide ribs are not made continuous in the up/down direction. Therefore, only the difference will be hereinafter described.  FIG. 5  illustrates a positional relationship between a frame-side guide rib, a box-side guide rib and a guided dent in the storage apparatus according to Example No. 2 conceptually. In  FIG. 5 , note that parts like those of  FIG. 4  are designated at the same reference numerals. As shown in the drawing, a box-side guide rib  311   a  is divided in the up/down direction. Even when the storage apparatus according to Example No. 2 comprises the box-side guide rib  311   a  which is made discontinuous, it can inhibit the cover from rattling at the open position and the close position.  
       Modified Versions  
       [0049]     Heretofore, a few of the embodiment modes of the present storage apparatus are described. However, the embodiment modes are not limited to the above-described embodiment modes particularly. It is possible to perform the present storage apparatus in various modified embodiment modes or improved embodiment modes which one of ordinary skill in the art can carry out.  
         [0050]     For example, in the above-described examples, the ribs (i.e., the frame-side guide rib  21   a  and the box-side guide rib  311   a ) are disposed on a stationary members (i.e., the center console  2  and the box  3 ), and the dent (i.e., the guided dent  400 ) is disposed on a movable member (i.e., the cover  4 ), respectively. However, the ribs and dent can be disposed in a reversed manner.  
         [0051]     Further, the frame-side guide rib  21   a , the box-side guide rib  311   a  and the guided dent  400  can be disposed whatever positions in the major direction of the cover  4 . Furthermore, the frame-side guide rib  21   a , the box-side guide rib  311   a  and the guided dent  400  can be disposed in any quantity. Moreover, the up/down, front/rear and right/left directions referred to in the above-described examples do not necessarily limit the disposition directions of the component parts. In other words, the component parts can be disposed in any direction as far as they satisfy the above-described positional relationships relatively.  
         [0052]     In addition, the present storage apparatus can be applied not only to those in which the cover swings but also those in which the cover slides, for example. In this instance, such a sliding-type storage apparatus can comprise a guided protrusion disposed on a side periphery of the cover; a guide groove disposed on the rear side of the base, in guide groove which the guided protrusion slides; and the guided protrusion and guide groove regulating the track of the cover. Moreover, in such a sliding-type storage apparatus, the interval between the guide groove and the guided protrusion can be controlled by narrowing the groove widths at the parts which correspond to the opposite open and close positions in the major direction of the guide groove. Thus, the guide groove can be utilized as the present guide portion, and the guided protrusion can be utilized as the present guided portion. Consequently, such a sliding-type storage apparatus can be made up of a reduced number of component parts.  
         [0053]     Having now fully described the present invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as set forth herein including the appended claims.