Patent Publication Number: US-2007119852-A1

Title: Storage body

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a storage body such as a glove box provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle of an automobile, etc., for example.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Various glove boxes provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle of an automobile, etc. have been known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2-267,038 discloses a glove box using a driving force to open and close a cover body.  
      In the glove box disclosed in the publication, a motor is driven firstly by applying an opening operation force or a closing operation force to the cover body manually. Thereafter, the cover body is opened and closed by a driving force of the motor.  
      According to the glove box disclosed in the publication, it is possible to open and close the cover body with a simple operation by a user. However, there arises a problem that a cost for the glove box increases because motors are expensive.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been developed and completed in view of the aforementioned circumstance. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage body in which a cover body can be opened and closed easily with a simple constitution without using a motor.  
      A storage body according to the present invention can achieve the aforementioned object, and comprises:  
      a main body having an opening portion and a guide portion;  
      a cover body supported by the main body in such a manner that the opening portion can be opened and closed;  
      an interlocking member connected to the cover body, and interlocking with opening and closing motion of the cover body;  
      a slider having a pin portion which is connected to the interlocking member by way of a connecting mechanism and is guided by engaging with the guide portion, and moving along the guide portion by engagement of the guide portion with the pin portion in association with the opening and closing motion of the cover body; and 
          an urging member being expandable and contractible for accumulating an urging force in association with the opening and closing motion of the cover body, the urging force urging the cover body in at least one of an opening movement and a closing movement;        

      the main body having a base plate;  
      the base plate being provided with the guide portion, the interlocking member, the slider, and the urging member; and  
      the urging member having opposite ends, one of the opposite ends fastened to the base plate or the interlocking member, the other one of the opposite ends fastened to the slider.  
      In this storage body, when the interlocking member interlocks in association with the opening and closing motion of the cover body, the pin portion of the slider connected to the interlocking member by way of the connecting mechanism is guided by the guide portion of the main body such that the slider moves along the guide portion. When the slider moves in such a manner, the urging member, in which one of the opposite ends thereof is fastened to the base plate of the main body or the interlocking member and the other one of the opposite ends thereof is fastened to the slider, expands and contracts so as to accumulate the urging force therein.  
      Here, the magnitude of the urging force accumulated in the urging member (the amount of expansion and contraction of the urging member), the direction of the urging force, the timing for accumulating the urging force, and the timing for releasing the accumulated urging force change depending on the shape of the guide portion. Thus, when the shape of the guide portion is set appropriately, the slider moves along the guide portion by the urging force accumulated in the urging member. Consequently, the interlocking member moves by way of the connecting mechanism such that the cover body can be opened and closed by interlocking with this interlocking member.  
      Thus, in the storage body according to the present invention, the urging force is accumulated in the urging member by the opening and closing motion of the cover body, and the thus accumulated urging force urges the cover body in its opening movement and/or its closing movement. As such, since the urging force, which has been accumulated in advance in association with the opening and closing motion of the cover body, can be utilized for the opening movement and/or the closing movement of the cover body, it is not necessary to dispose an expensive driving source, such as a motor, additionally. Accordingly, the cover body can be opened and closed with the simple constitution without using a motor. Therefore, the high cost as a result of employing an expensive driving source, such as a motor, can be prevented.  
      In addition, by setting the shape of the guide portion appropriately, the strength and/or the timing, etc. for urging the cover body in the opening and closing motion can be set as desired, and the degree of designing freedom is enhanced accordingly.  
      In addition, in the storage body according to the present invention, the main body has the base plate, and the guide portion, the interlocking member, the slider, and the urging member are provided in this base plate. Thus, while these members are provided with respect to this base plate, it is possible to confirm whether these members activate appropriately and adjust these members to activate appropriately before installing them to the main body. Therefore, confirmation and adjustment of the activation of these members can be carried out easily. Moreover, the installation operation is done with ease, because it is not necessary to install each member of the guide portion, the interlocking member, the slider, and the urging member to the main body separately. Further, the maintenance operation is also done with ease, because it is possible to adjust the activation by detaching the base plate from the main body.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the storage body according to the present invention further comprises a first damper damping the opening movement or the closing movement of the cover body by damping a movement of the slider, wherein:  
      the first damper is provided in the base plate.  
      In this storage body, because the first damper damps the movement of the slider so as to damp the opening movement or the closing movement of the cover body, a shock accompanied with the opening movement or the closing movement of the cover body can be deadened. Accordingly, the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body smooth.  
      In addition, since this first damper is also provided in the base plate, the confirmation and adjustment of the activation of those including the first damper can be carried out easily.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the storage body according to the present invention further comprises a second damper damping the opening movement or the closing movement of the cover body by damping a movement of the interlocking member, wherein:  
      the second damper is provided in the base plate.  
      In this storage body, because the second damper damps the movement of the interlocking member so as to damp the opening movement or the closing movement of the cover body, the shock accompanied with the opening movement or the closing movement of the cover body can be deadened. Accordingly, the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body smooth.  
      In addition, since this second damper is also provided in the base plate, the confirmation and adjustment of the activation of those including the second damper can be carried out easily.  
      Here, it is preferred that the storage body according to the present invention comprises the first damper which damps one of the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body by damping the movement of the slider, and further comprises the second damper which damps the other one of the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body by damping the movement of the interlocking member, wherein the first damper and the second damper are provided in the base plate.  
      In this storage body, because the first damper damps one of the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body by damping the movement of the slider, and also the second damper damps the other one of the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body by damping the interlocking member, the shock accompanied with the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body can be deadened. Accordingly, the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body smooth.  
      In addition, since these first damper and second damper are also provided in the base plate, the confirmation and adjustment of the activation of those including the first damper and the second damper.  
      In the storage body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein:  
      the connecting mechanism is composed of a rack provided in the interlocking member and a pinion pivotally supported in the slider rotatably and meshing with the rack; and  
      the slider moves along the guide portion by the engagement of the guide portion with the pin portion thereof in association with the opening or closing motion of the cover body, and reciprocates along the rack by mesh of the rack with the pinion.  
      In this storage body, when the interlocking member interlocks in association with the opening and closing motion of the cover body, the pin portion of the slider is guided by the guide portion of the main body such that the slider moves along the guide portion, and the pinion pivotally supported in the slider meshes with the rack provided in the interlocking member such that the slider reciprocates along the interlocking member. That is, in this storage body, in association with the opening movement or the closing movement of the cover body, while the slider moves along the guide portion, it moves forwards (from the side of one of the opposite ends to the side of the other one of the opposite ends of the interlocking member), or moves backwards (from the side of the other one of the opposite ends to the side of one of the opposite ends of the interlocking member) along the interlocking member. When the slider moves in such a manner, the urging member, in which one of the opposite ends thereof is fastened to the base plate of the main body or the interlocking member, and the other one of the opposite ends thereof is fastened to the slider, expands and contracts so as to accumulate the urging force therein.  
      In addition, in this storage body, the guide portion, the interlocking member provided with the rack, the slider pivotally supporting the pinion, and the urging member are provided in the base plate which can be installed to the main body by retrofitting. Thus, when these members are provided with respect to this base plate, it is possible to confirm whether these members activate appropriately and adjust these members to activate appropriately before installing them to the main body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      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 part of the disclosure.  
       FIG. 1  is a partially cross-sectioned side view for schematically illustrating a storage body according to an Example of the present invention when a cover body is in a closed state.  
       FIG. 2  is a partially cross-sectioned side view for schematically illustrating the storage body according to the Example of the present invention when the cover body is in an opened state.  
       FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectioned side view for schematically illustrating the storage body according to the Example of the present invention when the cover body is in a half closed state.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view for schematically illustrating the storage body according to the Example of the present invention when the cover body is in the closed state.  
       FIG. 5  is a view for explaining a shape of a guide portion of the storage body according to the Example of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Having generally described the present invention, a further understanding can be obtained by reference to the specific preferred embodiment which is provided herein for the purpose of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.  
     Example  
      In the present example, a storage body according to the present invention is adopted as a glove box provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle of an automobile, etc.  
      As schematically shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , the storage body according to the present example comprises a main body  1 , a cover body  2 , a rail  3  serving as an interlocking member, a rack  4  composing a connecting mechanism, a pinion  5  composing the connecting mechanism together with the rack  4 , a slider  6 , an urging member  7 , a one-way clutch gear  8 , a first damper  9 , and a second damper  10 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the main body  1  is composed of a box-shaped main body  11  made of a synthetic resin having an opening portion  11   a  and a base plate  12  composed of a metal plate. Note that, the material for the base plate  12  is not limited in particular, as far as it has a desired strength, and a synthetic resin, etc. can be employed. The base plate  12  is fastened to one side of the box-shaped main body  11  with bolts  13  by retrofitting. In addition, a grooved guide portion  14  having a predetermined shape (in the present example, a substantially triangular shape) is formed in this base plate  12 .  
      As shown in an enlarged view of  FIG. 5 , when the base plate  12  is fastened to the box-shaped main body  11 , the guide portion  14  has a close end portion  15  at upper position farthest away from the opening portion  11   a  of the box-shaped main body  11 , an open end portion  16  at the lowermost position closest to the opening portion  11   a , and an inflection portion  17  at the uppermost position away from the opening portion  11   a . A first connecting portion  18  on the lower side connects between the close end portion  15  and the open end portion  16 . A second connecting portion  19  on the upper side connects between the open end portion  16  and the inflection portion  17 . A third connecting portion  20  on the upper side connects between the inflection portion  17  and the close end portion  15 . The first connecting portion  18  is formed such that a distance to a fastened end of the urging member  7  (a spiral base-end portion  7   a ), which will be described later, gradually shortens from the close end portion  15  toward the open end portion  16 . The second connecting portion  19  is formed such that the distance to the fastened end of the urging member  7  (the spiral base-end portion  7   a ), which will be described later, gradually lengthens from the open end portion  16  toward the inflection portion  17 . The third connecting portion  20  is formed such that a distance to the fastened end of the urging member  7  (the spiral base-end portion  7   a ), which will be described later, gradually shortens from the inflection portion  17  toward the close end portion  15 . In addition, in terms of the distance to the fastened end of the urging member  7  (the spiral base-end portion  7   a ), which will be described later, the shortest is from the open end portion  16 , and the longest is from the inflection portion  17 .  
      Note that, in the second connecting portion  19  connecting between the open end portion  16  and the inflection portion  17 , the depth of the groove gradually deepens from the inflection portion  17  toward the open end portion  16  such that a section of the open end portion  16  has the deepest depth. Thus, a step portion  21  is provided between the open end portion  16  and the first connecting portion  18 , and this step portion  21  inhibits a pin portion (described later), which has dropped from the first connecting portion  18  to the open end portion  16 , from moving backwards in the first connecting portion  18 .  
      The rail  3 , the rack  4 , the pinion  5 , the slider  6 , the urging member  7 , the one way clutch gear  8 , the first damper  9 , and the second damper  10  are provided in the base plate  12  integrally. The storage body according to the present example is completed in the following installation manner. Firstly, the rail  3 , the rack  4 , the pinion  5 , the slider  6 , the urging member  7 , the one way clutch gear  8 , the first damper  9 , and the second damper  10  are attached to the base plate  12  so as to make an integral piece  22 . This integral piece  22  is fastened to the box-shaped main body  11 , and the cover body  2  is then installed to the box-shaped main body  11 , etc.  
      The cover body  2  is supported by the box-shaped main body  11  in such a manner that the opening portion  11   a  of the box-shaped main body  11  can be opened and closed. Specifically, the cover body  2  has a pivotally supporting portion  23  at its bottom end, and the pivotally supporting portion  23  is pivotally supported at the bottom end in the vicinity of the opening portion  11   a  of the box-shaped main body  11 . With this arrangement, the cover body  2  swings about the pivotally supporting portion  23  so as to open and close the opening portion  11   a . Note that the directions designated at the arrow “A” of  FIG. 1  specify the opening/closing direction of the cover body  2 . In the present example, because the cover body  2  swings about the pivotally supporting portion  23 , the opening/closing direction of the cover body  2  designated at the arrow “A” of  FIG. 1  coincides with an arc direction about the pivotally supporting portion  23 . In addition, a locking mechanism (not shown) for latching the cover body  2  with the box-shaped main body  11  of the main body  1  at a position where the opening portion  11   a  is closed is provided.  
      The rail  3  has a pivotally supporting portion  24  at its bottom end, and the pivotally supporting portion  24  is pivotally supported at the bottom end of the base plate  12 . Note that, in the storage body according to the present example, the pivotally supporting portion  24  of the rail  3  is coaxial with the pivotally supporting portion  23  of the cover body  2 . In addition, a leg portion  25  provided at the bottom end of the cover body  2  is fastened in a bottom end portion of the rail  3  by bolts, etc., not shown. Note that, after installing the integral piece  22  to the box-shaped main body  11  and also pivotally supporting the pivotally supporting portion  23  of the cover body  2  at the bottom end of the box-shaped main body  11 , the leg portion  25  of the cover body  2  and the rail  3  are fastened. With this arrangement, the rail  3  moves together with the cover body  2  in association with opening and closing motion of the cover body  2 . That is, the cover body  2  always interlocks with the rail  3 .  
      Moreover, the rack  4  extending along the rail  3  is provided in the rail  3 , and the slider  6  is held for reciprocal motion along the rail  3 . Note that, means for holding the slider  6  for reciprocal motion with respect to the rail  3  is not limited in particular. For example, a means for forming a sliding groove and an engagement projection can be employed. In such a means, the sliding groove, which extends along the rail  3 , is formed in one of the slider  6  and the rail  3 . The engagement projection, which engages with the sliding groove so as to inhibit disengagement from the sliding groove and is capable of reciprocal motion in the sliding groove, is formed in another one of the slider  6  and the rail  3 .  
      In the slider  6 , the pinion  5  meshing with the rack  4  is pivotally supported rotatably. This pinion  5  reciprocates (ascends and descends) on the rack  4  by rotating while meshing with the rack  4 . Accordingly, the slider  6  reciprocates (ascends and descends) along the rail  3 .  
      Moreover, the pin portion  26 , which is guided by engaging with the guide portion  14 , is provided in the slider  6 . In addition, one of the opposite ends of the urging member  7  is installed to and fastened to the pin portion  26  of this slider  6 . In the present example, the urging member  7  is composed of a spiral spring, and a spiral base end portion  7   a  is fastened to the vicinity of the bottom end portion of the rail  3  which interlocks with the cover  2 . When the pin portion  26  of the slider  6  is in the open end portion  16  of the guide portion  14 , the urging member  7  is substantially in a natural state, and few urging force is being accumulated in this urging member  7 . When the pin portion  26  is in this open end portion  16 , the presence or absence and/or the value of the urging member  7  do not matter. Note, however, that if the urging force being accumulated in the urging member  7  is large when the pin portion  26  is in the open end portion  16 , an operability deteriorates because the large force is needed when an operator returns the cover body  2  in the opened state back to the closed state.  
      Note that, the kinds of the urging member  7  are not limited in particular, and a coil spring, a plate spring, and rubber, etc. can be employed. Besides, the positions, where the opposite ends of the urging member are fastened to, are not limited as described above. The spiral base end portion  7   a  does not have to be fastened to the rail  3  which is on the side of the cover body  2 , it can be fastened to the side of the main body  1  (to the base plate  12 , preferably). Or, the one of the opposite ends of the urging member  7  does not have to be fastened to the pin portion  26 , and it can be fastened to other portions of the slider  6 .  
      Further, the first damper  9  and the one-way clutch gear  8  are provided in the slider  6 . The one-way clutch gear  8  is held by the slider  6  so as to be between the pinion  5  and the first damper  9 , and works as a clutch which turns a torque transmission between the pinion  5  and the first damper  9  ON/OFF. This one-way clutch gear  8  is pivotally supported in the slider  6  rotatably.  
      With the one-way clutch gear  8  turned ON, the first damper  9  meshes with the pinion  5  by way of the one-way clutch gear  8  (for example, by meshing with a major gear of the one-way clutch gear  8 , as described later). Consequently, the torque is transmitted between the pinion  5  and the first damper  9  by way of the one-way clutch gear  8 . Thus, an appropriate brake is applied relative to the rotation of the pinion  5  such that the rotational speed of the pinion  5  decreases. As for the concrete constitution of this first damper  9 , it is not limited in particular. For example, it can have a gear which is axially supported rotatably in an oil chamber. According to the first damper  9  having such a constitution, by reducing the rotational speed of the gear by means of the oil&#39;s viscous drag, it is possible to let the first damper  9  exhibit its damping function. Note that, in the storage body according to the present example, this first damper  9  damps the opening movement of the cover body  2 , as described later, by damping the movement of the slider  6 .  
      The one-way clutch gear  8  is arranged to be turned ON when the pinion  5  rotates in the counterclockwise direction of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  while descending the rack  4 . On the other hand, the one-way clutch gear  8  is arranged to be turned OFF when the pinion  5  rotates in the clockwise direction of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  while ascending the rack  4 . Note that, when the one-way clutch gear  8  is turned OFF, the torque is not transmitted between the pinion  5  and the first damper  9  such that the first damper  9  stops to function.  
      As for the constitution of the one-way clutch gear  8 , it is not limited in particular, as long as it is arranged to be turned ON or OFF alternatively depending on the rotating direction of the pinion  5 . For example, the one-way clutch gear  8  can be composed of a rotary shaft, a minor gear, a clutch, and a major gear. In such an arrangement, the minor gear is fastened to the rotary shaft and rotates together with the rotary shaft. The clutch does not mesh with the rotary shaft when the minor gear rotates in one direction (for example, a counterclockwise direction), and the clutch meshes with the rotary shaft when the minor gear rotates in another direction (for example, a clockwise direction). The major gear is connected to the clutch, and rotates together with the clutch. When employing the one-way clutch gear  8  having such a constitution, the pinion  5  meshes to engage with the minor gear of the one-way clutch gear  8 , and the first damper  9  meshes to engage with the major gear of the one-way clutch gear  8 . Consequently, the minor gear rotates in the counterclockwise direction as the pinion  5  rotates in the clockwise direction such that the one-way clutch gear  8  can be turned OFF. And, the minor gear rotates in the clockwise direction as the pinion  5  rotates in the counterclockwise direction such that the one-way clutch gear  8  can be turned ON.  
      Further, the storage body according to the present example comprises the second damper  10  in which one of the opposite ends thereof is coupled to the vicinity of the top end of the rail  3  and the other one of the opposite ends thereof is coupled to the base plate  12  which is on the side of the main body  1 .  
      The kinds of the second damper  10  are not limited in particular, either. For example, a shock absorber can be employed. Note that, in the storage body according to the present example, this second damper  10  damps the closing movement of the cover body  2 , as described later, by damping the movement of the rail  3 .  
      The storage body according to the present example, which has the above-described constitution, operates as hereinafter described.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , when the cover body  2  is placed at the close position (the closed state) by means of the locking mechanism, not shown, the pin portion  26  of the slider  6 , to which one of the opposite ends of the urging member  7  is installed, is positioned at the close end portion  15  of the guide portion  14 . In this instance, the urging member  7  is changed from the natural state to the expanded state in a predetermined amount, and a predetermined amount of urging force is being accumulated in the urging member  7 . In addition, in this closed state, the slider  6  is positioned in the vicinity of the top end of the rail  3 , and is present at an ascending position with respect to the rail  3 .  
      In this closed state, when a lock is unlocked by operating the locking mechanism, not shown, the cover body  2  rotates downwardly (in the clockwise direction of  FIG. 1 ) about the pivotally supporting portion  23  by the urging force of the urging member  7  and by its own weight of the cover body  2 , and starts to open the opening portion  11   a . When the cover body  2  rotates, the rail  3 , which is fastened to the leg portion  25  of the cover body  2 , interlocks with the cover body  2  such that the rail  3  rotates in the clockwise direction of  FIG. 1  about the pivotally supporting portion  24 . Consequently, the pin portion  26  of the slider  6  held for reciprocal motion with respect to the rail  3  is guided by the guide portion  14  of the main body  1 . Thus, the pin portion  26  moves along the first connecting portion  18  of the guide portion  14  until the pin portion  26  arrives at the open end portion  16 . Simultaneously, the pinion  5  pivotally supported in the slider  6  meshes with the rack  4  provided in the rail  3 , such that the pinion  5  descends on the rack  4 , and the slider  6  descends along the rail  3  (the opened state as shown in  FIG. 2 ). In this instance, the pinion  5  meshes with the rack  4  such that the pinion  5  descends on the rack  4  while rotating in the counterclockwise direction of  FIG. 1 . As such, the one-way clutch gear  8  is turned ON, and the pinion  5  meshes with the first damper  9  by way of the one-way clutch gear  8 . In such an instance, the torque is transmitted between the pinion  5  and the first damper  9  by way of the one-way clutch gear  8 , whereby an appropriate brake is applied to the rotation of the pinion  5  such that the rotational speed of the pinion  5  decreases. As a result, the first damper  9  functions so as to damp the opening movement of the cover body  2 , and a shock accompanied with the opening movement deadens accordingly.  
      In the course that the cover body  2  changes from the closed state to the opened state, the pin portion  26  of the slider  6  moves from the close end portion  15  to the open end portion  16  along the first connecting portion  18  of the guide portion  14 . In this first connecting portion  18 , the distance to the fastened end of the urging member  7  (the spiral base end portion  7   a ) reduces gradually from the close end portion  15  toward the open end portion  16 . Thus, as the pin portion  26  moves from the close end portion  15  to the open end portion  16  along the first connecting portion  18 , the urging member  7  contracts as it gradually releases the urging force. In addition, when the cover body  2  comes to be in the opened state, the pin portion  26  of the slider  6  is positioned at the open end portion  16  where the distance to the fastened end (the spiral base end portion  7   a ) of the urging member  7  is the shortest in the guide portion  14 , as described above, and, the urging member  7  is substantially in a natural state so that few urging force is accumulated in the urging member  7 .  
      To return the cover body  2  back to the closed state from this opened state, firstly, the operator manually raises the cover body  2  rotate the cover body  2  upwardly (in the counterclockwise direction of  FIG. 1 ) about the pivotally supporting portion  23 . When the cover body  2  rotates, the rail  3  fastened to the leg portion  25  of the cover body  2  interlocks with the cover body  2  such that the rail  3  rotates in the counterclockwise direction of  FIG. 1  about the pivotally supporting portion  24 . Then, the pin portion  26  of the slider  6  held for reciprocal motion with respect to the rail  3  is guided by the guide portion  14  of the main body  1 . Thus, the pin portion  26  moves toward the inflection portion  17  along the second connecting portion  19  of the guide portion  14 . Simultaneously, the pinion  5  pivotally supported in the slider  6  meshes with the rack  4  provided in the rail  3 , such that the pinion  5  ascends on the rack  4 , and the slider  6  ascends along the rail  3 . In this instance, the pinion  5  meshes with the rack  4  so as to ascend on the rack  4  while rotating in the clockwise direction of  FIG. 1 . As such, the one-way clutch gear  8  is turned OFF. Thus, the first damper  9  does not function in the closing movement of the cover body  2 .  
      In a prior stage in the course that the cover body  2  changes from the opened state to the closed state (the stage in which the cover body  2  rotates upwardly by the operation force applied by the operator), the pin portion  26  of the slider  6  moves from the open end portion  16  to the inflection portion  17  along the second connecting portion  19  of the guide portion  14 . In this second connecting portion  19 , the distance to the fastened end of the urging member  7  (the spiral base-end portion  7   a ) gradually lengthens from the open end portion  16  toward the inflection portion  17 . Accordingly, as the pin portion  26  moves from the open end portion  16  to the inflection portion  17  along the second connecting portion  19 , the urging member  7  gradually expands such that the urging force is gradually accumulated in the urging member  7 . Consequently, the cover body  2  is rotated upwardly until the pin portion  26  arrives at the inflection portion  17  of the guide portion  14  (the stage in which the cover body  2  is in the half-closed state as shown in  FIG. 3 ). Thereafter, the pin portion  26  enters into the third connecting portion  20  of the guide portion  14  by going over the inflection portion  17 . In this third connecting portion  20 , the distance to the fastened end of the urging member  7  (the spiral base-end portion  7   a ) gradually shortens from the inflection portion  17 , where the distance to the fastened end of the urging member  7  (the spiral base-end portion  7   a ) is the longest in the guide portion  14 , toward the close end portion  15 . Accordingly, as the pin portion  26  moves from the inflection portion  17  to the close end portion  15  along the third connecting portion  20 , the urging member  7  gradually contracts as it releases the urging force. Thus, when the operator rotates the cover body  2  upwardly (the counterclockwise direction of  FIG. 1 ) until the pin portion  26  goes over the inflection portion  17 , the cover body  2  rotates upwardly by its own by the urging force of the urging member  7  so as to return to the closed state of  FIG. 1 , even after the operator releases the operation force. The locking mechanism (not shown) latches the cover body  2  with the box-shaped main body  11  of the main body  1 .  
      In addition, in a subsequent stage in the course that the cover body  2  changes from the opened state to the closed state (the stage that the cover body  2  returns to the closed state by its own by the urging force of the urging member  7 ), the second damper  10  functions so as to damp the closing movement of the cover body  2 , and a shock accompanied with the closing movement can be deadened thereby.  
      When the cover body  2  returns from the opened state back to the closed state in such a manner, the pin portion  26  of the slider  6  is positioned in the close end portion  15  of the guide portion  14 , and the predetermined amount of the urging force is accumulated in the urging member  7  again. As a result, this urging member  7  can urge the cover body  2  in the opening movement thereafter.  
      Thus, in the storage body according to the present example, the urging force is accumulated in the urging member  7  by the closing movement of the cover body  2 , and the thus accumulated urging force urges the cover body  2  in the opening movement and in a part of the closing movement. As such, since the urging force, which has been accumulated in advance in association with the closing motion of the cover body  2 , can be utilized for the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body  2 , it is not necessary to dispose an expensive driving source, such as a motor, additionally. Accordingly, the cover body  2  can be opened and closed with a simple constitution without using a motor. Therefore, the high cost as a result of employing an expensive driving source, such as a motor, can be prevented.  
      Moreover, by setting the shape of the guide portion  14  appropriately, strength and/or timing, etc. for urging the cover body  2  in the opening and closing motion can be set as desired, and the degree of designing freedom is enhanced accordingly.  
      Further, in the storage body according to the present example, because the opening movement of the cover body  2  can be damped by the first damper  9 , and the closing movement of the cover body  2  can be damped by the second damper  10  as well, the shock accompanied with the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body  2  can be deadened. Accordingly, the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover body  2  smooth.  
      In addition, the storage body according to the present example, because the torque transmission between the pinion  5  and the first damper  9  is turned ON/OFF by the one-way clutch gear  8  axially supported in the slider  6 , the one-way clutch gear  8  moves stably and silently.  
      Additionally, in the storage body according to the present example, the guide portion  14 , the rail  3  provided with the rack  4 , the pinion  5 , the slider  6  holding the one-way clutch gear  8  and the first damper  9 , the urging member  7 , and the second damper  10  are provided in the base plate  12  which can be installed to the box-shaped main body  11  of the main body  1  by retrofitting. Thus, when these members are provided with respect to this base plate  12 , it is possible to confirm whether these members activate appropriately and adjust these members to activate appropriately. Therefore, confirmation and adjustment of the activation of these members can be carried out easily. Moreover, the installation operation is done with ease, because it is not necessary to install each of these members to the main body  1  separately. Further, the maintenance operation is also done with ease, because it is possible to adjust the activation by detaching the base plate  12  from the box-shaped main body  11  of the main body  1 .  
      Note that, in the present example as described above, a coil spring can be employed as the urging member  7 . It can be arranged such that the urging force is accumulated by compression of this coil spring, by changing the installation direction and/or the installation position of the coil spring.  
      Moreover, in the present example described above, by changing the shape of the guide portion  14  variously, it can be arranged such that the urging force is accumulated in the urging member  7  by the opening movement of the cover body  2 , and the thus accumulated urging force urges the cover body  2  in the closing movement. Or, it can be arranged such that the urging force is accumulated in the urging member  7  by a part of the opening movement and a part of the closing movement of the cover body  2 , and the thus accumulated urging force urges the cover body  2  in a part of the opening movement and a part of the closing movement.  
      Also, the storage body according to the present invention can be applied to those in which the cover body slides to open and close the opening portion.  
      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.